The nursing field is currently experiencing a shortage that is expected to increase: studies show 100,000 nurses have left the field since 2020, and more than half a million plan to go by 2027.1, 2 Fortunately, travel nurses are working to fill these gaps and are reaping the benefits of higher pay and better work-life balance.
Learn the steps to become a travel nurse and explore how the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences School of Nursing can help you achieve your career dreams.
What Is a Travel Nurse?3
A travel nurse works a temporary contract to fill gaps in coverage in underserved areas.3 For example, you might fill in for a nurse in a pediatrics office who is on maternity leave for ten weeks, or you might work in an ER for two weeks while they hire a full-time employee after a suddenly vacant position. These temporary jobs are also common in underserved locations, such as urban or rural areas, or areas with significant patient fluctuation, such as tourist areas.
You can opt to renew your contract or move on to another position at the end of your contract. If you love the job and facility, you may be able to sign on full-time.3
What Do Travel Nurses Do?4
- Care for the patients on your caseload
- Interact with patients and their families
- Administer medication
- Collaborate with other members of a patient’s care team
As a travel nurse, you’ll be expected to fully engage from day one. You’ll have to adapt quickly to new systems, technology and expectations. As part of your travel nurse job description, you’ll report to the lead nurse, just like every other nurse on the team.
How to Become a Travel Nurse3
If you’re wondering what the steps are to become a travel nurse, here are the seven steps to follow:
1. Earn a BSN Degree
Travel nurse education requirements start with a degree in nursing. One of the main qualifications for travel nurse opportunities is an associate’s degree (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This process can take two to four years, depending on the travel nurse degree and program.
2. Prepare to Sit for the NCLEX-RN Exam
Apply for licensure or registration to your state’s nursing regulatory body (NRB) to start the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) registration process.5 Once you meet these travel nurse qualifications, you have one year to register to take the test with Pearson VUE and pay your testing fee.
3. Take and Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam
Next, take the NCLEX-RN. The exam, which is one of the key travel nurse requirements, covers the management of care, pharmacological and parenteral therapies and basic comfort and care, and you’ll take it online.
4. Obtain RN Licensure
Next in the steps to become a travel nurse is to apply for RN licensure. If you only want to practice in your state, you can apply through your state board of nursing. If you want to practice in multiple states, apply for a multistate license from the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), which includes 43 member jurisdictions.6
To apply, you’ll pay a fee, pass a background check and submit evidence of degree completion and your NCLEX-RN scores.
5. Gain Field Experience
As most nurses need to be able to hit the ground running, one of the requirements to be a travel nurse is to gain at least one-two years of field experience.3 Most nurse staffing agencies have travel nurse requirements of at least one year of experience in your specialty, but some may require more.
Common travel nurse specialties include:7
- Emergency Room (ER)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Neonatal
- Labor and Delivery (L&D)
- Pediatric
6. Level Up Your Travel Nurse Degree
To maximize your success as a travel nurse, earn an advanced travel nurse degree or a post-graduate nursing certificate in your role specialty. A travel nurse certification or advanced degree may qualify you for more positions.
As the terminal degree for nurses, the DNP includes training in system leadership, evidence-based practices and healthcare policy. This level of travel nurse schooling prepares you for leadership roles in the nursing field.
Earning an advanced nursing degree will also help you maximize your travel nurse qualifications, which can increase your earning potential. For example, an RN makes an average base salary of $91,000, but an RN with a master’s degree earns $106,000 and a DNP earns $115,000.8, 9, 10
7. Find a Nurse Staffing Agency
One of the last steps to become a travel nurse is to find a nurse staffing agency. These agencies work with healthcare providers to find travel nurses to fill short-term positions in exchange for a percentage of your contract.3
While you can find travel nurse positions on your own, it’s a time-consuming process. Nurse staffing agencies make this much more manageable. They may also provide health insurance and retirement benefits you wouldn’t receive working a short-term job.
Once you’ve signed up with a nurse staffing agency, they’ll send you job opportunities and serve as the go-between for you and the facility that needs you. They can help you find housing and advocate on your behalf if any problems arise in your contract.