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Nursing Degrees & Schools / RN to CRNA

Many nurses who have logged some experience in the field find they would like to advance their career by changing their nursing specialty. This could include changing to a higher-level nursing position that requires more skills and responsibilities. 

One of these possibilities is to go from an RN to a CRNA, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. These highly trained nurses are able to provide anesthesia and pain control to patients. There are several things to consider if you are thinking about making this transition. To help you, we’ve put together some details here for you to easily review, including:

• What are some reasons to become a CRNA?
• What are the differences in responsibilities?
• What are the steps to becoming a CRNA?
• How much do CRNA programs cost?
• FAQs

What are some reasons to become a CRNA? 

You probably already have some reasons you are thinking about becoming a CRNA, and there might even be a few you don’t know about! Let’s expand a little more on the possible reasons this could be a good choice for you.

Career outlook 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job openings for CRNAs are projected to grow 40% from 2021 to 2031. Job growth for RNs is projected to be 6% between 2021 and 2031.

Salary 

Although the job outlook for a CRNA looks great, what about the salary of a CRNA? The great news is that CRNAs make an average salary of $205,770 per year. As a registered nurse, you can expect an average salary of $82,750. 

For both CRNAs and RNs, education, experience, and where you live depend on how much you make as a nurse. But, even some of the highest registered nurse salaries don’t come close to the salary of a CRNA. 

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What are the differences in responsibilities? 

Being a registered nurse certainly requires a high level of responsibility, but a CRNA has a substantially higher amount of authority. This is reflected in the type of advanced practice degree required. These are some key differences between the responsibilities in both roles:

What are the steps to becoming a CRNA?

The steps involved in becoming a CRNA are a big commitment, as it is a rigorous course of study. Here are some details you’ll need to know before making the leap:

Educational requirements 

The most basic requirement on the path to a CRNA is to become a registered nurse and gain some critical care experience. From there, you’ll have to advance your degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). You can do this in a couple of ways:

• BSN to DNP – if you already have your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you can enroll in a BSN to DNP program.
• MSN to DNP -if you already have your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), you can enroll in an MSN to DNP program.

Applying to CRNA programs

CRNA programs are intensely competitive and have stringent requirements that you must meet to be eligible to apply for enrollment. If you’re serious about pursuing a CRNA, you’ll need to be sure you review these goalposts:

• A BSN at a minimum
• At least one year of acute care experience
• A minimum of 300 on the GRE
• At least a 3.0 GPA

How much do CRNA programs cost?

According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, the median cost of a CRNA program is $51,720. This is in addition to meeting the educational prerequisites you’ll need before starting the program.

How to pay for it

The first step to funding your enrollment in a CRNA program is to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This will tell you what federal grants and loans you qualify for. You can also search for scholarships that you might be eligible for, to help offset any cost you may have to repay. Private loans are also an option.

Next steps

Making the final decision to pursue a CRNA is a big one. It can help to write out the pros and cons as they relate to your situation. Sometimes seeing them on paper can help solidify your choices. 

Advancing to a CRNA isn’t the only option you can choose from, but after researching different nursing roles and exploring other nursing career resources, you may find yourself consistently drawn to this niche. 

To answer any lingering questions you may have, it can be helpful to talk with other nursing professionals that have had experience in the role, to get their thoughts and feedback on their career path as a CRNA.

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FAQs

Career Resources / What to Know about BLS, ACLS, and PALs Certifications

Starting your career as a nurse includes several steps along the way. In addition to getting a nursing degree and passing the NCLEX exam, you should consider obtaining certifications that can help advance your nursing career.

Some aren’t optional, like the Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. All registered nurses (RNs) must obtain BLS. Depending on where you work, you might  need Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications.

Not sure which nursing certifications apply to your nursing career? In this article, you can learn:

• Who should get BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications?
• What is the BLS certification?
• What is the ACLS certification?
• What is the PALS certification?
• How do you renew the BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications?

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Who should get BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications?

