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If you’re looking to take a travel nursing assignment soon, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with what policies are in place should you become sick with COVID-19, become directly exposed to someone with COVID-19 or need to quarantine.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
Many agencies will still pay you if you need to quarantine or take time off to recover from COVID. That said, policies vary, depending on the area and the facility’s guidelines. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do and how a possible exposure, infection or quarantine could affect you.
Here’s what travel nurses need to know about COVID and quarantining.
Before you sign a contract for a travel nursing assignment, be sure to ask all the right questions about COVID and quarantine. By now, most travel nursing agencies are well-versed in COVID-19 policies, be sure to ask about:
Be sure you understand:
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
Although you will ultimately follow your agency and facility’s protocol and policies, it can also be helpful to fully understand what the CDC recommends for quarantining with COVID. The CDC recommends you quarantine for 14 days if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
“Close contact” is defined as:
In some situations, that could very well include an infected patient, especially if you were not outfitted with the proper PPE or in an emergent situation that was out of your control.
In some situations, quarantine length may be reduced to only 10 days but guidelines for that will come from the local healthcare department. This is another reason it’s important to find out details about the assignment before accepting any travel nursing assignment as a traveler.
The CDC also has healthcare worker-specific guidelines about when you can return to work after you’ve had COVID. The guidelines vary based on the severity of your illness and whether you have any immuno-compromised conditions that may impact your recovery. In general, the CDC says that healthcare workers who had mild to moderate COVID infections and are not severely immunocompromised can return to work if they meet the following criteria:
The loss of taste and smell can linger for weeks and months, which is why the CDC doesn’t count it as a symptom that should prevent you from returning to work.
Many travel nursing agencies have also put together COVID resources for travel nurses including everything from extra mental health benefits to support should you fall sick while you’re alone in temporary housing.
Ask your agency what resources are available to you as a traveler, especially if you are working in a COVID unit or current COVID hot spot. Potential resources include:
If you’re a nurse who has chosen vaccination and has completed both doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines (Johnson & Johnson is only one shot), then the rules change a bit for what you need to know about quarantining. You are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after you receive your final vaccine dose. The two-week mark is because it takes several weeks for your body to form antibodies in response to the vaccine, so, to be fully protected, it’s best to wait at least two weeks.
According to the CDC’s most recently-released guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals, if you’ve been directly exposed to COVID-19 but it’s been more than two weeks since your last vaccine dose, you may be protected. Here’s what the guidelines say for fully vaccinated people:
But even if you’re vaccinated, you’ll need to follow any protocols your own workplace puts into place, so always check with your agency and contract hospital for exact rules and precautions.
Of course, if you have been fully vaccinated, be sure to make several copies of that vaccine card and let your nurse recruiter know, as it may be valuable information for your future assignments.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
As an unprecedented 2020 comes to an end, here are the things every travel nurse should do to prepare for the new year.
With continued social distancing, mandatory masking in some states, and travel bans still in place across parts of the United States, travel nurses need to prepare more than ever for the new year. Taking the time to ready yourself for the coming year is essential for travel nurses.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
Travel nurses are required to maintain certification just like staff nurses. These include BLS, ACLS, NRP, and PALS, to name a few. If a certification is near expiration, a hiring manager will often look to another applicant for a position so there is no risk of expiring in the midst of an assignment.
Travel nurses should ensure that all certifications are active for the duration of the assignment.
Local Red Cross organizations offer courses for a nominal fee.
All travel nurses are responsible for completing a specific number of continuing education credit hours prior to nursing license renewal. Each state has specific requirements and it is important to check with the board of nursing prior to applying for license renewal.
If the RN license is part of a compact nursing license, the CEU requirement will be for the state of permanent residence. Some states require CEUs related to COVID-19, child abuse, narcotics, and/or pain management.
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments today.
A recent up to date resume is essential for all travel nurses.
Don’t forget to add all of the new skills you’ve learned, EMRs used, and new nursing licenses. Resumes are a chance to brag about your experience and show a nurse recruiter and hiring manager why you are the best fit for an opening.
Based on a resume, interviews are set up to fill a position. Use the resume as an opportunity to list your accomplishments, objectives, professional experience, and education.
While you’re at it, here are some tips to make your resume stand out.
It’s impossible to predict how 2021 will be for travel nurses but right now nursing travel assignment offerings are booming. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, the upcoming flu season, and the reopening of America, nurses will be more in demand than ever.
It’s important to reach out to your recruiter to figure out the best option for your first 2021 travel assignment.
