Are you a Canadian Nurse thinking of travel nursing in the US? As Canadian nurses currently working in the US, Marta and I have learnt a lot of useful tips and tricks to make the transition into the American healthcare system more seamless. Below we will share what we have learnt along the way that will facilitate your own journey as a nurse in the USA.

1. Give Yourself Extra Time

CGFNS Certification

It is currently taking anywhere from 8-10 months for Canadians to be eligible to travel nurse in the US. This wait is mostly due to CGFNS and their dependence on many outside factors, such as your university sending your transcripts and the number of applications they are processing. They tend to have higher volumes in the summer.

It is best to factor in an additional 2-3 months into your travel nursing timeline to ensure you have enough time to complete all that is required of you before your contract begins.

Moving For Your Contract

Canadians are required to complete background checks (normally through RCMP) as well as your obtain Social Security Number prior to starting your assignment. Because of this, we as Canadians usually start a contract 4-6 weeks after signing our paperwork. It is common for Canadian travel nurses to be pushed back by 1-2 weeks for start date due to these prerequisites not being completed in time.

Additionally, It is recommended you arrive in the states 2 weeks prior at minimum before your start date. Certain additional pre-requisites (Blood work, mask fit) can only be completed in the US.

It is best to arrive early to facilitate these tests, and to get yourself settled before starting your contract.

2. Have Money Saved

CGFNS and Licensing Costs

Getting your CGFNS Visa Screen and obtaining your TN visa can be very costly. The CGFNS Visa Screen application on its own costs over $700 CAD. Then, you need to pay any fees that come from your nursing board of education, as well as fees from your university to fill out the required documents.

You also need to pay for your state license and fingerprinting, that can cost upwards of $500 Canadian dollars. Additionally, these services you will require are in USD. You can expect to spend anywhere from $2000-$2500 simply to be eligible to work in the US.

Thankfully, Host Healthcare provides reimbursements for travel and licensing. They work well with Canadians and understand the hoops we have to jump through to work in the US. Click here to read more on Host Healthcare and to speak to our recruiter.

Cost of Housing

Housing costs can vary depending on what state or city you are in. Additionally, you usually have to pay 1st and last months rent for rentals before you even arrive to the US. This can run you a lot of money before you receive your 1st paycheck. It is important to remember that these costs are in USD, so you have to factor in an additional 30% into the value.

There is always the risk of contracts being cancelled. This is why it is important to have emergency money saved so you can afford to live between jobs. You could easily be without a contract for a few weeks to a month due to many factors. When Logan first moved to New York, her first contract was cancelled the day she moved, leaving her jobless. Thankfully she was able to secure another contract with a similar start date.

4. Join Travel Facebook Groups

Travel Nurse Housing Groups

There are many housing groups on Facebook that travel nurses use to secure housing. These groups are ideal for finding housing, learning about best areas of town or even meeting new friends and things to do on your days off.

Logan found her current apartment through a New York housing Facebook group. You can search “Gypsy Nursing ____ City” on Facebook and will usually find a group that pertains to the city in which you will be going to.

Here are some examples:

• Travel Nurse Housing- The Gypsy Nurse
• The Original Gypsy Housing
• Gypsy Housing NYC

Travel Nursing Support Groups

There are some great groups available for travel nurses that are for all travel nurses in the US, whether you are Canadian or American. They will also provide tips and tricks for travel nursing in the USA.

Here are some of our favorite groups:

• Host Healthcare Travel Healthcare Community
• The Travel Nurse’s Guide
• Canadian Travel nurses (to the U.S.A)

Your recruiter can also answer many questions you may have. As a first time traveler, there are many hurdles we must jump over. Especially as a Canadian, we endure even more hardships. Your recruiter and the rest of their team (such as a credentialing or licensing specialist) can assist you with your questions.

5. Pack Light

You will likely buy clothes and personal items during each contract you work. If you are moving around often, if can be tough to move with a lot of clothing and shoes. Its best to only pack the essentials as flying and driving can be costly with additional items.

Host Healthcare can provide reimbursements for scrubs that you may need to purchase. It is a good idea to ask your manager during your interview what color scrubs are worn so you can be prepared.

6. Be Flexible

Different Locations

You may not get your dream location or contract as a first time travel nurse. This is because some hospitals require previous travel experience and will not accept first time nurses. Other hospitals will not allow Canadian nurses to apply without a Social Security Number. However, 3 months will fly by and its important to get your foot in the door to gain that experience.

Start Dates May Vary

You may not get the ideal start date or time off you are asking for. It’s important to remember that you are there to fill a need and being paid a premium for that reason. Once you gain more experience, you will be able to ask for contracts in preferable locations and more time off.

Conclusion

These are a few among many tips and tricks we have learnt as travel nurses working in the USA. Check out our posts from our travel nursing essentials page to read our most frequently asked questions for first time travel nurses. We hope you found this guide helpful and wish you the best of luck on your next adventure!