Do you love your job, but are you looking to increase the excitement and adventure? Travel nursing is an adventure in so many ways--new job, new facility, new place to live and new sights to see. Sound intriguing? Most travel nurses are very content with their decision to find a new employer somewhere

Do you love your job, but are you looking to increase the excitement and adventure? Travel nursing is an adventure in so many ways--new job, new facility, new place to live and new sights to see. Sound intriguing? Most travel nurses are very content with their decision to find a new employer somewhere other than “home.”

The History

Travel nursing really took off in popularity in the 1980s when there was a nursing shortage in the United States.

In many places of the country, healthcare demands fluctuate with the seasons. The areas especially impacted by seasonal populations are those like Florida, California, and Arizona. Many older people migrate to these areas in the winter to avoid the harsh cold and snow around their primary residences.

How Travel Nursing Works

There are at least 350 travel nursing companies in the states. These companies have placed a total of 25,000 nurses in jobs throughout the country. The travel nursing company acts as the liaison between the nurse and the hiring facility.

It's important to shop around for an agency that best covers the nurse’s needs and expectations. Employee benefits depend upon the individual agency. Some offer fully paid medical insurance, but no housing allowance. Other agencies offer fully compensated housing, but only a minimal contribution to health insurance. It's important to investigate a few different agency options.

Basic requirements to become a travel nurse include:

• Minimum of 1 year of clinical experience; 2 or more years of clinical experience makes the applicant more marketable
• Current nursing license
• Current certifications like CPR, CCRN or other required specializations
• Completed employment application
• Current resume
• Current physical including MD clearance for participation without any physical restrictions or limitations
• Up-to-date immunizations
• Current TB test or chest X-ray
• Any other requirements specific to the applying employment agency

Here is a word about nursing licensure for the travel nurse:

The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement between participating states, of which there are 24 states with two pending, where a travel nurse can work using their home state license.

The Application Process

It's common for a travel nurse to apply to a variety of locations and make the best determination of where to work, once employment offers are made.

Applying to a Joint Commission certified facility affords a travel nurse the best personal and professional support. There is also a professional group, Professional Association of Nurse Travelers, which offers support for the travel nurse population.

Here is how to apply for a travel nurse job:

• The applicant completes the required application, specific to the agency they chose to use
• The agency submits the application to selected hiring facilities
• Once an offer for employment is made, the applicant can decide if it's the right professional fit for them

A telephone interview with the hiring facility is common. The average travel nurse contract lasts 13 weeks, but can range from 4 weeks for U.S. assignments to up to 2 years for international hires.

What Happens Once You're Hired?

Orientation takes place at the hiring facility and is usually brief, given the fact that the facility is in need of nursing coverage. The expectation is that a traveling nurse brings along a great deal of experience, so they need only a quick facility-oriented orientation.

(Some agencies state that travel nurse jobs in the South pay less than those in the North and West. Ask a representing agency for further details about salary.)

The Pros of Being a Travel Nurse

There are many personal and professional reasons to join the ranks of travel nursing. Here are a few:

• See parts of the country that you would not otherwise visit
• Make new friends
• Embellish your professional resume
• Enjoy personal adventures
• Earn a high salary, sometimes higher than a permanent position
• Good opportunity for professional growth and development
• Some travel positions lead to a permanent position

The Cons of Being a Travel Nurse

• Some assignments are shorter than desired
• Moving around a lot
• Always having to navigate a new facility
• Learning new policies and procedures at each new facility

The travel nurse has unlimited opportunities to experience new places to live and work. This commitment adds some true adventure to the healthcare field.