This has been a hard year for travel nurses, with canceled contracts, short term COVID contracts, and an almost halt for some travel nurse specialties.
During the past few months, very few nurses have made time for themselves. With limited vacation options, social distancing guidelines still in place, and mask mandates self-care looks a little different now. Read a book, watch some football, grab dinner with friends within your COVID “bubble,” get a massage, or even stay in bed all day watching movies.
If 2020 has taught travel nurses anything, it’s to be more prepared than ever. Don’t delay on getting a jump start on these must-do tasks!
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
The flexibility of the job makes it possible to go back to school while travel nursing.
Travel nursing is the perfect accompaniment to furthering your education. That’s because it offers many benefits including high pay, a flexible schedule, and perks like tuition assistance.
Some nurses might be afraid that going back to school isn’t possible while working, but that’s just not true. Here are some tips for how to navigate going back to school while travel nursing.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
If you can, seek out other travel nurses who have gone back to school while still maintaining their travel nurse assignments.
Ask them how they made it work: did they choose to take on reduced schedules during school or take a break? Is online school or in-person a better choice?
Hearing from real-life RNs who have walked before you will be invaluable as you make your own educational decisions.
There are many benefits to speaking with your nurse recruiter or your agency contact before you make the decision to enroll.
First of all, talking to your recruiter can help you check on any education policies your agency offers. Many travel nursing agencies offer some kind of tuition assistance plan to help you pay for your education, either partially or in full.
The only catch? You’ll want to be sure you know exactly what is required to meet eligibility requirements so you can take full advantage of any assistance they do offer. For instance, some agencies may have a minimum work requirement you need to meet before you are eligible, while others may approve tuition assistance only at select educational facilities. The bottom line? Know their policy inside and out before you make any decisions, so you know exactly what kind of help is available to you first. And although it should go without saying, once you find out what the policies are, be sure to follow them to a “t” so you take full advantage of every dollar.
Don’t be afraid to communicate openly and honestly with your nurse recruiter about what you hope to gain from your education. You don’t have to fear that your agency will somehow penalize you for having different availability; on the contrary, your agency may openly embrace you pursuing an advanced education, especially if it’s an in-demand area.
If you’re not sure how your travel nursing career and your education can co-exist at the same time, be sure to speak with your recruiter. They can help you by offering you travel assignments that work with your schedule while you go back to school. If you’re only available on weekends or need shorter shifts so you have time to study, tell them! You have nothing to fear by gaining more education.
Talk to a recruiter about available travel nursing assignments today.
If you have a home base hospital where you hope to work primarily either through travel nursing or if you make the decision to take a staff position, you can also talk directly with the healthcare facility to see what kind of educational assistance they offer. For instance, if you get introduced to a hospital while on a travel assignment that you absolutely love and want to explore working there someday, it may be worth your time to talk with their HR program to see what kind of tuition assistance they offer in exchange for a work commitment.
Although many nurses choose to go back to school via an online route for convenience’s sake, if you’re a travel nurse, you can take your pick of where you’d like to attend school because you could get an assignment in that area and attend school at the same time.
While online school can be convenient and done from anywhere, it’s often also more expensive than attending in-person. So, choosing a school that offers an in-person or even a hybrid option may be more affordable. Plus, if you’re the type of person who learns better in-person, you shouldn’t rule out attending a physical campus. As far as prices go, you may have to check with the school on their rules for what constitutes “in-state” pricing if you’re only in the area temporarily for a travel nursing assignment.
There are many expenses that you can incur while going back to school, such as housing, tuition, meals, books, and even increased data for all that researching and writing.
Whenever possible, check with your agency on what kind of stipends are available in your potential assignment package so you can overlap expenses. For instance, if you will need to move to attend school, securing a short-term assignment in the same location may help you get your moving expenses covered.
Or, if your agency offers a continuing ed stipend, see if you can use it towards books or registration fees.
Although going back to school as a travel nurse is definitely not something to undertake without planning and consideration, there are many benefits to combining a career as a travel nurse with furthering your education. If you have the dream of advancing your education, you can get started today — and working as a travel nurse might just help you reach your dreams even faster.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
Crisis contracts can be very lucrative for travel nurses but they come with tradeoffs. Crisis contracts are often the first to be canceled and working conditions can be less than ideal with long hours and complex patient needs.
COVID-19 has changed travel nursing for the foreseeable future. More short term crisis contracts are becoming available due to the ongoing pandemic.
Looking for a travel nursing assignment? Talk to a recruiter today.
