to be a travel nurse

Home / Nursing Careers & Specialties / Travel Nurse

Travel Nurse

What is a travel nurse, how to become a travel nurse, travel nurse faqs, what does a domestic or international travel nurse do, travel nurse salary and employment, helpful organizations, societies, & agencies.

Travel nurses are RNs from various clinical backgrounds who work for independent staffing agencies. They are assigned to different care areas on a temporary basis to fill in short-term employment gaps.

Travel nursing is a specialty that took root when the field of nursing faced a nationwide shortage. Hospitals, clinics, and other care areas had unfilled positions, yet had patients needing care. To try and attract nurses to the open positions, employers offered higher pay, housing, and covered the cost of relocating.

Due to these shortages, health care facilities have vacancies that need to be filled—and travel nurses are often the ones to fill open positions. Not only do travel nurses work in health care in any state in the country, but they also work outside of the United States as international travel nurses. The adventure and excitement of new opportunities, along with higher-than-average pay, are facets of travel nursing that many RNs find attractive.

Why Are Travel Nurses Important?

Travel nurses are an important part of the health care team because they help bridge the gap between supply and demand in the field of nursing. Mandatory nurse-patient ratios have led to increased patient safety and lower patient mortality . While this is a positive finding, and more and more states are passing legislation to implement staffing ratios, there are not enough nurses to fill the openings. Travel nurses assigned those open positions help to increase patient safety and improve patient outcomes.

Additionally, nurses from different educational backgrounds, care areas, and geographic locations bring a great deal to the practice of nursing. Sharing ideas and practices not only benefits patients, but also other nurses.

A travel nurse should have the following characteristics to excel in the role:

• Enjoys experiencing new cities, towns, and organizations
• Enjoys freedom. Travel nurses choose when and where they work, and choose their duration of employment
• Enjoys flexibility. Travel nurses create their schedules, benefits packages, and income based on which agency they choose to work
• Thrives on challenges. Moving to different states or overseas and being “the new nurse” repeatedly is challenging. Learning new organizational systems and workflows is particularly challenging
• Loves learning new things. Each assignment takes travel nurses to new health care facilities, some with higher levels of technology or different standards of practice. Each experience helps nurses build upon their knowledge base

Additionally, travel nurses should have supportive families and friends. It's difficult to either pack up and move an entire family or leave your family and friends behind. The flip side to this is that new relationships are formed in each new location.

What Are the Educational Requirements for Travel Nurses?

Those interested in the specialty of travel nursing should first pursue a nursing degree through a two or four-year university. Obtaining an associate's degree ( ADN ) or bachelor's degree ( BSN ) in nursing is required. A BSN is not required to be a travel nurse, but some health care facilities only hire BSN-prepared nurses. The staffing agency in which the nurse is employed should match the nurse appropriately based on educational requirements.

After completion of an accredited nursing program, successful completion of the NCLEX-RN is required for licensure.

Most travel nurse agencies require a minimum of one year of hands-on experience in the chosen specialty of nursing. Additionally, some agencies will only hire BSN-prepared RNs. International travel nurses should speak the language of the country they are to practice in, as communication is an important part of effective healthcare delivery. Nurses are encouraged to research agencies when considering travel nursing.

Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?

No additional exams are required for travel nursing. Based on the specialty, certification(s) may be required. Examples include:

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) may be required
• Stroke care certification
• Telemetry certification
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Critical care nursing (adults, pediatric, neonatal)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) may be required
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) certification

Additional specific requirements may be necessary for international travel nurses. These include:

• Acquiring a passport and work visa (usually handled by the agency)
• Additional immunizations
• Learning a new language
• Learning about diseases unique to the area

How Can a Travel Nurse Receive a Tax-Free Housing Stipend?

Housing is one of the most significant concerns for a travel nurse. There are a few options available, and it depends on the travel nurse agency/company regarding how accommodations are set up. Some companies provide housing (i.e., apartment, duplex, etc.). Some companies offer a housing stipend, or a fixed amount of money each month to apply towards housing.

First, nurses need to be aware of where their “tax home” is, as stipends are tax-free if working away from the tax home. Having a tax home is necessary to receive tax-free housing. A "tax home" is defined as the general vicinity of an individual's primary place of work (regardless of where the primary residence is). Generally, the IRS considers someone traveling away from home (i.e., their "tax home") if it exceeds one workday.

Different travel nurse agencies offer different stipends - it’s important to research what the living expenses are in a specific area to ensure housing is adequately covered. The General Services Administration (GSA) lists the maximum daily amount for lodging, meals, and incidentals with regards to travel expenses . The key word is MAXIMUM. It's not required that a company pay employees the listed stipend. In fact, some travel nurse agencies offer higher hourly wages instead of housing stipends. Additionally, the GSA rates are based on short-term travel - usually less than a month. Travel nurse contracts can last three months or more.

Are Nursing Licenses Valid When Traveling and Working in Other States?

Those interested in travel nursing may have questions about licensing; specifically, how are licenses recognized if practicing in another state.

Depending on the state, new licensure is not necessary. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) developed the Nurse Licensure Compact which is an agreement between specific states to recognize nursing licenses without having to apply separately for licensure in another state. In other words, a nurse living in a "compact state" (one which is part of this agreement) can practice in another compact state without having to obtain additional licenses. There are now uniform licensure requirements that must be met when seeking a multistate license under the compact agreement. States that participate in the compact agreement can be found on the NCSBN website .

If not part of the compact agreement, some states allow nurses to obtain temporary licenses by endorsement. These are valid for specific lengths of time, so nurses must visit each state’s Board of Nursing website to determine specific temporary license requirements. If extending the assignment past the temporary license time frame, nurses must apply for a permanent license. Permanent licenses are also required for states that don't grant licensure by endorsement and don't participate in the NLC.

Travel nurses have a broad range of responsibilities and duties, and specific tasks depend on the specialty in which the nurse is trained. General nursing responsibilities and duties include:

• Using the nursing process of assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating to care for patients in a variety of healthcare settings
• Administering medications, and fluids, assisting with activities of daily living and patient mobility
• Reviewing and interpreting diagnostic tests such as lab work and imaging
• Provide monitoring and oversight in all aspects of patient care
• Collaborating with physicians in developing a plan of care
• Assessing the psychosocial needs of patients and families
• Recognizing and intervening in clinically unstable patients
• Providing resources for patients and referring as necessary
• Educating patients and families in all areas of healthcare maintenance and prevention
• Working in assignments anywhere from eight to thirteen weeks (on average) in the U.S., one to two years if outside the U.S.
• Learning various patient care systems/documentation
• Providing immediate medical care and aid for large populations during times of war or disaster

Domestic and international travel nurses also have different characteristics specific to their roles.

Domestic Travel Nurses

• Work within the U.S.
• Typically work assignments that range from eight to thirteen weeks
• Can respond to areas of the U.S that experience natural disasters or disease outbreaks

International Travel Nurses

International travel nurses should have excellent communication skills, should be open to new experiences and challenges, and should have a strong desire to learn. These nurses are responsible for performing a wide array of duties. As stated previously, the tasks an international nurse will have to perform depend entirely upon their medical specialty. Some of the more general or everyday tasks that international travel nurses will perform include administering medication, wound care, and providing emergency medical services and care. Since there are often nursing shortages in many of the regions that international nurses travel to, another general role of these nurses is to educate family members and caretakers about the appropriate patient and medical care. In summary, international travel nurses:

• Work outside the U.S.
• Typically work assignments that range from one to two years
• Respond to areas that experience natural disasters or disease outbreaks, such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa
• Provide medical care and aid to underserved, rural , and remote populations
• Usually, must wait for document processing before traveling

Travel Nurse Working Conditions

As with any career, there are positive and negative aspects to working as a travel nurse. Nurses can suffer from stress as they may carry a heavy patient load and have many critical decisions to make. Additionally, travel nurses may suffer from feelings of isolation since they tend to relocate often. Having a strong sense of independence and a support system available, even remotely, can help.

Additionally, nurses may work in high-risk areas that may expose them to workplace violence, blood-borne pathogens, and chemicals. Travel nurses must always familiarize themselves with and adhere to safety standards set by the organization.

International travel nurses can face different challenges. Travel nurses must be familiar with the country's laws, and geographic-specific diseases, and always keep their overall safety as a priority.

Despite these considerations, travel nursing can be immensely rewarding. Many organizations and staff nurses appreciate the help travel nurses offer. Travel nurses help relieve staff nurses from burnout, as can happen when working short-staffed.

International travel nurses are also highly appreciated. They provide medical care and assistance to many patients in remote settings who otherwise would have no access to healthcare. They help with relief efforts in war zones or after disaster events, which can be both rewarding and enriching.

According to the American Nurses Association, as of 2015 fourteen states had mandatory nurse-patient ratios . Nurses are pushing for federal legislation supporting safe staffing and because of this, if more states pass safe-staffing laws, nurses will be in even more demand. Travel nurses will help mend the current and projected nursing shortage. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 16% overall growth for nurses until 2024, which is much faster-than-average growth for all occupations.

RELATED :  RN License Transfer and NLC Guide

Travel nursing has many incentives for nurses regarding pay and benefits including:

• Travel reimbursement
• Free housing
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Assistance in obtaining passports/work visas
• Choice of location
• Selection of hours/shifts worked
• Competitive pay
• Higher-than-average pay for RNs

According to Indeed, the average yearly salary for a travel nurse is $75,109. However, since pay is competitive in travel nursing, some companies are offering salaries of around $100,00 annually for domestic travel nurses.

International travel nurses tend to have lower salaries than domestic, except for assignments in some middle eastern countries. This is because, for the most part, nurses tend to make less outside of the U.S.

Salary is dependent on the agency, and nurses should research each company to find the right salary and benefits that best fit their needs.

• International Council of Nurses
• Professional Association of Nurse Travelers
• National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations
• American Travel Health Nurses Association

Related Articles

• The Hottest Job During a Pandemic? Travel Nurse
• Is Travel Nursing the Right Adventure for You?
• An Ocean-Lover's Dream: Working as a Nurse at Sea
• 10 Pros and Cons of Becoming a Travel Nurse
• 5 Specializations For Nurses Who Enjoy Travel
• Tips on Maintaining a Healthy Diet as a Traveling Nurse
• See all Nursing Articles

• Recruitment Team
• Our Approach
• View Nursing Jobs 0 Jobs
• View Allied Jobs 0 Jobs

0 Jobs Available

Nursing Jobs

Allied Jobs

• Mental Wellness Support
• Paid Sick Leave
• Your Way Is Paid
• Travel Reimbursement
• Pay Packages
• Benefits Summary
• Referral Bonus+
• Continuing Education
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Chaplain Assistance Program
• Client Facilities
• Corporate Careers
• Press Releases
• Contact Information
• Merchandise
• Get Started
• Preferences
• Favorites 3
• Returning Applicants

Travel Nursing 101: How to Be a Travel Nurse & More

Getting Started in Travel Nursing

The nursing field offers this unique career path that allows you to travel the country while expanding your nursing skills. What’s better than that? Whether you’re just starting to explore the world of travel nursing or about to head off on your first assignment, it can be daunting to navigate this nuanced industry. And by nuanced we mean crazy but awesome. To make sure you start off on the right foot, we put together this guide covering all the basics of travel nursing.

This guide covers a lot of information. Use these links to find what you’re looking for faster.

• Part 1: Travel Nursing 101 — What is travel nursing?
• Part 2: How to Become a Travel Nurse — breaking down the requirements & how to get started.
• Part 3: Working With an Agency — and why you need an amazing recruiter.
• Part 4: Landing Your First Job — it’s interview 101 & contracts.
• Part 5: Travel Nurse Pay Packages — how to dissect a pay package.
• Part 6: Important Links — tax info & more.
• Travel Nursing FAQs — Can I take travel nurse assignments close to my house? What’s orientation like? And so much more.

Part 1: Travel Nursing 101

It’s important to always remember that travel nursing is all about filling a need. There’s a nursing shortage — have you heard? The demand for registered nurses will grow by 15% from 2016 – 2026. From aging baby boomers to nurse burnout, the need for highly-skilled and experienced nurses continues to rise. Oh, and there’s also seasonal needs and expected leaves (like maternity leave) to factor into the equation. Enter travel nurses.

What is a Travel Nurse?

Licensed and experienced, travel nurses work as contingent staff to maintain quality patient care standards during staff shortages. In plain English, they fill the gaps on the schedule, typically for 13 weeks at a time.

• Highly-Skilled : You’ll need to be confident in your skills and ready to hit the ground running. Travel nurse orientations are notoriously brief, and you’ll be expected to hit the floor quickly. 
• Adaptable : Things will not go as planned, from housing to expectations. Good travel nurses can not only adapt quickly but know who to contact at their agency to ensure they have the proper support.
• Adventurous : Making new friends, learning new cities, and working with new equipment — it all comes with the territory. So make sure you pack your sense of adventure.
• Independent : The life of a gypsy nurse often means being away from friends, family, and sometimes special moments. When you get home after a shift and are alone, you’ll need to remember that you’re independent. 

Why Choose Travel Nursing?

There are so many reasons nurses choose this career path. We believe it’s because it’s one of the best careers out there. We see nurses hit the open road for financial freedom — paying off debt, building retirement, or being able to afford the life they want to live. Many nurses want to develop their experience, from working at a prestigious hospital to working with the latest tech. And sometimes, travel itself is the motivator.

