Expert Tips – How to Get Your First Travel Nurse Job

8 Expert Tips on How to Get Your First Travel Nurse Job

1. Take Your Time to Make Yourself Shine – A thorough and accurate RN profile is absolutely worth your time. Include your entire work history since passing your nursing boards, along with your skills checklists.
2. Brag about Yourself (aka Don’t Be Afraid to Boast or Blow Your Own Horn) - Highlight your special clinical expertise and your communication skills -- with patients, coworkers and supervisors.
3. Get Your Certs in Order - The more nursing certifications, the merrier! BLS and ACLS are required for most nursing jobs. Others -- such as NIHSS, PALS, TNCC, CNOR, AWHONN - are helpful, depending on your travel nursing specialty.
4. Be Flexible - If you’re open to different locations for travel nursing , and can float or be flexible on shifts, you will have so many more high-paying travel nursing options!
5. Have Your License Ready – If you have an active RN license in your desired location, you’ve got a real advantage over your competition! Select 2 or 3 states where you want to go one day, and get your licensure started there. Having a Compact license is also helpful.
6. Be Patient - Your profile may be submitted to many jobs before you get that first offer. It happens to every travel nurse, so don’t let it frustrate you. Your perfect job will come along before you know it!
7. Learn about the Hospital - Research the facility’s strengths -- maybe they’ve earned Magnet Facility status or have excellent HCAHPS survey results. If you do have a phone interview, mention those awards, and your interviewer knows you’ve done your homework. Extra Credit!
8. Be on Call – Once your travel nursing agency submits your profile, keep your phone by you at all times. Your recruiter will call or text you with any pending offers. The RN who texts -- or calls back right away -- is much more likely to get the offer!

Skills, enthusiasm and Interest are key to learning how to get a job offer. Enjoy the journey!