The Travel Nursing Guide
You love being a nurse—but maybe you’re ready for more. Everything you need to know before taking the leap.
Contact a recruiterWhat Is Travel Nursing?
Travel nurses are licensed RNs who take temporary assignments—usually 13 to 26 weeks—at hospitals and clinics across the country. They step in where care is needed most, filling staffing gaps while gaining experience in new settings. It’s a flexible, high-impact way to grow your skills, see more of the country, and often earn higher pay and housing perks along the way.
Explore Available Assignments
Perks
- Higher Pay: Travel nurses typically earn more than staff nurses, with added financial perks.
- Flexibility & Freedom: Choose when and where you work—build your schedule around your life.
- Built-in Adventure: See the country one assignment at a time, from beach towns to big cities.
- Work-Life Balance: Take breaks between contracts to rest, recharge, or travel on your terms.
- Diverse Experience: Gain skills quickly by working in new units, systems, and settings.
- Less Workplace Politics: Short-term roles mean more focus on patient care, less on office drama.
- Tax-Exempt Stipends: Get untaxed allowances for housing and meals (if you qualify).
- Custom Career Pacing: Stack contracts back-to-back or build in time off—it’s your call.
Trade Offs
- Frequent moves and quick orientations
- Learning new EHRs and workflows every few months
- Budgeting for variable income during contract gaps
- Being away from home base-you’ll want to build a support system on the road
We won’t sugarcoat it: travel nursing takes flexibility, organization, and a little courage. But with the right partner (that’s us), it can also open doors to higher earnings, sharper clinical skills, and experiences most nurses only dream about.
At FlexCare, we’ve helped thousands of RNs take the leap. We handle the logistics, find you the best-fit contracts, and make sure you feel supported from your first application to your first day on the floor—and beyond.
How to Become a Travel Nurse
Travel Nursing Basic Qualifications
Getting started as a travel nurse is more doable than you might think. Here's what you really need:
- At least 1 year of recent acute- care experience in your specialty
- An active RN license (we’ll help you with state-specific or Compact requirements)
- A willingness to jump in and learn— you don’t necessarily need to have travel experience yet
Don’t worry - we’ll guide you through everything else: certifications, vaccinations, screenings, and paperwork. If you’ve got the clinical foundation and an open mindset, we’ve got the rest covered.
Do you know a nurse who’d thrive on the road?