July 19, 2025

1991 Views

Becoming an International Nurse in the UK – Part 3

Posted on July 19, 2025July 10, 2025 by Sophie B

Here we are for round three of how to get licensed as an international nurse in the UK! I know this is a long, tedious process, but it will be worth it, I promise! Picking up where we left off in my second article, on becoming an international nurse, we are getting into the rest of the paperwork.

Tips for Becoming an International Nurse in the UK

Timing for Required Verifications

You can see a few other check boxes like Language RFI, Good Standing RFI, and Medical Practitioner Verification. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT do these until you are about 2 months out from moving to the UK. 1 month out is even better. These “expire” after 6-12 months, and you will have to resubmit if there is anything that delays you from getting your PIN. That might seem like a long time, but if there are any issues with any of your other paperwork, it can take months to get them resolved. It’s just a waste of time, and potentially money, to do them too soon.

Good Standing & Language Verification

For good standing, I had my manager at my most recent job in the US write me a letter of recommendation with the hospital letterhead and scan it to the same NMC email I mentioned in my second article. For English language verification, if you are from the US and English is your first language, you can show your transcripts from the University with your classes being in English. If you need proof of English language proficiency, you can take the IELTS or OET. These exams cost extra money as well. They are good for 12-24 months, depending on which one you take.

Medical Practitioner Verification

The medical practitioner verification is exactly how it sounds. Basically, you need a physical from your doctor saying that you are fit to practice. Your NMC application will have a spot for you to put your doctor’s email address in. They will then send them a form to fill out on your behalf, with a return email address on it. Again, depending on your insurance situation, seeing your doctor could cost you an extra fee.

This was honestly one of the easiest parts of the whole licensing process because all you have to have is your doctor’s email and make sure they reply to it. Again, this can get more difficult if you do it too soon and have to get an updated one after submitting the initial check. Just wait as long as you can to get this done, I promise that will be the best thing you can possibly do!

Preparing for the OSCE ID Check

When you go to take your OSCE, the NMC will ask you to bring documents for what they call an ID check. This includes your passport, diploma, background check, license verification (Nursys works for this as well), and any proof of name change documentation if that pertains to you. If any of these are in another language, you also need official translated documents. These ID check documents must be physical documents in their original forms. No copies of diplomas or photos of your passport will pass this check.

If you don’t pass this ID check, you will have to return to whichever testing site you are taking your OSCE to show the documentation again. I had to do this, and trust me, you don’t want to have to worry about this. However, if you don’t have the correct documents on the day of your exam, you will still be able to take your exam on your scheduled day.

Background Check Tips

I want to make sure everyone reading this has the easiest possible time with this part because I did not. When you get a background check, you need to use one of the NMC-approved third-party fingerprinting services. If you don’t, they won’t accept them. If you do use one of their approved providers and get results via email, SAVE THE EMAIL – even if the link only works for 24 hours.

They will ask to see the original email and who it came from. Print the results off, save them as a PDF, and save the email. If you do physical fingerprints and send them to the FBI, keep the whole document, including the envelope they came in. Sending physical fingerprints can take months, so either do this in advance or just do the electronic option.

Final Steps and Congratulations

Once everything is in and you have passed both exams, it can take 1-4 weeks for the NMC to do the final review and officially award you your PIN. Congratulations! I hope this helps you in your endeavors to become an international nurse in the UK. It can be really difficult at times, but if you remain patient, it is absolutely doable! Please reach out to me on Instagram @thetravelingsopha or at thetravelingsopha@gmail.com if you have any other questions or need clarification. And stay tuned here because my next post about being an international nurse will be a lot more fun!

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By Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

July 15, 2025

124132 Views

What Is A Tax Home As A Travel Nurse

Posted on July 15, 2025July 15, 2025 by Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

After a day of managing potent medications on a critical patient, one would think that unraveling the concept of tax home would be an easy task. Unfortunately, the concept of a tax residence is very similar to an ACLS algorithm which few of us actually master unless we routinely manage codes or are lucky enough to have extra room in our scrub pockets to carry around an ACLS flow chart. So, what really is a tax home?

The Complexities of Tax Homes

The complexity of a tax home determination is mind-boggling. However, it is the litmus test of the taxability of tax-free reimbursement payments.