Crisis travel nursing contracts are offered when a hospital or specific geographical location are determined to be in a time of crisis. The reason for the crisis may vary. Crisis contracts have most recently been offered during natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Irma and medical disasters such as the Ebola crisis in Texas and the COVID-19 pandemic.
A crisis nursing contract is often more lucrative than regular travel nursing contracts because they are extremely time-sensitive. Generally speaking, the location or hospital needs nurses immediately and can not afford to wait for them to finish other contracts. For this reason, they will offer a higher salary to garner attention and interest. This also means that only nurses with the ability to pick up and leave immediately will be able to accept contracts.
Ultimately, the salary will depend on the location, hospital’s budget, what agencies are able to negotiate with the hospital or healthcare system, and the level of nursing care needed. For example, ICU nurses will earn a higher wage than a medical-surgical nurse based on skill level. Crisis contracts are highly lucrative because nurses are often working in high-risk conditions which are sometimes less than ideal.
Because crisis contracts differ from regular nursing contracts it is essential that nurses read the contract in its entirety including cancel clauses. Most contracts will not offer any type of reimbursement if the contract is canceled prior to the start date.
Crisis contracts will outline crisis pay which may include:
Extra compensation may be given in a crisis contract due to the unpredictable nature of the crisis and risk involved of working during a pandemic or natural disaster.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
Crisis contracts are usually shorter than typical travel contracts and generally will last for anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks. However, after the crisis contract is complete the hospital may have additional travel nursing needs or the crisis contract may be renewed. Employing crisis nurses for short periods of time at higher wages is more cost-effective than hiring for longer periods of time. Most contracts will require hospitals to pay a certain fee to the nurse if the contract is canceled once it has begun.
While a crisis contract might sound like an excellent idea during a pandemic or natural disaster, they are EXTREMELY risky. Because the hospital or location needs nurses quickly, they often overhire because they are aware that not everyone hired will complete the requirements prior to the start date. But, if there are too many nurses then the contracts can be cancelled. This often happens.
There are no financial costs for the hospital associated with canceling a crisis contract prior to a start date except for a few nominal costs/fees. For that reason, hospitals often will work with multiple agencies in order to secure the appropriate number of nurses. Furthermore, during a crisis, the patient census can change day to day. It’s possible that by the time additional staff arrive, the patient census will not require it.
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of crisis travel nurse contracts were canceled the day before in major hotspots such as New York City, parts of California and Texas. Nurses were left absorbing the costs of flights, hotels, rental cars, and potentially short term housing. This money is not refunded by the agency or hospital system. Unfortunately, because the contracts were cancelled the day before – this left hundreds of nurses without jobs. In the meantime, other regular travel nursing positions were filled.
When determining if a crisis travel nurse contract is right for you, consider the cancellation risk. It is much higher than typical contracts and will often not happen until the day before as seen during COVID-19. Accepting a crisis contract may not leave many other contracts available if you are canceled. Sometimes more money isn’t worth the risk of job security.
Looking for a travel nursing assignment? Talk to a recruiter today.
As a travel nurse, you might see some benefit to working exclusively with one travel nurse agency instead of multiple recruiters. For instance, there could be benefits like loyalty pay, a recruiter who can really get to know you and find positions that match you well and being able to rely on someone you trust.
But although there may be some undisputed benefits to finding a recruiter you can count on, there are also benefits to working with multiple recruiters that can’t be denied.
Here’s why it’s important for travel nurses to work with multiple recruiters whenever possible.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
As Travel Nursing Insider explains on YouTube, working with multiple recruiters is actually a smart negotiation strategy that travel nurses can utilize. Although it might feel like you are “cheating” on your recruiter or being disloyal, it’s very much in your benefit to talk with multiple recruiters so you can get a better understanding of the types of positions and pay being offered by different travel nursing agencies.
Think about it this way: if you are choosing your dinner from a menu, would you rather see all the options that are being offered, or just pick from what the waiter recommends?
Sometimes, it can be more advantageous for you to build a broad picture of everything that is available before you make your decision. Remember, your recruiter works for you, not the other way around.
There are also several practical benefits to working with multiple recruiters that you should be aware of:
Click here to talk to a travel nursing recruiter.
When you do decide to work with multiple recruiters, you will want to be sure that you include recruiters from a wide range of travel nursing agencies. For instance, you should include:
Hearing offers from a wide range of travel nursing agencies can help you be sure you know exactly what type of agency might be right for you. You may think that only the “big” agencies can provide you with the best base pay or stipends, but this isn’t always the case–and in some situations, smaller agencies may be willing to work more closely with you to find the best fit, or help guide you more if it’s your first assignment.
