Can You Do Travel Nursing as a New Grad? Exploring Opportunities
Becoming a travel nurse presents incredible opportunities for professional and personal development. Discovering new cities, diverse work environments, and experienced mentors can significantly help recent nursing graduates build their skills and find the perfect place to practice. The exciting news is that starting a travel nursing career shortly after graduation is now more accessible than ever before.
While healthcare facilities still require nurses to have some clinical experience before taking on a travel assignment, the waiting period might be shorter than you anticipate. New options are emerging, allowing new graduate nurses to embark on their dream careers after just a few months of initial experience. Understanding the landscape of travel nursing as a new grad requires insight into current requirements, potential benefits, and how to navigate the entry points into this dynamic field.
Nurse staffing experts often provide valuable guidance for new graduate nurses exploring this exciting, potentially lucrative, and rewarding career path. They offer insights into what recent grads need to know to successfully transition into travel nursing roles.
10 Key Considerations for New Nursing Graduates Eyeing Travel Roles
For new grad nurses interested in travel opportunities, several factors are crucial to understand. These points shed light on the evolving requirements and the unique advantages of starting your career journey as a travel nurse.
Experience Requirements Are Changing
One of the most encouraging points for new grad nurses is the shift in experience requirements. Some hospitals are now willing to accept Registered Nurses (RNs) for travel positions with less than a full year of experience. These facilities often provide additional support structures for newer nurses, including mentorship programs and opportunities for continuing education.
While some specialties and facilities still maintain stricter requirements (up to two years of experience), varying by healthcare setting type, the availability of jobs welcoming new grads in the travel nursing sector opens up numerous possibilities. Once you secure your first nursing position and gain a few months of professional experience, particularly in an acute care setting, you can begin exploring options with a travel nursing agency. Connecting with a recruiter can provide valuable information on available roles and help prepare you for a travel career. Understanding the specific requirements is key, and agencies can help clarify this. Learn more about what kind of experience is generally needed and how long it takes to become a traveling nurse.
Travel Nursing Jobs Build a Strong Resume
Building a deep and versatile nursing practice skillset should be a primary focus for new nursing graduates entering the workforce. Travel nursing is an excellent avenue for gaining a broad foundation of clinical experience rapidly.
Taking on travel assignments exposes nurses to a variety of workplaces and healthcare settings, including potentially top-ranked facilities, cutting-edge equipment and technology, and interactions with experienced nursing staff across the country. These connections and diverse experiences provide invaluable insights, best practices, and can significantly enhance your professional resume.
New Graduate Nurses Can Shape Their Career Path
Although initial experience is a prerequisite for entering the travel nursing field, once you establish yourself as a new grad travel nurse, you will encounter a continuous stream of new experiences that foster professional growth. Working closely with a recruiter allows you to identify travel nursing jobs in the specific facilities and specialties that align with your career aspirations.
You might choose to focus on a single area to deepen your expertise or seek assignments that allow you to gain exposure to various units. Many hospitals offer travel nurses the flexibility to “float” between different departments. Your recruiter serves as a guide, helping you select assignments that provide the ideal mix of experience and support tailored to your individual nursing career goals. The flexibility extends to contract length; you can find shorter-term contracts offering maximum adaptability or project-based assignments related to EMR system changes, new unit launches, or seasonal clinics. Traditional 13-week assignments also remain widely available.
Mother bedside with patient daughter and healthcare professionals
Job Placement and Relocation Services are Often Free
Reputable contract nursing agencies work diligently on your behalf to locate short-term assignments and project opportunities nationwide. Your dedicated recruiter will assist you throughout the entire process, typically at no charge to you. This includes connecting you with suitable travel jobs, arranging interviews, helping you review contract details, and guiding you through each necessary step. They also act as your advocate and provide support throughout the duration of your assignment.
Recruiters collaborate with a team of specialists who handle various logistical aspects, from navigating licensing issues and documentation requirements to arranging housing accommodations and processing your paychecks. However, not all agencies operate with the same level of service or connections. Choosing a reputable, well-established company with strong relationships across healthcare facilities is essential for a smooth experience. Considering the various aspects, it’s worth researching the pros and cons of travel nursing to make an informed decision.
New Grad Travel Nurses Can Earn Competitive Pay and Benefits
As a new nursing graduate, managing student loans and other expenses is a common concern. Securing a position with competitive pay and comprehensive benefits is therefore highly important.
Travel nursing positions generally offer very competitive compensation packages. Most travel nursing agencies provide company-sponsored benefits, which can include medical and dental insurance, retirement plans like 401(k), continuing education opportunities, and more. Due to the nature of short-term, responsive assignments, travel nursing can be a financially rewarding choice, even early in your career.
Travel Jobs Often Include Free Housing and Paid Expenses
One significant benefit that can alleviate financial burdens is housing. The majority of travel nursing companies offer FREE housing for their travel nurses. This can be provided as company-arranged accommodations or through a housing stipend, giving you the option to find your own preferred lodging.
Most agencies will also cover many of your travel and relocation expenses. Additionally, they typically reimburse costs associated with obtaining any new state nursing licenses required for your assignments. Other potential perks include performance bonuses and access to 24/7 clinical support for assistance while on assignment.
You’ll Build New Friendships and Professional Connections
Networking is a key aspect of professional growth, and travel nursing provides abundant opportunities to make new friends and build a robust network of professional contacts. You might even meet other traveling healthcare professionals who become companions on future assignments.
Forming new friendships and professional connections is widely regarded as one of the top benefits of travel nursing. After completing several assignments, you could develop a network of colleagues and friends spanning across the United States. Maintaining these connections can be invaluable for future job searches and career opportunities. Thinking about what to get a colleague as a thank you? Explore some gift ideas for travel nurses.
Enjoy Adventure, Fun, and Exploration
Travel nursing is one of the unique careers that allows you to earn income while simultaneously exploring new places and pursuing your passion for nursing.
Each new travel nursing assignment brings fresh experiences and the excitement of exploring a different city. You’ll have the chance to discover new restaurants, museums, parks, cultural events, and activities. Even the road trips between assignments can become part of the adventure. Travel nursing allows you to tick off dream destinations from your bucket list and challenge yourself by trying new activities, sampling regional cuisines, and experiencing unique local attractions that might not be available near your hometown. Ever considered travel nursing in exotic locations? Think about exploring opportunities like travel occupational therapy jobs in Hawaii.
You Can Choose When and Where You Work
Partnering with a recruiter at a travel nursing agency offers significant control over your work life. You gain access to available assignments across the entire country, providing a vast array of choices.
You can select contract nursing jobs in specific cities or regions that appeal to you, and even choose the type of healthcare facility you prefer, such as teaching hospitals, specialty hospitals, Magnet-designated facilities, outpatient clinics, and more. The flexibility extends to your schedule as well. You can opt for back-to-back assignments throughout the year to maximize earnings and then take an extended vacation, or schedule shorter breaks and getaways between assignments. If an assignment proves to be a great fit for both you and the facility, there’s often the option to extend your contract and stay longer. Before pursuing this path, ensure you have the necessary foundation by understanding what degree is needed to be a travel nurse.
You’ll Never Get Bored
While some individuals find satisfaction and stability in working at the same hospital in the same town for many years, others crave fresh scenery, exposure to new techniques, and interaction with different people and places. If you fall into the latter category, travel nursing could be an ideal career path.
As a new nursing graduate embarking on a travel nursing career, you’ll appreciate the feeling of starting fresh every few weeks or months. Assignments typically range from 4 to 13 weeks, providing ample time to grow your career, enjoy significant variety, and stay at the forefront of your nursing skills and knowledge.
