Maybe you've heard all of the great things associated with being a travel nurse and you're thinking that you would like to make a career change to this profession. It's important to know that if you are not currently a nurse or another healthcare professional, the road to becoming a travel nurse may be tedious, but if it's something you truly want to pursue, you can do it. Consider these three steps toward making a career change to travel nursing and get on your way to caring for patients all over the country.
1. Understand what it takes to be a travel nurse. Before pursuing this career, you should know some of the characteristics of a travel nurse and see if you have what it takes. For instance, because you're on location to help an understaffed hospital or clinic facility fill in the gaps, you should be flexible. Furthermore, you should be capable of picking up new information and instruction quickly because assignment orientations are typically brief. Finally, you should be willing to be adventurous. You will be exposed to all different types of cultures and backgrounds when traveling the country.
2. Get certified as a nurse. In order to be a travel nursing professional, you must be an RN, LPN, LVN, NP or APN. There are many ways to get certified as a nurse, including earning your traditional four-year Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree, a two-year Associate's degree or taking a hospital licensure program. Furthermore, there is a variety of schools that now offer what is called an accelerated Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN). These programs are perfect for a person who has already obtained a bachelor's degree and is looking to make a career change.
3. Gain clinical experience. Travel nursing requires you to have experience in the nursing industry before you can be eligible for an assignment. The minimum experience requirements depend on factors such as your area of specialty, the facility and sometimes even where you would like to go on assignment. Many facilities required you have at least 12 to 18 months of experience and most LPN/LVN need a minimum of six years experience.