The important thing to remember is that there is no one-size-fits-all, and it’s best to go with the agency that makes the most sense for you as an individual, not just because it’s the agency everyone else loves.
As Travel Nursing Insider points out, working with multiple recruiters also ensures that you have the opportunity to “test out” recruiters with different personality types. Just like nurses, all recruiters are different, and there simply may be a recruiter that you mesh with better than others — and that’s OK.
Finding someone you trust, no matter what credentials the actual agency boasts, maybe even more important than the agency choice itself, so it’s always to your advantage to give yourself the most options by working with multiple recruiters.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
As a travel nurse, sometimes it can feel like it’s hard enough just to get through your shift, come back to your housing, collapse in exhaustion, get up and do it all over again. But if you’re committed to making fitness a priority in your life — or want to see if making exercise a regular habit can make a difference in your days as a travel nurse, we want to help.
You’re a healthcare professional, so we don’t have to convince you of the tremendous benefits that exercise has for you, but especially as a travel nurse, incorporating exercise into your life regularly can help you stay energized, maintain your sleep schedule, and keep your stress levels down. Bottom line? Exercise is important for everyone, so here are some tips to fit in fitness while working as a travel nurse.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
Did you know that some hospitals have an on-site gym for employees? Yeah, me either. But my eyes have been opened thanks to other dedicated RNs who have made a point to work out on their lunch breaks, or before or after their shifts.
For instance, travel nurse Kelsea Drzewiecki found out that her former hospital had a small exercise room for employees, so she would squeeze in a short workout during her lunch break, following a modified version of her gym’s daily programming.
If your facility doesn’t have an on-site gym, check with employee wellness or HR or your recruiter what kind of fitness resources are offered–you may be able to snag a temporary free pass to a local gym or access some at-home fitness apps to help you stay on track. Your insurance company may have some fitness benefits you can tap into as well, so be sure to check what benefits they offer too.
One easy way to get motivated to work out? Follow other travel RNs who can help inspire you. For instance, @fit.gypsy.nurse posts plenty of workouts she does on the road, meal ideas, and motivational tips to workout even when you’re exhausted at the end of that shift.
Seriously, if you do nothing else, consider bringing just one favorite piece of equipment with you. It could be one set of dumbbells or an ultra-lightweight resistance band. Alternatively, ask a local gym if they offer dumbbell rentals (yes, it’s a thing). You might be amazed at how effective of a workout you can fit in with just one pair of dumbbells. From thrusters to shoulder presses to lunges-in-place, the possibilities are endless. And if all else fails, look up how to do a complete workout with just a kitchen towel. It will burn, promise.
If the thought of hardcore working out sounds absolutely terrible with your current assignment, don’t force yourself to get through a grueling, sweaty workout. Instead, calm your body and your mind with some free Yoga with Adriene workouts on YouTube. She has years of free, full-length videos that are effective, hit every fitness level, and will help center you. It’s important to remember that fitness doesn’t have to be slamming weights into the ground and sweating all over the place–challenging your muscles and your mind together in a way that makes sense for you always takes priority.
Yup, you knew it was coming. But if you can meal prep ahead of your shifts, it will free up more time for you to have to actually fit in a workout instead of cooking. And, as a bonus, you might eat healthier meals to complement your new exercise routine too. If meal prepping sounds absolutely terrible, look into a local or national meal delivery service that can help you stay on track while you’re on assignment. Freshly is a good option for single-serve, ready-to-eat meals.
Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated — it could be as simple as taking a walk, doing some yoga in your living room, or simply turning on your favorite playlist and dancing it out for 30 minutes. Just get moving in a way that makes your body feel good.
Click here to talk to a recruiter about available assignments.
When she has a shift, @thefittravelnurse makes a point to fit in a quick workout before she heads to the hospital. “Trust me,” she explains on her Instagram page. “I don’t want to get out of bed that early most days…so I set my alarm for 4:45 am and have a talk (with myself) about how I will feel if I DON’T get up!”
Half of the battle of working out is figuring out what you want your workout to actually be, which is why having an easy library of go-to workouts can really help. You can bookmark some favorite free workouts on YouTube, keep it simple by DIYing your own go-to moves like burpees and push-ups, or purchase a workout library like BeachBody on Demand or Daily Burn. Having easy access can ensure that you don’t waste any precious limited time by messing around, trying to decide on a workout to do, and instead, you can get right to it.