The confusion is exacerbated by agencies, recruiters, and executives who only know part of the rules. Like a patient that knows enough about a diagnosis to be dangerous, players in the healthcare staffing industry are just as suspicious. Unfortunately, the same applies to many tax professionals who stumble over the rules with equal blindness.

The following discussion will just address the foundation of a tax home. There is no one thing that settles the issue. Just like the ACLS algorithm. The determination of tax home goes through many decision points governed by unique facts and circumstances.

Starting point: A tax home and a permanent residence are NOT the same things!

What? What do you mean? All the agencies want to know where my permanent residence is.

This is where most of the confusion over a tax home starts. These terms are, unfortunately, used synonymously by many in our industry.

Permanent Residence = Legal Home / Tax Residence = Economic Home

A permanent residence is a legal concept. Ties that bind you to an area all contribute to the location of your permanent legal home. These include driver’s licenses, car registration, memberships, where you get your mail, the home state of your professional practice license, etc. This does not rise to the level of a tax residence and initially has NO impact on it.

A tax residence is defined by the IRS as one’s principal place of business, which is a loaded term that basically means the area where one makes the majority of their income. It is not where you live.

This is why it is better called an economic home. Most people work where they live. Hence, their permanent and tax residences are in the same place, which explains the synonymous use of the terms. However, many people do not work where they live. Some have more than one permanent job, seasonal jobs, or commute a significant distance to a main job. The definition of a tax residence for these individuals is no different. The tax residence is still the location where the individual makes the majority of their income in relation to the other places of work.

Travel nurses occupy a different sphere. Because their work is mostly temporary, they do not have a primary place of business or income. Since they are in constant motion, never stay in one place for more than a year. The tax code has recognized that it would be unreasonable to expect these individuals to actually move their residence to a different location with each assignment. Travelers with tax homes are never moving. They are mobilizing. The difference is those terms are important as moving involves a change of residence while mobilizing is more of an accurate description of someone who is temporarily away from home.

How do the tax rules address the travel nurse?

For true “travelers,” as defined above, the tax rules allow an exception to the tax home definition. Instead of looking at the primary place of income/business, it allows the tax home to default (fall back on) the permanent residence. For this to apply, however, the travel nurse must meet 2 out of 3 of the following criteria.

Does the individual have significant income at home?
Does the individual have substantial expenses maintaining their primary residence that is duplicated when on assignment?
Has the individual abandoned their historical place of lodging and work?

Most travelers do not work at home (Criteria 1). This means that the balance of travelers must satisfy the second and third criteria to have an acceptable tax residence. (Criteria 2) They have an apartment or house that they own, duplicating these expenses when away from home on assignment. Further, their home is in the same area that it was when they started their traveling career, or they established an income base in the area before traveling (Criteria 3). Some travelers keep regular jobs at home (Criteria 1) and return home on a regular basis between contracts. If the income earned from this job is significant, the requirement of a financial obligation for a residence is not as critical, since they are still satisfying Criteria 1 and 3.

Check out the TOP 10 Questions for Travel Nurses on Taxes

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By ONESTAFF MEDICAL

July 12, 2025

1575 Views

Stuck in Credentialing Limbo? Here’s How to Take Back Control.

Posted on July 12, 2025July 10, 2025 by ONESTAFF MEDICAL

You’ve signed the contract. Your bags are packed. You’ve scoped out the best local coffee shop and even found a gym with travel nurse discounts. But then… crickets. Your start date is suddenly pending because credentialing is delayed.

Stuck in Credentialing Limbo? Here’s How to Take Back Control:

Sound familiar?

You’re not alone. In 2025, one of the top non-clinical challenges facing travel nurses is the slowdown in credentialing, and it’s not talked about enough.

Let’s fix that. Below is your survival guide to navigating the credentialing wait like a pro (and keeping your sanity in the process).

What’s Causing the Bottleneck?

Credentialing delays aren’t about you—they’re about an overloaded system. More hospitals are tightening their onboarding requirements, states are adjusting licensing timelines, and third-party vendors (looking at you, background checks) are seeing major delays.

Oh, and let’s not forget EMR training modules that take longer to access than a Taylor Swift presale queue.

Real Talk: How This Impacts Travel Nurses

Financial Stress: You’ve booked housing, maybe even left a permanent job, only to sit unpaid while paperwork floats in the credentialing void.
Mental Whiplash: One minute, you’re on; the next minute, your recruiter is saying, “Maybe next Monday.”
Housing Trouble: Your move-in date may hit before your first paycheck does. Yikes.

