Any older travelers out there?

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Hi all, I'm considering travel nursing as it's something I always wanted to do. My field is dialysis doing acutes and I used to work at a place where we had lots of travelers filling in and I always loved hearing about the places they had worked because I like to travel too! It's kind of been on my bucket list.

My kids are grown and I'm not married, it's just me now and I feel like taking off and doing this. I'm 56 years old, don't feel my age has limited me the least in my job and I have many years experience in my field. I'm just curious if there are many older travelers out there.

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I think you are the median age for a nurse, and perhaps slightly older than the median traveler. But there are tons of travelers in their 50s and 60s out there, and are generally much appreciated by the facilities. All that extra experience, and it doesn't cost them extra!

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Good point, NedRN! I hadn't thought about how it wouldn't cost extra for the facility. I know some fellow nurses my age tried to switch jobs or specialties but despite all their experience and excellent employment history, were not hired - most likely because with their experience they would be paid more. I'm really excited about the travelling possibility hoping things work out and I'll be doing it soon. I'm ready!

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I just came back from my first LPN travel assignment and will continue to travel after taking my RN Nclex. I got my LPN license when I was 51, worked for a couple years, went back to school to finish my RN and went directly to my first travel assignment. You should have no problems landing a job with your experience. I really enjoy travel nursing even at my age...kids are grown and free to go...I bet you will like it!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

It's certainly not like that nasty MTV show about travel nurses (unless you want that I guess). I didn't start traveling until mid 40's and I have met many other "mature" travelers and made new friends. It's about your attitude and sense of adventure. Go out and enjoy this next stage in your career, you will love it! Your friends and family can live vicariously through your travels!

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Specializes in long term/acute/ skilled.

I, too, am from Kittanning PA. Am interested in traveling nurse position. I am an LPN and any help, advice about landing a travel job anywhere would be wonderful

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Specializes in hospice and travel nursing.

I'm 61 and travel. It's the perfect time. I only work hospice. It's all I've done in my 30 year career. You know dialysis well. That's not the difficult part. The hard part for me is learning a different

computer program at each job and trying to learn it quickly. Usually I have some orientation the first few days, go out with another nurse for a day but spend most of that first week getting the computer down. I like to be off and running on my own the beginning of the second week. Hospice is a little different because I'm alone out there. You'll always have someone with you. I just finished my last job the end of Oct. and they asked me to extend andhea to go back again. Age never came up. My husband is older than me and is fully retired. He goes with me. We hope to continue for a few more years as long as our health and my ability to learn a new computer program hold out. I think I've learned 5 so far. I'm not sure how many more are out there.Go for it. I think they will all value your wisdom and maturity!!

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