The adage “preparation is key” couldn’t be more true for travel nurses, especially those who move from one travel assignment to another in a short span of time. To make traveling less stressful, travel nurses must learn to prepare adequately in between each assignment. Maintaining a travel nursing go bag — a pre-packed bag equipped with all essential items required for several weeks of work at a different facility or state — streamlines the transition to new assignments and facilitates an efficient start.

In this article, we tackle the importance of having a travel nursing go-bag and creating a go-bag workflow that helps reduce stress between travel nursing assignments.

Why a Go-Bag Workflow Beats a One-Time Packing List

Let’s first discuss the difference between the two: travel nurse go bag vs. packing list.

A travel nursing go bag is a bag that contains essentials that you have already pre-packed, while a travel nursing packing list is a detailed list of things that you’d need for your assignment.

Sometimes, no matter how detailed a travel nursing packing list is, if you’re in a rush, you might forget to include certain items in your bag. Unlike a one-time packing list that requires nurses to gather and check off items for each new assignment, a go-bag workflow offers continuous preparedness. By having a solid go-bag workflow, travel nurses can quickly update, replenish, and customize their essentials without starting from scratch every time they have assignments. This approach saves time, minimizes errors and missed items, and reduces stress.

The Always-Ready Core Go-Bag (Year-Round Items)

Establishing a reliable go-bag workflow starts with identifying the essentials needed for any assignment, no matter the location or facility. By keeping these core items packed and ready at all times, travel nurses can reduce the risk of forgetting crucial supplies and gain peace of mind knowing they are always prepared.

What to keep in your travel nurse go bag year-round:

• Scrub sets (That will last for at least one week of work without needing to do laundry)
• Undergarments
• Socks
• An extra pair of comfortable shoes
• Loungewear
• Travel-sized toiletries and skincare items
• Medicines and supplements
• An extra pair of eyeglasses and/or contact lenses (and contact lens solution) if you wear them
• House slippers
• A small emergency kit
• Chargers for your phone and other devices (laptop or tablet)
• Earplugs and a sleep mask
• Water tumbler
• Documents and certifications (more on this in the next section)

Credentialing + Document Pocket You Should Never Unpack

It’s essential to include important documents in your travel nursing go bag to ensure a smooth transition between assignments. Having these documents handy allows you to have a smooth and efficient onboarding process, which can be highly stressful, especially for new travel nurses. A travel nurse credentialing folder go bag can make your first day of work at your new facility a little less anxiety-inducing, knowing that you’re prepared for anything that the facility may need or require before you start working on the floor.

Here’s what you should include in your credentialing and document folder:

• Nursing license and registration
• CPR and BLS certifications (if you have them)
• Other specialty nursing certifications that you may have
• Social security card and passport
• Professional liability insurance documentation
• Medical documents (immunization records)
• Updated resume
• A copy of your contract
• Facility orientation packet and guidelines

These are the essential items that you need to bring with you on every assignment, but of course, you can add other must-haves as necessary. For example, if you’re going on a winter travel nursing assignment, you should add thermal underscrubs, leggings, winter boots, and a jacket or coat.

Aside from seasonal necessities, also bring items that give you comfort and joy. Being far away from home can be challenging, and packing items that provide enjoyment and a sense of comfort can make your travel nursing assignment just a little bit more fun. You can bring a Kindle or a couple of books, a handheld game console (such as a Switch or a Steam Deck), or your favorite puzzles.

Having these essential things in a go bag ready means you can easily access everything you need at a moment’s notice, whether you’re heading to work, attending an orientation, or responding to unexpected requests. Having a solid go-bag workflow will empower you to focus on the important things, such as understanding the must-know information of your new facility, so you can start providing high-quality patient care in no time.