If you are a Registered Nurse with a strong desire to travel to different locations and save lives, you can be a travel nurse. The job merely involves using your current nursing skills but in other locations to help new patients recover as quickly as possible.

But how do you become a travel nurse from working as a regular staff nurse? This article will explore all you need to know, including the steps to set you in the right position for travel nursing jobs.

Let’s dive in!

Who’s a Travel Nurse?

In simple terms, a travel nurse is basically a Registered Nurse with the license to travel on nursing assignments to provide life-saving care. Just like any other nurse, these experts work in hospitals and other parts of the healthcare industry, usually for a short period and in places with either short staffing or too many patients.

Travel nurses also come in different professions including Intensive care medicine, emergency nursing, operating room nurse, and Telemetry nurse. This title depends on your specialty as a nurse before transitioning into a travel nurse.

How To Become a Travel Nurse

Without further ado, here are 9 steps that can help you become a travel nurse when you are already a licensed staff nurse.

1. Get Your Registered Nurse License

As a travel nurse, you must be a registered nurse (RN), and this is the first criterion before embarking on the journey to transition your nursing career, meaning completion of the training program and passing the NCLEX-RN exam in your country as well as getting the license to show you are now a certified Registered Nurse.

In addition, most travel nurse staffing agencies require at least two years of clinical experience, which means you can’t become a travel nurse right out of college. In some situations, you may need to have worked as a Registered Nurse for two years before being eligible for travel nursing jobs.

2. Travel Nurse License

Sometimes, you must apply for licensure in the state where you work as a staff nurse before transitioning to a travel nurse. But now, you don’t have to apply for a license in virtually every state because of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). This agreement allows licensed RNs to practice legally in other participating states.

However, not all states in some countries are members of this NLC body. So, if your destination on a travel nurse assignment isn’t a member, you must apply for state-specific licensure before you can work there.

 

This is why working with an agency is necessary, as all assignments will be given based on your abilities and qualifications. With this in mind, you can either continue with your current expertise or take time to learn new skills for your travel nursing career, especially ones that pay more.

3. Connect With Recruiters

It’s tempting to want to handle everything on your own, but keep in mind the steps required in transition to a travel nurse can be overwhelming. If care is not handled correctly, you can make some avoidable mistakes.

Therefore, Look for groups and agencies focused on helping new travel nurses find jobs, gather more information, learn from other travel nurses, and connect with other travellers in your field.

Focus on connecting with travel nursing agencies and recruiters, as they can guide you on how to start a fulfilling travel nursing career.

4. Get More Essential Skills

You may also need to learn BLS and ACLS, since you will often be sent to places with either a shortage of nurses or an influx of patients, like from an earthquake or bacteria outbreak. These skills can make you an invaluable asset to your travel nursing agency.

If you plan to do your travel nursing overseas, you can also get certifications like Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) or Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCRN). Most foreign nations recognize these qualifications, and they can also help you qualify for more financially rewarding jobs.

5. Submit Your Resume & Choose Location

Recruiters will want to know your abilities and places you prefer to work with, which you can detail in your application form. This information will help your travel nursing agency know which assignments are best for you, ensuring you can perform effectively.

Also note that since the agency works with your qualifications, having a Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC) licence means you can’t work anywhere outside 43 states in the United States.

6. Discuss & Understand Your Payment Details

Get every detail from your recruiter on the financial compensation they offer travel nurses, as most agencies offer medical benefits with your contract. Some details you want to pay attention to may include:

 

• Housing stipend
• Insurance
• Bonuses
• Assignment Opportunities
• Licence reimbursement
• Salary and more.

 

You may also talk to a tax professional to get information on the tax laws for travel nurses since you won’t be earning from one single location. Ensure that you digest your legal obligations to prevent financial trouble from the IRS.

7. Enquire For Accommodation

 

Depending on the agency and the location, accommodations may be optional. You may choose to rent an apartment or a palace provided by the hospital based on your assignment description.

Furthermore, once you have taken the above-listed steps towards the transition from a staff nursing career to a travel nurse, your recruiter finally has identified the assignment you’re interested in, which will ensure the whole process is achieved smoothly. You can then apply for more than one assignment to get multiple options if needed.

8. Pick Your First Travel Nurse Assignment

Kicking off your career as a travel nurse starts with applying for assignments that interest you. Once your recruiter offers a number of choices, be sure to apply to many to increase the number of suitable offers you receive.

As a first time traveling nurse, be ready to compete against well seasoned travelers. This makes having more options important since you can pick a contract that is most suitable to your goals.

The good news is that after completing your first assignment, your resume moves up in priority and therefore gets more attention. With such better prospects, you are more likely to get the assignment of your dreams, perhaps even at a desirable location.

9. Finish The Contract And Brace For Your Next Assignment

After finishing your first contract, the next phase is to work closely with your recruiter to secure a new assignment. Proactive recruiters will often start discussing extending your current assignments about 4-6 weeks before it ends.

If it is not possible to extend your current assignment, they will start looking for options that allow you to change contracts seamlessly.

 

Also do not wait until the last week of the contract to start looking for new employment opportunities, because doing so will likely result in a 2-3 week gap of no employment. During these breaks, having a PRN position can help maintain some income.

 

As you know, every new job comes with a separate set of credentialing requirements, which include, but are not limited to, background check, drug screening, and even a TB test. These details are better tackled ahead of time in order to ensure that deadlines for onboarding processes are met as well.

Conclusion

Transitioning from staff nurse to travel nurse is relatively straightforward, as all you need to do is get your licence, connect with a travel nursing agency, and present your resume to recruiters. These firms also have resources to better prepare you for future travels, as well as a vibrant community with experienced travel nurses that you can draw wisdom from

 

Good luck!