Best Colleges for Travel Nursing?

I'm intrigued by the idea of travel nursing in the future. Are there programs specifically designed to prepare students for this unique career path in nursing?

Absolutely, your interest in travel nursing is a great way to infuse adventure and variety into a professional nursing career. While there aren't many programs specifically tailored towards travel nursing, a strong foundation in nursing education is crucial. Many travel nursing agencies require their nurses to have at least one year of experience in their specialty, so a program that gives lots of hands-on, diverse clinic experience would be beneficial.

A few top-ranked nursing programs that might prepare you well due to their emphasis on practical experience and a varied curriculum are the University of Pennsylvania, Emory University, and the Ohio State University. They all have highly ranked BSN programs, according to U.S. News & World Report, and offer a robust mix of in-class education and clinical rotations.

Keep in mind that travel nursing often requires adaptability and strong skills in a variety of environments. For this reason, including additional training such as public health, international health or crisis/emergency nursing might make you more prepared to face the challenges of travel nursing.

After your formal education, gaining work experience and specialty certifications will further strengthen your application when applying to travel nursing agencies. There's also the route of getting a Registered Nurse (RN) degree at a local community college and then completing your BSN online while you're working, if that better suits your needs. Many schools have established RN to BSN pathways.

Regardless of where you earn your degree, travel nursing agencies value skills like adaptability, quick thinking, and the ability to provide high-quality care in varied settings. Your experiences during your degree, like clinical rotations, might help you develop these skills.