Complete Guide to Travel Nursing

We worked with Element5 Digital – a digital marketing firm in Detroit – to survey travel Nurses all over the country to find out why they prefer travel Nursing over being a staff Nurse. While more money was certainly a factor, it was not in the top two. See what made the list!

While many of us long to get paid to travel, very few professions allow for it. However, if you’re a Nurse, there is a remedy for your predicament — travel Nursing! For the rest of you restless travelers, here the top 3 reasons why travel Nursing will help you beat the travel bug.

Trying to decide whether to travel or become a staff Nurse? Maybe you’re wondering if the grass really is greener on the other side. While it comes with some challenges, the benefits of travel Nursing have made it an extremely popular career.

We just covered the benefits of travel Nursing and why it’s way better than working as a staff Nurse. However, there is another side of that coin.

There are some disadvantages to travel Nursing. You should prepare for these, but don’t let them discourage you. Remember, travel Nurses live a life that many people only dream of.

Some of the common questions we hear from Nurses looking at assignments are:

• What type of patient population will I be dealing with?
• What does the hospital census look like?
• What is the Nurse-to-patient ratio?

These are all important questions and can make an assignment pleasant and rewarding, or forgettable.

From certificate programs to four-year degrees, there are many paths to becoming a travel Nurse. Before deciding which is best for you, you need to decide what your career goals are. In this post, you’ll find details on the different Nursing degrees and the opportunities they provide.

There’s no better time to become a Nurse. In the next 10 to 15 years, over a million Nurses are going to start retiring and the number of senior citizens will have increased by 69 million.

While there are certain specialties that hospitals are always searching for, we’ll give you eight specialties that are in high demand and perfect for travel Nursing.

If you want to be a travel Nurse, choosing the right Nursing school is vital.

The Nursing school you choose can affect your chance of successfully graduating, passing the NCLEX and getting a job. It can also affect your opportunities for advancement later in your career.

In this post, find tips to choose the right Nursing school, whether you’re looking to break into Nursing or advance your Nursing career.

There’s something all travel Nurses need to remember:

You probably won’t even get a phone screen without a good resume.

Clients at healthcare facilities don’t have time to mess with questions about a resume. If something looks off, they are quick to move on to the next candidate.

What does that mean for you? Having a good resume greatly increases your chances of getting the job you want. So, what makes a good resume? We’re here to tell you!

Getting an assignment as a travel Nurse isn’t your typical hiring process. These healthcare facilities need to find the most qualified candidate as quickly as possible, and that’s often through Recruiters.

You want your Recruiter to be able to make the best case possible for you which requires a strong relationship and healthy communication. Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your Recruiter.

It’s no surprise that hospitals are extremely cautious when bringing in travel Nurses. There’s a lot of liability involved and they’re looking for Nurses who are certified and capable.

To increase your chances of getting hired, you will want to make sure you have these documents ready.

Once you’ve gotten past the initial screening phase, the next step will be a formal interview with your employer. Every interview is normally good for at least one odd-ball question intended to catch you off guard.

Nevertheless, we’ve compiled the most common interview questions you’ll hear. We’ll also share the types of answers that employers like to hear, as well as questions you should be asking.

The main reason why Nurses decide to become travel Nurses is that they want to get out and see new places and meet new people. While many are happy to just go out and explore for a while, there are just as many who are motivated to find ONE job in ONE place.

We’ve put together a list of things you should be thinking about as you prepare to land your dream job.

Money isn’t everything, but a good paycheck is nice – especially if you’re paying off debt from that Nursing education.

We looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to ranks states by how much the average Registered Nurse makes there. Here are the top 10, along with some of the other benefits each state has to offer.

Stipends are one of the biggest benefits of travel Nursing. Nurses can receive tax-free money to help pay for housing, transportation, and other expenses. The stipends for some assignments might sweeten the deal enough for you to take it.

In this post, we’ll help you understand how travel Nurse stipends work so you can get the most out of traveling.

Most travel Nurses will tell you that travel pay is almost always higher – but at what cost? Travel Nursing does involve some risk. Working with the right agencies and understanding your benefits are part of the fix.

Learn what else you have to consider before taking an assignment.

As a travel Nurse, you’ll spend a lot of time concerned about the health of your patients. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t focus on your own healthcare needs.

For travel Nurses, health insurance is complicated because of multiple employers and time between assignments. We’ll cover some of the peculiarities of health insurance for travel Nurses so you can make sure you’re always covered.

