Can New Grads Be Travel Nurses? Your Guide to This Exciting Career Path
Becoming a travel nurse opens up a world of professional and personal development. Exploring new cities, diverse work environments, and connecting with experienced mentors can significantly help new nurses enhance their skills and find their ideal practice setting. For recent nursing school graduates, starting a career in travel nursing is now more accessible than ever.
While healthcare facilities still typically require some clinical experience for travel assignments, the waiting period might be shorter than you anticipate. With emerging opportunities, new grad nurses can begin pursuing their travel nursing dreams just a few months after graduation. This article explores how can a new grad nurse be a travel nurse and what you need to know.
Drawing insights from nurse staffing experts, here is essential information and helpful tips for new graduate nurses interested in this dynamic, potentially lucrative, and highly rewarding career option.
Can New Grads Be Travel Nurses? 10 Key Things to Know
For new nursing graduates exploring career options, the possibility of immediate travel nursing can seem daunting. However, understanding the evolving landscape and preparing effectively can make this exciting path a reality.
1. Experience Requirements Are Evolving
An encouraging tip for new grad nurses is the shifting landscape of experience requirements. Some hospitals are now open to Registered Nurses (RNs) applying for travel nurse positions with less than one year of experience. These employers often provide additional support for newer nurses through mentoring programs and continuing education opportunities.
Certain specialties and facilities may still require more extensive experience, sometimes up to two years, depending on the type of healthcare setting. Nevertheless, the increasing availability of new grad nursing jobs within the travel industry significantly broadens possibilities for recent graduates.
Once you secure your first nursing role and gain a few months of professional experience, particularly in an acute care setting, it’s an opportune time to connect with a reputable travel nursing agency and a recruiter. They can guide you through your options and help you prepare for a travel career. This directly addresses the question of can you do travel nursing as a new grad sooner than previously thought.
2. Travel Nursing Jobs Enhance Your Resume
Building a strong foundation of nursing practice skills is paramount for new grad nurses entering the workforce. Travel nursing provides an excellent avenue to acquire a broad base of clinical experience rapidly.
Engaging in travel assignments offers exposure to a variety of workplaces and clinical settings. This includes opportunities at top-ranked facilities, working with cutting-edge equipment and technology, and collaborating with experienced nursing staff nationwide who can impart valuable insights, share their expertise, and demonstrate best practices.
3. New Graduate Nurses Can Shape Their Career
While some initial experience is a prerequisite for entering the travel nursing field, once you gain entry as a new grad, you’ll encounter a constant stream of new experiences that foster professional growth. Working closely with a recruiter allows you to find travel nursing positions in specific facilities and specialties that align with your career aspirations.
Healthcare professionals at a patient's bedside, representing clinical experience gained through travel nursing
You might choose to focus on one particular area or request opportunities to gain exposure to different units during your travel assignments. Many hospitals allow travel nurses to “float” to various departments. Your recruiter can assist you in selecting assignments that provide the precise experience and support needed to achieve your nursing career goals. The flexibility to select contract types is another benefit for new grad travel nurses. Options range from shorter-term contracts for maximum flexibility to project-based assignments like Electronic Medical Record (EMR) conversions, opening new units, or participating in seasonal vaccine clinics. Traditional 13-week assignments are also widely available.
4. Job Placement and Relocation Services Are Often Free
Reputable contract nursing agencies work diligently on your behalf to secure short-term assignments and project roles across the country. Your dedicated recruiter will support you throughout the entire process at no cost. Many agencies also offer digital tools, like mobile apps, enabling nurses to search and apply for jobs independently.
Recruiters connect you with suitable travel opportunities, coordinate interviews, help you review contracts, and guide you through each stage of the assignment. They also serve as your advocate and provide ongoing support while you are on assignment.
Additionally, travel nurse recruiters collaborate with teams of specialists who handle various aspects, from licensing and documentation requirements to arranging housing and managing payroll. It’s crucial to partner with a well-established, reputable company possessing strong relationships with healthcare facilities nationwide.
5. New Grad Travel Nurses Can Earn Competitive Pay and Benefits
As a new graduate nurse, managing student loans and other expenses is often a priority. Therefore, securing new grad nursing jobs that offer competitive compensation and benefits is significant.
Travel nursing typically provides attractive pay rates, often higher than permanent positions. Most travel nursing agencies offer company-paid benefits packages that may include medical and dental insurance, 401(k) plans, continuing education support, and more.
Due to the nature of short-term, rapid-response assignments, many leading agencies offer highly competitive travel nurse salaries within the industry, alongside a comprehensive suite of travel nursing benefits.
6. Travel Jobs Often Include Free Housing and Paid Travel Expenses
Forget hefty rent bills or living situations you’ve outgrown – a significant advantage is that most travel nursing companies provide FREE housing for their travel nurses.
This can be in the form of company-arranged accommodations or a housing stipend that grants you the flexibility to find your own lodging.
Most agencies also cover many of your initial travel and relocation expenses. They may also reimburse costs for obtaining new state nursing licenses required for assignments. Additional perks can include performance bonuses and 24/7 clinical support if you encounter any issues while working.
7. You’ll Build a Strong Network of Friends and Professional Contacts
A valuable tip for new grad nurses is to embrace networking and leverage the connections you’ll naturally make as a travel nurse. You might even find fellow travelers who can join you on assignments, sharing experiences and exploring new places together.
Forging new friendships and expanding your professional network is a major benefit of travel nursing. After completing several assignments, you could cultivate a network of colleagues and friends spread across the United States. Maintaining these connections can be incredibly beneficial for future job searches and career opportunities.
8. You’ll Enjoy Adventure, Fun, and Exploration
Travel nursing stands out as one of the unique career paths that literally pays you to travel while you engage in your passion for nursing.
Each new travel nursing assignment brings fresh experiences and excitement as you immerse yourself in a new city. You’ll have the chance to discover new restaurants, explore museums, parks, and engage in local activities. Even the road trips between assignments become part of the adventure!
This career allows you to tick dream destinations off your bucket list. You can push your boundaries by trying new sports, sampling diverse regional cuisines, and experiencing unique local customs and activities you wouldn’t find back home.
9. You Can Choose When and Where You Work
Partnering with a recruiter at a travel nursing agency empowers you to select from available assignments across the entire country.
You can choose contract nursing jobs based on specific cities, desired facility types (such as teaching hospitals, specialty centers, Magnet-designated hospitals, or outpatient clinics), and even the type of unit you prefer to work on.
Do you prefer to take back-to-back assignments throughout the year and then enjoy an extended vacation, or would you rather plan shorter getaways between each assignment? The flexibility is largely yours. Furthermore, if an assignment proves to be a good fit for both you and the facility, you often have the option to extend your contract and stay longer.
10. You’ll Never Experience Boredom
While some individuals find fulfillment in working within the same hospital and community for many years, others seek new scenery, exposure to different techniques, meeting new people, and exploring new places. For the latter group, travel nursing can be an exceptional fit.
As a new graduate nurse embarking on a travel nursing career, you’ll relish the feeling of starting fresh every few weeks or months. Assignments typically range from 4 to 13 weeks, providing ample opportunity to develop your career, enjoy variety, and consistently stay at the top of your nursing practice.
Embarking on travel nursing as a new graduate nurse is increasingly viable and offers a wealth of benefits, from accelerated skill development and enhanced resumes to competitive pay, travel perks, and unparalleled personal adventure. If you’re a recent graduate seeking a dynamic and rewarding start to your nursing career, exploring the path of travel nursing is highly recommended.
