Sometimes medical facilities are under staffed and need a qualified nurse to come in and work immediately, either on a long or short-term basis. You may be required to work as a traveling nurse for a duration ranging from four weeks to a year, depending on the healthcare facilities’ needs at that particular time. Also, certain medical facilities can never have enough nurses on hand and are constantly looking to fill their nursing positions. Typically this is how it works. A traveling nurse takes a position, and once that assignment has ended, the traveling nurse will move to another location that also needs a traveling nurse, and so on. If the right position presents itself, a traveling nurse may take it up as a permanent job.
How does one become a traveling nurse? Do you just walk in the hospital and say, “I’m a traveling nurse may I have a job?” That might not work. What will work is becoming associated with a traveling nurse company, which helps those who are looking for travel nursing work. There are many traveling nurse agencies available because of the popularity of the travel nursing in recent years. Choosing the right traveling nurse company is just as important as choosing the right school for nursing education. Potential traveling nurse must follow a step-by-step process such as, filling out an application, speaking with a recruiter, choosing and accepting the assignment. Travel nursing companies will help those looking for apartments or condos with accommodations at affordable rates.
It is unlikely that a traveling nurse will get to choose any desired healthcare facility to work in. Not every traveling nurse can work in a palm tree, blue ocean setting with endless beaches to enjoy. That doesn’t mean the opportunities to work in those highly sought after locations won’t become available in the near future. Traveling nurses may want to work in smaller healthcare centers or in large medical facilities, depending on their specific preferences. Family and friends are a high priority for most people and some traveling nurses may want to stay relatively close to home and may not want to travel across the country for long periods of time.
Those traveling nurses who wish to re-locate to another part of the country can assess how well they might adapt to their new surroundings, when they take one of those long assignments. Since the nursing assignments may be short-term, those who wish to make a more permanent move can research for long-term positions in that area. On the flip side, while being a traveling nurse will provide a sense of freedom, as you travel from place to place, it is not guaranteed that you will land a position immediately after the current assignment has ended.
Those who have at least two years of experience in a hospital location will have the best opportunities to land well paying traveling nurse positions. Wages may range from $20-$40 per hour depending on location, experience, and overall education/training. The education required for becoming a traveling nurse is same as that required for becoming a nurse, otherwise. All registered nurses must have graduated and have certification to work in the U.S. Different states have different laws and regulations so it is important to receive a license from the state, where the nurse wants to work. Depending on the healthcare facilities’ policies, many traveling nurses will receive health benefits even when they are working on a short-term basis.
A travel nursing job can be very stressful. Traveling is not for everyone and it requires a lot of planning and organization. Becoming a traveling nurse could open many doors and good opportunities for those who are willing to take the chance. Many nurses feel comfortable working in one particular healthcare facility for nearly their entire nursing careers, while others prefer the change in scenery from time to time. Considering all the options available, a traveling nurse is a great position, which can be enjoyed for a long period of time. If a traveling nurse isn’t satisfied with the current position, it is possible to leave and find something else that is more suitable. A career as a traveling nurse can be very rewarding because in addition to helping those in need, a traveling nurse gets to see the country and, maybe, even the world.
