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How To Become A Travel Nurse, And Is It Worth It?
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This situation has also created a “new” type of nurse – a travel nurse. A travel nurse is a nurse who takes on temporary placement assignments in various locations across the country. Thus the name – these nurses travel from one assignment to another.
There is such a need for these travel nurses that there are nursing placement agencies that specialize in this area. Because of these agencies, becoming a travel nurse and getting work as one is not so difficult. The biggest challenge is your desire and ability to be away from home and working in new places with new people. But there are lots of positives to this kind of work as well, which will be discussed below.
This situation has also created a “new” type of nurse – a travel nurse. A travel nurse is a nurse who takes on temporary placement assignments in various locations across the country. Thus the name – these nurses travel from one assignment to another.
There is such a need for these travel nurses that there are nursing placement agencies that specialize in this area. Because of these agencies, becoming a travel nurse and getting work as one is not so difficult. The biggest challenge is your desire and ability to be away from home and working in new places with new people. But there are lots of positives to this kind of work as well, which will be discussed below.
License Issues
All states require nursing personnel to be properly licensed. This is not just regarding being a nurse in general, but also having proper credentials for specialty nursing work – such as pediatrics, surgery, oncology, etc. So, even a travel nurse must have proper licensure in their home state. Also, in most cases, you must have at least two years of actual professional experience. However, to take a travel nurse placement assignment in another state, you will need a license for that state. This can pose a challenge, but there is a way to get a multi-state nursing license, as discussed directly below.
Nurse Licensure Compact
A majority of the states have gotten together to allow licensed nurses from one state to work in another state, without having to get a new, separate state license. This multi-state agreement is called the Nurse Licensure Compact. It allows licensed nurses who live in one of the participating states to take a job in another participating state, under basically what is a multi-state license. The only major states that do not belong to this compact are California, New York, Oregon and Washington. Obtaining your multi-state license can be done with the help of a travel nurse agency.
Rules and Restrictions Regarding the Nurse Licensure Compact
• Your primary state of residence must be one of the participating nursing compact states. Your primary residence is determined by where you file your tax return.
• Nurses who are licensed RNs, LPNs and LVNs are included in the compact. Advanced practice nurses are not.
• A nurse whose primary state of residence is a compact state can apply for a multistate license, which allows nurses to practice in all nursing compact states.
• Nurses who live in non-compact states but practice in a compact nursing state will be issued a nursing license valid only in that member state (single state license). The nurse will not be granted the “multistate privilege to practice” in other compact states.
Professional and Career Benefits of Being a Travel Nurse
– There are always a large number of available jobs.
– High pay: Many make around $100,000 per year. The more in demand your specialty, the more you will make.
– There are generous housing allowances given, so often you will be able to live rent free.
– The placement assignments are temporary, usually for 8 or 13 week long contracts. So if you hate it, you can quickly move on to your next placement. If you love it, you usually can arrange an extension of your placement.
– The nursing agency you work with will usually provide you with various benefits and perks, such as generous vacation days, insurance coverage, pension benefits and personal assistance and guidance from your individual recruiter.
– Sign-on and Completion bonus pay.
Personal Benefits of Being a Travel Nurse
– Being able to travel and see new places and meet new people.
– Learning new skills and techniques.
– Not getting stuck in uncomfortable work situations.
– Energizing variety of new colleagues and patients.
– The overall aspect of the ‘adventure’ of being a travel nurse.
– An experienced travel nurse said: “The fun part is that travel nursing gives us the opportunity to decide what changes to make. We can take the future in our own hands, pick where we want to go and make a positive difference in our lives. “
