Checklist

Travel Nurse Assignment Checklist (2026)

The hardest part of travel nursing usually isn't the nursing — it's the logistics. This checklist walks you through everything to handle before accepting, before you leave, and during your first week.

Updated June 2026 · Tap the boxes to track your progress

3 phases

Accept · Prepare · Arrive

Logistics

Licensing to finances

Checkable

Work through it

Before you accept the contract

Confirm specialty, shift, and unit match your experience
Verify the pay package — run it through the pay calculator
Review the contract for guaranteed hours, floating, cancellation, and OT (use the Contract Analyzer)
Confirm the required license type and whether your compact license covers the state
Ask about scheduling, holidays, and time-off requests up front
Get every recruiter promise in writing

Before you leave

Apply for any state-specific license early
Complete agency credentialing (physical, titers, TB, drug screen)
Lock in housing — use the Housing Finder
Set up your tax-home documentation (see the tax guide)
Arrange travel and map your route
Sort out finances: budget for the gap before your first paycheck
Pack (see the packing list)

Your first week on assignment

Arrive a couple days early to settle in and learn the commute
Bring all credentials to orientation
Find parking, the time clock, and the break room on day one
Ask about charting system, codes, and where supplies live
Save key phone numbers (charge nurse, staffing, your recruiter)
Introduce yourself — a friendly first impression goes a long way

Run your contract before you sign

Upload it to the free ScrubbedIn Contract Analyzer to decode your pay and flag risky clauses.

Try the Contract Analyzer Join ScrubbedIn Free

Checklist FAQ

What should I do before accepting a travel nurse contract?

Confirm the assignment fits your experience, verify the pay package, review the contract terms (guaranteed hours, floating, cancellation), check licensing, and get promises in writing.

How early should I apply for a state license?

As soon as you're targeting a non-compact state — processing can take several weeks, and you can't start without it.

What should I do in my first week on assignment?

Arrive early, bring credentials to orientation, learn the unit logistics (charting, supplies, codes), save key contacts, and introduce yourself.

Explore more

This guide is general educational information for travel nurses. Details vary by agency, facility, and individual situation — always confirm requirements with your recruiter and the facility.