Passports and Preemies
Travel + Nursing

Your A-Z Guide to Travel Nursing

guide to travel nursing

As someone who kind of dove head first into the world of travel nursing (with little to no research ahead of time), let me tell you – it isn’t fun.  Now that I’ve been a travel nurse for 7 years, I created this guide to travel nursing (from A-Z) so that you have all the information to be prepared and successful in your career as a travel nurse so that you’re set up for success from day one.  This is everything you need to know about being a travel nurse!

 

BEFORE READING FURTHER, IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A RECRUITER RECOMMENDATION, FILL OUT THIS FORM AND MY #1 TRUSTED RECRUITER JESS FROM FUSION WILL REACH OUT TO YOU!

 

Don’t miss…

 

A – Assignments

Patient assignments – Will I lose all of my skills?!

As a travel nurse, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as far as patient assignments.  Would I get the sickest patient on the unit?  Would I lose all of my skills because I wasn’t getting any sick patients?  Let me tell you, this had me STRESSING.

The good and the bad is that you’re likely to fall somewhere in-between.  By no means did I ever receive the sickest patient on the unit (which was challenging because I loved sick patients), but I also didn’t lose all of my skills.  (One caveat to this was that I did lose skills regarding “sick” patients like knowing the oscillator, having chest tubes, etc).  The one thing that seemed to be consistent was that the longer I was at one hospital, the more they trusted me, and the sicker my patients were.  But when starting at a new hospital, the assignments are usually pretty easy.

 

B – Benefits

Benefits – What can I expect?!

Travel nursing comes with a plethora of benefits!  Here are some of my favorite benefits when it comes to travel nursing…

  • Ability to take off as long as you want between assignments
    • Downside:  You don’t earn (much) PTO as a travel nurse so this time will be unpaid
  • Higher pay
  • Weekly pay
  • Non-taxed housing and meal stipends
  • Money to get you to your assignment/get you home from you assignment
  • Reimbursement for all licenses and certifications

 

Don’t miss…

 

C – Cancellation

Wait… you can get canceled?!

One of the scariest things about travel nursing is the risk of your contract getting cancelled.  Not only is it a pain, but you can be out a lot of money if this were to happen.  And while I wouldn’t say that getting canceled is common, it’s something that you should be aware of.

Before starting an assignment, ask your recruiter how they can support you in case of cancelation.  You can also ask if the hospital you’re going to has a history of canceling nurses frequently.  In my seven years as a travel nurse, I was only canceled once and it was two-weeks before my assignment was set to end.

Please know, getting canceled doesn’t have anything to say about you as a nurse!  These things happen sometimes and it isn’t a reflection on you so try not to take it too personally.

 

For more on cancelation, don’t miss…

 

D – Downsides

Are there downsides to travel nursing?!

As with any career, there are downsides to being a travel nurse.  I don’t want to paint a picture that everything is rosy and perfect because that would be misleading.  I had many tears, rough assignments, and uncertainties as a travel nurse.  (Although the good DID outweigh the bad).  Here are some downsides to be prepared for…

  • Finding housing can be challenging
  • Travel nursing can be lonely and keeping in touch with friends and family is hard
  • Being the “new” nurse every 13 weeks is hard
  • Potential contract cancellation
  • Finding a recruiter you trust can be overwhelming – I love the recruiter I work with – fill out this form and Jess will contact you!
  • Not having control over your schedule
  • No sick leave/PTO accrual
  • First to float

 

Don’t miss…

 

E – Experience

How much experience do I need to be a travel nurse?

To become a travel nurse, I strongly urge you to have a minimum of two years of experience under your belt.  This is because as a travel nurse, you’re often thrown onto the unit with very little training and orientation.  You need to know what to do in an emergency, how to perform basic skills, all while advocating for your patients and maybe even learning a new charting system.  To say the experience is overwhelming is putting it lightly.

 

Description of Image

If you need more guidance on becoming a travel nurse, make sure to check out The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle where you’ll get 60+ pages of travel nurse information including – how to make sense of your contract, how to negotiate pay, & more – delivered straight to your inbox!

