What is a travel nurse and how to become one

Nurses play a vital role in delivering healthcare. With clinical knowledge, hands-on skills, and emotional intelligence, this profession offers a range of roles depending on the level of education, specialization, or setting.

One distinctive and quickly expanding segment within nursing is travel nursing. A travel nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who takes short-term assignments in healthcare facilities across different cities, states, or even countries. Staffing agencies typically fill these roles to help hospitals meet staffing shortages  or manage crises, such as natural disasters or disease outbreaks.

Travel nursing first gained momentum during nursing shortages of the late 20th century but has gained even greater momentum following the COVID-19 pandemic, when healthcare workers needed flexible mobility solutions. Travel nurses play an invaluable role in staffing gaps, ensuring continuity of care, and providing valuable experience across various settings.

How to become a travel nurse

Travel nurses must complete formal education, obtain a license, and gain hands-on experience in multiple healthcare environments and with patients with diverse needs.

1. Complete a nursing education program:

Travel nurses must first earn a nursing degree—either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Although an ADN is typically sufficient, travel nursing agencies and hospitals often prefer or require BSN graduates because it usually includes more training in critical thinking, leadership, and specialized care delivery.

2. Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam

Once you earn your degree, it is necessary to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). This exam enables you to acquire your nursing license legally, allowing you to practice nursing.

3. Gain Experience

Travel nursing jobs typically require at least one to two years of hands-on nursing experience in either an ICU, ER, Pediatrics or Med-Surg setting before applying. This experience allows travel nurses to start working as soon as they arrive at a location, with minimal orientation time needed.

4. Secure multistate or individual state licensing

Obtaining a multistate license through the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows travel nurses to work across multiple states. In non-compact states, you will instead need to apply for individual licenses.

5. Consider hiring a travel nursing agency

Travel nurses typically find employment through staffing agencies that connect them with short-term contracts in hospitals, clinics, or long-term care facilities. These agencies help facilitate job placement, housing arrangements, benefits packages, and travel arrangements, as well as compliance paperwork, making the entire process simpler for nurses.

6. Keep certifications and records up-to-date:

Depending on your specialty and assignment, you may need to maintain certifications such as:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) are two forms of Life Support available to medical personnel
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)

A complete set of health records, immunizations, background checks and professional references is also essential to landing new work quickly.

Travel nursing is not just about flexibility and competitive pay—it also comes with professional risks that require the right protection. As you build your nursing career across state lines, having proper insurance is crucial. BizInsure simplify this process by offering coverage options tailored for traveling healthcare professionals. Whether you need general liability insurance to protect against third-party claims or professional liability insurance to guard against allegations of negligence, it’s essential to stay covered.

If you’re a home health care provider, you can explore dedicated resources like this page to better understand what type of insurance suits your needs. Nurses working in high-demand states like California and New York can also find state-specific coverage that meets regulatory requirements. For those in home health, another useful page from BizInsure is available here, offering insights tailored to in-home caregivers. Protecting your nursing journey ensures you can focus on what you do best—delivering exceptional care to those who need it most.

Travel nurse salary and career prospects

One of the primary draws to travel nursing is its competitive salary and benefits package. Since travel nurses often fill urgent needs or work in high-demand locations, their pay tends to exceed that of permanent staff nurses.

Travel nurses earn an average of $2,101 per week, depending on their location, specialty, and the urgency of the assignment. That could translate to average earnings of $114,820 per year if they accept back-to-back contracts in high-paying areas.

In addition to their base pay, many agencies also provide tax-free housing stipends, meal and travel allowances, and completion bonuses.

Career prospects for travel nurses remain bright. The U.S. continues to experience a nursing shortage caused by an aging population, increased healthcare needs, and retirements. Rural hospitals, inner-city facilities, and understaffed departments (like critical care, labor & delivery and emergency rooms) experience extreme demands for travel nurses with in-demand specializations.

Travel nursing offers professional development opportunities that extend beyond financial rewards, providing exposure to diverse hospital systems, patient populations, and clinical technologies. Many nurses find that after several years of travel nursing, they become stronger clinicians who adapt well and become more competitive for leadership or advanced practice roles.

Why travel nurses need malpractice insurance

With numerous potential career advantages of travel nursing, it can be tempting to overlook its associated risks. Working in unfamiliar environments with different staff, systems, and patient protocols increases the likelihood of miscommunication or errors. Although most travel nurses are highly competent and experienced individuals, even minor missteps could lead to legal action or complaints against them. Malpractice coverage for travel nurses provides essential protection.

Nurse malpractice, also known as Professional Liability insurance, becomes essential in this context. Staffing agencies may offer some coverage, but it tends to be minimal and tailored solely to protect them or their employer. Travel nurses who frequently work across states with independent contracts or take on short-term roles may fall outside employer policies and be ineligible for this type of coverage.

Malpractice insurance protects both you and your clients:

• You have the option of legal representation if you find yourself facing legal proceedings
• Financially protected against claims for negligence or errors in patient care
• While providing quality care, you have peace of mind knowing you are providing only top-tier service

As stated, nurse malpractice insurance serves to safeguard your career, which is particularly crucial when working away from home in high-pressure environments.

Building your nursing career

Travel nursing offers rewarding opportunities to RNs who seek adventure, flexibility and professional diversity. Travel nursing allows you to experience new places while expanding clinical skills, earning a competitive salary, and making a difference in local communities across the United States.

With the right education, skills, and insurance coverage, you could build an exciting and successful career as a travel nurse.