Check out our tips for maximizing your travel career on The Gypsy Nurse. It’s all about determining your motivations and how to find an agency that complements those driving factors.

Part 2: How to Become a Travel Nurse

After determining your motivators and some research, you’ve decided you want to clock out for the last time on your staff position. Welcome to the most fun, challenging, and rewarding job you’ve ever had. But first, let’s break down how to get started.

Travel Nurse Requirements

It’s the big 3. You’ll need a combination of experience, education, and documentation to make your move. Experience is often the most talked-about element, and that’s because it’s vitally important. Travel nurses typically jump right into a unit with little orientation, so your skills and confidence need to be sharp.

• Education : It all starts here. Registered nurses must first hold a nursing degree from an accredited university before taking the NCLEX-RN ® and applying for a license. So, like any nursing career, you’ll need either your Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Learn about bachelor’s degrees, continuing education programs, and more by reading our Nursing Education Guide .
• Experience : After passing the NCLEX and meeting licensing requirements, you can practice as an entry-level nurse. In general, the hospitals we work with require travel nurses to have a minimum of 1-2 years’ recent acute care experience in the specialty in which they wish to work. For specific specialty requirements, check out our Specialty Guide and then find your specialty for an in-depth look from travel nurses who’ve worked on those units.
• Documentation : During our application process, you’ll need to provide references and documentation of licenses and certifications. Rest assured, we’ll walk you through each step. Bonus — TNAA will help you obtain and pay for the licenses you need. Read our Licensing Guide for more information.

The beginning of your travel nurse journey likely consists of a lot of research. From online groups to word-of-mouth reviews, you’ve probably heard plenty of recommendations. It’s essential to determine your motivators for traveling and define what you need from an agency. 

Part 3: Working With an Agency

There are a lot of agencies out there — like nearly 300. And while they all do share some commonalities, they are definitely not all alike. So how do you choose an agency? First, let’s break down the role of your agency.

What’s the Purpose of Travel Nursing Agencies?

Think of a travel nursing agency as a one-stop-shop for everything you need, from finding assignments to assisting you while you’re on an assignment. Sounds simple, right? Of course, it’s a little more nuanced than that. If we break it down to its most basic, there are 2 main aspects to consider — think of their role as 2 sides of the same coin.

You are their employee.

In this capacity, their role is that of an employer providing things like health insurance, payroll, and legal protections. Remember your time as a staff nurse, your hospital carried liability insurance, offered options and protections if you suffered a workplace injury, offered health benefits, and took care of compensation. Some agencies offer all the perks of perm nursing — hello, we’re super proud of our benefit programs! So, while other agencies might not consider you as a full-time employee and therefore may opt to cut some of those.

You are their customer.

In this capacity, the agency takes on a more customer-service related role. While there is a business-to-business aspect of this industry, you are their customer. Throughout your journey with an agency, they will be concerned with your experience and should strive to ensure you want to remain with them. This is why you will see stand-out benefits and perks — one of our core values is obsessing over our nurses’ experiences with us.

  View this post on Instagram   At TNAA, we love to see our travel nurses succeed in achieving their goals, and we want to help in any way we can. That’s why we’re proud to offer our RN to BSN Degree Program, which reimburses 100% of eligible tuition costs. Read our blog to see how you can get started. Link in bio. A post shared by Travel Nurse Across America (@travelnurseacrossamerica) on Jan 29, 2020 at 5:53pm PST

What Should an Agency Offer?

We referenced it earlier, but it’s crucial to determine your motivations. What do you want to get out of travel nursing? That will dictate what agency offers are most important to you and ensure you have a successful travel career. 

At TNAA, our offerings stem from our core values. Putting nurses first and obsessing on their experience is not only deeply important to us, but it drives everything we do. 

• We believe in treating our nurses like family. Our goal is to think of everything you could need while on assignment. Read more about TNAA company culture (and why we continue to win awards for it). 
• We believe in providing opportunities to grow your career. We do this by finding assignments to help you reach professional milestones. We also want you to be able to further your career with continuing education opportunities and an RN to BSN tuition reimbursement. Want to learn more about these programs? We break down all of our career-enhancing programs in our Education Guide .
• We believe in protecting you while you’re far from home. We pride ourselves on offering benefits that cover what really matters — mental, physical, and financial wellbeing. To learn more about our benefits, check out this blog on all we offer.

Travel Nurse Recruiters 101

While choosing the right agency is crucial, it’s difficult to overemphasize the role a travel nurse recruiter plays. Finding the right recruiter for you can be daunting — especially with so much noise about recruiters in online communities. Plus, some agencies are now ditching recruiters altogether. But before we dive into why our travel nurse recruiters are the best in the industry, let’s explore the role of the recruiter.

They’re your career coach. 

We like to think of our recruiters like academic advisors, but way better. TNAA recruiters have market knowledge. They understand the industry and how to leverage that to your benefit. Maybe your goal is to travel to Hawaii or work in a prestigious teaching facility. As a first-time traveler, it’s about strategy and experience to help you reach your goals and handle the unexpected hiccups that come with life on the road. 

Your recruiter should know how to get you where you want to go, literally. Back to our Hawaii example: you could hit submit on an app for years. Or, you could work with a TNAA recruiter who can help you get the relevant travel experience necessary for that 300-bed stroke unit on the Big Island. See, part of that market knowledge includes knowing what facilities are looking for and how to make your file jump out to hiring managers. Or, maybe you want to work on a different unit. Our recruiters are prepared to help you get there and be transparent with a plan.

They’re your career concierge.

Part of the job is making the complex simple. Our goal as a company is to make your life as a travel nurse easy. On the most basic level, your recruiter will simplify the application process, submit you for jobs, and help with paperwork along the way. You can expect to build a real relationship with your recruiter, and that extends into ensuring you understand your options and how those impact your goals. Wait. What? For example, your recruiter will give you feedback on things like cancel rates, call-offs, and help you choose a contract and pay package that meet your needs.

  View this post on Instagram   Well, today was pretty freakin cool. I talked this gal for almost a YEAR before we found her 1st assignment in WA • • Today we met up for lunch in the @omahaoldmarket; we sipped tea, talked about life & future goals. Big things coming for this zen lady – on to her 2nd assignment in the Mountains 🏔 🙌🏻 • • Oh, and I watched her get a nose piercing. @my_lovethyselfjourney_365 did we just become best friends?! Yup! • • Thank you @travelnurseacrossamerica for bringing us together💫 #recruiterturnedphotographer A post shared by Ashley Hazen (@travel_nurse_recruiter) on Nov 12, 2019 at 5:43pm PST

Part 4: Landing Your First Job

You’ve spoken with a recruiter and feel confident that they understand you, your goals, and where you want to be. So what’s next ? Now they work on securing you an interview. A great recruiter will help tailor your file, so it gets to a nurse manager, charge nurse, or hiring manager. They’ll also coach you so you’ll be prepared to ace your interview and get offered the job. But your interview with the facility is a two-way street, and you’ll want to make sure that the facility is a good fit for you too.

What You Need to Know About Travel Nursing Interviews

It’s important to remember that travel nursing is all about filling a need. Typically, facilities will hire the first qualified nurse who interviews and can start quickly. Unlike perm staff hiring processes, time is of the essence, and travel nursing jobs need are filled as soon as possible.

Knowing what to ask for your first interview can be daunting. Consider this guide a high-level overview of what to ask. But rest assured, your recruiter will be your biggest asset. In the meantime, here are a few quick tips:

• Be quick:  Again, speed matters. The first qualified candidate who answers the phone when a nurse manager calls has a great shot at getting the job. Unlike perm positions, the nurse manager is looking to fill the job quickly, they will not hold multiple rounds in search of that just-right candidate. If you’re unable to have your phone out (work, we get it), make sure you take the time to check your messages and call back ASAP .
• Do your research:  Look up the facility ahead of time. Did we mention that speed matters? Don’t expect a nurse manager or hiring staff to have a lot of time to chat. You can find out bed numbers, teaching designation, traveler reviews, and call-off history from the internet and your recruiter. Spend your time finding out about the unit, the culture, and contract expectations.
• Prepare in advance:  Ask your recruiter for typical questions (we’ve included some in our download above) and have answers prepared. Knowing how to answer common questions will make you sound confident and experienced. Plus, it will allow you more time to ask your questions.

For even more tips, check out this blog on The Gypsy Nurse and this advice from our travel nurses .

Reviewing Your Contract

For first time travelers, this can be especially daunting. This is one reason it’s important that you have good rapport with your recruiter. Here’s what you need to know about that crucial contract:

• Confirm the details: During your interview, you discussed things like shift, days off, floating, and more. Double-check to ensure those things are included.
• Review with your recruiter:  For first-time travelers there can be a lot of confusing details in a contract. After you confirm the details, your recruiter will review it with you and point out things like holidays for the unit or call-off policies.

Part 5: Travel Nurse Pay Packages

Staff nurses in a hospital are typically paid at a set salary based on their education level and experience. However, the travel nurse world is a world all its own, and that includes how they earn income. A variety of components make up a travel nurse pay package , such as hourly pay, non-taxed stipends, travel reimbursements, and more. Let’s break down the basics of travel nurse salary and what to look for in a pay package.

It’s important to understand the role taxes play in travel nursing. Any travel nurse will tell you; there’s a big misconception around where the money comes from. Most travelers will tell you that the tax-free stipend is the best way to profit from travel nursing. To understand the financial benefit travel nurses can enjoy from the non-taxed portion of their pay, we pulled together some helpful tax links to get you started.

Key Components of a Pay Package

• Hourly Equivalent: A travel nurse pay package generally consists of 2 main components: the regular, taxable hourly rate and the non taxed reimbursements (referred to as stipends, subsidies, per diems, or allowances). Your hourly rate is a combination of taxed and non taxed portions.
• Non Taxable Per Diems: It’s important to note that in order to qualify for these reimbursements, you need to be eligible. Okay, what? In short, the IRS deems things like housing and meals to be ‘tax-free reimbursements’ if you meet their eligibility requirements. Read more about those here. Per diems are set by the GSA (General Services Administration) and refer to allowances that federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while on official travel. But isn’t all travel nursing official travel? < if you asked this, you might not have clicked on the tax links yet, so here they are again because this concept, like an ACLS algorithm, is nuanced.
• Taxable Income: This is where you’ll find your taxable hourly rate. Similar to your perm job, this portion is where things like social security contributions and more originate.
• Benefits: More and more agencies offer benefits similar to perm employers. So unless you carry private insurance or are insured through your partner, medical benefits can factor into your overall pay package.

Note: Sometimes the taxable hourly rate can seem low. A pay package may be structured in a more tax-efficient way. But like everything, there are pros and cons to each scenario. Is it better to have the taxable hourly rate higher or the non taxed? The answer is dependent entirely on your personal situation and goals — so be weary of over-generalizations when it comes to pay.

Other Financial Considerations

• Upfront Costs: Travel nursing requires a lot of different licenses and certifications. The costs of which can really add up before you even hit the road. While many travel nursing agencies pay for some of these expenses, others don’t pay for anything. We arrange and pay for physical exams, immunizations, and more that you may need to start working. To see a list of everything included, click here! Bonus — we’ll provide up to $1,000 to cover your trip-related mileage and fees.
• Bonuses: Many agencies offer bonuses like extension bonuses when you stay on for another contract period, rebook bonuses for agency-loyal travelers, and referral bonuses. Consider how these add to the overall attractiveness of your pay. But be aware, bonuses are taxed at a higher rate.
• Extras: While these extras may or may not impact your hourly equivalent, they are important aspects to determine if an agency provides solid travel nurse pay. Consider how your agency is setting you up for future success with education and financial options. TNAA offers free continuing education, a tuition reimbursement program, and a generous 401(k) benefit.

Consider the full picture when comparing compensation between agencies. Uncover the full scope of benefits to make the best choices for your financial wellbeing.

Part 6: Important Links

We could talk for days and days about this industry and still have more to say. This guide has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide tax or legal advice. That being said, we believe that education and transparency build a more confident travel nurse. We promised you links, and here they are!

Taxes are inherently complicated, and it’s always best to seek tax advice from certified tax professionals. However, we’ve compiled some basics you and your tax accountant should know for you to be eligible for non-taxed reimbursements (aka the tax-free money and/or the stipend).

• Start Here: Common Travel Tax FAQs
• For an Official Breakdown: National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations on Travel Taxes
• Our CFO on Tax Compliance: How Staying in One Place Can Make Reimbursements (aka your stipend) Taxable

We do travel nurse housing differently. We believe that if you choose to ‘take the per diem’ you should still have access to the best housing options in the industry. Read our Housing Guide to learn about housing per diems and how we make housing better for our nurses — we’re talking about programs you won’t find anywhere else like payment assistance, vetted leads, and pet-friendly options.

There’s a lot of information out there on how to obtain your nursing license in each state. But what does a travel nurse need to do to get licensed? Read our Licensure Guide where we’re breaking down the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, temporary and permanent licenses, and how we’ve simplified the process for nurses who choose to travel with TNAA.

Orientation

Before you can hit the unit, you’ll need to complete orientation. The more assignments you complete, the more you’ll realize that each unit will be a little different. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to travel nurse orientation. While it can be daunting to look at everything needed, TNAA support staff brings unparalleled market knowledge to ensure you’re able to start your assignment on time. Check out our Orientation Guide for all that, plus advice from our current travel nurses.

