Updated October 30, 2024
Nursing shortages have affected the entire country since the beginning of the pandemic and are still impacting all healthcare settings. As a solution to this issue, healthcare facilities have turned to hiring temporary travel nurses to fill gaps in their workforce. As a nurse, you may have heard about this career option, but what exactly does travel nursing entail?
What does a travel nurse do?
A travel nurse is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN) who works temporarily at various locations around the country and in different types of facilities. These nurses routinely help in understaffed clinics, performing all of the regular tasks that a traditional nurse would do.
Travel nurses usually work under contracts that last 13 weeks, though it’s sometimes possible to extend the contract at a location. Because it can take weeks to hire and train permanent nursing staff, facilities benefit from being able to rely on travel nurses to quickly fill positions when they are needed.
Travel nurses work for third-party agencies that recruit them and help match them with the right facilities. The agency connects its nurses with open positions at facilities around the country, and can provide benefits like housing stipends, health insurance, and retirement planning. Instead of becoming employees of every facility in which they work, nurses are employed by the agency.
On the job, travel nurses have similar responsibilities to their permanent counterparts. These include:
- Giving medications
- Monitoring vital signs
- Performing assessments
- Admitting and discharging patients
- Participating in rounds
- Managing central lines and IVs
- Assisting with procedures
- Performing wound care
- Collecting labs
Because travel nurses can specialize in certain areas, like ICU or medical/surgical, they may be required to perform additional tasks.
Where do travel nurses work?
Travel nurses can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including long-term care facilities, where they take care of nursing home residents. In these settings, the nurse may have to assist patients with daily tasks while monitoring their health. They might also have to collaborate with family members to help provide adequate care.
Travel nurses often work in intensive care units. An ICU travel nurse cares for patients who are critically ill in hospital settings. They have to manage crucial equipment, including cardiac monitors, ventilators, and continuous dialysis machines.
Another common setting in which travel nurses work is pediatric units, where they care for children of all ages while also offering support to parents and other relatives. These nurses can work in hospitals, community clinics, and other locations.
How to become a travel nurse
If you're just beginning your nursing journey, there are several steps you need to take before becoming a travel nurse.
Get a nursing degree
To become a travel nurse, you must first earn a nursing degree—specifically, an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program. Although you’re not required to get a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), employers are more commonly looking for this degree when hiring travel nurses.
Pass the NCLEX
Once you’ve completed your degree, you need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse.
Gain experience
By now, you should have an idea of whether there’s a specialty you want to focus on. To become a travel nurse, most employers require at least two years of hands-on experience, so it helps to think ahead to your potential specialty.
If you’re interested in working as an ICU travel nurse, for example, it’s much more likely that you’ll be hired for those positions if you have experience working in an ICU.
Apply for your nursing license
To become a registered nurse, you need to be licensed in the state in which you work. However, if you want to become a travel nurse, the better option is to obtain a license that allows you to work in multiple states. You can apply for a compact nursing license, which will enable you to practice nursing in many states, allowing you more freedom to travel to various facilities around the country.
Currently, 42 jurisdictions are part of the Nursing Licensure Compact. If you decide to work in those states as a travel nurse, you will likely not need additional licenses.
Find the right travel nursing agency
The final step in becoming a travel nurse is to find the right travel nursing agency. Take your time choosing your agency. When you're out on assignment, your recruiter and any other support teams your agency offers will be your first point of contact if something goes wrong. You want to be sure you have people you trust on your side if you're traveling in an unfamiliar location.
Benefits of being a travel nurse
Being a travel nurse offers plenty of benefits that can take your nursing career to the next level.
Great pay
On average, travel nurses earn a higher salary than traditional nurses. They receive stipends for housing, meals, and other expenses that are usually tax-free, and their wages tend to be higher because of the additional challenges that travel nursing poses.
It’s important to remember that some states pay more than others for the same job, so your actual earnings will depend on the postings you accept. The average annual travel nursing salary in the United States is $101,132. In comparison, a registered nurse makes about $86,070 a year.
Chance to travel
Of course, one of the most attractive reasons to become a travel nurse is the chance to travel across the country. If you’ve always wanted to live in a particular city, why not apply for a travel nurse position there and really get to know the place? Rather than experiencing the city as a tourist, you can immerse yourself in that location as a resident.
Even better, most travel nursing positions offer travel and housing stipends, removing the financial drawbacks of exploring so many different locales.
Work in a variety of facilities
As a travel nurse, you get to work in lots of settings and with a variety of people. The consistent change throughout the year can be a challenge, but it can also be highly rewarding. Each facility has unique procedures that you’ll have to learn, but this will expand your knowledge base.
Choosing smaller facilities could also give you the chance to perform tasks that you might not otherwise be able to do. On the other hand, large facilities give you the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment to increase your efficiency. Both options can be rewarding for your career.
Flexibility
When you work as a travel nurse, you have the flexibility to decide not only where you work but when you work. After you complete an assignment, you can opt to take weeks off to go on vacation, which you would not be able to do as a traditional nurse without extensive planning and scheduling.
Build your network
By working at multiple facilities, you get to meet other professionals and expand your network, which ensures you have support when you need it. You’ll also be put in contact with people who could potentially hire you in the future.
Characteristics of successful travel nurses
A career in travel nursing is not for everyone. Possessing these critical characteristics will ensure that travel nursing is a good match for you.
Ability to learn quickly
To be a travel nurse, you need to be a fast learner. You may have a day or two of training before beginning a position, and that means getting to know the facilities, procedures, and people you’re working with. You’ll need to adjust to new technologies or standards of care on the fly, so you must pick things up quickly.
Enjoy new environments
You have to be ready to adjust to new environments rapidly. If you’re someone who loves the challenge of working in different facilities every few weeks, travel nursing could be the perfect choice. If you flourish better with an established routine, however, you could find travel nursing stressful.
Comfortable asking for help
Because you’ll be the new person every few weeks, you need to be comfortable asking for help, whether it’s approaching a senior staff member or inquiring how to use sophisticated pieces of equipment you may not have encountered before.
Ready to start your travel journey?
Travel nursing is a rewarding career path that can invigorate your nursing skills. It poses numerous challenges that will only improve your efficacy, making you a better overall nurse.
As one of the most trusted travel nursing partners, Prolink offers a team of experienced recruiters who are there when you need them, as well as a dedicated Clinical Team offering 24/7 support if any issues or concerns arise. Whether you're on your first, fifth, or fifteenth travel assignment, you can rest assured that Prolink has your back. Plus, we offer some of the most sought-after contract positions in the country, and top-tier benefits packages including day-one healthcare coverage and retirement planning. Connect with a Prolink recruiter today to learn more.
