The concept of travel nursing is nothing new, but the dramatic expansion of the field in recent years has brought a lot of new interest to this unique part of the medical world. The advantages to employers and medical facilities are obvious - greater flexibility in staffing and the ability to meet surges in demand while maintaining adequate care. But many current RNs may not know much about the many advantages travel nurse jobs can offer them.
Read on as we explore some of the most important, diverse reasons to look at this in-demand position.
1. Higher Pay
One obvious, concrete benefit draws many to travel nursing - its significantly better compensation. It may be surprising, but travel nurses can make twice as much or more than registered nurses who stay in one place. That's life-changing money for many, even those who don't experience or enjoy some of the other top advantages of the field. Even better, most positions offer tax-free housing stipends, helping defray the cost of living on the road. Nurses can use their earnings from enjoying the best experiences in their temporary homes to paying down loans to socking extra money for buying a home, retirement, or other significant goals.
2. More Flexibility
Most registered nurses find themselves in a typical, full-time job schedule. They'll work their regular routine daily, with perhaps a few weeks each year off for rest and fun. Travel nurses throw off these shackles, seizing the ability to determine more of their schedule. They can immediately transition from contract to contract or take time off between for exploring, caring for family, or anything else they choose. When ready, they can pick up another job through a travel nurse agency and get back to work without the hassle of explaining gaps in your resume.
3. Diverse Work Experience and Career Development
Working in one location for a long time allows RNs to develop a deep familiarity with local patients and common conditions and treatments. However, travel nurses gain this expertise across a far wider area, ensuring they're prepared for anything that crosses their path later in their careers.
Travel nurses also develop better communication skills with team members, as they must adapt to new coworkers and situations to work effectively quickly. While these skills are necessities in the travel nursing world, they provide an incredible boost to your resume if you choose to return to traditional registered nurse jobs.
4. Building Your Professional Network
While some traveling nurses stay on the road for their entire careers, others choose to settle down after a few years. Fortunately for them, they've worked in various locations while traveling, which can provide personal and professional connections for finding a permanent position. If they choose to return to a medical facility where they've previously worked, they'll already be familiar with the treatments' particulars and likely many of the staff.
5. Friendships Around the Country
Lifelong friendships can develop under the most unlikely or unique circumstances, and travel nursing provides practitioners with plenty of opportunities to build these friendships. These people can be as diverse as the places you meet them, enriching your life and broadening your perspective. Even if or when travel nurses settle down in one spot, they'll have connections throughout the country that they can visit and catch up with over the rest of their lives.
6. The Chance to Explore
Nurses certainly aren't alone in occasionally being struck with serious cases of wanderlust. For many professionals, indulging this desire might mean taking significant time off from work, burning through critical savings, and potentially imperiling your career. Luckily, the world of travel nursing allows healthcare professionals to continue working in their chosen field, making money, and enjoying all of the other notable advantages above while still being able to explore the country.
Whether it's checking out local bars and restaurants after work or more extended trips to explore nature, no career offers quite so many traveling opportunities amid everyday life. Plus, the high salaries provided by travel nurse gigs provide the funds needed to enjoy the best experiences wherever jobs take you truly.
Travel Nursing: A Gamechanger for RNs
While the world of traditional registered nurses can be a rewarding one in many ways, those craving something different or more exciting may find exactly what they're looking for in travel nursing. Life on the road may not be for everyone, but those looking to continue their love of caring for patients while indulging in the best the country has to offer will find many other benefits and advantages waiting for them as well.