Reviewing the list of certifications you can get as a nurse can feel like wading through alphabet soup. BLS, ACLS, and PALS are among the acronyms that get tossed out at nursing students as they work their way through requirements before they can start their careers.

Whether you should get these certifications depends on your nursing specialty. All nurses must complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification as part of their standardized training. You can’t work without it.

Regardless of whether you work in a private medical practice or in a hospital, you never know when you may need to administer basic life support to a patient.

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is not the same as BLS. Basic life support techniques can be taught to anyone, regardless of their medical background. ACLS requires at least a basic grasp of medical knowledge.

For instance, understanding how a basic electrocardiogram (ECG) is beneficial to nurses seeking an ACLS certification. As part of ACLS certification, you’ll also learn about medications and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications are specific to RNs and other advanced degree nursing professionals who work specifically with pediatric patients.

When you should get these certifications

Whether you’re seeking a BLS, ACLS, or PALS certification, you must have the credentials in place before you begin working as a nurse. Most nursing job offers indicate that candidates must have a BLS before starting work.

Most healthcare employers give nurses 3 to 6 months to complete an ACLS or PALS certification after starting a new position that requires the training. In some cases, employers pay for you to obtain the certifications.

What is the BLS certification?

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification teaches nurses to recognize life-threatening emergencies that require administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to save a person’s life.

BLS classes teach you how to:

• Administer high-quality chest compressions
• Deliver appropriate ventilations (breaths)
• Provide early use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)

To earn your BLS, you must take an American Heart Association course. You can choose between a blended learning option and traditional classroom training.

Most BLS courses take between 4 and 5 hours to complete. A few can be finished in as little as 2 hours.

BLS certification is valid for 2 years from the date on your certificate. You can take an abbreviated BLS review course to get recertified every 2 years.

What is the ACLS certification?

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) goes beyond the basics of life support learned in a BLS course. RNs who work in a hospital setting, with cardiac patients, or with critically-ill adults must obtain ACLS certification.

You can expect any ACLS course to include a review of materials learned in a BLS class. However, you can’t get both BLS and ACLS certification in the same course. You must take them separately if you wish to have both designations.

A prerequisite for taking the ACLS course is obtaining your BLS certification.

In an ACLS certification course you’ll learn how to:

• Prevent cardiac arrest
• Perform early and continuous CPR
• Recognize and intervene during cardiopulmonary arrest
• Identify conditions that can cause cardiopulmonary arrest

ACLS certification expires every two years, so you’ll need to take a recertification course to renew it.

What is the PALS certification?

Nurses with pediatric care specialties can get Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification. It teaches you how to administer life-saving care to infants and children. However, PALS doesn’t include training for critically ill infants in the neonatal care unit.

Some of the skills you can expect to learn during PALS certification include:

• Differentiating between stable and unstable patients with arrhythmias
• Early interventions for respiratory distress and failure
• Recognizing cardiopulmonary arrest
• Reviewing child and infant CPR and AED use

PALS certifications are good for two years before you must renew them.

How do you renew the BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications?

Like your other nursing credentials, it’s up to you to monitor the expiration dates for BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications. All three last for 2 years from the date of issuance.

You must check with the certifying bodies for each to determine the requirements for renewal. Continuing education courses can be part of the process. Most employers pay for renewal, so check with your supervisor about which certifying body to use.

If you choose to go outside your healthcare employer’s recommended certifying program, you may have to pay out of pocket to become certified or recertified. You can expect to pay about $90 for BLS certification and between $100 and $200 for ACLS and PALS certification.

What to expect

Recertification for ACLS and PALS is condensed into an 8-hour course. If you wait until your certification lapses, you’ll have to complete all the same coursework and requirements as for the initial certification.

BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications may be required depending on where you work and your nursing specialty. Each has a different purpose, so you’ll want to check with your employer about which is required for you to begin working. 

A word of caution: most healthcare providers – including hospitals – do not allow a grace period for recertification. If you let your credential lapse, you can be suspended from your job until they are active again.

Next steps

Make sure you’re ready for your BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications by studying course materials before the classes begin. If you choose to go through the American Red Cross to get your certifications, you can opt to receive course materials early.

