That mix of thrill and terror before your first travel nursing assignment is something special. You’re picturing new adventures, higher pay, and exploring the country, but you’re also wondering, “Am I really ready for this?” You’re not alone. The truth is, success in travel nursing isn’t just about being a great clinician; it’s about mastering the unique logistics of the gig. These 15 practical travel nurse tips will help you navigate everything from confusing pay packages to unit politics, so you can stop stressing and start thriving on your next assignment.
Pre-Assignment Preparation: Setting Yourself Up for Success
Getting your foundation right before you even pack your bags is the single most important step. A little prep work here prevents a world of headaches later.
1. Choose the Right Agency Like a Pro
Your agency is your business partner. A great one makes your life easy; a bad one can ruin an entire assignment. Don’t just click the first glossy ad you see.
Instead of asking broadly, “Who’s the best?” ask, “Who’s the best for me?” Do you want a dedicated recruiter you can text anytime, or are you okay with a larger pool of contacts? Do you want benefits from day one, or are you covered under a spouse’s plan?
Clinical Pearl: Connect with other travel nurses in online forums or Facebook groups. Ask for specific recruiter recommendations—not just company names. A phenomenal recruiter at a so-so company is always better than a disorganized recruiter at a top-tier company.
| Feature | Large, National Agency | Smaller, Boutique Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Job Selection | Vast, national database | Curated, often regional jobs |
| Support Structure | 24/7 support team | Direct recruiter access |
| Pay Packages | Often more standardized | Potentially more negotiable |
| Personalization | Less personal feel | Highly personalized service |
| Winner/Best For | Nurses wanting maximum options and 24/7 support | nurses who value a close, one-on-one relationship |
2. Decode Your Pay Package—The Real Story
That “big hourly rate” your recruiter quotes you can be misleading. Let’s be honest, they want to make it sound amazing. Your job is to find out what you actually take home.
Think of your pay package like an iceberg. The big, shiny number is the tip peeking out. The real bulk—your stipends for housing, meals, and incidentals—is what drives your take-home pay. These stipends are typically non-taxed, significantly boosting your earnings, if you qualify for a tax home (more on that in tip #10).
Ask your recruiter to break down your pay into four specific parts:
- Taxable hourly rate (your base pay)
- Non-taxable housing stipend
- Non-taxable meal & incidental stipend (M&IE)
- Any other reimbursements (e.g., travel, licensure)
Common Mistake: Choosing the assignment with the highest taxable hourly rate. A lower taxable rate with high, non-taxed stipends almost always means more money in your pocket at the end of the week.
3. Secure Your Housing: Agency vs. The Stipend
This is one of the first big decisions you’ll make. Do you let the agency find you a place, or do you take the stipend and hunt for yourself? There’s no single right answer; it depends on your personality and the assignment location.
Agency-Provided Housing is like an all-inclusive resort. It’s easy, secure, and often in a move-in-ready furnished apartment complex. The downside? You have little to no choice in the location, amenities, or roommates (yes, you might get one).
Taking the housing stipend is like backpacking through Europe. You have total freedom. You can find a cool downtown loft, a quiet cottage in the woods, or a cheap room for rent to maximize savings. The downside? It takes work, deposits, and you’re responsible for everything—from setting up utilities to buying furniture.
Pro Tip: For your very first assignment, consider agency-provided housing. It removes one major layer of stress while you’re learning the ropes. Once you have an assignment or two under your belt, you’ll have the confidence and experience to tackle finding your own housing and potentially pocket the extra cash.
4. Ask Your Recruiter These 15 Critical Questions
Before you sign anything, you need to become a professional question-asker. Your recruiter has the answers; you just need to know what to ask.
Print this list out. Seriously. It will save you from so many avoidable problems.
- What is the exact, comprehensive breakdown of my pay package?
- Is this hospital known for canceling contracts? What is the cancellation policy?
- Can I see the full, unsigned contract before I commit?
- How many hours are guaranteed per week? Is there a call requirement?
- What happens if the census is low and I get sent home early? Am I paid?
- What is the exact shift (e.g., 7a-7:30p)? Is there a float requirement?
- What is the nurse-to-patient ratio on this specific unit?
- What EMR system does this hospital use?
- Will I have a dedicated preceptor for my first few shifts?
- Is the parking free or paid? Is the parking lot secure?
- What is the process for time-off requests?
- Are there any specific unit dress code requirements (e.g., color scrub)?
- What does the orientation schedule look like? Is it paid?
- What are your specific working hours? How can I reach you after hours?
- Can you connect me with a nurse who has recently completed an assignment there?
5. Pack Smart, Not Heavy
You’re moving into a temporary space, not a new forever home. Overpacking is a cardinal sin of travel nursing. You will regret lugging those 10 pairs of shoes up three flights of stairs.
Focus on versatile essentials. Your goal is to create a functional, comfortable “home base” with minimal effort.
Your Travel Nurse Packing Checklist:
- Scrubs: Enough for 1.5 to 2 weeks of work (to accommodate laundry day).
