Travel nurses are generally Registered Nurses from different clinical backgrounds. Travel Nurse work for independent staffing agencies. On a temporary basis, they are assigned for nursing to different care areas. It can help to fill in short-term employment gaps.
This travel nursing is more important when the field of nursing faced a nationwide shortage. If some hospitals, check-up clinics and other care areas had unfilled position but still patients need proper care. In these open positions travel nurses can be recruit.
To attract nurses for those open positions, employers like hospitals and clinics offered higher pay, housing, and covered the cost of relocating. Health care department recruit travel nurses to fill open positions. Travel nurses work different health care department also outside of the United States as international travel nurses. In this article we will check the details information about Travel Nurse.
Why Are Travel Nurses Important?
Travel nurses are very important part of the health care team because they help reduce the gap between supply and demand in the field of nursing. Increasing nurse-patient ratios increase the patient safety and reduce patient mortality. Now a days more and more states are passing legislation to implement this Travel Nurse concept.
Also, these nurses are different educational background, care areas, and geographic locations. This will help to provide a compact service of nursing.
Different characteristics of a Travel Nurse?
Below mentioned characteristics can help a travel nurse to accelerate this role –
- Travel nurses can enjoy experiencing new cities, towns, and organizations
- Enjoys freedom. They can easily choose when and where they want to work. Also, they can choose their duration of employment.
- Enjoys flexibility. Travel nurses can select their schedules, their employee benefits packages and income. It is depending on which agency they are selecting to work
- Thrives on challenges. Moving to different states or overseas repeatedly is challenging too.
What Are the Educational Requirements for Travel Nurse?
Those people who are interested in the specialty of travel nursing, they should first complete a nursing degree through a two or four-year university. To become a Travel Nurse one must have associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree (BSN) in nursing. Some times bachelor’s degree is not required to be a travel nurse. But there are some health care facilities only hire bachelor’s degree completed nurses.
Once the nursing program is completed, NCLEX-RN completion is required for proper licensure.
Most of the travel nurse agencies they are asking for a minimum of one year of hands-on experience in the chosen specialty of nursing. Also some agencies will hire travel nurse BSN-prepared RNs. As communication is a key part of the efficient delivery of health care, international travel nurses need to speak their country’s language. They are encouraged to research agencies when considering travel nursing.
Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?
No additional exams are required for travel nursing. Based on the specialty, certification(s) may be required. Examples include:
- Medical/Surgical Nursing
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) may be required
- Stroke care certification
- Telemetry certification
- Intensive Care (ICU) Nursing
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Critical care nursing (adults, pediatric, neonatal)
- Women’s Health/Labor and Delivery Nursing
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) may be required
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) may be required
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification
- Emergency Room Nursing
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
- Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) certification
Additional specific requirements may be necessary for inter