Transitioning from life as a travel nurse to taking a staff nurse job is a big step in your nursing career. Maybe you’re ready to make the switch because you found a welcoming facility or started a great relationship or you want to buy a house. Whichever the reason, your travel nurse experience has helped you develop a wealth of skills that are highly valuable in a staff nurse role. Effectively showcasing your travel nurse experience on your resume is the key to landing your desired staff nurse job. Here are a few tips on how to do it.
1. Craft a Compelling Summary Statement
Your experience as a travel nurse has made you an adaptable individual who is able to acclimate to new environments and work with diverse teams while still providing high-quality care. Start your resume with a strong summary statement that highlights your travel nursing experience, how many years you’ve been a nurse altogether, the types of facilities or units you’ve worked in, leadership roles, and the skills you’ve acquired throughout your career. This brief section should capture the attention of hiring managers in 3-4 sentences.
2. Detail Your Work Experience
When listing your travel nurse assignments, group them under a single section to highlight the breadth of your experience. For each assignment, add the facility name and location, the dates when you worked, and the skills and accomplishments that are relevant to the staff nurse position you want.
Example:
[Your Specialty] Travel Nurse | Various Locations | Month and Year – Present
- Hospital Name, Location (Month & Year – Present)
- Provided comprehensive patient care in a fast-paced acute care setting.
- Precepted three new nurses and took charge nurse duties.
- Managed patient caseloads, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to ensure continuity of care.
- Hospital Name, Location (Month & Year – Month & Year)
- Detail 1
- Detail 2
- Detail 3
3. Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
Each perm nurse job may have specific requirements and preferences. Tailor your resume to align with the job description, emphasizing the aspects of your travel experience that are most relevant to the position.
Example:
If the job description emphasizes teamwork and collaboration:
Collaborative Care: Worked closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive patient care, enhancing communication and collaboration skills.
If the job description highlights experience in a specific specialty:
Specialty Experience: Provided specialized care in emergency and acute care settings, including managing critical patients and performing advanced nursing procedures.
If the job asks about leadership opportunities:
Leadership Experience: Led a team of 5 nurses as a charge nurse in a high-pressure environment and precepted new nurse grads.
4. Highlight Key Skills and Achievements
Highlight the skills you’ve learned as a travel nurse in a dedicated skills section or within your work experience descriptions.
Example:
Key Skills
- Adaptability: Quickly acclimated to new healthcare environments and procedures.
- Clinical Expertise: Extensive experience in acute care, emergency care, and primary care settings.
- Communication: Strong ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams.
- Leadership: Demonstrated leadership by training and mentoring new staff.
- Problem-solving: Proven ability to handle complex cases and emergency situations with minimal supervision.
5. Include Licenses and Certifications
List any state licenses and certifications you’ve gained that are relevant to the staff nurse role that you want.
Example:
Certifications
- Registered Nurse (RN) License – State of [State 1], [State 2]
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification – Organization
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification – Organization
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) – Organization
Want More Resume Help?
Your travel nurse experience is a valuable asset that can set you apart as a candidate for a staff nurse position. By crafting a compelling resume that highlights your adaptability, clinical expertise, and achievements you’ve gained from your assignments, you can effectively show your suitability for a permanent role.
Would you like more help polishing your resume before submitting it to facilities? Read our detailed guide on how to optimize your nursing resume. And when you’re ready to apply to a new role, check out our list of jobs – we’re always adding new opportunities!
