Nursing professionals or students seeking a career in travel nursing may need to tailor their background to include a variety of occupational requirements if they want to join that industry.
Travel nursing requires an up-to-date RN license in the state in which a nurse wants to practice. While many locations offer interstate agreements that honor RN licenses from other states, research is required to determine if a license is valid through one of these interstate agreements on a case-by-case basis. Hospitals or clinics may require current immunization records, a health exam, pre-employment drug screenings and a criminal background check.
Nurses wishing to enter into a specific field or program may need one to three years experience in that program prior to becoming a traveling nurse, according to The-Travel-Nurse.com. Hospitals will rarely hire an outside healthcare professional without previous experience due to the cost and time involved in training.
Other, more generic professional standards include appropriate attire, a competent attitude, a desire to learn about an organization, maintaining current industry standards, knowledge of new techniques, a history of completing assignments and a stellar resume and cover letter. The interview and professional communication skills are an integral part of the travel nursing requirements.