An up to date resume is a vital part of any Travel Nurse Portfolio when submitting to a new travel nurse agency. Writing a great travel nurse resume can be daunting. The old adage of ‘keep your resume one page’ does not apply to the Travel Nurse resume.
Steps to Writing a GREAT Travel Nurse Resume
#1 Your Header
Your Header is at the top of your resume and contains your name and contact information. It’s also the first thing a hiring manager or recruiter will look at. Make certain to include both an email address and a phone number.
#2 Summary
Recruiters are busy these days and often, great resume’s get missed. Recruiters often scan resumes for keywords. Use these keywords in your summary and make it clear your years of experience and specialties.
#3 Certifications / Licenses
If you hold multiple state licenses and certification, this section can get lengthy. Don’t Stress. Provide clear details on State licenses (including expiration dates) and all pertinent certifications that you hold.
#4 Work History
Detailed work history is important. Include the Agency, Hospital, Unit, Dates, and brief description of your role.
#5 Education
Be sure to include the Institution Name and location, degree obtained and dates of attendance. You will likely also have to provide your agency with a copy of your educational transcripts.
#6 Computer / Charting Systems
List all of the computer charting systems that you have worked with. These skills can be key for some travel nurse positions. Are you a ‘super user’? If so, be sure to note this on your resume. Having skill with multiple computer charting systems will help your travel nurse resume stand out.
#7 Other Skills
Do you have other skills that might set you apart from other applicants? PICC line insertion, CPR Instructor, member of the Code or Rapid Response Team, participant in hospital ethics committee are just some examples. Be sure to highlight any additional skill that you have gained. Include any committee work that you’ve done as well.
You’ve perfected your Travel Nurse Resume…now what?
Now that you have perfected your travel nurse resume, you can check out these Top Agencies to help you find your next great travel nurse contract. Following these tips will help get your resume noticed and open doors to interviews. What change can you implement to improve your resume today?
Requirements for a nurse compact license are similar across states. However, each state may determine and vary its own licensure requirements. The states that participate in the compact have agreed that the licensing requirements in the individual states are compliant with their own licensing requirements. Therefore, these states allow you to work in their state without any additional licensing.
Nurse Compact License Requirements
Who’s Eligible?
Currently, the Compact license is available for LPNs and RNs. Additionally, there is current legislation attempting to provide a compact for Advance Practice Nurses.
According to NCSBN, The following are necessary in order to qualify for a Compact License.
Legally reside in an NLC state.
Hold an active RN or LPN/VN nursing license in good standing. (APRNs are not included in this compact.)
Declare an NLC state as your primary state of residency.
Meet the licensure requirements in your home state.
Additionally, some states have additional requirements in order to qualify. Check each state board’s website for details.
Which States Participate in the Compact?
Over the years, the nurse compact license has evolved. Now referred to as the eNLC. There are currently 42 states that have passed legislation as of June 10, 2024.
Screenshot
NLC States
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Guam (Allows nurses who hold active, unencumbered, multi-state licenses issued by Nurse Licensure Compact member states to practice in Guam under their multi-state licenses.)
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana (RN & LPN)
Maine
Maryland
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania- (Partial Implementation)
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia (RN & LPN)
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Pending States
Guam: Pending tentative implementation in 2023. Nurses holding a multistate license in other NLC states may now practice in Guam. Guam residents cannot obtain a multistate license until implementation is complete.
Virgin Islands: NLC enacted Dec. 6, 2021. Pending tentative implementation in 2023. Criminal background checks must also be implemented. VI residents cannot obtain a multistate license until implementation is completed. Nurses in other NLC states with a multistate license may not practice in the Virgin Islands until implementation is complete.
If I like my travel nursing contract can I ask for an extension?
Thank you, Marty RN
Thank you for reading The Gypsy Nurse. You have taken the first step on your journey to become A Gypsy Nurse.
Marty,
The ability to extend a travel nurse assignment is variable. It really depends on the assignment. I’ve worked as a travel nurse for nearly 9 years, and most of my contracts have offered an extension. There are times when the hospital will not need an extension because they have hired travelers for a specific reason; EMR conversions are a good example of this.