Travel Nursing FAQs

We’re answering your most frequently asked questions..

While you don’t have to move across the country for every assignment, specific rules do exist regarding what distance an assignment must be from a nurse’s home to be considered a traveler.

• Most hospitals have a radius rule which dictates the minimum number of miles a nurse must live from the facility to qualify as a travel nurse.
• The IRS also has region requirements to qualify for non-taxed reimbursements (subsidies, stipends, per diems).
• No matter the distance, don’t expect to be able to commute from home. We will always follow IRS guidelines.

We take your traveler status seriously with teams dedicated to checking things like distance to ensure you remain tax compliant.

Well, this is a loaded question. Luckily, our CFO discusses this question on The Gypsy Nurse blog,  you can find her insights here.

While in the normal world, you may contact a potential employer to check on the status of your application, this is not the normal world. There are rules about how facilities can and cannot be contracted that your recruiter has to follow.

Your license is determined by your Primary State of Residence, your PSOR.

• If you are licensed in a compact state, you can check if your license has compact privileges through Nursys where you’ll see what states you’re licensed to work in.
• If you are licensed in a non-compact state and want to work in a compact state, you’ll need to apply for that state’s license — but that doesn’t mean you have a compact license, only a license to practice in that state.
• If you are licensed in a state with pending legislation, you’ll have to wait. And there’s no telling how long. So, if compact status is important to you, changing your PSOR is an option.

Did you know: We have a robust team obsessed with all things licensure. When you travel with TNAA, our expert support teams will ensure you have the license you need to work where you want. Read more about Licensure and the TNAA difference .

While we’d love to break down exactly what your orientation will be like, we simply can’t. Orientation varies from facility to facility.

There are a few things you can count on though, and we go into detail about in our travel nurse orientation guide . Bonus — we included tips and advice from our current travel nurses.

Well, this varies depending on where you are in your travel nurse journey.

• If you don’t meet the experience requirements yet:  Typically, it’s recommended to start contacting agencies or recruiters about 3-5 months from when you’d ideally like to start your first assignment.
• I f you’re on your first assignment:  Typically, you and your recruiter will begin looking for what’s next close to your assignment’s halfway point.

The short answer is no. We require current work history and current references for the specialty you’re choosing to travel.

However, if you’re really passionate about wanting to work in a different specialty,  ask your recruiter to connect you with our Clinical Team.  This is a team of real RNs who support you on assignment with questions just like this one and can guide you to where you want to be in your career.

You Might Also Like

• Travel Nursing
• Search Nursing Jobs
• Travel Nursing Recruitment Team
• Travel Allied
• Search Allied Jobs
• Travel Allied Recruitment Team
• Travel Allied Our Approach
• Travel Allied Programs
• Travel Nursing Instagram
• Travel Nursing Facebook
• Travel Nursing TikTok
• Travel Nursing LinkedIn
• Travel Nursing X-Twitter
• Travel Nursing Youtube
• Travel Nursing Pinterest
• Travel Nursing Great Recruiters
• Benefits & Pay
• TNAA Client Facilities

• Allied Instagram
• Allied Facebook
• Allied TikTok
• Allied LinkedIn
• Travel Nursing Twitter
• Allied Youtube
• Allied Pinterest
• Allied Great Recruiters
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Privacy Policy

What Is a Travel Nurse?

NurseJournal.org is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.

Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:

• Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
• Provide specific, corrective feedback.
• Identify critical information that writers may have missed.

Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for NurseJournal.org as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.

Explore our full list of Integrity Network members.

• Career Overview
• Duties and Responsibilities
• Work Settings
• How To Become

Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?

How Long to Become 2-4 years

Job Outlook 9% increase from 2020-2030

Average Annual Salary $84,000

Becoming a travel nurse can be financially and professionally rewarding and offer nurses a chance to see the country. Travel nurses fill short-term vacancies across the nation, with assignments that may last from a few days up to several months.

Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for travel nurses is high. In addition, these professionals can earn considerably more than full-time permanent positions. Keep reading for more about what travel nurses do and how to become one.

What Does a Travel Nurse Do?

As the healthcare industry experiences critical nursing shortages, travel nurses temporarily work on assignment in different locations to fill this gap. Instead of working in permanent positions at hospitals, travel nurses find employment at staffing agencies. Travel nursing assignments typically last a few weeks to a few months.

In terms of their day-to-day professional responsibilities, travel nurses take on the same roles as other registered nurses (RNs). Nurses perform these essential tasks:

JGI/Tom Grill / Getty Images

Key Responsibilities

• Educating patients on health, wellness, and illnesses
• Measuring patients’ vital signs, like blood pressure and body temperature
• Administering medication
• Monitoring patients’ conditions
• Collaborating with healthcare teams

Career Traits

• Adaptability and flexibility
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Clinical Skills in both chronic and acute care

Where Do Travel Nurses Work?

Travel nurses work in various healthcare settings. They commonly find assignments in hospitals, but often staffing agencies send nurses to underserved areas like rural communities. They may also work in intensive care units, community health centers, clinics — in short, anywhere with a nursing shortage.

Rural Health Facilities

Travel nurses care for patients with both acute and chronic conditions, administer medication, facilitate communication with nearby facilities or hospitals, and educate patients on preventive health and wellness.

Travel nurses conduct physical exams, check patients’ vital signs, take patients’ healthcare histories, and work on healthcare teams.

Travel nurses provide patients who need specialized treatment with life-sustaining support, such as ventilators and other equipment. They also respond to medical emergencies with techniques like advanced cardiac life support and evaluate patients’ progress.

Why Become a Travel Nurse?

Like any profession, travel nursing has its pros and cons. Make sure to carefully consider these factors when deciding on whether or not to pursue this career.

Advantages of Becoming a Travel Nurse

Disadvantages of becoming a travel nurse, how to become a travel nurse.

To be a travel nurse , you must first become a registered nurse (RN) by earning either an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). After graduating, you need to pass the NCLEX-RN and apply for a state nursing license.

Because travel nurses must adapt rapidly to a new hospital or other healthcare setting and be able to contribute immediately, most employers prefer to hire travel nurses with experience, especially for higher-paying positions. Certification distinguishes your skills from other applicants.

Most travel nurses work with agencies, since these agencies do the work of finding positions and much of the paperwork. Establishing a reputation and relationship with a travel nurse agency makes it much easier to get the best assignments.

Learn more about how to become a travel nurse .

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?

Because they travel to where demand is highest, travel nurse salaries are typically higher than full-time permanent positions. Some travel nurse positions provide room and board or offer an allowance in addition to pay, while others pay a set amount. Therefore, salary ranges without this context may be misleading. According to Vivian , a healthcare jobs marketplace, the average weekly salary for travel nurses reaches $2,666 per week.

Demand, local cost of living, experience, and nursing specialties all affect travel nurse pay scales. Shorter-term assignments tend to pay proportionately higher than longer-term assignments. While the nursing shortage continues, travel nurse salaries are likely to remain high.

Some travel nurse agencies have been accused of price gouging during COVID-19 . While it is not clear what, if any, legislation might pass to address this, most of the complaints focus on the agency share of payments rather than nurse earnings. However, you may wish to keep an eye on how this might affect travel nurse salaries.

Frequently Asked Questions about Travel Nurses

How long does it take to become a travel nurse.

It takes at least two years to earn an RN license and become a travel nurse. However, most travel nurse agencies prefer to hire nurses with some experience or certifications.

Can travel nurses specialize?

Many travel nurses specialize. Operating room, critical care, emergency room, telemetry, and labor/delivery nursing are some of the most in-demand specialties, according to The Gypsy Nurse, a travel nurse agency blog.

How long are travel nursing assignments?

Travel nurse assignments typically last 2-26 weeks, with 13 weeks being a fairly common standard. However, the length varies based on employer needs and budget.

Why are travel nurses paid more?

Travel nurses can travel to where the demand is highest. Travel nursing is not for everyone and requires long periods away from home or loved ones. It can also be more difficult to build work relationships. Short-term housing or hotels are also typically more expensive than longer-term leases, so travel nurses have more expenses.

Related Pages

10 Ways to Prepare for a Career in Travel Nursing

Travel nursing can be an exciting way to earn money while seeing the world. Explore advice and tips on how to succeed as a travel nurse.

The Best Online RN-to-BSN Programs of 2024

Are you an RN interested in completing your undergraduate nursing education? These top RN-to-BSN programs can be completed in just 12-24 months.

Registered Nursing Requirements by State

RN license requirements vary by state. Use this guide to find out how to earn an RN license in each state and the significance of the Nursing Licensure Compact.

Jobs for Nurses: 50+ Different Nursing Positions

What can you do with a nursing degree? Explore what nurses do and the different nursing jobs available to licensed nurses.

Whether you’re looking to get your pre-licensure degree or taking the next step in your career, the education you need could be more affordable than you think. Find the right nursing program for you.

You might be interested in

Best Online Nursing Programs and Degrees

Overwhelmed by the abundance of online nursing programs? This guide can help you navigate the possibilities and narrow down the options.

Nurse Practitioner Career Overview

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Career Overview

Trusted Health Blog

New Grad Travel Nursing: A Guide for 2022

As a result of the COVID pandemic, travel nursing became more popular than ever before. In 2022, the world has adapted to a new normal of living life with coronavirus, and the demand for travel nurses remains high. As a new graduate nurse or a seasoned nurse new to traveling, you may have a lot of questions about how to work your way into this popular and lucrative business. As you learn how to become a travel nurse, weigh the pros and cons and decide if it makes sense for you to pursue it now. 

What is Travel Nursing

Travel nursing was developed as a way for hospitals to fill short-term staffing needs.

A typical travel nurse assignment of thirteen weeks could be enough time for the hospital to train a new permanent employee. A travel nurse is a quick albeit temporary fix to a hospital or clinic’s staffing problem. Currently, hospitals are facing severe staffing challenges with no end in sight. Because of this, travel nurses are often given the opportunity to extend contracts and stay in the same facility for longer than thirteen weeks, sometimes for up to a year. 

A travel nurse is an employee for an agency rather than the hospital system where they are working. The travel agency is responsible for the new-hire checklist items, such as immunizations and background checks. Orientation with the hospital system will be very short, usually no longer than a few shifts. To be successful in the industry the nurse needs to learn and adapt quickly while being extremely confident in his or her skill set.

Can a New Grad Be a Travel Nurse

That depends on how ‘new’ the new grad is. The ability to succeed in a new facility and work with confidence in your skill set requires experience; there’s really no way around it. Generally speaking, a fresh out of school nurse cannot be a travel nurse — yet. But, a new grad can be a traveler after a year of experience. This means the new grad can start working on the checklist needed to travel when the time is right. 

What’s Required for a New Grad to Be a Travel Nurse

In order to work in any nursing job, first you have to earn a nursing degree through an accredited program, pass the NCLEX and hold an active Registered Nursing License in the state in which you desire to work. Typically one to two years of total RN experience are needed, with at least one of those years in the area of work you plan to travel in. The current nursing shortage has definitely made it easier for new grads to start traveling after meeting these minimum requirements. 

Where Should a New Grad Work With the Goal of Traveling

If you know you want to travel as soon as possible while searching for your first RN job, seek out positions with a plethora of travel job openings. Medical-surgical, intensive care, and emergency departments tend to have high demands for travelers. If your experience will be in a more specialized unit, your job search may take longer. 

Seek out facilities with Magnet designation. These facilities have earned this award for their history of nursing excellence. Hospitals with this designation are your best bet for getting the experience that you need to be prepared for traveling.    

How Can a New Grad Build a Competitive Travel Nurse Resume

Build a competitive resume by highlighting your expertise in the area you wish to work while traveling. Start studying to get certified in your specialty . Trust me, studying for certification is a breeze compared to nursing school and studying for the NCLEX! Not only that, but the detailed knowledge you will gain in your specific field will help you in your practice. Check with your manager on hospital policy regarding reimbursement, as hospitals may pay to reimburse certification costs. 

Volunteer to precept newer nurses or nursing students, and represent your unit on a hospital-wide committee to highlight yourself as a leader. Being part of a committee outside of your unit also helps you to broaden your perspective on nursing, and an open perspective is something you will need as a traveler! 

Build relationships with nurse leaders as soon as you can, and collect positive reference letters from managers, charge nurses, and other coworkers you work with to have stellar reference letters on hand when needed. When asking for a reference letter, give your letter writer adequate time to provide one to you. You don’t want your writer to feel rushed. 

When educational opportunities arise through your hospital, make it a priority to take those courses and add them to your resume. Keeping your resume updated as you go along will reduce  stress when you need it most. That will also allow time for others to review your resume and provide suggestions for edits. 

Pros of Travel Nursing

In my opinion, the ‘pros’ of travel nursing greatly outweigh the ‘cons.’ As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to travel the country on your company’s dime. You can go places for 13 weeks that most people would only travel to on vacation. You have enough time to really see the area but short enough to not miss home too much. It’s also short enough that you may be able to convince a friend or family member to travel with you. Or, you can stay close to home by taking a local contract. Depending on your schedule you can choose to travel far at certain times of the year and stay close at other times. For example, if you’re a parent with kids in school, you could travel with your family further away during the summer while staying close to home during the school year.   

