You’re thinking about a career as a travel nurse, but the possibilities seem endless!
Between the…
- Locations
- Specialty opportunities; and
- Types of assignments available
…it’s almost overwhelming.
How do you pick the best assignment for you?
Don’t worry. This guide is designed to help you make that decision.
Read on to learn about:
- The types of assignments available
- 10 important factors to help you figure out the best travel nurse assignment for your needs and wants; and
- How Trusted Nurse Staffing can help place you in an assignment that’s perfect for you.
Table of Contents
- Understanding Travel Nurse Assignments
- Who Determines Travel Nursing Assignments?
- What Types of Travel Nursing Assignments Are Available?
- How Long Are Travel Nursing Assignments?
- How Do I Decide What the Best Travel Nurse Assignments Are?
- 10 Factors to Help You Determine the Best Travel Nurse Assignments for You
- Let Trusted Nurse Staffing Help You Choose the Best Travel Nurse Assignments
Understanding Travel Nurse Assignments
Travel nurses are RNs or LPNs who fill in on temporary assignments at hospitals, long-term care facilities, and more to fill staffing needs.
Travel nurses are often needed to:
- Fill gaps between full-time nursing hires
- Provide extra staffing support in high-demand times such as natural disasters, pandemics, flu season, etc.
- Provide additional staffing support during holidays, when nurses are on vacation, maternity leave, etc.
- Cover critical staffing needs in hard-to-fill positions and specialties
As one of the fastest-growing travel nurse staffing agencies in the U.S., Trusted Nurse Staffing offers flexible contracts in all 50 states. However, assignments vary based on need.
For example, you may be interested in a travel nurse assignment in Hawaii, but there may not be a need for a nurse in paradise when you’re actively looking for a contract.
But if you sign on with TNS, you’ll have a recruiter working with you every step of the way. That recruiter will be seeking out the opportunities at the top of your list. So next time Honolulu is in need of a NICU nurse, you know about it.
Trusted Nurse Staffing strives to find you work in the places and positions you want to be in.
Who Determines Travel Nursing Assignments?
You may work with an agency to be matched with travel nursing assignments, but ultimately, it’s the nurse who decides the:
- Destination
and
- Assignment
So, how does the process work?
Trusted Nurse Staffing makes it simple for you.
If you’re an RN, LPN, or BSN with 1-2 years of experience in a hospital setting, create a free account with Trusted Nurse Staffing.
You’ll be matched with a TNS recruiter who will:
- Analyze your education and experience and help you customize your resume for your ideal position
- Listen to your specific goals and interests
- Create a list of possible assignments based on your skillset and preferences
- Submit your application and credentials to your top assignment choices
- Arrange your interviews
- Consult with you on assignment offers and benefits
- Assist you with setting up your start date, all pre-hire requirements, and onboarding
- Assists you with finding housing for the duration of your assignment
And–– once you’ve started your travel nurse assignment, your relationship with your recruiter will continue. You can contact them with any questions or concerns you have about your position, and they’ll be hard at work helping you find your next adventure so you can get straight to it once your contract ends.
What Types of Travel Nursing Assignments Are Available?
When most people think of nursing jobs, they likely think of nurses in a hospital setting.
And certainly, many nurses work in a traditional hospital. However, there are many other settings in which nurses do important work. Types of travel nursing assignments that you may not have considered might include:
- International nursing assignments
- Disaster relief assignments
- Corrections nursing
- Crisis response nursing
Trusted Nurse Staffing offers a wide variety of travel nurse assignments in a wide variety of locations and settings. Let Trusted Nurse Staffing open your eyes to new opportunities and place you in the perfect assignment for you.
How Long Are Travel Nursing Assignments?
For many people, travel nursing is appealing because you get to pick up and go somewhere new every few months, but what if you’re looking for a bit more stability? Or what if you really enjoy the team you work with or the location you’re in?
On average, travel nursing assignments are 13 weeks, and then, it’s on to the next assignment.
However, with Trusted Nurse Staffing, you can opt for contracts ranging from 8 to 52 weeks. Depending on the needs of the facility, nurses are frequently given the opportunity to extend their contracts, oftentimes with additional benefits.
How Do I Decide What the Best Travel Nurse Assignments Are?
Here’s what’s so great about travel nurse assignments –– you get to decide what will be the best assignment for YOU.
What you consider to be the “best” assignment may not be “best” for one of your friends or colleagues.
Think about what is important to you.
Let’s take Laura, for example. Laura is active and enjoys the outdoors. She knows she wants to be located somewhere that allows her to hike and paddleboard on her days off.
On the other hand, Alicia isn’t as concerned with where she spends her off days. In fact, she’s hoping to work as many hours as possible after graduating nursing school with significant student loan debt. She’s hoping for a high-paying gig in a location with a low cost of living so she can make a serious dent in paying off those loans.
