How Long Does It Take to get a Travel Nursing Job?
It typically takes 1 to 5 weeks to get a travel nursing job. However, a host of variables affect the length of time it takes to get a travel nursing job. As a result, it can take less than a week in some cases and much longer than 5 weeks in other cases. In this article, we’ll look at the factors that affect the time it takes to get a travel nursing job so you can approach the process with confidence.
What It Means to “Get” a Travel Nursing Job
First, it’s important to clearly define what it means to “Get” a travel nursing job. For the purpose of this article, we define “Get” to mean that you’re actually starting the job. In other words, you “get” the job the moment you clock in for your first shift.
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Why is this important? When most people ask how long it takes to get a travel nursing job, they are wondering how long it will take them to start actually earning income. Moreover, they want to know how long it will take from the time they start the process. Therefore, it’s important to differentiate between how long it takes to get a job offer and how long it takes to actually start the job.
For example, you could get a travel nursing job offer to start weeks or even months later. This scenario is common for contracts with start dates in October through January. These contracts are commonly referred to as “winter needs” in the industry. Hospitals typically extend job offers for these contracts well in advance to ensure they have their needs met for this busy period of the year.
Additionally, the contracting facility could delay the start date for your travel nursing job. Even worse, the contracting facility could cancel your travel nursing job after the offer but before you start. Knowing that these scenarios exist helps you plan accordingly.
Licensing Affects How Long It Takes To Get A Travel Nursing Job
Licensing is a big factor in determining how long it will take to get a travel nursing job. You can only work in the states you are licensed. In most cases, hospitals require proof of state licensure in order to consider a candidate for a travel nursing job. In rare cases, hospitals will consider candidates who aren’t already licensed in their state. Hospitals in “walk-through” states are typically the only hospitals to allow this.
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So, if you’re only licensed in the state of Rhode Island, then you could have a very difficult time getting a travel nursing job. If you have a Compact Nursing License, then getting a travel nursing job will be much easier. Either way, it’s best to secure your nursing licenses prior to your job search.
Flexibility Affects The Time It Takes To Get A Travel Nursing Job
Flexibility is one of the biggest factors determining how long it will take to get a travel nursing job. For example, if you’re willing to take an assignment anywhere at any pay rate, then you’ll be able to get a travel nursing job much quicker than if you’re willing to take only assignments in a particular city with top pay. The same can be said for flexibility as it pertains to shifts, working conditions, time-off and other employment related variables.
Many newcomers to travel nursing tend to believe that there are always jobs available in their desired locations. However, the travel nursing job market is fluid and often competitive. Therefore, greater flexibility means more options. The more options you have, the faster you’ll be able to get a travel nursing job.
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All that said, you can, and should, hold out for the job you want at the pay you want. However, knowing that you could have a longer wait to land your job will help you plan in advance.
Specialty Affects How Long It Takes To Get A Travel Nursing Job
Certain specialties are in higher demand than others in the travel nursing job market. Therefore, your specialty can affect how long it takes to get a travel nursing job. The travel nursing specialties most in demand include Med/Surg, ICU, ER, L&D, OR, and Telemetry. Other specialties in demand include PICU, NICU, SDU, PACU, PSYCH, and Dialysis.
This list is by no means exhaustive. However, the point is that certain specialties are in higher demand than others. The more demand there is for your specialty, the faster you’ll be able to get a travel nursing job.
The Travel Nursing Job Market
The state of the travel nursing job market will also have an impact on the time it takes to get a travel nursing job. When the travel nursing job market is tight, there are more jobs than workers. When the job market is slack, there are more workers than jobs. Therefore, it will take less time to get a travel nursing job in a tight labor market and more time in a slack labor market.
It can be difficult to ascertain the state of the travel nursing job market, but there are a few tips and things to know that will help. First, in a tight labor market, you will see agencies offering more bonuses and contracts with elevated pay rates, commonly referred to as “crisis rates”. Second, you can simply ask the recruiters you speak with how the job market is doing. They will almost always provide an honest, straightforward answer. Finally, you can inquire with fellow travel nurses via the many online forums and Facebook groups devoted to travel nursing.
Seasonality In The Travel Nursing Job Market
It’s also important to note that there are seasonal aspects to the travel nursing job market. It’s like a job market within the greater job market. The seasons revolve around the holidays and winter months. Hospitals tend to open a large number of contracts in October. The common 13-week duration will take these contracts through the holidays and into the winter months. Then, a large number of contracts will open in January as the October contacts are completed and the hospitals plan for coverage through the remaining winter months.
Generally speaking, you can expect it to take less time to get a travel nursing job that starts in October. It will generally take a little longer to get a travel nursing job that starts in January. This is because many travel nurses return to the job market in January after taking time off over the holidays. April tends to be a bit slower, with July tending to be the slowest time of the year for the travel nursing job market.
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All of that said, you can certainly get travel nursing jobs in any month of the year. The seasonal aspect is simply the general nature of the market. It’s good to keep it in mind for planning purposes.
Multiple Travel Nursing Companies
Working with multiple travel nursing companies is one of the best ways to ensure that you get travel nursing jobs as quickly as possible. The reason is that different companies have access to different jobs. Larger companies will have access to more jobs than smaller companies. However, even the largest company in the industry can’t get you access to all the jobs. Bottom line, working with multiple companies maximizes your access to the job market. Access to more jobs means you’ll be able to get a travel nursing job quicker.
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The idea of working with multiple companies puzzles many first-time travel nurses. To clarify, working with multiple companies does not mean that you’re hired with multiple companies. Instead, it means that you have your profile set up with multiple companies. It also means that you’re communicating with recruiters at said companies who are actively engaged in helping you land jobs.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Travel Nursing Job? Preparedness
That said, it can be a pain to manage the documentation process with multiple companies. At a minimum, you’ll need an updated application, resume, and skills checklist on file with each company. These documents are commonly referred to as the “submission profile”.
Unfortunately, waiting until a job actually opens to complete the documentation is too late. The hospital will undoubtedly fill the job by the time the traveler completes the documents and the agency completes their due diligence, including reference checks. Therefore, having your documentation ready to go in advance reduces the time it takes to get a travel nursing job.
Moreover, it’s a good idea to have all of your compliance related documentation on file and ready to go with the travel nursing companies you work with. This includes copies of licenses, certifications, clinical records and other documents. Having these items ready to go minimizes compliance related delays.
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This part of the process is certainly daunting. That’s why we created BluePipes. Our platform helps healthcare professionals own and manage all of their career related details and documentation. This way, you can onboard with new companies seamlessly.
Onboarding
Finally, the onboarding process of the specific hospital you’re working with will affect how long it takes to get a travel nursing job. Some hospitals require less paperwork than others. Certain hospitals have so much paperwork that it will certainly affect the start date of the assignment.
Similarly, some hospitals onboard travel nurses any day of the week. They’re very flexible. Other hospitals maintain strict schedules for onboarding their travelers. For example, they might onboard new travelers every two weeks or even every month. These factors will certainly affect how long it takes to get a travel nursing job.
As you can see, there are many factors that will impact how long it takes to get a travel nursing job. Again, it will typically take you 1 to 5 weeks to get a travel nursing job. However, it can take less time or more time depending on your unique circumstances. Understanding the various factors will help you plan ahead in order to ensure that you’re not caught off guard.