If you like the hospital and location and would like to extend, simply ask your recruiter about extending. The recruiter should be able to easily arrange a travel nurse contract extension for you. This is a huge benefit for a staffing company as their out-of-pocket expenses are lowered by an extension vs a new traveler.
Don’t forget to leverage your negotiating abilities for an extension. The staffing agency will be saving some monies that would go to bringing in a new traveler so use those savings to your benefit by asking for a little something extra. This could be a ‘completion bonus’, a small hourly increase or a multitude of other options.
Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?
Keeping track of travel nurse paperwork can be a nightmare! Last minute requests for items that you may or may not have easy access to while on the road can be annoying to both you and the recruiter. Avoid having any issues with your travel nurse paperwork by being organized and having everything easily accessible.
Build your Travel Nurse Portfolio
Over the years that I spent as a Travel Nurse, the one thing that consistently impressed my recruiters was my level of organization. Building your Travel Portfolio is an important step in becoming a successful Travel Nurse. At the beginning of each assignment, you will go through a travel nurse credentialing process, so be sure to update your files every so often.
Once you have selected which companies you want to provide with a profile, the next step is to start the application process. For the initial application, you will likely only need your work history and certifications. However, it is handy to have your health information on file for when you start the credentialing process.
EXPERT TIP: Save all of your Travel Nurse paperwork into a .pdf file and save as a .zip folder. This process, although time-consuming the first time, will make it a breeze to apply with new companies as well as making a lasting impression on your new recruiter. You can also use a Google Drive folder if you are comfortable with that. Remember to store this digital information on a secure, password protected site.
Checklist:
Completed Application
Many times this is online. I have had my recruiter complete the application for me in many instances from the information provided in my resume.
Resume
For the purpose of travel nurse paperwork, your resume can be simple and straight forward because your recruiter will usually have to input it in a generic system to submit you. Make certain to list the agency as well as the hospital for previous contracts. Your recruiter will need the agency information for employment checks. For additional tips on writing your resume check HERE
Immunizations / Physical
Tetanus Varicella Hepatitis B Most recent TB Test or Chest X-ray (if indicated)
Covid-19 Vaccine and Boosters Influenza (during Flu season, this is generally mandatory) Childhood immunizations
Annual physical forms will be provided by your agency once you secure a contract.
Licenses and Certifications
BLS ACLS Any other nursing certifications All active nursing licenses (if you have hard copies) Drivers License (for I-9 verification) Social Security Card or Passport (for I-9 verification)
Contact information for two or more references. Most recent job and 1-2 managers are preferred.
Staying on top of all of the travel nurse paperwork is a lot of work to begin but once it’s completed, keeping it updated regularly will save you tons of time and effort when applying for positions in the future.
If you have a company or recruiter ask for information or documents that are not listed on this file, please let us know in the comments!
It’s time now to submit your travel nurse application for the agencies that you are interested in. In Step #7: How to Research Travel Nurse Companies you narrowed your preferred companies list down to three or so. Now it is time to apply for travel nurse jobs!
The Travel nurse application process is a bit different than the standard job application. You will fill out an “application” with the agency, but then to actually apply for travel nurse jobs, your recruiter will have to “submit” your profile to each job need.
If you already have your profile finished it’s a quick step to simply email the completed profile to the recruiter in .pdf format or via Google Drive. Your recruiter should let you know ASAP if there is anything else they need to complete your profile and submit your travel nurse application for jobs.
EXTRA’s
Some agencies may require skills testing before allowing you to apply for travel nurse jobs. This is simply to verify your ability within your speciality. These “tests” take 20-30 minutes to complete and are usually pretty straightforward for experienced nurses.
CONFIRMATION
When the recruiter confirms that all of your paperwork is complete, they can officially start submitting your travel nurse application! By now, you have hopefully discussed where you would like to go, what type of pay you are looking for, and any other important details. Your recruiter can send over a list of jobs, and you let them know which ones you want to submit for.
