Travel nursing and relationships..How do you make it work?

Specialties Travel

Published

So I have finally reached this long coming dream called travel nursing, but now Im 26 years old and in a 8 year serious committed relationship..Just finished my BSN, got my 2 and half years nursing experience and ready to travel oh and no kids, no house, still renting..Whats holding me back? The longterm boyfriend who wants a family soon and is thinking this long distance thing might not work and isnt crazy about the idea of me going..So what do I do? Do I stay in my home town get married, buy house and have kids (the idea frightens me) or do I still do me, have fun and embark on my dream of travel nursing? What a risky dillema huh? Well I have been wanting to do travel nursing since I was in high school and always said I would never let a man stop me from this..I just want to experience it for a little while, get this out of my system and not have any regrets in the future for not doing this, its not like Im planning on doing this forever, but I could also very well lose my future husband in this process..I definitely think Im still going to do it (like in about 3 months) but I feel so crazy about it now that its getting closer! Its really scary and nervewracking but bittersweet feeling at the same time..You know? Oh and doesnt help that I will be traveling alone, leaving everyone and everything I know behind and going to a strange new city..My best friend was suppose to do this with me for years, up until recently when she decided to get back together with her ex-bf and wants to settle and play house..so there goes my travel buddy! Anyone else been in this type of situation? Or anyone travel nursing and still in relationship/marriage at the same time? How do you make it work? Please share your story I would love to hear from others who may have have faced this same predicament..

Luna

Specializes in ICU.

Would love to and that would be ideal, but he's job will not allow him to do that nor will he ever consider quitting his job and yes he is my best friend.

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Specializes in ER, Cardiac Tele/ICU Stepdown.

I agree with others, you're only young once and you have dreamed about this, do it. I am curious, this was a few months back did you end up doing it?

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I had always wanted to do travel nursing but then I met my husband. We got married settled down and I had always regretted not doing so. Then one day, I realized that if he loved me then he word support me with whatever decision I made regarding my career. I did my first assignment in San Antonio which is 11 hours from my home and that was really rough on our marriage but we got through it. Then for my 2nd assignment, I asked my hubby to quit his job and come with me, he did! It was the best decision we could have ever made! We are together, happy, and I am doing what I have always wanted to do!

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Hit the road sister! and if he loves you he will understand. I was in your same situation once and sort of in your same situation now. I figure if he loves me he can wait till I come back home again. But in your case until you get your YaYas out or the experiences you need/want. Youre only young once take advantage of it now while you are young and not a crazy old cat lady nurse like me! LOL!

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you need to travel nurse!! I was in a relationship when I started and we recently broke up, he could not handle the distance between us...Some people just can't handle the distance..it's a great experience and we learn so much as travelers!! Totally do it!!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

After 38 years of marriage, travel nursing is what keeps us together! He stays home and takes care of the pets and house, I fulfill my dream. Of course if it is somewhere interesting, he visits, but it is working for us. I say go for it while you are young.

So I have finally reached this long coming dream called travel nursing, but now Im 26 years old and in a 8 year serious committed relationship..Just finished my BSN, got my 2 and half years nursing experience and ready to travel oh and no kids, no house, still renting..Whats holding me back? The longterm boyfriend who wants a family soon and is thinking this long distance thing might not work and isnt crazy about the idea of me going..So what do I do? Do I stay in my home town get married, buy house and have kids (the idea frightens me) or do I still do me, have fun and embark on my dream of travel nursing? What a risky dillema huh? Well I have been wanting to do travel nursing since I was in high school and always said I would never let a man stop me from this..I just want to experience it for a little while, get this out of my system and not have any regrets in the future for not doing this, its not like Im planning on doing this forever, but I could also very well lose my future husband in this process..I definitely think Im still going to do it (like in about 3 months) but I feel so crazy about it now that its getting closer! Its really scary and nervewracking but bittersweet feeling at the same time..You know? Oh and doesnt help that I will be traveling alone, leaving everyone and everything I know behind and going to a strange new city..My best friend was suppose to do this with me for years, up until recently when she decided to get back together with her ex-bf and wants to settle and play house..so there goes my travel buddy! Anyone else been in this type of situation? Or anyone travel nursing and still in relationship/marriage at the same time? How do you make it work? Please share your story I would love to hear from others who may have have faced this same predicament..

Luna

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Can anyone give any travel nursing experiences with children? I'm considering taking my child and having my husband be a stay at home dad while traveling. Will the travel agencies allow your family to come along and stay in the hosing?

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Can anyone give any travel nursing experiences with children? I'm considering taking my child and having my husband be a stay at home dad while traveling. Will the travel agencies allow your family to come along and stay in the hosing?

I'm a traveling nurse and I've met a fellow traveler who brought his wife and child along his assignments. The child was homeschooled so it worked out in their end. And they brought two cars everywhere with them so the wife had access to a car while he was at work. I myself brought my car and dog with me.

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I know this is a long time coming in late comment, but here's my two cents. Travel nursing is great... and it sucks all at the same time. I have been a traveler for a few years, after giving up my staff position... reather the facility I worked in closed its doors. I decided to give it a try.

The Great: FREEDOM! And as we all know freedom comes with a price tag. You have to be willing to talk to new people, be confident and comfortable with this idea. I'm a very out going person and can talk to almost anyone about anything. I also take no less then two weeks off every thirteen weeks, some times I take more like six weeks. I save lots of money and paid off my student loans easy and fast. You will find it's hard to buy things for your self when all of a sudden you have to carry everything with you. I have noticed that my amazon account has cobwebs covering it.

