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