Travel Nurse Resume Guide (2026)
A strong, detail-rich resume is what gets you submitted to contracts quickly. Travel resumes aren't like staff resumes — recruiters and facilities want specifics. Here's exactly what to include.
Updated June 2026
What makes a travel nurse resume different
Facilities review travel resumes fast and want to confirm you can hit the ground running. That means concrete details: facility type and size, unit and bed count, patient ratios, EMR systems, equipment, and certifications. Vague "provided excellent patient care" lines don't help — specifics do.
Section by section
- Header — name, credentials (RN, BSN, CCRN), phone, email, and license/compact status.
- Summary — 2–3 lines: specialty, years of experience, and key certs.
- Licenses & certifications — list each with expiration dates.
- Experience — for each role: facility name, city/state, trauma level or bed count, unit, ratios, EMR, and 3–5 bullet specifics.
- Skills/competencies — equipment, procedures, and systems you're proficient in.
- Education — degree, school, year.
Detail checklist for each job
Common resume mistakes
Avoid: vague duty statements, leaving off ratios/EMR/bed counts, gaps with no explanation, missing or expired certs, fancy templates that break applicant-tracking systems, and typos. Clean, specific, and accurate wins.
Keep your certs current and your story straight
Track every license and certification — with expiration alerts — in the free ScrubbedIn Credentials Vault, so your resume is always accurate.
Explore the Tools Join ScrubbedIn FreeResume FAQ
What should a travel nurse resume include?
Concrete details for each role: facility type and bed count, unit, patient ratios, EMR system, equipment, and certifications — plus a header, summary, license list, skills, and education.
How long should a travel nurse resume be?
As long as it needs to be to show relevant detail — often more than one page. Facilities prioritize specifics over brevity, but keep it clean and scannable.
What are common travel nurse resume mistakes?
Vague duty statements, omitting ratios/EMR/bed counts, expired or missing certifications, fancy templates that break ATS parsing, and typos.
Do I need different resumes for different specialties?
Tailor the emphasis to the contract — highlight the experience and competencies most relevant to that unit and facility.
Explore more
This guide is general educational information for travel nurses. Details vary by agency, facility, and individual situation — always confirm requirements with your recruiter and the facility.