**What You Can Do (Instead of Just Refreshing Your Email)**

1. Build a Digital Credential Kit

Keep a cloud folder (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) with:

Immunization records
CPR/BLS, ACLS, PALS certifications, and Specialty-specific certifications (e.g., TNCC, NIHSS)
RN, LPN, CNA, and Allied professionals’ license(s)
Past performance evaluations
Compliance modules or past EMR screenshots

Your future self (and recruiter) will thank you.

OneStaff Medical’s “Traveler Backpack” is a massive game-changer for our own travelers. It is a resource that helps with organizing medical records, licenses, and certifications, and tracks expiration dates to keep the teams organized and ready to quickly get you into that next assignment.

2. Ask Smart Questions Before You Sign

“What’s the average credentialing time for this facility?”
“Will I need new drug screens or physicals?”
“Can we get any paperwork started early?”

Pro tip: Some OneStaff travelers begin onboarding before contracts are even finalized—we call that being one step ahead.

3. Use the Down Time Wisely

If you’re in limbo:

Get ahead on online training or CEUs
Scope out weekend adventures near your assignment
Ask your recruiter about local PRN or per diem work to fill the gap

4. Talk to Your Agency—A Lot

Stay in close communication with your recruiter. At OneStaff, we’re constantly working with facilities to streamline credentialing, but transparency goes both ways. The more we know, the more we can do to help you pivot if things shift.

A Recruiter’s Take

From the recruiters:

“Credentialing delays are the number one unexpected curveball right now. We tell our travelers: stay flexible, keep everything organized, and always ask how long credentialing actually took for the last nurse at that hospital.”

When considering a ‘quick start’ assignment, recruiter/compliance partners often assess if the traveler has already gathered basic compliance items. They might ask:

‘Do I have the basic compliance items gathered already?’

-or-

‘Have I checked state records or with my primary doctor for these documents?'”

This adds another layer of preparedness to help our travelers and help us all ensure a streamlined onboarding to the next assignment.

These little things can make all the difference in the quickness of the effort.

Final Thoughts

You can’t always speed up credentialing, but you can be prepared, proactive, and empowered. Delays may be frustrating, but they’re temporary. Your adventure, your impact, and your assignment are still ahead of you.

And if you need a team that hustles on your behalf (with backup plans always in motion), we’ve got you.

🧡 – The OneStaff Medical Team

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By Amber Pickler

July 10, 2025

8740 Views

Advice and Tips for New Travel Nurses

Posted on July 10, 2025July 10, 2025 by Amber Pickler

So, you are taking your first assignment and you aren’t sure what to expect, or you are looking for some advice. We frequently see posts in our Facebook group asking for advice and tips for new travel nurses. Veteran travel nurses are great about giving advice and being there to mentor new travel nurses as they start their assignments. In this article, we put together some of the best advice and tips we have seen in our Facebook group for new travel nurses.

Advice and Tips for New Travel Nurses

If you have questions, ask them

If you aren’t sure how something works or even where something is at your new assignment, just ask. There may be a few people who get annoyed answering your questions, but most will be happy to help you.

Protect your license

Just because you are a travel nurse doesn’t mean you should have to take a bigger patient load. If the floor tries to give you a patient load that you don’t feel is safe, speak up. If it continues to be an issue where you are constantly getting a bigger or harder patient load, speak to your recruiter to see what can be done.

Don’t talk about how things were done at other hospitals

While you may have learned other ways or methods of doing things at your staff hospital or even at different assignments. Others at your current facility are most likely not interested in hearing “well at this facility we did it this way or we did this another way at my staff hospital.” It may be hard, but just keep it to yourself.

Breathe

We know that sounds crazy but just breathe. You may feel overwhelmed at times during your first assignment, but you will get through it. Take deep breaths and just remember that you have the experience and expertise to do the job. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be there. Your nursing skills don’t change just because your job location does.

Remember it is only 13 weeks

Just keep reminding yourself that the assignment is only 13 weeks. You can do it. If the assignment gets tough or you are just having a hard time with it, remember you are moving on in 13 weeks and your next assignment will most likely be nothing like your previous one. You can get through it, you wouldn’t have signed on if you didn’t think you could make it.

