Travel nurses are an important part of the healthcare system, and their services are invaluable for hospitals and healthcare organizations. They work temporarily in various healthcare facilities and are usually hired for short-term assignments—typically ranging from several weeks to several months—to help fill staffing shortages or provide specialized care where it is needed. They may work in a range of settings, such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, or even in-home care. Many aspiring nurses don’t realize it, but there are many advantages associated with travel nursing. If you want to learn more, keep reading to find out why you should be a travel nurse.
Why should you be a travel nurse?
As a travel nurse, you can typically expect to be paid more than a traditional staff nurse. This is due to the fact that travel nurses are in high demand and willing to take on assignments in different cities across the country. Travel nursing pay consists of two main components: gross pay and stipends. Gross pay is determined by the length of the assignment, specialty area, and experience level of the nurse. When you look at your travel nurse pay breakdown, you will also notice that your stipends are tax-free, while your hourly wage is your taxable base pay.
Travel nurses work on short-term contracts, which means they can move from one hospital or clinic to another as their contract expires. This gives them the flexibility to explore different parts of the country. It also gives them access to a variety of hospitals with different approaches and methods for providing patient care, allowing them to gain valuable insight into how medical systems work across various regions. Travel nurses can also expand their skillset by becoming familiar with many types of medical equipment and procedures used around the world.
Being a travel nurse opens up networking opportunities that are not available when working at only one facility too, due to its transient nature. This can be especially beneficial if you’re looking for permanent employment after completing your travels as recruiters often contact past travelers if there is an opening in their organization.
What else can you expect from a career in nursing?
Now that you know more about why you should be a travel nurse, let’s discuss some of the other things you can expect when pursuing a career in nursing. For example, nurses tend to have excellent job security, and growth in the industry is projected to be strong in the coming years. The market for nurse practitioners alone is expected to grow by 40 percent over the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. That means as a nurse, you shouldn’t ever have a problem finding work, no matter where you live.
Nursing can be a deeply rewarding career as well. The work that nurses do touches the lives of patients and their families in a profound way, and most people find that to be both personally and professionally fulfilling. Nurses are on the front lines of the healthcare system, and they are often the ones who make the biggest difference in the lives of patients. Travel nurses are particularly essential, as they ensure that people who live in rural or underserved areas always have access to medical care during healthcare worker shortages.
As you can see, the advantages of becoming a travel nurse are numerous. From increased job satisfaction and financial benefits to the opportunity to gain unique experiences and meet new people, travel nursing is a fantastic career choice for those who enjoy exploring new places and cultures. The flexibility of being able to choose where and when to work provides a fulfilling and enriching lifestyle for those who don’t want to be tied down to one place and one job. If you follow the advice in this article, you’ll be well on your way to getting your first travel nursing job.