- Comfortable Shoes: At least two pairs to rotate.
- A “First Night” Box: Pack this last so you can unpack it first. Include your phone charger, a set of sheets, a towel, toilet paper, soap, a change of clothes, and your favorite coffee or tea. Trust me on this one.
- Tech: Laptop, streaming device (like a Roku or Fire Stick), and all necessary chargers.
- Sentimental Items: A few photos, your favorite mug, or a special blanket to make the space feel like yours.
- Compact Hobby Gear: Your yoga mat, running shoes, Kindle, or e-reader.
Nailing Your First Week: From Newbie to Insider
Your first week sets the tone for the entire assignment. It’s your chance to learn, adapt, and make a great first impression. Go in with a plan.
6. Master Orientation Like a Boss
Hospital orientation for travelers can be… a lot. You’ll sit through modules on things you’ve known for years, like proper handwashing. I get it, it’s tedious. The key is to separate mandatory corporate fluff from the unit-specific information you actually need.
Imagine this: You’re in a packed conference room, and the presenter speeds through the most critical slide: the hospital’s specific code response and procedure for rapid response calls. While others zoned out, you were jotting down notes. A week later, when a patient’s condition changes, you’re the one who remembers the direct line number and the exact protocol. That’s when being a diligent student pays off.
Pro Tip: Seek out the unit-specific educator or manager. Ask them directly: “Besides what’s covered in corporate orientation, what are the top five things I absolutely need to know to be successful on your unit this week?” This question shows initiative and gets you insider knowledge fast.
7. Learn the EMR at Lightning Speed
Every hospital has a different Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Epic, Cerner, Meditech… it can feel like learning a new language every 13 weeks. The slower you are with charting, the later you stay, and the more stressed you become.
Don’t try to learn everything at once. Focus on mastering the core functions you’ll use 90% of the time: charting assessments, administering medications, and looking up lab results.
Clinical Pearl: Find a friendly-looking permanent staff nurse and say, “Hey, I’m the new traveler trying to get fast on the EMR. What are your top 3 time-saving charting shortcuts here? I’ll buy you a coffee for your secrets!” Nurses love sharing shortcuts, and this builds instant rapport.
8. Build Rapport Before You Need Help
You’re the “new person,” and unfortunately, travelers sometimes face skepticism. The best way to melt this away is to be genuinely helpful and humble from day one.
Don’t isolate yourself. Eat lunch in the breakroom. Ask people about their lives outside of work. Introduce yourself to the unit secretary and techs—these colleagues run the show and can make your life infinitely easier.
When a permanent staff nurse is drowning, offer to help, even if it’s not your patient. “Hey, you look swamped. I can take your blood sugar on 14B.” Small gestures like this build a bank of goodwill you can cash later when you truly need a question answered or a hand with a difficult task.
9. Navigate Unit Politics Gracefully
Every single unit, in every single hospital, has its own unique culture and undercurrent of politics. As a traveler, your job is to be a neutral, professional Switzerland. You are an observer, not a participant.
You will overhear gossip. You will see dysfunction. You will be pulled into he-said-she-said situations.
Common Mistake: Choosing a side in a workplace conflict as a way to “fit in.” This will always backfire. Your contract ends; their careers continue. Aligning with a faction will alienate you from others and can damage your professional reputation.
If someone starts complaining about a coworker, use a deflecting, neutral response: “Wow, that sounds tough. Well, I better get back to my patient.” Be kind to everyone, stay out of the drama, and focus on providing excellent patient care. That’s why you’re there.
Thriving Through the Assignment: The Long Haul
You’ve survived the first week. Now it’s about creating a sustainable, enjoyable, and profitable lifestyle for the duration of your contract.
10. Establish Your Legal “Tax Home” Now
This is one of the least understood but most critical pieces of the travel nursing advice puzzle. To legally receive your housing and M&IE stipends tax-free, the IRS requires you to maintain a “tax home.”
A tax home is your permanent place of work or business—it’s not necessarily where you own a house. To qualify, you must be paying for your own lodging at your tax home and expect to return there when your assignments end.
Think of it like this: Your tax home is your anchor. It’s the place from which you temporarily leave to take short-term assignments. Without a legitimate tax home, all your income, including your stipends, becomes taxable, which can hit you with a massive, unexpected tax bill.
Pro Tip: If you don’t own a home, you can maintain a tax home by renting a room and having bills (utilities, internet, etc.) in your name at that address. Keep detailed records of all your expenses. Consult a CPA who specializes in travel nursing to ensure you are compliant.
11. Handle Being Floated Like a Pro
Your contract likely includes a clause about floating to other units. It’s part of the deal. Panicking or refusing an assignment is a quick way to get a bad reputation.
The key is preparation. The moment you know you’re being floated, use these three steps to take control of the situation.
- Get a Quick Briefing: Ask the charge nurse: “What’s the typical patient acuity on this unit? Who’s the go-to person for questions? What’s the biggest difference in charting or workflow from my home unit?”
- Identify Your Resources: Find the unit’s secret weapon—that experienced nurse who is calm under pressure and knows where everything is. Introduce yourself early.
