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Nursing is currently and will continue to be one of the professions in high demand over the coming years. Because there is so much need for highly skilled RNs, travel nursing is growing as well.
Travel nurses work as contractors through an agency, taking on assignments for a few weeks at a time. They are sent to areas to help fill the talents gaps at hospitals and other medical facilities. What started as a way to help health care facilities in smaller cities and rural areas fill their talent gaps has grown into a thriving niche career for RNs.
Learn more about becoming a travel nurse today.
Over the last few years, travel nursing has become an attractive option for those who wish to take their patient care skills on the road. Travel nurses who line up well-paying jobs throughout the year can earn salaries that are comparable to that of hospital staff RNs. They also enjoy other perks including having their travel and living expenses paid for. Add to that the ability to make your own schedule, and you can see why travel nursing is an appealing option for some people.
Take a look at some of the major trends impacting the travel nursing industry over the last couple of years, along with predictions as to what’s in store for travel nurses in the future.
If you’ve done any research into the profession, you’re probably aware that there is a shortage of nursing professionals, and it’s likely to get worse. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, through 2022, there is expected to be 1 million job vacancies for registered nurses. This mostly has to do with a workforce that is reaching retirement age, and not enough younger nurses to take their place.
However, it also has to do with the demographics of the country, and its changing health care needs. The aging population has more senior citizens than ever before, many of whom will develop one or more chronic health conditions. As per U.S. Census data projections, by 2050, there will be 88.5 million people over the age of 65.
Looking ahead: As a result of the continuing nursing shortage, it could very well end up that medical centers begin to rely more and more on travel nurses and other contracted workers to meet this demand. In many cases, it is more cost-effective for them to bring in nurses as needed as opposed to hiring full-time staffers.
Be part of the solution and become a travel nurse today.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) resulted in 20 million people gaining health insurance coverage. As a result, with the passing of this legislation, health care institutions and hospitals needed to pivot quickly, and travel nursing is one of the ways they were able to accommodate more patients.
Keiser Health News even attributed a 20-year high demand for travel nurses directly to the ACA.
Looking ahead: There’s no telling what will become of the ACA once President-Elect Trump takes office. He has promised to dismantle Obamacare, but any changes will likely happen incrementally over time. That being said, he has stated that he plans to keep the parts of ACA that have welcomed formerly uninsured people into the system. This policy includes making sure that those with preexisting conditions have access to healthcare, and allowing young adults up to age 26 to remain insured on their parent’s policies if needed.
See the country while getting paid – find open assignments here.
As medical organizations look to reduce costs, they are turning more and more to advanced nursing professionals (such as nurse practitioners) to take on larger roles so that fewer physicians are needed. Hiring or contracting more nurses can also help save money in the long run by reducing readmissions and costly medical errors.
Once again, bringing in travel nurses who are trained in a specific area – such as those with credentials to treat a specific condition like cancer, or who work exclusively with pediatric patients – has provided a solution for improving patient care.
Looking ahead: As more specialty nursing responsibilities emerge, top institutions will seek to find professionals who have the most up-to-date skills and certifications. It’s not just about filling job vacancies; it’s about finding the right professionals who have the exact skill sets needed. For some employers, working with a travel nursing agency helps simplify the recruiting process. In some cases, such as in Florida when senior citizens flock down during the winter months, travel nurses are the perfect solution to meet seasonal demand.
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Overall, there probably won’t be any monumental shakeups in the travel nursing industry in the coming year. However, based on potential changes to the healthcare system, as well as the aging workforce, older population, and greater reliance on RNs and nurse practitioners, travel nurses will continue to find great opportunities to work across the country.
Speak to a staffing agent about new travel assignments today.
You did it! After spending what seemed to be an endless amount of time researching travel nursing companies, you finally found the right one for you. You’ve spoken with several recruiters and discovered the right person to represent you. But what do you do when all the offers start rolling in? How do you know which offer to take and which one is best for you?
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Well for me, these were just a few questions I asked myself as my first offers started coming in. This can be extremely frustrating especially when you don’t have the answer to those questions.
First thing, don’t freak out! This is an awesome opportunity for you to be picky and find the best offer for you. A helpful tool I used to help me pick an offer was to create a simple pros and cons list. I would suggest starting with what is the most important to you. Here are the top pros and cons that I use.