Don’t risk having your credentials expire before you renew them. Pay attention to the expiration date and all requirements for renewal so you can be prepared to keep your credentials current.

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FAQs

Career Resources / Job Searching / Best Hospitals Tennessee

From the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to the blues clubs of Memphis, Tennessee is known for great music. It’s also a popular tourism destination and a great place to live. In 2020 it claimed the No. 1 spot in U-Haul’s annual migration survey. Tennessee has a low cost of living, no state income tax, low property taxes, and incredible natural beauty.

For nurses, the state represents a caregiver’s dream, being home to  some of the nation’s most respected adult and pediatric facilities. The American Nurses Credentialing Center has designated several of them as Magnet Hospitals for their nursing excellence, and their excellence has also been recognized by other organizations.

Tennessee’s Top Hospital

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Maury Regional Medical Center
• Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
• Methodist North Hospital
• Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• The University of Tennessee Medical Center

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Best hospitals in Tennessee

Of the 129 Tennessee hospitals that U.S. News & World Report evaluated, several were either nationally ranked or rated as “high performing” in specialty areas, and 11 were awarded Magnet Hospital status. 

In our own rankings of the best hospitals in Tennessee, we also considered patient survey results from government agencies like Medicare, safety grades from organizations like The Leapfrog Group, recognition and awards from consumer and health organizations, and feedback from current and former employees posted on sites like Indeed and Glassdoor.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a teaching hospital and the main hospital of the only medical system in Middle Tennessee to receive Magnet Designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. It was ranked #19 on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Honor Roll, ranked #1 in the state of Tennessee as well as in Nashville, and nationally ranked in nine adult specialties. 

The hospital received a safety grade of “A” from the Leapfrog Group and four-star ratings from Medicare for both overall performance and patient experience. Additional awards that the medical center has received include being named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers, one of Becker’s Healthcare’s 100 Great Hospitals in America, and as a consistent leader in LGBTQ+ healthcare equality by the Human Rights Campaign.

Notable facts about Vanderbilt University Medical Center include:

• General medical and surgical facility and teaching hospital
• Located in Nashville, Tennessee
• Independent nonprofit organization that maintains academic affiliations with Vanderbilt University
• Number of employees: 19,600 across the organization
• Number of nurses: 4,800+

Maury Regional Medical Center

Rated high performing in six adult procedures and conditions by U.S. News & World Report, Maury Regional Medical Center provides multiple advanced services including a neonatal intensive care unit, a cancer center, and an accredited heart program. 

The facility has been designated as a Magnet Hospital and earned an “A” Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, as well as four-star ratings in both overall performance and patient experience surveys as reported by Medicare. Maury Regional Medical Center has also received numerous awards and recognitions, including accreditation from The Joint Commission, the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines – Resuscitation Silver Award, and the Gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Notable facts about Maury Regional Medical Center include:

• Not-for-profit hospital and health system
• Located in Columbia, Tennessee
• Flagship hospital for Maury Regional Health
• Number of employees: 4,000+ across the system

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital is the only Level 1 pediatric trauma center in the region and its neonatal intensive care unit is the region’s only designated Level I unit. It is also the only hospital in the region recognized as an ECMO Center of Excellence. It has distinguished itself by being designated as a Magnet Hospital as well as being nationally ranked in three pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. 

In 2017, the Leapfrog Group named the facility as a Top Children’s Hospital, and the hospital has been recognized with several other awards, including having been named a Center of Care by the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF).

Notable facts about Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital include:

• Comprehensive pediatric hospital
• Located in Memphis, Tennessee
• Part of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
• Number of employees: 11,245 across the system
• Number of nurses: More than 3,000 across the system

Methodist North Hospital

One of seven hospitals that make up Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Methodist North Hospital is a 246-bed community hospital that has earned Magnet Hospital status. The hospital earned a “B” safety grade from the Leapfrog Group and has received several awards and recognitions, including accreditation from the American College of Cardiology, the AACN Silver Beacon Award of Excellence,

Notable facts about Methodist North Hospital include:

• Community hospital
• Located in Memphis, Tennessee
• Part of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
• Number of employees: 11,245 across the system
• Number of nurses: More than 3,000 across the system

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital is the largest pediatric hospital in the Southeast. Part of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the hospital has been recognized with Magnet Status for its excellence in nursing standards. It was also named one of the Best Children’s Hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked it nationally in 10-out-of-10 pediatric specialties. 

