Do you want to make a difference as a nurse while also enjoying the opportunity to travel the world and immerse yourself in new experiences? If so, then a career as a BSN travel nurse may be your calling. With a better understanding of what travel nursing entails and how to launch a career as a travel nurse, you can decide whether this path may be right for you.
Understanding the Role of a Travel Nurse
In simplest terms, travel nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who take on short-term or contract positions with healthcare facilities on an as-needed basis.
The Basics of Travel Nursing
Travel nurses go where they’re needed, filling shortages to assist in patient care across different hospitals, doctors’ offices, and healthcare facilities across the country and even across the globe.
Typically, travel nurses find these assignments through staffing agencies, and their contracts could last anywhere from a few weeks to a year or more.
Why Choose Travel Nursing as a Career Path?
There are many potential benefits to working as a travel nurse, starting with the opportunity to see the world while making a positive difference in the lives of patients. Consider, too, that many facilities will pay for (or contribute to) living expenses like housing, meals, and even mileage for travel. Because there’s a demand for nurses with all different areas of expertise, this can be a great way for nurses to explore potential specialties and put their diverse skills to use.
Preparing for a Career in Travel Nursing
If you’re interested in becoming a travel nurse, there are a few requirements you should be aware of.
Educational Requirements for BSN Graduates
First, to pursue travel nursing, you must hold an active registered nurse (RN) license; both ASN/ADN- and BSN-prepared nurses may qualify, depending on the assignment. This typically involves completing an approved nursing program, passing the NCLEX-RN exam, and obtaining initial licensure with your state board. Because travel roles may cross state lines, you may also need a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) multistate license, where applicable, or obtain licensure by endorsement in each state of practice. For international assignments, additional steps—such as local licensure, work authorization/visa, and employer- or country-specific documentation—may apply. Some assignments or specialties may prefer a BSN or require additional education or certifications (e.g., an MSN for certain advanced or leadership roles); always review individual job postings for specifics.
Necessary Certifications and Licenses
In addition to having a current RN license, some travel nurse roles may also require special certifications or licenses. For example, some employers and even some travel nurse agencies may give preference to candidates with Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. Other certifications to consider (depending on where your career aspirations lie) include:
- Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
- Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCCN)
- Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
A Beginner’s Guide to Launching Your Travel Nursing Career
Once you have your formal education and certified/licensure requirements in place, here are some additional steps you may need to take as you begin pursuing BSN travel nurse jobs and gaining valuable experience in the field.
Step 1: Assessing Your Qualifications and Interests
First, consider your specific interests and qualifications in the field. Do you prefer to work with certain populations or in a particular area of nursing? If so, make a note of these specializations and any relevant qualifications you may have on your resume.
Step 2: Gaining Relevant Experience
Travel-nursing assignments generally require prior clinical experience; specific expectations vary by facility, specialty, and contract. Review individual postings to confirm minimum experience and eligibility.
Step 3: Networking and Researching Agencies
There are so many travel nurse agencies available, so you’ll need to do your research before determining which one(s) you want to work with in finding your first travel nurse jobs. As you search for agencies, make a note of the ones offering the most competitive pay/benefits, responsive support, and an excellent reputation through online reviews. If you know any travel nurses already working in the field, don’t be afraid to ask for agency recommendations.
Step 4: Applying for Positions and Negotiating Contracts
Once you’ve selected the agency that best suits your needs, the next step is to actually begin exploring contract opportunities and applying for the ones that sound the most appealing to you. Understand, too, that there’s usually some room for negotiation in these contracts, so you should be prepared to ask for additional compensation or other benefits if you see them as appropriate. This can be a challenging part of the job for new travel nurses, but knowing your worth and advocating for it is a must if you want to thrive in this industry.
Advancing Your Career in Travel Nursing
Even once you start working as a travel nurse, there are always opportunities for advancement and growth.
Continuing Education and Specialization
Many travel nurses, for example, will pursue more advanced degrees, certifications, and other designations either during their travel nursing contracts or in between them. Depending on your schedule and workload, you may be able to take online nursing courses toward an MSN or other program while you’re abroad.
The more advanced your education and the more designations you earn, the more you’ll be able to set yourself apart from other travel nurses and compete for other contracts.
Building a Strong Professional Network
Another critical aspect of advancing and thriving as a travel nurse is building your professional network as much as possible. As you travel and take on new roles, connecting with your peers and other professionals in the healthcare field could open up new doors of opportunity for future contracts and advancement.
Even if you’re in between contracts, you might consider growing your professional network using social media sites like LinkedIn. Attending nursing events (such as conferences and workshops) can also be a great way to meet new people and get your own name out there, so be sure to stay as active as possible in the nursing community. You never know when a new connection could lead to an exciting career opportunity.
Questions:
Still have questions about a career as a travel nurse? Check out answers to some of our most commonly asked questions below.
How Do I Choose the Right Travel Nursing Agency?
With so many travel nurse agencies out there, choosing the one that’s right for you is important to your career success. As you explore your options, be sure to look for nurse agencies that offer dedicated, round-the-clock support and a longstanding reputation within the field. If you want to work in a specialized area of travel nursing (such as emergency/ICU or home health), you may also want to look for an agency that focuses on assignments in these areas.
Can BSN Graduates Prefer Certain Locations or Hospitals?
Yes. As a BSN graduate going into travel nursing, one of the main benefits of working in this field is that you get to decide where you want to work (and where you don’t want to work). Simply let your travel nurse agency know your preferences so they can accommodate you as best as possible. Keep in mind, though, that being too particular about your location preferences could make it harder to find work.
What Are Common Challenges Faced by Travel Nurses?
Working as a travel nurse can be challenging because you always have to adjust and adapt. You’ll have to get used to new protocols and systems when you work in a new location. Likewise, the logistics of relocating and getting settled into a new location can be stressful.
What Are the Long-Term Career Prospects for Travel Nurses?
With ongoing shortages in the nursing field, the demand for travel nurses isn’t likely to decrease anytime in the foreseeable future. Many professionals make long-term careers out of travel nursing, with some even moving into leadership and management roles over time.
Explore a Nursing Degree Program at FTC
Travel nursing can be a viable option for nurses interested in short-term assignments across diverse care settings and locations. If this path aligns with your interests, a nursing degree program may help you develop clinical knowledge and skills used in practice; specific requirements for travel assignments vary by employer, specialty, and state.
Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Florida Technical College is designed to prepare students with the leadership, critical thinking, communication, and decision-making skills critical for travel nurses and other nursing professionals to possess. Meanwhile, this career-focused program is offered at both our Kissimmee and Tampa campus locations for added flexibility with your busy schedule.
Reach out to learn more about our BSN program or any of the other nursing programs we have to offer. Ready to take the next step?
This article presents a general overview of the field of [travel nursing], including job opportunities within that field; it does not describe the educational objectives or expected employment outcomes of a particular Florida Technical College program. Florida Technical College does not guarantee that students will obtain employment or any particular job. Some positions may require licensure or other certifications. We encourage you to research the requirements for the particular career you desire.
Sources
https://ftccollege.edu/program/bachelors-degree/science-nursing/
https://nursejournal.org/articles/travel-nurses-patient-care/
https://libraryguides.mayo.edu/nursingconferences
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9912424/
https://ftccollege.edu/request-information/
https://ftccollege.edu/Admissions/
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/bls-training/bls-certification
https://cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/healthcare-professional/acls
https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/ccrn-adult
https://www.pncb.org/certifications/certified-pediatric-nurse
