By Jessica Holbrook, MSN, RN

Travel nursing has gotten a lot of attention in recent years. Not only are travel nurses paid more than permanent staff, but they also have flexibility in their schedules, get the opportunity to live in new and exciting places, and learn from nurses and providers all over the country. 

It can take several years to become a travel nurse, but most nurses agree that it is well worth the time and effort. 

Many employers require their travel nurses to have a bachelor's degree or higher. If you are an associate degree graduate or have not completed any nursing school, it is worth the extra year of school to earn your BSN. 

Students with an ADN may consider attending an online university such as Grand Canyon University or Capella University. If you have not started nursing school yet, there are accelerated BSN programs available that can be completed in as little as two years. 

Many nurses are drawn to travel nursing because they long for variety and flexibility in their jobs. However, travel nurses have to be experts wherever they go. Nurses who have experience in an operating room will not be allowed to take a travel assignment in an emergency department, and the reverse is also true. 

Typically, travel nurses pick up contracts within their areas of expertise. These are often split up into a few different categories; critical care, emergency care, labor and delivery, pediatrics, operating rooms, acute care, and long-term care. 

For help deciding your specialty, checkout our two-part series on Finding Your Nursing Specialty: Part 1 and Part 2. 

Hospitals hire travel nurses to fill gaps in their staffing. They might be hired to help an organization deal with nursing strikes, large influxes of patients, or high turnover of permanent staff. 

Because of this, healthcare organizations simply cannot spend the time, money, or resources to train traveling staff. Most travel contracts will only accept nurses with a year or more of experience. Critical care areas such as intensive care or labor and delivery may require their travel staff to have two years of experience or more. 

In many cases, it is not enough to simply list experience in a certain specialty. This is especially true if you choose to work in critical care or pediatric medicine. In addition to getting a few years of experience, you may want to earn a few specialty certifications to make yourself a more competitive applicant for the best positions. 

Some certifications you may choose to pursue include:  

• Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) - Adult, Pediatric or Neonatal
• Certified Perioperative Nurse (CPON)
• Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
• Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC)

Once you have become more comfortable in your nursing position, you can start looking for a travel agency. Hospitals do not hire travel nurses directly but work with travel agencies who manage and negotiate contracts.

There are many different travel agencies, and nurses should make sure they understand the agencies' policies before signing any contracts. 

Some agencies do an excellent job of protecting their travel nurses, ensuring that they get to work their budgeted hours, receive their housing stipend on time, and work a fair schedule. Occasionally, travel nurses accept a contract, and then become the first nurses to be placed on call or canceled. Be sure to review all policies regarding hours, pay, and cancellations.  

Nurses are drawn to travel contracts for many different reasons. Some want the chance to experience something new, while others are only interested in the highest-paying contracts. Some want local contracts while others crave adventure. 

While reviewing different opportunities, consider things like cost of living, ease of transportation, weather, social expectations, and hospital size. Working in a trauma 1 hospital in a large city is very different from working in a rural community hospital, even if the specialty is the same. 

Even though a contract may only be 8-12 weeks long, you can still struggle with loneliness, frustration, and burnout if you choose a living situation that isn’t a good fit. Fortunately, travel assignments give nurses a chance to learn something about themselves, and most get a good feel for their likes and dislikes after working in just a few different locations. 

While there are many great things about travel nursing, it can be challenging. Nurses who travel are expected to orient to a new unit in just one or two shifts, and function as a full member of the team. While many charge nurses try to give travel nurses the most stable assignments, travelers are sure to have a difficult assignment for at least a few shifts during their contract.  

Travel nurses have to be quick learners, adaptable, and calm in a crisis. In addition, successful travel nurses make friends quickly and are not afraid to ask for help when they need it. Bringing a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and a great work ethic can turn a difficult travel assignment into a great one. 

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