Travel nurses must!<\/h3><\/div> They must be able to overcome their fears to have amazing experiences, meet wonderful new friends, and enjoy the splendors of what this career has to offer. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How Does Travel Nursing Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Travel nursing was originally established to help hospitals get more help during high census seasons or tourism events. From that development grew a network of hospitals, vendors, agencies and nurses willing to work together to keep facilities fully staffed and functioning. Without travel nursing, there would be no one to replace the nurse who is out on maternity leave, the nurse who wants to take a vacation would never be approved during the busy season, or the nurse who can’t come back until they’ve healed from their surgery would be feeling guilty the floor is so short staffed without them. Travel nurses are there to help! Many staff nurses see travelers as a saving grace when their alternative is to work short handed or be guilted into picking up overtime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Travel nursing involves three major parts: the hospital, the staffing agency, and the travel nurse. Hospitals advertise their staffing needs through staffing agencies who then find qualified people to fill the open positions. Think of your recruiter like the middle man between you and the hospital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Travel Nurse?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To become a travel nurse, you must first become a nurse. If you have that part down, go ahead and skip this section. If not, let\u2019s go over it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Become a Nurse in Three \u201cEasy\u201d Steps:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Obtain a Nursing Degree<\/h4>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you can work as a nurse in the United States, you must first attend an accredited college or university and obtain an two year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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2. Pass the NCLEX and obtain your nursing license<\/h4>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After completing your college degree, the next step to becoming a nurse is to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the state in which you graduated. It is easier to obtain a license from the same state as your college and then apply for other state licenses through endorsement afterward. If you live and are licensed in a state that participates in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) agreement, you qualify to use your state license in all states within that compact agreement. The benefit of an NLC license means the nurse can work in any NLC state without having to apply for, or maintain continuing education for, each state\u2019s individual nursing license. This makes travel nursing more accessible, saves nurses money and time, and allows states to have access to a larger pool of short-term staff when their hospitals need help. In order to satisfy the NLC agreement, the nurse must maintain an active RN license in their home state, complete continuing education requirements for that license, remain in good standing with the board of nursing, abide by state and federal laws, and strictly follow their scope of nursing practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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3. get hired and gain experience <\/h4>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Congratulations! You are ready to start your nursing career! All that hard work has finally paid off! It\u2019s time to create your resume, submit it to hospitals, nail the interview, and start a wonderful career in the medical field. This is your opportunity to put all that schooling to work! But remember, a great nurse never stops learning! Keep asking questions, keep being curious, and keep growing into a stronger nurse every day! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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10 Steps to Becoming a Travel Nurse:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/div>Journaling Opportunity<\/h3><\/div> Why do I want to be a travel nurse? What aspects of traveling draw me to this career? What hardships do I anticipate having to overcome? What makes me the most excited? What is holding me back? How can I overcome those fears? What if everything works out and it ends up being the best experience of my life?
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1. Find a Travel Nurse Agency Whose Values Align with Yours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agency you choose will have a major impact on how your travel assignment goes, so choose precisely. They should have transparency in job openings and pay packages, be reliable and timely, and have an organized team to help get you the best contract and take care of you while you’re on assignment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Review what agencies have to offer on their websites or ask a recruiter these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do they offer health insurance?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Does that insurance start on the first day of work or is there a designated amount of time before you can utilize it?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Will you continue to be covered by that insurance in between contracts?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do they offer sick pay?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>How is that sick pay accumulated?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do they offer a 401K or retirement benefits?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do they reimburse you for travel to the assignment?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>What is the maximum amount paid for travel reimbursement?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do they have a compliance team?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do they pay for your medical screenings, vaccinations, labs, physicals, drug screens, or other requirements the hospital requests \u2013 or are you required to pay out of pocket with the possibility of getting reimbursed? (Some agencies do not cover these appointments at all, always ask!)<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do they work directly with any hospital systems? (If they do not work directly with a hospital system, it is more than likely that they use a third-party vendor like FocusOne Solutions, SimpliFi Staffing, RightSourcing, or AYA Managed Service Program (MSP)\u2013 These staffing vendors will take a percentage of the pay the hospital has budgeted per traveler, therefore reducing the amount your agency can pay you compared to a traveler who is hired through an agency that works directly with that hospital system).