For me, the main reason I wanted to become a travel nurse was to see new locations across the U.S. So if the offer was in a new place that I had never been to, this quickly became a pro for me.
I wanted to experience new locations and discover all the new things each location had to offer. If the offer hosted site to my family’s past spring break vacations, I would probably list it as a con.
When I got an offer, I always asked about the area of town where the hospital was located. I wanted to make sure my family would be safe living in this location for 3 or more months.
Weather played a huge factor for me traveling. Last thing I wanted to do was consider a contract in Alaska while I was battling a windy winter in the Midwest. So I would encourage you to consider what the weather will be like while you are visiting. No sense in taking a contract when the weather is going to be at its worst during your time there.
During my first winter as a travel nurse I landed an awesome contract in Arizona. It wasn’t too hot and it wasn’t too cold. So I was basking in the sun while my friends and family were experiencing one of the worst winters back at home.
Discover new travel assignments in your specialty here.
It’s important to remember that just because you have a large pool of additional support staff at your current job, doesn’t mean every location has that same support staff. Some unit ratios are different for the same specialty so make sure you ask during your interview what support staff is available to you.
Another consideration is whether you will be working days or nights. I was typically a day shift only nurse. But when that Arizona opportunity came my way, I had to consider taking a night shift. After weighing the pros and cons, I realized taking a night shift position was well worth the opportunity.
You know how the old saying goes “money drives decisions” but money wasn’t my primary focus.
Typically, if the offer was high paying I would list it as a pro, but if the location was lame and in the middle of nowhere, I would then list it as a con. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a location for pay but by no means should you go below your bottom dollar amount just to experience a warm winter in Florida.
I have always enjoyed a good location that has a rich history.
We would go walk in little historical towns and go shopping or hike in a famous national park. One of my favorites was Mount Rainer National Park. I highly suggest it! So if the location had a high probability of me discovering a few historical sites, I would list it as a pro.
These were just a few of my top motives that would help me consider which offer was best for me. In the end, whichever had the most pros over cons would then become my next contract.
I would encourage you to list what is important to you and then list them as either a pro or a con. Because you will be living there for months and you want to make sure you enjoy your time there.
Travel nurses make up to $2,300 per week.
To learn more about Kyle and his decision to become a travel nurse, check out A Journey into Travel Nursing.
And check out his interview series:
Interview With A Travel Nurse: Preparing for a New Facility
Interview With A Travel Nurse: How to Recover From Failing the NCLEX
Interview With A Travel Nurse: How To Prepare To Be A Rock Star Travel Nurse – Before You Are One
Interview With A Travel Nurse: Sure-fire Signs You’re Working With The Wrong Staffing Agency
Interview With A Travel Nurse: Preparing For Travel Nursing Even Before Nursing School
I have to say that one of the most amazing aspects of being a nurse is the flexibility of our schedules. We can work all hours of the day and only a few days a week.
Luckily, travel nurses are privy to the same schedule which gives plenty of time to get out there and explore because let’s face it – one of the biggest draws to travel nursing is the adventure.
Click here to find available travel assignments.
Making your access to activities both easy and inexpensive is key to an enjoyable experience. When I was working in Los Angeles, I worked three 12’s and always had at least one day off a week. The flexibility in my schedule allowed me to drive to Santa Monica to meet up with friends on a weekly basis.
While on assignment in LA I was able to pick up new hobbies I would have never had the opportunity if not for travel nursing. A couple of my favorites were riding bikes along the ocean and taking trapeze lessons on the Santa Monica Pier.
With the high tourism in Santa Monica and Venice Beach, this commute and ability to schedule trapeze lessons was only possible because I had the flexibility to schedule weekdays off. I personally would not be able to tolerate the traffic or the amount of people on the weekends.
I also found it much easier to go grocery shopping, go to any appointments and even go hiking during the week. Not to mention that work tends to be a bit more chill on the weekends.
Explore the country while getting paid! Find assignments in your dream city here.
If you know that when you work nights you turn into a zombie who sleeps all day, then it may be wise to avoid working night shift if possible. A big part of travel nursing is to create adventure in your life. Do not ruin your experience by sleeping all day.
If you know that three days in a row kills you, then let your scheduling person know that information. The last thing they want is a nurse with a bad attitude at work. You usually can’t pick your schedule but you can let them know your preferences.
