How to Become a Travel Nurse: A Step-by-Step Guide

Travel nursing offers registered nurses an exciting opportunity to take on short-term contracts across the country, working in diverse settings, from critical care to school nursing services.

At GHR Healthcare, we’re dedicated to helping candidates find nursing opportunities that will further their careers.  Whether you're exploring how to become a travel nurse for the first time or looking to take your career to the next level, we can guide you through the process and connect you with the right opportunities.

What Is Travel Nursing?

Before diving into how to become a traveling nurse, it’s important to get a good sense of what the job entails. Travel nurses are RNs who partner with healthcare agencies to find placements across the country. These are typically short-term assignments, lasting around 13 weeks, offering the opportunity to work in various locations nationwide.

Travel nursing offers more flexibility regarding where you work and even the time off you take. For many, it allows for better work-life balance, which helps prevent burnout. It also offers the chance to help communities in need that might be struggling with nursing shortages in hospitals and clinics.

5 Steps to Become a Travel Nurse

To pursue a career as a travel nurse, there are a few essential steps that will get you on your way. These include ensuring you complete your nursing education, obtaining your license, and gaining valuable experience.

1. Complete Your Nursing Education

The first step to becoming a travel nurse is to get the right education so that you can become a registered nurse. You’ll need to get an undergraduate degree, which can be an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Be sure to choose an accredited program.

The ADN is the quicker path, but the BSN opens up more career opportunities. Most healthcare facilities and travel nursing positions require a BSN.

2. Obtain RN Licensure

To work as a registered nurse, you will need to have an RN license. That means passing the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN).

Once you pass the exam, you can receive your license, giving you the right to work as an RN in your state. An important aspect of how to become a travel nurse is the ability to work across multiple states. Do you need a license for each state? For most people, the answer is no.

That’s because there’s a nursing license option called a multi-state license. If you live in a state that participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), you don’t need to get individual licenses.

At GHR Healthcare, we’ll guide you through the application process and support you throughout the credentialing journey.

3. Gain Experience in a Clinical Setting

Before becoming a travel nurse, you’ll need at least a year of experience as a registered nurse, which is the minimum required by most agencies. This time allows you to focus on your specialization. For instance, if you want to become an ICU or emergency room travel nurse, gaining experience in these areas is important.

Most people think that experience is only necessary because employers require it, but it’s essential for travel nurses. The more experience you have, the better you can quickly adapt to new places while still offering a high level of care.

4. Get Specialty Certifications (Optional)

Getting further certifications in nursing specialties can give you an edge over the competition. Although this isn’t a requirement for how to become a travel nurse, you may want to consider advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), or chemo certification. Our team can help you determine if a specialty certification would serve you in your job search.

5. Apply With a Trusted Travel Nursing Agency

The last step in how to become a travel nurse is to apply with a healthcare staffing agency. You need to find an agency with experience that works with some of the leading employers in the country. At GHR Healthcare, we provide the guidance you need. We offer 24/7 job placement assistance so that you can find the perfect travel nurse position.

Essential Skills for Travel Nursing Success

Now that you know how to become a travel nurse, learn what skills you need to take your nursing career to the next level.

Adaptability and Flexibility

Travel nursing offers an exciting opportunity to explore new places, meet diverse people, and grow professionally by adapting to different healthcare settings. Success in travel nursing often comes down to being adaptable, quick to learn, and confident in making any new environment feel like home. These traits empower travel nurses to thrive and deliver exceptional care, no matter where their journey takes them. 

Strong Communication Skills

You need to communicate effectively with entire care teams. This helps to build rapport from early on in every travel nurse assignment, making the job easier for you while ensuring patients get the exact care they need. Additionally, these communication skills serve you well when building a relationship with your recruiter.

Independence and Problem-Solving

Choosing this career path requires confidence in your skills and abilities. You’ll be expected to make independent decisions and respond quickly in emergency situations, relying on the skills and knowledge you've developed throughout your nursing education and career.

Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing

Like any job, working as a travel nurse has its perks and challenges. From competitive salaries to navigating housing assignments, we’ve got all the information you need to guide you through the process.

Pros

Travel nurse salaries tend to be much higher than those that local nurses make. You also receive travel and housing stipends so that you don’t have to spend part of your salary on airplane tickets and rent.

Travel nursing also gives you the opportunity to explore the country by working in different states. If you’ve always wanted to see a particular city, you can get to know it like a local.

Another perk is that you can take time off when you need it. When you finish an assignment, you can choose to take as much time off as you want to go on vacation.

Travel nursing gives you the opportunity to work in various healthcare settings, connecting you with professionals across different fields and helping you expand your network while growing professionally.

Cons

It’s important to understand that travel nursing isn’t for everyone. It’s usually best suited for those who want to travel and work in different locations and may not have significant ties to their home state.

For some, the job insecurity between assignments can be stressful. However, working with a trusted agency like GHR ensures that you’ll always have support and a steady stream of opportunities, taking much of the uncertainty out of the equation.

Another common concern for many travel nurses is navigating housing and tax considerations. Fortunately, GHR’s experienced team offers guidance, helping you avoid potential issues so you can focus on the rewarding aspects of your travel nursing journey.

Work With a Travel Nursing Recruiter

Whether you’ve just completed your degree program and are looking to get nursing certification or are ready to begin your travel nursing experience, our team at GHR Healthcare can help you find the job that matches your specialization, preferences, and goals.

Some of the questions we get the most are about multi-state licenses. Getting these can be complex if you try to apply alone, but we can help you navigate the process. We ensure that you meet all of the license requirements so there are no delays or problems.

When you work with our team, you can be certain you’ll receive support when you need it. We'll not only help you find the right job and prepare for the interview, but we’ll also check in with you on your start date and throughout your assignment to ensure everything is going well. You’ll never be on your own with our team by your side.

Why wait to get started? Explore our travel nurse opportunities and connect with one of our expert recruiters to kick-start your journey today.