Travel Nursing FAQs

Travel Nursing
Frequently Asked Questions

As a nursing professional, you already understand the typical job duties of a nurse, including excellent patient care. If you are new to Prolink or new to travel nursing, you may have questions about specific responsibilities and experiences of travel nurses. Explore the most frequently asked questions about travel nursing, and contact us if you have questions not covered below. Our dedicated recruiters and clinical team will help you through every step of your journey as a travel nurse!

What does a travel nurse do?

Travel nurses play an important role in filling the nursing shortages that plague hospitals and other medical facilities across the country. Whether the facility is covering a nurse on short-term leave or facing a shortage of qualified nursing professionals in their area, they partner with Prolink to place skilled nurses in these short-term assignments. That’s where you come in! We will match you with these facilities to ensure quick placement on your schedule.

What are the requirements for becoming a travel nurse?

Travel nurse requirements can vary according to the facility and any specific circumstances, like crisis staffing needs. Some hospitals look for Registered Nurses with at least 12 to 18 months of bedside experience. Others are looking for nurses with certain specialties, such as renal care, telemetry, oncology, labor and delivery, pediatrics, ER, or ICU. Our accreditation specialists can help you with licensure and even assist in expediting your credentialing process, when needed.

How much do travel nurses earn, on average?

Travel nurses earn more than the national average salary for Registered Nurses. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, RNs earn an average of $73,300 per year. That amounts to $35.24 per hour. 

Travel nurses, on the other hand, earn an average of $108,214 or $46.38 per hour, including overtime. Travel nursing compensation depends on several factors, including your specialty, the location of the hospital, and other contract details. Travel nurses get paid so well because they are filling a gap caused by the high demand for nursing staff. In addition to a generous salary, travel nurses are also eligible for medical and dental benefits, housing stipends, travel reimbursements, 401k matching, and bonuses.

What is the average length of a travel nursing assignment?

The standard travel nursing contract lasts for 13 weeks. However, it is also common to find travel assignments ranging between 8 and 26 weeks. Hospitals may offer to renew contracts, as well. These are known as extension assignments and generally last 3 to 5 weeks longer than the original contract.

Where can travel nurses go to work?

Prolink offers exclusive travel nursing assignments in all 50 states. The available opportunities will depend on staffing needs of the facilities actively hiring travel nurses. When you partner with Prolink, your dedicated recruiter will match you with positions where you want to travel, and at the facilities you are most interested to work in. To work as a travel nurse in another state, you will need a nursing license for that state. Ask your Prolink recruiter about compact state licenses, which allow you to work in other states with only a single license.

Can travel nurses work close to home?

The 50-mile rule states that you can receive a non-taxed housing stipend when taking a travel nursing job at least 50 miles away from your permanent residence. However, you can also work a contract assignment in a healthcare facility close to home. If you do take the hometown route, you will not be eligible for the non-taxed housing stipend. The housing stipend is only available to those who are forced to rent or own a home in your home city AND rent a place in the area where you will be working. Ask your recruiter for details on how to secure low-cost housing while taking a travel nursing assignment.

Do travel nurses get benefits like health insurance?

As a travel nurse who partners with Prolink, you will be eligible to receive medical, dental, and life insurance, as well as other benefits like 401k matching. To maintain your benefits, you cannot take off more than 30 days at a time. Prolink offers medical and 401k enrollment from Day One of your travel nursing assignment.

Can I travel with another nurse? What about pets?

Yes! It is not uncommon for RNs to accept travel nursing assignments in pairs. You can request to work in the same city, or even in the same hospital. Living in the same apartment or rental house even lets you share living costs, making travel nursing more affordable for both nursing professionals. Travel nurses can also accept assignments as a couple (even if your partner isn’t a nurse). Let your Prolink recruiter know about your unique situation so arrangements can be made for both of you.

Travel nurses can bring their whole family along, including pets! Keep in mind that accepting assignments with your pets means you’ll need to find housing that accepts dogs, cats, or whatever other type of pet you own. Pet-friendly housing is sometimes more difficult to find, and many rentals will require separate pet deposits, but the inconvenience is often worth it for our furry companions.

How do I get started as a travel nurse?
How do I report a concern or register a complaint about a Joint Commission-certified organization?

The public may contact The Joint Commission to report any concerns or register complaints about a Joint Commission-certified organization by calling 1-800-994-6610 or emailing compliant@jointcommission.org.

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What’s the Process for Getting Started as a Travel Nurse?

Travel nurses are always in high demand. Get started by partnering with Prolink. We will pair you with a dedicated travel nursing recruiter who is motivated to match you with the ideal assignments fast! Get started today and start thinking about where you’d like to go.