Travel Nursing in a Nutshell
June 10, 2023
Let’s jump into a crash course on travel nursing! There’s a LOT to know and this post won’t get into much of the details, but if you’re looking for a quick summary and answer to the most pertinent, basic questions then this is for you.
what is a travel nurse?
A travel nurse is basically a temp, or temporary worker, but nursing edition. A travel nurse is typically an RN (though you don’t necessarily have to be an RN to be a travel nurse) who works with a travel nursing agency to find short term contracts around the country.
*Fun Fact: Travel nurses get paid well to travel the country, help in areas where there is the greatest need for nurses, and build incredible skills and experience.
*Not So Fun Fact: Though they do important work, travel nurses often face a bit of hostility for benefitting off of the nursing shortage and making more than most staff nurses.
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who can work as a travel nurse?
There are many different types of medical professionals who work in this industry, not just nurses, as well as all different kinds of nurses (CNAs, LPNs, RNs, NPs, etc.). The most universal requirement of travel nursing is that you have at least one year of experience working in a specialty, well that and you have to be licensed.
*Fun Fact: If you already have your nursing license in a “compact state” you’re golden! By this I mean your license will automatically transfer to 39 states (and counting), making licensing largely not an issue for you as a travel nurse.
*Not So Fun Fact: While it’s technically possible to get hired without a full year of experience in a specialty, it’s difficult and unlikely. New grads looking to travel nurse as an RN must have experience working as an RN first (ideally in a hospital).
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what does a travel nurse do?
Travel nurses can work in all kinds of facilities looking for help, be that a hospital, long-term care facility, or home health agency. They fulfill the same job as a staff nurse, but with little training and typically only work there for 13 weeks or up to one year.
*Fun Fact: A travel nurse goes through rigorous online training before starting a new contract and then only two (or so) days of training on the floor at the hospital before flying solo.
*Not So Fun Fact: Most travel nurse contracts are for night positions, so you may end up having to work nights at some point!
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how does housing work while travel nursing?
Most often, travel nurses choose to find their own furnished housing when on contract. Sometimes travel nurse agencies may have housing to offer, but it’s usually not as good of deal financially to go with the agency’s housing.
*Fun Fact: Furnished Finder is the go-to resource for travel nurses to find short-term furnished housing!
*Not So Fun Fact: Travel nurses have to take what they can get and sometimes get stuck paying crazy high rents due to lack of options.
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do I have to do travel nursing alone?
No! Plenty of people travel nurse with their friends, pets, significant other, and even their kids! Your friends or significant other may or may not work as a travel nurse too, either way there’s ways to make it work if everyone is on board.
*Fun Fact: Dan and I have been travel nursing for a year as a married couple along with our two cats! We know other couples who also make it work as well as families who have done travel nursing all together.
*Not So Fun Fact: Travel nursing can be hard on relationships, whether you’re doing long-distance or travelling together. Both people have to be totally on board and understand that there is little flexibility in travel nursing when it comes to things like scheduling.
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how much do travel nurses get paid?
Typically, travel nurses get paid more than staff nurses, sometimes a lot more. Travel nurses are paid a standard hourly wage, but in addition they also get a housing stipend and meals & incidentals stipend that often end up being more than their actual salary.
*Fun Fact: If you meet the requirements, travel nurses can receive their stipends completely tax free!
*Not So Fun Fact: Travel nursing isn’t regulated and there are little to no protections for travel nurses, so their pay can be cut at any point during a contract. Travel nurses can also have their contract cut/ended prematurely with little to no notice and no severance pay.
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is travel nursing easy?
Definitely not, and for a number of reasons. Moving around every three months or so is tough, as is finding furnished housing and travelling the country from contract to contract. You also have to be a good nurse who learns quickly and is confident enough to only have a couple days of training before starting at a new hospital.
*Fun Fact: You could live and work in four or more different places around the country in just one year as a travel nurse if you don’t renew your contracts.
*Not So Fun Fact: There is little to no opportunity for advancement as a travel nurse. You will only be able to work on units that you already have experience on; you won’t be able to train on new units as a travel nurse.
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