Focusing on Continuing Education in Travel Nursing

While on a travel nursing assignment, you can still advance your career via continuing education. But you will also encounter more obstacles to completing your educational goals than home-based nurses face.

Before you sign up for a class, figure out whether continuing education is currently realistic for you by asking these questions:

• What are my goals?
• How will further schooling help me achieve those goals?
• How does travel nursing fit into my goals?
• Will I need extended time off to complete classes?
• Will my travels complicate online learning (different time zones, etc.)?
• Will I be able to juggle clinicals while on the road?
• Can I set realistic boundaries to complete classwork and nursing duties?
• Will I have enough downtime to manage the workload and associated stress?

Once you have established that classes would mesh with your current lifestyle, you must determine what type of education to pursue. As a nurse, you have several options to further your education.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

The Board of Nursing offers courses to expand nurses’ knowledge bases through continuing education units (CEUs), which sometimes also fulfill educational certification requirements.

Since the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) closely monitors CEUs, ensure all selected speakers, modules, presentations, and channels are ANCC-accredited.

Get a quick list of no-cost CEUs for nurses. Don't forget about in-person conferences! Healthcare conferences can easily check off 10 or more CEs for nurses, especially when they are multiple days and have a variety of breakout sessions.

Looking for free nursing CEUs online? Consider creating a free account through MyCME.com (CME stands for Continuing Medical Education) to get access to courses that cover a variety of specialties, and that range from .25 credits to 2.5 credits. 

MyCME.com covers continuing education for the following professions: physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), pharmacists and nurses. This site offers education in the form of pre-recorded videos and live events.

Certifications

Specialized certifications can boost your resume and open doors to new opportunities in your field. Some typical certification options for travel nurses include the following:

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC)

Not sure where to start? NurseJournal.com published an article that lists the seven nursing certifications that are in high demand. If you have a passion for teaching newbies, it's a great idea to consider obtaining your CNE, or Certified Nurse Educator.

Higher Learning

If you are a nurse with an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), you may want to return to school for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN is becoming the new minimum education standard for many RN careers in hospitals and other healthcare organizations.

Once you’ve determined which opportunity is right for you, it’s time to find the best organization to help you pursue your goal. Sources that may direct you in this choice include your travel nursing agency, career development centers at your alma mater, online resources, and other travel nurses.

Some agencies also offer tuition assistance for members who are furthering their education. Your nurse recruiter might have additional insights into achieving your educational aspirations. Also, check with your home-based hospital to see if they offer educational assistance.

Ready for a new opportunity? Search our job board to see 2,000+ permanent and contract nursing positions across the country.