Travel Nurse resume examples & templates

In the caring field of nursing, a willingness to "go the extra mile" takes on a whole new meaning as a travel nurse. Travel nurses tackle a wide range of nursing duties, adapting to different environments and geographical locations based on where help is most needed. 

Travel nursing offers LPNs, RNs, and nurse practitioners the opportunity to explore new places, take on preferred assignments, and often bring their families along for the adventure.

As more nursing professionals discover the benefits of flexible travel roles, the competition is growing fierce. To stand out, crafting a travel nurse resume that highlights both compassion and adaptability is just what the doctor ordered to help you land your ideal assignments.

Resume guide for a travel nurse resume

Resume.io is a top resource for job seekers across all industries, offering over 500 tailored resume guides, samples, and customizable templates.

This guide, featuring a travel nurse resume example, will help you write a healthy resume that appeals to hiring officials in the medical field. We cover:

• How to write a travel nurse resume
• Choosing the best resume format for a travel nurse
• Including your contact information
• Crafting a strong resume summary
• Highlighting your nursing experience
• Listing relevant education and skills
• Selecting the right resume design/layout
• An overview of the travel nurse job market and salary trends

How to write a travel nurse resume

In preparation for creating your resume, you first need to become familiar with the main components needed:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Travel nursing demands a unique set of skills, blending flexibility with exceptional patient care.  As a travel nurse, you’ll find yourself stepping into diverse healthcare environments where adaptability and efficiency are key—sometimes in areas with high patient demand or challenging conditions.

That said, when crafting your travel nurse resume, it’s important to emphasize your ability to provide top-notch care while adapting quickly to new settings. 

Here are some key tips for building a strong travel nurse resume:

• Showcase certifications, specialties, and experiences that set you apart, such as ICU or ER expertise.
• Include measurable achievements, like patient satisfaction scores or time-saving initiatives.
• Tailor your resume to reflect the requirements of each travel assignment, demonstrating your fit for each unique role.
• Ensure it’s ATS-friendly by incorporating terms like “patient assessment” or “critical care,” and choose a clear, scannable format to make an impact right from the start.

Choosing the right resume format for a travel nurse

Typically, we recommend reverse chronological order as the best resume format; however, a travel nurse resume is a bit different. You have wide-ranging experience that may be better highlighted with a hybrid approach that puts your skills at the forefront.

However, if possible, stick with reverse chronological order because it makes life easier for recruiters, which means you’re more likely to be offered an interview. It may also help when you input your resume into an online Applicant Tracking System since these applications are typically set up to look for the standard chronological order format.

The choice of which type of resume to use is a judgment call for you to make. Consider the job listing and how best to highlight the skills, experience, and knowledge your prospective employer seeks. 

Include your contact information

Your travel nurse resume needs your contact info right at the top. Even if your resume is impeccable, if there’s no way for the recruiter to reach you, your chances will be on life support.

Be sure your resume includes

• Name and job title. List your full name along with the specific travel nursing role you're seeking.
• Email address. Use a professional email format, such as firstname.lastname@email.com.
• Phone number. Provide a reliable number to ensure you’re reachable at any time.
• Location. Include only your city and state—no full address is needed. If you’re flexible on location, mention “Open to Relocation.”
• LinkedIn profile. Add a link to your LinkedIn if it’s up-to-date and showcases relevant experience.

Avoid these on your resume:

• Date of birth. Omitting it helps prevent age-related bias.
• Personal details. Skip non-essential information like marital status, social security number, or passport info.

Ensure these details are clear and visible so employers can easily get in touch with you.

Create a strong resume summary

The summary of your travel nurse resume allows you to show what you bring to each new situation. Introduce your expertise and career highlights here, but also consider explaining why you love travel nursing and how you adapt to different work environments and demands.

Creating an outstanding profile summary for your travel nurse resume begins with identifying your key strengths and showcasing them effectively. Showcase your unique qualities and relevant experiences, including any specializations or certifications that set you apart. Did you receive accolades for your adaptability in diverse healthcare settings or for implementing efficient patient care practices?

This section is your chance to shine and demonstrate the value you bring to a new role. Instead of relying on generic terms like "team player" or "go-getter," illustrate your contributions through specific examples. For instance, narrate a scenario where your resourcefulness made a significant impact during a challenging assignment, allowing you to stand out as a candidate who truly makes a difference in patient care.

You can find example travel nurse resume summaries below:

Outline your travel nurse work experience: go the extra mile

Focus on achievements that highlight the skills you will need in the position for which you are applying. The traits of an ER nurse are different from those of a maternity ward specialist. Use strong action words that impress upon the recruiter that you are a person who gets things done. 

When detailing your experience, start with your most recent positions and work backward, including at least three relevant examples. Don’t just list job titles—provide context and specifics. 

