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How to Become a Travel Nurse

May 26, 2020

Are you thinking about becoming a travel nurse?

Travel nursing is one of the best gigs out there. Not only does it allow you to see different parts of the country, but it also pays pretty competitively.

Plus, for many travel nursing assignments, your accommodation is paid for. Additionally, in-between assignments, you can take off as much time as you want. Many travel nurses will work 3-month assignments, then take breaks for 3 weeks before picking up a new assignment.

If you’re interested in this career, check out this guide to learn how to become a travel nurse.

1. Earn Your BSN

After graduating from high school or earning your GED, you’ll need to earn your bachelor’s of science in nursing.

While there are travel nursing jobs for LPNS (licensed practice nurses) and CNAs (certified nurse assistants), jobs for registered nurses are much more plentiful.

Plus, you’ll earn a higher salary as a registered nurse and you’ll have a lot more opportunity for growth.

Typically, a BS in nursing will take four years to complete. However, if you already have a bachelor’s degree and are making a career change, there are fast-track bachelor’s and master’s programs that can be completed in as little as 24 months.

2. Gain Experience in the Field

Most travel nursing jobs require that you have at least a few years of experience under your belt before you can apply.

This is because with travel nursing, you’ll need to jump right into your position, oftentimes with minimal supervision. Therefore, hospitals want to make sure you’re very comfortable in your role. This is one of the reasons why the travel nurse salary is often higher than that of other nurses.

While travel nurses are required in all specialties, some of the most in-demand specialties include:

Intensive Care Nursing
Operating Room
Psychiatric
Emergency Room
Women’s Health
Cardiovascular Operating Room
Long-term Acute Care

When earning your nursing degree, it’s a good idea to do some clinicals in these fields to see if any of them are a good fit.

3. Apply for Travel Nursing Jobs

Once you have a few years of experience under your belt, it’s time to start applying for travel nursing jobs.

While you can check for work on general job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor, it’s also a good idea to register with a traveling nurse recruitment site.

These sites are specifically designed to help you find a travel nursing job in the area of the country you want to work in. Oftentimes, recruiters will contact you with work so you don’t even need to do the searching!

4. Prepare for Life on the Road

Once you’ve landed your first travel nursing gig, it’s time to prepare for life away from home.

If you’re going to be gone for an extended period of time and working in another area of the country, then you may need to sublease your place, put your belongings in storage, or cancel your utility bills.

You’ll also need to do research on your new location.