What is a travel nurse

The healthcare industry saw many dramatic changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which have carried on. One of these has been a widely reported nurse shortage that has affected hospitals, clinics and other medical institutions around the world.

While the shortage poses challenges to healthcare providers and patients, it also presents opportunities. If you’re willing to go where your work is needed, you can explore traveling opportunities for nurses. Nursing effort and expertise have never been more valuable, especially to understaffed hospitals.

The need for nurses who travel has expanded in the healthcare industry. Let’s look at what these nurses do, why nurses might consider travel nursing and how to get started in this career.

In terms of the work, a travel nurse is not so different from other nurses. They often use the same nursing skills and provide the same level of treatment, including:

• Administering medicine
• Caring for patients
• Assisting with medical procedures

However, the responsibilities they are given may depend on experience, tenure, education, skills, and the needs of the hospitals where they work.

The main difference is the terms of employment: A nurse accepts travel work on a temporary, contractual basis, traveling to a destination based on need. Instead of devoting their time to one hospital where they may work for years, they move around. Their assignments generally last 13 weeks but can depend on a variety of factors, including organization, need and the details of their contract.

Travel nurses often work with nurse staffing agencies specializing in travel to find new assignments, work out travel and housing reimbursement, and handle the logistics that make travel nursing possible. Through these agencies, nurses correspond with recruiters, who act as liaisons between nurses and healthcare facilities.

How does the process work? Here’s a basic rundown:

1. A healthcare facility reaches out to a number of staffing agencies to fill a nurse role, usually for a certain specialty.

2. Acting on behalf of the agency, the recruiter reaches out to nurses who fulfill the requirements of the role.

3. The nurses on file with the agency review the role, the pay, the time requirement, the location and related details.

4. If a nurse accepts the role, they can sign a contract with the facility and work with the agency to arrange travel and other logistics.

Since the staffing agency may contact several nurses about a single opportunity, these positions generally fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. However, for those willing to jump on the opportunity, this can place them in a new position quickly. Before starting the role, they must meet the certification and licensure requirements of the state in which they choose to work. 

To provide quality patient care, hospitals must maintain a certain number of staff in relation to the number of patients they treat. This ratio is essential for making sure hospitals are not understaffed. During normal circumstances, when healthcare facilities have a predictable number of patients they expect to serve, they can hire the required number of permanent staff to meet this ratio. A rural hospital usually serves fewer patients than a hospital in a major city and therefore needs fewer nurses on the payroll.

Unfortunately, they may not be able to meet this ratio when there’s a massive influx of patients, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nurses are distributed unevenly across a geographical area. That rural hospital will need to bring on more staff, which is where travel nurses come in. From the intensive care unit to pediatric, neonatal and geriatric departments, these nurses are needed to fill the gap. 

To become a travel nurse, you must be a registered nurse (RN). You also must meet general requirements to work in the nursing profession. These requirements include obtaining at least a diploma from an approved nursing program, passing the NCLEX exam and receiving licensure in the state in which you work. Some employers may prefer registered nurses to have an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). 

After you have become an RN, you will need to gain nursing experience on the job to be considered for travel nursing jobs. Generally speaking, you need at least one and sometimes two years of experience working in a healthcare setting before taking on travel assignments. More specialized roles, such as in the ICU or in labor delivery, may require more experience. You will also need to meet the licensure and certification requirements of the location of the assignment. 

Here are a few reasons why many nurses decide to hit the travel circuit:

Travel nurses have a broad view of the opportunities available to them. In turn, they can decide where and how they want to work. If the hours demanded by an assignment are too much, they can pass by that assignment. Those who want to try living in a new place can find work that takes them there.

With the contracts being relatively short, nurses who are unhappy with an assignment can rest assured that they’ll be done sooner rather than later. 

Nurses have always been crucial to patient health, and that is doubly true during a health emergency. The demand for nurses means the risks of accepting a travel assignment can seem minimal. When they complete a travel gig and are ready for a full-time position, nurses can feel confident one will be waiting for them. 

The increased demand for traveling nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic was reflected in an increase in pay. Of course, this trend was related to demand and may not be reflected case by case. But generally speaking, travelers may have leverage when negotiating their pay and benefits.

In addition, travel assignments put nurses into a variety of situations. This gives them the opportunity to learn new skills and bolster their resumé and their value over time.

Travel nurse pay varies significantly and depends on a number of factors, including the state in which nurses work, demand, skills, education, the work assignment, certifications and experience.

