If You are Considering Becoming a Travel Nurse, Read This

Travel nursing is an increasingly popular career choice, and it's easy to see why. Travel Nursing comes with a variety of benefits from seeing new parts of the country, working with a variety of patients, earning a competitive salary, and more. It's no surprise that more and more nurses are considering a career in travel nursing, and if you are a nurse considering taking the jump, read below for everything you need to know.

Demand

The demand for travel nurses is high. With a shortage of nurses in many parts of the country, hospitals and healthcare facilities are turning to travel nurses to fill the gap. This means that as a travel nurse, you'll likely have plenty of job opportunities to choose from.

License Requirements

For travel nursing, you will be required to obtain a license in the state you would like to take a contract in. This means that if you plan to work in multiple states, you'll need to have a nursing license in each of those states as well.

The bright side to this is that the Nurse Licensure Compact is an agreement between states to recognize each other’s licenses. As of 2023, 36 states are accepted with the most recent addition being Ohio. Here are all states that participate in the agreement:

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

It is important to note that while states are part of the Compact, they may still have different specific requirements, so nurses should always verify with their current state board of nursing before working in another state.

Opportunities

Having a wide range of job opportunities across the country is a huge benefit while working in the healthcare industry and it will allow you to find roles that align with your interests and skills.

Some of the key benefits of taking contracts in different states include:

Travel

As a travel nurse, you'll have the opportunity to see new parts of the country as you travel from assignment to assignment. Many travel nurses view this as the best benefit in their careers. Once you start working with a recruiter, you'll be able to discuss your goals and share where you want to work and live.

Personal Growth

Traveling to new places and experiencing different cultures can broaden your perspective and help you grow as an individual. Each assignment might push you out of your comfort zone just a little bit more.

Education

Exploring different parts of the country can be a great way to learn about different regions, histories, and cultures. You will also expand upon your nursing education by learning from well-versed nurses and facilities.

Adventure

Traveling to new places can be a great way to break out of a routine and experience new and exciting things. Make a bucket list of items you want to experience and see how you can weave them into your travel nurse assignments.

Memories

Many nurses travel with nursing friends or bring their families along with them. Experiencing different places around the country with friends and family can create lasting memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Networking

Working with nurses around the country and learning from a variety of facilities can open new doors of opportunities and the possibility to expand your professional network.

Stress Relief

Sometimes, a change of scenery and a break from your daily routine at home can be beneficial to your mental and emotional well-being, ultimately helping to reduce stress.

Schedule Flexibility

A huge perk of nursing as a field overall is the flexibility of your schedule. Travel nurses experience even more flexibility with the ability to determine your schedule from contract to contract.

Travel nurses typically work 13-week assignments, which means you'll have the opportunity to take breaks in between assignments. You can map out your schedule so that breaks in contracts line up with big life events like weddings, holidays, or parental leave. Having this control over your schedule can go a long way.

Travel with Gifted

Overall, travel nursing can be a rewarding and exciting career choice for nurses who are looking for a change of pace and the opportunity to see new parts of the country. If you're considering becoming a travel nurse in 2023, connect with a Gifted recruiter and learn more about the opportunities we have for you. Your recruiter will help you take the leap into travel nursing and continue to work alongside you during each and every contract!