WHAT DOES A TRAVEL NURSE DO

WHAT DOES A TRAVEL NURSE DO

Have ever wondered who and what the job of a travel nurse is, what the job entails and what they do in the health sector well this article is here to give a detailed dive into it. So read on.

WHO IS A TRAVEL NURSE

You might want to define it depending on what you think the name is, that is defining it word for word. Unlike the name, a travel nurse is one who works on contract for different hospital and can go wherever she is needed. This concept was developed in the 1970s because of the low inflow of nurses. As there was a need this program was design to aid the health sector. They are employed by staffing facilities not health care facilities. Due to covid 19 the need for more travel nurse arose. There are also positions for managerial travel nurses not just the regular ones.

TYPES OF TRAVEL NURSES

There are obviously different types of travel nurse and they are listed below;

1. EMERGENCY ROOM TRAVEL NURSES

The emergency room is the highest in demand for travel nurses, because of inflow of patients. Travel nurses are really needed there and they must possess good communication skills, quickly assess volatile situations and be able to diffuse tensions

2. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Travel Nurses

An Intensive Care Travel Nurse monitors and assists patients facing critical medical emergencies. They work in intensive care units (ICUs) within hospitals and have to monitor and manage a far bigger range of complex equipment than a General Nurse.

3. Telemetry Travel Nurses

Telemetry Travel nurses are medical professionals who work with patients who require special monitoring, such as those who have been recently released from the intensive care unit of a hospital. Telemetry travel nurses monitor the vital signs of a patient and treat diseases, cardiac failure and other types of heart conditions.

4. Labour and Delivery (L&D) Travel Nurses

A labour and delivery (L&D) nurse supports patients during and after birth under the supervision of a nurse midwife or physician. They also care for infants immediately after delivery.

5. Paediatric Travel Nurse

Paediatric travel nurse work in a variety of care facilities and their specific responsibilities will vary based on the care centre where they work. Traveling paediatric nursing positions are predominantly in hospitals and outpatient clinics.

WHAT DOES A TRAVEL NURSE DO

A travel nurse has variety of works and can be signed on contract to different top healthcare hospital for a period of time. They usually are have the liberty of choosing where the work and have the ability to go to different hospitals around the country. They have the liberty to explore new places, meet new people, learn different ways of doing things and earn excellent compensation.

They are assigned to temporary positions to fill the void and provide same care a permanent nurse as they are temporary. As a travel nurse you need to be able to make and create relationships with people not only with the patient but with their families too as you will need to teach them the proper way to take care of their sick relative especially for home services.

As a travel nurse, you will often be tasked with administering care (providing IV’s, medications, preparing healthy meals, etc.) to those who are disabled or have limited mobility. Also, you have to travel long distances and work there for weeks or months at a particular location. Travel nurses are different from regular or permanent nurses because they don’t stay at a particular place for long.

How to Become a Travel Nurse

To become a travel nurse there are steps to take. You must be first of all be a registered nurse before thinking about being a travel nurse. Which means you must put in years in school and study for that degree, you are saving lives remember. After this you don’t need an additional degree to become a travel nurse.

Nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are more marketable than nurses with only an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN). Most Magnet hospitals and large academic teaching hospitals want travel nurses with a BSN. Otherwise, the only travel nursing requirements are:

• Proof of your right to work in the U.S. or Canada
• A valid nursing license in the state you wish to work
• All required certifications for your designated nursing specialty

In general, you’ll need at least a year of experience in your specialty before accepting your first contract.

Travel nurses must also be licensed in the state where they’re applying to work. The best staffing agencies will assist with this process, though it may take several weeks to obtain a new license. It is common for traveling agencies to help you acquire an out of state license. In some cases, you can get reimbursed.

Certifications Needed to Be a Travel Nurse:

• High school diploma or GED
• BSN or 2-year associates degree from RN program
• Pass the NCLEX exam
• BLS and ACLS
• Nursing license for work state
• Certifications specific to your nursing specialty (CCRN, NPR)

BENEFITS OF BEING A TRAVEL NURSE

There are varieties of benefits in being a travel nurse such as competitive salaries, free housing, meal stipend, travel reimbursement, referral bonuses, full health coverage, and more. You get to live out of a suitcase for the free spirited who enjoys travelling and discovering new places. You get to also help those who are really in need of your help and avoid office politics drama as you will just be in a particular place for just 3 to 6 month which brings about zero need for office politics. You get to also discover amazing part of the country in your travels and experience new things. You will meet new people as this is one of the perks of being a travel nurse, meeting, interacting with new people and creating bonds.

You definitely get to end more. A travel nurse’s salary is better than the regular nurse, you get to explore different area of nursing as this helps you to determine what’s best for you and what you think is the best position or area for you as you to decide what area you want to specialise in when you decide to settle down in a more permanent position.