When it comes to choosing or changing your career path, it’s best to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to understand the process thoroughly. Simultaneously, travel nursing is an in-demand and fulfilling career, whether a newcomer or already an expert, knowing the pros and cons can help you decide for the best. Here’s a comprehensive guide for travel nurses out there.
What Is Travel Nursing?
Travel nursing is one of the most rewarding careers for most healthcare personnel. It provides stability and adventure rolled in one sleeve. This helps you build your resume, learn a new skill set, and get to work in places you’ve been dreaming of. While it may sound too good to be true, it’s best to understand its pros and cons.
One of the most notable benefits of working as a travel nurse is the endless possibility to travel to various locations in the US and internationally, which provides a diverse environment and allows you to create lasting friendships you’ll never experience anywhere. With reliable and top-notch travel nurse agencies selections out there, building your travel nurse career is one step closer and convenient than ever before.
Travel nursing or travel nurses are registered nurses (RN) hired to provide care, assistance, or practice their specialty on a contract basis, which typically lasts for about 13 weeks. They fill hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities for short-term assignments or staffing needs. The digital age we live in has made travel nursing even easier, since medical professionals can now get certified on the go via online courses and thus acquire invaluable skills such as ACLS, for example.
If patient volume surges or medical facilities are having a workforce shortage, they check for travel nurse supplements. Several hospitals check for additional staff support during technology upgrades, flu season, or a global crisis. Travel nurses are excellent resources for meeting hospital demands on a short-term basis.
- Personal and professional flexibility
- Meeting new people
- Working in your desired area or location
- Better housing options
- Better payment options
- Scrub, travel, and license reimbursement
- Possibility to travel with your spouse, family, friends, and even your pet
- Career leverage opportunities
- Prevents job politics
- Reach out and help more people
- Endless job sustainability and security
What Are the Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing?
While being a travel nurse is their primary goal, some are hesitant to pave their way into this professional career. The benefits are always highlighted. However, the cons are often specious. Here’s a complete guide if you want to venture into travel nursing or check for a reputable recruitment agency.
Pros
- Unlimited travel options
Traveling to your desired destination is one of the apparent benefits of working as a travel nurse. Whether you’re an adventurous soul or planning to see the countryside and experience life there, a travel nurse is a great way to begin your remarkable journey.
- Potentially earn more
Travel nurse jobs offer above the average payment. It allows you freedom while earning more. However, there are specific variables per medical facilities and assignments whether you’ll make more or not.
- Avoid hospital politics
With travel nursing, you’ll prevent yourself from being associated with complex hospital politics. It offers total peace of mind and focuses on your work assignments.
- Better work experience
The more experience you have, the more ways you can improve your skills and learn new things. This also opens new doors to more significant opportunities as you move forward with your profession.
- Professional and personal network opportunities
Being a travel nurse offers tons of rewarding options and ways to both improve your career and personality. Since you’ll meet new people and work with various locations, this will help you develop new skills, soft and hard, to help leverage yourself and your knowledge of the health industry.
- Meet new people
While you travel, you’ll meet tons of new friends and establish long-lasting relationships. This allows you to improve your social skills and adaptability as you step into a new assignment.
- In-demand work with stunning benefits
Being a travel nurse is a highly demanded opportunity for anyone who wants to venture into this career. This will also help leverage your career, improve your specialty, and learn a new skill set.
- Offers complete flexibility and freedom
Having complete freedom while practicing your field of expertise is a great way to provide growth and improve yourself. Travel nursing jobs are best for people who are seeking growth and advancement in their chosen field.
Cons
- Travel logistics
Moving from one area to another can be a challenge if you don’t have a vehicle. From travel expenses, housing, and moving in, this can all be time-consuming and a hassle for most.
- Homesickness
Travel nursing is a huge hurdle. Traveling to a new place is a sure adventure, but there are instances that you’ll feel homesick while away from your comfort zone. If you can be out with your family, friends, or pet, then go for it.
- Requires multiple licenses for various states
You may need to work with various state nursing license requirements for you to work in the area. With a trusted and reliable recruitment agency, these can be easier to obtain and won’t be an issue for their travel nurses. Always check with your agency before signing in.
- Potential unstable work shifts or loads
While there is plenty of growth with a travel nurse career, there are also several uncertainties. Since you’ll be filling out positions, weekend shifts, or night shifts, there may be limited work options for you, which still depends on the facilities’ variables.
Conclusion
While the demand continues to grow, the benefits of becoming a travel nurse surely outweigh the setbacks. However, it’s vital to know what these are and adapt to healthcare professionals’ ever-changing nature and demand. If being a travel nurse is your next goal, better check for a reputable recruitment agency to help you build your dream job.
