OpenTube

Travel Nursing 101 // Getting Started

Travel Nurse Cayla

17,925 views

About me: My name is Cayla Keys. I'm a travel nurse with 12 years of experience in multiple specialties, including ER, Med/Surg, OR, PACU, & Primary Care. I enjoy helping new travelers get started on their journey.

This video may have been better in two parts, but hey, it's my first time. If you can hang in for the whole thing, we'll discuss the following topics:
◦ Experience Needed
◦ Locations
◦ Contract Length
◦ Payment Schedule
◦ Costs of Traveling
◦ Solo vs. Team Traveling

Instagram @TravelNurseCayla - Instagram: travelnursecayla

TikTok @TravelNurseCayla - https://www.tiktok.com/@travelnurseca...

Reddit Traveler FAQs – https://www.reddit.com/r/TravelNursin...

TravelNurseCayla@gmail.com - Email me for one-on-one travel nurse consulting!

Follow my links below for recruiter referrals from reputable companies:

● Emerald Health Services - https://emeraldhs.workllama.com/atsus...

● MAS Medical Staffing - https://masmedicalstaffing.staffingre...

● Triage Staffing - https://triagestaff.com/refer-a-friend/

● Cross Country Nurses - https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/re...

Editing/Thumbnails:
● Canva - https://www.canva.com/join/gzr-vlz-hjv

20 Comments

@Buffalogalmely 3 years ago

This was so inspiring! I’m just finishing my first year of nursing school and I’m located in very gloomy Buffalo, NY! I am DREAMING about the day I can start traveling! Hoping it’s after that first year of work! (2 years to go!) you answered questions that I didn’t even know I had (dating, finding community with other travelers!) My goal is to eventually wind up back in SoCal where I was raised to be near family. But-I have that wanderlust brewing inside first! Thank you so much for this awesome video.

@everythingtravelnurse 4 years ago

Wow, 7 years of Traveling! Awesome! I've been in 7 states and have been and have signed 20 contracts over the last 4.5 years. I love summer in the North and Winter in South. Currently living in beautiful Alaska for 6 months of Spring, Summer and Fall. It a great way to live. Also, I was lucky enough to do a summer contract in Marquette, MI. Travel Nurse on!

@hellokitty-it8lj 5 years ago

I will start travelling on Tuesday, your video is very helpful!

@sugahillind 4 years ago

I like that schedule you got I would love to work for 3 months and then break for a month

@JR-oe6dw 4 years ago

So helpful. Thank you so much!!!

@VRLady0323 4 years ago (edited)

This is great. You answered every possible question I have. I'm an IR/cath lab rad tech really considering the travel option. I agree with what you say about down time. How scared were you when you first left home? It's the only thing that has me really apprehensive. Thank you for this!!

@d3r3kyasmar 5 years ago

Thank you. I am thinking of being a travel nurse. I am a Nurse in Boston for 7years already.

@fernandogonzales9964 4 years ago

Thank you for touching basic important aspects of being a travel nurse. More power!!

@savannahlynn1363 4 years ago

Thank you so much for sharing this information! This has helped so much!

@Tugbug72911 5 years ago

great video! 🙂 i’m looking to start my first travel contract in 2-3 weeks (if i get accepted), and it’s a crisis response. I have 2 years IMC experience but am still a bit nervous! … how does scheduling usually work? do you get to pick which days of the week you work or does the hospital tell you?

@RossTheBossta 5 years ago

Great video! I found your link on Reddit! I am a relatively new nurse from Toronto, and going through the process of applying to the states.

@randykeys5463 5 years ago

Nice first video Cayla. Good information.

@hannahasmr1080 5 years ago

I have over 1.5 years of ICU and am really thinking about traveling! Thanks for the video 💕

@vernreuter3545 4 years ago

I'm a little slow to the travel nurse thing I have been a nurse for over 5 year 4 of those in the ICU. I am looking into travel nursing and am looking to see if different specialities (ICU, ED, PACU) have better travel companies? There a lot of options how do you pick a travel company? How many different ones have you used? Thanks so much I watch a lot of travel video the last couple weeks and you gave a lot of great info.

@reneehubbard2796 4 years ago

I’m from Michigan. I seen Ironwood it was hours away from me. Thanks for the video

@abbypowell1808 5 years ago

Great video! Can you give more tips on what to do about insurance in your downtime? Have you had to find private insurance?

@kodameister4638 5 years ago

I've been a nurse for more than 5 years, about 3.5 years (and counting) of those years were in a medical-surgical ICU w/ a rapid response team experience.

I like to travel so a lot of my coworkers are recommending me to do travel nursing. At first, I didn't take it seriously but now I am really looking into it.

@KarenChristiangirl4life 4 years ago

I watched all of it!! Very interesting and informative. Thanks. My question is 1. How did you find learning the varying systems/charting at the sites you were assigned.
2. How hard was it to actually function efficiently after 1to 3 days of orientation?

@Justanurse357 3 years ago

Hello- thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge with us. I have 2 years ENT OR experience. Never done general. I scrub and circulate. I am very comfortable in the ENT OR. I also my have 17 years as an LD RN where I scrubbed as well on c sections, both scheduled and emergencies. I have traveled as LD RN before but now want to travel in the OR. Am I bitting off more than I chew here? Thanks!