Whether it’s location, desirable working hours, or high pay, whatever you’re looking for in a nursing job, there’s a travel nursing assignment that fits your needs.
10 Factors to Help You Determine the Best Travel Nurse Assignments for You
Still not sure what kind of travel nurse assignment is best for you?
Read on to learn about 10 key factors that may help you determine your top priorities.
#1: Pay
If you’re hoping to save up some serious cash while travel nursing, you might want to head to one of the following states, where wages are among the highest for nurses:
- California
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- Oregon
- Alaska
If pay is a priority, you may also want to consider positions in the following 10 high-demand specialties with the best rate of pay, according to Becker’s Hospital Review:
- Labor and delivery
- Operating room
- Neonatal intensive care unit
- Post-anesthesia care unit
- Intensive care unit
- Emergency room
- Pediatric unit
- Step-down unit
- Telemetry
#2: Cost of Living
While your pay might be higher in states like California and Hawaii, so is the cost of living. This is something to consider when selecting the best travel nurse assignments for you.
When deciding where to take assignments, factor in the cost of living. This might include the cost of:
- Housing
- Utilities
- Fuel
- Groceries
- Entertainment
- Eating out; and
- More
#3: Distance From Your Home and Family
If you’re hoping to see your family on holidays or days off, you may want to stay closer to home.
If this is the case for you, you’ll want to inform your recruiter, so they aren’t frequently pitching you opportunities hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
#4: Your Specialty
Is your travel nurse specialty in high demand?
If so, you might have an easier time finding a position. You may also have an easier time finding a position in a location you find desirable.
Again, specialties in high demand include:
- Intensive care unit
- Medical-surgical
- Telemetry
- Emergency room
- Operating room
#5: Licensing
Curious about licensing?
Maybe you’re licensed as a nurse in Pennsylvania, but you’re interested in seeing the country and taking short assignments in several cities and states over the course of the next few years.
You might be thinking that paying for licensure in multiple states will add up to some serious cash.
Don’t worry.
This is where the Nurse Licensure Compact (or NLC) comes into play. This allows a nurse to hold a multi-state license, meaning they can practice in their home state as well as other compact states.
34 states currently have NLC legislation, and an additional 12 states have legislation pending.
What if you want to work in a state that isn’t part of the NLC?
In that case, you’d need to apply for licensure by endorsement to the Board of Nursing in that particular state.
But there’s good news –– Trusted Nurse Staffing reimburses for any licensure you acquire while under contract.
#6: Housing Options for Travel Nurses
When you secure a travel nurse assignment, you’ll need somewhere to live for the duration of your contract.
You have options, which can include:
- Fully furnished apartments or homes
- Airbnbs
- Extended stay hotels
- Staying with family and friends
No matter where you end up, if you secure your position with Trusted Nurse Staffing, you’re not alone in finding a place to stay.
TNS doesn’t just find you a job. We believe in helping our nurses succeed — every step of the way. That includes providing assistance when it comes to finding housing.
#7: Benefits
Travel nursing benefits vary by location, position, and demand but may include:
- Some of the highest pay rates in the nursing field
- Opportunities for overtime/double-time pay
- Housing, meal, and travel stipends
- Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
- License and certification reimbursements
- Sign-on/completion bonuses
- Flexible contracts
- A referral program
- And more!
If you’re looking for specific benefits, your TNS recruiter can match you with the assignments that provide those benefits.
#8: What Travel Nursing Assignments Are Available
Do you love an adrenaline rush? Maybe an assignment caring for patients after a hurricane or other natural disaster is right for you.
Or, maybe there’s a flu outbreak in the northeast, and nurses are in dire need.
Keep in mind that your assignment options may depend on the opportunities available when you’re searching.
#9: What Type of Healthcare Facility You’ll Be Working At
As a nurse, you may prefer the hustle and bustle of a hospital or you may thrive in a setting that’s a little slower paced.
As a travel nurse, you can accept assignments in a number of different settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Clinics
- Schools
- Outpatient facilities
- Correctional facilities
- Insurance
- In-home care
Different settings may mean different work hours. For example, if you’re not interested in working overnights or long hours, a position in a school or a clinic with limited hours might be the best fit for you.
#10: Your Travel Nurse Staffing Agency
Your assignments may depend on whether or not you’re working with a travel nurse staffing agency, and more specifically, which agency that is.
A strong agency and recruiter will work with the travel nurse to make sure they find the best assignment that meets the client’s needs and their needs.
Let Trusted Nurse Staffing Help You Choose the Best Travel Nurse Assignments
So, whether it’s…
- The mountains of Colorado
- The sandy beaches of Florida
- A corrections facility; or
- A hospice care center
…Trusted Nurse Staffing can help you find the best travel nurse assignment for you.
First things first. You’ll need to create an online profile to get the ball rolling.
In no time, Trusted Nurse Staffing could have you heading to care for patients in your dream location or ideal assignment. Have questions? Contact us online or call us at (877) 853–5010.