For nurses with a sense of adventure, travel nursing is the perfect way to see new parts of the country. You’ll meet new people at each location, whether permanent staff or fellow travel nurses, and quickly build a solid professional network. Travel nurses contract with their agencies, not the hospitals they work at. These agencies typically arrange housing for their nurses or provide a housing stipend.
Higher Pay
Getting a higher pay than a full-time staff nurse is just one of the many benefits of travel nursing. They fill a temporary need at a hospital or healthcare facility. It makes their job more valuable and desirable, which results in higher wages. Travel nurses also receive compensation packages that may include additional vacation days, sick time, loyalty rewards programs, and more. These extra perks can make your total pay package even more appealing, depending on the agency.
Only some facilities will be your favorite, but since each assignment is temporary, you can try out different types of hospitals and facilities before committing to one for the long term. It will allow you to learn more about the workplace environment that fits your personality and professional goals. It will also help you build a vast network of colleagues, which can benefit your career as a travel nurse. Then, when you’re ready to take a new assignment, you will already have people you can turn to for support and advice.
Flexibility
As a travel nurse, you can take as much time off as you like between assignments. It means you’ll make the most of new locations and explore places you may one day decide to move to permanently. Travel nurses tend to be curious about the world and embrace each new assignment with positivity and a willingness to learn. Agencies screen travel nurses to ensure they have this quality and the ability to perform in new environments and quickly pick up on hospital systems.
Many agencies offer housing stipends or even accessible furnished apartments to their travel nurses. This approach can help you avoid the high cost of living in more expensive areas and save money for travel between contracts. You’ll also find that the more time you spend in each location, the easier it is to make new friends and feel at home in the community. It is a great way to break up the frequent uprooting of a travel nursing job and make the experience less lonely.
Better Work-Life Balance
Travel nurses can experience new cities and climates and often have the option of taking time off between contracts. For some, this is a significant draw of the career. Hospitals sometimes need temporary help when they are struggling with staffing issues. Travel nurses can help bridge the gap between supply and demand. The flexibility of travel nursing also enables nurses to find the right balance of work and life in their careers. A solid support network is crucial for many travel nurses who spend extended periods away from family and friends for their assignments. Some travel nurses choose to live with roommates to cut costs or save on housing stipends, usually based on the cost of living in each location.
Having to start fresh on each assignment may make it hard for some travelers to build close relationships with coworkers. It is especially true if you are assigned to a facility that doesn’t fit your preferences or skillset. However, assignments are short-term so you can move on to the next one sooner rather than later.
Better Benefits
Travel nurses often receive better benefits than staff nurses. It includes housing and other perks such as travel reimbursements, meal vouchers, and nontaxable stipends. These additional perks can help you save on costs and make your paycheck even bigger! As a travel nurse, you will have the opportunity to gain experience in new environments that you might not otherwise get the chance to explore. You can use these unique opportunities to build your nursing skills and demonstrate your adaptability, which may help you land a permanent position. Building a solid network with healthcare professionals in various settings is another advantage of working as a travel nurse. It will give you an edge when it comes to finding a permanent job, and it will also be helpful for career advancement. Finally, many travel nurses find that the professional and personal flexibility offered by this type of nursing can help them avoid burnout. They can visit new locations for extended periods to determine whether or not they want to move there permanently in the future.
More Opportunities
Travel nurses are hired to fill a hospital’s specific needs. Various assignments are available, from large teaching hospitals to rural community facilities. Working at multiple facilities allows nurses to gain experience in numerous specialties, giving them a well-rounded resume.
Additionally, many travel nurses enjoy certain hospitals or locations more than others. This information can help them decide whether to seek out a permanent position in that area.
With new travel nurse assignments being available daily, endless opportunities exist to explore different parts of the country and beyond. Travel nurses can also take time off between contracts to visit family and friends or for a long-awaited vacation. This flexibility would not be possible if they worked a permanent job. With the rise of technology, it is even easier for travel nurses to stay in touch with loved ones from far away. It’s essential for those who have children at home.