What Is Travel Nursing, and Is It Right for Me?
Key takeaways:
Travel nurses fill short-term vacancies in staffing all over the country.
They are typically compensated well via short-term contracts.
Experienced nurses can easily find opportunities in their field while being able to travel.
Could travel nursing be the right step for you? For those with flexible schedules, travel nursing offers exciting, well-paid opportunities with the added bonus of seeing new parts of the country.
The travel nursing market is growing and is now worth more than $10 billion annually in the U.S., making up about 7% of the overall labor sector for all nurses. For the next 5 to 10 years, travel nursing is expected to remain an option for staffing as more nurses retire and others leave the workforce. It can act as a solution to the preexisting nursing shortages.
Let’s look at what it takes to become a travel nurse, the benefits of the position, and how you can take the next step to become one.
The advantages of travel nursing
This type of nursing is for those who thrive off of novel experiences and are keen on seeing more of the country. You’ll be able to focus your existing skills in new settings, while also exploring your local surroundings on days off.
Hospitals benefit from travel nurses' immediate availability to quickly meet appropriate nurse-patient staffing ratios, something that has been shown to improve care overall. In fact, studies consistently show there is no difference in patient outcomes when comparing short-term contracts to long-term employment, so travel nursing remains a safe, reliable option to improve staffing.
Requirements of travel nursing
To sign up with a travel nursing agency to seek a placement, there are a few requirements you’ll need to meet.
Education and licensure
First, you’ll need a degree in nursing. Most hospitals require a bachelor’s of science degree of nursing (BSN). But some will accept associate’s degrees in nursing, so any level of education is potentially eligible.
An active nursing license is also required, preferably in a compact state — meaning you can practice in any of the states connected to the compact state licensure, regardless of where you are licensed. If you don’t have this, your hiring agency will assist you. You can also be licensed in the specific state in which you’ll be working.
Experience
Traveling positions fill short-term vacancies to create safe staff-to-patient ratios. You are thrown in and expected to thrive with little onboarding. For this reason, travel nursing positions require existing experience on the type of unit for which you are applying for. This makes travel nursing a good option for seasoned nurses who are passionate about their specific specialty.
New nurses should pick their specialty and work for a few years; then they’ll be able to apply for travel positions.
Flexibility and availability
Travel positions range from 4- to 26-week assignments. When selecting a contract, the hospitals will arrange for specific schedules they require, and you can decide if that works for you. The possibility of staying on longer exists, depending on the need, or you can arrange for a new contract in another city.
Staying flexible and available for anything is key to getting your preferred locations. These typically will include hard-to-fill positions, such as night shifts and weekends. You could be covering someone’s sick leave or maternity leave. There are plenty of options, so find what works best for you and consider what matters most: location, pay, or hours.
Travel nurse pay and benefits
Travel nurses make, on average, $1,800 a week, which is typically less than what a salaried staff nurse makes. However, many contracts offer even more than that. Pay varies, depending mostly on location and urgency of need: California and North Dakota generally pay the highest, with Louisiana and Utah paying the least.
There are other factors to consider beyond pay, however. Many contracts offer housing stipends, relocation compensation, referral bonuses, and license reimbursement in addition to weekly pay rates. You may get a meal, mileage, and education stipend on top of that. Most positions are eligible for 401(k) matching; health, disability, and life insurance; and other typical benefits of a full-time position. Sign-on bonuses are also common.
If you are highly specialized and ready to work immediately, highlight that on your application to maximize possible pay and benefits.
How to apply for a travel nursing job
It pays to do your homework when applying for positions — particularly when choosing a hospital or placement agency.
Searching for opportunities
A quick online search yields thousands of travel nursing jobs. It can be hard to know which companies are best and to suss out where to go first. If you’re working at a hospital, the chances of a travel nurse already on board is pretty high. Ask around and see what they like or dislike about the agency they work with. Reach out directly to agencies and interview them, figuring out what they can offer.
In addition, there are many social media groups, blogs, message boards, and forums for travel nurses that are easy to join for information and advice.
Travel nurse agencies
Top travel nurse agencies are ranked online, with thousands of reviews showcasing their strengths and weaknesses. (Remember that this is a good question for experienced travel nurses who can steer you in the right direction.) Consider what the agency provides, and ask them for information on benefits and pay before committing. Do your research and select the agency that will work for you.
What happens once you’re hired
Once you’ve been offered a position, you’ll want to read the fine print on the contract and make sure you’ve submitted the proper paperwork. Many hospitals will want you to start right away.
Administrative tasks
Agencies will work with you to ensure you are the right fit for the hospital; they will take care of skills checklists, health screenings, and other requirements. The hospital may also offer a housing stipend for accommodations. To begin taking on shifts, you’ll submit your relevant documents through the hiring agency, including nursing licensure.
You can expect the hospital to provide some onboarding to familiarize you with policies and procedures, their computer systems, and other specifics. After that, you’re expected to provide immediate patient care.
Renewing the contract
Some hospitals will offer a traveling nurse a permanent position or the opportunity to extend the contract. Discuss with your unit manager if you’re interested in staying on.
However, you can make the decision to leave when your contract is up and go somewhere new. If that is your decision, be sure to convey that to your travel agency. The agency may provide some available options, and you’ll be on to the next adventure.
The bottom line
Travel nursing is an exciting way to shake things up in your nursing career. If you have the flexibility, time, skills, and positive attitude to work for short terms in unfamiliar environments, travel nursing can build clinical skills while earning you extra money and immersing you in a new setting.
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