Another ‘pro’ to travel nursing is the schedule flexibility. Staff nursing jobs tend to have set limits of time off, and you have to compete with others in your unit months in advance for highly desired vacation times. In addition, hospitals may have a ‘black-out’ vacation period. These are highly desired vacation times such as during Christmas or Thanksgiving when either no staff nurses or only the most senior staff nurses are allowed time off. As a travel nurse you state the time off you need during a contract prior to signing, and if accepted you are guaranteed to have that time off. Even though you might not know the exact days you will be working when signing, you have the opportunity to know that you are off when you need it most. 

One of the most well-known pros of working as a travel nurse is the money. Nursing is known to be a stable job with middle-class salary offerings, but since the 2020 COVID travel nursing boom, travel nurses have been able to earn six-figure salaries. This sudden increase in pay is a huge benefit, especially if trying to pay off loans, save for a house or start a family. In addition, many travel jobs also pay stipends-money for housing and food- which is untaxed. Even though you will be spending at least a portion of that stipend money on your housing and food needs, remember that you were spending money on housing and food before your travel gig, but all of that money was taxed. This way, you can earn a higher salary without having to pay it all back in taxes. 

Cons of Travel Nursing

All the ‘pros’ being said, as a travel nurse you are thrown into new challenges daily. Depending on your view, this challenge can be a pro or con . Working through and overcoming challenges in your nursing career will build skills and confidence, making you more marketable in future job searches as well as nurturing your own personal resilience. But any challenge adds stress, and depending on what else is going on in your life you need to decide if the added stress is doable for your life at this time. With the new challenges at work you may have decreased mental and emotional energy left over for home and family life. To be a successful travel nurse it’s incredibly helpful to have  supportive people close to you.

13 weeks is not that long in the grand scheme of things, but if you have a significant other or close family who can’t travel with you, 13 weeks is plenty of time to feel homesick. If you find yourself struggling with this, encourage your family to visit even if they can’t be with you for your whole travel assignment. Even a weekend visit in the middle can help break up the longevity of the time away. 

Though travel nursing has stabilized since the start of the pandemic and the need for travel nurses remains great, in general, travel nursing is not as stable as a traditional staff nursing job. The pay and job openings for travelers are subject to change with the market. No matter how stable the market is, there is always the risk that the hospital could cancel your contract at any time. This doesn’t happen often - if it did the travel industry would not be booming! However if you’re at a point in your life where you are not able to take a risk it might not be the best time for you to travel. Some nurses may choose to mitigate this risk by staying PRN at their staff job so they have something to fall back on should their travel contract end early for any reason. 

Where Can a New Grad Find Travel Nurse Opportunities

When I worked as a staff nurse, I started my travel job search simply by talking to all the travelers I came into contact with. Every travel nurse I had a rapport with was casually interviewed about their travel nursing experience. How long and where did they work before traveling? What company did they travel with? How many assignments had they done so far, and what were the most fun and hardest parts? By asking those few questions I learned so much, and was armed with the basic knowledge I needed before browsing travel companies. Something that became clear to me upon every interview though was that it is incredibly important to work for a travel company that has your back through the ups and downs of your assignment. The quality that Trusted Health possesses makes Trusted Health a fantastic place for new grads to start their travel nursing job search. 

How Can Trusted Health Help New Grads Looking to Travel

In your job search with Trusted Health, you will speak with a Nurse Advocate, not just a nurse recruiter. In your shifts at the bedside you advocate tirelessly for your patients, and your Nurse Advocate works for you with the same attitude in mind. The Trusted Health Nurse advocates are available via phone call, message or e-mail so you can communicate in whichever way is most convenient for your unique schedule. Trusted Health is also unique in its plethora of resources they provide for new nurses. All that being said, the most important way Trusted Health assists new grads wanting to travel is they have thousands of job opportunities waiting for the right nurse to fill them. One of those nurses could be you. 

‍ Log in or sign up with Trusted to get started today.

A registered nurse since 2016, Mary Dies, RN BSN has experience in internal medicine, international medical aid and emergency medicine where she currently practices. Mary is most passionate about empowering patients through education and creating safe, supportive work environments for nurses. In her free time Mary finds joy in her catholic faith, running, trying new recipes and spending time with friends and family.

Related Blogs

Cytotechnologist Salary Guide

Cytotechnologist Certification & Licensure Guide

Medical Laboratory Scientist Salary Guide

Let's check in.

All you need to know about what’s going on in healthcare this week, delivered straight to your inbox.

What is a Travel Nurse?

Learn about the role of Travel Nurse, what they do on a daily basis, and what it's like to be one.

• What is a Travel Nurse
• How to Become
• Certifications
• Tools & Software
• LinkedIn Guide
• Interview Questions
• Work-Life Balance
• Professional Goals
• Resume Examples
• Cover Letter Examples

Start Your Travel Nurse Career with Teal

Definition of a Travel Nurse

What does a travel nurse do, key responsibilities of a travel nurse.

• Providing direct patient care in temporary assignments across different locations, often in areas experiencing staffing shortages.
• Adapting to diverse healthcare settings and integrating with new teams to ensure continuity of care.
• Assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care plans in collaboration with healthcare professionals.
• Administering medications and treatments to patients and monitoring their responses.
• Documenting patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Communicating effectively with patients and their families, providing education and support.
• Maintaining a high level of clinical expertise and complying with all healthcare regulations and standards.
• Responding to medical emergencies and providing critical care as needed.
• Operating and monitoring medical equipment used in patient care.
• Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to create a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
• Ensuring the transfer of medical information is completed accurately when transitioning to a new assignment.
• Staying current with nursing best practices and participating in professional development opportunities.

Day to Day Activities for Travel Nurse at Different Levels

Daily responsibilities for entry-level travel nurses.

• Providing direct patient care and performing routine nursing duties
• Documenting patient information and care in medical records
• Adapting to the policies and procedures of different healthcare facilities
• Collaborating with healthcare teams to deliver patient care
• Attending orientation and training sessions at new assignments
• Communicating effectively with patients and staff in diverse settings

Daily Responsibilities for Mid-Level Travel Nurses

• Independently managing patient care with minimal supervision
• Specializing in a specific area of nursing, such as critical care or pediatrics
• Assisting in the orientation and mentoring of new Travel Nurses
• Participating in quality improvement initiatives and committees
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams for comprehensive patient care
• Providing input on patient care plans and contributing to clinical decisions

Daily Responsibilities for Senior Travel Nurses

• Leading and coordinating nursing care for critically ill or complex patients
• Acting as a liaison between the travel nursing agency and healthcare facilities
• Developing and implementing policies and protocols to improve patient care
• Mentoring and supervising teams of nurses and other healthcare professionals
• Participating in high-level problem-solving and decision-making processes
• Engaging in professional development and contributing to nursing research

Types of Travel Nurses

Critical care travel nurse, labor and delivery travel nurse, operating room travel nurse, telemetry travel nurse, psychiatric travel nurse, pediatric travel nurse, oncology travel nurse, what's it like to be a travel nurse , travel nurse work environment, travel nurse working conditions, how hard is it to be a travel nurse, is a travel nurse a good career path, faqs about travel nurses, how do travel nurses collaborate with other teams within a company, what are some common challenges faced by travel nurses, what does the typical career progression look like for travel nurses.

How To Become a Travel Nurse in 2024

Related Career Paths

Providing compassionate care, bridging health professionals and patients' needs

Supporting healthcare teams, ensuring patient care and smooth clinic operations

Providing essential care, bridging the gap between doctors and patients in healthcare

Providing compassionate care, assisting in patient recovery and maintaining health records

Providing compassionate care, aiding recovery and improving patients' quality of life

Leading healthcare operations, ensuring patient satisfaction and regulatory compliance

How to Become a Travel Nurse

What Is a Travel Nurse?

• What Do Travel Nurses Do?

How Much do Traveling Nurses Make?

Advantages of being a traveling nurse, steps to becoming a travel nurse, requirements for traveling nurse.

Travel nurses are professionals who fill short-term staffing gaps in hospitals and medical facilities around the country. These contracts normally last between eight and 22 weeks, though sometimes travel nurses are offered extensions.

Travel nurses fill gaps in a variety of specialties, from the NICU to the medical-surgical unit and beyond. Although they plan to stay for just a short time, they interact with patients and perform the same duties as any permanent employee.

What Do Travel Nurses do?

Travel nurses have all of the same responsibilities as permanent staff in the hospitals in which they work. However, they are hired by contract on a temporary basis to fill a staff shortage. The average travel nurse assignment is 13 weeks in one hospital.

Travel Nurse Job Description

The travel nurse job description includes caring for patients using diagnoses, evaluations, and assessments, much like standard nurses. You may be required to visit patients in their home if they are not mobile. As a travel nurse, you’ll find yourself caring for patients as part of the team of permanent staff, despite your temporary role. In fact, when your contract ends, many of your co-workers might be surprised to learn you weren’t a permanent employee!

Core duties of a travel nurse also include:

• Educate patients and their families about conditions/treatments
• Tend to injured or sick patients
• Perform tests and analyze test results
• Administer medication
• Follow up with patients after treatment

Travel nurse salaries can vary depending on education, region, and contracts. For example, many hospitals prefer an advanced nursing degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; others may accept an Associate in Nursing or Registered Nurse. Hospitals in major cities also tend to pay more than hospitals in rural counties, because of cost-of-living expenses are higher. And, some travel nurse contracts allow for bonuses or extensions, which would increase base pay. In addition to salary, many travel nurse contracts include a housing allowance, meal stipend, and travel reimbursements.

While all of these things should be considered, the   national average annual salary of a travel nurse is about $75,000 , according to Payscale.

Travel nursing has many advantages, including being able to work with people from all different walks of life and explore parts of the country you may have never seen. While it may seem daunting to interview for a new position every couple of months and move to a new city, there are many travel nurse agencies that can help smooth the process.

Many times, these agencies can set up the interviews with the hospital administration for you. Of course, then it’s up to you to let your talents shine! The agencies can also help find you fully-furnished housing, which is often free for travel nurses and located in close proximity to the hospital. Many of these accommodations are also pet and family friendly, so you don’t have to take the journey alone.

Many contracts allow for a meal stipend during your assignment. Some include bonuses or contract extensions. Each assignment can be different, so you’ll gain experience from different hospitals, equipment, and people.

If you're interested in becoming a travel nurse, there are a few steps you have to complete before you can begin applying for travel nurse assignments. While some steps may seem obvious, like making sure to get the proper education, there is more to a career in travel nursing than just having the right degree.

Step 1: Earn your degree.

If you’re wondering how to be a travel nurse, you should know that travel nurses have the same credentials as any nurse; so earning a degree in nursing would be the first step to becoming a travel nurse. Programs, such as the   Bachelor of Science in Nursing   degree, offered at Gwynedd Mercy University are traditional undergraduate degree programs in which you can enroll immediately after high school.

However, if you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and are interested in how to become a travel nurse, you can earn a degree such as GMercyU’s   Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing   degree, which is an intensive full-time 15-month program.

Step 2: Gain some real-world experience.

After you earn your degree, you should take some time to work in a hospital setting to get used to the feel of it. Working in a clinical setting during your education will start your first hands-on experience within the nursing field. Obtaining an entry-level job within a doctor's office or hospital will also better prepare you for a travel nursing role.

Another way to ensure that you gain real-world experience is to make sure that you're enrolled in an accredited nursing program. Two popular accreditation agencies are the ACEN, or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and the CCNE, or Commission on Collegiate of Nursing Education. Accredited nursing programs will guarentee a specific standard of education within their program so that employers can trust that they are hiring a highly skilled and knowledgable nurse.

Step 3: Find an agency.

After you have some experience as a nurse, you can begin your search for a   travel nurse staffing agency . You’ll complete an application and be paired with a recruiter. This person will get in touch with you to talk about your skills and experience, expectations for the job, and your preference of cities. Then, you’ll be matched with the hospitals that are looking to hire travel nurses.

Step 4: Brush off your interview skills.

You won’t automatically be paired with a hospital; you’ll have to interview for the job by phone or video chat. This is your opportunity to show the hospital administrators what you’re made of, what you’re excited about, and what you can bring to their facility. Your recruiter might even be able to offer you some interview tips to calm your nerves.

Step 5. Away you go!

Once you're matched with a facility, you’ll begin your journey! Agencies can provide you with free housing or housing reimbursement. If you are familiar with the city you’re sent to, you may be able to find housing on your own. In that case, you’ll receive a housing allowance that varies depending on the city you’re in. The free housing option will always come fully furnished, and will usually be located in close proximity to the hospital. Keep in mind that the housing provided by your agency will be an efficiency or one-bedroom apartment, so you may prefer to find your own housing and pay the difference if you will need more space.

You can decide if you’d rather fly or drive, but the agency will give you a travel allowance that should cover the cost of transportation to your new hometown.

If you’re ready to become a traveling nurse, you should be aware of some of the travel nurse requirements. For starters, you’ll need to at least be a registered nurse (RN) with some hospital experience. Many hospitals prefer nurses with a   Bachelor of Science in Nursing , like the one offered at Gwynedd Mercy University. If you already have a bachelor's degree, you could earn an   Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing degree , which is an accelerated degree for individuals who already have a bachelor's degree in another field. Once you earn your bachelor's degree, you can go on to earn a   graduate degree in nursing.

