Ready to dive into how you can transform your resume so you can start getting requests for interviews for remote nursing jobs? Awesome, us too!

But first let’s talk about remote nursing. To say that remote nursing is vital seems like a huge understatement considering the great need we’ve seen these last few months.

Clinics and primary care offices across the country are limiting the number of patients allowed in the offices at one time. For some patients in need of routine care, the most convenient option is to connect with a remote nurse. 

Patient needs are constantly evolving, and as needs change, so does the field of nursing. 

A 2015 study by Georgetown University reported that the healthcare sector has long been  “moving away from in-patient hospital care and toward ambulatory and community-based care.” That same Georgetown study reported a projection of 1.6 million job openings in the healthcare field through the end of 2020. 

Sadie Glisson of The Remote Nurse wrote that “as a field, we need to embrace this new era, harness the emerging technology and culture, and work to add measures that save our profession before it burns up and out.” (Source)

Remote nursing seems to be the perfect way to do just that! And as the industry continues to adapt and the need for health providers continues to grow, remote nursing is likely to play a significant role in the evolution of the field. 

So you want to find a remote nursing job?

We get a lot of questions about how to write the perfect resume for a remote nursing job.

Without the opportunity for a face-to-face interview, how do you truly sell yourself and your work to a potential employer?

What changes do you need to make to your existing resume, to transform it into the perfect remote nursing resume? And how do you go above and beyond, so that your remote nursing resume really stands out?

Well, one option is to hire a résumé writer, but I am fully confident that you can likely tackle this yourself!  If that’s what you decide, follow these 4 guidelines when writing a resume for remote nursing jobs. 

1. Write For Remote Work. It’s The Same, But Different!

First, think about how you might write your resume for any job. Remote nursing jobs does have their own unique quirks. But, at the end of the day, it’s still a job. We know how to apply for those! 

Just like you would when applying for a position to work on-site, pull keywords directly from the job description, and organize your resume in reverse chronological order. Be sure to also include your professional summary at the top of your remote nurse resume. The average job recruiter only spends about 7 seconds looking at each resume! So, putting the most important things at the top is key to helping your resume stand out.

Also, remember to keep the applicant tracking system in mind when you are writing your resume. Even the most perfect of resumes still has to make it past the first set of “eyes” to get into the recruiter’s hands! 

2. Flaunt Your Skills

Remote employees, and remote nursing professionals, often develop certain skills that make them uniquely-equipped to work on their own time. The ability to work independently, to motivate yourself to complete tasks, and a respect for deadlines are all important when working remotely. If an employer knows that you have previous experience leaning on those skills, they may be more interested in your candidacy. 

If you don’t have remote experience, don’t stress. First and foremost, employers looking to hire remote nurses are concerned with finding dedicated, compassionate nurses. Your experience as a healthcare provider trumps your inexperience working from your couch in your favorite pair of lazy-day-approved sweatpants. (Doesn’t that sound nice though? Sign me up!)

Next, leverage what makes you uniquely-equipped to work remotely. Are you well-versed in the latest patient care technologies? Do you have previous experience manning phone lines, email accounts, or online portals in any of your previous positions? Highlight these skills in your resume so the employer knows exactly why you are such a good fit! 

3. Keep It Concise

As mentioned before, the average recruiter only spends a few seconds looking at each resume before deciding on which candidates get interviews. By summarizing your experience at the top of your resume, you are in control of the first impression. So what happens if (when!) the recruiter decides you are a great candidate and spends 20, 30, maybe even 45 seconds reading about how awesome you are? You keep things short, sweet, and specific for them throughout the whole document! 

Don’t muck up your soon to be transformed resume tailored specifically for remote nursing jobs, by writing about your work experience as if you consulted a thesaurus every 5 seconds. Most recruiters can tell when an applicant is over-embellishing their resume. Write in a professional manner that sells your expertise to the recruiter. But, also be true to your own voice, and let your experience and your resume speak for you. 

 

4. Don’t Be Afraid To Wait

Lastly, once you have your new remote nursing resume finished, and you start applying for remote nursing positions, don’t get discouraged if you don’t immediately start seeing interview requests pouring into your inbox. When you apply for remote jobs, the pool of applicants is much wider than just the people in your area. People from all over the country — even all over the world — may be applying for the same position! 

That perfect remote nursing job is out there for you. It may be dragging its feet, but that’s no reason to drag yours! Keep plugging along, developing your nursing skills and gaining more relevant experience. Remote work is only going to continue to become more common, so don’t be afraid to hold out for the right position. 

Earlier this year, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that nearly 15 percent of American workers already spend much of their 9-5 clocking in from home. With the onset of COVID-19, another 34 percent joined the work-from-home club. Remote work isn’t going anywhere. 

Are you ready to get started crafting the perfect resume for applying to remote nursing positions? I hope these tips give you a good place to start. And if you get stuck, I’m always just an email away!