Your Travel Nursing Journey Starts Here

Most agencies require a minimum of one year of recent bedside experience in your specialty, though two years is preferred. Some high-demand specialties like ICU, OR, and ER may accept nurses with one year. Med-Surg and telemetry positions typically require at least one year as well. The experience must be recent -- a five-year gap will usually require re-establishing clinical currency.

The standard travel nurse contract is 13 weeks (about 3 months). Some contracts run 8 weeks, and others extend to 26 weeks. Extensions at the same facility are common and often come with a completion bonus. You can take breaks between assignments, though most nurses try to minimize gaps to maintain their income and benefits.

Technically some agencies accept nurses with less than a year of experience, but it is not recommended. Travel nurses are expected to hit the ground running with minimal orientation. New grads benefit enormously from the mentorship, training, and support systems available at permanent positions. Most career advisors recommend at least one to two years of solid bedside experience before traveling.

Focus on pay transparency, recruiter responsiveness, benefits quality, and the number of contracts in your desired locations. Ask agencies for an itemized pay breakdown (not just a blended rate). Talk to multiple agencies simultaneously -- most experienced travel nurses work with two to three agencies. Read reviews from other nurses, but weigh recent reviews more heavily than old ones.

Requirements vary by specialty and facility. At minimum you need an active RN license in the state where you will work (or a compact license). BLS certification is universal. Most specialties require ACLS, and ICU/ER positions often require PALS and sometimes TNCC or ENPC. Check with your recruiter for the specific requirements of each contract.