Ultimate Guide to Travel Nursing | EduMed.org
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NursingNursing Ed.The lure of seeing the world (or just another part of the country) while still holding down a rewarding nursing job can be appealing. But there’s a lot you need to know before packing your bags. Keep reading to learn all of the travel nurse essentials, including what it takes to become one, whether you’re a good fit, how much you can make, where to find jobs, and even advice for handling the trickier aspects of travel nursing.
FAQs About How Travel Nursing Works
Who can be a travel nurse?
Travel nurses are RNs, LPNs, and APRNs who have:
- Earned a degree from an accredited nursing program
- Passed the NCLEX licensing exam to become a nurse
- Obtained certification in basic life support (BLS) and sometimes advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
- Gained licensure in each state of work; residents of a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state can work as a nurse in all states under this compact
- Worked at least one or two years of work experience in a permanent position before traveling
Where do travel nurses go?
Travel nurses help with staffing issues, so they can be found in virtually any type of facility or geographical region that needs extra nurses, including:
- Southern and Western regions of the US, as these areas are projected to get hit the hardest by nursing shortages
- States like Florida, Texas, and California, as these states are expected to account for around 40% of the nation’s nursing shortages
- Other countries as an international travel nurse
- Rural areas and small towns
How long do you stay in one place as a travel nurse?
The length of time in one location can vary. As a travel nurse, you can expect to:
- Commit to contracts that last 13 weeks, but some may range from eight to 26 weeks
- Stay at a location for as short as one month or be given the opportunity to extend a contract
- Take breaks between contracts if you’d like, as you can choose when to take assignments
- Maintain consistent work flow with minimal gaps between contracts, as you can work with multiple staffing agencies at once
How much do travel nurses make?
Travel nursing pay varies on a range of factors, so accurate catchall information is hard to find. While some sources indicate that travel nurses make more money than permanent nurses, there are several variables to consider to get an accurate picture of travel nurse income.
When looking at pay information, nurses should consider the following:
- Wages are paid hourly and vary by contract and location; base rates can be high.
- Cost of living varies by location.
- Areas with great need may offer significant bonuses to travel nurses.
- Staffing agencies may offer medical benefits, but travel nurses may also need to pay out of pocket for insurance.
- Agencies may factor stipends and reimbursements in their hourly income snapshots, making earnings seem greater than they are.
- Stipends and reimbursements can be non-taxable, which may yield extra money.
- Moving and other costs may exceed stipends.
- Travel nurses do not get paid between contracts.
Travel nursing can certainly be lucrative, but it’s important that nurses get a full picture of their potential financial situation so they can make informed decisions about their careers.
For more information, read this comprehensive guide on travel nursing pay from BluePipes, a healthcare-focused professional networking platform.
Expert Insight
Don’t forget that different states have different tax laws, so you may be taxed heavily in some states while not charged a state tax at all in others. Also consider that some staffing agencies remove taxes from your paycheck beforehand and others require you to do it yourself.
Why become a travel nurse?
There are many reasons to become a travel nurse, not the least of which is getting paid to travel around the country. Others reasons to become a travel nurse:
- Ability to provide aid where it is needed most
- Ability to have direct impact on people who may otherwise not be able to receive the care they need
- Opportunity to work in a range of different facilities and with different population groups
- Schedule flexibility
- Good pay potential
How do travel nurses get hired?
Getting hired typically starts with linking with a staffing agency. These companies play an important role in the travel nursing industry, but one of their primary services is to help match travel nurses with open positions that suit their skills and work preferences.
Travel nurses get hired by:
- Reaching out to staffing agencies
- Discussing contract details with recruiters
- Interviewing for each position
- Accepting and signing a contract
Are You a Good Fit for Travel Nursing?
Travel nursing can be a great experience with many benefits, but it’s not ideal for everyone. Before committing, you should carefully consider whether or not you’re a good fit for this lifestyle and type of work.
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Top 8 Benefits of Travel Nursing
Travel nurses face plenty of unique challenges, but there are a variety of personal, professional and financial reasons why travel nursing is a beneficial career and lifestyle choice for some nurses.
Professional Benefits
Broaden skill sets
Working in different facilities provides opportunities to gain new skills, both in and out of the field. Travel nurses may learn techniques for working with different demographic groups than they’re used to, for instance. Moving to a new place and adapting to changes are also non-work skills that come with travel nursing.
Experience different work settings and roles
Travel nurses typically work in a variety of settings, so they can see how different facilities operate. Experiencing different operations and seeing the various roles and positions that make those operations work can help travel nurses discover specific nursing and non-nursing roles they may want to pursue full-time.
