Travel nurse agencies fill a much-needed void in a healthcare system already stretched too thin. As the ratio of patients to nurses keeps climbing in hospitals, travel nurse agencies are contacted to fill nursing assignments, either on a short-term or long-term basis.

Travel nurse agencies foot the traveling nurse’s housing and travel expenses as well as assist the traveling nurse with any other issues or questions that may arise concerning licensure, benefits, and payroll. Everyone benefits from this arrangement: The hospital receives a qualified nurse to fill a position, thus ensuring better patient care and less employee attrition; the traveling nurse receives above-market compensation and is able to see new areas of the country and meet new people without incurring any out-of-pocket costs; and travel nurse agencies that have provided a vital service for which they are well compensated financially also benefit immeasurably from good will and public relations generated by filling this pressing need.

Nurses who wish to travel may also receive sign-on bonuses. The competition within travel nurse agencies is so fierce that it is a good idea to call several agencies, compare the benefits, and see who offers the best overall compensation package. Also, there needs to be a good fit in terms of personalities, communication styles, and problem-solving skills since the traveling nurse will most likely be dealing with the travel nurse agency representative by phone, fax, and e-mail.

Prior to signing up with travel nurse agencies, a nurse should ask how long the agency has been in business, confirm that the guaranteed number of hours and pay scale on the contract match what had been agreed to verbally, and get a feel for the position he or she will be filling. Good travel nurse agencies will be able to give a good representation of the situation at the hospital and what is being expected of the traveling nurse.

With regard to the amount of nursing experience required to become a traveling nurse, this depends on the situation and thus has to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In general, employers and agencies do like to see one year of hands-on nursing experience. However tough times call for inventive measures, so some agencies now have travel openings for new graduates. Check with the individual agencies to see if they offer this opportunity for entry-level nurses.

Working for travel nurse agencies is a wonderful way to make a difference in the healthcare system while enjoying the adventure of traveling around the country. For nurses who love to travel, travel nurse agencies do provide the ultimate nursing experience because of the limitless professional and personal experiences they offer.