How Much Travel Is Involved In This Job Of Nursing?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The average travel nursing assignment is 13 weeks long. That means a travel nurse working regularly could expect to move

four times in a year

(52 weeks in a year/13 = 4). But of course, 13 weeks is just the average. Some travel nursing assignments can be up to 26 weeks, and others can be as short as four weeks.

How much experience do you need for travel nursing?

The most important element to becoming a travel nurse is experience. Most travel agencies and hospitals require nurses to have

a minimum of two years

of nursing experience prior to applying for travel nursing contracts.

What does a travel nurse do on a typical day?

On a typical day as a travel nurse, you might do things such as

conduct physical exams to assess a patient’s condition, listen to patients and care for their needs, provide counseling to patients, and coordinate with healthcare providers

.

Is travel nursing worth the money?

So, the question today remains, is travel nursing worth the money? and the short answer is

yes

. Throw in the adventure of travelling to new areas, meeting new people, working in new facilities and building your skills and resume, and you’ve got yourself one very interesting and unique job.

How much money do travel nurses make?

The average travel nurse is now earning about

$3,334 a week on average

, according to Vivian Health, a health care hiring marketplace. Contracts can last a couple of days or weeks, and nurses can choose how often they travel. Prior to the pandemic, average travel nurse salaries were about $1,800 a week in 2019.

How long can you travel nurse in one place?

Overall, a traveling nurse can take travel contracts in the same area or at the same facility or place for

12 months

. This means you can extend your travel nursing job at the facility you’re currently on contract with for an additional 39 weeks or up until the year mark of your first contracted day.

How long are travel nursing assignments?

How long are travel nurse assignments? A. Most assignments last

13 weeks, though some travel jobs may be as short as 8 weeks while others may be as long as 26 weeks

. Many assignments are renewed if the traveler and the hospital are in agreement.

How long do travel nurses travel?

How Often Do Travel Nurses Travel? The typical contract length is

13 weeks

. Trusted Nurse Staffing offers flexible contracts for 8, 13, 26, and even 52-weeks. As long as the hospital is in agreement, contracts can be also renewed and extended multiple times if you happen to fall in love with your assignment.

Can I travel nurse without experience?

How Much Experience Do You Need to Work as a Travel Nurse? There’s no formal, industry-wide time requirement, however the current industry standard is that

travelers should have at least one to two years of recent hospital or facility experience

to be hired as a travel nurse or travel allied health professional.

Is it hard to get hired as a travel nurse?


It typically takes 1 to 5 weeks to get a travel nursing job

. However, a host of variables affect the length of time it takes to get a travel nursing job. As a result, it can take less than a week in some cases and much longer than 5 weeks in other cases.

Can I be a travel nurse with only 6 months experience?

Yes, travel nursing for recent nursing graduates is possible. In fact, there has never been a better time for early career nurses to try travel nursing! While you cannot travel until you reach one year within your specialty,

you can apply with 6-9 months of experience

.

How many hours a day do travel nurses work?

Hiring agencies and individual contracts differ, but travel nursing positions usually comprise 40-hour workweeks, either

five 8-hour, four 10-hour, or three 12-hour shifts

, although hours and days vary by facility. You typically begin each contract period with an orientation session that lasts several days.

How do I become a traveling nurse?

  1. Understand the role of a travel nurse.
  2. Earn your ASN/ADN or BSN degree.
  3. Pass the NCLEX and become an RN.
  4. Gain experience.
  5. Get licensed.
  6. Find a travel nurse staffing agency and apply.
  7. Start your career.

How do you like travel nursing?

The most notable advantages of being a traveling nurse are

the ability to spend time traveling around the U.S. working in a diverse range of environments, and forming lasting friendships that you can’t find in many other environments

. What’s more, it’s an in-demand career field.

Do travel nurses make a lot of money?

Under normal circumstances,

many travel nurses have the potential to earn over $3,000 per week

. Travel nurses can bring in over $50 per hour, plus company-paid housing accommodations. Making it entirely possible for travel nurses to make well over $100K per year.

What are the disadvantages of being a travel nurse?

  • You will always find yourself in an unfamiliar environment. …
  • You will always be the new guy. …
  • Varying pay rates. …
  • What do you do when your contract has ended? …
  • Not the best work assignments. …
  • License issues. …
  • Floating. …
  • Your contract can be canceled.

Who is the highest paying travel nurse agency?


Triage Staff

is our best overall pick because it pays more than most agencies, providing high hourly wages and frequent bonuses. This agency attracts top talents thanks to its benefits and extensive perks, like tuition reimbursement and day one 401(k).

What’s the difference between a nurse and a travel nurse?


Travel nurses:


Are registered nurses with a valid license and at least 2 years of nursing experience

. Work short-term assignments at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Help by filling in gaps where there are nursing shortages.

What nurse makes the most money?


Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

earn a mean average salary of $183,580 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it the top paying nursing specialty. CRNAs typically work 40 hours per week, making the hourly wage average out to approximately $88.26 per hour.

What is a traveling nurse called?

The term “travel nurse” most commonly refers to

Registered Nurses (RN)

. However, it could also refer to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN/LVN) or Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). Some people use it to refer to Nurse Practitioners (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).

Do travel nurses pay taxes?

Because travel nurses are paid a bit differently than staff nurses, so too do travel nurses file taxes a bit differently. This is because

travel nurses are paid a base hourly rate, that is taxable, and a weekly travel stipend that is not taxable

– both of which equal their total pay in a given contract.

Can travel nurses bring their families?

Can travel nurses have families?

Yes

. While there are certain factors to consider, travel nursing is not reserved for singles. Some nurses choose to be a travel nurse only during school break, while others have made a career out of travel nursing year-round with their families.

Can you live at home and be a travel nurse?

Can I Be a Travel Nurse in My Own State?

Being a travel nurse in your own state is 100 percent possible

. Many travel nurses are unaware that it is possible to be a travel nurse in your home state. Becoming a travel nurse doesn’t mean you have to travel across the country or leave your home state to land a job.

Do travel nurses work all year?

A typical travel nurse contract is 13 weeks.

Assignments can range anywhere from 4 weeks to up to a year

. A Contract Extension is also possible, which many travelers choose if they enjoy the hospital and location. The thing to remember is that you – the traveler – are in control.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.