The fastest way to start travel nursing

STEP 1

1. Get experience in your specialty

• Most agencies want at least 1 yearPreferably in a hospital
• You can start applying at 6 to 9 monthsJust expect to need the full year
• There's no shortcut hereIt's what keeps you safe on day one

Sources: Aya Healthcare; AMN Healthcare.

STEP 2

2. Sort out your license

• Live in a compact state?Apply for a multistate license
• 43 jurisdictions are in the compactCheck the current map before you apply
• Not covered by the compact?You need a license where the patient is

Source: NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact.

STEP 3

3. Have your paperwork ready

• Two professional referencesAsk your charge nurse or manager now
• Certifications for your specialtyRequirements vary by unit
• A resume with exact dates and unitsRecruiters will ask
• Immunization and health recordsIn one folder

Source: Aya Healthcare.

STEP 4

4. Talk to more than one recruiter

• Compare two or three agenciesSame contract, different packages
• Ask about the full packageBase rate, stipends, hours and benefits
• Read the cancellation termsBefore you sign anything

THE TAX PART

5. Stipends and your tax home

• Your tax home mattersGenerally, it's your regular place of business
• No regular home at all?The IRS treats you as itinerant: your tax home is wherever you work
• Talk to a tax pro who knows travelersBefore your first contract

Source: IRS Publication 463. Educational only, not tax advice.

YOUR FIRST CONTRACT

6. Pick it for support, not just pay

• Choose a unit like the one you know
• Ask how long orientation is
• Ask about floating rules
• Save some money before you go