Travel nursing offers registered nurses opportunities to visit new places and meet new people. They also enjoy flexible schedules. Healthcare industry experts comment on the specialty’s high pay and array of benefits, which often include health insurance, retirement benefits, free housing and professional training. Discover how the online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program from The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) prepares nurses capable of success in the nontraditional world of travel nursing.
What Is Travel Nursing?
Travel nursing agencies emerged during the 1980s to help fill workplace gaps caused by nursing shortages. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) says this shortage intensified over the past 40 years. Today, travel nurses continue to be in high demand.
Travel nurses work temporarily at hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the United States. Employers hire travel nurses for assorted reasons: to fill staffing shortages, facilitate unique staffing needs, maintain morale, provide appropriate nurse-patient ratios, and ensure a consistent level of patient care.
Nurses have the option of finding their own employment or working through a travel nurse agency, which is not to be confused with a nurse staffing agency. Traditional agency nurses are locally based and may fill in for a few days. Travel nurses usually work at the same facilities for an average of 13 weeks and are scheduled at least two months in advance. Employers rely on travel nurses for more specific needs, such as taking the place of those on maternity, sick leave or vacation.
What Are the Degree and Education Requirements for Travel Nurses?
At the minimum, a travel nurse must have an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) degree and at least one year of clinical experience in a hospital setting. Most travel nurses are likely to have a BSN degree.
Having a BSN or advanced nursing degree is essential for certain leadership and management positions, and in fact, many employers now require it. AACN’s 2023 New Graduate Employment Data reveals that 69.8% of hospitals and healthcare facilities surveyed indicated a strong preference for BSN-prepared nurses, and 25% say they required it. The criteria and degree requirements are the same for travel nurses as they are for their traditional counterparts.
How to Know if Travel Nursing Is Right for You
There are numerous benefits associated with travel nursing. It offers adventure and flexibility, giving nurses the option of when and where to work. Many travel nurses find positions at prestigious institutions. In addition, nurse travel firms tend to offer high pay and attractive benefits, which may include health and dental insurance, retirement benefits, free housing and paid tuition.
While many RNs may perceive these as positive factors, being a travel nurse is not for everyone. If you are considering a travel nurse work option, ask yourself these key questions.
- Do you like the certainty of a permanent job? Although travel nurses are in demand, work is not guaranteed.
- Would you enjoy being away from home for weeks at a time or do you have responsibilities that require you to stay local?
- Do you find it easy to meet new people and adapt to new situations and environments?
Consider all the aspects of travel nursing and giving yourself an edge in this competitive job market with UTA’s online BSN program. If the idea of visiting new places, meeting new people and gaining exposure to diverse healthcare facilities seems attractive, becoming a travel nurse is a great option. In return for providing much-needed services, you may be rewarded with a higher salary and valuable benefits.
Learn more about UTA’s online BSN program.