 

F – Friends

How do I make friends as a travel nurse?!

Making friends as a travel nurse can really help you acclimate to your new “home” and give you something to look forward to on your days off.  In my experience, I learned that making friends with other travel nurses gave me the best bet at having “friends”, but there were some units that I worked on where the staff nurses were equally as open to being friends with the travelers.  If you’re having a hard time, I urge you not to take it personally.  Some of these staff nurses see a rotating door of travel nurses coming through the unit and simply have given up on creating long-term relationships (and I can’t necessarily say that I blame them!).  My biggest piece of advice is just to be yourself and keep putting yourself out there!

 

Don’t miss…

 

G – Getting Started

How do I get started in travel nursing?!

If you’re just starting out as a new travel nurse, there are a few things you should know about getting started.  First off, you need to have 2 years of experience (on one unit) before starting travel nursing.  Once you have your experience, you’ll want to get in touch with a recruiter (pst I love mine; connect with Jess by filling out this form).  You should reach out to a recruiter about 5 months from the time you want to start your travel nurse assignment (so if you want to start in January, reach out in August).  At this point, your recruiter will be advising you on when to get your specific state license (if you need one) and you’ll be required to fill out a skills assessment form.

Once you decide on a job, your recruiter will submit you – you should have received a contract before being submitted to a job – and if your profile is selected, you will interview with someone from the hospital.  Once you accept the job, you’ll be sent for a drug screen, TB test, and a few other medical tests (this varies by hospital).  Lastly, depending on where you work, you might also need to take a couple of assessments regarding basic unit knowledge, pharmacology, medical math, etc.

 

Don’t miss…

 

H – Health Insurance

What should I do about health insurance?

Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to travel nursing is what kind of health insurance you want to buy.  The two options you have are to use company insurance (although this makes it hard to take extended breaks between assignments due to lapse in coverage), or purchase private insurance.

Personally, because of the extended time I take between assignments, I find that private insurance is better suited for my lifestyle.  However, my coverage isn’t as good and it costs more money monthly.

 

Don’t miss…

 

I – Interviewing

What’s the interview process like?

Generally, with a few exceptions, once your recruiter submits you to a job that you want to be submitted to, you will be interviewed by the hiring manager.  Usually, you’ll be asked about your experience and basic interview questions that gauge how well you get along with others, etc.  Keep in mind, this is also a time for you to interview the manager and figure out what the unit is like and what the nursing culture is.

My biggest tip when interviewing, is to end every call with something along the lines of… “Thank you so much for speaking with me.  This is an assignment that I really want and I hope that that came across.  Is there anything else that you need to know about me to make your decision to hire me easier?”.

 

Don’t miss…

 

J – Job Boards

I’m confused – so how do I get a job?

Today, most travel nurse companies have a running list of open jobs that they keep on their websites.  In my opinion, this is a great way to get inspiration for some of the places you could work, however, I wouldn’t solely rely on this.  Usually recruiters have insider knowledge or connections that aren’t listed on job boards.  Or if an assignment opens and closes quickly, this also wouldn’t show up on a job board.  For that reason, make sure you’re not only relying on job boards – but relying on your recruiter too!  Ultimately, your recruiter will be the one to notify you of job openings and submit you to the job that you want.

 

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO CONNECT WITH MY FAVORITE RECRUITER AND LET HER KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO WORK!

 

K – Knowledge

How will the unit know what I know?!

When you get an assignment as a travel nurse, there will be many ways that your knowledge will be tested.  That’s why it’s super important to always be honest about your skills and experience.

When you start out, before you’re submitted to any jobs, you will fill out a skills checklist for your agency that will list various skills for your unit and you can say how comfortable you feel with said skill.  From there, you will oftentimes be required to complete tests – these might include medication exams, EKG exams, pharmacology exams, etc.  And depening on what hospital you’re working at, there are sometimes tests that you need to take in-person when you arrive.

Depending on how you perform on these tests will determine if you can continue with your assignment.  Please know, I’ve only worked in one hospital that canceled travelers contracts due to failing an exam.  Generally if you fail, you will just meet with the educator to discuss the topic you’re struggling with.

