Travel nursing is an exciting career opportunity that allows travel nurses to explore new cities, gain new experiences and connect with diverse individuals – all while providing patient care. If you are considering becoming a travel nurse, you may be wondering how to start travel nursing? In this blog we will guide you step by step on how to become a travel nurse from the application process to securing your first assignment.
Are you eligible to become a travel nurse?
To become a travel nurse, it is important to make sure you are eligible. Most travel nurse agencies require nurses to meet certain qualifications. These qualifications consist of licenses, experience, and certifications.
- Registered nurse license: it is important to have current RN license of your home state. Some agencies want travel nurses to have compact state nursing licenses so they can work in multiple states without applying for new licenses for each state. If you want to know more about compact state nursing licenses read our blog.
- Experience: Before applying to become a travel nurse it is important that you have at least one to two years of experience. Travel nurses work at different hospitals and locations therefore it is important to have experience to ensure that they can work in fast paced dynamic work environment without any difficulty.
- Certifications: Depending on your specialty some certifications are also required before applying to become a travel nurse.
Research Travel Agency
Once you have an active RN license, experience, and certifications the next step is to research travel agency. Choosing the right travel agency will make your travel nursing career smooth and successful. Things you should be looking for in travel nursing agencies are as follows:
- What specialties do they focus on?
- What are their benefits?
- What is their reputation?
Submit your application to become a travel nurse
Once you have researched and decided which agency you want to work with, the next step is to submit your application. The application process for how to apply for travel nursing is as follows:
- Fill out the online form and add your qualifications, experience, work history, and personal details.
- Complete skills checklist to assess how knowledgeable and proficient you are in various aspects of nursing practice.
- Submit your resume and certifications.
Prepare your credentials
Make sure that your documentation is in order because your credentials will be reviewed by agency and potential employers. This includes:
- License verification
- Medical records
- Background checks
Get to know your taxes
Travel nurses move around working in different states and each state has their own tax requirements. It is important for the nurses to do their research and understand tax before applying for their first travel nursing job.
What to consider when selecting your first travel nursing job?
Once your agency presents you the potential assignments, choose the travel nursing job that best suits your needs and requirements. Things to consider when selecting your first travel nursing assignments are as follows:
- The location of the healthcare facility.
- Hospitals and units.
- Contract length.
- Whether you want to work part time, full time or per diem.
Sign your Travel Nursing Contract
Before signing the contract to become a travel nurse it is important to read your contract carefully and ask the questions if you have any confusion. The key details that are included in the first travel nursing assignment or contract are:
- Pay and bonuses.
- Housing and travel expenses.
- Work hours and overtime.
How to prepare yourself for your first Travel Nursing Assignment?
Congratulations! You have signed your first travel nursing assignment. Now it is time to prepare yourself for your first assignment. Here is what you need to do.
- Travel arrangements
- Packing
- Housing and accommodation
- To learn more about this read our blogs.
Interesting facts about travel nurses
Some of the travel nursing facts and benefits are:
- Travel nursing jobs are in high demand, especially at a location where there is a shortage of staff due to many reasons such as pandemics, natural disasters.
- Travel nurses have the opportunity to work in different healthcare settings exploring new states, cities, and even countries. Some travel nurses also choose to become international travel nurses, where they provide patient care in different countries.
- Travel nurses have a flexible schedule. They can choose their own assignments. They can decide whether they want to work part time, full time or per diem.
- Travel nurses get higher pay than permanent nurses. They also get more benefits such as house stipends, health insurance, paid leave, free meals and much more. To know more about the benefits of trave nursing, read our blog.
Travel nursing with SkillGigs
SkillGigs is an online platform that connects specialized and skilled nurses with temporary or contract-based job opportunities. For travel nurses Skill Gigs the useful tools to connect the nurses with the jobs that best match their needs and interest. Skill Gigs is different from traditional job bords as it uses an AI system to match nurses with the jobs that are based on their skills, specialty, experiences, and preferences. This allows travel nurses to get control over their careers.
Conclusion
Becoming a travel nurse is an exciting opportunity to explore places and make money while doing what you love to do and that is taking care of the patients, but before you decide to become a travel nurse it is important to know whether you fit for the job or not. Travel nursing has its own pros and cons; therefore, it is important to do your research before choosing it as your career. Understanding the application process, preparing for your first assignment, understanding tax and more. Skill Gigs offer personalized job matches based on your experience, specialty, and skills. Join SkillGigs now and become part of the travel nursing world.
