Reality of Travel Nursing?

Specialties Travel

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Specializes in LTC, DD.

I think when any hopeful RN to be hears about travel nursing, it's like, ''Oh my GOD! How Perfect! I can travel and make loads of money!!'' Which is the point that I'm at right now.

Can a seasoned traveler bring me down from that (and tell me the good things too) so that I can have an idea about the realities of this seemingly ideal situation?

Will I really be able to save a lot of money working 36 hrs/wk?

Will I be able to jump from one assignment to the next- or are there periods of not enough work?

Is housing as nice as it seems?

Anything else that I left out that might be important please feel free to bring it to my attention. Because I'd love to travel, I just want to know how it really is.

Thanks!

Specializes in Emergency.

Travel nursing is great! I will honestly tell you that I had higher visions of it when I was still a nursing student though.

I do travel nursing to see the USA, see how healthcare is different across the country, and to learn new things. I do not do it for the pay.

The pay is not much different considering as a staff nurse you get pto and other benefits. I'd say it all equals out. I've had more good assignments than bad. I've always had spectacular housing. I always meet interesting people. Follow your heart!

Specializes in MedSurg Tele.

I totally agree with Tinynurse. If you're all about the pay and the travel, don't expect to get paid more then the staff that already work at the facility. You'll see a lot of great places, but you could also arrange to see them during a vacation. Considering the expenses accumulated from traveling, the breaks between assignments to get to the facilities, no paid sick time or paid time off, traveling can leave you broke. I had no trouble with housing. You need at least 1 to 2 years of experience before being considered a traveler at nearly all travel nursing agencies. I would strongly recommend, the more experience you have with being a staff nurse, the better. :paw:

Specializes in ICU.

I echo the sentiments from above. On the flip side, I tried traveling for half a year and found out it wasn't for me. The money can be good... the traveling can be good, but it sometimes can be a 'crap-shoot' as to the quality your assignment. It also has a lot to do with your lifestyle and current life situation.

Being married with a house and mortgage.. it wasn't the ideal situation.

Best of luck.

i think when any hopeful rn to be hears about travel nursing, it's like, ''oh my god! how perfect! i can travel and make loads of money!!'' which is the point that i'm at right now.

can a seasoned traveler bring me down from that (and tell me the good things too) so that i can have an idea about the realities of this seemingly ideal situation?

will i really be able to save a lot of money working 36 hrs/wk?

will i be able to jump from one assignment to the next- or are there periods of not enough work?

is housing as nice as it seems?

anything else that i left out that might be important please feel free to bring it to my attention. because i'd love to travel, i just want to know how it really is.

thanks!

[color=darkslategray]traveling as a nurse can be an awesome experience, or a failure...it really depends on your attitude. yes, there are high paying positions, particularly in california, and if your housing and insurance are free, your mileage reimbursement fair, and your hours are guaranteed, then you can make a very nice living.

however, that being said, you have to approach each job with the right attitude. you must be willing to really be of help to the facility and flexible in what you are willing to do. you must also be firm in declining to float to areas where you are not trained or feel comfortable with the level of care required.

...and then there's the attitude of knowing how to negotiate your contracts, so that both you and the agency make a decent return for your efforts.

yes, there are less than "happy" assignments, but then there are also a zillion opportunities for learning and seeing this beautiful country of ours with fresh eyes, and finding out just what we're made of.

i've traveled for many years now, from one end of the country to the other. successful travelers never stop learning from each other, and sharing our expertise. each assignment can be an adventure or a failure. i truly believe it is all up to you, and how much time and effort you are willing to invest in searching for that "good fit" in an assignment and location, then going in with eyes wide open, and an attitude of "bring it on!"

happy travels!:heartbeat

Specializes in OB.

I'll second what gypsy said above! (she knows I will!) and add that while you may not end up with lots of money in the bank you can end up experiencing places and things that would cost lots of money if you had to pay to go there on short vacations - and as the ads say - some things - priceless!