 

L – Licensure

How do I keep my licenses straight when working in so many states?

As a travel nurse, there are a few important things to keep in mind when it comes to licensing.  First off, the company that you’re working on assignment with should be reimbursing your nursing license.  I’ve had some companies reimburse me for every state, while others only reimburse me for the state that I’m on assignment in.  For this reason, it’s not only important to clarify with your recruiter ahead of time that you want to be reimbursed for the cost of your license, but you also need to be keeping all of your receipts when you do reimburse your licenses so you can submit them to your company.

The second thing to keep in mind is compact vs non-compact licenses.  If your permanent address is in a compact state, then your compact license is valid for any other state that is part of the nurse licensure compact (NLC).  If your permanent address is NOT in a compact state, and you’re working in a compact state, that state license does not allow you to work in other compact states because your permanent address is in a state outside of the NLC.  For example:  If you live in California and you work in Nebraska, you will need a Nebraska license.  And although Nebraska is part of the NLC, if you then go to work in Iowa (also part of the NLC), you will need a separate license for Iowa.  However – if your permanent address is in Nebraska and you want to work in Iowa, you do not need another license because your Nebraska license is valid in Iowa.

 

Don’t miss…

 

M – Moving

How am I supposed to move every 13-weeks?

One of the more stressful things about travel nursing is having to move every 13-weeks.  How do you pack for this?  How do you get to your assignment?  How do you find housing?  Deep breaths… I got you!

  • Packing… as far as packing goes, I try to pack as lightly as possible.  It isn’t fun to move every 13-weeks and having boxes and boxes with you just makes it more stressful.  My rule of thumb is to pack about a month worth of clothes with me, pack my toiletries and necessities, and buy everything else I need.
  • Getting to your assignment… when it comes to getting to your assignment, it really depends on where you’re going.  Do you need a car?  Then you’ll want to drive!  If you are heading to a big city and parking is expensive/there’s good public transportation, you might want to fly instead.  Your recruiter should be reimbursing you for the cost of travel so make sure you discuss this before signing your contract.
  • Housing… the bad news is – finding housing sucks.  The good news is – there are tons of new housing options popping up on the market every year!  For starters, you can find your own housing or get company housing.  When you get your own housing, you’re generally able to save more money and get better housing versus allowing your company to find housing for you.

 

N – Negotiating

Am I allowed to negotiate?!

All travel nurses should absolutely be negotiating their contracts.  And it’s not just about negotiating for more pay.  You can also negotiate for what type of shift you want to work (night, day, etc), getting paid even if the hospital cancels your shift, licensure and certification reimbursement, weekend requirements, etc.

It’s also important to know that you can negotiate with your recruiter directly, as well as the hiring manager when you interview.

 

Don’t miss…

 

O – Orientation

What’s the orientation process like?

One of the more frustrating things about travel nursing is the need to complete orientation for each hospital that you work at.  The reason that this is so frustrating is because all orientation processes are similar in nature.  You’re required to complete modules.  You’re probably going to have to take some sort of math test.  And you’ll also have to go through computer training – even if you already know the system.  Not to mention, you’re usually left in the dark on what to expect up until a couple of days before you show up for orientation.

Of course, some hospitals have orientation processes that run smoother than other hospitals, but just keep in mind that while this is a frustrating aspect of the job, it’s only for a couple of days.  You will get through it just like you’ve gotten through other frustrating aspects of travel nursing.

 

Don’t miss…

 

P – Pay

How does pay work?!

Have you ever wondered why travel nurses make significantly more than staff nurses?  One reason for that is simply the way that stipends work.  Travel nurses get paid from three different “buckets”…

  1. Housing stipend – non-taxed
  2. Meal stipend – non-taxed
  3. Hourly pay – taxed

When you combine those, you get your paycheck.  Ultimately, what decides how big your pay package is is the “bill rate” that the hospital sets (this changes frequently based on emergent need and other things).  Usually, you will not know what your bill rate is, that’s information that is given to your recruiter.  Because your recruiter also needs to be paid, they will take a portion of that bill rate, and give the rest to you.

