Welcome to the world of travel nursing! You are a new graduate considering becoming a travel nurse but do not know how to start. Well in this blog, we will guide you and answer all your questions. How much experience do you need to be a travel nurse? What are the requirements to become a travel nurse? and more.
What is Travel Nursing and why should it be your career choice?
First, it is important to understand what travel nursing is. Travel nurses are RNs who visit various locations and states to provide patient care at healthcare facilities where there is a shortage of staff. When healthcare facilities are short of staff due to several reasons, they ask for the help of travel nurses. If you have the personality of being adventurous and want to travel, then it is the best career choice for you. You can travel and visit novel places while making money and helping others.
What New Graduate Registered Nurses want to know about Travel Nursing?
The demand for travel nurses is increasing day by day. Especially during COVID-19, when there was a shortage of staff, travel nurses were there to fill the gaps. Travel nursing is an exciting job with the opportunity to meet new people, experience novel places, and the ability to grow personally and professionally. It has its challenges and problems too such as tax problems, homesickness, etc.
To learn more about travel nursing, its challenges, and problems, you can read our blog.
Travel Nursing Challenges and Problems.
How much experience do you need to be a travel nurse?
You need to have at least 1-2 years of experience before accepting your first travel nurse assignment. This experience is necessary because it will help you to navigate into the new environments of the hospitals. Travel nurses need to be more flexible because their location and healthcare environment change with each assignment.
Can I be a travel nurse with no experience?
No. Most healthcare facilities want you to have at least one year of experience before becoming a travel nurse.
What do you need to be a travel nurse?
To become a travel nurse, it is important to have your BSN or ADN degree. Pass your NCLEX-RN exam and get your license. Then you must work for at least one year before becoming a travel nurse.
What are the advantages of being a travel nurse?
There are a lot of advantages to becoming a travel nurse. With travel nursing, you can visit novel places, gain experience, and build up your resume. This will also help you grow personally and professionally. One of the advantages of traveling nursing is that you can be more flexible and can figure out your strengths and weaknesses. And of course, you get to visit the places and explore their culture.
How to start traveling nursing?
Here you have step by step guide on how to become a travel nurse.
- Get your degree: You can get a nursing degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Associate Degree in Nursing. ADN will take you 2 years to complete, while BSN will take you 4 years to complete. Most healthcare facilities will prefer a BSN degree because of more education and experience.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN exam: Pass the NCLEX-RN exam (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) to get your nursing license and you can work as a nurse.
- Nurse Licensure Compact or NLC: You can also apply for NLC. This license will help you to work in 40-plus states without applying for additional licenses. Hence saving you both time and money.
- Additional certifications: obtain additional certifications such as BLS, ACLS, or PALS.
- Travel nurse experience requirements: You must have at least 1-2 years of experience working in the healthcare facility before applying for a travel nursing assignment.
- Selecting a travel nursing agency: Start looking for the best travel agencies. The recruiters must be supportive and guide you through your journey.
Skillgigs is one the best AI platforms that will help you to find your dream job that meets all your needs.
Why should I consider travel nursing with SkillGigs?
Choosing SkillGigs will be one of the best choices for your career.
- Skillgigs has diverse job listings that will help you find the perfect job you are looking for whether for short term or contract.
- It uses AI technology to perfectly match your experience and skills with the job that best suits you.
- With the help of sill listings, you can make it easier for the employer to find you.
- With the help of SkillGigs you can choose your assignments that best suit your lifestyle, making it flexible.
- Skillgigs has a resolute and supportive community that will guide you throughout your journey and will make your travel nursing experience more exciting.
- It is an easy-to-use platform, and you can browse through different job listings that will best match your needs and are according to your choice.
Can an RN be a Travel nurse?
Yes. An RN can become a travel nurse. You just need to meet certain requirements before applying for a travel nursing job. You need to have at least 1-2 years of experience before becoming a travel nurse.
How many years does it take to become a travel nurse?
It depends on your education and experience. The total time to become a travel nurse depends on which degree you applied for and how much time it took for you to become a nurse. If you already have a degree and license, then you only need at least one year of experience to become a travel nurse. Without experience, you cannot directly apply for the travel nurse assignments.
Conclusion
If you have a passion for healthcare and love traveling, then travel nursing is the best career choice for you. You can visit places, meet new people, and gain more experience. But it is important to know that before getting your first assignment as a travel nurse you need to have at least one year of experience, and you are working with the best travel nursing agency. Collaborating with the supportive team will make your travel nursing journey more exciting and easier. So, join Skillgigs and start your travel nursing career now.