In addition, you’ll need to make sure you are certified to practice in the state where your assignment is. If your home state is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact – Pennsylvania is not – you are eligible for one multi-state license. However, because the NCLEX is a nationally recognized licensure examination, obtaining a license in another state should not be too difficult. Plus, your staffing agency will be able to provide some assistance. Rest assured that the licensing requirements for traveling nurse certification will not delay your new career as a travel nurse!

• Apply Apply
• Request Info Request Info
• Visit Visit

By using this website, you consent to the use of cookies.

See our Privacy Policy for more details.

• What Do Travel Nurses Do?

Where Do Travel Nurses Work?

A day in the life of a travel nurse, pros and cons of being a travel nurse, is travel nursing right for you.

Becoming a travel nurse can be an exciting opportunity to not only experience new places around the country but also network and build lasting connections with healthcare professionals. But if you're considering starting traveling, you may be wondering, what do travel nurses do? 

This article will take you through the responsibilities of a travel nurse, including the day-to-day duties, where you can work, and the pros and cons of the job. Keep reading to determine whether this fast-paced, exciting, and adventurous career is right for you.

>> Click here to see available high-paying travel nurse opportunities!

What Do Travel Nurses Do? 

The specific duties of a travel nurse will vary depending on the unit and department you work. For example, the expectations of an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse will vary greatly compared to those of an obstetrics (OB) nurse or an operating room (OR) nurse. In this section, we'll discuss what travel nurses do, their duties, and their responsibilities.

>> Related: How to Become a Travel Nurse

Bedside Responsibilities

Travel nurses are responsible for taking care of patients from triage to discharge. Typically responsibilities may include, 

• Administer medications and monitor for adverse reactions
• Assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), including ambulation, feeding, dressing, and bathing
• Insert and manage IV catheters
• Perform vital signs at required intervals and recognize abnormalities and report to appropriate healthcare providers
• Perform physical assessments and recognize signs
• Prepare patients for bedside procedures and surgeries

A large portion of a travel nurse’s responsibilities include education. Specifically, travel nurses will need to provide education to the patient, if applicable, as well as to family and caregivers throughout their shifts. 

Time spent educating patients and families will vary depending on your specific unit. For example, a travel nurse that works in a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and is discharging patients after surgery will be required to spend more time on education than other typical bedside duties. 

On the other hand, an ICU nurse will spend far less time focused on education because of the severity of their patient’s illness and disease. 

Travel nurses also may be responsible for educating new nurses and orientees. While rare, it is possible for a travel nurse to be asked to work with new nurses.

Patient Advocacy

While not the most obvious job responsibility, advocating for a patient is an important job duty of a travel nurse. This can range from speaking to healthcare providers to advocating for tests or new medications. It also can mean speaking to family members about the wants and needs of the patient. 

Travel nurses can work in a variety of locations. Essentially, they can work anywhere that a staff nurse may work. However, not all healthcare settings will have a need for travel nurses. Some of the locations travel nurses work in include, 

• Home health
• Long-term care facility
• Government agency
• Private MD office
• Urgent care
• Specialty clinic
• Surgical center

Travel nurse days might look a little different than a staff nurse because they can be the first to be floated to another unit, depending on their contract. So, travel nurses will generally report to the floor they are contracted but may have to work their shift on another unit or even another hospital (depending on their specific contract).

1. Get Their Assignments

Most travel nurses will start their shifts either at 7 am or 7 pm. After getting an assignment, the first task is to get a report on your patients. This typically takes about 30 minutes but may take longer, depending on the unit and the patients! 

2. Looking Through the EMR

After the report, travel nurses will spend a little bit of time looking through the EMR to go over orders and medications, including times they are due, and to find any missing information that was not communicated during the report. 

3. Performing Physical Assessments

The rest of the morning generally consists of performing physical assessments on your patients, vital signs, assisting in ADLs, and administering medications. 

Healthcare providers typically round in the morning so it is important to try and touch base with the medical team to learn the plan of care for the patient for the day and any changes to the orders and/or medications. 

The rest of the day is similar to the morning/evening but maybe a little less hectic. There are more vital signs, reassessment of your patients, admissions and discharges (depending on the unit), and road trips for MRI or CT scans. 

While this is a brief idea of what a typical day might look like for a travel nurse, it will vary greatly depending on your specialty and work location. 

Being a travel nurse may sound like a great opportunity: You get to travel the country, earn a higher wage, and experience new cultures. But like every job, there are pros, and there are cons as well. 

Travel Nursing Pros

• Higher compensation
• New locations
• Meeting new people
• Expand your skillset
• Adaptability 
• Flexibility between contracts
• Choice of contracts and location

>> Related: Travel Nurse Salary Guide

Travel Nursing Cons

• Always the new person
• First to float, first to cancel
• Relocating every 13 weeks 
• New computer modules for each assignment
• Lack of local support system
• Managing multiple nursing licenses
• Finding temporary travel nurse housing

Travel nurse requirements are the same as a staff nurse, except most travel nurse jobs require 1-2 years of experience and prefer a BSN degree over an ADN. Not meeting these standards can make finding travel nursing jobs in desirable locations more difficult and may dampen your experience.

Another reason travel nursing may or may not be right for you is variety. As a travel nurse, no two assignments will look the same. So, it may not suit you if you prefer stability and routine.

Kathleen Gaines (nee Colduvell) is a nationally published writer turned Pediatric ICU nurse from Philadelphia with over 13 years of ICU experience. She has an extensive ICU background having formerly worked in the CICU and NICU at several major hospitals in the Philadelphia region. After earning her MSN in Education from Loyola University of New Orleans, she currently also teaches for several prominent Universities making sure the next generation is ready for the bedside. As a certified breastfeeding counselor and trauma certified nurse, she is always ready for the next nursing challenge.

Plus, get exclusive access to discounts for nurses, stay informed on the latest nurse news, and learn how to take the next steps in your career.

By clicking “Join Now”, you agree to receive email newsletters and special offers from Nurse.org. We will not sell or distribute your email address to any third party, and you may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Health & Nursing

Courses and certificates.

• Bachelor's Degrees
• View all Business Bachelor's Degrees
• Business Management – B.S. Business Administration
• Healthcare Administration – B.S.
• Human Resource Management – B.S. Business Administration
• Information Technology Management – B.S. Business Administration
• Marketing – B.S. Business Administration
• Accounting – B.S. Business Administration
• Finance – B.S.
• Supply Chain and Operations Management – B.S.
• Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree (from the School of Technology)
• Health Information Management – B.S. (from the Leavitt School of Health)

Master's Degrees

• View all Business Master's Degrees
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• MBA Information Technology Management
• MBA Healthcare Management
• Management and Leadership – M.S.
• Accounting – M.S.
• Marketing – M.S.
• Human Resource Management – M.S.
• Master of Healthcare Administration (from the Leavitt School of Health)
• Data Analytics – M.S. (from the School of Technology)
• Information Technology Management – M.S. (from the School of Technology)
• Education Technology and Instructional Design – M.Ed. (from the School of Education)

Certificates

• View all Business Degrees

Bachelor's Preparing For Licensure

• View all Education Bachelor's Degrees
• Elementary Education – B.A.
• Special Education and Elementary Education (Dual Licensure) – B.A.
• Special Education (Mild-to-Moderate) – B.A.
• Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
• Mathematics Education (Secondary)– B.S.
• Science Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
• Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – B.S.
• Science Education (Secondary Physics) – B.S.
• Science Education (Secondary Biological Sciences) – B.S.
• Science Education (Secondary Earth Science)– B.S.
• View all Education Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Education Degrees

• Educational Studies – B.A.

Master of Science in Education Degrees

• View all Education Master's Degrees
• Curriculum and Instruction – M.S.
• Educational Leadership – M.S.
• Education Technology and Instructional Design – M.Ed.

Master's Preparing for Licensure

• Teaching, Elementary Education – M.A.
• Teaching, English Education (Secondary) – M.A.
• Teaching, Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
• Teaching, Mathematics Education (Secondary) – M.A.
• Teaching, Science Education (Secondary) – M.A.
• Teaching, Special Education (K-12) – M.A.

Licensure Information

• State Teaching Licensure Information

Master's Degrees for Teachers

• Mathematics Education (K-6) – M.A.
• Mathematics Education (Middle Grade) – M.A.
• Mathematics Education (Secondary) – M.A.
• English Language Learning (PreK-12) – M.A.
• Endorsement Preparation Program, English Language Learning (PreK-12)
• Science Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
• Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – M.A.
• Science Education (Secondary Physics) – M.A.
• Science Education (Secondary Biological Sciences) – M.A.
• Science Education (Secondary Earth Science)– M.A.
• View all Technology Bachelor's Degrees
• Cloud Computing – B.S.
• Computer Science – B.S.
• Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – B.S.
• Data Analytics – B.S.
• Information Technology – B.S.
• Network Engineering and Security – B.S.
• Software Engineering – B.S.
• Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree
• Information Technology Management – B.S. Business Administration (from the School of Business)
• View all Technology Master's Degrees
• Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – M.S.
• Data Analytics – M.S.
• Information Technology Management – M.S.
• MBA Information Technology Management (from the School of Business)
• Full Stack Engineering
• Web Application Deployment and Support
• Front End Web Development
• Back End Web Development

3rd Party Certifications

• IT Certifications Included in WGU Degrees
• View all Technology Degrees
• View all Health & Nursing Bachelor's Degrees
• Nursing (RN-to-BSN online) – B.S.
• Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S. (Available in select states)
• Health Information Management – B.S.
• Health and Human Services – B.S.
• Psychology – B.S.
• Health Science – B.S.
• Healthcare Administration – B.S. (from the School of Business)
• View all Nursing Post-Master's Certificates
• Nursing Education—Post-Master's Certificate
• Nursing Leadership and Management—Post-Master's Certificate
• Family Nurse Practitioner—Post-Master's Certificate
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner —Post-Master's Certificate
• View all Health & Nursing Degrees
• View all Nursing & Health Master's Degrees
• Nursing – Education (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Leadership and Management (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Nursing Informatics (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S. (Available in select states)
• Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN-to-MSN Program) – M.S. (Available in select states)
• Nursing – Education (RN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Leadership and Management (RN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Nursing – Nursing Informatics (RN-to-MSN Program) – M.S.
• Master of Healthcare Administration
• MBA Healthcare Management (from the School of Business)
• Business Leadership (with the School of Business)
• Supply Chain (with the School of Business)
• Back End Web Development (with the School of Technology)
• Front End Web Development (with the School of Technology)
• Web Application Deployment and Support (with the School of Technology)
• Full Stack Engineering (with the School of Technology)
• Single Courses
• Course Bundles

Apply for Admission

Admission requirements.

• New Students
• WGU Returning Graduates
• WGU Readmission
• Enrollment Checklist
• Accessibility
• Accommodation Request
• School of Education Admission Requirements
• School of Business Admission Requirements
• School of Technology Admission Requirements
• Leavitt School of Health Admission Requirements

Additional Requirements

• Computer Requirements
• No Standardized Testing
• Clinical and Student Teaching Information

Transferring

• FAQs about Transferring
• Transfer to WGU
• Transferrable Certifications
• Request WGU Transcripts
• International Transfer Credit
• Tuition and Fees
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships

Other Ways to Pay for School

• Tuition—School of Business
• Tuition—School of Education
• Tuition—School of Technology
• Tuition—Leavitt School of Health
• Your Financial Obligations
• Tuition Comparison
• Applying for Financial Aid
• State Grants
• Consumer Information Guide
• Responsible Borrowing Initiative
• Higher Education Relief Fund

FAFSA Support

• Net Price Calculator
• FAFSA Simplification
• See All Scholarships
• Military Scholarships
• State Scholarships
• Scholarship FAQs

Payment Options

• Payment Plans
• Corporate Reimbursement
• Current Student Hardship Assistance
• Military Tuition Assistance

WGU Experience

• How You'll Learn
• Scheduling/Assessments
• Accreditation
• Student Support/Faculty
• Military Students
• Part-Time Options
• Virtual Military Education Resource Center
• Student Outcomes
• Return on Investment
• Students and Gradutes
• Career Growth
• Student Resources
• Communities
• Testimonials
• Career Guides
• Skills Guides
• Online Degrees
• All Degrees
• Explore Your Options

Admissions & Transfers

• Admissions Overview

Tuition & Financial Aid

Student Success

• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Military and Veterans
• Commencement
• Careers at WGU
• Advancement & Giving
• Partnering with WGU

HEALTHCARE CAREER GUIDES

Travel Nurse Career

What is a travel nurse.

Travel nursing is the practice of registered nurses (RNs) traveling to and from different healthcare facilities like hospitals or clinics on assignment, filling short-term nursing employment gaps on a temporary basis. Usually assignments come based on staffing issues at a hospital or clinic, and a recruiter will help gauge staffing needs to help make assignments. And where do travel nurses work? Nurses can travel within the U.S. or internationally, just depending on the need and the job.

Travel nurses may get assignments to go help in disease ridden areas, or get assigned to go fill gaps that are large due to nursing shortages around the United States. Nursing involves long hours and hard work, and this is also true for travel nurses. But travel nursing gives you a unique opportunity to work while visiting cities, states, or even countries you never would have gotten to visit otherwise.

RESPONSIBILITIES

What does a travel nurse do.