Build a national professional network
Effectively developing relationships with coworkers and managers at different facilities can be hugely beneficial to travel nurses. Those who find themselves wanting to phase out of travel nursing and get back into staffed positions can end up with an incredible set of contacts for leads on open positions around the country.
Personal Benefits
Explore new places
This perk is as straightforward as it is sweet. Travel nurses get paid to visit different parts of the country and provide aid to those who need it. After work is over, travel nurses have new towns, parks, restaurants, museums and activities to check out.
Control schedules
Because travel nurses are contracted workers, they can choose which contracts they take and when. They can return home for a few weeks before heading to another job location, for instance, or they can exclusively seek out shorter contracts.
Provide aid where it’s needed most
Whether a facility is experiencing an influx of patients because of seasonal or environmental factors, or they need shifts covered while a staff nurse is on parental leave, travel nurses help provide high-demand care and support. Travel nurses not only help patients directly, but their presence can take some stress off permanent nurses who would otherwise have too much work to handle.
Financial Benefits
Travel inexpensively
Between saving money and taking time away from work, traveling can be difficult. One perk of being a travel nurse is that you can travel while making money. Many staffing agencies reimburse their nurses for travel expenses incurred, or they offer stipends to offset the cost of moving around.
Take home a good paycheck
Travel nursing can start with good base wages, but once tax benefits and potential bonuses are factored in, the earnings can increase even more. Good pay is a common reason staff nurses switch to travel nursing.
How to Become a Travel Nurse: From College to Your First Contract
Once you’ve decided that you’re a good fit for travel nursing and find the lifestyle and benefits appealing, it’s time to work towards becoming a travel nurse. The following steps can help guide you through the process.
STEP 1
Earn your nursing degree
- For LPN travelers: graduate from an accredited nursing program such as an online LPN program
- For RN travelers: earn at least an associate degree in nursing in a registered nursing program, such as an online RN program
- For APRN travelers: earn at least a master of science in nursing online or a degree from a nurse practitioner program
STEP 2
Get licensed and certified as a nurse
- Pass the NCLEX-PN exam for LPNs or the NCLEX-RN exam for registered nurses
- Apply for licensure through your state board of nursing
- Fulfill any other state-specific licensing requirements
- Apply for a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) license, which enables nurses who are residents of member states to use a single license to work in all NLC states.
- Become CPR certified; advanced training may be required for some roles
STEP 3
Gain work experience as a nurse
Most travel nurse staffing agencies require applicants to have at least one or two years of work experience, which is usually gained right after graduation from nursing school. This is necessary because travel nurses typically have a very short time to acclimate to new work environments, it’s important that they are comfortable in their skills and have a solid understanding of medical facility operations.
STEP 4
Determine your travel nursing goals and aspirations
Having short- and long-term goals in mind can help you choose your contracts and work locations. But how to do you determine your goals? Here’s how to get started:
- Gain work experience and reflect on your current role
- Network with other travel nurses
- Read travel nursing blogs
STEP 5
Connect with travel nurse staffing agencies
Most travel nurses get contracts with different job locations around the country by working with staffing agencies. Agencies act as liaisons between nurses and the facilities that need them, often handling paperwork, placement logistics and other details.
Reaching out to staffing agencies typically connects prospective travel nurses with a recruiter who can help them determine if they and the agency are a good fit.
STEP 6
Interview for travel nursing jobs
Most travel nursing job interviews are set up by a travel nurse’s staffing recruiter. Interviews are typically conducted over the phone or via web conferencing.
Tips to prepare for interviews:
- Research the facility you’re interviewing with and note how your skills and ideals align with those of the facility
- Compile some questions of your own to ask during the interview
- Know in advance how the interview will be conducted
- Test your webcam and tidy up your viewing area, and dress professionally
- Reach out to your recruiter for help if needed
STEP 7
Figure out your new living arrangements
Travel nurses who work with staffing agencies typically have a couple of housing options: live in housing arranged by the agency or find housing on their own.
Questions to ask when considering living arrangements:
- Is the housing furnished or unfurnished?
- What are the average utility costs in the area?
- How far is the potential housing from work?
Accounting for these factors and getting to know their new location in advance can help travel nurses figure out which arrangement works best and what they need to bring with them.
STEP 8
Prepare for travel
Figuring out what to bring and how to pack it all depends on your specific living situation and geographic location. It’s also important to consider the length of the contract and whether you plan to go straight into your next contract or take a small break between assignments.
Tips to prepare for travel:
- Ask your recruiter what is included with the housing, like furniture, kitchen items, and cleaning supplies.
