3 answers
Juliet
Student
Odessa, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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Travel Nursing Requirements
I am looking into becoming a Travel Nurse. I have done a little research on how the life of a travel nurse looks like but I am curious on what to expect while trying to start this career. Is it a competitive field and how does one go about getting the most out of this career?
#travel #nursing #healthcare
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3 answers
Tonya Kloek
Nurse
9
Answers
La Grange, Kentucky
Updated
Tonya’s Answer
In reading the answers already provided, all which were good, a component of travel nursing not mentioned is that they prefer you have nursing experience before you apply. It's usually not a field you enter until you've had some time to get your nursing feet under you. Being tech savvy is useful as each hospital or agency your are there to support most likely has their own charting system...from Cerner, to Epic, to ICIP...all of which are poorly designed and quirky. Travel nursing can be exciting and rewarding as long as you are the type that is flexible, can hit the ground running, and understand that you are there because of staffing issues which have may deeeeeppppp roots you're unaware of (i.e. problems with management, institutional foibles, recent buy outs, etc.). Good luck!
Tonya Lawrence, PhD, MSN, RN, CNM
Nurse,Mentor,Educator,Leader
74
Answers
Updated
Tonya’s Answer
Traveling nursing is an official specialty in nursing (ANA, 2020; ATHNA, nd). Nurses have the opportunity to work in different settings such as hospitals, outside of the hospital setting (for example in a nurse practitioner/provider/physician office), as a school nurse, directors, emergency/disaster situations, and more.
The nurse has the opportunity to work with different patient needs as the needs of patient in a city area can be different than those who live in rural areas. There is an opportunity to work with different healthcare teams, professionals, use healthcare equipment that may be available in one state and not in another state, and learn new skills.
To specifically answer your questions:
What to expect?
Travel nurses can work in a setting for 1-week or extended time such as 6-months or more depending on the needs of the setting. The nurse would sign up to work for an agency and then the agency would offer different work environments/locations. Some agencies pay for where the nurse will live, their food, and travel. Commonly, the pay is more than average rates nurses earn due to the skills of the travel nurse who has versatility to work in different settings, is flexible, and adapts quickly to changing needs. The salary is also higher due to the potential inconveniences of traveling and potential to be away from home/family/loved ones. The nurse can expect to travel across the United States (there is a possibility to work in other countries) or work in the state where the nurse lives.
Is it a competitive field?
The field is competitive because the agency will look for specific nursing skills, the ability for the nurse to potentially acquire nursing licenses in various states, and selective assignments based on location, setting, and specialties. At the same time, there are many travel nurse positions available across the United States.
How does one go about getting the most out of this career?
To get the most out of the career the travel nurse can; work in different states and healthcare settings; acquire nursing skills in more than one nursing specialty to provide more opportunities to learn, use skills across specialties, and job opportunities; and meet new people. Also, when the travel nurse is not working in the healthcare setting there is an opportunity to experience the culture, tourist sites, restaurants, and shopping in the state or a state close by to where the nurse is working.
For more information on travel nurses you can visit the nursing websites below.
References:
American Nurses Association (2020). American Nurses Association Recognizes Travel Health Nursing as New Specialty Nursing Practice.
American Travel Health Nurses Association (nd). Home. https://www.athna.org/
The nurse has the opportunity to work with different patient needs as the needs of patient in a city area can be different than those who live in rural areas. There is an opportunity to work with different healthcare teams, professionals, use healthcare equipment that may be available in one state and not in another state, and learn new skills.
To specifically answer your questions:
What to expect?
Travel nurses can work in a setting for 1-week or extended time such as 6-months or more depending on the needs of the setting. The nurse would sign up to work for an agency and then the agency would offer different work environments/locations. Some agencies pay for where the nurse will live, their food, and travel. Commonly, the pay is more than average rates nurses earn due to the skills of the travel nurse who has versatility to work in different settings, is flexible, and adapts quickly to changing needs. The salary is also higher due to the potential inconveniences of traveling and potential to be away from home/family/loved ones. The nurse can expect to travel across the United States (there is a possibility to work in other countries) or work in the state where the nurse lives.
Is it a competitive field?
The field is competitive because the agency will look for specific nursing skills, the ability for the nurse to potentially acquire nursing licenses in various states, and selective assignments based on location, setting, and specialties. At the same time, there are many travel nurse positions available across the United States.
How does one go about getting the most out of this career?
To get the most out of the career the travel nurse can; work in different states and healthcare settings; acquire nursing skills in more than one nursing specialty to provide more opportunities to learn, use skills across specialties, and job opportunities; and meet new people. Also, when the travel nurse is not working in the healthcare setting there is an opportunity to experience the culture, tourist sites, restaurants, and shopping in the state or a state close by to where the nurse is working.
For more information on travel nurses you can visit the nursing websites below.
References:
American Nurses Association (2020). American Nurses Association Recognizes Travel Health Nursing as New Specialty Nursing Practice.
American Travel Health Nurses Association (nd). Home. https://www.athna.org/
Sandra Hurst
nurse
32
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Sandra’s Answer
Hello Juliet,
The most essential expectation of a travel nurse is work experience; travel nurses usually do not receive training on travel assignments that are contracted through an agency that the travel nurse works for. The other expectation of a travel nurse is traveling or floating to different places. Here are some videos that may help you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrvfLi9XL0Q (discussed types of non-bedside travel RNs); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVRMwmKRwRk (really liked this one about having a positive mindset while as a travel nurse, which is really important); travel nursing can be rewarding financially and psychologically, so good luck with your decision
The most essential expectation of a travel nurse is work experience; travel nurses usually do not receive training on travel assignments that are contracted through an agency that the travel nurse works for. The other expectation of a travel nurse is traveling or floating to different places. Here are some videos that may help you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrvfLi9XL0Q (discussed types of non-bedside travel RNs); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVRMwmKRwRk (really liked this one about having a positive mindset while as a travel nurse, which is really important); travel nursing can be rewarding financially and psychologically, so good luck with your decision