We hope these advice and tips for your first travel assignment were helpful. Do you have any advice and/or tips for new travel nurses or first travel nurse assignments? Comment them below.

New travel nurses, just remember: You got this!

Are you looking for your first travel nurse assignment or your next adventure? Click here to view our job board. If you need to find housing for your next assignment click here to search our housing page.

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By Katie Pierce

July 8, 2025

9275 Views

6 Packing Tips for Travel Nurses

Posted on July 8, 2025July 8, 2025 by Katie Pierce

Getting ready to hit the road for another assignment? The life of a travel nurse can be full of excitement and adventure, but it can also cause a ton of stress and inconvenience without the right preparation. To help you avoid this situation, we’ve made a list of 6 packing tips for travel nurses that are easy to remember and simple to do.

Let’s get started.

Packing Tips for Travel Nurses:

Tip #1: Find out how long you’ll be traveling

Being on the road distances you from a ton of society’s modern conveniences, e.g., department stores, specialty boutiques, and restaurants. Before embarking on the next journey of your life, find out exactly how long this trip is going to be. That way, you can come up with an appropriate estimate of items to bring on your trip. Some assignments may take nurses over a month to complete. Others may only last a few days.

Tip #2: Location, location, location

Our second travel nurse tip is to research details about your assignment location. Is the climate warm or cold? Does it rain a lot in the area? What activities can you participate in while you’re there? Will you need to get any papers or certificates while in the area, e.g., a driver’s license, IDs, a card to ride public transportation? Knowing details like this can help you get a better idea of what items you need to pack and what procedures you need to follow.

Tip #3: Personal care items first

If you’re someone who’s particular about the products you use on yourself, make sure you pack all your personal care items first. Everything from your skincare essentials down to your favorite brand scrubs. Some states or countries may not carry the product you’re using or perhaps may not have the model you’re looking for in stock.

For some women, this may also mean packing more period underwear than you normally would. You never know when accidents may happen while you’re on your assignment. In this case, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Tip #4: Travel light

Unless you’re planning to stay in a location for more than a couple of weeks, you don’t need to bring an excessive amount of things with you. Apart from really important papers and personal care items, everything else you need you can simply buy or rent while you’re in a foreign location.

Travel nurses need to be quick on their feet in case of emergencies or new assignments. Traveling light reduces the level of struggle that you may experience during each transition. So as much as possible, stick to the basics.

Tip #5: Consider compression bags

Running out of luggage space? Compression bags are nifty equipment that you can use to squeeze your clothing into tighter shapes, so you can easily squeeze them into your suitcase. They come in a variety of sizes and, most cases, in sets. The great thing about compression bags is that they can also keep your things protected from possible leakage in your bags, e.g., from lotions, oils, and creams from your personal care items.

Tip #6: Consider leaving behind unnecessary items

If you want to make more room in your suitcase, perhaps consider leaving a few items that aren’t technically necessary on your trip. For instance, you don’t need to bring along your entire library of books. Get a kindle and download all the titles you want to read on that single device.

Want to take amazing pictures of the sights you visit? Most mobile devices nowadays have cameras that can take HD images that are just as good or even better as larger cameras.

Pack it all up!

Packing for a nursing trip can be overwhelming, especially if this is your first time. However, with the tips that we’ve given you above, you should be able to manage packing without any trouble. Enjoy your next nursing adventure!

We hope you found this article with 6 packing tips for travel nurses helpful. Do you have any packing tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment your packing tips below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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By Geraldine Mills

July 6, 2025

4520 Views

12 Essential Personal Care Tips Every Travel Healthcare Professional Should Know

Posted on July 6, 2025July 6, 2025 by Geraldine Mills

Whether traveling for a travel healthcare assignment or leisure, it’s always worth investing in your personal care habits. While it may not be as easy to do as it is when you’re at home, there are some changes you can make to your personal care habits that will still allow you to feel and look good while traveling. Let’s cover some of those tips in this article.

1. Stick to a skincare routine

Your skin will experience fluctuating temperatures, humidity, and more as you travel to and from your destinations. So, make sure that you pack the travel version of your skincare routine. Or, if you don’t have one yet, now is the time to establish and stick to one.

You can get a basic skincare routine comprised of a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Your skin can regain its elasticity and moisture with a consistent skincare routine. It’s also a great way to relax after work if you’re traveling as part of your occupation like a travel healthcare professional does.