I also don’t recommend working extra shifts because the money isn’t worth it if you will be too tired to go and enjoy yourself.
Creating fun and adventure in your travel nursing life takes some planning. It’s not like back home when your friends would call you up and invite you to go do something. You will have to make a point to meet new people and try new things. ‘
Most cities have a website with a calendar of events so plan on doing something new on your days off. Travel nurses have the rare advantage of living in cities all over the country for short periods of time so take advantage of that. You don’t want to return home without some fun stories.
Discover new travel assignments in your specialty here.
Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park is often considered one of the best hiking spots in the world. Keep in mind – hiking the Grand Canyon isn’t for beginners.
There are a few hiking routes you can take at the Grand Canyon, all of which are as difficult, but rewarding, as the next. Hikes usually begin at Mather Point, and they take hikers down into the canyon. Getting into the canyon is perhaps one of the toughest downhill hikes, but there’s no experience quite like being inside the Grand Canyon.
Aside from Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona is home to tons of other hikes and should offer more than enough for the outdoor enthusiast.
The best city for Arizona hiking is easily Phoenix, the largest city in Arizona. Aside from hiking, Phoenix is home to NBA, NFL and MLB teams, as well as a number of excellent hospitals.
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As if you needed another excuse to apply for a travel nursing assignment in Hawaii! Along with the beautiful beaches, stunning ocean views and vivacious culture, Hawaii has some of the coolest hikes in America.
The island of Kauai offers some of the greatest natural sights. Hiking trails will take you through the same rain forests where films like Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park were filmed, and many of them end with a breath-taking waterfall.
Chances are you’ll be taking your travel nursing assignment in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Fortunately, Oahu has a number of great hikes, such as the famous Haiku Stairs. The Stairs, also known as the stairway to heaven, take you along the ridge of a mountain offering a view of the island unlike any other.
If rainforest hikes and mountain walks weren’t enough, you can also hike to Diamond Head, an active volcano.
The Appalachian Trail in Maine stretches for 100 miles, all of which is completely unpaved and great for a weekend out. While it would be difficult to hike the full 100 miles, it is recommended to do smaller chunks of the hike, such as the first 30 miles.
If the 100-Mile Wilderness doesn’t sound like your thing, Mount Desert Island and Deer Isle also offer excellent hiking destinations. As a plus, both islands are also fishing destinations and have famous lighthouses to check out.
The biggest city in Maine is Portland, but a travel nursing assignment in Massachusetts’ Boston area would leave you a 4-5 hour drive to reach the trail – and even less for the islands.
See the country while getting paid – find available assignments here
If you aren’t interested in hiking up the highest mountains or if you’d rather spend time by the river than atop a peak, the Jacks River Trail in Georgia is the spot to visit.
Unlike other hikes on this list, the Jacks River Trail will bring you across rivers a few times. This means that you will be getting a little wet. If you can get past having to get in the water, this is a gorgeous hiking location.
It’s located on the border of Georgia and Tennessee, so a travel nursing assignment in Atlanta, Georgia or in Chattanooga or Nashville, Tennessee would best. All three are pretty famous cities on their own, so there should be no shortage of things to do.
The Columbia River Gorge offers a number of hiking trails ranging from just 1 mile to 60 miles, so it caters to hikers of all skill levels. Thanks to the northwest rain, there are a number of waterfalls to admire as you hike near the second largest river in America.
There are dozens of hiking trails, but Dog Mountain and Angel’s Rest are some of the major highlights. Both offer some of the best views of the gorge, perfect for a sunny summer hike or a fun winter trek.
If the northwest is your thing, Portland is going to offer the best opportunities for nursing. The hip, quickly-growing city is just a few hours away making the gorge an easy weekend trip.
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One of my biggest fears before I started my travel nursing career was the fear of being alone. I was leaving everything and everyone I knew on an adventure to a place where I knew no one.
I am a pretty outgoing person and I never really had a hard time meeting people in the past but I knew that a 13 week time constraint made it much more difficult; not to mention most of the people I was friends with were my co-workers, so I knew changing jobs every three months might put a damper on my social network.
I was surprised to find that connecting with people on the road wasn’t as difficult as I thought it was going to be.
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The easiest people to connect with on the road are your fellow travel nurses; we are all in the same boat (for the most part). We are inclined to adventure and are all most likely suffering from a little bit of homesickness.
