Joining the Healthcare Profession

Do you have a yen for travel, wanting to experience new places and meeting a wide variety of people to look after while earning a living? If so, becoming a travel nurse could be an ideal situation for you.

Individuals like you who have a profound sense of duty and a desire to take care of others often find that their best career path is in the field of medicine. For curious, compassionate people who have a calling to work as a nurse, there is a wide range of options for potential employment.

Some nurses prefer the stability of working at one facility, or they need to stay employed at one location so their kids can stay in the same school district or because their spouse is tied a job in the community, making it challenging to move. Other nursing professionals will do much better when they have some flexibility in their work schedules.

Maybe you want to become a travel nurse because your partner is in a profession that often needs to switch locations, such as a member of the military, a business consultant, or a traveling salesperson.

Becoming a travel nurse makes for an exciting career path that combines healthcare with a passion for travel. Learn more about what a travel nurse does, the steps to becoming a travel nurse, the job outlook, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions Students Ask About Becoming a Travel Nurse

What is the role of a travel nurse?

Travel nurses take on part-time roles in doctors’ offices, hospitals, clinics, and other venues, often for short periods of time when there is a temporary shortfall in staffing.

Will I have an option to select the location where I’ll work next?

You can usually choose where you’ll work, but there may be situations with fewer opportunities in your preferred communities. Travel nurses tend to have more options about their schedule for work, enabling them to select their next assignment according to which day or days of the week they want shifts and for how many hours.

How much can I anticipate earning as a travel nurse?

In general, you can expect to earn about $75,000 annually, with the price range varying depending on factors such as your experience, what part of the country the job is in, how extensive local labor shortages are, and if you have skills in particular specialties.

How long should I expect a travel nurse assignment to last?

In general, contracts span 8 to 26 weeks. Such timeframes allow you to become more familiar with the facility and how it functions, and you’ll get to know your coworkers and the type of patient population you’ll be serving.

Crucial Milestones to Your Career as a Travel Nurse

The first step may be the hardest one as you embark on a career as a travel nurse: You must commit to your decision and go forward with beginning your nursing coursework instead of merely dreaming about being a nurse.

After you determine the most suitable, accredited nursing school where you’ll begin your studies, you’ll need to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Certification is the next step. You will pass examinations, including the National Council Licensure Exam.New nurses must also demonstrate certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS).

Gaining plenty of experience in your specialty is crucial. Generally, nurse travel placements will depend on you having at least two years of experience.

For best results, you’ll forge connections with a reputable agency that has experience in placing travel nurses with job assignments.

Verify that you have all the required credentials to work as a travel nurse according to the job position, the regulatory agency, and the state where you want to work.

Go over your resume with a fine-tooth comb. Ideally, you will ask a trusted friend or advisor to review your resume for typos and other errors and to spot contradictions or missing information. You only have one chance to make a great first impression!

Travel nurses can also improve their chances of success by doing practice interviews. Record a video of yourself in mock interviews, so you can avoid being nervous as you fine-tune your presentation about why you’re the ideal candidate to hire.

Starting a Fulfilling Career By Training to Become a Travel Nurse

Medical professionals who want to see more of the world and become exposed to a wide variety of doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities can expand their horizons by becoming a travel nurse. It’s an exciting profession that allows you to experience much more about the world while helping others. For more guidance about this rewarding career, please see the accompanying infographic.

Author bio: Garrett Norman is Vice President of Operations at SkyBridge Healthcare. With over a decade of experience in the staffing and recruiting industry, Norman has developed a passion for building successful teams, facilitating connections between healthcare clients and candidates, and driving revenue growth at SkyBridge Healthcare. While overseeing day-to-day operations is his primary job function, Norman also enjoys golfing, reading and spending quality time with his family.