travel nursing questions

Dempather, RN · Mar 2, 2007

Hmm.. okay, let's break this down:

For starters, travel companies recommend at least a year's experience. It's favorable if your experience is in the specialty you want to work in (ER, for example.)

Is it reality to think you can live at home and just travel nurse around your home area?

Of course. I worked with a nurse who, to begin her travel nursing career, stayed in the same city. All she did differently was travel to another hospital uptown. No relocation required.

Can you travel nurse in a special area (like L&D or ER) or do you pretty much have to take what you get?

There are so many different agencies out there right now. The best you can do is going to the websites, request info... see what their policies are and what they offer. In general, you are allowed to decide what department you want to work in. Imagine that, decide WHERE you want to go, and what department you want to work in.

Is it possible to travel nurse with family/pets?

Many of these travel agencies offer subsidized housing (which is awesome). However, finding a place that accomodates for pets may be tricky. From what I've read, traveling with pets is discouraged. I haven't researched the issue of taking your family with you, with the exception of a program like Doctors Without Borders, which according to their website, won't relocate you with anybody else.

If you work in other states other than where you reside do you have to have liscenses (sp) for the other states?

Going to have to pass that one on to another nurse. Not quite sure. :) I'm leaning towards no. If they required it, I'm not sure if they'd be obliged to pay for that expense.

Can you ever travel in other countries?

It depends on the agency that you're affiliated with. Some may allow it, others won't. I really recommend going online and doing some research. If you subscribe to a nursing magazine, you'll see a bunch of ads in the back for nursing travel companies. The same nurse I mentioned earlier that traveled to a different hospital in the same city told me that once she requested information, she started getting several calls everyday from potenial employers. There's a HUGE need for travel nurses out there right now with incredible incentives.

I'd love to travel internationally one day, and if you would, too, I urge you to look into a program like Doctors Without Borders, which hires volunteers (they offer monthly stipends) who are medical professionals to travel to places like Africa and whatnot. Helps a bunch if you know other languages. That's just one option, though. The world is open to you right now. That's the beauty of it. Good luck!

mistydave · Mar 2, 2007

thankyou that is great info so far. I also saw where many nurses travel with an RV- that might be an option for me with family and pets.

mistydave · Mar 2, 2007

I might be getting ahead of myself with excitement. But is it reality to keep a home in another state, and travel by RV, would the pay be beneficial for this or would we barely break even? Just wondering, my husband and family has always wanted to travel anyway.

Nursonegreat · Mar 2, 2007

"If you work in other states other than where you reside do you have to have liscenses (sp) for the other states?"

i dont know if i am reading this right...but i am from NY state...and traveled to Colorado...i had to have a licence in Colo also...u always have to have a licence in the state u will be working in!

mistydave · Mar 2, 2007

so how do you get those other liscenses? or how much time does that take to get a liscence each time you want to travel?

OkieICU_RN · Mar 2, 2007

Let me start from the top of your list of questions.

It depends on where you live and want to work as to whether you can "travel" in the same city or not. There are many hospitals that require their travelers to live outside a certain radius of the city where the hospital is in. Some hospitals it may be 50 miles, I came across one that was 300. You can always do agency in the same city but they don't have as many perks though the salary is good.

When you travel, you take assigments based on the area of your expertise. I am an ICU nurse, I take ICU assignments only. I am not qualified to work in L&D or peds or many other areas.

Yes, you can travel with family and pets. You may have a hard time finding housing that will accept a pet but it's possible. Normally, you can have a spouse or SO accompany you and stay in your housing. If you have children and require an extra bedroom, you will be responsible for paying the difference in price for the 2nd bedroom.

On the licensing question, yes you MUST be licensed in any state you work in. In the past several years there have been some states that have gone to a compact nursing license. A compact license means you can be licensed in one state and have "reciprocity" in another participating state. I think there are about 15 or so states that participate in this program. For the other states, you must apply for licensure in that state. Once you pass the nursing boards you apply for a license in your home state. To get another license, you apply in the new state for licensure by endorsement. Your board of nursing sends a verification to the new state, you pay a new fee and, barring any problems, you get another license.

Some companies do reimburse for license in a state they contract you in. The company I work for now does not, but there are several that I know of that do.

I know that there are opportunities to travel in other countries, but I don't know anyone that has. Remember, the US healthcare system is very different from what you would find in another country. There are several that are similar to ours: England, places in the Carribean, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc. I would do A LOT of checking before going to another country to be a nurse in a travel situation. Working as a volunteer or with something like doctors without borders would be a little different since this is a very large humanitarian organization as opposed to going into a single foreign hospital.

Hope that helps.

NurseguyFL · Mar 2, 2007

Is it reality to think you can live at home and just travel nurse around your home area?

Yes, but you should be aware that if you do local travel you may not be eligible for some of the benefits of travel nursing, per IRS rules. This is usually the case with tax-free per diem allowances for housing, meals, transportation expenses, etc. The IRS has very strict guidelines about this.