Travel Registered Nurses: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of travel registered nurses about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for travel registered nurses to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of travel registered nurses expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for travel registered nurses.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Travel Registered Nurses?
Do travel registered nurses need a degree? What kind of experience do travel registered nurses typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for travel registered nurses to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Travel Registered Nurses
Jobs Postings for Travel Registered Nurses By Education
- No Education Listed: 1,671,665 (60%)
- Bachelor's degree: 813,069 (29%)
- Master's degree: 164,442 (6%)
- High School or GED: 88,426 (3%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 46,627 (2%)
No education was listed by most employers of travel registered nurses. According to job data, no education was required for 60% of positions. In 29% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 6% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Travel Registered Nurses
Jobs Postings for Travel Registered Nurses By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 792,947 (50%)
- 2-3 Years: 694,002 (44%)
- 4-6 Years: 84,252 (5%)
- 7-9 Years: 3,863 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 10,823 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for travel registered nurses. In 50% of job postings for Travel Registered Nurses, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 44% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 5% of job postings for travel registered nurses.
What Kind of Degree Do Travel Registered Nurses Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for travel registered nurses, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 24 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective travel registered nurses, and in 2021 a total of 323,273 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective travel registered nurses.
Top Degree Programs for Travel Registered Nurses
Top 5 Degree Programs for Travel Registered Nurses (2021)
Program | Completions |
---|---|
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 262,831 |
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing. | 15,902 |
Nursing Administration. | 9,752 |
Nursing Practice. | 7,956 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other. | 4,947 |
Program | Completions |
---|---|
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 262,831 |
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing. | 15,902 |
Nursing Administration. | 9,752 |
Nursing Practice. | 7,956 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other. | 4,947 |
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other. | 4,010 |
Nursing Science. | 3,788 |
Pre-Nursing Studies. | 2,482 |
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing. | 2,269 |
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. | 2,021 |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other. | 1,906 |
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing. | 1,883 |
Critical Care Nursing. | 728 |
Pediatric Nurse/Nursing. | 553 |
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing. | 533 |
Clinical Nurse Leader. | 444 |
Clinical Nurse Specialist. | 386 |
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing. | 304 |
Women's Health Nurse/Nursing. | 277 |
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing. | 166 |
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing. | 57 |
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing. | 50 |
Palliative Care Nursing. | 14 |
Forensic Nursing. | 14 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Travel Registered Nurses
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your nursing knowledge and experiences with our online degree-completion program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: CCNE
Learn and practice the skills you need to play a pivotal role in creating progressive healthcare programs, systems and processes that result in high-quality, affordable care for everyone.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3-4
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3
- Accreditation: CCNE
Keep up – and lead – advances in family practice healthcare by further professionalizing your skills with Franklin’s DNP-FNP program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3
- Accreditation: CCNE
Strengthen your leadership skills to play a pivotal role in creating, evolving, and sustaining scientifically based and economically focused healthcare initiatives.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 2
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3
- Accreditation: CCNE
Unleash your potential by completing the online FNP Certificate program that readies you for an advanced role in nursing.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Expand your scope of practice as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, and become an expert in healthcare delivery for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Realize your potential to impact healthcare with an accredited degree that blends nursing theory, advanced practice concepts and research.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 18
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Broaden your knowledge and your practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner equipped to provide a holistic approach toward healthcare.
- Months To Complete: 28
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing with a streamlined path to the M.S. in Nursing.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16-30
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Travel Registered Nurses Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by travel registered nurses to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for travel registered nurses, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Travel Registered Nurses
Based on 2,842,692 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Travel Registered Nurses
Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Nursing | 1,664,453 | 59% |
Nursing Care | 659,728 | 23% |
Nursing Process | 407,571 | 14% |
Intensive Care Unit | 298,422 | 10% |
Medication Administration | 288,958 | 10% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Travel Registered Nurses
Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Communications | 688,558 | 24% |
Planning | 443,254 | 16% |
Leadership | 398,478 | 14% |
Management | 356,076 | 13% |
Teaching | 305,084 | 11% |
Based on 2,842,692 job postings related to travel registered nurses, nursing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 59% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for nursing care, nursing process, intensive care unit, medication administration and nursing practices were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for travel registered nurses, followed by planning, leadership, management, teaching and coordinating.
Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Nursing | 1,664,453 | 59% |
Nursing Care | 659,728 | 23% |
Nursing Process | 407,571 | 14% |
Intensive Care Unit | 298,422 | 10% |
Medication Administration | 288,958 | 10% |
Nursing Practices | 259,177 | 9% |
Home Health Care | 256,462 | 9% |
Acute Care | 250,031 | 9% |
Care Coordination | 245,984 | 9% |
Pediatrics | 235,709 | 8% |
Emergency Departments | 216,059 | 8% |
Medical Records | 206,133 | 7% |
Medical Surgical Nursing | 201,352 | 7% |
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 194,451 | 7% |
Discharge Planning | 192,137 | 7% |
Case Management | 183,878 | 6% |
Direct Patient Care | 181,053 | 6% |
Medical Telemetry | 168,293 | 6% |
Clinical Nursing | 165,794 | 6% |
Critical Care | 164,860 | 6% |
Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Communications | 688,558 | 24% |
Planning | 443,254 | 16% |
Leadership | 398,478 | 14% |
Management | 356,076 | 13% |
Teaching | 305,084 | 11% |
Coordinating | 301,442 | 11% |
Critical Thinking | 278,596 | 10% |
Customer Service | 237,650 | 8% |
Problem Solving | 208,386 | 7% |
Accountability | 191,093 | 7% |
Interpersonal Communications | 176,513 | 6% |
Ethical Standards And Conduct | 170,668 | 6% |
Computer Literacy | 166,737 | 6% |
Compassion | 165,769 | 6% |
Research | 164,131 | 6% |
Writing | 158,462 | 6% |
Operations | 154,444 | 5% |
Advocacy | 149,127 | 5% |
Decision Making | 145,132 | 5% |
English Language | 135,356 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about travel registered nurses? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for travel registered nurses.
What do travel registered nurses do?
How much do travel registered nurses make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.