As a travel nurse, you know fitness is important, but do you know the actual official recommendations? According to the American Heart Association, 300 minutes (or 5 hours) of exercise per week is ideal and 150 minutes (2.5 hours) is considered the minimum. That boils down to either 1-hour workouts 5 days per week or 30-minute workouts 5 days per week. Either way, it’s time to get moving!
Nurses have a pretty physically demanding job already, so give yourself credit for all that physical activity you’re doing at work anyways. Consider picking up an activity tracker or simple pedometer so you can track how many steps you’re logging at work — that way, you can see how much fitness you still need to incorporate.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
No matter if you’re a new travel nurse, or an experienced one, moving during a pandemic can scary. Here are some tips for moving during COVID-19 if you’re a travel nurse working during the coronavirus outbreak.
Taking a travel nursing assignment during “normal” circumstances can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. There are many unknowns with travel nursing, from what your housing will look like to what kind of people you will be working with, to the differences in workflow, and getting used to new equipment on your floor.
But taking a travel nursing assignment during a global pandemic adds a whole other level to the experience.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
In general, travel nurses traveling to areas of emergency are exempt from any state-issued travel restrictions. (You can check current travel restrictions on the CDC’s website.) That means that if you are traveling to a state that is not allowing travel in, you will still be allowed to travel into the state for work as a travel nurse. Just be sure that you bring all required paperwork with you, including:
And although you should definitely be tracking your travel-related expenses for any nursing assignment, it’s especially important to keep detailed records if you’re traveling for COVID, since you may have to work with your agency to get reimbursed should your assignment get suddenly canceled.
It’s definitely not ideal, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared to have at least one back-up housing option if you are traveling to a COVID-affected area. This is because some travel nurses are seeing assignments get canceled with little warning, such as if the hospital or facility closes the area you were scheduled to work, or if they have to suddenly make cuts if they determine they are overstaffed.
We would recommend that you know your agency’s policy on housing if your assignment gets canceled inside and out, so there are no surprises. It could also be helpful if you were aware of optional housing locations, such as the many areas offering free or discounted hotel rooms, should something happen with your arranged housing. You may also find yourself wanting a more private housing option if you have to be quarantined due to exposure or infection with COVID-19.
Looking for your next travel nursing assignment? Click here.
If you’ve been working as a nurse, or have any reason to suspect you could have been exposed to COVID and have not been quarantined for the full recommended 14 days, it’s preferable that you prepare as much as possible ahead of time to limit any exposing others along the way.
That means making sure your gas tank is full, your vehicle is up-to-date on maintenance, you have masks to pack with you, and plenty of food and water to get you through where you need to go. And we aren’t saying outright some nurses have gotten creative with the bathroom break arrangements, but rumor has it, there have been some dependable moments if you get our drift.
As much as possible, find out what you will need in your living area ahead of time and try to add in extra time for any deliveries or services you might need. For instance, if you normally use a moving company, call earlier than usual to build-in any COVID-related delays and book your spot in advance.
It’s also a good idea to thoroughly vet where you are staying to make sure they have everything you need to survive, should you end up quarantined. For instance:
Think ahead through scenarios and make sure you can have what you need if you end up sheltering in place. It’s also helpful if you can plan on doing as much as you can yourself, in case friends or services you normally rely on to help you move boxes, etc., are not available. More lightweight or travel-friendly options, like camping cots or chairs, might be useful during a time like this.
It’s always important to have some comforts of home with you anytime you’re on a new travel nursing assignment, but during a global pandemic, it’s more important than ever. You may get to your new assignment, only to find that the local coffee shops are closed (the horror), or you can’t depend on picking up that favorite scented lotion to help boost your spirits after a long shift.
As much as you can, be sure to pack and bring along some creature comforts from home that will help you get through what could be a difficult time at work. Anything, such as:
And of course, if you can, pack the most important item that you can to ensure you’re not, well, SOL, to excuse our language. Yup, that’s right — toilet paper. It’s the hot commodity item, and we want to make sure that you’re covered.
Interested in travel nursing? Sign up today.
By now, you have probably heard that travel nurses can earn more money than staff nurses, but you may be prepared for just how high your earnings can go. Although the average reported wage for a travel nurse is around the $88K range, that number can vary widely based on factors like where you work, what your specialty is, and what staffing numbers are at individual facilities.
Travel nurses can expect to make more than staff nurses is because their overall compensation package works differently. In addition to their base wage, travel nurses can also receive extra compensation that can include sign-on and referral bonuses as well as housing, expense, and meal stipends. For some travel nurses, it can even be possible to make six figures — or over $100K — as a travel nurse. Here are some tips on how to make that happen.
