Travel Nursing Jobs As a Career Option in 2023

If you are thinking of becoming a travel nurse then it is a viable career option as you will have more salary than the permanent and para diem nurses. If we look back then it is in the year 1920 when traveling nursing jobs came into existence after the shortage for nurses was felt. It is the most popular career in the USA as the demand for travel nurses is mounting owing to less number of nurses in specific regions. There are around 25,500 travel nurses in the USA and about 340 US travel nurse companies. Travel nursing jobs are short term nursing jobs (4 to 52 weeks) in which the nurses have to travel to different parts of the country. The contract that is outside the country is of longer period like one to two years.

Travel nursing job gives you the wonderful experience of meeting new people and enjoying different seasons and states of the country. Depending upon the project you can choose the period of stay in the travel nursing job. Some nurses prefer to stay for one month and others for one year.

How to become a traveling nurse?

To become a travel nurse one will have to complete the education from the affiliated nursing school to get the Registered Nurse degree. You can go for any of the following types of education.

• Four years BSN degree
• Two years ADN program
• Three years diploma

Along with this one must have the clinical experience of one year as a licensed nurse in the area of his or her specialization to get into traveling nursing jobs. It is recommended that you must get two to three years of experience for the International travel nursing jobs. The requirement of experience varies with the specialization. Like LPN/LVN requires three years of experience whereas for Psychiatric nurse jobs, Med-Surg and Rehab you need the experience of two years to get travel nursing jobs. Also, clearing the NCLEX-RN exam is a must in the USA. Along with this you will have to get the license of that particular state. Your travel nursing company will help you in getting that.   Apart from the education and experience you must have a charming personality, easy to adapt nature and good communication skills.

Traveling nurse jobs are obtained through the travel agency or travel nursing companies that are tied up with the hospitals. Travel nursing companies not only help you in finding the travel nursing jobs but will also help you with the relocation, housing and registration with local authorities. But you will have to be very careful while choosing the travel nurse company as the services provided vary a lot from company to company. So always ask for the entire services that a travel nurse agency or company is going to provide while giving the travel nursing job to you. Do ask for clinical support, type of health insurance and 401(k), type of travel nurse housing, salary and associated benefits, work assignments and loyalty programs.

You can tell your requirement of a travel nurse job to your travel nurse company so that it can find the best suitable match. You can start your travel nurse jobs after accepting and processing your job offer. This can take one week to one month's time.

Benefits of Traveling Nurse Jobs

First of all, a travel nurse salary is more than the registered nurse working in the same hospital. Apart from this travel nurse will get the housing facility while on work by the travel agencies with basic furnishings of washer dryers, dishwashers etc. Housing stipend is given to the nurses who choose to live independently of the travel agency. The amount of stipend is more than the actual wages or it can be substantial.

Along with this the travel allowances are also paid by the travel agencies but the coverage of the travel cost varies. So you must inquire about these things before getting a travel nursing job. Tax advantages are also given if the nurse maintains a tax home while working in the traveling nurse job.

Payout or Salary

Travel nursing pay varies a lot and generally changes with the location, hospital need, housing cost of the area and negotiation ability of the traveler. Like you will find more travel nurse salary if you are given travel nursing jobs in north or west America than the southern American States. The RN travel nurse salary can be $40 per hour whereas surgical technologists, respiratory therapists and LPN will get pay close to $28 per hour. Some of the hospitals and travel agencies also give bonuses that can reach up to $6,000 and are given at the end of the assignment.

You can also begin your traveling nurse job with your friend or family. So no need to worry about anything to begin the adventurous career as a travel nurse.