Due to the fact that most travel nurses work concurrently with several agencies when searching for their next contract it is VERY important to make it clear to your recruiter(s) that they are NOT to submit your profile to any hospital without your prior approval. This is imperative to make clear to the recruiter. It can be very frustrating and appear unprofessional to receive a phone call for a job interview you are not prepared for, so just make sure your recruiter is communicating with you. Ask them to simply confirm when you are submitted, so you know to be watching for a phone call!
HOSPITAL SUBMISSION
It’s perfectly acceptable to be submitted to several hospitals at the same time. You should keep notes on which company has permission to submit you to which hospitals. Keeping track of this information makes it easy to follow-up with the correct recruiter.
TRAVEL NURSE APPLICATION EXPERT TIP
It is okay to let your recruiter know you are working with other agencies! This is to be expected, and a good recruiter will be professional about it.
You can return to the the introduction, or move forward or back using the article links below.
Travel nurse paperwork organization is very simple in the age of technology and online storage. Stay organized as you go to help minimize frustration down the line!
Determine what travel nurse paperwork you need
We have covered most of the important items you will need access to, but now is a great time to review your checklist.
When organizing your travel nurse paperwork, make sure you have the following:
This post by Joseph Smith at Travel Tax answers many Frequently Asked Questions regarding travel nurse taxes and record keeping. For most travel nurses, itemizing tax deductions won’t be worth it, so talk to a tax professional about your unique situation before you drive yourself crazy keeping track of tons of paperwork.
Once you have determined what files you need access to, the next question is how do you organize travel nurse paperwork. There are many ways to organize your paperwork and many websites dedicated to organization that you can check out for recommendations. Perhaps you already have a system that works and need to make it mobile? Here are a few ideas on how to get organized:
Accordion Files
Having an accordion file is a nice, compact way to keep all of your important documents organized and safe.
Binder with Tabs
A three-ring binder with folders or tabs is another great way to store important documents. Keeping each tab organized by color can be helpful.
You can easily make a Google Drive folder to keep digital copies of all of your travel nurse paperwork handy. There are tons of free scanner apps that even let you convert pictures of important documents to PDF format.
Backup
When you are constantly on the move, theft or loss of documents can be more likely. No matter what method you use for travel nurse paperwork organization, be sure to have both physical and digital backup copies. For digital copies, having a portable hard drive is a great way to keep your documents safe without internet access. Consider keeping a safety deposit box or fireproof safe at home to store backup copies of physical documents.
Do you have a great suggestion or tool for staying organized while mobile? I want to hear them. What are your thoughts on the list/suggestions above?
How Living in the Cloud Can Save Time and Your Sanity
The Following on cloud storage is a Guest Article via The Nerdy Nurse.
To some, terms like “the cloud” seem like foreign computer jargon used by only the nerdiest of computer geeks. However, the cloud is actually a very user-friendly way to store documents online and allows for nearly instant access to them from anywhere. This can be a beneficial tool for nurses in any role to keep track of paperwork. And now, services like Google Drive and Dropbox make living in the cloud easier than ever by using desktop synchronization automated after initial set up. This makes documents on your laptop accessible from your smartphone, work computer, or any other computer you feel comfortable logging in on.
What does it mean to “Live in the Cloud?”
Living in the cloud means storing all your documents and files online. This makes switching to a new device a breeze and can allow you to access your personal or business files whenever and wherever. It elevates your productivity because as long as you have internet access, you can create and store documents from anywhere. The key to living in the cloud is storing all your documents, pictures, music, and movies on a cloud service.
Why Should Nurses Live in the Cloud?
Often, nurses are asked to provide documentation about their licensure, social security information, or copies of other records. This can happen more often for travel nurses, who usually have to provide a packet worth of information for each new travel assignment. While many nurses may have a file cabinet at home where they store all these documents, wouldn’t it be much easier to log in to access those documents via your smartphone or another computer and present them instantly? Think of how much time you can save by not having to pilfer through that file folder and then make copies (again) of all those documents that you repeatedly need to access.
How Can I Start Living in the Cloud?
