Is Travel Nursing the Right Choice for Me?

If you are passionate about your work as a nurse, but your daily routine is starting to feel a little stale, it might be time to consider a change. Travel nursing is an excellent option that allows talented nurses to gain professional experience and travel the country. However, leaving the familiarity and stability of home can be a scary prospect. With that in mind, we have put together a list of pros and cons that will help you explore whether travel nursing is the right choice for you.

Why Are Travel Nurses in Demand?

Before we get into the details of what it means to be a travel nurse, it is important to take a moment and look at why hospitals rely on travel nurses. Essentially, travel nurses are used to quickly fill vacancies and address staffing shortages. In recent years, these shortages have become widespread as the field of nursing continues to deal with a staffing crisis.

The widespread shortage of qualified nurses can be attributed to two main factors :

1. Baby boomers are now reaching retirement age and a large portion of highly qualified and experienced nurses are leaving the workforce.
   
   
2. There is a greater demand on the healthcare system. Baby boomers represent the largest generation and while they are living longer, they are also experiencing more acute and chronic health problems, which puts more of a strain on healthcare providers.

 

In addition, The Affordable Care Act has provided more people with health insurance and allowed patients to seek out medical care. This has also put a strain on medical facilities because they simply weren’t prepared to handle such a large influx of new and aging patients.

 

At the same time, nursing schools are having to turn away applicants because they don’t have the facilities and instructors to handle larger classes. This means that the nursing shortage has no clear end in sight and travel nurses are playing in essential role in addressing shortages and allowing hospitals to continue to provide proper care.

Pros of Travel Nursing

Travel on the cheap: While you can always take vacations, these trips can be expensive and it may be hard to schedule time away from work. As a travel nurse, your expenses will be covered and you will be earning money while you explore new cities in your free time.

 

Make more money: Typically, travel nurses make significantly more money than nurses. Hospitals use travel nurses to close gaps and they are willing to pay more to quickly fill vital positions. You can negotiate better salaries and enjoy a variety of perks that range from signing bonuses to fully-funded continuing education opportunities. If your top priority is earning more money, you can look for areas with the highest shortages and work with staffing agencies and hospitals to negotiate a generous compensation package.

 

 

Try out a city before you more permanently: If you are thinking about making a permanent move to a new city, travel nursing can allow you to try before you buy. You can explore the different neighborhoods, get a firsthand look at the real estate markets and make a more informed decision before you commit to a new city.

 

Flexibility: You can jump from assignment to assignment or take break between cities. The choice is yours. Take time off or keeping earning.

 

Get outside your comfort zone: While your comfort zone is, well, comfortable, staying there doesn’t encourage growth. Travel is a great way to push your boundaries, learn more about yourself, do things you never thought possible and build your confidence. Taking small risks and putting yourself in unfamiliar circumstances will help you become a better person and a better nurse.

 

 

Develop your people skills: As you take on positions at new facilities, you will inevitably encounter a variety of personalities. Being able to deal with different people and form a cohesive team is a valuable skill. Consistently putting yourself in new situations will help you develop people skills and adeptly handle even the most challenging co-workers.

 

Stay out of hospital politics: As a temporary employee, you won’t be there long enough to get caught up in office politics and management issues. That frees you up to focus on caring for the patient and developing your skills.

 

Save money: When you work as a travel nurse, you will receive a housing stipend along with competitive pay, insurance and retirement benefits. You can rent fully furnished housing and take home more of your paycheck. In larger cities with public transportation, you may even be able to get around without having to worry about having a vehicle. All the money you would usually spend on housing and transportation can be put towards experiencing new adventures around the city or building your savings account.

 

Build your resume and your professional network: Adding new experiences and specialities to your resume will help you stand out in competitive job markets and land leadership positions. Building relationships with hospital staff across the country and building a far-reaching professional network may also help you get ahead as you continue your career.

 

Cons of Being a Travel Nurse

While being a travel nurse offers plenty of advantages, there are certain cons worth weighing as you decide whether it is the right next step for you.

