CRAFTING WELLNESS STORY
Thinking About Travel Nursing?
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Travel nursing is becoming increasingly popular for nurses who want to travel and explore new cities while still doing what they love.
So how do you become a travel nurse? Just like any career in nursing, you must have either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (RN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you must pass the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) exam, and become licensed in your state of practice.
Most travel nursing agencies and hospitals require nurses to have at least two years of experience prior to applying for travel nursing contracts.
As a travel nurse, you could be moving state to state every few weeks. Every state has different license requirements and you will want to leave yourself enough time to acquire the right licensing in order to work in any specific state. Every state is different, some licensing can take weeks, some require and in-person appearance, and there are other states that allow you to obtain a temporary nursing license from the board in one day, which would be valid from 30 days to 6 months.
The salary for travel nurses varies state to state, and will depend on what kind of contract you are able to negotiate. As of 2021, the average travel nursing salary is 108,700 a year. The current nurse shortage has some nurses claiming the ability to make a much as $8,000 a week. The pay varies on the state, the travel nursing agency used, and the department the nurses works in. Like anything, if you have a specialty and there is a niche, the potential to make a higher salary is more likely. Travel nurses can receive stipends for housing, living expenses as well as sign-on bonuses, which would be paid on top of the nurse’s hourly rate.
If you are interested in becoming a Travel Nurse, it’s a good idea to continue your education as having advanced RN certifications can be preferable to hospitals. Some examples of certifications include:
CCCTM - Certified in Care, Coordination, and Transition Management
CDN - Certified Dialysis Nurse
CHN - Certified Nephrology Professional
CMRSN - Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse
CNN - Certified Nephrology Nurse
CNOR - Certified Nurse Operating Room
CPAN - Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse
The most common certifications for Travel Nurses are CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse), CCRN (Certified Critical Care Nurse), and a CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse). It’s important to have reliable equipment as a nurse (RN), doctor (MD), veterinarian, or other medical professional. MDF Instruments has stethoscopes, sphygmomanometers, and reflex hammers that all come with a lifetime warranty, and free parts for life. MDF Instruments stethoscopes make great gifts for nurses, doctors, PA’s, RT’s, and all healthcare professionals.