As a travel nurse, you can also expect to be paid weekly versus bi-weekly.

 

Don’t miss…

 

Q – Questions to Ask

What questions should I be asking?!

When I first decided that I wanted to become a travel nurse, I had endless questions.  How do I get an assignment?  How do I find a recruiter?  What company should I work with?  Not to mention the number of questions I had when I did finally find a recruiter!  The good news is, you’ll figure it out.  The bad news is, it might take a couple of assignments until you feel like you’ve finally figured out the ins and outs of travel nursing.

For starters – one important thing to realize is that once you do find a great recruiter, you will get your questions answered.  Keep an eye out for any recruiter that is short with you or makes you feel bad about your questions – that is a red flag.

Another thing to keep in mind is that anytime you have a question or think of something, make sure to keep a running list in your phone so that when you do connect with a recruiter, you don’t forget what your questions were.

Now, when it comes to what questions to ask, I like to group my questions into different categories.  This might be, questions for my recruiter, questions for the hiring manager.  Questions to ask before I get a job, questions to ask while I’m applying for jobs, questions to ask after I get a job, etc.

 

CONNECT WITH JESS & GET ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

 

Don’t miss…

 

R – Recruiters

How do I pick a recruiter?

A recruiter can make or break your experience as a travel nurse.  That’s why it’s important to focus on this first and foremost when you’re first starting out.  I always tell nurses that having a good recruiter is better than focusing on a company because a recruiter can truly move heaven and earth to get you hard to get assignments or even increase your pay.

When starting out, I highly recommend asking someone you trust for a referral.  If you’re reading this, I would absolutely recommend my recruiter Jess at Fusion.  She’s easy going, responsive, trustworthy, and has been in this industry long enough to guide you through the beginning of your travel nurse journey.  If you want to get in contact with Jess (with no strings attached), fill out this form and she will reach out to you.

Some simple things to keep in mind when picking a recruiter…

  1. Are they patient and able to answer your questions?
  2. Are they responsive?
  3. Do they explain your pay in a way that you understand?
  4. Do they wait for your permission to submit you to an assignment?
  5. Do they provide your pay package to you before submitting you to an assignment?

At the bare minimum, your recruiter should be doing everything listed above.

 

For more clarity on picking a recruiter, don’t miss…

 

S – Scheduling

How do I schedule myself?

Unfortunately, as a travel nurse, scheduling is generally left up to the unit.  You’ll be placed where they need you most and they don’t generally take into consideration your opinion on it.  (That’s why if you need specific days off, you need to request it ahead of time and have it in writing in your contract).  You should also be prepared not to receive your schedule until the day you first arrive to the unit.  It’s chaotic, but it’s something you simply have to embrace!

 

T – Taxes

What in the tax is going on?!

I will be the first to admit, I don’t know much about taxes – especially when it comes to travel nursing.  Here is what I do know…

  • You’re legally required to have a permanent tax home where you pay rent, as well as duplicate your expenses (pay a second rent where you’re on assignment) to qualify for your tax-free stipends
  • To qualify for tax-free stipends, you cannot live close enough to return home after work – you have to be far enough away that you need to have your own place to live and spend the night
  • You stop qualifying for tax-free stipends once you work in the same area for >1 year

For any other tax questions, I recommend contacting Joe at TravelTax (he’s an expert in taxes for traveling healthcare professionals).

 

U – Understanding Your Contract

This contract sounds like gibberish!  How do I know what I’m reading?

When you first receive your travel nurse contract for your assignment, it will probably be difficult to understand.  However, I would encourage you to slowly read through your contract to ensure that everything looks good and you’re not getting screwed over in anyway.  Essentially, what you’re looking for is…

  1. What your pay is
  2. What the cancellation policy is
  3. To make sure that if your requested vacation time it’s in the contract
  4. Benefits
  5. Reimbursement for license/certifications
  6. Assignment start and end date
  7. What shift you’re working and the weekend requirement
  8. Travel reimbursement

This contract will be sent to you as an official way to accept the travel nurse assignment you’ve been offered.  Remember, if you have any questions it’s best to ask your recruiter before signing the contract.

