Imagine receiving a road map that helps you build a stellar resume, customized towards your dream career path. Imagine traveling the world and getting paid an above-average income to do so. If you enjoy the idea of meeting new people, living life in different parts of the country, or building a resume that documents a variety of professional experiences at medical facilities, then it may be time to consider becoming a travel nurse.
Knowing the requirements for becoming a travel nurse before leaping into this new exciting career path is important.
Can You Start as a Travel Nurse Straight Out Of College?
Facilities hire travelers because they need people who can hit the ground running, that’s why most facilities require travel nurses to have at least 1-2 years of RN experience in their primary specialty to ensure they can be confident to take on whatever jobs are being thrown at them with little to no “hand holding”. Consider this time as necessary preparation for your main goal of starting your travel RN career. It is essential to have some experience under your belt before taking on a travel assignment so you’ll have something to offer, you’ll be more confident and you won’t feel thrown to the wolves.
Your clinical background will determine the specific openings you’ll qualify for as a travel nurse. Hospitals are constantly on the lookout for experienced, nurses and dialysis professionals with certain specializations and advanced training.
Take the necessary steps to gain the experience you need
Make sure you have enough experience to feel confident and competent. Be confident in your knowledge and competent in your capabilities to advocate for your patients.
Tips for building your RN experience:
- Pay attention. Once you start your first staff position, use this time to learn all you can. The more skills, knowledge, and confidence you acquire during this time and the more flexibility you demonstrate, the more opportunity you will have as a new traveler.
- Create great references. Be a team player who is willing to fill in, takes feedback like a champ, and makes life easier for managers.
- Start talking to experienced traveling nurses. They will have great advice about what to do to land your first travel contract.
In addition to state licensing, you’ll also need to become certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) before you can sign on with a travel nursing agency. If you choose to specialize in a field, you may need to get additional licensing.
Earn your ASN/ADN or BSN Degree
Any nurse who has completed an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program is eligible to be a travel nurse. When you graduate with your associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing, you’ll be prepared to take the National Council Licensure Exam NCLEX-RN exam, which is required to become a registered nurse in the United States.
The two years of experience in staff nursing also gives you the time you need to receive a specialization in your area of expertise should you choose to take the certification exam. This will also make you more marketable for more opportunities.
Once you pass your NCLEX exam and meet the board of nursing requirements in your state, you’ll be eligible to become a registered nurse. From there, it’s a matter of gaining enough experience in your nursing specialty to pursue opportunities as a traveling nurse.
Apply for a compact nursing license
To be a registered nurse, you need to be licensed in the state where you work. Fortunately, the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement between states that allows RNs to hold a single nursing license valid in numerous states.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing keeps track of what states have enacted and implemented the NLC. If you live in a state that is part of the NLC, you can get this multistate license in your state of residency. If you don’t live in a compact state, you’ll have to seek your license in the state you wish to work. The NLC doesn’t cover the entire U.S., so be sure to check your state’s licensing requirements to become a travel nurse.
Find a Travel Nurse Staffing Agency and Apply
Once your education, nursing experience, and credentials are in place, you’ll need to find a travel nurse staffing agency to work with. Travel nurses work for staffing companies that recruit RNs and other healthcare professionals to fill positions across the United States and abroad. Nurse shortages make it challenging for hospitals and clinics to maintain adequate staff-to-patient ratios. Hiring travel nurses help fill in these staffing gaps as well as filling in temporary gaps when nurses take a vacation, go on leave, or get hired by a different hospital or medical facility.
Reach Out To Your Recruiter
Call or Book an appointment with one of Onyx & Jasper Healthcare recruiters once you hit your one-year mark. This way, they can prepare your profile and keep an eye out for jobs in the city or state you desire while you finish working and obtaining experience during the required time.
By following these simple tips, you will be adequately prepared to start and excel in your new travel position as soon as you’ve received the required staff experience, and most importantly, you are prepared to do a great job once you begin your new travel assignment.
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