RNs can make up to $2,300 per week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
The reason hospitals and medical facilities work with staffing agencies is that they work to fill in the gaps where nurses are needed; that means that there is a wide range of available nursing positions. If you’re willing to be flexible in where you are willing to work, you could have more opportunity for higher pay and compensation — especially if your recruiter learns that he or she can call you in a pinch. Supply and demand is the name of the game here, and the more demand for an area that is needed, the more income potential you have.
Being flexible might look like taking an odd-time shift, working in a less-popular area, or traveling to a location that is less than ideal (say goodbye to Hawaii in the winter, folks). See also: holiday pay. Usually, you’ll make more money if you sign up for holiday shifts.
Nurses who hold a certification in a hard-to-fill specialty field have the ability to command a higher wage and/or ask for additional compensation. Travel nursing means filling in where there is a need, and if you’re a nurse who can fill a hard-to-find need, you’re in high demand and may be able to negotiate for a higher base wage or compensation packages.
Speciality areas such as the Cardiac Cath Lab, Labor & Delivery, Neonatal ICU, ICU, Emergency Room, Telemetry, and Operating Room are all usually hard to fill and may earn you additional compensation. It’s also a good idea to ask your staffing agency what certifications they find are in high demand, as those may vary from location to location.
If you can, avoid using company housing and instead elect to take the set housing stipend to find your own living arrangement. If you are able to find your own housing situation that is cheaper than the stipend, then those excess funds go in your pocket and your overall compensation. You could also find a roommate from your agency, for example, or use Airbnb for a local place to stay. Just be sure you’re fully aware of the rules regarding housing stipends, such as turning in receipts or bills.
Read more: Housing for Traveling Nurses
Established staffing agencies may be able to command better packages for travel nurses, or help you match with an area that can boost your wage. Although it’s a good idea to shop around for agencies to find the best fit for you, in many cases, it’s a good idea to start with an established agency for the best rates and compensation packages.
Read more: Travel Nursing Companies & Agencies
Unless you sign an exclusive contract, you are not required to stick to just one nurse staffing agency. You could have relationships with multiple agencies to help you find the jobs that are the best fit for your goals. You may even be able to use an offer from one agency to help you negotiate compensation for another job, if needed.
Pro tip: You should always carefully inspect your entire contract and consider having an attorney review it before signing it, so you understand what you’re signing.
You can make yourself more valuable to staffing agencies by maintaining nursing licenses in multiple states. Once you choose an agency, be sure to speak with your recruiter for advice on what states would be the most helpful to become licensed in, so that you are available for more assignments. And if you do hold multiple licenses and are willing to travel to those states, be sure to let your recruiter know as well, so he or she can place you quickly.
Read more: Current Nursing Compact States 2019
If you’re willing to be called in for immediate staffing needs, you may be able to earn additional money with “on-call” or short-staffing response time compensation. For instance, some hospitals may pay time and a half or even double time for nurses willing to come in at short notice. Strike situations — while not exactly the most popular choice to win you friends — usually also carry additional compensation for nurses willing to work.
If you want to work more hours, find a higher-paying placement or gain experience that could open up doors for additional compensation, work with your recruiter to reach your goals. For example, if you know that OR experience could help you land a lucrative position in the future, but you haven’t been able to get your foot in the door, communicate with your recruiter that you’d really like some OR experience. The right recruiter can help you, but if he or she is not aware of what you’re working towards, they can’t help.
Want a bonus for signing on with a new agency or be willing to work that shift that no one else will take? Just ask! Your nursing staffing agency may be able to work in a bonus to your compensation package, or even negotiate with the hospital or clinic for additional compensation as necessary. You could also ask for bonuses that could help you advance your education, so that you could become even more desirable for future recruitment opportunities.
Referrals can really add up, so if you know a lot of nurses, are active on social media or are willing to put in the work to recruit for your agency, you can earn a significant amount of money thanks to referral bonuses. Just be sure to check with your agency on the rules and if there is a cap on how much you can earn — if there is, you may want to work on referring to different agencies to collect referrals with each one.
To help ensure that you are able to keep as much of your income as possible and don’t owe more money come tax time, be sure to keep on top of the tax rules of travel nursing and file any paperwork you may need. It’s a good idea to consult with an accountant who works with travel nurses to make sure you are keeping proper records and filing on time to avoid fees and fines.
Read more: Comprehensive Guide to Travel Nurse Taxes
Sure, making $100k sounds like a great goal and making that much money can have real advantages, but it’s also probably going to require a significant amount of work and sacrifice on your end.