 

For more clarity on understanding your contract, don’t miss…

 

V – Vacations

Taking vacation as a travel nurse – the 411.

Vacations are an essential part of preventing burnout and the best part about travel nursing is that you now have access to unlimited vacation!  (See how I manage my money here and here to maximize my time off).  Here are some vacations that I would regularly take as a travel nurse…

  • Road trips – I always took a road trip when my assignment ended so I could see a little bit of the state I was living in; this didn’t require me to ask for time off and was pretty affordable as I was usually gone for about a week (see some of my favorite US road trips here).
  • Day trips – Whenever I would have 2 or 3 days off in a row, I would make it a point to visit a nearby city or town so that I felt like I was able to explore the area that I was living in a little bit better.  Sometimes I would spend the night, and other times I would just go for the day depending on how much time I had off.  See my favorite US day trips here.
  • Extended vacations – Once a year I would make sure to take off at least 4 weeks between assignments so that I could spend a longer time exploring a certain part of the world.  Having this ability to travel for an extended period of time is so unique to travel nursing, I hope you take advantage of it!  Some of my favorite month-long trips were to Romania, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia.

 

BY THE WAY, I HOST GROUP TRIPS FOR NURSES LOOKING TO EXPLORE THE WORLD & CONNECT WITH OTHER NURSES – FOLLOW BEYOND THE BEDSIDE TO LEARN MORE!

 

Don’t miss…

 

W – Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance – what’s that?

Just like taking a vacation is important to prevent burnout, creating strong boundaries and having work-life balance is also important.  As a travel nurse, I urge you to really focus on your mental health and physical health as moving around often and being the “new nurse on the unit” can be taxing.  Make sure to treat yourself often whether its a simple self-care day at home, booking a massage, or taking yourself out on a date night.

 

Don’t miss…

 

X -eXploring Your New City

One aspect I love about travel nursing is the ability to explore cities throughout the US.  Not only is this a great way to decide where you want to settle down, but if you have the travel bug (like me), your life feels like a non-stop travel movie!  Here are some ways that I explore the cities I live in…

  1. Book an experience on Viator
  2. Book an Airbnb experience
  3. Join Facebook groups

 

Don’t miss…

 

Y – Yearly Goals

One way to evaluate how you’re doing as a travel nurse, is to set yearly goals.  Maybe you want to visit a new country or learn a new language.  Remember, even when you’re taking breaks between your assignments – it doesn’t always mean you have to be traveling.  These are also great times to tackle goals that you have!

 

Z – Zoning Out – How to Avoid Burnout

After being a travel nurse for a while, you might start to notice signs of burnout.  In my experience, the easiest way to avoid burnout and make sure that I am my best for both my patients and myself is to prioritize taking breaks from the bedside.  I truly believe that no amount of money is worth your mental health, so if you’re debating extending your contract or taking a break – I urge you to consider more than the money.  You’ll last so much longer as a travel nurse if you prioritize your mental health.

 

Travel Nurse Essentials

FOR HOUSING

FOR RECRUITERS

  • Fill out this form to be matched with a senior level recruiter at Host Healthcare
  • Fill out this form to connect with my #1 recruiter at Fusion

FOR TRAVELING TO/DURING YOUR ASSIGNMENT

FOR WORK

TO EXPLORE YOUR NEW “HOME”

 

I hope that this A-Z guide to travel nursing not only taught you a lot about the industry, but also inspires you to become a travel nurse!  If you have any questions about traveling nursing, let me know in a comment below!

 

For more information and inspiration on all things nursing and travel nursing, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinscrubs” or under my highlights for “Nursing” or “Travel Nursing”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Nursing” or “Travel Nursing” highlight

 

Pin Me!

Disclosure:  This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you.  Passports and Preemies is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.

 

Follow:
0
passportsandpreemies
passportsandpreemies

Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.

On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.

Find me on: Web | Instagram | Facebook

You may also enjoy:

Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Where to next?