In the United States, the typical travel nursing assignment is thirteen weeks, but anything between eight and twenty-six weeks is common. Hospitals often offer to renew your contract, too, which is called an extension assignment. Extension offers are usually made in the last 3 to 5 weeks of your assignment, but if you’re interested in staying on longer, you should reach out to your recruiter.

You will be paid a taxable hourly rate and then given a tax-free stipend for food and housing. Pay packages will always look different depending on the area you are working.

Typically, the most in-demand travel nursing jobs are those that require highly specialized training, knowledge, and experience. This includes positions in the Cardiac Cath Lab, ICUs, Emergency Rooms, and Operating Rooms.

A big concern for many nurses when considering a career in travel nursing is how to gain multi-state licensure. The Nurse Licensure Compact allows nurses to be able to travel from state to state without having to pay to obtain temporary or permanent licenses.

Gap time is essentially the hours between non-exempt employees' regular work hours and the 40 hours that employees have to work before they are entitled to overtime pay — or time-and-a-half their regular pay rates. When employees are on the schedule to work for 40 hours a week, no gap time exists.