America is amazing and there is so much to see, don't have to dream about going somewhere, you just go.

Your not staff, ei your there to work not be part of the drama. After being staff for many years this I love, I can hear the drama, I can see the drama, but I'm not part of the drama. I'm like a ghost, in here while I'm here and then I'm gone.

The suck: *disclaimer* I am NOT a negative person, but I feel it would be wrong to only say how great some thing is without an honest review.

There is no school that will teach you travel nursing, and you will be screwed so hard in your first contact that your butt still hurts. What?!? What did I just say? Yes you will be cursing at your self and trying to figure out how you got duped in to this low pay check.

Here's what I know about this, speaking from experience. NEVER LET YOUR AGENCY SET UP YOUR HOUSING! let me explain you are given a tax free stipend for housing, because of this your hourly rate is much less then you are making as a staff nurse. Stipends can range a lot. Typically between 695 to 995 a week, I'm sure there are nurses that have seen higher and lower stipends. Here's the catch, if you allow your agency to set up housing, you will never see a dime of that money.

Suck point number two: Always saying goodbye, the longest you can stay on a contract is twelve months, after that it is not concidered you tax residency and you will lose your stipend, rather they will roll it in to your hourly and not your getting taxes all to hell on it. I don't like to "sit on" contracts for any longer then six months, or two seasons as I refer to them.

Traveler do have a reputation as being lazy or stupid. Why? Because if we where smart enough to hold a job for more then three months then we would sign on as staff somewhere right? So you will get used to being watched with a sceptics eye for the first couple of weeks of your contact. That's fine, if your a solid RN, there is nothing of interest to see here.

The everything else: I'm single, I'm not interested in a casual relationship or casual sex. I find that I'm never anyplace long enough to have a meaningful relationship with anyone. I'm friends with lots of people, and I keep the line of friends more then that clearly drawn, "No it's not you, or me it's my job, and I respect myself more then that. But thank you for the offer." This is not right for everyone, it's just what is right for me.

All and all, here is the takeaway. It's your life, and what is life if not for one grand adventure? We all have twenty four hours in a day. How are you going to spend yours?

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I know this is a long time coming in late comment, but here's my two cents. Travel nursing is great... and it sucks all at the same time. I have been a traveler for a few years, after giving up my staff position... reather the facility I worked in closed its doors. I decided to give it a try.

The Great: FREEDOM! And as we all know freedom comes with a price tag. You have to be willing to talk to new people, be confident and comfortable with this idea. I'm a very out going person and can talk to almost anyone about anything. I also take no less then two weeks off every thirteen weeks, some times I take more like six weeks. I save lots of money and paid off my student loans easy and fast. You will find it's hard to buy things for your self when all of a sudden you have to carry everything with you. I have noticed that my amazon account has cobwebs covering it.

America is amazing and there is so much to see, don't have to dream about going somewhere, you just go.

Your not staff, ei your there to work not be part of the drama. After being staff for many years this I love, I can hear the drama, I can see the drama, but I'm not part of the drama. I'm like a ghost, in here while I'm here and then I'm gone.

The suck: *disclaimer* I am NOT a negative person, but I feel it would be wrong to only say how great some thing is without an honest review.

There is no school that will teach you travel nursing, and you will be screwed so hard in your first contact that your butt still hurts. What?!? What did I just say? Yes you will be cursing at your self and trying to figure out how you got duped in to this low pay check.

Here's what I know about this, speaking from experience. NEVER LET YOUR AGENCY SET UP YOUR HOUSING! let me explain you are given a tax free stipend for housing, because of this your hourly rate is much less then you are making as a staff nurse. Stipends can range a lot. Typically between 695 to 995 a week, I'm sure there are nurses that have seen higher and lower stipends. Here's the catch, if you allow your agency to set up housing, you will never see a dime of that money.

Suck point number two: Always saying goodbye, the longest you can stay on a contract is twelve months, after that it is not concidered you tax residency and you will lose your stipend, rather they will roll it in to your hourly and not your getting taxes all to hell on it. I don't like to "sit on" contracts for any longer then six months, or two seasons as I refer to them.

Traveler do have a reputation as being lazy or stupid. Why? Because if we where smart enough to hold a job for more then three months then we would sign on as staff somewhere right? So you will get used to being watched with a sceptics eye for the first couple of weeks of your contact. That's fine, if your a solid RN, there is nothing of interest to see here.

The everything else: I'm single, I'm not interested in a casual relationship or casual sex. I find that I'm never anyplace long enough to have a meaningful relationship with anyone. I'm friends with lots of people, and I keep the line of friends more then that clearly drawn, "No it's not you, or me it's my job, and I respect myself more then that. But thank you for the offer." This is not right for everyone, it's just what is right for me.

All and all, here is the takeaway. It's your life, and what is life if not for one grand adventure? We all have twenty four hours in a day. How are you going to spend yours?

So I didn't have money for a security deposit or first month's rent and am otherwise financially unstable. I'm sure I'm losing money by taking company housing but it's a hassle that's not mine to deal with. Even though I'm extending my contract, I haven't saved at all so I decided to extend my housing too. I'm in D.C. and recently had to give up my car. I'm functioning on public transportation. I just got settled in after 3 months and decided even if I could just move somewhere cheaper...I don't want to move and unpack again!

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