Now that you’re no longer intimidated by the cloud (or at least have the curiosity and interest to keep reading), you can get started living in the cloud. This can be done by following a few steps:
Select a cloud storage services provider.
I recommend Google Drive or Dropbox for superior user experiences to most other cloud services. However, Box adheres to HIPAA and HITECH standards, so if you are going to have PHI or your personal identity data in the cloud, you might want to consider this option.
Download the desktop application
Whether you are a Windows-based PC or Mac user, most reputable cloud services have a desktop client. This allows you to allocate a drive on your computer to store all your documents. This makes locating files on your computer a seamless experience and automatically syncs those files to the cloud without any manual intervention.
Download the smartphone App
One of the biggest benefits of cloud computing is that you can access your documents and files from pretty much any mobile device. If you want to view paperwork that you know resides on your home computer or a picture that you have to show a friend, there is no need to be concerned with whether you’ve synced that file or picture on your phone. As long as you have a cell phone signal, you can access any file you need anytime!
Store Your Documents and Files in the Cloud
Once you have downloaded the desktop app, make sure that you are storing any document you may need to access remotely on this synchronized drive. I personally recommend paying the extra fee (for Google Drive, it’s about $5 a month for 100 GB of storage) so that you can store all your documents in the cloud. This way, you won’t have to determine which files are more valuable than others. You can automatically backup and access all your files via the cloud.
You should also make efforts to use a digital scanner like NeatDesk or smartphone scanning applications like Jot Not Scanner Pro or Scanner Pro to make PDFs for pertinent paperwork. This will be especially helpful when applying for your next nursing job or travel nurse assignment.
When you first consider using the cloud, it can be intimidating and overwhelming. But hopefully, the information provided in this article has given you the tools you need to use the cloud to become more mobile and productive. No longer will you have to make hard copies of paper documents. You will be free to access your important files from anywhere at any time.
Technology can help nurses make life easier, and this is only one small example of how this can be done. For more examples of how nurses can use technology to improve their lives and the care, they deliver to patients, check out The Nerdy Nurse’s Guide to Technology.
Author Bio:
Brittney Wilson, RN, BSN, also known as The Nerdy Nurse, is a Clinical Informatics Nurse practicing in Georgia. In her day job, she gets to do what she loves every day: Combine technology and healthcare to improve patient outcomes. She can best be described as a patient, nurse, and technology advocate and has a passion for using technology to innovate, improve and simplify lives, especially in healthcare. Brittney is the author of The Nerdy Nurse’s Guide to Technology. She is a social media influencer and blogs about nursing, technology, healthcare, parenting, and various lifestyle topics at thenerdynurse.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter @TheNerdyNurse or Facebook The Nerdy Nurse.
Having a completed portfolio is very important for the travel nurse. One of the most important pieces of your Portfolio are your Travel Nurse References.
You should make certain to obtain a reference (or two) somewhere around week 8 of EVERY contract. By this time, your manager and co-workers should have a good feel for the type of work you perform. If you have picked up an extra shift or went above and beyond in some way…this will only help your cause.
Many times, your agency will obtain a direct reference (that you never see) from the staffing manager or their contact at the hospital. I’ve requested copies of these in the past and they are impersonal and many times inaccurate. I feel that it’s very important to obtain direct references from those that you are actually working with. I normally attempt to obtain a reference from a direct co-worker or supervisor (someone that actually works with me) as well as from my manager.
I utilize a generic ‘reference’ form that I simply make copies of. It’s a 1-5 rating on items like attendance, attention to detail, professionalism, clinical knowledge, etc. At the bottom of the form, there is room for comments and I encourage this section to be filled out. Nothing is better than a personal statement about your work performance. The form also includes the Hospital Name, Address, contact info as well as the name and title of the person filling out the form. I inform the person filling it out that this is for ‘my personal records’ and that the Staffing agency will likely have them fill out an evaluation for the agency.
References are a valuable addition to your Travel Nurse Portfolio. Hold onto them and keep them up to date.
I recommend that you have at minimum the past 1-2 years references close at hand in your Portfolio. You can file away ones that are older than this if you like but keep them somewhere that they can still be accessed if a company requests them.
