A Travel Nurse’s Guide to Credentialing
So, you want to be a travel registered nurse. Congrats! Adventure, new places, diverse experiences, and yes, a mountain of paperwork await you. Before you can start your assignment and bask in the glory of being a healthcare hero in a new city, you’ll need to tackle a series of documents and tests. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back (and a healthy dose of humor) to guide you through it.
Step 1: Apply Now!
First things first: apply. This might be the easiest step, so enjoy it while it lasts. Think of it as the calm before the storm.
Step 2: The Document Scavenger Hunt
Here’s where the fun begins. You’ll need to collect the following documents. Picture it like a scavenger hunt, but instead of finding a rubber chicken, you’re finding proof that you’re a medical professional.
Essential Documents Checklist:
Professional Documents
- BLS
- ACLS
- PALS (if applicable)
- College transcripts
- Professional licenses
- Compact license
- Attestation for travelers
- Confidentiality and security agreement
- Respirator fit test
Medical Documents
- Health Statement-Medical Declaration
- Titer Results
- Tdap vaccine
- Tdap consent decline
- Influenza vaccine
- Influenza - Medical Accommodation
- COVID-19 vaccine
- COVID - Medical Accommodation
- COVID - Medical Certification
- Hep-B test
- HepB Declination
- Proof of immunizations for Mumps, Rubeola, Rubella, and Varicella
- MMR Declination
- Varicella Declination
- TB skin test within a year
- Schedule II-TB Questionnaire
Work & Government Documents
- 2 clincal references with contact info
- 7 Years of employment history
- VisaScreen if you are not American
- Driver’s license or state issued ID
- SSN
- U.S. Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
- i-9
Step 3: Skills Checklist and Tests
Once you’ve tackled the paperwork mountain, it’s time to show off your skills. You’ll need to pass some exams and fill out a skills checklist. We will send you a link to the exam once an offer has been extended.
- Pass 80% for Your Specialty: We provide the exam for free and you get three attempts. Third time’s the charm, right?
- Pass 80% on RN – Medication/Pharmacology – General Exam: Same deal here. Free exam, three attempts.
Step 4: Stay Ahead of the Game
Pro tip: Submit all these documents early so you’re not scrambling at the last minute. Nobody likes a panicked nurse (except maybe TV drama producers). Email everything to documents@intellistaffmedical.com and breathe a sigh of relief.
Step 5: Keep Your Hard-Earned Results
You put in the work, so you should get to keep the results. Take your exam results and skills checklists with you. They’re like your travel nurse passport and are valid for up to a year. While we hope to keep working with you, we understand sometimes the perfect match might be elsewhere.
So, there you have it, your guide to getting your paperwork in order. Now go forth and conquer the world of travel nursing! And remember, while the paperwork might be a hassle, the experiences you’ll gain are worth every signature and stamp.