Travel nurses perform the same tasks and duties as a registered nurse, for the most part. Some may learn unique specialties, practices, or skills during their travels based on the needs where they are working. For example, nurses working in mosquito heavy areas may learn specific skills for treating mosquito-borne illnesses. Others may be working in an area with a swine flu outbreak and learn how to treat those patients. Others may work in an area with a large elderly population, and will learn more skills on treating older patients. As a traveling nurse, you never know what kind of patients and medical situations you may face in your assignment.

EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES

How do i become a travel nurse.

Traveling nurses will usually need to have at least one year of experience working as an RN. While you can become an RN without a degree, more and more nursing positions are requiring bachelor’s degrees, especially for traveling positions. WGU’s online programs allow current RNs to pursue their bachelor’s or master’s degree while working. This degree can set you apart from the competition, and help you land your dream travel nurse position. Similarly, WGU offers licensure for RNs along with a bachelor’s degree in some states.

Additionally, you will also have to reach out to travel nurse agencies like  American Traveler  or  Aya Healthcare  to begin working as a travel nurse. There are many reputable options, and it's important to research ones near you to ensure you're picking a high quality company.

Best Degrees for a Travel Nurse

Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.

A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...

A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:

• Locations:  Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of FL, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, NV, NM, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
• Tuition:  $6,430 per 6-month term for the first 4 terms of pre-nursing coursework and $8,755 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms of clinical nursing coursework.
• Time:  This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years. Certain coursework may be accelerated to finish faster.
• WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
• If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our  Bachelor's in Health and Human Services  instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.

Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:

• Community Health
• Women's and Children's Nursing

Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) – B.S.

An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added...

An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:

• Time: 61% of graduates finish within 20 months.
• Tuition:  $4,685 per 6-month term.
• Courses : 23 total courses in this program.
• Transfers: Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
• Healthcare Policy and Economics
• Information Technology in Nursing Practice
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Applied Healthcare Statistics

If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services  instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.

Nursing – Leadership & Management (RN-to-MSN) – M.S.

This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap...

This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap toward becoming a nurse leader.

• Time: 62% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within 37 months.
• Tuition:  $4,685 per 6-month term during undergraduate portion and $4,795 per 6-month term during graduate portion.
• Courses : 32 total courses in this program.

Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:

• Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
• Nursing Leadership and Management
• Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
• Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care

If you're driven to lead, this online nursing degree will provide you everything needed to make that career a reality. This program is ideal for current RNs who are interested in earning both their BSn and MSN in an accelerated program.

Compare degrees

This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.

Nursing – Leadership & Management (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S.

For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for...

For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for additional career opportunities.

• Time:  61% of grads finish within 23 months
• Tuition: $4,795 per 6-month term
• Courses : 15 total courses in this program

This program is ideal for current RNs who have a BSN and are ready for the next step in their education.

Nursing Leadership and Management – Post-Master's Certificate

A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing who...

A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing who are ready for greater responsibility in a leadership and management role.

• Time:  Students typically finish this program in 12 months.
• Tuition:  $4,795 per 6-month term. The cost to sit for the NAHQ Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) exam is included in tuition.
• Courses : 8 total courses in this program.
• Strategic Planning
• Resource Management
• Business Case Analysis
• Evaluating Healthcare Improvements

How Much Does a Travel Nurse Make?

According to the  Bureau of Labor Statistics , the average RN salary is $81,220 per year. But a travel nurse salary is likely to be more than this, due to their high demand. It’s best to look at a  travel nurse salary per state  to help you calculate exactly what you can expect your travel nurse salary to be, based on your assignment, the hospital or nursing clinic, and more. According to Ziprecruiter, the average salary of a travel nurse is $105,021 per year .

What Is the Projected Job Growth?

From 2022 to 2032,  employment for registered nurses is expected to grow 6% . Travel nursing is expected to rise as part of that outlook as well. Travel nurses have the ability to relocate to regions in great need of nurses, allowing the projected job growth to rise for this industry.

What Skills Does a Travel Nurse Need?

All travel nurses will need to have current licensure and nursing skills in order to get a job. But travel nurses also need other skills to help them succeed. Those skills include:

• Emotional intelligence. Travel nurses have to be able to give bad news to people, and help them cope.
• Critical thinking. Nurses of all kinds deal with complex problems and need to find solutions.
• Flexibility. Travel nurses especially need to be flexible to work different hours, move to new places quickly, and more.
• Adaptability. Travel nurses are in new hospitals and clinics all the time. They must be able to adapt to their new circumstances quickly and effectively.
• Strong communication skills. Travel nurses need to be able to communicate well to patients, and to be able to ask questions when needed.
• Love of traveling. It may seem like a no brainer, but traveling nurses will be traveling a lot! So a love of travel and a sense of adventure is a must.

Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long

No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at WGU year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree—sooner than you might think!

Next Start Date {{startdate}}

Interested in Becoming a Travel Nurse?

Learn more about degree programs that can prepare you for this meaningful career.

The University

For students.

• Student Portal
• Alumni Services

Most Visited Links

• Business Programs
• Student Experience
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Student Communities

Travel Nursing RN State Licensing Resource

Obtaining a nursing license, whether initial or through endorsement can be confusing and overwhelming, especially since each state has its own set of individual requirements and timeframes.

With the expansion of the Enhanced Nursing Compact License (eNLC) , working in multiple states or accepting travel nursing assignments quickly is much easier. Nurses have the ability to obtain licensure in their state of residence, and also work in an additional 31 states with more pending legislation. 

Pro tip: Timeframes for license processing can change without notice. It’s best to apply as soon as possible to ensure your license is issued in plenty of time.

There are two different types of temporary nursing licenses.

The first is a traditional temporary license . These are issued in some states, but only if an individual has a confirmed job offer and needs to start before a permanent license is issued. These licenses are valid for roughly one year. To obtain a temporary license there are additional fees and required paperwork. Temporary licenses can be a good option for travel nurses if they plan on working in a state for a brief period of time and not returning. A temporary license will simply expire, while a permanent license requires renewal fees. 

The second type is a walkthrough temporary license and there are only a few states that issue this type of license. The state boards of nursing issue these licenses same-day, sometimes as quickly as an hour. Walkthrough temporary licenses are typically valid between 30 days and six months, depending on the issuing state. 

It’s important to discuss with your travel nurse recruiter the different licensing options and which are the best for your current travel nurse assignment. 

RNs can earn up to $2,300 a week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!

You may also like

Highest-Paying Travel Nurse Assignments | Salary & Location

Best Cities for Travel Nurses in 2023

Tips on Travel Nursing with Children

List of Compact Nursing States 2022

Join the many nurses already traveling.

Don't miss out on your adventure..

50 Useful Travel Nursing Tips for First-Timers in 2024

Are you an experienced nurse looking for some excitement and a change but not sure what options are available? Do you enjoy traveling? Does meeting new people and learning about new cultures excite you? If so, have you considered what it would be like to become a travel nurse? Perhaps you are wondering how to get started or asking, "What are some useful tips for first-time travel nurses?” If this sounds like you, the 50 useful travel nursing tips for first-timers in 2024 featured in this article are just for you!

WHAT ARE SOME USEFUL TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME TRAVEL NURSES?

1. learn about travel nursing and what it involves., 2. determine your availability to work as a travel nurse., 3. consider working as a float nurse at your current nursing job., 4. consider getting a compact nursing license., 5. update your resume., 6. make sure all licenses and certifications, and immunizations are current., 7. create a medical records portfolio and keep it up to date., 8. gather necessary documents., 9. get excellent letters of professional reference., 10. don't burn bridges., 11. choose the type of transportation you want to use., 12. take care of the tiny details, so you don't feel overwhelmed later., 13. do your research., 14. consider getting a recruiter or agency representative., 15. prepare for the interview., 16. be honest with recruiters and potential employers., 17. ask questions., 18. read the fine print in your contract., 19. create a budget., 20. find out what the early cancellation penalty is., 21. ask if you will be reimbursed if the hospital cancels your contract., 22. consider getting a personal liability insurance policy., 23. think about health insurance., 24. be flexible., 25. plan for housing., 26. don’t pack your whole house, 27. get to know other travel nurses., 28. don’t forget about your fur-babies, 29. be confident about your knowledge and skills., 30. try not to take things personally., 31. if you have a recruiter, stay connected with them., 32. accept assignments with an open mind., 33. don’t forget self-care, 34. arrive in your new town a few days early, if possible., 35. be early for work., 36. find a mentor., 37. learn coping mechanisms to help reduce stress and promote a positive outlook., 38. develop friendships with your new coworkers., 39. enjoy your new town, 40. embrace opportunities to learn and master new skills., 41. create a healthy work-life balance., 42. leave work at work., 43. don’t limit yourself to one agency., 44. remember, travel nurse agencies and recruiters work for you as much as you work for them., 45. consider earning a certification., 46. get experience in different specialty areas., 47. never stop learning, 48. be committed., 49. prepare for your next assignment., 50. have fun, useful resources to help prepare for your first ever travel nursing assignment, youtube videos, • travel nursing 101: what to know before you travel (don’t get played on your 1st contract) -, • travel nurses who left staff jobs reflect on newfound freedom -, • behind the scrubs: the travel nurse experience -, • atlas all access- travel nursing where you belong -, • hitting the road: a guide to travel nursing, • the truth about travel nursing, websites/blogs, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. is it a good idea to start as a travel nurse right out of college, 2. will travel nursing look good on my nursing resume, 3. when can i start applying for my first travel nursing assignment, 4. what do i need to make sure of in my first travel nurse contract, 5. as a first-time travel nurse, can i choose where to go, 6. i'd prefer to drive to my first travel nursing job. can i do that, 7. what if i get my first travel nursing assignment and i hate it, 8. as a first-time travel nurse, can i make my own schedule, 9. do first-time travel nurses get health insurance and 401k, 10. as a first timer, can i negotiate my pay with my travel nurse recruiter, 11. as a first-time travel nurse, how much will i make, 12. will my first travel nurse stipend be taxable, 13. can first-time travel nurses travel on international assignments.

How Does Travel Nursing Work? Start Your Journey with Medely

Travel nursing has maintained popularity among nurses and health professionals who are looking for adventure and new opportunities in their careers. And with Medely’s travel opportunities through its affiliate, Frontline Health, you can find the perfect assignments for your life and schedule. If you’re thinking about becoming a travel nurse or health professional or simply wondering “how does travel nursing work?”, our travel experts have some tips to help you start your traveling journey. 

Why should you be a travel nurse or health professional? 

If you’re thinking about travel nursing , there’s no shortage of reasons you should start.

New opportunities

Not only does traveling give you the opportunity to adventure and explore a new city, but it also can be a great opportunity to expand your professional knowledge and skills. As a travel nurse, you’ll get thrown into new environments that you’ll quickly have to adjust to. Travel nurses are often the first ones to float to a different unit, so you might experience what it’s like to work in a different unit, which can help you master skills outside of your specialty. 

As a travel nurse, you get to experience alternative ways of doing things, patients that will challenge and grow your skills, and opportunities to work with a variety of nurses and health professionals. The experience you gain while traveling is a great way to become a stronger nurse or health professional who’s more equipped to handle any situation that comes your way. 

Expand your professional network

Becoming a travel nurse or health professional gives you the opportunity to expand your professional network and meet healthcare professionals across the country. Creating a strong network with new coworkers or other travel healthcare professionals that you meet on your assignment can provide you with a sense of community and a great system for learning from healthcare professionals who have been in the industry for longer. Connections across the country can also help you find new opportunities later in your career. 

Flexible schedule

One of the draws of travel nursing is the ability to have a flexible schedule. With assignments ranging from 4-13+ weeks, you can take an assignment when you want and schedule breaks in between. Being a travel nurse or healthcare professional gives you more time to create a schedule that works for you so you can spend more time doing activities you’re passionate about. 

On top of the freedom a flexible schedule gives you, it also means you can choose where you work. So whether you’ve always wanted to explore the mountains or you want to be by the beach, you can explore wherever the travel bug takes you – all while getting paid to work. 

Travel Nurse Requirements 

In order to become a travel nurse or health professional, Frontline Health, an affiliate of Medely, has a few requirements that you have to meet. 

• At least eight months of experience in your specialty/unit – Frontline requires at least eight months of experience for assignments, but other platforms might require more experience. As a travel nurse, you have to have a good knowledge base and the ability to hit the ground running at any facility you step foot in. Make sure you feel confident and comfortable in your ability to navigate healthcare settings and act quickly. 
• Current and unencumbered license – To start travel nursing, you have to make sure that your license is up-to-date. According to Nursys , an unencumbered license “means that the nurse has a full and unrestricted license to practice by the state board of nursing.” 
• Immunizations, certificates, credentials – Much like other positions in the medical field, there will be requirements for what immunizations you need to have, what credentials are required of you, and more. So be prepared to have all that information ready to go and easily accessible when you’re signing up. 

How does travel nursing work through Medely’s affiliate Frontline Health? 

If you want to become a travel nurse or health professional, signing up for Frontline Health through Medely is a great first step. Not only can you access assignments across the country , but Frontline Health also makes the process easy with some fantastic features:

Simple signup   

Making the decision to become a travel nurse or health professional takes a lot of work and planning, so we want to make the sign-up process as simple as possible. You can sign up to use the platform in just a few minutes, so you can be on your way to finding the best assignments. After signing up, you’ll speak with one of our clinical specialists who will walk you through the whole process, make sure you have the experience needed to seamlessly integrate into any facility, and assist you with any questions you might have. After you complete the whole process, you’ll be able to find assignments nationwide by just searching on your phone.  

