Travel nursing, also known as supplemental nursing, provides trained medical staff to facilities and countries that often can’t retain or afford permanent licensed nurses. These nurses also deliver assistance in emergency situations that require responding to natural disasters around the world, such as earthquakes and massive floods. The career is unique in that travel nurses lack permanent employers and housing. To compensate, they are offered elevated nursing salaries and free accommodations as they migrate from country to country.

• Definition of a Travel Nurse: This staffing website offers details on a career in travel nursing.
• Travel Nurse Primer: This website explains concept of travel nursing and how to establish a career.
• Travel Nursing Shortage: This website discusses the dearth of and need for travel nurses, as well as the college training needed.
• Veterans Travel Nursings Corps: This website discusses a federal program pairing travel nurses with war veterans.

• Benefits of Travel Nursing: This site lists the advantages of a career in travel nursing.
• Travel Nursing Podcasts: This website offers several podcasts that give a glimpse into the world of travel nursing. Includes discussions on the advantages of the career and how to land jobs.
• Video: Travel Nurse Basics: This American Traveler nursing video on YouTube has real travel nurses discussing why they chose the career and what the perks are.
• Travel Nurse FAQs: This website lists answers to the most frequently asked questions about travel nursing, including questions regarding assignment length and finding a staffing agency.
• Travel Nurses Help in Catastrophes: This article recounts the experience of a travel nurse who was dispatched to locations damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Nurses attracted to traveling careers usually want adventure and exposure to foreign countries and culture. The caveats include not being able to have a stable family life since most travel nurses are only stationed in one location for one to three months at a time. It is possible for some nurses to arrange to stay at a home base while traveling as temporary staff at local hospitals in their region. A shortage in travel nurses allows nurses work with special recruiters to negotiate significant fringe benefits.

• Job Features: This travel nurse job listing site explains the various features and advantages of being a travel nurse.
• Salary Considerations: This employment agency for travel nurses suggests the career can yield a 15 percent higher salary than careers in mainstream nursing.
• Staffing Agency for Travel Nurses: This website links travel nurses with hospitals that need staffing on short notice.
• Destinations: This website gives a sampling of the global destinations available to travel nurses.
• Travel Nursuing Jobs.: This website pairs nurses with agencies looking to employ traveling R.N.s.
• Travel Nursing Gigs in New Jersey: This website posts travel nursing jobs available in the New York and New Jersey area.
• Apply to be a Travel Nurse: This accredited agency networks with colleges to help nurses establish their traveling career.
• Travel Nursing Agency: This website simplifies applying for jobs by submitting travel nurse applications to multiple staffing agencies.
• Travel Nurse Placement: This site helps nurses find traveling jobs with various government entities or private employers.
• Typical Job Benefits: This site offers a bullet lists of what’s typically included in a fringe benefits package for travel nurses.
• Recruitment Service: This agency specializing in placing travel nurses in jobs across the globe.
• Job Searching: This site offers a database to search for travel nurse jobs on any continent.

In order to work as a traveling nurse, an individual must generally have credentials as a registered nurse. Although rare, some companies will hire licensed practical nurses. Nearly all staffing agencies require travel nursing candidates to have one year of training at a traditional healthcare facility, preferably in a specialty area such as emergency care or radiology. Licenses must be maintained with regular continuing education classes.

• One Year of Prior Experience Required: Modern Medicine article looks at the universal mandate for one year of on-the-job training for travel nurses.
• Continuing Education: This website gives information on some of the continuing education courses necessary to maintain licensure.
• Minimum Requirements: Under the section “Travel Nursing,” this Grand Canyon University webpage lists the professional requirements for most agencies.
• Checklist for Required Skills: This website offers skills checklists for travel nurses interested in radiology, critical care, emergency room work, and other specialty areas.