First Year as a Travel Nurse: The Beginner’s Guide & Recruiter Tips

By Faith Godfrey, Emergency RN

Launching My Travel Nursing Career

I began my travel career in February with two years of experience under my belt. With nine months down, three contracts completed, and a fourth on the way, I’m going to get into some of the do’s and don’ts I’ve gathered throughout my time.

When Should I Get Into Traveling Healthcare?

Travel nursing is a great option for those comfortable in their practice who are looking to expand their horizons. The large majority of agencies and facilities will require two years of experience in your field before considering you for a contract. However, there are still plenty of jobs willing to accept less.

My advice would be, don’t jump into this the second you’re eligible. If you don’t feel confident practicing on your own, day in and day out, you will struggle in this job. I’m not saying that to scare you. I’m saying it to be realistic, and because the patients always need to come first. There will always be more job postings. Waiting that extra 6 months to gather a little more knowledge could make all the difference, for you and for them.

After months of consideration, my fiance and I decided at the beginning of the year that it was finally the right time to make the leap. We’re both 25, and the extra year on our parent’s health insurance gives an opportunity to put more money in the bank. I know very well that not everyone is blessed with that resource. If not, make sure you’re looking into benefits when applying to agencies. Travel companies will offer dental/vision/medical coverage as needed.

Finding Your Recruiter

Your agency recruiter will be your absolute lifeline throughout this journey. I would argue a good recruiter makes THE difference between a good or bad experience. You want to find a recruiter who is readily available for contact, who listens to your needs and works alongside you to find your ideal placement. Don’t be afraid to shop around if you don’t mesh with someone.

When picking an agency, consider what’s important to you. Are you prioritizing pay? Location? Hospital environment?

Certain hospitals only contract with certain agencies. It’s not a bad idea to cast a wide net. If you prefer, you can sign up with multiple agencies at once to get the most complete picture of available positions. Of course, you can only contract with one agency at a time. Ask your recruiter about continued insurance coverage and compliance if you plan on switching between assignments.

What Should I Look For?

Never accept an assignment without doing research on the hospital you’ll be moving to. Of course there will be variation in experiences, but hearing what other nurses have to say about a workplace can make up your mind before anything is set in stone.

My lifeline when it comes to firsthand reviews is a Facebook group. It’s called Travel Nurse Network – The Gypsy Nurse, a private group with almost two hundred thousand members. You can find opinions on nearly every hospital, along with views on the surrounding towns and things to do in the area.

They allow for anonymous posting, so it really gets into the good, the bad and the ugly. There have been multiple hospitals I considered until reading up on them here. This resource gives me the insight that I am not able to find publicly available anywhere else.

If you make it through the reviews and submit to the interview process, there are some things you should be sure to ask your new manager about. I go into every call with a bulleted list of the things I need to know before working on the unit:

Is floating required? Floating to other units or hospital sites?
Standard patient ratios? Unit census?
Self- or block-scheduling?
Charge RN 24/7?
Lunch break available?
Patient population?
Daily visits?
Ancillary support?
Unit culture?

Onboarding

Onboarding is the most difficult part of traveling, but with the right agency and Credentialing Specialist it should be a breeze. If there’s anything you’re unsure of, reach out for help. Incorrect documentation could delay your start.

When starting a new assignment, the amount of required documentation can be overwhelming. Try to take a step-by-step approach, looking at the work piece-wise rather than as a whole. Viewing the whole list of incompletes can become stressful quickly.

My agency, Aya Healthcare, provides a lot of assistance when it comes to license verification and credentialing. This is another aspect to consider when picking who you sign with.

You’ll need to gather your official licensure, certifications, and education documents. There will be tax forms and facility-specific compliance to complete. You will need to go to a medical facility for blood and urine testing, as well as a physical exam.

When you’re on assignment, try to think ahead as to where you may like to go next. Obtaining a license in another state is usually a 6-8 week process. It’s best to start early, so you have all your required documents in hand when it comes time to search for a new placement.

Qualities a Travel Nurse Should Have

Traveling healthcare is certainly not for everyone. But if it’s for you, it’s a truly incredible way to gain experience and meet some wonderful people. Through my time, these are some of the qualities I’ve noted that separate a great travel RN from a just-okay one.

Flexibility – As a contracted worker, you are there to fill needs, first and foremost. If you have a large amount of required time off, refuse to float, or just consider yourself a generally rigid person, you may have a difficult time.

Most agencies will allow you to take 2-3 weeks off between assignments without losing coverage. If you have upcoming obligations and won’t be able to work, try to plan your assignments to minimize RTO.

Extraversion – You’re going to be constantly meeting new people and fostering new relationships. Some hospitals are more welcoming to travelers than others. If you don’t do well with new people, you may find it hard to establish yourself.

Try not to be discouraged if not everyone is welcoming at first. I live by my grandma’s advice – “Kill them with kindness”. Be yourself, be nice, be helpful and soon you’ll be accepted into the culture.

Resilience – Even with adequate research and preparation, any assignment may throw you some curveballs. Do your best to go in without expectations. Even if you hate the hospital, thirteen weeks is still only thirteen weeks.

However! If you feel you are not able to practice safely, or are extremely unhappy somewhere, leave! It’s not ideal but you ARE able to back out of a contract in emergent cases. Prioritize yourself and the safety of your license.

In all honesty, I was terrified when I walked into my first assignment. I had no idea if I would hate it or if they would hate me.

Well, I ended up extending three times for a total of 9 months working at my first travel site. If I had the opportunity to change any of it, I wouldn’t. It’s taught me to think on my feet and made me more confident in my own nursing abilities than I previously thought possible.

With nine months in Boston under my belt, I’m excited to travel South for the next adventure.

Whether you’re traveling alone or with a partner, cherish this time in your life. This is a unique and extremely special opportunity available to us that many other professions would kill for. See the country, make new friends, explore who you are. There’s no better time.

If you’re looking to get into travel nursing, I was blessed with an incredible recruiter, Kinzie, on my first go. If you’d like her contact information, you can reach out to be connected to my most valuable resource so far.

Also, check out our resource page, which can help you align your journey. Stay tuned for more travel nursing stories, from contract extensions to other behind-the-scenes experiences!

Want to get in contact with Faith and ask her any travel nursing related questions or have her introduce you to her recruiter?

Fill out the form below and she’ll email you back OR Send her a DM!

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