With the lack of nurses in the United States, recruiting nurses has actually extended to the international scene. There are hospitals and companies that have started recruiting nurses from the Philippines, South Africa, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and others. If you are from one of these countries and are interested in getting a traveling nurse job in the U.S., there are certain credentials that you will have to meet.

First of all you have to be a graduate from a general nursing accredited university. In order to qualify for a traveling nurse job you should also possess a nursing license in your home country, and you must qualify for a U.S. Visa without any criminal records. In addition to this, you'll need to pass three exams: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with a 540 score or higher; Test of Spoken English (TSE), with a 50 score or higher and Test of Written English (TWE), with a 4.0 score or higher. If you originate from Australia, Canada - except Quebec, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, it is no longer necessary for you to take the English-related exams. And in most cases, reputable travel nursing companies will require you to have a minimum of two years of acute care experience within the United States.

Often a traveling nurse job pays higher than permanent, full-time nursing staffs, especially if you come from a developing country. The benefits of a traveling nurse job are exponentially higher than those you would receive in many countries. Aside from the financial benefits, you'll also receive a comprehensive health, life, dental and vision insurance, housing benefits and other amenities. All transportation to and from assignments can be reimbursed and you can also take advantage of continuing education allowances and retirement plans. Joining the pool of traveling nurses opens up to a variety of traveling nurse job opportunities.