Housing is one of the most important factors for any travel Nurse to consider. You have to find housing on short notice, and tenants don’t always play nicely when it comes to leasing flexibility.

Avoid this stress by knowing all the preparation and research it takes to find dependable housing.

Almost every Nurse will have to work a night shift at some point throughout your career. If your body is not used to it, these shifts can take a huge toll on your physical and mental strength.

These 5 tips will help you make it through your night shifts and have an easier transition.

Avoiding hospital drama is one of the main benefits of working as a travel Nurse. However, it’s not a guarantee. What do you do when you get caught up in the drama while on assignment?

While there’s not a fool-proof answer, we’ve created a list of four of our most effective tips.

With so much time spent traveling and working, your body might not be too happy with you. Whether it’s a sore neck, tight back, or cramped legs, knowing how to take care of your body is very important.

No matter where you are or where you are going, here are five of our favorite stretches that you and your body will come to love.

Getting through airport security has unfortunately become something that many people dread. While nearly all Americans agree with increased security, we often grumble and complain whenever we are met with a long line.

While you should always be prepared for long lines, there are some tricks we have picked up for getting through airport security as quickly as possible.

Packing for any type of trip can be stressful, but especially when it’s for an 8-week Nursing assignment. Compiling everything you need is never a fun task, but it has to be done diligently.

That’s why we’ve compiled our top 10 travel tips designed to make getting to your next assignment a breeze!

The reasons for becoming a travel Nurse are as vast as the types of assignments. Whether you want to see as much of the world as you can or want to call somewhere your new temporary home, you need to pick the right type of assignment.

As you begin researching your next assignment, consider the following questions as guidelines to help your decision.

It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of preparing for a new assignment. Nevertheless, travel Nurses are often met with the harsh reality of being a long way from home. Wherever you end up on an assignment, adjusting will take time.

The good news is there are several things you can do to make the transition easier. Check out a few of our tips on how to make your temporary house feel like your new home.

While it might seem impossible to enjoy the benefits of travel Nursing if you have a family, there is still a path for you! While it certainly presents some challenges, we’ll discuss some of the ways you can make it easier to bring your family along with you.

No matter what your job is, dating can be hard. Add in traveling across the country for different assignments, it can become even harder. It’s not impossible though.

Long-distance relationships require planning, support, trust and a lot more. We’ve written on our 7 favorite tips to keep a healthy relationship while working as a travel Nurse.

Travel Nursing with pets can be an amazing way to find companionship and deal with loneliness. Unfortunately, having a pet doesn’t always accommodate working as a travel Nurse.

With the growing popularity of doggy daycares and dog-walking services, it’s never been easier for busy professionals to keep their pets happy. In this post, you’ll find all the tips on how to keep your pet happy and healthy while on assignment.

One of the most common fears among travel Nurses is leaving their friends behind and not being able to find new ones. Connecting with people while you’re on assignment is easier than you think!

With social media and the rest of today’s digital landscape, it has become very simple to meet new people. There are even some apps that were designed specifically for travel Nurses. Read about that and other ways to connect with new people.

As a travel Nurse, moving to a new city is part of the job description. With moving comes certain worries: leaving friends and family behind and moving somewhere you aren’t familiar with.

While these worries are valid, we’ve created a list of ways you can overcome loneliness and get the most out of your travel assignment.

Traveling during the holidays is one of the most dreaded experiences you can have. Airports are packed, unpredictable and full of stress.

The following steps will help you take the stress out of holiday travel and ensure you arrive at your destination calm and relaxed.

Whether you love escaping in a good book or want to read up on the industry, a set of good books is something that every travel Nurse should travel with. There are several books we think all travel Nurses need to read – from ultimate guides to uplifting fiction.

We all have our role models and people we look up to. Whether they’re family members, colleagues, or celebrities, it is good to have something to aspire to.

For the past 60 years, television and movies have offered up many shows that feature inspiring Nurses. While each might have their flaws, we think these famous Nurses are sure to inspire you.

BlueForce loves to see what’s trending in our industry. From funny stories to uplifting sentiments, we thought we’d share some of our favorite sites and posts in the travel Nursing world.

Who doesn’t love an inspiring quote? Now that you are equipped with all the tools and info you need to become a travel Nurse; the next step is to go out and do it!

While it might seem like it’s too much to take on, it’s important to think about all the amazing opportunities and experiences that come with being a travel Nurse. If you ever need extra motivation, these 13 travel quotes will help keep things in perspective.