RNs interested in travel nursing should check with a travel nursing agency for up-to-date rates. Travel nurses typically agree to a pay package that includes their hourly pay, housing stipends, per diems and travel reimbursement, along with their benefits.

When a nurse decides to hit the road, they have two main options for housing: They can use their staffing agency or find housing on their own.

With the first option, nurses don’t have to worry about arranging their lodgings and all the headaches that come with it. Agencies will take the travel stipend provided in the payment package and house nurses in properties leased specifically for their nurses. Though it can be logistically easier, this is usually the more expensive option.

For this reason, many travel nurses decide to take their housing stipend and secure their own housing. This gives them more flexibility than the agency option but will require legwork on the part of the nurse.

Depending on the requirements and restrictions of the housing, you may be allowed to bring family and pets along. That can help make the transition to a new locale a bit easier and difficult work more enriching. 

As with any career choice, you should give the prospect of becoming a travel nurse careful consideration before committing. Aside from assessing your willingness to frequently pick up and move, you should weigh the following benefits and drawbacks to help you make your decision: 

Travel nursing offers some exceptional benefits that traditional staff nurse positions may not. Consider the following perks:

• Travel opportunities: It’s right there in the name, but travel nursing provides the opportunity to spend time in practically any city or location you may want to visit. Want to get a taste of the fast-paced life in New York or Chicago? What about experiencing autumn in New England? These nurses can be in demand practically everywhere.
• Demand: Nurses frequently experience demand in the job market, so it’s possible to try travel nursing to see if you like it.
• Avoiding work politics: As with any workplace, office politics can be an issue in hospitals. Travel nurses typically get to avoid aspects of this because they’re not in one spot for too long. Travel nursing may also help reduce burnout and compassion fatigue.
• Professional growth: Becoming a travel nurse can open new opportunities to build your resumé and professional development.

Travel nursing may have some disadvantages to consider before you make the leap. The following are what some perceive as drawbacks:

• Varying work environments: Opportunities and salary may fluctuate. Travel nurses may not reap the benefits that come with a stable position, such as a steady, predictable paycheck or incremental pay increases. That same lack of stability also means travel nurses may need to embark on the job search more often than their permanently employed peers.
• Time away from loved ones: Unless you’re willing to uproot your family for each assignment, travel nursing often means spending long stretches of time away from your loved ones. That can lead to homesickness too.
• Regular adjustment to a new environment: Each travel assignment means learning a new hospital or clinic’s routines, environment and employees. It also means figuring out your daily commute and getting acclimated to a new place. This can include making new friends and having to leave them if you decide to travel elsewhere after an assignment.
• The cost of moving: Taking longer-term travel assignments can add a little stability, but you’ll still end up moving from place to place. Moving is time-intensive and can get expensive, so before you start your career as a travel nurse, ensure you’re ready to shoulder those costs or travel very lightly. Some costs may be reimbursed, but that process can take time.

While a specific educational degree for travel nursing does not exist, University of Phoenix does offer nursing degree programs that teach valuable nursing skills such as evidence-based practice, nursing process, patient-centered care and more.

For nurses who already have a BSN, a next step can be earning a master’s degree in nursing to gain skills required for various leadership roles. Explore concentrations like nursing informatics, nursing administration and nurse education for a graduate degree that can influence your career. Which master’s program you choose depends on what you want to specialize in.

The good news is you do not necessarily need a master’s degree to start your journey to become a travel nurse. Many with a master’s degree in nursing do so to expand their skill set and aspire to leadership roles.

Take a look at nursing programs at University of Phoenix:

• Master’s degrees in nursing

Request more information or apply to our online RN to BSN program today.

Q: Can traveling nurses work internationally?

A: In general, as long as the nurse has the required education, training, and licensure and/or certification by the country/locality where they seek to work, nurses may be able to practice in other countries. 

Q: Do you get health benefits when you’re a traveling nurse?

A: Many travel nurses are eligible for health benefits through their agency. Others receive benefits from their assigned healthcare facility, or they may receive a stipend to purchase coverage. 

Q: Do travel nurses choose where they go?

A: These nurses have the flexibility to choose their assignments, including locations where they want (or don’t want) to work. The availability of positions can vary based on demand and a nurse’s specialty and experience level. Travel nursing agencies typically present multiple job options in different states and facilities, which enable nurses to choose assignments that meet their personal and professional preferences.