{"id":2750,"date":"2022-11-04T13:12:45","date_gmt":"2022-11-04T13:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.nursefly.com\/?p=2750"},"modified":"2024-11-07T20:22:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T20:22:36","slug":"how-to-become-a-travel-nurse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/how-to-become-a-travel-nurse\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps to Becoming a Travel Nurse"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the freedom to decide where and when you want to work while building your resume and enhancing your career appeals to you, becoming a travel nurse might be precisely what you seek. Vivian wants to help you launch your travel nursing career. We\u2019ll take you through each step, from getting licensed to starting your first job.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Travel Nursing?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Travel nursing lets you work while exploring new places and enjoying a more flexible lifestyle. Two of the biggest perks are more money and more opportunities. Travel nursing is a great way to advance your career because you can travel to where the best opportunities exist with job openings in prestigious facilities nationwide. Plus, travel nurses tend to earn higher compensation than staff nurses because they fill short-term needs, work hard-to-fill shifts, accept assignments where there are severe nursing shortages and have the flexibility to cover openings wherever needed. In the process, you\u2019re expanding your professional network and nursing skills by working with a variety of professionals in various settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are the five basic steps to becoming a travel nurse. Click on each step to learn more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1. Become an RN and Build 1 to 2 Years of Experience<\/a><\/strong>
\nThis includes education, choosing a specialty and completing relevant certificates that increase your chances of getting higher-paying travel nurse jobs<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Step 2. Learn the Basics of Travel Nursing<\/a><\/strong>
\nNumerous differences exist between staff and travel nursing, like the application process, salary packages, housing and meal stipends, tax implications and more<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Step 3. Apply for Your First Job<\/a><\/strong>
\nThis involves choosing a location, connecting with agencies, reviewing offers and endorsing your license in other states, if necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 4. Get Ready to Go<\/a><\/strong>
\nBecause you\u2019re traveling and working, you have a lot of prep work, from finding housing to planning the fun parts<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Step 5. Tackle Day One on the Job<\/a><\/strong>
\nHealthcare facilities expect you to hit the ground running. Make sure you\u2019re prepared through training and orientation.<\/span><\/p>\n

5 Steps to Becoming a Travel Nurse<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Step 1: Become an RN and Build 1 to 2 Years of Experience<\/b><\/h3>\n

Your first big step on your travel nursing journey covers the same requirements of all registered nurses (RN), obtaining an active RN license. If you\u2019re already licensed, congrats! The hardest part is over. Feel free to jump ahead to Step 2. For those just starting out, continue reading.<\/span><\/p>\n

Graduate and Pass the NCLEX<\/strong><\/h4>\n

To become a licensed RN, you must earn a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). While a BSN or higher can unlock more opportunities, it isn\u2019t technically required for travel nursing. An ADN and 1 to 2 years of experience are sufficient for most entry-level positions. However, many employers prefer or even require a BSN. You must also pass state licensure requirements, and some states are leaning toward requiring RNs to have their BSN.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you already have your ADN and are an RN, you can take an RN-to-BSN program to earn your bachelor\u2019s degree quickly while still working. If you\u2019re a certified nursing assistant or licensed practical nurse looking to pursue an RN degree, programs also exist to earn your RN credential quickly and cost-effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nursing programs must be accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. They require coursework and clinical training hours. Upon completion, <\/span>graduate nurses<\/span><\/a> must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses before applying for licensure in their practice state. If your home state is part of the <\/span>Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact<\/span><\/a> (eNLC), you may qualify for a multistate license that makes traveling much easier.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"What<\/h3>\n

Choose a Specialty<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

While you\u2019re in nursing school, you choose a specialty. Nursing specialties requiring a broader skill set and more technical expertise, such as Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room, Operating Room and Labor and Delivery nursing, often pay more, but you can earn similar compensation in more general nursing roles, like Med Surg and Telemetry. Whatever your specialty, you generally need 1 to 2 years of clinical experience in your specialty to be hired for travel nursing roles.\u00a0Many specialties have opportunities to earn <\/span>board certifications<\/span><\/a> that make you a more desirable job candidate.<\/span><\/p>\n

In early November 2022, some of the top-paying specialties for travel RNs posted on Vivian included:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
State<\/b><\/th>\nAvg Weekly Salary<\/b><\/th>\nMax Weekly Salary<\/b><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Lactation Consultant<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n$4,176<\/span><\/td>\n$4,600<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flight<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n$3,896<\/span><\/td>\n$4,300<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CVPICU<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n$3,776<\/span><\/td>\n$6,184<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pediatric CVOR<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n$3,637<\/span><\/td>\n$5,068<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First Assist<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n$3,579<\/span><\/td>\n$4,676<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PICU<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n$3,312<\/span><\/td>\n$4,602<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CVOR<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n$3,386<\/span><\/td>\n$6,314<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Labor & Delivery<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n$2,895<\/span><\/td>\n$3,462<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Land your First Staff Job<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It takes hustle to land your first nursing job, but you\u2019ll get there. Look for facilities with a nurse residency program or an orientation designed specifically for new graduates. Nail the job you want by talking up your ability to learn quickly, interact with patients and be part of the unit team. Most importantly, be willing to adapt to the needs of the facility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019re on staff, get involved on your unit and join committees. Don\u2019t burn bridges. You need great references from your employer to become a travel nurse later. Focus on the now and be present so you can be an awesome travel nurse later. Most travel nursing positions require a minimum of one year of clinical nursing experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 2: Learn the Basics of Travel Nursing<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve just started investigating travel nursing, you probably have a lot of questions related to how travel nursing differs from staff nursing. The biggest differences are the expectations, process and pay. Because travel nurses work short assignments, you\u2019re expected to start in a unit with minimal orientation. When applying for jobs, you\u2019ll likely work with a recruiting agency so the process is a little different. Finally, you must be well-versed in travel nurse pay to compare the opportunities in front of you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Travel Nurse Compensation and Taxes<\/b><\/h4>\n

\"Earn<\/h3>\n

Travel nurse compensation has a very different structure. In many cases, you can expect to earn more than a staff nurse. Unlike staff positions, travel nurses may be eligible for tax-free stipends that cover housing, meals and incidentals. These compensations are on top of a base salary. You must crunch the numbers because a slightly lower base salary may be offset by tax-free stipends that lead to higher overall compensation.<\/span><\/p>\n

These three guides can help you understand everything you need to know about travel nurse pay:<\/span><\/p>\n