Nursing is something that has always been in demand and would always be in demand for as long as people are getting sick. But what is a travel nurse? What do they do? What are the recommended travel nursing jobs for travel nursing? How much does a travel nurse RN make? Where do traveling nurses stay? They are registered nurses who have a clinical background and are working a non-permanent or temporary nursing role.
The assignment that they usually get usually lasts about 13-weeks long, but it would also be as short as 4 weeks and could go as long as 26 weeks, providing a uniques experience and an opportunity to work with some of the most prestigious doctors and practitioners in some of the most desirable location and gaining exposure to different nurse leadership practices. Here are a few things you need to know when getting to know travel nurses.
What do travel nurses do?
Travel nurses are the people who fill the gaps in staffing needs for hospitals and facilities all across the country for specific periods of time. This may be due to a shortage of registered nurses for unexpected leave of absences, seasonal population fluctuations, or planned absences.
Steps on how to become a travel nurse
- Obtain your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN)
- Proof of your work in the United States or Canada
- All of the required certifications for hour designated nursing specialty
- Have a valid nursing license in the state you wish to work for
- Gain one year of experience in your specialty
The following are some of the certifications you need to be a travel nurse:
- Your High school diploma or GED
- BSM or 2-year associate’s degree from a Registered Nurse (RN) program
- Pass the NCLEX exam
- Basic Life Skills Certificate (BLS)
- Acquire your Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certificate
- Certifications specific to your nursing specialty (CCRN NPR)
- Nursing license for the state you work in
Ways on How you will Find the Right Travel Nursing Position for You
- Make sure that you have all of the required certificates for the position that you are interested in working in.
- Do you think the pay would be to your satisfaction? Would the move be worth it?
- You need to make sure that you have a valid nursing license for the state in which you wish to work.
- Are there any specific shifts that you prefer? Tell your recruiter what shifts you are willing to work at.
- Look for the states that you are willing to work in and check if they are available for the position that you are looking for.
What to do when you still have not decided which travel nursing position is best for you?
- Sign up for convenient job alert email notifications for different sites for new jobs that could meet your specific parameters
- Bookmark a page that you could visit often to view jobs that are posted daily
- Work with a travel nurse agency that can guide you through the selection process
How much schooling does a travel nurse make?
Most of the time, you are going to have to go through 2 to 4 years of schooling depending on the program that you chose, but the most important element to becoming a travel nurse is experience since most of the travel agencies and hospitals require nurses to have a minimum of 2 years of nursing experience prior to applying. Here are the following characteristics that you need to have before you could pursue travel nursing:
- Reliability
- Strong clinical background
- Problem solver
- Leadership skills
- Solid communication skills
- Expertise in their field
- Flexibility
- Adaptability
Tips on finding short-term travel nursing homes
Check Vacation Rental Websites
Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO are some of the most popular vacation websites that you could consider where you could find some great housing options and keep the scammers away (for the most part).
You have to be cautious in checking out potential landlords online
- Never send money to scammers because they are cyberbullied that are preying on desperate trailers.
- Use your intuition because they are usually right.
- You have to make sure that the images match the price. If you notice that the rent is grossly underpriced but the images are incredible, it is most likely a scam.
Beware of craiglists.com and “too good to be true” offers
There are some people who would post housing offers that are too good to be true so you have to be cautious. But you also have to keep in mind that it’s not all scams because there are some housing options that are real on Craigslist, but they do not come in the cheapest of prices.
Common travel nurses specialties:
- Operating room
- Telemetry
- Progressive Care Unit (PCU)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Emergency Room
- Medical Surgery
- Med-Surg Tele
Travel nursing has become increasingly popular with more and more nurses wanting to travel the country and still work in a profession that they love. Being a travel nurse could offer you guaranteed shifts at a higher pay while you are exploring a new city as often as you want.