Travel Nurse – Career and Education Profile

Find Your Degree

Complete this form and we will match you with a school that offers the degree you’re interested in.

Travel nurses work in general staff nursing roles, but instead of working at a single location, you’ll work in temporary positions, typically for one month to two years, to support staff members in areas where there is a great need for nurses.

Job Responsibilities

Travel nurses actually perform the same tasks that general RNs perform. So, some of the tasks you could do on a daily basis include checking vital signs, helping patients with personal hygiene and feeding, dressing wounds, administering medications, helping doctors develop treatment plans, communicating with family members, educating patients about home care, recording patient history, and monitoring patient progress. The only difference is that you’ll move to new locations across the country or even around the world regularly to provide support while a facility goes through the recruiting and hiring to find new nurses.

Salary and Career Options

As a travel nurse, you might receive a salary from a single firm or you might work under contract with each new location, so your salary could change accordingly. Typically, travel nurses make more than general nurses because of the inconvenience of having to move regularly. In some cases, your travel expenses and even living costs are paid as part of your salary. Many travel nurses go on to specialize in one area of medicine, such as geriatrics or oncology.

Educational Requirements

To work as a travel nurse, you need a valid RN licenses in your state, which requires you to earn at least an associate of science in nursing. You can also go on to become an advanced practice nurse by getting your master’s degree in this field, or even a doctorate, though most travel nurses are simply RNs who have a bachelor of science in nursing.

LPN to RN College Programs

With some additional schooling, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can become a registered nurse (RN), opening doors to more job opportunities and higher salaries. The following is a list of schools with the best online LPN to RN degree programs offered by accredited colleges. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

LPN to RN (BSN)	Indiana State University—ISU’s LPN to BSN degree program is the only online LPN to RN training program in the United States. LPNs and LVNs who complete this program can earn their NLNAC-approved Bachelor of Science degree in nursing entirely online. Upon completion, graduates should meet all of the prerequisites for becoming an RN. Read an in-depth review of Indiana State University.
LPN to RN LPN to ADN LPN to BSN	The College Network—Earn your LPN to RN (ADN) degree completely online with no campus attendance and no wait list. Learn from the convenience of home at your own pace, and earn an NLNAC-accredited associate’s degree in less time and for less money than traditional campus programs. Read an in-depth review of The College Network.
	Select a subject and degree level, then click "Find My Degree" to browse 100+ online nursing schools offering relevant accredited programs.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Education MSN in Nurse Informatics MSN in Nurse Management	Walden University—Founded in 1970, Walden University is dedicated to providing education for a higher purpose. The Nursing School confers degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s level, which provides further study in health informatics, nursing education, and nursing leadership/management. Walden is one of the biggest providers of online master and doctorate programs with over a hundred degrees offered at each level.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing (MSN) MSN in Adult Health RN to MSN in Nurse Education Accelerated RN to MSN	South University—South University’s College of Nursing offers numerous degree programs for aspiring nurses. Those looking for a BSN degree can enter into the RN to BSN and complete it within 18 months. South also offers the following master’s degree-level programs: MS in Nursing (MSN), MSN in adult health nurse practitioning, MSN in nurse education, and an accelerated RN to MSN.
RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Administration MSN in Nurse Education	Kaplan University—Kaplan University’s RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs feature curriculums that provide registered nurses with the tools to graduate with BSN and MSN degrees. The MSNs in Nurse Administration or Nurse Education feature curriculums that teach methods in management and education in order to prepare students for leadership and educator positions with in the nursing field.