A nurse these days has so many exciting options when it comes to her career. Becoming a travel nurse is just one of these fantastic options. Just think, you can travel the country, see exciting places, meet new people and get paid to do it! If this sounds like something you would like to do, read on to learn more about becoming a travel nurse.
All You Need to Know About Travel Nurse Jobs
So how does one become a travel nurse? First of all, you must possess an active RN license that it is good standing. It can be either an ADN or a BSN. Most facilities will require travel nurses to have at least one year of experience in the specialty that they choose to practice in.
In addition to experience, travel nurses must possess certain characteristics such as a positive attitude and you must be a quick learner. Keep in mind that as a travel nurse, you are going to be working in many different facilities for short periods of time. You must be able to adapt quickly and easily to the changes.
It is critical that you find a good travel nurse agency that will help you get the jobs best suited for you. There are so many to agencies to choose from, it can be hard to determine which one is the best. So what do you look for when choosing a travel nurse agency?
Each travel nurse agency is different in what it offers to it’s traveling nurses. It is best if you make a list of the things that you are looking for such as, retirement benefits, types of assignments, location of assignments, pay, etc. Once you have a list of your requirements in order of importance to you, then start shopping around for a travel nurse agency that can meet your requirements. Remember, most travel nurse agencies will pay for your housing and travel expenses while on assignment. This is one of the biggest benefits to being a travel nurse.
If you sign with an agency and find that you are not happy with their performance, you can switch agencies at any time. You are not contracted to stay with an agency you are unhappy with. So what type of travel assignments will you be given?
This is what is so great about travel nursing. You are in complete control of your assignments. If you want to stay close to home, you are given that opportunity. Maybe it is your desire to see the country. If so, you can choose assignments that are thousands of miles away from home.
You will be assigned a travel nurse recruiter who will work with you in regards to locations, type of clinical settings, length of assignments and any other details that are important to you. It is the job of the recruiter to match you up with the right assignments.
Keep in mind that being a travel nurse can be difficult because you are changing employment settings frequently. Each facility will have it’s own way of orienting travel nurses. If for any reason you do not feel that you were oriented properly by a facility, it is important that you make the travel agency aware of this. Adequate orientation is critical to a travel nurse.
A question that many nurse have is about licensure. Since a nurse is required to have a license in each state that she practices in, this can present a special challenge for the travel nurse. Each state will have it’s own rules and regulations regarding travel nurses and licensure. It is up to your agency to work out these details for you long before you start an assignment. So what about the length of the assignments?
The assignments will generally last about thirteen weeks. Some may only be four weeks, while others may be as long as fifty-two weeks. It is up to you to choose the length of your assignments. So now for the big question, how much do travel nurses make?
Pay rates for travel nurses vary depending on the location, the facility and your specialty. But the pay rate on the average is about $40 an hour. There are also bonuses offered for sign on or completion of assignments. These bonuses range from $500 up to $6000.
So if you have the desire to travel and see the country, travel nursing may be just the thing for you. Most travel companies will allow you to travel with a friend and you can even bring your pet along. There are very few careers that will offer you the benefits that travel nursing does.
The Nursing RN to BSN degree completion program at South University allows registered nurses with associate degrees to complete their bachelor’s degrees. The program is offered at three South University campuses and online. Learn more about South University | Request free info
The Nursing RN to BSN degree completion program at South University allows registered nurses with associate degrees to complete their bachelor’s degrees. The program is offered at three South University campuses and online.