 

Far from friends and family: If you are used to having your support network of friends and family close by, moving to a new city can be challenging. You may even feel homesick as you adjust to life in a new city. On the other hand, your travel nurse position may offer them the perfect opportunity to take a vacation and spend some time with you in a different place. In addition, if there is a family emergency, your flexible schedule will make it easy to travel back home and be with your family when needed.

 

It can be tough to be the new kid: Coming into a department and being the new nurse can be challenging. Other staff members may seem standoffish at first as they work to incorporate you into their daily routine. Hopefully, you will be welcomed with open arms. If you experience some resistance, your developing people skills can help you navigate these situations and allow you communicate more effectively so that everyone can be successful.

 

Easier for singles to travel: If you have a partner, spouse, children or even pets, traveling with your family can be difficult. That being said, there are opportunities and housing that welcome families and pets. While single people may have an easier time finding the right fit, with a little more legwork, you can also find accommodations that will allow you to be with your family.

 

Frequent job searches: Changing jobs every three months can make it feel like you are constantly searching for a new job. Planning your next move and ironing out the details can start to take up your time. However, working with the right travel nurse agency can alleviate some of the paperwork and help you schedule interviews and negotiate contracts. Taking the time to research agencies and partnering with the right one can save you time and help you land the best positions in your top choice cities.

 

Your seniority may not carry over: There may be positions where your years of experience and seniority don’t carry over and allow you to choose shifts with the same freedom and flexibility you might be used to. However, this is usually something that can be addressed with the administration at your new position or worked out ahead of time with your recruiter.

Travel Nursing Versus Traditional Nursing

Another way to examine the pros and cons of travel nursing it to compare it directly to traditional, permanent positions. Here are some major differences worth noting:

 

Nurses have more professional obligations . As a permanent employee, nurses are expected to participate in meetings, undergo performance evaluations and there might be some social pressure to attend events held outside of work in order to keep the peace. All these interactions can feed into hospital politics and lead to you getting wrapped up in conflicts that can eat up your time outside of work. Travel nurses can avoid getting entangled and focus on treating patients and enjoying their free time.

 

For nurses, scheduling a vacation can be a nightmare. Even if you plan your vacation months ahead of time and follow all the procedures for submitting requests, there are no guarantees that you will get the days off or that something won’t come up at the last minute. As a travel nurse, you can have vacation dates written into your contract and there is usually more flexibility as a temporary employment if an emergency does arise.

 

Nurses get paid time off. One perk of being a full-time employee is paid time off. Once you are able to schedule vacation time, you don’t have to worry about spending extra money and not having a paycheck coming in. This added sense of financial security can be a real stress reliever.

 

As a travel nurse, you won’t be paid for any time off, but many people are able to budget wisely and take a month or so off between assignments. You can recharge and spend time with your friends and family before heading off to a new job if you play your cards right.

 

Travel nurses will have more complicated tax returns. While this might not be a dealbreaker, it is something you should be aware of before becoming a travel nurse. You will have to file taxes in each state where you work. This could lead to some tricky paperwork, but hopefully you have a trusted tax professional who can make quick work of your records.

 

Nurses get to enjoy the comforts of home. While traveling comes with its perks, it also means regularly packing, moving and living in unfamiliar places. Meanwhile nurses get to decompress at home surrounded by the people and things that they love. If you are easily stressed out by change, you might be happier working in a permanent position and traveling during vacation time.

 

Travel nurses have to negotiate each new contract. As a traditional nurse, the payment schedule at your place of employment should be pretty straightforward. You earn a certain amount based on your experience, your credentials and your specializations. When you work as a travel nurse, your salary and your benefits are up for negotiation. That means that you have to be prepared to ask for what you want, turn down offers and be willing to fight for the salary you want. This can take some skills and not everyone is comfortable advocating for themselves.

 

Travel nurses have to hit the ground running. Even though you just showed up on the scene, you will be expected to jump right in and get to work. While other nurses may have an orientation period of up to three months where they become familiar with policies and protocols, learn their way around the hospital, get to know staff and get used to new computer and charting systems, travel nurses don’t have that luxury.

