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Table of contents

Travel nurse resume examples
Related resume examples
Choose the right resume format for your travel nurse resume
How to write a resume for a travel nurse in 5 simple steps
Add a cover letter
Key takeaways for your travel nurse resume
Commonly asked questions about resume writing

As a travel nurse, your career is centered around compassionate patient care, adaptability and delivering top-notch health care services.

To secure your dream travel nursing job, you need a resume that spotlights your clinical skills and dedication to patient well-being while showcasing your ability to thrive in a variety of dynamic and diverse health care settings.

We’re here to help you create that perfect travel nurse resume. Our comprehensive guide, along with insights from our travel nurse resume samples, will help you craft a persuasive resume that emphasizes your most critical qualifications.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

Inspiring travel nurse resume samples.
A step-by-step process for building a compelling travel nurse resume.
Optional sections to enhance your resume.
Tips for crafting a powerful cover letter.
Key insights to optimize your resume for success in the travel nursing field.

Looking for a professionally tailored resume in just a few minutes? Explore our AI Resume Builder. Choose a template that matches your style and receive expert guidance for each section, ensuring your resume aligns seamlessly with the requirements of the travel nursing position you’re pursuing.

Travel nurse resume examples

Entry-level travel nurse resume example

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Why this entry-level travel nurse resume works:

It’s straightforward
This resume uses an easy-to-follow template with a minimal pop of color, giving it a no-nonsense clarity that suits the travel, nursing career.
It puts skills first
Because this candidate is relatively inexperienced, her resume focuses on her professional skills instead of her work history, allowing her to put her best foot forward.
It includes relevant coursework
Though this isn’t really necessary for experienced candidates, recent graduates should list relevant coursework along with their degrees to demonstrate the expertise and experience they’ve gained through schooling.

Experienced travel nurse resume example

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Why this experienced travel nurse resume works:

It focuses on experience
This applicant has more than a decade of nursing experience, so her resume is centered around her work history. This allows her to show off her skills through her career story.
It uses numbers
Numerical data lends legitimacy to this travel nurse’s experience. It shows the scope of her work and the concrete impact she’s had in previous roles.
It uses active verbs
Action words like “conducted,” “collaborated” and “managed” communicate a sense of confidence and initiative that passive resume boilerplate can’t match.

Choose the right resume format for your travel nurse resume

As a travel nurse, you know that attention to detail can be the difference between delivering exceptional patient care and falling short of expectations. In crafting your travel nurse resume, the way you organize information is a crucial detail that can influence how your qualifications are perceived.

Consider selecting your resume format as a strategic choice, much like structuring a care plan for a patient. Your goal is to make it easy for the reader to identify your key accomplishments while emphasizing your strengths.

Depending on your career background, there are three primary resume formats to consider, each with its own approach to organizing your information:

Chronological resume format: Ideal for experienced travel nurses, this format prioritizes showcasing your extensive work history and illustrating your track record of providing high-quality patient care.
Combination resume format: Striking a balance between your nursing skills and work history, this format is well-suited for midcareer travel nurses.
Functional resume format: Placing your nursing skills at the forefront, this format emphasizes your clinical competencies without relying heavily on your previous work experiences, making it beneficial for entry-level travel nurses.

Once you’ve chosen your preferred format, the next step is to select an appropriate resume template.

Select the right resume template for your travel nurse resume

Create your resume

Your travel nurse resume template should not only effectively organize your information but also reflect your professional identity and your role as a compassionate health care provider.

For a clean and straightforward presentation, choose a simple template. These templates adhere to essential resume design principles, presenting your information in a clear and professional manner.

If you want to infuse your unique style as a travel nurse into your resume, consider a creative template. These templates may incorporate color and engaging design elements, allowing you to showcase your individuality while maintaining a professional look.

Striking a balance between creativity and professionalism, modern resume templates feature visually appealing and tasteful designs that avoid posing any major distraction. When selecting this type of template, ensure it aligns with the requirements of the travel nursing role and your health care industry.

Our resume templates are available in various file formats, including Word and Google Docs templates, offering flexibility for you to download and customize them to align with your specific needs.

With the style and format selected, it’s time to dive into creating your resume’s content.

How to write a resume for a travel nurse in 5 simple steps

Creating an impactful travel nurse resume requires a tailored approach that considers both the needs of the specific role and your strengths as a candidate. This might sound like a lot, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Let’s walk through it step by step:

Step 1

Review the travel nurse job description for keywords

To write a travel nurse resume that holds the attention of the hiring department, start by thoroughly analyzing the job description for the specific nursing position you’re targeting.

The job listing offers valuable insights to align your resume with the role’s unique requirements and expectations. Pay close attention to the keywords and phrases used to describe the job responsibilities and the qualities sought in an ideal candidate.

