Traveling can easily become a greater part of your life, especially if it is related to your career. In this post, we would like to look closer at the professions of travel nurses and what to expect by choosing this sphere of activity. Let’s outline who travel nurses are, what they do, and what education requirements are mandatory for them.
Who is a travel nurse?
A travel nurse is an exciting employment variation in the healthcare industry. These are nurses whom independent staffing agencies hire to work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. They are usually under contract for short periods, visiting different locations.
Educational requirements for a travel nurse
Let’s explore what you need to know and what skills you should have to work as a travel nurse and be included in the top list at Yahoo one day.
Nursing Degree Requirements
The basic condition for employment as a traveling nurse is a registered nurse (RN) license, which requires at least an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN). But the majority of staffing agencies and clients choose nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN).
ADN takes two years, not four years, like the BSN. Admission to ADN programs requires a high school diploma or GED certificate, and many healthcare institutions require passing grades in the country’s native language so the nurse can work at the best online translation service. Also, travel nurses should be great at math and science, especially biology and chemistry.
ADN training consists of nursing practice, evidence-based practice fundamentals, screening and testing of patients, patient education, and communication. The program also includes clinical hours that advance nursing skills.
The majority of BSN courses take four years to complete. Part-time students may take longer, usually up to six years. Students with an ADN degree, college transfer credits, or AP passing grades can finish BSN in two to three years.
The BSN curriculum consists of preventive and health promotion, evidentiary nursing practice, statistics/research methods, healthcare systems and management, population health, patient communication, and education. The program also involves clinical experiences in healthcare facilities.
Many employers require a BSN, particularly in specialized areas such as trauma departments.
License and certification for travel nurses
Next, after you get your ASN and BSN, you have to pass the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) to be eligible to get your license in your area.
Students should answer a shortlist of questions, depending on how well they answer the NCLEX questions. Licensing requirements for travel nurses may vary depending on where you live or where you intend to work.
Once you are licensed as an RN, you will need two years of clinical experience to become qualified for most travel nurse positions.
There is no specialized travel nursing certification, but you can get certified in a different specialty area based on what specialty you want as a travel nurse.
Certification varies by unit and specific job requirements. All nurses are required to be certified in Basic Life Support (BLS), and the majority of them are required to be certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).
Certainly, obtaining extra certifications will improve your employment opportunities and salary. For example, the most popular certifications for traveling nurses are:
- CPN (certified pediatric nurse practitioner).
- CCRN (certified critical care nurse).
- CEN (certified emergency room nurse).
Years of Experience
It is worth saying that working as a traveling nurse requires at least one year of experience as a registered nurse in a hospital, but often even two years of healthcare practice. Obviously, with a short-term contract, travel nurses have very few orientation shifts. Accordingly, they must have the skills and knowledge to get immediately involved in any assignment or situation. For instance, specialists from writing services GrabMyEssay can adjust their skills to any customer requirement.
Nurses who will be taking care of patients in a specialty department must have experience relevant to that specialty. Keep in mind if you are not qualified for the experience level, do not apply. Your application will not be considered. The more experience you have, the more desirable a worker you are.
Advantages of a traveling nurse
Working as a travel nurse has many advantages for the medical career overall. We can identify the following:
- High income from the first working days.
- Compensatory benefits: for housing, food, incidental expenses, and travel reimbursement.
- Traveling the country.
- Creating your skill set.
- Flexibility.
- Job security.
- Individual growth.
- Possibility to make new friends and experience new places.
- Connecting with healthcare professionals around the country.
To sum up
Traveling nursing jobs can be an excellent career choice for nurses who have some experience in the field but want to explore new cities, meet new people, and constantly discover new horizons while still growing professionally.