So as you work towards your goal, be crystal-clear on why you are aiming for that six-figure mark. Are you trying to pay down your student debt? Saving for a down payment on a house? Building up your nest egg so you can start your family? Stocking away cash to travel the world (not while working, obv)?
On the shifts that will test your patience, spirit and stamina, it can be helpful to remember you goal — and just why you are working so hard on that shift that no one else wanted.
RNs can make up to $2,300 per week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
While many hospitals have been relying on travel nurses to help care for an overwhelming surge of coronavirus affected patients, other travel nurses may have been surprised to actually see their contract canceled due to COVID-19.
Some travel nursing specialties have been in less demand as a result of facility closures and hospitals limiting non-urgent care in hopes of stopping the spread of the virus. Travel nurses in areas such as surgery, for instance, may have seen assignments canceled, and some hospitals initially hired on large surpluses of travel nurses in anticipation of the virus — only to let them go if the patient numbers were not what they were expecting.
In many online travel nursing groups, travel nurses are sharing stories of being surprised and frustrated after having their contracts canceled as a result of COVID. “I had three Fl contracts canceled in two weeks,” said one nurse in a Facebook group for travel nurses. “It’s a big mess.”
Chances are, you probably didn’t expect to be dealing with canceled contracts in the wake of a global pandemic, but if you are facing a contract ending, here are some steps you can take to make it through.
Are you a travel nurse looking for a new assignment? Start here.
All travel nursing contracts include some kind of clause about cancellations, whether that’s specifying how an assignment has to be canceled legally, or probably more relevant to you right now — what financial costs you can recoup from the assignment.
Check your contract carefully for what it stipulates you are owed, especially for reimbursement for travel to and from the job, any expenses incurred along the way, and costs such as housing deposits or associated fees. You may also get a percentage of what you should have made from the assignment, although that will vary among agencies, especially now, with COVID.
If you traveled to a hot-spot to find work, only to have your contract canceled due to COVID-19, you may be able to find free housing while you either wait to see if more work will be available, or figure out your next move. You can check TravelNursing’s list of extensive free resources that include housing and hotel options that are offering free rooms for healthcare workers.
Before you pack up and leave town, be sure to speak to your recruiter about any other options that may be available for you in the area. Just be sure to double-check that your license and housing will still be valid if you are in an area that has an emergency declaration before you sign on — there’s a chance that if your assignment lasts longer than the emergency declaration, any temporary license you have may not be valid once the emergency is lifted.
Looking for a new assignment? Start here.
If you have a contract canceled due to COVID-19, be sure to document everything, keep receipts, and even print out any emails or communication you had with your recruiter, just in case. Since you’re a contract employee, you may be able to claim lost wages or expenses on your taxes come next spring, but be sure to consult with a tax expert about your own situation.
If your travel nursing assignment has been canceled, you may be eligible to apply for unemployment benefits. Check on your state’s unemployment website for guidelines on who qualifies, and how to apply. Just be prepared for potential longer wait times, as many unemployment agencies around the country have been overwhelmed by applicants.
Many travel nurses heroically signed up to help in COVID-19 hotspots, such as New York, to fill necessary gaps in healthcare services. And while travel nursing is an important piece of the puzzle in getting through a pandemic, the fluid nature of travel nursing also means that unfortunately, in a shortage of funds, travel nurses will most likely be the first to be canceled from a hospital that has lost revenue.
While travel nursing, as a whole, can vary from agency to agency, and even job to job, this experience of working through COVID-19 may give many new and emerging travel nurses the opportunity to learn valuable lessons and advocate for themselves as travel nurses. Before you choose your next assignment, be sure to learn carefully about what you want out of the experience. Ask yourself some of the following questions:
Will I be OK if my contract is canceled?
Do I have a place to stay I can afford or a way to get back home?
Do I value stability and a long-term contract or am I willing to take on more risk for a new learning experience?
Am I aware of everything that can happen if my contract is canceled and what my agency is responsible for?
Do I feel supported by my agency fully?
And don’t forget, even as COVID cases continue around the country, you do have the ability to choose to take a non-COVID assignment. (Yes, they still do exist!) Some travel nursing agencies have even started advertising for non-COVID assignments for nurses who are looking for other options. So if you’re looking for an assignment with more stability, don’t be afraid to seek out a contract that works for you right now.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
This is a hard time in our history to be a travel nurse — here are some tips on staying safe as a travel nurse during the COVID-19 crisis.
