The road to becoming a traveling nurse is different for everyone, but there are few things every traveling nurse needs to know in order to get started.
Complete the Required Education and Obtain the Required Nursing Experience
In order to become a nurse in the United States, you must have a minimum of an associate’s degree in nursing (ASN), but many hospitals require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to get hired. Additionally, there are requirements for supervised clinical hours you can take the nursing exam. Next, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and become licensed in the states in which you wish to practice. Luckily, the NCLEX allows you to become licensed in 25 states.
Figure Out Where Your Home Base Is
While you may not spend much time in one place, you will still need to figure out where you will be based out of. This is critical for tax purposes. The reason for this is that many traveling nurse compensation packages have tax-free benefits, but to qualify for those benefits, you have to have a legitimate tax home.
Begin Vetting Travel Nursing Agencies And Submit Applications
Demand for traveling nurses and medical staffing in general is on the rise and this is not expected to change anytime soon. So this means you have a lot of choices when it comes to who you work for. A few benefits you should always look for include:
- High pay and bonuses
- Free Private Housing
- Referral Bonuses
- Licensure and Travel Reimbursement
Get Your Documentation Together And Secure A Job Offer
Once you’ve found the perfect travel nursing agency, it’s time to get your documentation together. Just like any other job, you have to have identification documents like a passport or a state-issued ID. As a traveling nurse you also must have the following documents:
- Resume/work history
- Skills checklist
- BLS/ACLS card
- Two references from within the past year
- Fit to work statement
- PPD skin test
- Records of your vaccinations
When you’re ready to begin your travel nurse journey, contact Abbella Medical Staffing. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about our hiring processes.
Leave a Comment