Per diem markets 

On top of helping you find travel assignments through its affiliate Frontline Health, Medely also offers per diem shifts in over 40 markets across the country. If you’re traveling in a city that offers both travel and per diem, you can pick up per diem shifts while you’re in between travel assignments or supplement your travel assignment with a per diem shift on your day off to earn a little extra cash. 

Healthcare recruiters 

With Frontline Health’s talented healthcare recruiters, you’ll be able to find the best travel assignments for you and your journey. Our healthcare recruiters are with you throughout the entire process. After you apply for an assignment, they’ll touch base with you to review all the information and requirements for an assignment and answer any questions that you may have. If you receive an offer, they’ll be there to walk you through the next steps and make sure you’re ready to start your next assignment. 

Based on your position and what you’re looking for in an assignment, they can also help keep an eye out for assignments that you might have missed that might work well for your specialty, skills, or wants in a contract. With help from our healthcare recruiters, you’ll be able to find assignments that work for your schedule and that check all your boxes. 

What our travel nurses are saying 

“My recruiter has been very helpful with my first travel assignment. The whole team has answered all my questions and has made this a great experience.” -Hilary Kocsisszucs, Registered Nurse

“Medely is a great tool to have in my back pocket… I’ve never worked with a platform that’s just that simple.” – Lorelei Farabaugh, Registered Nurse

“I choose to travel because I like the flexibility and just deciding when I want to work whenever I want and just taking the time off to spend more time with my friends, family, and just go on vacation.” Tobe Ezimora, Registered Nurse

Travel Assignments 

Ready to take the leap into being a travel nurse or health professional or still wondering, “How does travel nursing work?” Head to https://medely.com/assignments to learn more and find travel assignments that are right for you! 

Local Travel Nursing: Is it Possible To Be a Travel Nurse in Your Own State?

by Trusted Nurse Staffing | Jan 5, 2024 | News

Whether you’re looking into becoming a travel nurse or you are already a travel nurse but are exploring new options, you might be wondering, “Is it possible to be a travel nurse in your own state?”

The answer: Absolutely! 

Local travel nursing is possible, but there are some important things you need to know before you start. 

Keep reading to learn how to be a travel nurse in your own state, the benefits and drawbacks of hometown travel nursing, and more. 

Table of Contents

Can you be a travel nurse where you live , can you be a travel nurse in your own city, is local travel nursing worth it, local travel nursing benefits, disadvantages of local travel nursing, faqs about local travel nursing, can i maintain a regular work schedule with local travel nurse assignments, can i pursue local travel nursing as a part-time career, what are the advantages of local travel nursing for career growth, let trusted nurse staffing help you find a local travel nurse assignment that fits your needs.

If a facility in your state is looking for contracted travel nurses, you can certainly be a travel nurse where you live. 

The myth that travel nursing in your own state may have come from hospitals and other facilities that were trying to prevent their full-time staff from picking up contracted positions — but we’ll never really know if that’s true. 

So, how can you be a local travel nurse? It’s easy.  

All you have to do is connect with a travel nursing agency, like Trusted Nurse Staffing. From there, you can search Pronto for the positions that interest you in your state — or anywhere in the country. 

But there’s a rumor about some radius rules for travel nurses that we feel would be helpful to address. 

Breaking Down the “Radius Rules” of Being a Travel Nurse in Your Own State

The radius requirements for being a travel nurse can get a little confusing — oftentimes being blamed on IRS regulations, but these are generally established by staffing agencies or healthcare facilities. 

For example, a facility in your state may require that any travel nurses they hire must have a tax home that is a certain distance away from the facility — it could be 50 miles, or it could be further. 

But what about the tax-free stipends? How do those work if you’re travel nursing in your own state? 

IRS Publication 463 states that accepting tax-free stipends is determined by whether a person needs to sleep or rest to meet the demands of their work while away from home — this must include an overnight stay. 

Rules regarding travel nurses’ “ tax homes ” also come into play. This can complicate things for those nurses who take on continuous assignments without having a home base.

To ensure you’re doing the right thing when it’s time to file your taxes, it’s best to consult your tax professional about your specific situation. 

While the traditional notion of travel nursing involves working in different cities or states, it is possible to work as a local travel nurse in your own city. Much like working in your own state, you would still be employed by a travel nursing agency, but you’d take assignments within your local area. 

This allows you to enjoy the benefits of travel nursing, such as competitive pay, diverse clinical experiences, and flexibility, without relocating. 

It’s particularly advantageous if you prefer to stay close to home, maintain a familiar environment, or fulfill specific lifestyle needs while still enjoying the dynamic aspects of travel nursing.

Local travel nursing can be extremely rewarding for those looking to experience the benefits of travel nursing without straying too far from home and family. 

Below, we will dive into the benefits and potential disadvantages that come with local travel nursing. 

Although it may not seem like it if you’ve never been a travel nurse before, local travel nursing offers a host of benefits — and some of them benefit you both financially and personally. 

After you read the next section, we think you’ll agree that local travel nursing certainly has its perks. 

Stay With Family

We get this question a lot: 

“Can I be a travel nurse in my own state if I can’t travel with my family?”

And the answer is yes. 

If you are someone who really enjoys the field but isn’t ready to leave — or can’t bring your family — local travel nursing is the perfect solution. 

Whether you’re looking to start travel nursing in your own city or at least be able to commute home for weekends, being close to family is one of the primary reasons why many nurses choose to keep it local. 

No Need for Additional Licenses 

Another benefit of local travel nursing is that you don’t have to worry about applying for additional nursing licenses , especially if your state does not offer compact nursing licenses. 

Although some travel nursing agencies cover the costs of applying for licensure in different states, obtaining them can be a hassle, especially on a time crunch. 

Local travel nursing makes it easy to maintain one state license while still enjoying contracts throughout your city or state. 

Receive Higher Pay Than Staff Nurses

As a travel nurse, even in your home state, you’ll receive higher pay than an average staff nurse . 

Even as a local travel nurse, you may be required to take on a nursing role quickly, due to demand in certain areas or during times of need, with little to no training. 

At Trusted Nurse Staffing, we understand how difficult it can be to sign on to an assignment and “jump right in.” 

This is just one of the many reasons our travel nurses receive some of the highest pay in the industry. 

We believe in offering our travel nurses the best because they provide the best for their communities, which is why they also receive: 

• Part-time and full-time positions
• Referral bonuses 
• Flexible contracts from as short as 8 weeks to as long as 52 weeks
• Sign-on and completion bonuses
• License, CEU, and certification reimbursements
• Insurance plans

Whether you’re a local travel nurse or a nurse who travels across the country for your assignments, we have a benefits package that will work for you. 

Reduce Stress

Local travel nursing can significantly reduce stress for nurses in all fields by providing a more stable and familiar work environment. Unlike traditional travel nursing, which often involves frequent relocations, local travel nursing allows nurses to stay rooted in their own cities or nearby areas. 

This continuity can provide a sense of familiarity and comfort and minimize the stress associated with adjusting to new living arrangements, communities, and workplace cultures. 

The reduced need for extensive planning and adaptation to new surroundings enables nurses to focus more on their job responsibilities and patient care. 

Open New Doors to Those Questioning if Travel Nursing Is the Right Career Path

Have you worked as a nurse, but you’re questioning if becoming a travel nurse is the right path for you?

Local travel nursing is one of the best ways to decide. 

By staying local, you can experience different contracts throughout your city or state while still having the comforts of home, and learning about the best travel nursing opportunities for your wants and needs. 

You’ll gain great experience for your resume and have the opportunity to decide if the fast-paced, ever-changing field of travel nursing is the right fit for you. 

Although there are many advantages of local travel nursing, there are also some things that you might consider to be disadvantages. 

As a local travel nurse, you miss out on the opportunity to see new places around the country. 

If you’re a homebody, this may not be a deal-breaker, but if you’re someone looking for adventure and don’t mind traveling outside your state, consider becoming a regular travel nurse instead of a local travel nurse. 

Another disadvantage, one that can be a deal-breaker, is that contract options in your area may be limited . 

Are you in a city that doesn’t have a high demand for nurses? Hospitals and other facilities in your area may not be looking for contracted employees. You may want to consider looking outside your local area to begin travel nursing. 

And, finally, something important to consider, especially if your local travel nursing contract has you working farther from home than you’d like to drive regularly, is that you will likely have to maintain two living spaces . 

Although you may be making a housing stipend, you may also have to maintain your family’s home, as well as your “work” home. 

If you are considering becoming a local travel nurse, talk with local agencies. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to help you determine if local travel nursing is the right move for you. 

Can I Start as a Local Travel Nurse and Request an Assignment Away From Home at Another Time? 

Of course! If you’re looking to get your feet wet or want to switch things up, becoming a local travel nurse and then requesting assignments outside your local area is pretty simple. 

At Trusted Nurse Staffing, for example, our recruiters are here 24/7 to support you. 

If you’re currently in a local contract and it is coming to a close, you can use the Pronto job search to help you find the perfect fit for your next assignment — near or far. 

As for other agencies, be sure to read your contracts and ensure that you have the option to ask for an assignment farther from home after your current contract ends. 

Can I Choose Assignments in Specific Facilities or Areas Within My City?

Yes, one advantage of local travel nursing is the ability to choose assignments based on your preferences, including specific healthcare facilities or areas within your local community.

Whether you’re new to nursing and want experience in a specific facility, or you specialize in a particular area of healthcare, you can almost always find local travel nurse assignments.

How Long Can I Stay in One Location as a Travel Nurse? 

Most travel nursing contracts last anywhere between eight and 52 weeks, and to be considered a travel nurse in the IRS’ eyes, you must change assignments at least once a year. After a year, the IRS considers your assignment permanent.

This doesn’t mean you have to move from location to location in a year, but you will be required to move to a different facility/contract. 

How Much Can You Make as a Local Travel Nurse?

The average salary for local travel nursing can vary by state. Click here to view a table of average travel nursing salaries by state. Some factors that affect local travel nurse salaries include the:

• Specific assignment
• Healthcare facility
• Staffing agency

Generally, travel nurses, whether local or traditional, may receive higher pay rates than permanent staff nurses. This is because travel nurses often fill short-term staffing needs or address specific shortages, and the higher pay is intended to compensate for the flexibility, temporary nature of the assignments, and the potential need for rapid deployment.

Local travel nursing often offers more predictable schedules, allowing for better work-life balance compared to frequent relocations associated with traditional travel nursing.

For many nurses, this is a huge advantage. Local travel nursing allows you to stay closer to family and friends, while building skills and networking within your hometown.

Local travel nursing can be pursued on a part-time basis, providing flexibility for those who prefer a less demanding schedule.

Taking local travel nursing assignments is very popular among nurses who are just starting a family, nearing retirement, or looking to reduce their workloads while still receiving great pay and benefits.

Local travel nursing offers diverse clinical experiences, exposure to different healthcare settings, and the opportunity to build a strong professional network within your community — all of which can contribute to career advancement.

Do I Need To Work With a Travel Nursing Agency for Local Assignments?

Working with a travel nursing agency is common for both traditional and local travel nursing. Agencies help facilitate placements, negotiate contracts, and provide support throughout your assignments.

Are you ready to dive into local travel nursing? Whether you’re looking for your first travel nurse contract or hoping to switch it up and stay local, Trusted Nurse Staffing is here to help you. 

Our number one goal is to put our nurses first and help them reach their goals, professionally and personally. In addition to the support we offer all of our nurses, Trusted Nurse Staffing has both the best pay in the industry and these added benefits:

• 401(k) with a 4% match after 1,000 hours and one year of employment
• $1,500 referral program
• Sign-on & completion bonuses
• Weekly paychecks with direct deposit
• Overtime and double time
• Loyalty and discount programs
• Wellness benefits
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• License, certifications & CEU reimbursements
• Housing, meal, and travel stipends
• Flexible contracts
• And much more

Check out the Pronto job search to find available local travel nursing assignments near you and let your adventure begin. 

Recent Posts

• Career Changes for Nurses Who Want To Transition Away From a Clinical Setting
• 10 Time Management Tips for Travel Nurses: How To Master Your Schedule
• Pursuing Excellence: The What, Why, and How of SMART Goals in Nursing
• Growing Your Career as a Travel Nurse: Developing Skills That Will Support Your Nursing Career From Start To Finish
• Trusted Gives Celebrates Monumental Success at Its Inaugural Gala Event

How to Become a Travel Agent and Work From Home

Do you love to travel? Are you a master at finding great travel deals?

Becoming a virtual travel agent might be your ideal work at home career path!

Working as a travel agent might seem a little outdated in today's world of Kayak and Airbnb, but in reality, many people still prefer to work with travel agents.

Experienced travel planners help travelers save money, time, and travel-related headaches.

Home-based travel agents generally work for a host agency (a company bonded and accredited by the Airlines Reporting Corporation or the International Airlines Travel Agents Network) as independent contractors.

As a travel agent, you'll earn a commission on the travel arrangements (flights, hotels, rental cars, travel excursions , and more) you book, and you'll often have access to special deals and travel discounts. You can choose to work in a particular niche, such as cruises or business travel, or work with clients looking into a specific type of travel (adventure, Disney vacations, eco-friendly, budget, or luxury travel).

