Nurses are in higher demand than ever, especially since many will soon retire. According to at least one study, the U.S. will need to add at least 5.6 million new healthcare professionals by 2020, and 4.6 million will need some college education. All of this adds up to a rosy future for travel nurses. Sign on with a travel nursing agency, and you can take temporary positions around the country or even abroad. You’ll receive competitive pay and benefits and the ability to work as much or as little as you want. Many agencies provide you with housing and travel reimbursements.

Benefits of Being a Travel Nurse

Perhaps the primary benefit of working as a travel nurse is the ability to travel. The typical travel nursing assignment lasts about 13 weeks, so you’ll have the opportunity to spend more than three months exploring a new city or rural area. Perhaps you love skiing — wouldn’t it be nice to spend three months of the winter in Colorado? Or maybe you like the beach — you could spend time working in Florida, California, or even Hawaii. Nurses are in high demand everywhere, so there’s no limit to where you can go as a travel nurse. Nursing already offers great flexibility, but travel nursing offers even more than standard staff positions. You can work anywhere from four weeks to an entire year, then take a month off if you prefer.

You can expect to earn more money than an ordinary staff nurse — as of June 2023, pay packages range from $2,000 per week gross and up. Many agencies offer 401(k) plans with contribution matching, and you can qualify for medical and dental benefits. You can be reimbursed for continuing education or receive opportunities for free continuing education credits. Housing is also covered — you’ll either receive a housing allowance commensurate with the area’s cost of living or be assigned free housing offered by the hospital where you work. Perhaps best of all, you’ll have the opportunity to experience how hospitals and clinics in different parts of the country and world do things and to improve your patient care skills thanks to the experience.

How to Become a Travel Nurse

To become a travel nurse, you will first need to earn a nursing degree and pass the NCLEX to obtain your RN. Once you’re an RN, you should work in a hospital for at least a year to gain the experience you’ll need to make yourself an attractive travel nurse candidate. A certification in your specialty can also help you gain a travel nursing position.

Most travel nurses work for a travel nursing agency that places qualified nurses in positions around the country. You’ll receive most of your benefits, including health care, housing, retirement, and travel reimbursement, from the agency itself, not from the hospitals where you work. Usually, you’ll be interviewed by a hiring manager at the agency; you may or may not also be interviewed by a unit manager at the hospitals and clinics to which you travel for assignments. Most travel nurses have preferences for where they would like to travel, and you always have the option to accept or decline a contract. In addition, the agency will do its best to place you as close as possible to your preferred city.

Travel nursing is a great career option for a nurse passionate about travel. It’ll allow you to see the country and the world, learn from a greater variety of healthcare professionals, make new friends, and have experiences that will be the envy of your loved ones back home. Give travel nursing a try, and start making the most of your life.