Many health care employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen applications based on specific keywords. It’s essential to incorporate these keywords and phrases from the job posting into your resume to enhance your chances of passing ATS screening.

If the job posting emphasizes terms like “patient care,” “acute care” or “clinical skills,” include these exact phrases when detailing your relevant experience. Using precise language demonstrates that you’re well-suited for the position.

However, only include qualifications that accurately reflect your background and skills.

Step 2

Summarize your nursing career achievements

Your travel nurse resume should begin by presenting your nursing career, whether you have extensive experience or are just starting in the field. This section is often referred to as a resume profile and can take the form of a professional summary or resume objective, depending on your experience level.

The professional summary is an excellent choice for experienced travel nurses. In it, you provide a concise overview of your career and skills, placing key achievements at the top of your resume.

For aspiring or newer travel nurses, a resume objective is more suitable. It focuses on your career goals and your eagerness to contribute to the health care field.

Here’s an example of both resume profile types in action:

Travel nurse professional summary:

Compassionate and experienced travel nurse with a proven track record of delivering high-quality patient care in various clinical settings. Proficient in acute care, critical thinking and patient advocacy. Skilled at adapting to new environments and providing exceptional health care services to diverse patient populations. Committed to ensuring the well-being of patients and fostering positive outcomes.

Travel nurse resume objective:

Dedicated and passionate aspiring travel nurse eager to provide compassionate and efficient patient care. Committed to honing clinical skills and embracing the challenges of different health care settings. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to patient well-being and gain valuable experience in a dynamic and rewarding nursing environment.

Step 3

Highlight your essential travel nurse skills

As a travel nurse, your skills are essential for providing quality patient care, adapting to diverse health care settings and ensuring the well-being of those you serve. It’s vital to showcase a wide range of skills on your resume to demonstrate your ability to meet the demands of the role. Let’s explore the two primary categories of skills crucial for your travel nurse resume.

First, we have hard skills: These are the hands-on, technical abilities that enable you to excel in the field of nursing. They encompass your proficiency in patient assessment, medication administration, wound care and expertise in various medical procedures. These skills are typically acquired through education, training and hands-on clinical experience.

Secondly, there are soft skills: These are your personal attributes and abilities that help you work effectively with patients, their families and the health care team. These skills significantly influence your effectiveness as a travel nurse.

Here’s a list of hard and soft skills that successful travel nurse candidates often include in their resumes:

Hard Skills

Patient assessment and monitoring
Medication administration
Wound care and treatment
IV insertion and management
Medical procedure proficiency (e.g., catheterization, ventilator management)
Disease management and care planning

Soft Skills

Compassionate patient care and advocacy
Effective communication with patients and families
Team collaboration in various health care settings
Cultural competence and adaptability to diverse patient populations
Conflict resolution in high-pressure clinical situations
Adaptation to different health care protocols and systems

Your role as a travel nurse is pivotal in ensuring the well-being of patients and delivering exceptional health care services. Your skills should reflect your ability to provide clinical care, communicate effectively with patients and health care teams, and adapt to a range of medical environments.

Here’s an example of a comprehensive travel nurse skills section for inspiration:

Proficient in patient assessment and monitoring to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Skilled in administering medications and providing wound care, maintaining patient safety and comfort.
Proficiency in IV insertion and management, ensuring appropriate treatment and fluid balance.
Experience in various medical procedures, including catheterization and ventilator management.
Effective communication and compassionate patient care, fostering trust and satisfaction.

Pro tip

A travel nurse is always moving. This means that quick thinking, the ability to learn on your feet and adaptability are crucial skills. Even though these might seem more subtle than your technical nursing expertise, don’t skimp out on showcasing these positive personality traits.

Step 4

Describe your travel nurse work history

Your professional history section should serve as evidence of your skills, showcasing your ability to apply them effectively in real-world health care settings and deliver exceptional patient care. Unless you are at the entry-level, your experience is the cornerstone of your travel nurse resume. Use your work history section to reinforce your proficiency in nursing, your adaptability in diverse health care environments and your meticulous attention to detail.

For a compelling resume, quantify your achievements whenever possible. Here’s an example of a robust travel nurse work history section:

Travel Nurse, Health Care Solutions Agency

Los Angeles, CA

March 2019 – November 2024

Provided compassionate patient care across various health care facilities, ensuring optimal patient outcomes and earning a 95% patient satisfaction rate.
Adapted to different clinical settings, including medical-surgical, ICU and emergency departments, demonstrating versatility and clinical competence.
Collaborated with interdisciplinary health care teams, promoting effective communication and enhancing patient care coordination, resulting in a 10% reduction in medical errors.
Efficiently managed patient assignments, including medication administration, wound care and critical patient assessments, leading to a 20% decrease in patient readmissions.
Demonstrated cultural competence in providing care to diverse patient populations, including pediatric, adult and geriatric patients, fostering trust and positive patient experiences.
Maintained rigorous documentation of patient records, ensuring compliance with health care regulations and contributing to a 25% improvement in audit outcomes.
Assisted in the implementation of electronic health record systems, streamlining documentation processes and improving information sharing among health care providers, resulting in a 15% increase in clinical efficiency and patient safety.

