Can a New Grad Nurse Be a Travel Nurse?

If you’re in nursing school or you’re applying for your first job, you might be wondering what your options are. Can a new grad nurse be a travel nurse? And what can a newer nurse do to prepare for travel contracts? Let’s answer these questions and explore the nuances of transitioning from a new grad to a professional nurse.

Travel nurses help fill temporary staffing needs in healthcare facilities, typically working contracts that span weeks to months. As the nursing shortage has increased, the need for travelers is on the rise. And working on a contract has some big benefits — higher income, greater location flexibility, and the ability to take time off between contracts. If you’re interested in these benefits, you might be wondering, Can I be a travel nurse as a new grad?

Can You Be a Travel Nurse as a New Grad? 3 Key Considerations

Technically, you may be able to travel as a new grad, but it’s not advised. Most travel agencies require one to two years of clinical experience before you can apply and take a contract. Agencies want nurses who have built up a base of clinical skills and critical thinking, so they can hit the ground running at a new facility. Having experience and confidence works in your favor as well — you don’t want to be caring for patients in a new setting and not know what to do if something goes wrong.

Still, a quick search query will show you that companies are hiring new grads as travelers. Travel nurse agencies for new grads claim to offer additional training and supervision to help you become accustomed to the new environment. But while it might be possible, is it advisable to pursue travel nursing as a new grad? Let’s go over some of the challenges.

1. Patient Safety

One of the primary concerns with new grads jumping into travel nursing is patient safety. Nursing school may prepare you for practice as an entry-level nurse, but the typical travel nurse role is far from that. You’ll be expected to pick up skills, work independently, and be an asset to the unit within your first few days there. Plus, these facilities are often short-staffed, so if you need help from other nurses or aides, it may be hard to come by. What if something goes wrong and a patient gets hurt? Consider whether your skills are up for these conditions.

2. Licensure Protection

As a new graduate, you’re still developing the clinical judgment and decision-making skills necessary to navigate complex patient care situations. Rapidly transitioning between different healthcare settings, each with its own policies and procedures, may increase your risk of errors. What if you make a mistake that leads to disciplinary action from your nursing board, or worse, loss of your license? Working in unfamiliar environments without adequate support could jeopardize the credentials you’ve worked so hard to earn.

3. Less Support in Your First Year as a Nurse

In a typical travel nurse role, you’ll need to hit the ground running with only a few days of orientation. Compare this experience to that of a new grad in a residency program, which is designed to help you transition from student to working nurse. Residencies combine additional didactic learning with preceptor supervision and skills checks, and you’ll be in a group of other new nurses. While some recent grads don’t like the idea of having more classes after graduation, the classes have been shown to improve retention rates in the first year.

Travel nurse roles might also leave you feeling isolated and unsupported in the critical first years of your career. Job stress is closely linked to turnover among new graduates — you don’t want to have a negative experience and then have to leave a contract early. Take your own stress tolerance into account as you consider your new grad nursing job options.

New Grad Travel Nurse: Salary Expectations

Can a new grad be a travel nurse and still make a higher income? Travel nurse pay varies widely by state and contract. Being a new grad will likely mean you don’t earn as much as other travelers because experience is one of the main determinants of one’s salary.

On average, RNs in the U.S. make $94,480 per year, but travel nurses typically earn more through a higher hourly rate, travel stipends, and tax benefits. What you earn will also depend on how much of the year you choose to work — many travelers take breaks between assignments to rest, see family, or vacation.

How Can a New Grad Nurse Be a Travel Nurse Successfully?

If you’re considering travel nursing, there are steps you can take to prepare. Here’s how to set yourself up for success if you choose to be a travel nurse in the future:

• Develop strong clinical skills: Focus on mastering essential nursing skills and gaining confidence in your clinical abilities. Ask questions and request feedback to improve.
• Build a solid professional reputation: Establish yourself as a reliable and competent nurse in your first nursing role. Offer to help others when you can, and practice professionalism on every shift.
• Try various specialties: To build confidence, gain experience in different clinical areas such as med-surg, cardiac nursing, or oncology.
• Research travel nursing agencies: Look up reviews for different agencies, and shop around to learn your options before signing a contract.
• Obtain specialty certifications: Consider earning specialty certifications to increase your marketability.
• Talk to experienced travel nurses: If a travel nurse is working on your unit, ask them about their experience and how they’d recommend preparing for the role.
• Understand licensure requirements: Look up the compact status and state nurse practice act of any state you’re considering working in.

You can also explore all the travel nursing jobs on IntelyCare to get an even better idea of the demands of this role.

Find Tailored Roles for New Grad Nurses

So, can a new grad nurse be a travel nurse? While the answer is nuanced, finding your first nursing role doesn’t have to be complex. IntelyCare has jobs for new graduate nurses, and we make it easy to find them. Learn more with personalized job notifications.