FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Travel Nurse FAQs: Pay, Benefits, Jobs & Assignments
Looking for answers about travel nursing and healthcare jobs? These frequently asked questions (and answers!) cover everything from pay packages and benefits to licensing, assignments, and what to expect working with MSSI. Whether you’re new or experienced, find quick answers to common questions.
Our team works to exceed verified competitor offers whenever possible, depending on facility contracts and assignment structure.
Per diem and travel nursing both offer flexible healthcare work, but they differ in structure:
- Per diem: Short-term, shift-based work—often local, with maximum flexibility and control over your schedule (See Per Diem Jobs)
- Travel nursing: Longer assignments (typically 13 weeks) that may require working in a different city or state (Show me Travel Assignments)
Per diem is ideal for flexibility and same-day work, while travel nursing offers stability and higher guaranteed hours.
Yes! MSSI offers up to $500 per referral who successfully completes an eligible assignment. Learn more here.
Check out our page on licensing here.
Yes, many travel nurses receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and travel reimbursements. Benefits vary by agency but often include options like first-day insurance and referral bonuses. You can learn more about MSSI’s here.
When you initially apply with MSSI you are assigned a recruiter who is there to support you. Your recruiter will do their best to help secure a new assignment or to extend your current assignment far in advance of your assignment ending.
Our travelers are paid weekly (Monday) via direct deposit. Once you start your assignment your first check will comes after your second week of work.
All vaccine series have different timelines for when each dose should be administered (i.e., the number of days between doses).
Example: The Varicella vaccine series requires 2 total doses, with the second dose given 28 days after the initial dose.
Yes. Eligible travel contract extensions may qualify if they meet the criteria.
MSSI is independently-owned and operated, and not affiliated with any other company.
You can visit urgent care clinics, MinuteClinic locations, or other walk-in care clinics.
Yes—travel nurses can take as much time off as they’d like between assignments. This flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of travel nursing, allowing caregivers to rest, travel, or plan their next opportunity on their own schedule.
Travel nursing is a type of healthcare job where nurses take short-term assignments at hospitals or facilities experiencing staffing shortages. Assignments are typically temporary and located across different cities or states, allowing nurses to gain experience while earning competitive pay.
You can search for classes here:
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Titer-It is a lab value that indicates the number of antibodies present in the blood related to a medical item- Such as hepatitis B, varicella, measles, mumps or rubella.
A screenshot showing the competitor’s company name or recruiter details is required. A direct link to the job posting is preferred.
Travelers weekly pay rates are broken down into three parts: a taxable hourly rate, a nontaxable Meals and Incidentals weekly rate, and a nontaxable Housing weekly rate.
Caregivers who take local assignments will have a flat (taxable) hourly rate.
Travel nurses typically receive either free housing provided by the agency or a tax-free housing stipend to secure their own accommodations. Many also receive meal and travel stipends depending on the assignment. You can see these stipends when selecting a travel job on our job board.
Requirements can vary from facility to facility, assignment to assignment and state to state. Typically, individual state (or compact) licensing and/or certifications are needed. We are proud to be part of a select group of Joint Commission certified travel agencies, so our Travel Healthcare Professionals are required to have a minimum of one year of experience. (Certain specialties may require more experience for consideration.)
Current job openings can be found on our jobs page. Click here.
If you’re looking for a job at MSSI Corporate, click here to see our current openings.
MSSI has team members available 24/7 for instances such as this. However, you’ll still want to have your recruiter’s contact information should something happen.
A caregiver must have a TB skin test administered and read within 48–72 hours. If the reading is negative, a second TB skin test must be administered 1–3 weeks after the initial reading date of the first test. The second test must also be read within 48–72 hours.
Besides offering some of the most competitive paying packages in the industry, MSSI offers Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance at a reduced cost to eligible employees. MSSI contributes $250 per month towards your medical premium and pays for $15,000 of Basic Life and AD&D coverage for you.
Additional benefits include 401(k) plans and generous weekly housing stipends. Your individual MSSI recruiter is also available to you 24/7.
You must provide documentation of the positive TB skin test and complete a chest X-ray to confirm that no active TB is present. The chest X-ray must be completed within the timeframe required by the facility.
If the test is read too early, it is considered not yet resulted. If it is read after 72 hours, it is considered invalid.
The Highest Pay Guarantee applies to travel contracts only. Per diem and VMS roles are not eligible.
MSSI has several unique factors that allow us to offer the highest wages in the industry. Not only are all of our facility partnerships exclusive, but MSSI also runs lower margins than our competitors, allowing us to be able to structure our pay packages so that we can offer the highest wages up front. You won’t have to worry that you’re leaving dollars behind when you work with us.
If you know you’re going to need time off (whether you know or don’t know the specific dates yet) it is imperative you communicate this with your recruiter and also with the person interviewing you. It’s not always a given that your request will be approved, but it makes it easier for everyone if you are able to give a heads up from the start.
Most travel nurse assignments last 13 weeks, though some can be shorter or longer depending on facility needs. Extensions are often available if both the nurse and facility agree to continue the assignment.
The competing job must have been posted within the last two weeks.
- Titer: It is a lab value that indicates the number of antibodies present in the blood produced in response to a vaccine or infection. These are related to a medical item- such as hepatitis B, varicella, measles, mumps or rubella.
- Vaccine Series: refers to the complete set of doses needed for a vaccine to provide optimal protection against a disease.
If you can’t go through your primary provider, you can use services like Request A Test or Any Lab Test Now to find a nearby location.
Create an account, select the test you need, choose a location, and place your order. Then bring your order to the lab to have the test completed.