Pro tip

To invigorate your resume, use action verbs to replace common and passive phrases when describing your experience. Energetic language conveys enthusiasm and competence, creating a more confident and convincing tone for your travel nurse resume.

Step 5

Showcase your education and training

As a travel nurse, your knowledge of clinical procedures, medical protocols and patient care techniques is critical. To highlight your qualifications, include an education section that outlines your formal education and any relevant supplementary training you’ve completed, such as nursing courses or certifications.

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

Certifications and Licensing:

Registered Nurse (RN)

State Board of Nursing, California

Certification Date: June 2018

Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider

American Heart Association

Certification Date: February 2019

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

American Heart Association

Certification Date: September 2020

Additional sections for your travel nurse resume

Languages

Effective communication is a fundamental skill for a travel nurse, especially when providing patient care to individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Proficiency in multiple languages can be a valuable asset, so it’s beneficial to highlight this skill on your resume to underscore your capability to communicate effectively with a broad range of patients.

Example of how to showcase languages on your travel nurse resume:

Fluent in English and Spanish
Proficient in American Sign Language (ASL)

Hobbies and interests

Including your interests on your resume can offer employers insights into your personality and your capacity to bring a unique perspective to your patient care. Ensure that the interests you mention are both relevant to the health care field and appropriate for a professional context.

Example of how to showcase interests on your travel nurse resume:

Continuing education enthusiast: Committed to staying current with the latest health care advancements and evidence-based practices, actively participating in continuing education programs.
Patient advocacy champion: Passionate about advocating for patients’ rights and welfare, participating in discussions about patient advocacy and ethical health care practices.
Clinical competency promoter: Enjoys maintaining high clinical competency standards, actively engaging in discussions about best clinical practices and health care quality improvement.

Community involvement

Active engagement with the health care community can demonstrate your dedication to professional growth and your enthusiasm for delivering exceptional patient care. It’s important to highlight any community involvement related to health care or improving patient outcomes.

Example of how to showcase community involvement on your travel nurse resume:

Nursing workshop leader: Organize and lead workshops on nursing best practices, sharing knowledge and insights with fellow nurses and contributing to the professional development of the nursing community.
Clinical volunteer: Contribute to clinical volunteer opportunities at local health care organizations, providing valuable assistance to enhance patient care and health care delivery.
Health care support group organizer: Co-organize local health care support groups, fostering a sense of community and providing a platform for health care professionals to exchange ideas and network.

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

No job-winning resume is totally complete until you’ve sealed the deal with an equally persuasive cover letter.

It might seem like more work, but a cover letter is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss. Use your cover letter to explain why the role excites you, why you’d be the perfect choice for the position and to add any extra information that didn’t quite fit on your resume.

If you need help getting your travel nurse cover letter off the ground, check out our guide on how to write a cover letter and our extensive library of helpful cover letter examples.

For a cover letter that matches your resume, try one of our cover letter templates or generate your cover letter using our Cover Letter Builder.

Key takeaways for your travel nurse resume

Customize your travel nurse resume for each job application

Tailor your resume to align with the specific requirements of each travel nurse position, emphasizing your skills in patient care, adaptability and proficiency in various clinical settings. Look for keywords that can help you pass through the ATS (applicant tracking system) screening processes.
Highlight your patient care experience

Showcase your hands-on involvement in delivering compassionate and high-quality patient care, from patient assessments to medication administration, resulting in optimal patient outcomes and high patient satisfaction rates. Demonstrate your ability to excel as a travel nurse.
Emphasize your commitment to continuous improvement

Highlight any advanced training, certifications or workshops you’ve completed in the field of nursing, underscoring your dedication to staying informed about the latest health care practices and adhering to the highest industry standards.
Express your passion for efficient patient care

While your resume provides an overview of your skills, a well-crafted cover letter can convey your genuine passion for delivering exceptional patient care and your motivation for pursuing a career as a travel nurse. Employers value professionals who demonstrate a true passion for their work in the field.
Highlight measurable achievements

If you’ve contributed to reducing patient readmissions, improving clinical efficiency or enhancing health care quality, emphasize these accomplishments with specific metrics and results.
Showcase collaboration and teamwork

In the field of travel nursing, effective collaboration with interdisciplinary health care teams is crucial. Highlight instances where you’ve worked seamlessly with doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, demonstrating your ability to foster a cooperative and efficient patient care environment for optimal patient well-being and health care outcomes.

Commonly asked questions about resume writing

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.