I Want to Be a Travel Nurse… How Do I Get Started?
Travel nursing is an exciting, rewarding, dynamic career choice. If you’re interested in this profession, it can seem a little daunting – we get it. So, how does one get started on the journey to become a travel nurse?
Get the education.
First things first – you need the proper education to work as a travel nurse. Like any nursing career, you’ll need either your Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited program to start working at all. Once you have that, you can sign up for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam, which is the federal examination nurses take to become certified.
Pass the NCLEX.
Now it’s time to pass the NCLEX and meet all your licensure requirements. Note that travel nurses can either gain certification in the state they plan to work in or get a nursing licensure compact (NLC), which allows you to travel from state to state and work without having to obtain permanent licensure in every state.
Gain experience in your specialty.
Most hospitals and healthcare networks require nurses to have some experience as staff RNs before coming to work for them as travel nurses. Usually, at least two years of experience are desired. Gaining this experience in your field allows you to hit the ground running once you decide to take the next step and look for travel nursing placements.
Pick your placement.
Once you’ve passed the NCLEX, obtained the proper licensure to start working as a travel nurse, and gained crucial experience in the field, the only thing left to do is decide where you’d like to go. Travel nurses typically work in hospitals, but their services are also needed in specialty clinics, outpatient facilities, home health settings, nursing homes, and more. The choice is up to you – it’s a great way to work in a variety of settings while getting to explore multiple cities across the country.
Launch Your Travel Nursing Career With Us
One of the best ways to start your travel nursing journey and find the placements you really want is by working with a healthcare staffing firm like Medical Talent. Partnering with our recruiters means you get your choice of top placements in the area where you want to work. Contact our healthcare recruiters today to get started.