The hospital was one of only ten children’s hospitals in the country to be named a Leapfrog Hospital in 2017, and as part of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Medicare has awarded it four stars in both patient experience and overall performance. The facility has won numerous other awards, including being named one of the nation’s 100 most wired hospitals and health systems and receiving the Overall Top Performer Award from Professional Research Consultants for Overall Quality of Care.

Notable facts about Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt include:

• Pediatric acute care children’s teaching hospital
• Located in Nashville, Tennessee
• Part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Number of employees: 19,600 across the organization
• Number of nurses: 4,800+

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is an internationally acclaimed facility specializing in the treatment of childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The nonprofit hospital provides care and treatment to its patients and conducts research without billing its patients for treatment, travel, housing, or food. Though the hospital does accept insurance, much of the treatment provided is experimental and not eligible for reimbursement, so an estimated 89% of funding comes from donors. 

A Magnet Hospital, St. Jude’s earned an “A” safety grade from the Leapfrog Group, and its unique operating model and high quality of service has led to it receiving numerous honors and awards, including being ranked as a top children’s cancer hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, being named one of the 100 Best Workplaces for Women by Fortune magazine, and consistently being named one of Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work.

Notable facts about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital include:

• Nonprofit pediatric treatment and research facility
• Located in Memphis, Tennessee
• Number of employees: 5,000

The University of Tennessee Medical Center

The University of Tennessee Medical Center is an academic medical center, Magnet- recognized hospital, and Level I Trauma Center. It serves as the referral center for the region and has been certified by the Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Cardiac Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center. U.S. News & World Report ranks the hospital #4 in the region and High Performing in 11 adult specialties and conditions. The Leapfrog Group awarded the hospital a safety grade of “A” and Medicare reports that it earned a four-star overall performance rating. 

The hospital has received other awards, including being recognized by the state of Tennessee for its continuous improvement and best practices processes and being recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center for its expertise and efficiency in delivering specialty care.

Notable facts about The University of Tennessee Medical Center include:

• Academic medical center and Level I trauma center
• Located in Knoxville, Tennessee
• Referral center for Eastern Tennessee, Southeastern Kentucky and Western North Carolina
• Number of employees: 3,747

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What makes a top hospital in Tennessee?

Whether you’re an employee, a patient, or a member of the community, it’s easy to see that the best hospitals in Tennessee are the ones that are constantly striving to improve their care and engagement with their patients. They uphold the highest ethical standards and ensure that their workforce is provided with all of the tools and support that they need to continue delivering safe, high-quality services.

Benefits

Prospective employees weigh multiple factors when deciding whether to join a nursing team, and compensation is high on that list. While the salary offered is critically important, the national nursing shortage combined with the stresses of COVID-19 have driven increased competition for nurses, and that has not only raised pay rates but also driven innovation in the benefits being offered. From more flexible schedules and on-site daycare to concierge services that arrange for dog walking and travel plans, the best hospitals are finding innovative ways to demonstrate how much they value their employees.

Growth opportunity

No matter an employee’s first position, the promise of career advancement is a powerful incentive to perform well, as well as an indication that their employer is interested in their professional growth. The best hospitals make it clear through tuition reimbursement and flexible scheduling that they want their nurses to maximize their potential and move into positions with greater responsibility and earnings capacity.

Employee satisfaction

Though nursing has long been thought of as a vocation rather than a career, even the most dedicated nurses were challenged by COVID-19 and the related job fatigue. Facilities that are mindful of the stressors that nurses face and that take action to boost employee satisfaction consistently score higher on employee satisfaction surveys.

