Nursing and Travel Opportunities
Published February 2nd, 2011 in Health Care Career
The nursing shortage currently being experienced all around the country has contributed to the profession in an interesting way. Because so many nurses are needed right now, many heavily urban and rural hospitals are unable to keep a full staff of nurses on hand year-round. In an effort to bridge this gap, these facilities have started bringing in temporary nurses, otherwise known as travel nurses, to work for a few months at a time.
Travel nursing is a win-win situation almost all the way around. Hospitals in need of nurses get well-trained, temporary employees to help them provide quality patient care. Nurses already on staff get support on the floor and can often reduce their own hours or workload. And the traveling nurses themselves get perhaps the best benefits of all: they get to see the country, meeting new people and getting paid well for the privilege.
Travel Nurse Destinations and Downtime
The locations a travel nurse ends up working vary depending on the agency he or she works for as well as personal preference. Although few nurses get to choose where they will be working for certain, most travel nurse employers allow nurses to make a list of top choices and favorite destinations. Because travel nurses typically stay in an assignment for only four to twelve weeks, the chances of them reaching their favored destinations is fairly high.
Perhaps one of the best perks of being a traveling nurse is the “downtime” between jobs. After your contract with a particular hospital is up (in the four to twelve week window), you are given a few weeks off before your next assignment. This time is ideal for getting out into different cities and exploring the area. In fact, many nurses view these as mini-vacations, which are often salaried and offered up to six times per year.
Although many of the top locations travel nurses go are found in smaller communities in rural areas or at inner-city hospitals that have difficulties with turnover, many of the destinations are pretty ideal. Postings in the Virgin Islands, New York, Orlando, Seattle, and Los Angeles allow many nurses the chance to visit places they might not ever see otherwise.
Becoming a Traveling Nurse
Few other occupations in the country allow so much flexibility and freedom as travel nursing. In addition to higher-than-average rates of pay (between $30 and $40 per hour, with additional allowances for travel and living expenses), travel nurses tend to enjoy their jobs and get greater stretches of relaxation than their full-time counterparts.
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a traveling nurse, please visit our resources on nursing schools and nursing jobs.
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