The best time to meet your fellow travelers is during hospital orientation. The HR specialists are kind enough to have everyone introduce themselves so it’s easy to identify who’s who. I suggest striking up a conversation the first day. I like to ask people where they are from and where are they housed. Often times I have been housed in the same building as my fellow orientees.
I usually get people’s numbers on the first day and ask them if they would like to hang out sometime. If you’re not up for asking for someone’s number, you can always connect on Facebook.
The next best place to meet your fellow travelers is on the floor you work. If you are extremely worried about loneliness, I suggest taking assignments in big cities such as Los Angeles or San Francisco. These cities have a lot of travel nurses both new and seasoned, which makes it really easy to meet new people.
A lot of the seasoned travel nurses who just float around one city are usually pretty open to inviting the newbies out. They also know all the best spots to visit and which hospitals to avoid.
I would also encourage you to participate in any activities the staff nurses offer as well. If there is a sign in the break room regarding mimosas after work, then maybe you should go. It’s a lot easier to connect with people outside of work.
If you end up in a smaller city with a limited number of travelers, you can always join a Meetup.com group. Meetup groups make it easy to find people who enjoy the same activities as you. It’s also a good way to see the city.
Explore the country while getting paid! Find assignments in your dream city here.
I have found for me, the easiest place to meet people is at the gym. This can take some time especially if you are one of those people who walk around with your headphones on. I recommend taking some classes or joining a fitness studio. This creates a more intimate group like setting. You can also go as far as picking a local race to train for. Some gyms have groups that train and race together.
If groups aren’t your thing or maybe you aren’t quite ready to ask for people’s numbers, then I suggest perusing the Groupon website for some local deals. This is the best way to see what your new city has to offer and maybe create an opportunity for you to invite one of your fellow travel nurses out.
If all of this still sounds a little too much for you then invite your friends and family out from your hometown. If going out with familiar faces is what it takes to get you out of the house then so be it.
New travel nursing jobs available here.
Finding high quality friends while on the road can be challenging and staying connected with them is even harder once you all move on. I think the goal for meeting new people while traveling is to find people with little to no drama who you can tolerate long enough to enjoy some local activities. They might never be like the friends you have at home and that’s okay. Creating memories should be low stress and so should your travel nursing experience.
RNs can make up to $2,300 per week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
Big things happen in Texas, and there’s a chance that you’re thinking about taking a big travel nursing assignment there. Texas has a lot to offer, both socially and professionally.
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Not only is it home to world famous entertainment, but it is also home to a number of renowned hospitals – one of which you may be working in!
There’s a lot to consider before taking an assignment in Texas. Along with your career, you would be moving your entire life to a new city. Find out a little more about the Lone Star state to see if it is right for you.
One of the best parts about Texas is that there is no shortage of things to do. Texas is home to some incredible art, world-renowned architecture, a busy night life, great music and, of course, excellent food – Texas BBQ anyone? In fact, Dallas cracked Zagat’s top 10 best cities in the United States for food in 2015.
While Texas definitely has it’s big cities, it is also has an abundance of wilderness to play in. If you’re a lover of hiking, camping or anything outdoors, Texas could be the right fit for you.
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As any travel nurse can attest, safety in a new place is of utmost importance. Check out this map of Dallas for instance, to help you avoid living in a number of unsafe areas. Aside from crime, there are other factors to consider. For example, the weather in Texas can get hot in summer which is something to consider for those not used to heat. Also, creepier factors, such as fire ants, might need to be considered.
As far as major metropolitan areas go, Texas is relatively inexpensive. According to information site Expatistan, the cost of living in Dallas is much lower than most other metropolitan areas. Rent ranges depending on what area of the city you’re in, but expect to be paying between $1,000-$1,400 a month for a single apartment in the city.
If you do choose to move to Texas, you won’t be spending too much on transportation. Gas prices are consistently below the US average.
The real reason you’re going to Texas isn’t going to be the hot weather or the Cowboys. Your nursing career is important, and you want to make sure that you’re going to a hospital that you will enjoy working at.
According to US News, Texas is home to nine nationally ranked hospitals and 35 others that meet national high performing standards . Also, nurses who reviewed Texas hospitals on Nurse.org gave the area fairly high marks across the board.
