This article was provided by Cross Country Nurses.
As a travel nurse, an incredible personal and professional adventure awaits you. Travel nursing is attractive because it allows you to create your path and choose the journey to arrive successfully.
You will satisfy your wanderlust if you enjoy exploring as many new cities as possible while working at multiple facilities on a short-term contract for above-average pay. If you like to feel more settled and stay in one place for longer than 12-14 weeks while continuing to build relationships for above-average income, you can have the best of both worlds.
If travel nursing is the career you want to pursue to help others thrive while scratching your travel itch, how do you get there?
Steps and Stages to Become a Travel Nurse
Step 1: Earn a Degree
To be considered for travel nurse positions, you are required to have a registered nurse (RN) license through either an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a two-year program, or a bachelor of science (BSN), a four-year commitment.
The latter provides more job opportunities, career advancements, and stepping stones for continuing education. RN-to-BSN programs with an accelerated timeline are an option for those who have their ADN already and desire to earn a BSN degree.
Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN Test for Success
As a nursing school graduate, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which tests your ability and competency to provide safe and effective nursing practice at the entry-level. As a travel nurse, you will need a license to work in any state outside of your home state.
Step 3: Get a Licensure
The next step of licensure, defined by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), is “the process by which boards of nursing grant permission to an individual to engage in nursing practice after determining that the applicant has attained the competency necessary to perform a unique scope of practice.”
Thirty-five compact states in the U.S. participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which means you can receive one multi-state license. For the 13 non-compact states, you are required to have that specific state’s licensure.
Here is where it can get tricky. Just because you have a state license in a state that becomes compact doesn’t mean your license automatically becomes multi-state. As a nurse, you have to apply specifically for a multi-state license. To learn more on how healthcare professionals like you can get licensed in any U.S. state, click here.
Step 4: Gain Work Experience
Most hospitals and healthcare facilities prefer travel nurses to have at least one year of nursing experience in the specialty they will be contracted for, although some require two years of experience.
Volunteering, enrolling in a shadowing or mentor program, and finding an internship through your school are great ways to achieve hands-on experience while earning your degree. Your school may be a great resource and have paid student nurse positions. If you’ve already graduated, some employers are specifically looking for new graduates to train.
Step 5: Partner with a Travel Nurse Employment Agency
Choosing the right staffing agency is critical because they will become more than a resource for jobs. Your recruiter is someone you should be able to trust with all your travel nurse needs, including helping you navigate the compliance steps and regulatory paperwork.
- Vaccination records and a physical exam
- Copies of your license and certifications
- A drug test and background check
- Additional documentation required by healthcare facilities
An agency should also support your growth as a travel nurse, which may include furthering your education and expanding your skill set. Here are some examples of when you become part of the Cross Country family.
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accredited Cross Country University, CCMSN provides CE Direct® online Continuing Education (C.E.) and Certification Review that will fulfill your C.E. requirements.
- Access to over 700 award-winning continuing education (E.D.) courses
- Advanced degree (BSN, MSN, DSN) tuition reimbursement of up to 20% from accredited academic partners
Good luck with your career as a travel nurse, and enjoy all those adventures coming your way soon.
To dive deeper into the world of travel nursing and read the answers to commonly asked questions, click here. To fill out an application to work with Cross Country, click here or call (800) 530-6125 to speak with a recruiter who will walk you through the application process and answer any additional questions.
Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.