I've been traveling a little over 11 years now and have never yet finished a contract without having the next one lined up. If you are fairly flexible about where you go, you shouldn't have much down time, depending on your specialty. ometimes too, it can be fun to just "roll the dice" and go someplace you've never considered.

Specializes in cardiac, PACU, some CVICU.

Thanks for all the great info, I'm considering traveling as well after my 2 year contract with my current hospital is up. Can you give me some insight as to how the staff nurses treat travelers? I'm worried they get treated badly sometimes because the staff nurses may think the travel nurses are making all kinds of money and might be jealous.

Specializes in MedSurg Tele.

I know a great book that might be able to help you out with that. "You can Heal Your Life." by Louise L. Hay. I saw it on Oprah.

Thanks for all the great info, I'm considering traveling as well after my 2 year contract with my current hospital is up. Can you give me some insight as to how the staff nurses treat travelers? I'm worried they get treated badly sometimes because the staff nurses may think the travel nurses are making all kinds of money and might be jealous.

It all depends on where you travel to as to how you are treated. In NH, I went with the staff to an awesome Halloween party, went canoeing down the Connecticut river, over to the ben and Jerrys factory...and worked my tail off. It was a classic "Good Fit" In NC, at my next assignment, the nurses treated me like liver. The charge would fill allmy rooms first, and make snide comments about my pay rate. The docs there were great and I ended up doing lots with them, which then made the nurses also jealous....

In general at most assignments, people are happy to see you, especially if you appear happy to be there, after all they have been working short. I also understand that as a traveler, I float first no matter what, and I take the chronic ER PITA patients to give regular staff a break from them.

I ask alot of questions about the area, and let people be the expert on where togo for the best burger, dry cleaner, pharmacy, tourist attraction, and they generally come round. Showing up with a large box of chocolates/cookies never hurts either.

I think when any hopeful RN to be hears about travel nursing, it's like, ''Oh my GOD! How Perfect! I can travel and make loads of money!!'' Which is the point that I'm at right now.

Can a seasoned traveler bring me down from that (and tell me the good things too) so that I can have an idea about the realities of this seemingly ideal situation?

Will I really be able to save a lot of money working 36 hrs/wk?

Will I be able to jump from one assignment to the next- or are there periods of not enough work?

Is housing as nice as it seems?

Anything else that I left out that might be important please feel free to bring it to my attention. Because I'd love to travel, I just want to know how it really is.

Thanks!

I have yet to make LOADS of money. I make a bit more than I did at home. I maintain a tax home so I can have the tax free benefits, which is a hassle, but gives me a place to come home to. If you do not maintain ties and a permanent address, all those tax free monies are going to be taxed, companieswilltell you otherwise, but you will be the one audited. I makea lot of money actually when I do overtime as the OT rate is usually quite high in my contracts. Luckily I've been picking up enough OT to really save. Thing is that if you move large distances there are days and days without pay. I took Xmas off this year (Great bennie of traveling!!!) and started again onthe 7th and was really looking for that check by the 15th...

The housing in my opinion is fairly basic. Its usually just a one bedroom apartment in a safe area, nothing fancy. If you have certain pets,housing gets to be very tricky. I have a largedog and this has caused some issues.

I have never had a time when i could not secure a contract. A contract in a particular area, yes, but have never been without work.

I am a very outgoing person and have active hobbies, so I tend to meet lots of people, but traveling can be somewhat lonely as you arrive and don't know anyone. Local staff may invite you out, but you also have to be prepared for them having their own lives and not being all that interested in hanging out with you.

If you research carefully, you can find out a lot and not place yourself into yukky hospitals. but even then...

I'm currently on assignment where I love the facility,hate my housing. I learned I am completely cold intolerant. I can not wait to leave, but saying that,I am still getting out and seeing the sites, running and meeting people...andchalking this upto a learning experience....Forevermore I shall not travel north during the winter....

Hoep that long winded reply helped....

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