What if you could tailor your nursing career around your schedule and location of choice? If you’re interested in expanding your professional network, experiencing new places, and gaining a wide range of clinical experience, perhaps it’s time to seek a career as a travel nurse.
Before embarking on the exciting new job path of a travel nurse, you need to familiarize yourself with the prerequisites for doing so. Check out this link https://www.insider.com/nurses-are-quitting-staff-jobs-to-become-travel-nurses-2022-9.
Do you think a job as a traveling nurse would be a good fit for you?
Independent staffing agencies hire registered nurses (RNs) to work as “travel nurses” and fill vacancies in locations all over the world. Maintaining adequate staffing levels in healthcare facilities is difficult due to the continual lack of nurses.
Staffing shortages aren’t the only time when a hospital might benefit from the services of a travel nurse; they can also be used to fill in for regular nurses who are off for a while due to things like vacation, leave, or a transfer to another facility. Some travel nurses work at local facilities that are short-staffed rather than moving throughout the country.
In order to fill a temporary post that can last for a few days, a few weeks, a few months, or even longer, travel nurses sign contracts that may take them all over the world. When their contracts expire, travel nurses have the option of staying in the same place for longer or moving on to a new one. It’s up to the employer to decide how long the contract will last, although it’s usually between 8 and 26 weeks.
Becoming one can be an intriguing career choice if you’re someone who enjoys variety in their work and life. You get to see the world, learn about healthcare in different settings, and help people in need.
Get your bachelor’s in nursing
Many universities offer RN-to-BSN bridge programs for nurses with an ADN who want to advance their education to the bachelor’s level in nursing. Students holding a bachelor’s in a discipline other than nursing can typically transfer at least partial credits for an expedited BSN.
To enroll in a BSN program, prospective students must have completed prerequisite courses in algebra, biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as have their GED or high school diploma. Those who did not do well academically in high school may have a greater chance of being accepted to a BSN program if they complete an ADN degree and earn good grades. Read more here.
Gain your RN license by passing the NCLEX-RN exam
A passing score on the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is a prerequisite to practicing as an RN in the United States.
You can become a registered nurse if you pass the exam and satisfy the other conditions set forth by your state’s nursing board. The next step is to build up your nursing resume to the point where you may apply for jobs as a traveling nurse.
Get experience
Basic Life Support (BLS) as well as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are typically required by travel nurse agencies in addition to state licenses.
It’s possible that you’ll need to get more certification if you intend to work in a niche. Whatever position you’re applying for, you’ll likely need at least two years of relevant work experience. As a travel nurse, the jobs you’re eligible for depend on your clinical experience. A hospital’s nursing staff will always have a need for highly qualified individuals with certain sets of skills and expertise.
If you’re thinking about taking the certification exam, you’ll want at least two years of nursing experience before you try to take it. This will boost your marketability and open up additional doors for you. Whether you’re applying for a job in a niche industry, you should probably double-check with the agency to see if you need any more work experience.
Obtain a license to practice compact nursing
It’s quite easy to become a travel nurse if that’s where your passion lies. But, you’ll also need a nursing license from the state where you plan to practice. Luckily, RNs can now have a single license that is recognized in many states thanks to the Nursing Licensure Compact.
States’ adoption and implementation of the NLC are tracked by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Your home state may issue this compact license on your behalf if it is a member of the NLC.
You must apply for a license in the state where you plan to work if you do not live in a compact state. Because the NLC does not have jurisdiction over all 50 states, prospective travel nurses should research the specific regulations of their home state.
Look for a travel nurse agency
One key distinction between travel nursing versus temporary nursing is that the former involves placement by specialized staffing firms. Search for travel nurse staffing firms that are hiring, or contact your school’s career services office for assistance in making connections.