<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do they offer a housing team to help you find affordable housing at your assignment?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/div>Warning<\/h3><\/div> I’ve heard horror stories about travelers arriving to their contract, only to find their agency did not submit the proper paperwork or inform the nurse of additional requirements the hospital had before the start date (such as exams, medical screenings, or special certifications) in which the traveler\u2019s contract was completely canceled or the start dates were significantly delayed. This can cost the traveler A LOT of money via travel to the assignment, lease agreements, and more that will not get reimbursed by their agency if they do not start a contract there! This is why choosing a reliable agency is important!<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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2. <\/strong>Seek a Travel Nurse Recruiter You Connect With<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They will be your go-to when you need help on your assignment, make sure they are trustworthy and responsive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is nothing worse than getting to your assignment, discovering a major problem, and then not being able to get ahold of your recruiter for help. Don\u2019t jump on board with the first recruiter you talk to; do your research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Create accounts on multiple travel nurse agency websites. This will take some time. You will need an updated resume, two to three recent professional references, and be able to complete a skills checklist to see how competent you are with certain nursing skills. Some agencies require you to have an account to see what jobs they have available, while others let you look at the list as a guest. Always speak to a recruiter about the details of the assignment before submitting your application. If you approve your recruiter to auto-submit you to hospitals in a certain area, remember to review the pay package immediately before accepting an offer. Some hospitals will automatically offer a contract based on your resume, while others will want to do a phone interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spend some time talking to different recruiters and observe the different ways they operate. The first time you talk to a recruiter, they should be knowledgeable and informative about how travel nursing works, answer any of your questions on the process, and then their focus really should be trying to get to know you. You want your recruiter to be able to honestly tell you if they do not know an answer and follow through with finding it out for you. Your recruiter should create a list of the types of places you want and be able to make suggestions relevant to your requests. A good recruiter should not persistently pressure you to apply to areas you do not want to go. They should check in with you frequently during the application process, the onboarding process, and during your assignment. The most trustworthy recruiter should be able to educate you on your options and never try to knowingly steer you toward an unsafe assignment location. Finding a good recruiter is like finding a therapist, you have to connect as individuals before you can establish a trustworthy professional relationship. You won’t get along with everyone and some recruiters you talk to just won’t click, and that is completely okay. Do not be afraid to reach out to the agency and ask to speak with other recruiters. It is your life, you should be comfortable with and confident in the person helping you choose where to go with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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3. What Are You Looking for in a Travel Nurse Contract?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are the questions you must prepare to answer before you start looking for available contracts. This will not only help you narrow down your search, but it will also assist your recruiter in keeping an eye out for positions that fit your desires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>What are your priorities for this assignment?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Are you looking for a large trauma center, a critical access hospital, or something in between?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>What kind of pay package are you willing to accept?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do you want to work 12-hour shifts or 8-hour shifts?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do you prefer the day shift, mid-shift, or night shift?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Would you accept a 36, 40, or 48-hour work week?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Are you willing to float between departments or prefer to stay in one specialty?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Are you willing to float between different hospitals within the hospital system?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Would you accept a contract that requires on-call shifts?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Are you looking to go somewhere new or revisit familiar places?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>What kind of experiences do you want to have outside of work?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Choose Your Travel Nurse Location<\/h4>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/div>Journaling opportunity<\/h4><\/div> Journaling opportunity: What activities bring me joy? What hobbies do I want to learn this year? What landscapes or attractions am I most drawn to? What contracts have the most of these things?<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Would you rather live in a big city or a small town?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>What population size are you comfortable living in alone?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do you want to be near the desert, an ocean, mountains, or valleys?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Would you rather live close to event centers or be near national parks?\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Are you simply looking to go anywhere you haven’t been? (Yes, that’s an option too!)<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>How close to an airport do you want to be?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Will you need access to public transportation?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Do you have enough money to make it to your assignment prior to your first paycheck and getting travel reimbursement?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>What are your living standards for this assignment?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>What type of housing is available in those areas and is the rent within your budget?<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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