Travel nursing, explained
How contracts, stipends and agencies work, and what you need before your first assignment.
What it is
Travel nurses take short contracts, often around 13 weeks, wherever a hospital or facility is short-staffed. You’re usually employed by a staffing agency, not the hospital.
How the pay works
Packages are often a taxable hourly rate plus housing and meal stipends. Stipends can be tax-free only if you keep a genuine tax home you’re paying for while away. That rule trips people up, so talk to a tax professional before you sign.
What you need
Most agencies want at least one to two years of recent experience in your specialty. A multistate licence through the Nurse Licensure Compact makes it much easier to take jobs in other compact states; non-compact states need their own licence.
Questions to ask an agency
- What’s the guaranteed hours policy if shifts get cancelled?
- What’s the full weekly breakdown: taxable rate vs stipends?
- Who pays for licences, certifications and travel?
- Is there a penalty if the contract ends early?
General information, not legal or licensing advice. Requirements change; your state board of nursing has the final word. Pay figures: BLS OEWS May 2024 national medians.