One of the great things about becoming a work at home travel agent is that it's a relatively easy startup business idea, and the costs are low. With a basic home office (including an internet connection, a phone, computer, printer, and website), you can get started with a host agency.

So if you love to travel or if you love to help other people fulfill their vacation dreams, you may want to start a home-based travel agent business!

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Travel Agent?

The basic skills you'll need as a travel agent include attention to detail, excellent research and communication skills, high-level organizational skills, and a knowledge of geography and travel destinations. You'll also need to be tech-savvy and have a solid understanding of programs like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. 

If you're working as an independent contractor, the host company will usually train you; some host agencies charge a fee, while others do not. While there are travel agent certificate programs that you can take, you may be able to break into a travel role if you have customer service, hospitality, marketing, or sales experience under your belt.

Getting Started as a Work at Home Travel Agent

According to Host Agency Reviews, travel agents with three years of experience make an average of $46,400 per year . However, there are some travel agents making six figures per year. It all depends on your experience, the number of clients you retain, hours worked, and commission and support from your host agency.

Agents who work in specific markets or on particular vacation types (like destination weddings or luxury travel) can become very familiar with their market and, thus, enjoy even greater success. Working in particular markets, like weddings or corporate travel, can also make a big difference regarding salary.

Remote Travel Agent and Consultant Jobs

If starting your own business seems intimidating, many companies within the travel and hospitality industry hire at-home travel consultants, reservationists, and planners for full-time and part-time positions. Best of all, many of these positions come with travel perks!

To start, you may want to explore:

• American Express
• Kemp Travel Group
• Vail Resorts
• Working Solutions
• World Travel Holdings

Exploring Host Agencies

Finding a good host agency is key to getting started as an at-home travel agent. If you're just starting, you'll want to familiarize yourself with host agency options to get a feel for what each can offer.

• American Society of Travel Advisors
• Cruise Planners
• Disney Vacation Planner
• Dream Vacations Advisors
• Dugan's Travel

How to Select a Great Host Agency

When it comes to what they offer their consultants, travel agencies vary significantly. There are many factors to consider besides who offers the best commission.

For example, do you prefer a large agency or a small agency? Locally-based hosting can be easier for new agents who might need extensive support and training. On the other hand, national agencies may offer more flexibility and growth.

Carefully weigh your agency options and perform background research. Sites like Host Agency Reviews and Find a Host Travel Agency can help. They offer tips and ratings for finding the best travel agency that fits your needs.

Perks of Becoming a Travel Agent

Aside from being a fun business opportunity, being a travel agent offers some amazing perks .

If you enjoy travel, you might enjoy taking "FAM trips" or "familiarization trips" to various locales. Cruise lines, hotels, and tour guides know the best way for you to sell their services is for you to try them firsthand. So they offer perks, including complementary and deeply discounted fares, as well as opportunities to use their services and explore all your amazing options.

You can also save big on your own travel with great discounts! You'll score awesome deals before anyone else even hears about them. As a travel agent, you'll have access to discounts because, of course, the more you travel, the more business experience you rack up.

The best part? You can deduct those travel expenses from your taxes as part of your business! You can also deduct things like advertising and expenses related to your clients. This amounts to big tax savings for you!

Other Ways to Make Money in the Travel Industry

If you love the idea of working and traveling, but you're unsure about becoming a travel agent or consultant, there are many other options available.

Traveling to another country as an Au Pair is a great option if you enjoy working with children. When you work as an Au Pair, you'll live with a family, helping them with household chores and childcare. In return, you'll get free room and board and a small stipend that you can use on your days off. Being an Au Pair allows you to experience life in another country for an extended period of time. Becoming an Au Pair does come with some fees you'll need to pay, such as your flights, travel visa, and insurance.

Customer Service Representative

Customer service is an excellent way to break into the travel industry and work from home! Many companies provide full training for these roles as well as a host of benefits. You can work for airlines, hotels, cruise lines, travel booking sites, and other travel-related sites and industries. For these work from home positions, you'll generally need your own device (laptop or computer) and a high-speed internet connection. Check out this article for a list of hospitality companies that hire remote customer service reps.

ESL Teacher

You've probably heard of being an online ESL tutor , but did you know you can travel to another country to teach English as a second language? Most countries require ESL teachers to have a bachelor's degree and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate. Like being an Au Pair, there will be fees for your flights, travel visa, and insurance. Depending on which host company you use and which country to travel to, your housing may be free or purchased at a reduced cost. How much you can earn will vary as well. For more information on traveling and making money as an ESL tutor, check out the resources below.

• EF (Education First)
• International TEFL Academy

Local Coordinator

If you enjoy working with high school and college students, consider becoming a local coordinator . In these independent contracting roles, you'll work with educational organizations and programs to place and mentor students interested in foreign exchange programs. These part-time positions are a flexible and easy way to make extra money from home. Some programs also offer incentive trips and perks for their local coordinators.

Social Media Marketer Specializing in Travel

Do you love to travel and you're looking for ways to earn money from home, there are plenty of opportunities to take your travel beyond Instagram snaps and shares on Facebook… but if you're really great at social media, you could also become a social media manager in the travel industry! Many of these positions allow you to work from home for a travel-based company, sharing posts and connecting with their customers.

If you prefer to create your own schedule and be your own boss, become a local tour guide! With this idea, you'll need to be in the know about the food, culture, and history of the area you're helping tourists explore. With apps like  Showaround  and  Viator , you can create your tour, book customers, and make money from your travel expertise. You can also look at local tour operators and see if they have any openings for tour guides. Explore this article for more tips on making money as a tour guide .

Travel Writer

Magazines, guidebooks, and websites are often looking for freelance travel writers to contribute their experiences and give readers recommendations. If you have writing and communication skills and you travel often, this might be an excellent option for you.

The income for travel writers varies greatly, but many writers make great money by documenting and sharing their travels. Travel writers, according to ZipRecruiter , earn an average of $24 per hour. I think these numbers sound high, but I wasn't able to find any other stats for how much travel writers really earn.

Travel Blogger

If you prefer to write and document your own travels, start a travel blog ! With blogging, you can make money with affiliate marketing, ad networks, sponsorships, product sales, and more! The great thing about blogging is it's affordable and easy to set up, and there are many free ways to promote your content through social media. My friend, Julie Bonner, has a travel blog where she documents her family's RV travels. In one year, she was able to generate $5,000 a month from her blog, all while traveling the United States and Canada.

Travel Influencer

Have you been documenting your travels on social media? Then make money while traveling the world as a social media travel influencer. Whether your specialty is Instagram , Pinterest, TikTok , or YouTube , you can earn good money through paid sponsorships, advertising, and affiliate marketing. Besides building an engaged audience of followers, you'll need to become skilled at taking photos and videos, editing, and writing captions. How much you can earn as a travel influencer will depend on how many followers you have, your reach, your engagement, and which platforms you're using. According to this article in Vogue , a travel influencer with 1-4 million followers can earn $31,000 per post!

Travel Nurse

If you're a registered nurse , you can sign up to become a travel nurse. These nurses travel to areas where there are nursing shortages in work in a wide variety of settings. Nurses typically work in one location for 13-16 weeks, then move on to another location. Not only is travel nursing a great way to see the country, but it's also lucrative. The average travel nurse can earn $59.66 per hour plus housing stipends. If you're interested in travel nursing, check out these sites for assignments.

If you have a passion for travel, there are many ways you can earn money working in the travel industry. From becoming a work at home travel agent to finding ways to document and share your own travel experiences—there's an opportunity for every traveler out there. Explore your options and pack your suitcase! Check out this post if you're looking for ways to make money while you travel the world!

Holly Reisem Hanna is the Founder and Publisher of the award-winning career website  The Work at Home Woman.

• Electronics
• Computers & Accessories
• Laptop Accessories
• Bags, Cases & Sleeves

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Return this item for free

Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select the return method

This item has been tested to certify it can ship safely in its original box or bag to avoid unnecessary packaging. Since 2015, we have reduced the weight of outbound packaging per shipment by 41% on average, that’s over 2 million tons of packaging material.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

LOVEVOOK Laptop Backpack for Women, 15.6 Inch Work Laptop Bag with USB Port, Fashion Teacher Nurse Backpack Purse, Waterproof Travel Computer Backpack with Organizer Bag, 2PCS, Beige-Khaki

15.6" - 2pcs

17.3" - 2pcs

Purchase options and add-ons

• 【Large Capacity Work Backpack】Size 17.7*13.7*5.6 inch. One womens backpack to solve all daily troubles. Work bag has multiple divider pockets, easy to organize all work supplies as 15.6" laptop, 11" ipads, Phone, binder, water bottle, umbrella and so on.
• 【Free Cable Organizer Bag】Comes with a $10 organizer travel case. Size: 8* 5.5* 2.5 inch. Compact size and lightweight make it easy to carry and put into your backpack.It can be used as electronics organizer, college pouch bag, or nurse organizer.
• 【Wide-Open & Anti-Theft Design】LOVEVOOK laptop bag for women uses a rectangular frame opening design to maintain large capacity and facilitate your quick access.The anti-theft pocket on the back makes your valuables safer and your travel easier.
• 【Travel Backpack with Luggage Strap】Luggage strap allows you to easily fix your carry on backpack on the trolley case and liberate your shoulders.
• 【Stylish & Comfy & Durable】Attractive color-blocking design. Made of polyester fabric, exquisite and durable, waterproof. Perfect for working for teacher, nurse.The shoulder belt back are equipped with high-quality foam pads, breathable and pressure reducing.
• 【USB Charging Port】Our lovevook backpack are equipped with a built-in USB charging port, easy to charge your phone when you walk and travel.(POWER BANK IS NOT INCLUDED)

Buy it with

Similar items that may deliver to you quickly

Product information

Warranty & support, product description.

Videos for this product

Click to play video

LOVEVOOK Work Laptop Bag Travel Backpack with Organizer Bag

LOVEVOOK-US

LOVEVOOK Convertible Work Backpack Purse for Women 2 Pcs Set

Looking for specific info, customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top review from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Products
• Trends + Deals We Love

Travelers, Teachers, and Nurses Are Raving About This Practically Indestructible Tote Bag — and It’s $17

They say it's "super sturdy" and “take it everywhere” from work to the plane.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure / Madison Woiten

That trusty tote you fill with snacks, entertainment, and electronics and pack to the airport as a personal item — can you also use it as a beach bag? A gym bag? A work bag? A diaper bag , if needed? This Esvan Travel Tote Bag can seriously do it all. 

Teachers, tourists, nurses, and moms alike are singing this bag’s praises on Amazon. More than 8,000 of them have given the bag five stars. And right now, you can find out what all the hype is about for just $17. 

Esvan Travel Tote Bag

Although the versatile carryall is normally priced at $30, Amazon is running a sale on it for up to 40 percent off. The tote is deemed large — measuring just over 15 inches by 15 inches by 4 inches — but reviewers say it still passes as a personal item on most airlines. While the square shape of Esvan’s popular bag is quite basic, it stands out for its waterproof and wrinkle-resistant material, abundance of organizational pockets, and lightness.

The spacious interior contains three zipper pockets (one large, two small), and the exterior has another large zipper pocket on the back plus two side pockets — mesh or polyester, depending on the color you choose — so you can safely stow your 30-ounce Stanley on one side and your obligatory airport Starbucks latte on the other.

The fabric is a practically indestructible, machine-washable polyester. “This bag has seen a lot of rough times including heavy loads and coffee spills,” says one nurse who uses it for work. “It has lasted two years without one single frayed corner or tear. I have thrown this bag in the washer multiple times too and it comes out looking brand new every time.”

Travelers are loving its water-resistant exterior for trips to the beach. One who took it to Hawaii said, “The quality is great and had all the necessary pockets for travel and beach days. I was able to carry my snorkel bag with fins, mask and snorkel, as well as a towel, snacks, sunscreen etc... For the money this bag far exceeded my expectations.” Another who took it to Aruba to “ double as a plane and beach bag ” loved its multi-functionality, saying, “It was perfect for everything…It was water resistant for the beach and the perfect size. I’ll take this everywhere.”

Teachers also swear by the bag, one writing that it fits their books, notepads, planner, winter hat and gloves, wallet, cosmetics, lunch, and water bottle with room to spare. “I’m a substitute teacher and needed something that can carry everything I needed at one point or another,” they said .

Besides work, people are using this Esvan shoulder bag for beach days and gym sessions. “Used this for a carry-on tote plus beach tote while on holiday,” one wrote . “I loved that the bag was easy to keep clean, had side pockets big enough to hold 20-ounce Yeti cups, several interior pockets, and was roomy enough inside for various sprays, cases for sunglasses and hearing aides, my rolled up beach hat, a change of clothes (read: undies and a small dress) and a smaller towel.” So, you won’t have to worry about packing an extra beach bag in your luggage for that trip to the coast this summer. 

The tote comes in 35 colors and prints, including solid black, light pink, subtle animal prints, cheerful florals, beach-ready tropical patterns, tie-dye, and more. All are on sale for as little as $17. Hurry and snag your favorite Esvan Travel Tote Bag while sunshiny pool days, summer travel, and beach time are around the corner. Or shop more versatile travel totes from Amazon, below. 

More Versatile Travel Totes at Amazon:

Vera bradley cotton vera tote bag, bagsmart large travel tote, aloha collection splash-proof tote, etidy foldable tote bag.

At the time of publishing, the price started at $17.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.

See More T+L Shopping Deals