From New Grad to Travel Nurse: Three Steps to a Travel Nurse Career (2025)
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- •August 12, 2025
Congrats, Nursing School Graduate!
Congratulations, nursing‑school graduate. You wrapped up NCLEX prep, snagged your first staff position, and now you are eyeing the freedom and pay bumps that come with travel nursing. Hospitals nationwide still predict a shortage of roughly 80,000 full‑time nurses in 2025, and that gap means motivated new grads like you are in demand.
Below are three practical steps that will move you from rookie RN to confident traveler without the usual guesswork. For additional guidance, visit our Traveler Information Center.
Step 1: Build a Solid First‑Year Foundation
Most facilities want at least twelve months of recent acute‑care experience before they will welcome a traveler. Think of that first staff year as a paid residency: you sharpen clinical judgment, learn to juggle higher patient loads, and collect references that prove you can stand on your own.
Fast‑track tips
- Log every new procedure in a running skills list.
- Ask to cross‑train when your charge nurse needs float coverage.
- Rotate into night or weekend shifts to show flexibility.
- Thank your mentors early and often. They become your best reference phone calls later.
Planner alert: If your one‑year anniversary is on the horizon, reach out to a FlexCare recruiter about six months ahead. They will walk you through paperwork so your profile is ready the minute you become eligible.
Be confident in your knowledge and capable of advocating for your patients because you're the newbie on a travel assignment. – Bailey C., Stepdown RN and FlexCare traveler of 10+ assignments
Step 2: Travel‑Nurse Documents and Licensure Checklist
Paperwork can feel like alphabet soup, but a tidy digital folder speeds every submission. Recruiters cannot present you to hiring managers until every document is in place, so get organized now and skip the last‑minute scramble.
Create a Digital Profile
- Résumé with up‑to‑date start and end dates for each role
- Nursing license or multistate license
- BLS, ACLS, and any specialty cards (PALS, TNCC, NIHSS)
- Vaccination records and recent physical
- Two professional references with direct phone numbers
- Skills checklist or competency exams
Pro tip: Store everything in one cloud folder named “Travel Nurse Profile – YOUR NAME.” Share view‑only access with your recruiter so they can attach files on your behalf.
Nail Down Your Nursing-License Strategy
As of July 2025, thirty‑nine states have fully implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact. If your primary residence is in a compact state, apply for the multistate license now so you can accept jobs across member borders with no delay.
Planning to work in popular non‑compact locations such as California, Nevada, or Alaska? Start those single‑state applications four to six months ahead. Boards in high‑volume states process thousands of packets and often require fingerprints, transcripts, and notarized forms.
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Compact upgrade | 2–4 weeks once eligibility is confirmed | |
| California endorsement | 12–16 weeks, including fingerprint mail‑back | |
| Alaska endorsement | 8–10 weeks with temp license available |
Keep digital scans of every submission receipt so you can track progress and follow up if a board requests additional items.
Step 3: Skills That Make New Travel Nurses In Demand
The wider your skill set, the more contracts you qualify for. Hospitals pay a premium for self‑sufficient travelers who can hit the ground running with minimal orientation.
High‑need specialties for 2025
- Intensive care
- Emergency room
- Telemetry and medical‑surgical
- Operating room
- Rural home health and hospice
Marketability boosters
- EMR fluency in systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Ventilator or ECMO experience
- Charge or preceptor responsibilities
- Willingness to float between units or work nights
Pair new skills with continuing education units. Many states allow CEUs to double as license renewal credits, so you build résumé value and stay compliant at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions for New Travel Nurses
How soon can a new‑grad nurse start travel nursing?
Most agencies require twelve months of recent acute‑care experience in your specialty. Some high‑acuity or rural facilities may make exceptions when staffing gaps are critical.
Which documents do I need for a complete profile?
You'll need an active RN license, résumé, BLS and ACLS cards (plus PALS or TNCC if applicable), vaccination records, recent physical, two professional references, and a completed skills checklist.
What states are in the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2025?
Thirty‑nine states, including recent additions Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, honor the multistate NLC license. Connecticut and Massachusetts are expected to join later this year.
Which specialties are hottest for first‑time travelers?
ICU, ER, telemetry/med‑surg, operating room, and rural home health currently generate the most requests for 2025 contracts.
Why Clinicians Choose FlexCare
- Dedicated recruiter model: One expert partner handles compliance, payroll, and housing so details never slip through the cracks.
- High‑pay, hassle‑free philosophy: We review transparent pay packages with you before your résumé is ever submitted.
- FlexCare 360 mobile app: Browse real‑time jobs, track application status, and clock in and out, all in one place.
Ready for the next adventure? Download FlexCare 360, or message a recruiter today to see openings that match your timeline.
Connect with a FlexCare Recruiter today
Closing Thoughts
Travel nursing is not reserved for veterans with decades of experience. By focusing on one year of solid bedside practice, keeping your paperwork airtight, and stacking in‑demand skills, you turn yourself into the candidate hiring managers fight for. When you are ready, FlexCare is here with transparent pay, expert guidance, and a community that celebrates every mile of your journey.
Follow @FlexCareMed on Instagram for behind‑the‑scenes looks at real travel assignments and weekly tips for new grads on the move.