Travel Nursing FAQs

We staff nationwide! From California to Maine in hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities.

Most contracts are 3 months in lengths; 13 weeks tends to be the standard but there is potential for shorter or longer contracts depending on the client’s need.

You will need to apply by endorsement for any state’s license that you do not have. Most facilities will require that state’s license to be active prior to the submittal. Your recruiter will be able to help you with this process should you have any questions.

Not necessarily, but it makes things a lot easier. A compact license lets you practice in any state currently in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), over 40 and counting, with a single multistate license, no extra applications or waiting on endorsement. If your home state isn’t in the compact, or the state you want to work in isn’t either (California is a common one that’s not), you’ll still need to apply for that state’s license, and your recruiter will walk you through the process either way.

Absolutely! You may have to pay an extra fee depending on your housing but that’s a small price to pay to have your fur-child with you on assignment.

First, let your recruiter know, they’ll help you sort out next steps. Be sure to note it on your timesheet, and if there’s a chance to make up the hours elsewhere in the hospital, we’ll help you find it.

Contact the hospital first as soon as possible and then let your recruiter know. If you are able to make up the time that week or at some point during the contract, that would be ideal.

In your first week on contract, you’ll get a benefits packet walking you through enrollment step by step. Questions along the way? Our benefits team is a quick email away at benefits@jacksonnursing.com.

The pay for travel nurses varies depending on a variety of factors: location, healthcare setting, specialty, etc. Nurses specializing in the critical care sector, like PICU, CVOR and CVICU, may see higher rates due to the nature and condition of their patients.

The skills needed to be a successful first-time travel nurse aren’t all that different from staff nursing. You need to be responsible, trustworthy, good with people, persistent and resilient. In addition to those qualities, most travel nurses have excellent clinical and soft skills. Those combined with a desire to travel, an adaptable nature, and penchant for trying new things is the perfect recipe!

The usual length of a travel nursing contract is 3 months. Contract extensions happen but are not guaranteed. The length of your contract is dependent on hospital needs, which vary according to season, outside factors and internal operations. But if you’re loving the city you’re in, chances are we’ll have another travel nurse placement for you close by!

Our facilities will be looking for at least one full year of recent experience in the specialty you’d like to travel in!

You can apply as far out as you’d like! There’s no hard-and-fast rule regarding the best time to apply. We have worked with nurses who apply and take a year to decide to accept their first assignment and we have others who apply and are out the door and on their way a few weeks or even days later. If you know you are ready to travel, or will be soon, we recommend you fill out our application so that you are prepared to seize the right opportunity. If you decide to apply well in advance of when you’d like to travel, we’ll keep your information on file and stay in touch until you’re ready.

While ER, OR, ICU, med surg, telemetry and labor & delivery tend to have the most jobs available consistently, demand does fluctuate. We have strong relationships with hospitals throughout the country, so we’re able to offer open RN jobs across all specialties. If you’d like to see what we currently have available, search all our open jobs.

Something came up? Someone’s always reachable, call your recruiter directly or our after-hours line, day or night. You’re never on your own out there.

Orientation depends on the facility! Some will have orientation modules to complete prior to starting while others may have you attend classroom style orientation your first week. Typically, travel nurses are expected to be oriented and taking their own assignments by week 2.

Yes, we offer full benefits that start day one!

Absolutely! Many of our travel nurses make it work and never look back! Even if your travel partner or significant other isn’t a nurse, it’s very possible to figure out a way to travel together!

Login to UKG to access your paystubs, W-2, W-4, and direct deposit information.

Timecards are submitted weekly online through our traveler portal, JNP Pulse, and due by 10:00AM EST each Monday.