- Check with your tax advisor to see if any items you purchase for your travel nursing career may be tax-deductible.
- Make special arrangements as needed, like long-term pet sitters if you have a pet, or assistance with family responsibilities.
- Decide on a legal, permanent residence as taxes can play a role.
- Ensure you have a nursing license to work in more than just your home state.
STEP 9
Get situated in your new job
Travel nurses often receive a short orientation and may also be able to shadow someone for a shift or two, but they typically don’t have a lot of time to settle into their new positions. Making the most of these training periods can help travel nurses feel comfortable with their work environments faster.
Here’s how to make the process easier:
- Make note of differences in procedures and workplace culture during orientation
- Build relationships by getting to know your new coworkers
- Familiarize yourself with workplace expectations and norms
- Take time after work and on weekends to explore your new neighborhood
Considerations & Strategies for Success as a Travel Nurse
Travel nursing entails more than just your professional responsibilities; it involves mastering the art of living on the go. From securing suitable housing to maintaining a balanced diet, fostering a sense of community, and navigating transportation systems, there are many factors to take into consideration to set yourself up for success.
Community
Traveling extensively for work can make it difficult to find a sense of community. To build connections:
- Network professionally by engaging in events hosted by your employer or professional association(s).
- Use social media and other online platforms to connect with people outside of work who have with similar interests.
- Look for cool spots to explore and inquire about classes and activities you’d like to engage in.
Food
Maintaining a healthy diet while on assignment is essential to your overall well-being and your ability to perform your professional responsibilities. The demanding nature of your job and schedule can make it difficult to settle into a new routine, particularly when it comes to shopping for and prepping food.
Prioritize meal planning and grocery shopping to control costs and ensure access to nutritious options. For variety, explore local cuisine like farmers’ markets, and restaurants — this can also be a great way to get to know your new city and community.
Housing
Travel nurses face unique challenges when it comes to finding suitable housing during assignments, not the least of which is the variable length of their assignments. To mitigate these challenges:
- Prioritize proximity to your workplace
- Look for flexibility in lease length
- Ensure fair lease terms
- Use specialized housing agencies or sites
- Be moderately flexible in your accommodation preferences
- Keep and follow a budget
Transportation
You’re likely intimately familiar with your hometown — you know how to get around traffic, find the best parking spot near work, and walk to your favorite coffee shop. These are all things you’ll have to relearn when you relocate.
Whether you’re taking your car with you or planning to use public transportation, it’s important to look into the walkability of your new city, the availability of public transit and/or parking, and more.
Travel Nurse Staffing Agencies
Staffing agencies play a key role in travel nursing logistics and can have a significant impact on how easy or difficult it is for travel nurses to thrive in their careers. It’s just as important to know how these organizations work as it is to know how to work with them.
What are travel nurse staffing agencies?
Travel nurse staffing agencies are organizations that connect travel nurses to facilities that need supplemental nursing staff. They provide administrative support and help travel nurses handle a lot of the paperwork and logistics associated with travel nursing.
Staffing agencies often provide a level of assurance to both nurses and the facilities hiring them, since they act as trusted liaisons between parties.
Why should you work with a travel staffing agency?
While some travel nurses do work independently, the vast majority work with staffing agencies to find jobs. Benefits of working with a staffing agency:
- They do a lot of the legwork in finding open positions for you
- They often have established relationships with medical facilities
- They help you apply for licensure in multiple states and often reimburse you for the associated costs
- They may provide benefits, housing assistance, travel stipends, and other perks
- Their recruiters provide you with general support before, during, and after your assignment
What should you look for in a travel nurse staffing agency?
Since travel nurses typically communicate with a single recruiter within an agency, a good recruiter is one of the most important things to look for in a staffing agency. A good recruiter should be invested in you and your needs, and they should be helpful, responsive and knowledgeable.
Other things to look for in a travel nurse staffing agency:
- Wages and benefits packages
- Service areas
- Reputation
- Housing options
- Onboarding procedures
What is Joint Commission certification for staffing agencies?
The Joint Commission’s Heath Care Staffing Services (HCSS) certification indicates that a staffing agency has been independently evaluated as having high standards of service. Medical facilities are often more likely to hire nurses from agencies with this credential because it serves as a form of quality assurance.
How many staffing agencies should you work with?
Travel nurses often work with multiple staffing agencies to receive different benefits and have access to more job opportunities and locations. Different agencies also may have exclusive contracts with certain hospitals, so working with multiple agencies helps give travel nurses access to more of these exclusive contracts.
However, some travel nurses may find that working with a single agency is easier and more manageable.