Data and details strengthen your candidacy. So, highlight measurable achievements rather than general tasks. Mention improvements in patient care, enhanced satisfaction scores, or reduced wait times. Incorporating numbers demonstrates your capability and commitment to excellence.

Use bullet points to clearly communicate your contributions, utilizing strong action verbs like assessed, administered, collaborated, and streamlined.

Here’s an example bullet from a travel nurse resume: 

• “Evaluated and recommended lifestyle change and prescription medication regimens to drive meaningful change in patients' quality of life.”

How to write a travel nurse resume with no experience

If you're new to travel nursing, don’t fret. Skills from other areas can showcase your dedication and resilience. Here’s how to grab the attention of hiring managers even without direct experience:

• Highlight transferable skills. Showcase qualities that demonstrate your dependability and work ethic. Focus on attributes like attention to detail, strong time management, and organizational prowess.
• Include relevant experiences. Mention any volunteer work, internships, or personal projects that demonstrate your commitment to patient care or healthcare environments.
• Emphasize soft skills. Highlight vital skills such as effective communication and collaboration, which are crucial in nursing roles. Ensure your resume is clean and professional to present your information effectively.

These strategies will help you shine, even without hands-on experience in travel nursing. 

Include the relevant key skills to qualify for travel nurse roles

In addition to your medical knowledge and clinical expertise, travel nurses need a blend of adaptability and compassion. The attributes you choose to highlight in the skills section of your travel nurse resume tell recruiters a lot about who you are and what you believe is important.

Play up your emotional intelligence. These are the soft skills that help you understand others and take care of your own needs so that you can be at your best in difficult situations. Travel nurses must adapt to each team with which they work, understanding the style and dynamics that they are thrust into. Communication (including active listening), empathy, teamwork, and internal motivation are all soft skills that make you a better travel nurse.

As a travel nurse, you'll rely on a range of hard skills to provide effective patient care. Reflect on the areas of nursing you’re familiar with and the tools or techniques you’ve mastered. Highlight any specialized skills, such as experience in high-intensity units or handling a variety of healthcare technology, to stand out.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our travel nurse resume template. 

Detail your education & relevant travel nurse certifications

All travel nurses must have completed at least an associate's degree in nursing (ADN), however, most staffing agencies and their clients look for a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). List all your degrees in reverse chronological order within the education section of your travel nurse resume.

If you have any advanced or specialized training, such as those from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, include those certifications and classes in this section.

Pick the right resume layout and design for your travel nurse resume

Recruiters are likely to scan your skills section first, followed by either your contact information or your most recent place of employment. Keep those factors in mind as you lay out your document.

Unless you are a pediatric specialist and want to present a more cheerful image, you should stick to these guidelines:

• Use color sparingly
• Avoid images and icons
• Choose fonts that are easy to read and keep it to two or three, if one is in your header
• Avoid large blocks of type by varying your line lengths and using bulleted lists
• Proofread! Your job requires attention to detail, so make sure your resume shows that attention.

If design isn’t your strength, let us do the heavy lifting by choosing from among our many expertly-designed resume templates. These templates also prevent formatting errors that can make your resume look unprofessional or difficult to read. 

Travel nurse text-only resume example

Travel nurse job market and outlook

As stated in a recent article from nursingprocess.org, travel nursing is a less familiar path compared to home health or traditional nursing roles, yet it's set to grow substantially due to widespread nursing shortages in many states. The high demand for nurses nationwide has intensified as fewer individuals are entering the field, often due to the costs and time commitments required to earn a nursing degree. 

With its competitive pay and personal rewards, travel nursing is expected to expand as more nurses embrace its many advantages. The BLS states, registered nursing is expected to grow by 6% from 2023 to 2033, a rate faster than the average for all occupations. On average, around 194,500 registered nurse job openings are projected annually over this period. Many of these openings will be due to the need to replace nurses who transfer to other professions or leave the workforce, often through retirement. 

What type of salary you can expect in travel nursing

According to nursingprocess.org, travel nurses earn an average of $59.66 per hour, but rates vary based on experience. Newer nurses generally start around $39.83 an hour, while those with more experience average $86.68. Opportunities for overtime may impact earnings, though they depend on the specific assignment and demand.

Travel nurse salaries range widely. The average annual pay is $124,100, starting around $82,850 for entry-level positions and reaching up to $180,290 for highly experienced nurses. While experience is a key factor, the type of assignment also significantly affects pay, with night shifts in trauma centers often offering higher earnings than daytime positions in clinics or doctor’s offices. 

Key takeaways for a travel nurse resume

A well-crafted travel nurse resume highlights your adaptability, nursing skills, and compassion. A strong, tailored summary conveys your unique expertise and readiness to work in various healthcare settings. Use metrics to illustrate your impact, such as improved patient outcomes or efficiency improvements, and optimize your resume with relevant keywords to pass Applicant Tracking Systems. Keep your resume clean and professional, allowing your dedication and qualifications to shine through.

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