Gone are the days when working as a travel nurse primarily meant having the opportunity to travel, see new places, and experience new aspects of your nursing career. Now, travel nurses are, more than ever, serving a crucial role in the raging battle against COVID-19.
As areas that have been hit the hardest are seeing more patients than they can handle, and healthcare providers and professionals are facing infections themselves, or being forced to quarantine to prevent spreading the virus to the most vulnerable, hospitals and healthcare facilities have a desperate need for travel nurses. For instance, just one New York staffing agency’s site states that they have a need for over 1,000 crisis response positions right now.
And while travel nurses will be critical to getting our country through this pandemic, it’s also so important that if you are working as a travel RN right now, that you stay safe too. Here are some tips for staying safe on the front line as a travel nurse through COVID-19.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
The CDC has a page of guidance resources for helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, both in the workplace, and at home. You should educate yourself on the guidelines, and as you are able, follow all the CDC’s recommendations in any travel nursing job you have, such as: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60 to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water is always preferred over sanitizer, especially for visibly dirty hands. Avoid touching your face. Have your patient wear a facemask. Wear a disposable facemask and gloves when handling any bodily fluids. Throw out disposable PPE and do not reuse them. Remove PPE in the following order: gloves off first, wash your hand, take off your face mask, and wash your hands again. Clean all high-touch surfaces, such as bedside tables, keyboards, tablets, and your phone.
Sadly, many hospitals and healthcare facilities are already severely low on PPE for nurses and other healthcare staff. Nurses have already been forced to take risky measures, such as reusing PPE or working an extended time once they put on PPE to make the most of it.
If you can, try to talk to nurses already in the area to find out what you should really expect of your working conditions, so you are prepared. The reality is that masks are in short supply and N95 respirators may be virtually impossible to find, so it’s very important that you know what your real-life working conditions will be like.
If you have any of your own supplies, such as sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, or even gloves or masks that you stocked up on, speak with your nursing agency to see if you can bring them with you. Depending on how severe the situation at the hospital or facility is, they may welcome any supplies you can use to protect yourself.
The U.S. signed a special HIPPA waiver that allows the use of certain third-party applications for health purposes as the country is under a national emergency. This means that you may be able to communicate with patients or even other staff members more easily, using common apps such as FaceTime and Skype, without being face-to-face, reducing your risk of exposure and preserving PPE and other supplies.
Especially if you are traveling to an area to work that is far from home, it’s imperative that you check the agency’s policy on quarantining. You’ll want to find out: What are the procedures in place for if you begin to feel sick? What are the policies on if you have been exposed but are not feeling symptomatic? What accommodations are being made for nurses who have to quarantine–for instance, will you need to supply your own food, are you still responsible for paying bills, etc.? Will you still be paid in the event that you have to quarantine?
On a related note, you’ll want to find out if the agency has any protections in place for what could happen if you are unable to travel home — hopefully, there won’t be any domestic travel closures, but it could happen, so it’s a good question to ask ahead of time. You’ll want to make sure you have a place to stay if you are unable to get back home, along with access to food and necessities.
Obviously, any facility you work at will be doing all they can to clean and kill off COVID-19 from surfaces, but it can be helpful to know for yourself on what surfaces COVID-19 can live the longest on. That way, you can take extra precautions around things that might get overlooked, like the fridge or coffee pot in the breakroom
According to the most recent data, COVID-19 can live for the following lengths of time on different surfaces: up to 3 hours in aerosols up to 4 hours on copper up to 24 hours on cardboard Up to 3 days on plastic and stainless steel
Many local nursing organizations are pleading for lawmakers to issue emergency protections for nurses as they fight to do their job with limited resources. Filling out a petition, like this one in Michigan, this plea for more PPE with the American Nurses Association, or this one with National Nurses United, can help ensure protections in your region and ensure that staying safe as a travel nurse is easier.
Whether it’s to your local nursing union, online, or to us here at TravelNursing.org, share your own story of what you are experiencing as a travel nurse. Remember, this is a moment in history that you are living through, and the experiences and stories that you — as a front-line soldier — can share will shape the future.
I know it sounds almost frivolous right now, but the truth is, as much as nurses are being painted as warriors and superheroes and as much as you are all of those things, you are still a real, normal human who can not give endlessly.
It’s imperative you don’t work yourself to the brink of exhaustion and you take extra time for self-care in any way you can, whether that’s through prayer in your belief system, talking virtually to loved ones, exercise, or just binge-watching your favorite show from a simpler, coronavirus-free time.
Staying safe as a travel nurse means you’ll be better able to care for those who need it.
