Tips for Becoming a Healthcare Traveler in 2022

So, you’re ready to jump into travel for the first time? Or maybe you’ve taken a break, went back to staff, and now want to get back into traveling? We’ve compiled a list of requirements and tips from our recruitment team to make sure you’re ready to take on your next adventure in 2022– travel nursing!

When looking for your travel assignment, there’s a short list of requirements that must be met. These requirements are pretty standard across all agencies and facilities.

One and a half to two years of experience in your specialty.

Facilities will require you to have at least 1.5 years of recent experience in the specialty you’re wanting to travel in. Many agencies and facilities will require a solid two years if you are a new grad nurse. When it comes to travel nursing – you are going to facilities across the US who have gaps of employment or openings where they need extra help. When arriving at the facility, you’ll need to be ready to hit the ground running and jump right in to help the facility.

Up-to-date certifications

When applying to travel jobs, you’ll want to make sure you have the most up-to-date certifications required for your specialty. Many times, you’ll want to make sure these certifications do not expire prior to your assignment ending. There are many options right now to take these courses online and be prepared for your next assignment.

Covid vaccination or medical/religious exemption

While this requirement is completely up to each facility – it is ideal to make sure this information is ready for any assignment that may require it.

Our team also great tips they offer travelers who are new or recently returning to travel and we think they came up with a pretty good list:

1. Find an agency that has great perks and benefits. Having a one-stop shop for all of your needs makes for a flawless experience. This could range from full medical benefits, 401k, or smaller perks like hotel and car rental discounts, cheaper tickets to theme parks, great deals on scrubs and more. Many agencies have great partnerships with companies to offer great perks!

2. Worried about being too far away from home on your first assignment? There’s probably a facility closer to home that you could start with. The general rule for travel nursing only requires 50+ miles from your residence! Buddying up with a friend or family member makes for great experiences as well.

3. A multi-state or compact license will open up many more open job opportunities for you to explore. Living in a compact state makes you eligible to travel and work in states included in the Nurse Licensure Compact. If you don’t – no worries! Getting a state license is usually fairly easy and your recruiter and company can often offer assistance, reimburse and maybe even reward you for getting a new license.

4. Be ready to ADVENTURE! Travel nursing is an experience many nurses dream of! Take a deep breath and embrace it. Enjoy the overall experience of exploring while doing what you do best – providing healthcare for people all over the US.