Checklist for Discovering Your Next Travel Nursing Job
By Sarah Stasik, Contributor
Want to blaze new trails in 2019 and tick the box on several of your resolutions? Taking a travel nursing job can be a great way to do so, just start off on the right track and do your research. We've put together a checklist for you to go through first to make sure you have everything you need to begin traveling.
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Travel Nursing Jobs Checklist - Use Before You Go
Do you have the right license?
To qualify for travel nursing jobs, you have to be a licensed nurse. That means you've completed nursing school and passed your exams. But it's not enough to have any license. You have to be licensed in the state you plan to work in. If the job is in an eNLC state, you can apply for a compact license that lets you work in multiple participating states. Not sure which states belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact or the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact? Learn more here.
Are you truly ready for travel?
Before you start applying to RN jobs across the country, make sure your lifestyle and personality are conducive to this career choice.
What terms are you looking for?
Traditional travel nursing assignments are 13 weeks, but you can find options that are both shorter and longer. Make sure you know exactly how long you want to work in a specific area and whether you'll be able to handle switching between organizations every few weeks or months. Working closely with a recruiter will help you transition into your assignment easily and worry-free. Learn more about the benefits, travel stipends, salary and housing options available now.
Where do you want to work?
Some nurses take travel RN jobs to gain access to bucket-list locations. If the travel in travel nursing is a big plus for you, make a list of all the areas you'd love to explore and apply for jobs in those locations. Ameritech College of Healthcare lists Anchorage, Maui, Denver and Austin as some of the top cities for travel nurse locations. Each offers unique environments and places to explore.
What type of RN job are you ready for?
It's tempting when applying to travel nursing jobs to make location the prime directive, but remember to keep your own skills and career goals in mind. Look for nursing jobs where you will be able to do well with your existing skill sets and organizations where you can grow those skills and your experience. Then, with each passing assignment, you'll open doors to even more options and travel nursing locations.
There's never a bad time to consider an upgrade to your nursing career, but the start of a new year can be a great time to start looking for a new travel nursing job. For more information about travel nursing, check out our resource guide.