Considering a career in travel nursing? While the concept of taking your nursing skills on the road to care for patients in various states isn’t complicated, knowing exactly how travel nursing works is the first step in deciding whether it’s the right path for you.
To that end, keep reading. This guide will walk you through all the ins and outs of travel nursing, including how it works, how to navigate each new assignment, and the pros and cons of this dynamic career.
Understanding the Basics: What is Travel Nursing?
Travel nurses took center stage during the global pandemic when hospitals faced staffing shortages and a high need for additional care providers, but the field is a bit older than that.
The modern travel nurse emerged in the 1970s as a response to a high patient census and a nursing shortage. When a crowded Mardi Gras season required nurses to be shuttled in from out of state, New Orleans became the training ground for the first contemporary traveling nurses.
The first travel nurse agency was founded that same year, and as the nursing shortage continued into the 1980s, traveling nursing became the ideal temporary solution for the next decade. Today, not much has changed: staffing agencies are still creating temporary contracts across the country for thousands of travel nurses. Luckily for you, the process has become a lot more organized.
The Basics of Travel Nursing
Now that you have the history, let’s clarify some of the basics. As a travel nurse, you’ll work with a staffing agency rather than directly for a hospital or healthcare facility. And, rather than holding a permanent position, you’ll work on contract.
On average, these contracts last for thirteen weeks, but they can also be as short as two weeks or as long as six months.
You may also be asked to extend your contract, and if positions are available, some travel nurses do choose to stay. Generally speaking, however, once your contract is up, you’ll hit the road and move on to your next assignment.
The Role of a Travel Nurse: Responsibilities and Expectations
The role of a travel nurse is similar to that of a staff nurse: you’ll collaborate with a team of healthcare workers to carry out a patient’s care plan. However, keep in mind that as a travel nurse, you may be filling a staff shortage in your unit. So, you might want to prepare for fast-paced days that challenge you to grow in your nursing career.
Additionally, as a travel nurse, you’ll be expected to:
- Adapt quickly to your unit – Your fellow team members may not have ample time to walk you through all the ins and outs of your new unit. So, keep your eyes and ears open during orientation and training. You’ll be expected to quickly learn the ropes and pick up on important details and information as you go.
- Exercise a wide range of skills – As a travel nurse, you’ll fill positions in diverse and dynamic environments. Some days will be predictable, while others will keep you on your toes until you clock out. You may be assigned to work in multiple units or integrate into different care teams where a wide range of skills is necessary.
- Stay flexible and resilient – The daily expectations of a travel nurse may sound challenging, but each day will also encourage growth and provide new opportunities for learning. Stay flexible and adaptable to build resilience.
Navigating Assignments: How Travel Nursing Placements Work
To truly answer the question, how does travel nursing work, we also have to explore each step of the assignment process. From connecting with a staffing agency to securing housing, understanding how to navigate each aspect of your travel nursing assignments is important to ensuring an experience that’s rewarding and seamless.
Connect with a Travel Nursing Agency
The right staffing agency will match you with a passionate recruiter who’ll connect you with positions in hospitals and healthcare settings that align with your career goals, personal preferences, and/or specialties.
Once you’ve committed to an assignment, you’ll submit for and sign a contract. At this point, it’s helpful to draw up a checklist to stay on top of what needs to get done ahead of your start date, like getting a physical or taking a drug test.
Make sure you comply with healthcare laws and regulations in the state you plan to practice in, too. Fortunately, when you partner with Host Healthcare, you won’t have to stress about anything slipping through the cracks—we’ll help you ensure all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.
Secure Housing
Before you embark on your travel nursing assignment, it’s important to secure housing that meets your needs—consider cost, location, and amenities (especially if you’re bringing along a furry friend!).
Another reason to partner with Host Healthcare? We’ll help you find the perfect place to call home while you’re on assignment.
Start Your Assignment
Orientation to your new healthcare system usually lasts 1–5 days, with 1–3 days of orientation dedicated to your unit (depending on your specialty and location).
To that end, the first two weeks of your assignment will be packed with information and fast-paced learning. Stay open-minded and flexible, and be sure to get plenty of rest. Don’t doubt yourself either—remember that by week 3 or 4, you’ll feel fully adapted and start to get into your groove.
Search for Your Next Assignment
Around weeks 6–10, expect the possibility of a contract extension. If you loved your new city or