2. Carry portable personal care essentials

Regarding carrying some travel-sized skincare products, you should also consider bringing travel-friendly personal care essentials. Examples include foldable mirrors, travel razors, nail clippers, etc.

With a portable grooming kit ready to go with you, you can reduce your packing time since you already have them tucked away in a ready-to-go set. Also, they’re most likely small in size. You can easily fit them into your luggage without rearranging everything to accommodate them.

Remember that if you bring a blade, it’s in your check-in luggage and not your carry-on to avoid hassle.

3. Manage hair removal as needed

If you want advice on how your hair removal habits should be while traveling as a travel nurse, consider doing a more comprehensive hair removal process before the trip.

For example, you can use an IPL hair removal device to remove unwanted hair quickly and thoroughly before completing your work assignment. Plus, IPLs usually remove hair, and it won’t grow for a longer time than other of the more common hair removal methods.

Once you’re working, you might be too busy to do these more time-consuming hair removal methods or ones that require the help of a professional. Once you’ve settled on a place, you can instead do the more straightforward methods, like using a razor to shave.

4. Use multi-functional products

Packing for a trip constantly can become tedious for travel healthcare professionals. To make keeping track of items while packing easier, consider investing in products that serve multiple functions to reduce the space in your baggage.

For example, you can get a scarf that also serves as a blanket, accessory, or pillow to rest your head on when needed. There are even clothes you can flip over, which look like different pieces to reduce the number of clothes you must bring.

5. Opt for appropriate hair care items

Don’t forget to care for your hair while you’re traveling. It isn’t just your skin that dries out with all the constant traveling; your hair can dry out and become frizzy from the travels, too.

Depending on the length of your hair, travel-sized hair products might not be enough, especially if you’ll be at your destination for longer. In that case, you should consider adequately cushioning your haircare products and storing them somewhere so they don’t spill onto your clothes if their packaging breaks.

If your travels involve a lot of swimming, even just one day, remember that it will dry out your hair, so you will need moisturizing hair products.

6. Moisturize your entire body thoroughly

If you have a skincare routine, you should bring some body care products. Lotions, body scrubs, and sunscreen are your friends in this case. To make it as effective as possible, apply lotion after bathing when your body is still slightly moist but not completely wet.

Some people even get body oil when they feel fancy and want to feel shiny and glamorous.

7. Pack a standard hygiene kit

Remember to create a separate hygiene kit that does not include skincare, body care, hair care, or other shower/bathing essentials.

For example, for people who have menstruation, don’t forget to bring your menstrual products with you. Although you can surely get something from your destination, having some on hand is a good idea just in case your period arrives sooner than you think.

Other items you should include in your standard hygiene kit are tissue paper, hand cream, disinfectant alcohol, and so on.

8. Keep your nails clean

Unless you’re planning on not doing anything manually, it might be harder to maintain long, manicured nails while you’re traveling. While you certainly can, maintaining it will be challenging, especially if you frequently travel for work reasons.

Even if you don’t keep them short, though, at the very least, you should keep things clean. Washing your hands and using hand cream are two simple ways to keep your nails consistently clean. Also, filing your nails is a great way to make them feel smooth.

9. Use travel-size fragrance bottles

There are tons of travel-sized fragrance bottles available that come in multiple designs. There are ones that come as roll-ons. Others can even come in a spray bottle.

A particularly good fragrance bottle would be the twist-up one, where the spray nozzle only appears after you twist the bottle. That way, there is no lid that you have to keep track of to ensure that your perfume bottle isn’t spraying perfume unintentionally.

10. Apply sunscreen

Sunscreen should be an essential personal care item at this point.

Too many people think this step is skippable, but its sun protection and its ability to reduce the likelihood of skin cancer should be reasons enough to stick to it.

You can buy many lightweight sunscreens for the face and body. Make it at least SPF 15, but the ideal SPF would be SPF 30.

Do it after moisturizing, and don’t forget to reapply, especially after sweating or swimming.

11. Don’t forget to pack your toothbrush and toothpaste

Of course, dental hygiene is another essential part of your personal care routine. Tons of kits come with travel-sized toothbrushes and toothpaste. Consider adding dental floss, too, since it’s useful for many things but also for keeping your gums clean.

Mouthwash also comes in an extra small bottle to bring on your travel.