- Prioritize Safety: If you are given an assignment that is completely unsafe for your skill set (e.g., an oncology nurse being sent to the ICU with no orientation), it is your professional obligation to voice your concerns professionally. “I have no ICU experience and cannot safely take these vented patients. Can we find a solution that is safe for the patients?”
Key Takeaway: Confidence is your best tool when floating. You are a capable, experienced nurse. You can adapt. Take a deep breath, introduce yourself, and focus on providing safe care, one task at a time.
12. Recognize and Prevent Burnout
The freedom and adventure of travel nursing come with a unique risk: burnout. You’re constantly the new person, adapting to new systems, and away from your support network. Preventing burnout isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for a sustainable career.
Watch for these early signs: You start feeling cynical about every new assignment, you’re exhausted all the time (even on days off), or you feel detached from your patients and coworkers.
Your Burnout Prevention Toolkit:
- Protect Your Days Off: Say no to overtime if you’re feeling drained. Your time off is for recharging, not just running errands.
- Find Your Ritual: Go for a run, join a local yoga class, find a weekly trivia night. Having a consistent non-work activity grounds you.
- Connect with Home: Schedule regular video calls with friends and family. Don’t let those relationships drift.
- Plan Something Fun: Give yourself something to look forward to after a tough stretch of shifts—a weekend trip, a nice dinner, a visit to a local landmark.
13. Maximize Your Days Off
You didn’t become a travel nurse just to work, sleep, and repeat. Your three-day weekends are your golden tickets to exploration! But unless you plan, they slip away.
Instead of ending a stretch of shifts thinking, “Okay… now what?”, have an “Adventure Ideas” list on your phone. When you have a spare hour, research cool things within a 2-hour drive of your new location.
Between you and me, you don’t have to do something epic every weekend. Sometimes the best adventure is finding the best local coffee shop and reading a book for three hours. The point is to intentionally use your time to decompress and explore, not just recover.
Long-Term Career Strategy: Thinking Beyond This Contract
Smart travel nurses don’t think from contract to contract; they think strategically about their entire career. Here’s how to build a long-term, lucrative future.
14. Keep an Impeccable Professional Portfolio
Your experience is your product. You need to track it meticulously so you can market yourself for better jobs and higher pay in the future.
Don’t rely on memory. Start a digital portfolio now. Create a folder on your computer or in cloud storage.
Your Portfolio Must-Havs:
- Resume: Keep it updated with every new skill, certification, and assignment.
- Licenses & Certifications: scanned copies of all active licenses (nursing, compact states), BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC, etc.
- Skills Checklist: A detailed list of every procedure and piece of equipment you’re competent with (e.g., starting difficult IVs, managing specific vasoactive drips, using different types of ventilators).
- Performance Evaluations: Keep copies of any positive feedback or formal evaluations from assignments.
- Reference List: Maintain a list of charge nurses, managers, and preceptors from your best assignments who have agreed to be a reference.
15. Understand Your Taxes and Save for a Rainy Day
We talked about a tax home, but let’s talk about the money itself. Your paychecks might look huge, but a significant portion of that is not free money. Those non-taxed stipends are to cover expenses, not exceed them.
The Golden Rule: Always save 20-25% of your taxable income for taxes.
Work with a CPA who understands the nuances of travel nurse taxes. They can help you maximize your per diems and deductions so you keep more of your hard-earned cash. Also, build an emergency fund. You never know when a contract might end early or an unexpected expense will pop up.
Pro Tip: Many travel nurses set up a separate savings account labeled “Taxes.” Every payday, they automatically transfer that 20-25% into that account and do not touch it. When tax time comes, there’s no panic, just a planned payment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What if I completely hate my assignment? Can I quit? A: You can, but it has serious consequences. Quitting a contract early is known as “breaking contract.” It can make it very difficult to get a job with that hospital again, and some agencies may penalize you or refuse to work with you in the future. Before you consider quitting, talk to your recruiter immediately. Sometimes they can mediate with the hospital, or you may have grounds for a “safe harbor” exit if your assignment is unsafe. Exhaust all other options first. Breaking a contract should be your absolute last resort.
Q: Do I need a new nursing license for every state I work in? A: It depends. If you have a nursing license from a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, you can work in any other NLC state without getting a new license. However, if you want to work in a non-compact state (like California or New York), you must apply for and receive a single-state license for that specific state. The endorsement process can take weeks or even months, so always start the application as soon as you consider an assignment in a new state. Keep a running list of your license application dates and numbers for your portfolio.
Conclusion
Succeeding as a travel nurse boils down to two core principles: meticulous preparation and confident adaptability. By decoding your pay, asking the right questions, and managing your career like a business, you set yourself up for financial and personal success. By learning quickly, building rapport, and navigating challenges with grace, you thrive in any environment you enter. You are more than capable of building an incredible career, filled with adventure and growth.
What’s the best travel nurse advice you’ve ever received? Drop it in the comments below—your insight could help a fellow nurse on their next assignment!
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