Questions to Ask Before Committing to a Contract
Interviews for travel nursing contracts are for the nurse’s benefit as much as the hiring facility’s. Contract terms can be different for each assignment, so it’s important that travel nurses confirm the details before making a commitment. Once you sign the contract, you’re committed to the job, so make sure it’s a good fit first.
- What is the base rate pay?
Be sure to ask what your base hourly wage will be. This information can serve as a good reference when assessing the value of other financial perks that may be on the table. - What is the overtime or extra hours pay terms?
Sometimes travel nurses end up working more hours than are specified in their contract terms. Ask about compensation under these circumstances and be sure it is also spelled out in the contract. - What benefits are available?
Ask this of both the staffing agency and the hiring facility. Knowing what benefits are offered can help you determine whether or not the contract has enough financial value for you. - What is the shift coverage policy?
Sometimes even travel nurses need to call in sick. Be sure to ask what happens if you must miss a shift and if any penalties are in place. - What kinds of housing assistance will I receive?
This is also a good question for the staffing agency, depending on who makes the arrangements. Figure out if housing is arranged or if a stipend is provided. Make sure to get specific details about housing packages. - Will I be reimbursed for my travel expenses?
Ask about expenses to and from work as well as relocating to the new contract area. Travel nurses should make sure that any reimbursements or stipends cover enough travel costs to make the contract worthwhile.
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Travel Nursing Taxes
Filing federal and state income taxes as a travel nurse can be particularly complicated, but taking the time to do it right can make a noticeable difference in how much money travel nurses ultimately earn.
While good staffing agencies strive to help travel nurses navigate their careers, they often don’t break down tax details, so it’s good to know in advance and plan accordingly. These are general guidelines, but it’s important to discuss your specific situation with your tax advisor.
Key tax deductions to be aware of for travel nursing
Travel nurses used to be able to take advantage of more deductions, but legislative changes in 2017 no longer allow nurses to write off certain expenses. This is important to keep in mind when doing research, as many articles have not been updated to reflect these changes.
In the past, travel nurses were able to deduct expenses incurred at work that exceeded their stipends, but that is no longer the case. Nurses can still receive stipends and reimbursements, but as of January 2018, tax deductions for them are not an option.
Even if an agency does not offer the GSA maximum allowable amount for per diems, travel nurses cannot deduct the remaining balance from their taxes. This means it’s important for travel nurses to carefully consider other financial benefits that can make up for the loss of deductions.
Taxable vs. non-taxable income
When looking at taxable income alone — that is, base hourly wages — travel nursing may not seem financially viable. However, its real benefit comes in the form of nontaxable income.
Tips to consider:
- Stipends, per diems, and certain reimbursements are all forms of nontaxable income, and they can greatly offset the costs and increase your net earnings.
- In general, you’re given set stipends or reimbursement amounts for travel, food, housing, and incidentals. Because this money technically isn’t income, it is untaxed.
- Research your potential cost of living and related expenses ahead of time as you may be able to negotiate these benefits.
- Keep your receipts and carefully document all expenses so you can get adequately reimbursed.
How to qualify for non-taxable income
The one major caveat with non-taxable income is that not everyone is eligible to receive it. Travel nurses must prove that they maintain a tax home and that their work creates duplicate expenses, like living costs, in order to receive stipends, per diems and reimbursements.
Travel nurses should note that the tax home must be official and legitimate to receive non-taxable income. This means satisfying two of three requirements:
- You conduct some of your business in the same area as your main residence and use that residence for lodging while you work.
- You have living expenses at your main residence that are duplicated when you travel.
- You haven’t abandoned your tax home.
What is your tax home?
Despite its name, your tax home is not necessarily where you live, and it doesn’t necessarily mean your permanent residence. Your tax home is the geographic area where you make most of your money. For most non-travelers, this just happens to be their permanent residence.
It’s helpful to think about it as traveling or mobilizing for work rather than moving to a new residence for work with each contract. Travel nursing can be compared with taking business trips that incur reimbursable expenses. Maintaining a tax home provides proof that you are, in fact, traveling for work rather than fully relocating.
Which states do you need to file in?
Along with filing federal taxes, travel nurses must file taxes in every state they’ve worked as well as their tax home state. You must file in your tax home state even if you did not earn any income there.
Tips for keeping income and expense information organized
Follow these tips to stay organized while on and off assignments:
- Save receipts, copies of contracts, mileage logs, and accounts of other work-related expenses.
- Take advantage of expense tracking apps and scanner apps, such as Expensify, which allow you to save physical documents, receipts, and other important papers all in one compact place.
- Keep a good notebook and organization system if you prefer hard copy documents.