12. Stay hydrated

You should bring a refillable water bottle instead of relying too much on plastic water bottles. Since it’s reusable, you can fill it with water whenever you run out. Don’t forget to clean it frequently.

Also, they can keep the temperature of the liquids in it for a long time, whether hot or cold. Using your water bottle, you can enjoy a cold drink or even warm soup.

Conclusion

These personal care tips will make it easier to look clean and put together even after you’ve gone through the hassles of travel. Next time you’re about to go on a big adventure, consider applying these tips to feel and look fresh even when you’re far from home.

We hope you found these personal care tips for travel healthcare professionals on the go helpful. Do you have any personal care tips you would like to share with your fellow travel healthcare professionals? Comment them below.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

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Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

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By trustaff

July 2, 2025

1464 Views

How to Become a Travel Nurse: Qualifications, Skills, and Steps to Get Started

Posted on July 2, 2025June 25, 2025 by trustaff

Travel nursing is one of the most exciting and rewarding career paths in healthcare. It offers licensed nurses the opportunity to explore new places, gain diverse clinical experiences, and often earn higher pay than traditional staff nurses. But how do you become a travel nurse? What qualifications do you need, and what steps should you take to get started?

In this blog, we’ll break down the essential qualifications, certifications, and skills required to become a travel nurse, along with tips to help you thrive in this dynamic profession.

What Is a Travel Nurse?

A travel nurse is a nurse who takes temporary assignments in different locations, typically through a staffing agency. These assignments usually last between 8 to 26 weeks and can be in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities across the country—or even internationally.

Travel nurses are in high demand, especially in areas experiencing staffing shortages, seasonal surges, or specialized care needs.

Basic Qualifications to Become a Travel Nurse

To become a travel nurse, you must first meet the foundational requirements of being a registered nurse. Here’s what that entails:

1. Earn a Nursing Degree

You must complete an accredited nursing program. There are two main paths:

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) – Typically a 2-year program.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – A 4-year degree that may offer more opportunities and higher pay.

While both degrees qualify you to become an RN, many hospitals and travel nursing agencies prefer or require a BSN due to the complexity of care and leadership skills it provides.

2. Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam

After earning your degree, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to obtain your RN license. This is a standardized exam that tests your knowledge and readiness to practice safely and effectively as a nurse.

3. Gain Clinical Experience

Most travel nursing agencies require at least 1 to 2 years of recent clinical experience in your specialty area. This ensures you’re prepared to jump into new environments with minimal orientation.

Common specialties in high demand include:

Emergency Room (ER)
Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Labor and Delivery (L&D)
Operating Room (OR)
Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg)
Telemetry

Licensing and Certifications

1. State Licensure

You must be licensed to practice in the state where your assignment is located. Fortunately, many states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows nurses to practice in multiple states with one license. If your home state is part of the NLC, you can work in other compact states without obtaining additional licenses.

For non-compact states, you’ll need to apply for a temporary or permanent license in that state before starting your assignment.

2. Certifications

Depending on your specialty, you may need additional certifications. Common ones include:

Basic Life Support (BLS) – Required for all nurses.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – Often required for ICU, ER, and telemetry nurses.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) – For nurses working with children.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) – For labor and delivery or NICU nurses.

These certifications must be current and from recognized providers like the American Heart Association.

Soft Skills and Personal Traits

In addition to clinical qualifications, successful travel nurses possess a unique set of soft skills and personality traits:

Adaptability – You’ll be working in new environments with different teams and protocols.
Strong Communication – Clear communication with patients, families, and staff is essential.
Problem-Solving – You may encounter unfamiliar situations and need to think on your feet.
Cultural Competence – Understanding and respecting diverse backgrounds is key in different regions.
Independence – Travel nurses often receive minimal orientation, so confidence and self-reliance are crucial.

Steps to Start Your Travel Nursing Career

Gain Experience – Work in your specialty for at least 1–2 years.
Research Agencies – Choose a reputable travel nursing agency that aligns with your goals.
Get Licensed – Ensure your RN license is active and apply for additional state licenses if needed.
Update Certifications – Make sure your BLS, ACLS, and other required certifications are current.
Build a Strong Resume – Highlight your clinical experience, specialties, and adaptability.
Apply and Interview – Work with your recruiter to find assignments that match your preferences.
Prepare for Travel – Organize housing, transportation, and documentation before your assignment begins.