Texas is perfect for those who want to live in a big, lively state. There is always something to do and the hospitals are top-notch
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Have you ever stayed in a nice hotel where you could sleep until 10 because of the amazing curtains? Give the night shift nurse in your life the gift of sleep – even when the sun’s a-blazin’.
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This is hilarious. According to WebMD, a side-effect of taking melatonin is sleepiness. That’s the whole point!
Melatonin can promote better sleep during the day, and help your loved one adjust when returning to night sleep. Get your honey a bottle of this supplement; just be sure to warn them about the “side effect.”
Whole Foods isn’t open at 1 AM. You know what kinds of places are? Taco Bell.
Pack your significant other a healthy dinner at least one or two nights a week. A healthier, happier person will come home to you after his or her shift.
Related: Survival Tips For Night Shift Nurses
Barking dogs suck. So do lawn mowers — or really anything else that goes on during the daytime — when you’re a night shift nurse.
Not everyone is into earplugs, so buy your sweetie an Itunes gift card with which they can buy some relaxing tracks of ocean waves. The ambient noise will drown out that yapping canine.
The problem with the night shift is that you might not see each other very much if you work days. So block out a day a week when you are both free, and don’t do anything except spend the day together.
Being a night shift nurse has its perks, but it can be hard on relationships. Block out a day just for each other. Do it now!
Since becoming a traveler, filling out skills checklists and new company applications are probably the top two things I hate doing the most – even more than peeing in a cup every three months. However, it’s absolutely necessary to get exactly what you want out of travel nursing.
Traveling with more than one travel company can ensure that you’re getting the money you want, housing you want, and benefits you want.
Not all travel companies offer the same experience so traveling with more than one allows you to personalize it to fit your needs.
Match with a travel company here.
Obviously the first thing on everyone’s mind is money. Your check can be affected by a couple of different factors with different companies.
First, the more companies you work with the more diversity in your housing. Some companies have bigger take home pay but maybe the housing isn’t stellar. This would be a good company to go with if you’re just looking to make bank for that super sweet island vacation you’ve been dreaming about.
If living in an extended stay hotel all the time isn’t ideal for you, it’s good to have that company with a little less take-home but luxury housing working with you too.
Another way multiple companies can be beneficial in the payroll department is by being able to compare multiple different pay packages. Some bonuses are offered by hospitals but some are offered by the company. Traveling with only one company means you could potentially miss out on lots of bonus Benjamins.
Also, some companies have lower hourly rates and higher stipends and vice versa. It really just depends on what’s important to you. It also depends on taxes and Lord knows He did not bless me with accounting skills so definitely do a little research on that subject when accepting a pay package.
A lot of times different companies will have the same position so you wouldn’t necessarily have to give up a great location because the company you’re currently with doesn’t offer a bonus or the stipend amount you’re looking for.
One tip I recommend is to make sure you let the company you’re most interested in know what others are offering. Often they can match or get close to what other companies are offering just to keep you.
Click here to discover new high paying opportunities.
Working with multiple travel nurse agencies helps you get to where you want to go. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that not all companies have contracts with every hospital in every state.
Some companies can get you to Alaska and Hawaii, others can get you to specific hospitals like Johns Hopkins or New York Presbyterian. Certain companies have exclusive contracts with agencies. So you really have to work with multiple companies if getting to a specific hospital is on your agenda.
The more companies you work with the more options you have, simple as that. The more options you have also helps you get to where you want to go WHEN you want to go. You definitely won’t find me in the north during the wintertime if I have anything to do with it! I’m a fair weather kinda gal and working with multiple agencies helps me stay comfortable all year long.
Travel nurse companies have anywhere from zero to all the benefits. And similar to the dinero side of things, which company you go with depends on your needs at the time.
Are you so over paying on your student loans and just need them out of your life?! Then a company with little benefits and more cash is probably the way you want to go for a little while until Sallie Mae stops sending you all those emails.
Do you have a husband and two dogs (or kids) to take care of? Then maybe a company with a 401k and health insurance is the way for you to go. There’s even a company or two out there that offers PTO and sick days.
The lovely thing about living is that you can go from one set of needs to another and sometimes back again at any point in your life which is why being already set up through many companies is most beneficial to your wellbeing/stress level.
Find travel assignments in your specialty here.
Personally, I work with about five different companies. They go from one of the largest in country to the smallest.
