Ever wondered what it’s like to be a nurse with no fixed hospital and getting paid to explore new cities? Welcome to the world of travel nursing, the career that you have been waiting for. Imagine one month you are working in the bustling streets of New York, and the next you find yourself near the calm beaches of California. Travel nursing is not just a career; it is a lifestyle. In this blog, we will explore how to start your career as a travel nurses, the pros, cons, and benefits of this exciting career path.
Do you know how much travel nurses are making in a year? With SkillGigs, travel nurses are making more than you think. Click below and sign up with SkillGigs, and explore high-paying contracts.
What is travel nursing, and what do travel nurses do?
Travel nurses are registered nurses who travel across the US and work on temporary assignments. These nursing assignments can vary from a few days to several months, but typically they are of 13 weeks. Hospitals hire travel nurses to fill the staffing gaps during staff vacations, emergencies, or busy seasons to maintain high-quality care without long term hiring commitments. But what do travel nurses do? Travel nurses perform the same duties as staff nurses, depending on their specialty (ICU, ER, OR, med-surg, etc.). Some of the roles and responsibilities of travel nurses are:
- Monitoring patients and administering medications.
- Assisting doctors with procedures
- Updating patient charts and their medical records and educating patients and their families.
How to become a travel nurse?
If you like travelling, flexible schedules, higher pay, and new adventures, then travel nursing is the right career option for you. But you cannot just grab your bag and book a ticket to start travel nursing, but instead it takes experience, preparation, and the right steps to make sure that you are ready for fast paced, flexible lifestyle. Here are some steps on how to become a travel nurse.
Get a degree and a Nursing License: You must get a nursing degree and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a registered nurse.
Choose a specialty and additional certifications: Choose a specialty that is in high demand, such as ER, ICU, OR, etc. Get additional certifications such as ACLS, PALS, BLS, etc.
Gain clinical experience: To become a travel nurse, you should have at least 2 years of experience in your specialty, so you are ready for the high-paced environment.
Get the compact state nursing license (NLC): Get the compact state nursing license so you can work in multiple compact states with only one license. This can save you time and money. Some states may require a separate license for a non-compact state.
Apply at a travel nursing agency or join SkillGigs: If you want to secure high-paying contracts, then join SkillGigs, where you can get access to high-paying contracts and can make more money. Skill Gigs will connect you with hospitals, let you bid on jobs, and support you during assignments.
Flexibility: Travel nurses must prepare to be ready for new hospitals, new systems, and fast paced environment.
What are the pros and cons of being a travel nurse?
No doubt travel nursing seems fun and exciting, but it is not all about airport selfies and photos; behind freedom and high paychecks, there are some real challenges. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of travel nursing.
Pros of travel nursing:
Here are some of the advantages of travel nursing:
High pay: Travel nurses have higher hourly pay than most of the staff nurses. Some specialists earn $3000/week to $4000/week and also get benefits such as housing stipends, travel reimbursements, meal incentives, etc. Travel nurses must plan strategically to make more money.
Flexible schedules: Travel nurses can choose when and where they want to work. They can choose their own schedules and assignments to fit their lifestyle. With SkillGigs, they have the freedom to bid on jobs and negotiate their pay so they can earn more.
Exploring new cities: One of the best advantages of travel nursing is that they can travel to different cities and explore new locations. In the future, they can decide where they want to settle. Also, visiting new cities helps them grow personally and professionally.
Skill development: With travel nursing, nurses can develop their skills because they are exposed to different cities, patient populations, hospital systems, advanced equipment, etc. This advancement in skills helps them secure high-paying jobs and increase their salary or pay.
Cons of travel nurses:
Here are some of the disadvantages of being a travel nurse:
Frequent travelling: Constant relocation can be challenging and stressful.
Learning new systems: Every hospital has different policies and protocols. They are required to adjust to the new facilities quickly, which can be challenging.
Job stability: Assignments vary from a few days to several months, but typically it is for 13 weeks. Once the assignment finishes, you have to secure the other high-paying assignment to meet your financial goals.
Isolation and homesickness: Travel nurses stay away from home for longer periods of time, which can affect their personal and family life.
High expectations: Travel nurses are expected to hit the ground running with minimal orientation, which again can be challenging and stressful.
Top Benefits of Travel Nursing
Yes! Travel nursing means constantly changing locations, learning new systems, and adjusting to new environments, which can be stressful, but travel nursing also comes with benefits that make every shift worth it. Here are some of the benefits of being a travel nurse:
- Travel nursing assignments not only offer higher hourly pay but also offer bonuses that can boost your overall salary. SkillGigs is offering $500 sign on bonus once you sign your first contract with SkillGigs.
- Many travel nursing assignments also offer free housing, housing stipends, or travel reimbursement that can boost your paycheck.
- SkillGigs offer travel nurses other benefits, such as health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, etc.
- Travel nursing also opens networking opportunities, which can open doors for future goals.
- The other benefit of travel nursing is that it can boost your resume, and you have a high chance of getting top-paying contracts.
How much do travel nurses make in a year?
The hourly pay of travel nurses is higher than that of staff nurses because they work on contracts. But they also get other benefits such as housing stipends, travel reimbursement, etc. The actual yearly income of travel nurses depends on the type of contract, location, length of contract, bonuses, benefits, etc. The high-demand specialties, such as ER, OR, ICU, etc., can make up to $3000 to $4000 per week or more, depending on the contract and demand.
How much experience do you need to become a travel nurse?
If you are thinking of becoming a travel nurse, then you need at least 2 years of experience in your specialty. This experience helps you to adjust to the fast-paced environment quickly.
How long are the travel nursing assignments?
Travel nursing assignments vary from a few days to several months, but typically it is 13 weeks. Some assignments are 8 to 26 weeks. Sometimes nurses also get extensions.
Is travel nursing challenging and stressful?
Yes, frequent relocation, high acuity patients, and new systems and hospital policies can make a travel nursing job stressful and challenging.
Is it hard to become a travel nurse?
It depends on your specialty and experience. If you have additional certifications, 2 years of experience, and adaptability skills, then you can actually thrive in a travel nursing career.
Do travel nurses get benefits?
Yes, travel nurses do get benefits depending on their contract and agency. SkillGigs offer health insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance. If you want to make more money with SkillGigs in 2026, then sign up now.
Where do travel nurses work?
Travel nurses move from one city to another to fill the staffing gaps. They work on contracts and can be found in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, rehabilitation centers, temporary disaster response sites, etc.
Conclusion
Travel nursing is more than just a career; it is a lifestyle. No doubt travel nursing is filled with adventure, flexibility, and freedom, but it has its own pros and cons. With benefits such as choosing your own schedule, getting high pay, and exploring new cities, it also has challenges such as contact relocation, isolation, and job instability. If you are ready for flexibility, excitement, and high pay and can adjust to new environments quickly, then travel nursing is just the career for you.
With SkillGigs, you can secure high-paying jobs and get the benefits and bonuses. Join now and start your travel nursing career with SkillGigs.
