Travel Nursing FAQs

No. Your application is simply used as a qualification for you to travel. You can choose to travel now or in the future. After your application is processed you can speak with a dedicated recruiter about assignment options available to you.

No, never. Our experienced recruiters provide you with travel career information to help match you to the ideal job.

Absolutely! Traveling with your family or pets is a great way to share the fun and excitement of your travel experiences. If you choose to travel with your pets, please let your recruiter know before you confirm your assignment. Many, but not all, housing complexes allow animals and most have breed and/or size restrictions. A non-refundable pet fee is charged for one or more pets going on assignment with you. This fee will be divided between your 2-3 paychecks. You will be emailed about these deductions. It is very important that the Housing Team has all of the details regarding your pet(s).

To get started as an Onward traveler, your first step is to complete an online application. Once you apply, our expert recruiters will contact you to discuss assignments that match your particular skills and help you complete your skills checklists and references.

Nope! Your commitment to Onward only extends through the length of the assignment you agree to take.

Demand for travel nurses continues to grow among health care employers. When you travel with us, you’ll have the security of knowing that we have thousands of positions at facilities across the U.S., including exclusive positions with top employers.

The minimum travel nursing requirements depend on your area of specialty, as well as the facility, unit and sometimes even the location of the position. The facilities we work with have different requirements and preferences, but the majority of them request a minimum of 8-10 months experience. We recommend you start you application at 6 months to connect with a recruiter to begin to you’re your travel plans.

Travel nurse pay rates vary depending on the facility and location, as well as your specialty. For specific pay rate information, and more details on take home pay rates, please contact your recruiter once you’ve applied.

As an Onward traveler, you will be paid weekly or bi-weekly based on your contract. We provide payment by direct deposit into your bank account, or by overnight mail based on your preference.

We welcome and appreciate any referrals you send to us. Under our refer-a-friend program, you’re eligible for a bonus as soon as your friend or colleague completes his or her first 13-week assignment (depending on specialty). Please visit our refer-a-friend program page for more details.

Yes! Through our service partner, RN.com, we offer all of our travel nurses free options for continuing education (CE).

Yes, Onward offers insurance packages that start day-one of your assignment. Your recruiter will be able to walk you through your different insurance options.

It's never too early to start planning for your retirement. You are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) as soon as you start an assignment! You may contribute up to 75 percent of your salary or the annual IRS maximum — whichever is lower — tax free. Our 401(k) plan offers a variety of well-known stock, bond and money market funds. Eligible travelers who join the program can also take advantage of the 401(k) match that we offer. Ask a recruiter for details!

In addition to providing some of the highest compensation to travel nurses in the industry, we also offer a wide variety of benefits including day-one comprehensive health insurance plans, dental and vision, as well as life insurance. Additional voluntary benefits such as critical illness, accident insurance, hospital indemnity, and legal services are also available. Free, private housing; 401(k) retirement plan; free continuing education; travel reimbursement; The Service Connection; incentive programs; and many more great benefits are included.

As soon as you book an assignment with Onward Healthcare, you'll instantly be able to enjoy the benefits of our Travel Advantage program, which offers discounts on hotels, cellular phone service, computer equipment, health club membership and more.

Yes. You may take up to 30 days off between assignments and still maintain your health benefits from Onward Healthcare.

All of our assignments are for full-time, 36- or 48-hour work weeks. And if you’d like more hours, many assignments also offer the opportunity to work overtime.

Yes! We have plenty of local "travel" opportunities. With our local travel program, you can still enjoy all the benefits of travel nursing, without leaving your family or the comforts of your home. It's a great way to balance your home life with a flexible and rewarding career. Talk to one of our recruiters today to find the right position in your area.

Yes, we have clinical liaisons to help our travelers if they have clinical questions or concerns on their assignment. Their support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Once we have reviewed your application, you and your recruiter will discuss your assignment expectations, career goals, and desired location to find the assignment that best matches your situation. You will then be presented with available assignments, including details on the pay rate, facility, unit, shifts, location and bonuses.

Typically, travel nurse assignments range from eight to 13 weeks. However, details are often flexible, and shorter or longer assignments may be offered to meet your specific needs. Onward travel nurses frequently have the option to extend assignments, too.

Some travelers start their first assignment a week after submitting their application, while others plan their assignments several months down the road. How quickly you can start traveling depends on whether your documentation is in order and if your license is current for the state where you will be practicing. If it isn’t, don’t worry — we’ll help you get all the paperwork and credential requirements organized in time for your assignment start date.

Your recruiter will advise you on the specific requirements for the state in which you have chosen to take an assignment. For more information, visit our state licensing section.

After your assignment is complete, you have many options. Many facilities will give you the option of extending your current assignment, or may offer you a permanent position at their facility. If you prefer, you can travel to a new assignment, or even return home and travel at a later date. It's entirely up to you.

Our travelers work primarily in acute care facilities. The size of the hospitals can range from very large teaching hospitals to small community healthcare facilities.

We work in thousands of facilities in all 50 states. From major cities to rural communities, we have assignments in more locations and at more facilities than any other travel nursing company. Tell us where you want to go, and we'll get you there.

Yes. Most of our housing accommodations allow travelers to keep pets. Many, but not all, housing complexes allow animals and most have breed and/or size restrictions. A non-refundable pet fee is charged for one or more pets going on assignment with you. This fee will be divided between your first 2-3 paychecks. You will be emailed about these deductions. Pet rent is charged to you based on the hotel or property's rent policy. This deduction will be prorated and taken from paychecks throughout the assignment. Occasionally, non-standard housing is necessary to house pets, which could result in a co-pay. You are responsible to cover any damages or excessive cleaning above and beyond standard cleaning to the unit.

Yes. You will be provided with free, private, furnished housing on every company-paid assignment, no matter where you travel. Our team of territory experts will work diligently to find you safe, clean, quality accommodations within a reasonable commute time of your facility.

Our standard housing package consists of a free, private, one-bedroom apartment. Our housing department works with only the most reputable apartment communities to provide you with comfortable and attractive housing conveniently located near your assignment. Your accommodation will be in move-in condition upon your arrival. You also have the option to take a housing subsidy and choose your own housing options.

Yes, we provide our travelers with a generous travel reimbursement. We will also reimburse for licensure expenses.

Yes. If you choose to secure your own housing accommodations for your travel nursing assignment, we will still provide you with a monthly housing subsidy. This housing subsidy varies depending on the assignment and the location. To find out specific subsidy amounts, please contact your recruiter. For more details, please visit our housing section.

If you are traveling with a travel partner, spouse, significant other and/or a child/children, you must inform your Recruiter as soon as possible so the Company may find appropriate lodging and give authorization to the property for these companions to reside in your unit. Not informing the property of other occupants may result in eviction. Most of our properties require all tenants 18 years and older to complete a criminal background check application. Please be aware that you and your travel partners would be subject to the results of this application. Many states have "Two Hearts Beat" laws limiting residents to two people per bedroom. Be sure you let your Recruiter know your needs. If non-standard housing is required, a co-payment may be necessary to cover the additional costs of housing multiple people. If you are traveling with children, it is your responsibility to arrange for and ensure appropriate child care and/or supervision for any children residing in Company housing. If children are, inappropriately, left alone in the unit, the property may have grounds to evict.