High patient satisfaction

Patient satisfaction is much more than a statistic or data point. It determines whether families choose practitioners and specialists who are associated with a particular facility, as well as whether nurses choose those facilities as employers. The more effort that hospitals put into moving beyond medical care to provide their patients with excellent service, the higher patient satisfaction levels rise.

Other factors that make a top hospital

Hospitals that take their mission seriously have several things in common. Among these are their commitment to engagement with their community, their high ethical standards, and their willingness to invest in technology that both improves their delivery of care and that makes life easier for their staff.

Safety record is critical

Despite the profession’s pledge of doing no harm, there has been an alarming rise in hospital-based infections in the United States. Facilities that take aggressive action against this trend have proven themselves worthy of both patient and staff loyalty.

Hospital policies focus on customer services

The degree to which each healthcare facility attends to their patients’ satisfaction is a significant driver of their success. Hospitals that view their patients as customers understand that their role goes beyond medical care and reinforce that message to their staff via patient-centric policies.

Latest technology and training improve healthcare

Every day, researchers and innovators around the world are introducing new technologies that improve care and expand the potential for treatment. The best hospitals invest in these technologies and train their staff members so that patients can fully realize their benefit.

Ethics leads the way

Every hospital is established around a mission statement that reflects their values and their goals. The hospitals that truly commit themselves to demonstrating their values through every aspect of the care that they deliver inspire pride in their employees and are the employers that people most want to work for.

Next steps

You’ve identified Tennessee as the state where you want to live and work, and you may even have identified your dream employer from among Tennessee’s best hospitals. Your next step is to commit yourself to the goal of being hired. Even with an ongoing national nursing shortage, you need to shine a spotlight on what makes you the best nurse for the job and demonstrate that you are ready to work on Day One.

Build your resume

Every nurse needs a resume that reflects their experience, their skills, their strengths, and their goals. If you haven’t updated yours in a while, take the time to review it with a critical eye. Imagine yourself a hiring manager, and see whether it does a good job of highlighting what sets you apart. If not, then edit out what doesn’t help and add in details that truly make you shine.

Join a nurses’ association

For over 100 years, the Tennessee Nurses Association has been working to advance the interest of nurses in the state. Though there are pros and cons to joining a union, if you are interested in working at one of Tennessee’s best hospitals you may find that the network opportunities offered by the TNA help you move forward with your goals.

Attend industry educational conferences and workshops

Hospitals want to know that their employees are forward thinking and dedicated to self-improvement, and attending educational conferences is one of the best ways to prove the point. They advance your knowledge and skills while expanding your professional network.

Keep up with continuing education requirements

Medical knowledge is constantly shifting, and that’s just one of the reasons that Tennessee’s licensing criteria requires its nurses to take continuing education units. In order to maintain a Tennessee license you’ll need to complete at least five contact hours every two years. Incredible health makes that goal accessible by offering free accredited CEU courses, complete with instant delivery of the documentation you’ll need to prove your compliance.

Search for job openings

A job search can generate excitement, dread, and stress, all at once. The process puts applicants on an emotional roller coaster in which they feel both stressed by the effort required and entirely out of control as they wait for responses to applications they’ve submitted. 

Incredible Health turns that process into a pleasure, allowing you to post your profile and your list of desired characteristics in an employer, and then sit back and let hospitals reach out to you. It minimizes your effort, maximizes ease, and has been proven to significantly speed hiring time.

Transfer your nursing license to Tennessee

Tennessee is a nursing license compact state. That means that if you hold a nursing license in any other state that is a member of the compact, you are able to practice in the state without applying for a new license. Once you establish residency you will need to apply for a state license.

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Nurse Types / Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing

Travel nursing is an ideal career for those who like spontaneity and new places. It’s also a smart way to gain experience in other healthcare settings. 

Thriving travel nurses are typically adaptable, positive, organized, and a little adventurous. With thick skin, they brave various work settings, unfamiliar medical devices, and computer systems, and various assignments during one shift.

Read these pros and cons of travel nursing to help you decide if it’s your next great adventure.