One company has gotten me to the biggest, most prestigious hospitals, another has housed me in places nicer than I’d pick for myself where I can truly make home for 3 months and get paid enough to support my family and pay off student loans at the same time.
I’ve had such great experiences with each of the companies I’ve worked for. I have no doubt that no matter where I want to go or when I want to go that I can get there because I have so many people on my side working to get me there.
Match with a travel company here.
Those two little letters – RN – have a lot of meaning behind them. It stands for Registered Nurse, but what it really means is that you’re a professional who has earned a nursing license, and therefore can practice as a nurse in your state. As of 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2,751,000 registered nurses in the United States.
Thinking of joining that elite group? If so, read on to learn more about what it takes to get a nursing license and become an RN.
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First things first, you need to know exactly what a nursing license is. The short answer is that it gives you the right to work as an RN, but there’s more to it than that. Stated more officially by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing: “Licensure is the process by which boards of nursing grant permission to an individual to engage in nursing practice after determining that the applicant has attained the competency necessary to perform a unique scope of practice.”
The key here is that a nursing license shows you’ve got what it takes to make it in this challenging profession because you’ve been educated in nursing courses given by nursing educators, practiced hands-on clinical healthcare settings for the required number of hours, and rigorously tested by a standardized national exam.
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To earn your nursing license, you basically have to complete your approved nursing education program of choice, and then pass the national licensing exam called the NCLEX-RN.
School Days
There is actually more than one path you can take in order to begin working as an RN. In fact, there are three: a bachelor’s degree in nursing; an associate degree in nursing; or a diploma program. You must choose a program that is approved by a board of nursing, and complete it in order to sit for the licensing exam.
Obviously a bachelor’s degree is the longest path, taking four years, but the additional education can provide a competitive edge for higher paying or more desirable positions. Still, many people choose the quicker associate or diploma routes so they can start working in the field sooner. Often, these RNs do end up going back to school to continue their education at some point in order to advance their careers.
Test Time
Before you can register for the NCLEX-RN, you have to graduate from your nursing program. As Kaplan, the test preparation company, explains, the exam judges test takers on how they will use their nursing school knowledge and critical thinking skills to make nursing judgments and decisions. It is given as an interactive CAT (computer adaptive test) format, meaning the questions you get are based on your responses you give to prior questions. In other words, no two students will take exactly the same test. The exam results are not scored, but instead it is determined if you passed or failed. You’ll receive notification of your results within 2-4 weeks from your State Board of Nursing. If you do not pass, you can retake the exam after 45 days.
Once you pass the NCLEX-RN, the final hurdle before receiving your nursing license is that you may have to pass a criminal background check. This requirement will vary by state.
You can find each State Board of Nursing here to learn more about the specific requirements for licensure in your state.
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Once you earn your nursing license, you can begin working in the state in which it was issued. But what happens if you decide to move, or wish to work in a neighboring state, or as a travel nurse? Even though you passed the NCLEX-RN, which is a national exam, each state board of nursing has its own set of rules called the Nursing Practice Act. Therefore, you may have to transfer your nursing license in order to work in a new state, and/or follow a slightly different set of rules.
Nursing license reciprocity
The good news is that you are not required you to take any additional exams if you already have your nursing license elsewhere since you already passed the nationally recognized exam. Most times, with a valid license and a clean record, you can apply for a new state license. Reciprocity comes into play in that it allows you to practice using a temporary permit (usually 90 days) while you await your new license application to be processed. Note that fees and requirements vary by state, and you’ll be expected to familiarize yourself with the new state’s Nursing Practice Act.
Compact states
This whole process is simplified if your original license was earned in one of the 25 states that adhere to the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement, and you wish to practice in another compact state. That legislation basically allows nurses to practice in member states without having to recertify. Essentially, you’ll hold a multi-state nursing license, for which all of your information and work history will be kept in a database that can be accessed by anyone hiring nurses in participating states. In other words, less paperwork, red tape, and fees all around for compact state nurses.
If your primary residence or the new state you’d like to work in is not a compact state, however, the application process will be somewhat more lengthy and costly. You can view a list of compact states here.
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Earning a nursing license does take a lot of work, as it should given the huge amount of responsibility that RNs handle everyday. Once you earn it, however, that accomplishment will open doors for the rest of your nursing career.
RNs can make up to $2,300 per week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