Becoming a travel nurse is a fulfilling way to combine your passion for nursing with a love for adventure. While the path requires dedication, education, and experience, the rewards—both personal and professional—are well worth it.

Whether you’re drawn to the flexibility, the opportunity to explore new places, or the chance to make a difference where it’s needed most, travel nursing offers a unique and impactful career path.

Find Your Next Travel Healthcare Assignment with Our Job Board!

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By Laura Pierce

June 30, 2025

5262 Views

My Travel Nurse Journey: 18 Years of Memories

Posted on June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 by Laura Pierce

How do you sum up eighteen years of travel nursing? That’s 18 years of travel nurse contracts, new places, new co-workers, new patients, and new experiences. The past 18 years have been pretty fantastic. I’ve had the fortune of working in places like Guam (6 different times), Hawaii (the big island and Maui), Alaska, and many other US states.

My travel nurse journey

Sometimes I get extremely lucky in my travels. For instance, I experienced Maui during the lockdowns and had the beaches to myself. It was the stuff of dreams. Or when I decided I was going to work in Alaska one summer. I lucked out when I found a contract in Anchorage. The cherry on the top was the mama moose who would bring her baby out on the hospital grounds every dawn and dusk.

When I look at my work badges, I am reminded of the places I’ve worked and the places I visited on that contract. And, almost as important, the places I’ve been between travel nurse contracts. Whether it be solo travel or with friends and family, my home base is in Missouri, but I usually work at least 1 travel nurse contract each year in California. This means I drive 30 hours to California.

I often invite my mom or a friend to fly out and drive back together, stopping to see as many sights as possible. On these return trips, my mom and I saw Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Las Vegas, and many other sights. And a friend and I saw the Grand Canyon for her first time.

Little did I know that she had always wanted to see La Brea Tar Pits, so we checked it out before we left Los Angeles. The tar pits are excavation sites near downtown Los Angeles, where saber-tooth cat and wooly mammoth dating to 38,000 years have been dug out of the ground, and liquid tar bubbles up out of a pit.

My international travels

My travel nurse journey has also afforded me the luxury of international travel. And believe me. I come up with some crazy ideas. Like when a friend and I hopped on a flight to India for 6 weeks. Or when working on Guam, Southeast Asia and Japan are only a short flight away.

One year after leaving Guam, I whittled my traveling items into 1 suitcase. I traveled through 10 different countries in Southeast Asia for 4 months. It was amazing. I met a Buddhist monk in Myanmar who became my unofficial tour guide. He took me to gorgeous 1000-year-old temples (over 30) carved from a single boulder. The following year, I returned to Southeast Asia and Australia for 3 months, and my new friend accompanied me to Indonesia.

Another time my friend Salma and I vacationed on a tiny island off the coast of Belize. There was no electricity or internet, but there was plenty of snorkeling, hermit crabs, and coconuts. We were adopted by Lucky, one of the five island dogs. He was an Australian shepherd who we loved. The island was so small that a person could walk all the way across the island in about 5 minutes. I didn’t want the week to end.

Last fall, I embarked on a 6-week getaway. I came across a cruise where both the price and the timing were perfect. Before the cruise, I flew into Zurich, Switzerland, and spent the day meeting up with a couple of old friends. Among other places, we visited the Lindt chocolate factory and ate our weight in Lindt chocolate.

After Zurich, I made my way to Venice for the cruise by way of the Bernina Train, considered one of the top train rides in the world, and it is something that had been on my ‘to-do’ list. The 27-night cruise started in Venice and ended in Durban, South Africa, winding its way through the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal, down the eastern side of Africa, and stopping in 10 different countries (including 3 island nations) along the way. Once the cruise was over, I flew to Kruger National Park in South Africa for a week-long safari. I couldn’t believe the numerous herds of zebras, elephants, giraffes, and hippopotami.

My career has been fulfilling and gratifying

These days, I usually work a couple of contracts a year, and I don’t work when I’m at home in the Ozarks. My house is paid for, and I have some money in the bank. And working less gives me more time to pursue more traveling and spend more time with family and friends. I consider myself extremely blessed to be doing what I love for work while seeing so much of the world’s beauty. My travel nurse journey has been extremely fulfilling and gratifying. I’m not sure exactly how much longer I’ll be at the bedside, but if it means another 18 years of traveling for both work and pleasure, I’ll take it!

