By Christina Orlovsky, contributor
As you venture out into your new nursing career, you may be questioning: Where do I want to work? What kind of nurse do I want to be? One option you may not have considered is travel nursing. Typically, you need a minimum of 12 months of nursing experience in one specialty before you can apply to be a travel nurse.
Few professions offer the flexibility, portability and possibilities of travel nursing. No matter where you go, a rewarding opportunity awaits you. With travel nursing, the possibilities are endless and the benefits are plentiful.
Justin Howe, RN, decided to become a travel nurse after gaining experience in the surgical ICU at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. “I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to go anywhere, so I chose an assignment on the west coast,” he said.
“Travel nursing is an excellent way to gain experience, meet new people and see the country,” Howe said. “The staff has been very welcoming and I have become close friends with my colleagues.”
One of the greatest aspects of about travel nursing is how easy it is to get started. All you need is 12 months of acute care work experience and you’re on your way. Once you’ve made the choice to travel, your only responsibility is to pack your bags, hit the road and prepare for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Midwestern RNs Kelly Harms and Jade Sessions chose to kick off their travel career by picking an assignment together in a Southern California beach town. The travel company was able to place them at the same hospital and provide them with a two-bedroom apartment. “To have someone that you know you can come home to is very comforting,” said Harms. “I don’t think I would have had the courage the first time to go on an assignment by myself. But now that I’m experienced, I have the confidence to move onto my next assignment alone.”
As a travel nurse, you can enjoy:
- Top pay rates and bonuses.
- Free, quality accommodations.
- Medical and dental benefits.
- Résumé-building experiences working in top-rated academic, research and urban facilities.
- Learning valuable clinical skills and professional competencies.
- Exploring new cities from coast to coast.
- Making new friends or traveling with a buddy, spouse or even a pet.
- Saving for your future with a retirement plan … and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is travel nursing?
Travel nursing is a popular career option for nurses.
You begin by selecting a travel nursing company, which acts as your personal job recruiter. The company helps you determine where in the United States you want to work, the type of facility that interests you and which travel assignments are available.
The travel company then helps you get placed in the work assignment of your choice, provides you with an apartment (usually close to the facility), pays some expenses and supports you during your assignment.
How much experience is needed to take a travel nursing assignment?
Twelve months of post-graduation experience in an acute care setting is needed before you may speak to a recruiter.
How long is a typical assignment?
Travel assignments usually last 13 weeks. Upon completion, you may be able to renew at the same hospital or you can travel to a new location. You are free to work as many assignments in as many locations as you like.
What specialties are most in demand at this time for travel nurses?
Most RN specialties are in demand in acute care facilities across the United States, but the five that have the greatest demand are ICU, MS, Telemetry, OR and ER.
What is my next step?
If you’re working in an acute care facility, you’ve already taken that important first step toward a career in travel nursing.
Over the next 12 months, you can prepare for your travel nursing career by developing your nursing skills and experience. The New Grad Notes newsletter, sponsored by NurseZone.com, will guide you through the first year of your career by keeping you up to date on the latest nursing news and information and offering you valuable tools to use as you transition from a student nurse into your nursing career.
Once you have completed your first year of acute care experience, you will be all set to speak to a recruiter. New Grad Notes and its travel company partners will be able to help you embark on your travel nursing journey right away!
If you are interested in learning more about nursing and what you can do now to prepare for a travel nursing career in the future, visit our travel partner American Mobile Healthcare’s new graduate page by clicking here.
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