Travel Nurse CareerNurses have been there for centuries but it is only now that may people are looking at nursing as a career. In fact, one of the relatively new career options in nursing is that of a travel nurse. A few decades back, people would have overlooked a travel nurse career but today things are much different. In fact, a travel nurse career is quite lucrative because you will be well paid and not to mention the rewards and benefits attached to it. The first few states in the US that introduced travel nursing as early as the 1980's include California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona. Today, there is a high demand for travel nurse career because there is a shortage of nurses in the mainstream healthcare industry. As a result, during the winters or during specific times in a year, travel nurses are introduced into the healthcare industry and even in a hospital to supplement existing staff. A travel nurse career is an exciting option and it is definitely rewarding for nurses as well as allied healthcare professionals. If you have completed a course that equips you for a travel nurse career then your skills will be in great demand across the US. This basically means that you will have limitless number of options or choices especially when you consider where to work and how you would want to work. You can choose the assignment option and travel thousands of miles to a foreign country as a travel nurse or you can travel across the US and be much closer to home. One of the high points in a travel nurse career is that you will get the opportunity to work with some of the prestigious healthcare facilities and hospitals in the country. Apart from the exposure you will get, you will also have the opportunity to enhance your existing skills and increase your level of expertise. You will have a lucrative pay to look forward to and then there are the generous bonuses. One of the benefits of being a travel nurse is that you will get free accommodation or quality housing that will be the responsibility of your travel nursing company. If you want to pursue travel nurse career then here are a few requirements that you need to consider. Only if you have the following expertise or education, you will be able to become a travel nurse. - A registered nurse (RN) in various specialties - Nurse practitioners (NP) - Dialysis nurses - Advance practice nurses - Radiologic technologists - LPN/LVN with a minimum of 3 years experience - Occupational therapists - Physical therapists - Nurse Managers - Speech language pathologists - Most facilities who require travel nurses would want to see your recent experience sheet, as recent as the last 12-18 months. The requirement will lay emphasis on experience in acute-care settings as well as your specialty. The compensation and bonuses in a travel nurse career will vary depending on the healthcare facility or organization recruiting you. Some of the most common benefits include competitive pay rates, sign-on and completion bonus, 401(k) retirement plan, Referral bonus, flexible spending accounts, and different types of discount programs. |