Travel Nursing Careers

Although you’re not required to have a compact license, it’s the best option. Otherwise, you’ll have to apply for individual licenses in all of the states where you want to work. For most travel healthcare professionals, the right choice is to get a compact license, which will let you work in 42 US states and territories.

When working as a travel nurse, you get a stipend that covers housing. That allows you to rent a place without having to foot the bill yourself. As long as you have declared a home state, meaning you have your primary home base there, you don’t have to worry about taxes on these stipends.

Yes. One of the best things about working as a travel nurse is that you have much more flexibility when it comes to your schedule. You can take time off between jobs without having to worry about scheduling conflicts with coworkers. When you need to take time for yourself, you can do so.

The most effective way of finding travel nursing jobs is by working with an agency that knows your skills, training, and career goals. Doing so can make it much easier to get access to top jobs from quality employers. This saves you the trouble of combing through job listings that may no longer even be available. Prolink offers top travel nursing assignments across the country. Start your job search here.

To become a travel nurse, you must first become a nurse. This means getting either your associate degree in nursing or your bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Alternatively, you can obtain a licensed practical nursing degree (LPN). 

Once you have a degree, you must pass the NCLEX to become a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. After the exam, you will need to get experience working in the field. Typically, two years of experience are required before you can become a travel nurse, but individual agencies may have different requirements.

Yes! It is not uncommon for RNs to accept travel nursing assignments in pairs. You can request to work in the same city, or even in the same hospital. Living in the same apartment or rental house even lets you share living costs, making travel nursing more affordable for both nursing professionals. Travel nurses can also accept assignments as a couple (even if your partner isn’t a nurse). Let your Prolink recruiter know about your unique situation so arrangements can be made for both of you.

Travel nurses can bring their whole family along, including pets! Keep in mind that accepting assignments with your pets means you’ll need to find housing that accepts dogs, cats, or whatever other type of pet you own. Pet-friendly housing is sometimes more difficult to find, and many rentals will require separate pet deposits, but the inconvenience is often worth it for our furry companions.

Travel nurse requirements can vary according to the facility and any specific circumstances, like crisis staffing needs. Some hospitals look for Registered Nurses with at least 12 to 18 months of bedside experience. Others are looking for nurses with certain specialties, such as renal care, telemetry, oncology, labor and delivery, pediatrics, ER, or ICU. Our accreditation specialists can help you with licensure and even assist in expediting your credentialing process, when needed.

The 50-mile rule states that you can receive a non-taxed housing stipend when taking a travel nursing job at least 50 miles away from your permanent residence. However, you can also work a contract assignment in a healthcare facility close to home. If you do take the hometown route, you will not be eligible for the non-taxed housing stipend. The housing stipend is only available to those who are forced to rent or own a home in your home city AND rent a place in the area where you will be working. Ask your recruiter for details on how to secure low-cost housing while taking a travel nursing assignment.

Travel nurses receive competitive pay, attractive benefits, and unlimited career advancement. You get to choose where you want to go while gaining rich experiences along the way. As a traveler, you will meet new people and discover exciting new cultures all while doing what you love.

The first step to earning what you want as a travel nurse is to communicate with your Prolink recruiter. Tell your recruiter about the pay and benefits you expect, and get tailored job results that fit your goals. Your recruiter can help match you with the job that balances excellent pay with your other preferences, so you can maximize your earnings with every assignment.