Choosing to be a travel nurse is a lucrative and thrilling career choice. It’s one that comes with tons of autonomy, time off to live your life the way you want, and in most cases double the pay than that of a staff nurse. If you’re just starting in nursing school, or you’ve been a staff nurse for some time and you’re looking to move forward in your career, then you may find yourself searching the world wide web for, “How to become a travel nurse”. I’m here to tell you, it’s quite simple by following these steps!
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How to Become a Travel Nurse
So how do you become a travel nurse? The truth is there are only a few main requirements when it comes to being a travel nurse. The main travel nurse requirements are getting a degree, getting licensed, gaining valuable nursing experience, securing a trustworthy recruiter, and having the right attitude.
Before reading further, don’t miss:
What is Travel Nursing?
So let’s start with the most obvious question – what exactly is travel nursing? Put simply, a travel nurse is a nurse that travels to different hospitals throughout the United States because there is a need for nurses. When there’s a need for nurses it usually means that staff retention is low, someone has gone out on maternity leave, there are too many new grads being oriented to a unit, or there’s a surge in patients. Some hospitals consistently hire travel nurses while other hospitals only get travel nurses sparingly.
Travel nurses are usually hired for 13-weeks at a time and when that time is up they can either extend their contract (as long as there is a need) or move on to pick another assignment.
For more on what travel nursing is, check out:
How to Get into Travel Nursing
To get into travel nursing, you first need to get into nursing. I do NOT recommend becoming a travel nurse if you don’t love nursing first. This is because nursing is at the core of being a travel nurse. All of the freedom, flexibility, and money in the world won’t make you happy if you don’t truly love what you’re doing. And if you don’t truly love to be a staff nurse – then you definitely won’t truly love to be a travel nurse.
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!
Getting Your Degree in Nursing – BSN
To be a travel nurse you need to have a degree in nursing. I recommend getting your BSN because that is what most nursing models are turning to. However, if you already have your associate’s degree in nursing, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be a travel nurse.
You can get your degree from a 4-year college or you can apply to accelerated nursing programs if you already have a degree in a different field. Accelerated programs usually take anywhere from 12-18 months to complete. At this time you’ll graduate with a BSN.
Getting Your RN
Once you graduate with your BSN, you aren’t done yet. You still need your RN – registered nurse. You get your RN by passing the NCLEX – the nationwide examination for licensing of nurses in the US, Australia, and Canada.
Once you have your RN you’re officially a nurse and can start working as one.
Working As an RN
The next critical step in becoming a travel nurse is first being a staff nurse. This is key to becoming a travel nurse and cannot be skipped over. If you’re wondering, “How many years does it take to become a travel nurse”, then the best answer I can give is 2+ years (not including the time it takes to get your degree).
While you can sometimes get hired as a travel nurse before having two years of experience, I don’t recommend it. This is because travel nurses are hired due to the unit needing help. This means that you’re expected to show up, and jump right into the mix. There’s a very short orientation process and sometimes very few resources for help. You’ll be expected to know most things and how do you know most things if you don’t have enough experience?
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Finding a Company/Recruiter
Once you’ve gained 2+ years of experience as a nurse, the next step is reaching out to a recruiter. I recommend getting a referral for a specific recruiter from someone you know and trust. If you can’t find a recruiter this way, you can instead pick a company and put your information on their website, where they will then match you with a random recruiter.
It’s key to pick a good recruiter that you trust because they can make or break your travel nurse dreams. They will be who submits you to each job and who you regularly connect with before, during, and after your assignment.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A RECRUITER, REACH OUT TO ME ON INSTAGRAM! YOU CAN ALSO FILL OUT THIS FORM AND A SENIOR LEVEL RECRUITER WILL GET BACK TO YOU.
Finding a recruiter and a company can be confusing and overwhelming. Read the following posts if you need more guidance or clarification:
- 30 Questions to Ask a Travel Nurse Recruiter
- Why Picking a Travel Nurse Recruiter is More Important than Picking a Company
- Why it’s Important to Work With More than One Travel Nurse Recruiter
- How to Pick the Right Travel Nurse Recruiter For You
- Travel Nurse Agencies Ranked by Travel Nurses
- Not All Travel Nurse Companies Are Created Equal – What to Know Before Signing Your First Contract
Landing a Job As a Travel Nurse
Once you’ve picked a company/recruiter your work is mostly done. Your recruiter will begin submitting you to jobs that you want and all you have to do is nail your interview and land the job! The hard work is behind you and you’re ready to live out your dream of traveling throughout the country and having unlimited time off of work to live your life the way you want!
Read more:
- What to Expect Once You Get a Job As a Travel Nurse
- 4 Common Travel Nurse Interview Questions, Plus How to Nail Your Interview
How to Be a Travel Nurse (a Recap)
So, how long does it take to become a travel nurse? From start (when you begin school), to end (landing your first travel nurse job), the process ends up being nearly 6+ years. This includes getting your degree, getting licensed, working as a staff nurse, all the way up to working as a travel nurse. The process can be long and daunting at times, but I can guarantee you that it will be worth it.
Travel Nurse Essentials
FOR HOUSING
- VRBO
- Extended Stay America
- Hello Landing – Use code “PassportsandPreemies” for $250 off your first standard Landing stay
FOR RECRUITERS
- Fill out this form to connect with my favorite travel nurse recruiter
FOR TRAVELING TO/DURING YOUR ASSIGNMENT
- To book a flight, I recommend a search engine or Skyscanner to compare options
- If you need to rent a car, I recommend Discover Cars
FOR WORK
TO EXPLORE YOUR NEW “HOME”
- For tours I recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, Take Walks, & Devour Tours (available in select cities)
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
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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.
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.
