Travel nursing is one way that the health care system is addressing the persistent shortage of qualified nurses. It is a method of connecting qualified and licensed nurses with needy health care facilities. Travel nurses are accepted as a way to keep health care facilities staffed until they are able to decide upon a more permanent solution. It’s also a relatively inexpensive way to evaluate nurses without formally hiring them on a long-term basis.
Nurses begin by applying at an agency specializing in travel nurses. At least 340 different travel nurse agencies were operating in the United States in 2009. The application process can be rigorous and may include:
- Background check
- Experience in the field or their specialty (generally 1 to 3 years)
- Nursing license check
- A full physical
- Qualifications or certifications check
- A test of the nurse’s practical skills
The agency takes the applicant’s resume along with all of the information they collected during the application process and searches through temporary job postings. The agency selects postings that fit each applicant and sends their resume to each of the postings. If the health care employer accepts the applicant’s resume, they submit a financial offer to the agency.
The agency proceeds to take their cut from the financial offer and arrange it into a contract. The contract may be arranged entirely different depending upon the agency. It is typically divided into a base wage and contract perks with a firm time limit for employment. Some contract perks may include:
- Child care stipend
- Food stipend
- Housing
- Transportation
- Travel reimbursement
However travel nurses should be aware that any contract perks are likely coming out of their base wage offers. This means that a contract with many perks may have a low wage, while a contract with few perks may have a higher wage. This may vary by agency. Prospective travel nurses should study their contract offer carefully before signing for it.
A contract is usually as short as 1 month or up to 6 months in duration. Contracts for health care facilities outside of the United States are typically between 1 to 2 years. The employer may offer an extension or a permanent position upon the contract’s conclusion at their discretion. It’s up to the travel nurse to choose whether they would like to continue working for the same employer or have the agency look for new job postings.
For contracts outside of the United States, it’s highly recommended that travel nurses be able to understand and speak the local language and dialect. Simply taking a collegiate course or two will not be sufficient and may endanger the travel nurse or patients. The culture and atmosphere at a foreign health care facility should also be taken into consideration before signing a contract.
As with any employer, prospective travel nurses should be aware of whom they sign with. Some agencies take larger cuts of a health care facility’s financial offer than others. Consult other travel nurses before applying with an agency. A reputable agency will be willing to provide references. Ask the agency to give a sample contract and explain each section. Be willing to sign with multiple agencies as no single agency can keep track of every job posting for travel nurses.
Although it is not a permanent solution, travel nurses are a viable means of keeping the lack of nurses from becoming a crisis. Travel nursing is particularly popular among younger nurses or as a means of gaining experience early in a career. While it is not for everyone, travel nursing can be a way to quickly find a nursing position.