We hope you enjoyed reading Laura’s travel nurse journey story. Would you like to share your story? Comment below or send an email here.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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By Sophie B

June 28, 2025

1953 Views

Becoming an International Nurse in the UK – Part 2

Posted on June 28, 2025June 10, 2025 by Sophie B

In my last article with TGN, I explained the general process of getting licensed in the UK to work as an international nurse. In this article, I’d like to elaborate a bit more on the paperwork side of things. This might sound boring and tedious (it is), but it is important and is a huge part of the process for getting licensed.

Becoming an International Nurse in the UK- Licensing

The NMC website:

Everything you will need to do is on your application page on the NMC website. The problem is, not all of it is as straightforward as it could be. At this point, you should have at least started an application so you can see all your empty checkmarks – these will turn green as you submit your tasks.

First word of warning, just because the box gets a green check mark doesn’t mean it will stay green. The NMC has to review all of your submitted paperwork, and if anything is not up to par or not what they want, they will change the checkmark back to an empty box. Usually, they will email you with an explanation for this and ask you to resubmit. You can see how mine looked right before getting my nursing PIN in the photo below.

Hypothetically, let’s say you’ve started your application and are figuring out what you need to submit first. In order to continue on and take your CBT, there are some things that have to be done first. If you don’t know what the CBT is, I recommend reading this article to get a better understanding of things before you continue reading here.

The next step will be getting verified by a third party. This basically proves to the NMC that you do, in fact, have a license to practice as a nurse in the US. This is a tricky one, I won’t lie. I emailed the Iowa Board of Nursing (my initial licensing state) and waited to get in touch with the right person. It took weeks to figure out what I could do to make it work. So, in the interest of saving you time and energy (and maybe a few gray hairs!), here’s what ended up working for me in the end.

Go to the Nursys website, and fill in the information to get a report of your license verification. Save it as a PDF and send it via email to the NMC, including your full name, date of birth, and PRN. This is your temporary PIN for your nursing license, which is located at the top of the NMC application page. The email you can send this to is overseas.enquiries@nmc-uk.org. Also, explain that this form is your third-party verification.

Warning number 2: The NMC is notorious for taking 10-14 business days or longer to respond to emails and get through certain information. This is one of the worst parts of the licensing process, and it’s completely out of your hands. Hang in there!

School Details

They will also ask you to give your school details, where you got your degree, and the timing of starting and finishing your degree. This requires you to contact the school to let them know that you are trying to get your registration in another country. Although above I said you don’t need to contact your board of nursing for third-party verification, it is a good idea to email them about your plans to get registration in the UK as well.

So, a week or two after sending that PDF, I got an email to sign up for the CBT at a Pearson testing center. You can take this exam at any testing center you want. Once you sign up for, study, take, and pass that exam, you’re ready for the OSCE! The CBT results are good for 2 years. After that, you have to retake the exam, so make sure you’re on track to get to the UK before that point.

Once you have the green tick for your CBT (meaning you uploaded the paperwork showing you passed), you can start doing the other things. Yes, it’s more paperwork! The first thing I’d recommend doing is submitting the second payment to the NMC of £153. That’s what it cost when I paid it – I can’t guarantee that is still correct. Underneath the payment, you’ll see a few more empty tick boxes. I’m going to get into those a lot in my next article in an effort not to overwhelm you in this one post.

Watch for Part 3 of Becoming an International Nurse in the UK!

Tune in next month to get the rest of the scoop on the paperwork side of getting your nursing license in the UK. It’s the last push towards officially being a real international nurse! In the meantime, if you have any pressing questions or need clarifications, please contact me via instagram or email: @thetravelingsopha or thetravelingsopha@gmail.com. In the meantime, I hope this article helps guide you on your journey to becoming an international nurse!

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

Join The Gypsy Nurse Nation

Discover new travel nurse jobs, subscribe to customized job alerts and unlock unlimited resources for FREE.

“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

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Tips for Becoming an International Nurse in the UK

Timing for Required Verifications

Good Standing & Language Verification

Medical Practitioner Verification

Preparing for the OSCE ID Check

Background Check Tips

Final Steps and Congratulations

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

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Tip #1: Find out how long you’ll be traveling

Tip #2: Location, location, location

Tip #3: Personal care items first

Tip #4: Travel light

Tip #5: Consider compression bags

Tip #6: Consider leaving behind unnecessary items

Pack it all up!

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

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