How to Become a Travel Nurse
Travel nurses work on a contract basis with hospitals and health systems that need immediate and temporary staffing. Specialties and medical workplaces of all kinds hire travel nurses, so any type of bedside experience can prove useful as a traveler. To become a travel nurse, candidates must complete education, testing, and licensing and gain bedside experience. Then they can pursue employment. Below, we’ll detail the steps to become a travel nurse, how long it takes, and where to start.
Become a Travel Nurse in 6 Steps
Travel nurses must have the education and experience required to work in new situations with confidence. State licensing is required to practice as a travel nurse, and specialty certifications can make candidates more competitive for certain assignments.
3
Acquire a State License
Each state has different license application requirements, and travel nurses applying for a registered nursing license can find their state’s application process at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Travel nurses must apply for a license in each state they travel to, but some states have a “compact” agreement in which one state’s license may be used in other states.
4
Gain Experience
Once a new RN has a valid license, they may apply for nursing jobs in the state of their licensure, and many employers are happy to hire new graduates. RNs may find they can achieve experience relevant to their travel nursing goals in any medical setting.
5
Pursue Travel Nursing Positions
Once RNs have a year or two of bedside experience, they may apply for travel nursing positions. Some travel nurse agencies require two to three years of experience, while others can place travel nurses after just a year at the bedside.
6
Earn Nursing Specialty Certifications
Although specialty certifications aren’t required for travel nurses, they can make any application stand out. RN certifications show nursing experience and knowledge in specific specialties and may offer higher pay.
Schooling Requirements for Travel Nurses
Travel nurses can practice with a few different levels of education, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an Associate Degree in Nursing. However, more and more employers in all fields may favor nurses with a bachelor’s degree. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing survey revealed that a majority of healthcare employers (over 70%) prefer new nursing hires to have a BSN. Because travel nurses must be able to adapt quickly and enter every new assignment with confidence, the higher level of education a BSN offers often serves travel nurses well.
Associate Degree in Nursing
An Associate Degree in Nursing, or ADN, is the quickest option to become a travel nurse with no previous university education. ADN degrees can take 18 months to two years to complete and may require some prerequisites before an application can be accepted.
Time to Complete
18 months to 2 years
Clinical Hours
190 to 900*
Pros
- Earn a PHN degree in less than two years
- Less competitive than a BSN
- Lower cost than a BSN
Cons
- May limit job opportunities compared to a BSN
- Must obtain a BSN before pursuing an advanced practice nursing degree
*Varies depending on institution
Sources: Central New Mexico Community College, Teaching and Learning in Nursing
Travel nurses with an ADN may receive lower pay and may not have their first choice of positions compared to a travel nurse with a BSN. However, the nursing shortage ensures a large pool of work for nurses with ADNs.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing gives future nurses a more well-rounded education experience than an ADN. Typically done over four years, the BSN curriculum covers the basics of nursing care and how the body works, but also teaches more specialized critical thinking skills.
Clinical Hours
160 to 750*
Pros
- More likely to pass NCLEX on the first attempt (82.32% with a BSN vs. 77.91% with an ADN)
- Easier to find work in highly specialized environments like gerontology or neonatology
- Higher salary than an ADN
Cons
- Takes longer to complete
- More competitive than an ADN
- More expensive than an ADN
*Varies depending on institution
Sources: Forbes Advisor, Teaching and Learning in Nursing, National Council of State Boards of Nursing
A BSN prepares future travel nurses to handle a high level of care. Where an ADN focuses on quickly preparing future nurses for clinical situations, a BSN adds higher-level concepts like evidence-based practice, community health nursing, statistics used in research, nursing management and leadership, health informatics and analysis, healthcare ethics, and nutrition.
Travel Nurse Licensing
Once a new nursing graduate has earned their degree, they must apply for licensure. Travel nurses must apply for a registered nurse license to practice. To become a licensed and practicing nurse in any state, all nursing graduates must pass the state licensing exam (the NCLEX-RN) and apply for a state license.
NCLEX-RN
The National Council Licensure Examination–RN (NCLEX-RN) is a computer-based exam with 85 to 150 questions. The exam takes anywhere from an hour to a maximum of five hours. Questions fall into four basic categories:
1. Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Psychosocial Integrity
4. Physiological Integrity
Once completed, the state board of nursing sends test results within six weeks, usually by email. In the time leading up to the NCLEX-RN, it’s important for graduates to study practice questions to ensure a passing grade and many students take NCLEX prep courses to increase their likelihood of success.
Registered Nurse State License Application and Renewal
Each state in the U.S. has a unique registered nurse licensing application process. The state board of nursing will want to see proof of an NCLEX passing result and a diploma from an accredited nursing program. Most states require criminal background checks and fingerprinting, and some may want to see university transcripts.
After initial licensure, RNs must renew their license every two years in most states. Each state has varying requirements on continuing education and other documentation needed for renewal. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing offers a plethora of information on registered nurse licensing requirements by state.
Specialty Certification
Specialty nursing certification not only prepares nurses for practice but also helps any potential employer to feel more confident in hiring that candidate for a travel nurse assignment. Nurses can pursue specialty certification of all kinds through these organizations:
Certifications may also offer higher salaries for travel nurses.
Where Travel Nurses Work
Travel nurses most often work in hospitals but can also occasionally find placement in clinics. Within the hospital environment, travel nurses can work in any unit, including:
- Emergency room
- Medical-surgical
- Orthopedic
- Pediatric
- Operating room
- Post-anesthesia recovery (PACU)
- Intensive care (ICU)
- Neonatal intensive care (NICU)
- Cardiac care
- Psychiatric
Most travel positions hire nurse candidates who have experience in the area specified. For example, a nurse who has experience only in medical-surgical units can’t take positions in an ICU.
FAQs: How to Become a Travel Nurse
1. What education is needed to become a travel nurse?
Travel nurses must graduate with a nursing degree from an accredited college or university. They can pursue a 2-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
2. How many years does it take to become a travel nurse?
The time it takes to become a travel nurse depends on which degree they pursue. It could take anywhere from two to four years for an undergraduate degree, plus one to three years of bedside experience.
3. What are the steps to become a travel nurse?
To become a travel nurse, aspiring nurses must apply to and graduate from an accredited nursing school, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for and receive a nursing license in their state. After these steps, they will gain experience at the bedside and then apply for travel nurse positions.
4. How much do travel nurses make an hour?
Travel nurses make a similar wage to any other registered nurse. According to ZipRecruiter, RNs earn an average of $48.62 per hour, which equals about $101,132 annually. Nurses with an advanced degree will be able to earn more.