 

Nurses get to build deep bonds with their co-workers. Nursing is a demanding profession and sometimes you have to lean on others to get through a tough day. As a result, lifelong friendships often form in a department and your co-workers can end up feeling more like a family. This support system can be an invaluable tool as you face challenges and treat patients. Travel nurses will also meet new people and form friendships, but it is hard to build the same type of commanderie in just 13 weeks.

FAQs About Travel Nursing

Is there a high turnover rate for travel nurses?

Travel nurses report excellent job satisfaction. It can be easy to assume that the grind of traveling and beginning new assignments every few months might quickly wear on travel nurses. However, many have worked as a travel nurse for 15+ years and plan to continue traveling. For some people, there simply isn’t any replacement for the freedom and flexibility that comes with creating your own schedule and have more control over your future.

 

Meanwhile, RNs in traditional nursing roles have a first-year turnover rate of 30%. Reports cite that common reasons for leaving include: dissatisfaction with schedules, few professional development opportunities and lack of support. Travel nursing addresses many of these issues, which is why many qualified nurses make the switch to traveling.

 

Are travel nursing positions limited to poorly funded hospitals with shortage problems?

Even the most prestigious and well funded hospitals use travel nurses to fill in gaps and make sure that they are providing an ideal nurse to patient ratio. While some hospitals are dealing with major shortages, others need help temporarily filling positions when employees go on medical or parental leave. You can choose from a wide range of highly respected hospitals that will help you build your resume.

 

Can new graduates become travel nurses?

Most agencies and hospitals will want you to have at least 12-24 months of clinical experience under your belt before you start traveling. You can use this time to sharpen your skills and begin researching different agencies and locations. Take your time and perfect your specialty before diving right in...you’ll be glad you did.

 

How does the interview process work?

Since there is a good chance that the hospitals you are applying to are located across the country, most interviews are conducted over the phone. Once you have put in an application with a travel nursing agency, you will be assigned a recruiter who will go to work finding an ideal position that fits all your criteria. Hospitals that want to get to know you better will schedule a phone interview or series of phone interviews. Remember that this is also your change to ask questions and learn more about what to expect from your experience. If the hospital makes an offer, your recruiter will help negotiate and iron our all the details.

 

Do I have to pay the staffing agency?

No. The hospital pays the staffing agency to find top talent to fill their vacant positions. You won’t have to worry about paying any fees or contributing a percentage of your salary.

 

Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to work as a travel nurse comes down to your own personality and goals. If you are more of an adventure seeker who isn’t bothered by change, then travel nursing could present an excellent opportunity to travel the country, make money and develop both personally and professionally. Carefully consider the pros and cons and make the right decision for you.

 

How do I go about becoming licensed in new states?

Fortunately, working in different states is becoming easier for travel nurses. The Nurse Licensure Compact allows nurses to practice in all states that participate in the compact without having to go through an additional certification process. Currently, 30 states are a part of the compact, which provides you with plenty of travel options.

 

If you would like to work in a state that is not a member of the compact, your staffing agency will be able to make sure that you submit the proper paperwork and are ready to go to work upon arrival. Some states will issue a temporary license to help avoid any delays. Other states will require that you pass a criminal background check before you are eligible to work. No matter what requirements you have to meet, your agency recruiter will help guide you through the process and make it as hassle-free as possible.

 

Where can I learn more about becoming a travel nurse?

Perhaps the best way to get a feel for what it is like to be a travel nurse is to talk to people in the profession about their experiences. There are plenty of facebook groups and websites created by and for travel nurses in order to share information. You can visit these resources and get insights into specific states and hospitals. The Furnished Finder - Travel Nurse Housing Facebook Group is one particularly helpful site where you can connect with travel nurses.

 

It is also a good idea to spend some time on the site Travel Nurse Housing by Furnished Finder to take a look at housing options and costs according to city. You can see just how easy it is to find fully-furnished and affordable housing close to hospitals across the country. 

 

Deciding whether or not to become a travel nurse depends a lot on your personal preferences. It might not be the right choice for everyone. The more time you spend understanding the pros and cons and researching the field, the more confidently you will be able to make a final decision and choose the right career path for you.