In this article we cover:

Pros of travel nursing

• Great pay
• Travel and adventure
• Flexibility
• Job security
• Negotiable contracts
• Career experience
• Minimal work politics

Cons of travel nursing

• Loneliness
• State licensing delays
• Floating schedules
• Insurance changes
• Loss of seniority
• Being the new kid on the block
• Changing contracts
• Canceled contracts
• Finding housing

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Pros of travel nursing

Great pay

Travel nurses can earn more money than staff nurses through incentives and tax-free reimbursements.

Most travel nurses receive free housing or a stipend for housing expenses. Your agency may even set you up in deluxe lodging.

You can also earn large sign-on bonuses. It’s possible for travel nurses to receive $5,000 to $10,000 sign-on bonuses. Remember, however, bonuses are taxable income.

Travel and adventure

If you like nursing but want the flexibility of traveling, you’ll love travel nursing. You can even journey to other countries. 

This suits nurses who feel stuck or bored in their current position. It also fits anyone who wants to explore new places and meet new people.

As a travel nurse, you’ll become travel-savvy and culturally aware. Plus, your stories will wow your friends at dinner parties.

Flexibility 

As a travel nurse, you only have to commit to a work contract if you want to. If you need a break between contracts, you wait to take a new assignment. Also, travel nurses choose where to travel, offering freedom to travel where you want or need to.

If you’re working in New York, and your mother-in-law in Arkansas becomes sick and needs your help, you can ask for a transfer to Arkansas. Once in a while, you may be able to move immediately. If not, you finish your current contract in New York before starting the new one in Arkansas.

You may also find a contract near your home base if needed. But flexibility with distance provides greater job opportunities.

Flexible nurses often don’t mind change. If this is you, you might love travel nursing.

Job security

Travel nurses enjoy lasting job security. As long as hospitals need nurses, they’ll need ones who travel.

You may need to relocate to keep a position with equal or higher pay, but you’ll usually have many options when choosing a new contract. That freedom eases emotional and financial fears about providing for yourself or loved ones.

Negotiable contracts

Unlike many hospitals, everything is negotiable in a travel nursing contract.

You hold the most bargaining power when you’re willing to walk away. If you’re not desperate for a specific contract, you can walk away if it doesn’t meet your wishes. There are usually plenty of other options. 

If negotiating intimidates you, remember it’s not personal. It’s business. You can build confidence and negotiating skills by asking for one request with each new contract.  Learning to read and negotiate contracts is a skill you’ll carry throughout life.

It won’t take you long before you’ll be able to negotiate like a pro.

Career experience

Travel nurses learn many different processes and systems across facilities. You’ll encounter cutting-edge ideas and ones they should’ve trashed in the 80s. If you want to move into leadership someday, travel nursing offers a unique insight into different healthcare models.

Travel nurses who try new specialties and tasks build skills quickly. They’re more likely to find a specialty they’re passionate about, too. You may also have the chance to work at top-ranked hospitals.

Working in a wide variety of healthcare institutions will deepen your expertise and resume.

Minimal work politics 

There’s no shortage of workplace politics in the healthcare industry. As a travel nurse, you can usually steer clear of politics.

Travel nurses are rarely involved with committees, meetings, and task forces. They sense conflicts and problems but won’t stay long enough to feel obligated to help.

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Cons of travel nursing

That said, travel nursing is no different from any other career option. It has its downsides, too. Take a look at these cons to see how they weigh against the pros for your unique personality and situation.

Loneliness

Not every travel nurse can bring loved ones along. Making money is great, but you may feel hollow when you have no one to share it with.

Socializing and networking with other nurses and hospital staff helps combat loneliness. Joining an international nursing organization can help, too.

State licensing delays

States require travel nurses to be licensed wherever they work. Fortunately, many U.S. states participate in compact licensing. A compact license is a multi-state license allowing you to work in several participating states.

Some states, however, still require a sluggish licensing process, which can slow you down and even hinder career opportunities.

Floating schedules 

“Floating schedules” are still common for travel nurses. If you work a floating schedule, you “float” to different areas of the facility other than those listed in your contract.

