The exact steps to become a U.S. travel nurse as a Canadian

CGFNS + CES credentialing

State nursing license (Washington recommended)

TN visa process at the border

Social Security & onboarding logistics

How travel nurse pay actually works

Tax-free stipends vs taxable hourly wage

Maintaining a “tax home” for duplicate expenses

What weekly income really looks like ($2,300/week USD)

Pros & cons of travel nursing

Flexibility, high pay, and geographic freedom

Floating first, contract cancellations, and unit culture variability

Choosing agencies & recruiters

Importance of a good recruiter (shout-out to Aya)

Transitioning from travel to staff

Why Mady moved to an outpatient peri-op role

Mental health and lifestyle improvement

Cultural difference in U.S. vs Canadian healthcare

Insurance awareness & financial stress for patients

System values and nurse autonomy experiences