This article discusses the interview process for a Travel Nurse position. It will help you prepare for an interview and covers key details you should know prior to interviewing such as common travel nurse interview questions.
So your recruiter submitted you for a job posting, and now you’re probably wondering, what’s next?
After being submitted, you should expect the facility to reach out to you within 24-48 hours. In rare cases, it can take 1+ weeks to hear back. Your recruiter should be keeping you updated on the status of your application during this time.
Be sure to have your phone on loud, and check your emails frequently. Some friends have lost out on opportunities because they didn’t reach back in time and the hospital went with the candidate in which they were able to contact the quickest. Some positions (especially the good paying ones) fill up fast. If you miss a call or receive an email, reach out to that number/email as soon as you can to increase your chances of getting the job.
You should only apply to jobs you are seriously interested in.
Although it can be exciting to see a big list of job opportunities and want to apply to all of them, it is very important to only apply to the positions you are serious about. These job offers move extremely quickly, and you will usually only have 24 -48 hours once contract is offered to you to accept or decline. Make sure what you are applying for fits all of your needs personally, and financially.
Interview Formats
Your interview may be in one of the following formats:
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- Phone call
- Receive questions emailed to you and record your answers
- An automated phone call with pre-recorded questions you must answer.
The interviewer will reach out (usually by email) and set up an appointment that works best for both parties. I have always spoken to the manager or assistant manager. Logan received calls for both of her contracts without notice or scheduling and interviewed without a forewarning. It is always best to be prepared!
Common Travel Nurse Interview Questions
In all interviews, we were asked: ‘Tell me about your nursing career?’
I always went on to explain my career from when I graduated speaking to all the positions I have held and further education I pursued to get to where I am today.
In another interview, the manager asked me some common interview questions:
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Tell me about when you did not know the policy about something?
- Tell me about a time you had a conflict with another employee or patient/family.
- How do you handle a fast-paced and high stress environment?
The manager will then provide information on unit you applied for, including patient population, orientation length, scheduling, preferred shift type etc.
Here are some important questions to ask your interviewer:
- What charting system is used?
- What is the orientation schedule?
- How is scheduling on the unit?
- What is the patient to Nurse ratio?
- What is the dress code? Scrub colour? (Many hospitals in the US require a specific scrub colour for nurses)
- Confirm start date and length of the contract.
- Shift type – days, evenings, nights? 12-hour shifts?
- Confirm any time off requests.
- Confirm any holiday requirements. Do you have to work any of the Big 6? New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- Are any other travellers currently on the unit?
- Will I be floating to other units?
- Are travellers allowed to pick up overtime?
If you want the job, let them know!
If you really want the job, make sure to let them know you are interested. Don’t be afraid to really sell yourself! Reading about the hospital and unit before your interview will impress the managers. There is a lot of competition and you want them to know you are serious. I had an interview that I was less enthused about and did not end up being offered the job.
You can say something along the lines of:
“I would love the opportunity to work at your facility. Do you know when you are deciding on candidates?”
In most of my interviews, the hiring manager told me on the spot that I was a successful candidate. I officially received a contract through my recruiter within a few days. If there is a delay, it is because the manager is contacting the HR department, which can sometimes take a few days.
Auto Offers
In some cases, you may receive an auto-offer. An auto-offer is when the facility offers the position without formal interview. In this case, you would simply accept offer and sign a contract. The downside to this is you are not able to speak to anyone to ask questions that are important for you.
Whenever I receive an auto-offer, I will still request to speak to someone from the facility. Some recruiters may be hesitant with this request, but it is your license on the line at the end of the day. I have had many travel friends request for an interview with an auto-offer. This request may not always be granted. I recently had a friend decline an offer because they declined a formal interview.
Your recruiter will indicate to you which type of offer to expect when you apply for contracts.
Conclusion
Interviews can be nerve-racking! However, I have found them to be less formal than traditional interviews for staff positions. They will not ask you critical thinking questions, it is more of a simple conversation with the hiring manager! We hope you will feel a little more prepared with the travel nurse interview questions we have talked about.
All of my travel nurse interviews were about 15-20 minutes in length. On one occasion I was asked a handful of “tell me about a time you …” style questions. Other times I spoke about myself to the manager and they then spoke about the unit and if I would be interested based on the information provided.
I always prepare examples of situation based scenarios from my practice just incase. I have noticed that I ask a lot more questions in travel nurse interviews than any staff positions I have applied for in the past. Travel assignments are fast paced, with short orientations. It is important to know what environment you will be working in so you can make an informed decision on whether this position is a right fit for you!
Good luck on your interviews!
Ready to Get Started?
If you are considering making the great leap into Travel Nursing in the US, The Guide to Becoming a Travel Nurse provides insight and answers many questions. We will be updating this guide frequently with new information and links often. The information we provide is purely from our personal experiences and what we have learnt along the way.
You can also reach out to us in the contact section by sending us an email or leave a comment below with any questions about the process. We are happy to help you get started!
My name is Marta, I’m a pediatric emergency room nurse from Toronto travelling in the US. I have taken assignments most recently in Boston and Denver. I travel with my husband who is a travel points enthusiast and manages to find amazing deals using points to fulfill all of our travel bucket-list goals. Join us on our next adventure after 13 weeks!