Some clinics and hospitals float travel nurses first. Either way, there’s a good chance you’ll float to areas you’re less familiar with. 

Insurance changes

Changing insurance policies between jobs can be another travel nursing pitfall.

Fortunately, many agencies provide coverage. Some agencies offer insurance to nurses as employees. Others partner with insurance companies to provide affordable coverage to nurses as contractors.  

It’s also possible to choose private insurance you set up and pay for on your own.

Loss of seniority

Staff nurses build seniority and rank within an organization. With seniority, you pick your schedule, work fewer weekends, and move up the pay ladder.

Travel nurses, on the other hand, typically work when management asks them to. It can be hard to have little power over your schedule. However, if you travel to assignments alone, working odd or varying shifts is easier.

Even if you miss out on seniority as a travel nurse, you can still build strong connections and a solid reputation. You may like a facility enough to apply later as a staff nurse. 

Being the new kid on the block

Some people love new places, but always being new is challenging. Thick skin and adaptability help with this con. A positive attitude goes a long way, too.

Since travel nurses work temporary positions, the administration may not feel motivated to make you happy. Sometimes, they’ll give you the most demanding assignments.

But when you work hard and help your fellow nurses, you’ll earn their loyalty and gratitude. Those nurses will support you in return and even protect you if necessary.

Another challenge is constantly learning new policies and procedures. Orientation always feels inadequate. You have to know when to ask questions and when to ask for help.

It’s tough showing up to work and not knowing anyone. It’s also hard knowing who to trust. Your best bet is to be friendly, cheerful, and helpful, and you’ll win friends quickly.

When the going gets tough, you have the sweet reminder that you’ll soon be traveling to the next location.

Changing contracts

Typical contracts last about 13-14 weeks. As one contract ends, you’ll need to have the next one set. Some nurses struggle with this constant change and planning.

One option is to request an extension to your current contract. Some facilities will extend your contract many times if you want to stay longer. First, ask your location manager if an extension is possible. Next, let your recruiter know so they can make it happen.

If you want to move on, finding your next assignment will be the same process as finding your first one. You’ll need to be organized and flexible to keep good contracts rolling. 

Start researching options about a month before your current contract ends. You can also request a specific location.

You may snag a lucrative contract by remaining open to unusual options, which may be available because others won’t take them. Rural hospitals struggle to fill some positions and may offer higher rates than urban hospitals.

Compact licenses are also handy for shifting quickly between contracts.

Canceled contracts

Travel nurses must always be prepared for a canceled contract just before it starts. For the most part, contracts offer stability. However, some institutions overbook travel nurses, especially during crises. 

Know your agency’s policies regarding cancellations. They may still reimburse travel expenses and part of your expected salary. They may also help you find another position quicker than usual.

Beefing up your savings can shelter you from canceled contracts. A solid savings account quiets nagging financial worries.

Finding housing

Housing for travel nurses can be tricky, even with a hefty housing stipend.

Know an agency’s housing policy before signing on. This helps you know what part of the process is your responsibility. Some agencies arrange housing for you. Others let you find your own housing.

When you have to find housing, knowledge is power. It takes time, but learning to navigate the temporary housing market helps you spot good deals quickly. 

Use trustworthy housing forums – like Airbnb and VRBO – that are more likely to protect consumers from scams. Travel Nurse Housing, Transplant Housing, and Furnished Finder are sites for travel nurses to use as well.

Hotels are typically the most expensive choice, and living in a hotel for more than three months gets old. Staying with friends and family may be a fun option, too.

Start your search early and narrow down your search criteria to quicken your finds.

Most importantly, choose affordable housing so that the extra stipend money is left jingling in your pocket!

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The Takeaway

As with any nursing job, communication, flexibility, organization, and a positive attitude are key to travel nursing. If you enjoy traveling and helping exhausted staff nurses, give it a whirl! 

But if travel nursing isn’t the job for you, we can help you find your dream position at Incredible Health. Create a profile to discover a job where you don’t have to leave your family and friends behind.