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New Graduates
Just out of school? For recently graduated RNs, a travel nursing career is an enticing option. Here's what you need to know first.
Travel Nurse Jobs for Recent Graduates: What You Need to Know
Travel nursing is an amazing career choice. It's exciting! It's lucrative, and it's very attractive to nursing students who are feeling that post-graduation exhilaration and want to see and do as much as they can. Traveling also a great way to try out different types of clinical settings to see what's the best fit. But can you hop right into travel from your graduation ceremony?
For most new nurses, the answer is "We love your enthusiasm! Not right away, but definitely soon!"
Why is this? The majority of travel assignments are set in acute care facilities. Healthcare employers in these settings hire travelers who can hit the ground running. They are looking for individuals who are comfortable adapting to new environments and who, in most cases, require less hands-on supervision and training. They want you to have proven
your value in a similar setting, and they also want to see your references from employers in similar facilities to theirs.
For that reason, a travel nurse career is within reach for RNs with a minimum of 12 months of experience in a setting and specialty that matches the travel position for which they are hiring.
Employers typically seek to hire travelers with at least a year of experience in the relevant specialty, typically requiring BLS / ACLS certifications. Most RNs gain the necessary experience in staff positions at local hospitals. New
graduate nurses lacking the required experience but who are eager to learn more about travel can complete a profile with us to receive valuable travel nursing information for the future. Once you’ve accumulated a year of clinical experience, you can update your profile with your latest work history from the past year, making you eligible to apply for travel nursing jobs nationwide.
Build Your Career as a New Grad
As you're gaining experience for those first twelve months, aim to secure a staff position in a similar setting and unit to those in which you wish to travel. For example, you might seek employment in the med-surg unit of a busy city-based hospital, if that's your target setting. Many new grads start their careers in the Med Surg unit, which is also perfect experience for travel! If you're willing to float, so much the better. It shows your flexibility and gives you valuable experience. And keep those future references for travel in mind. Today's supervisors will provide tomorrow's glowing
recommendations. From prestigious university teaching hospitals to small rural facilities, we have options for everyone.
Improve Your Access to Travel Assignments When the Time Comes
If you earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and work as an RN while pursuing your BSN, you become even more valuable as a healthcare professional upon obtaining your BSN. Any experience gained under your RN license counts as clinical experience. While you can travel as an RN with an ADN, a BSN opens up more job opportunities.
New Graduate Travel Nurse Salary Information
As with recent grads in most professions, new nurses tend to start with entry level positions, earning more as they go. Advanced certifications in sought-after nursing specialties will further boost your earning power. During assignments, American Traveler provides numerous benefits including: generous pay, bonuses, health, life, dental and vision insurance including day one options, housing allowance, licensure reimbursement, and more. Traveling is an invaluable experience that offers many benefits, and the flexibility and critical thinking skills that you gain while traveling will serve you well, wherever your nursing career takes you.
Good News for Physical Therapy Grads
If you're a recent grad in Physical Therapy, you've probably got an advanced degree under your belt, including extensive clinical experience. Because of that, many facilities seeking contingent Physical Therapy staff will hire travel PTs right out of school. You knew all those years of study had to have some advantages! Check in with your recruiter about the travel opportunities for newly graduated PTs.
How to Start Travel Nursing
Documents Needed for Travel
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Getting Started/How it Works
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What is Traveling Like?
Whether you're a first-time traveler, or a career professional with multiple assignments under your belt, we have a video for you.
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