Interest in Travel Nursing

[behealthyitsfun]

Hi there,

I'm considering a career in travel nursing and wondering if any RNs could speak to this for me.

- What's it like if you're in a relationship- have a partner/spouse?
- Are there ever assignments that are shorter than 8 weeks?
- How common are assignments for diabetes education nurses or the like?
- Biggest pros/cons?

[dianah, ASN]

Moved to Travel Nursing forum.

[NedRN]

On 10/9/2022 at 2:41 AM, behealthyitsfun said:

1. What's it like if you're in a relationship- have a partner/spouse?
2. Are there ever assignments that are shorter than 8 weeks?
3. How common are assignments for diabetes education nurses or the like?
4. Biggest pros/cons?

1. Different any two individuals with their unique circumstances and relationship and career goals.

2. Yes.

3. Proportional to the number of staff jobs. The more fringe the specialty, the fewer the travel jobs. That said, those fewer assignments usually mean they are harder to fill and pay more.

4. Also unique to everyone. Go to any agency site and there will be a list of pros trying to sell you on becoming a traveler. Read lots of threads here and Google travel nursing blogs for the negatives. Some of the pros may feel like negatives to you, and vice versa. Do lots of reading, and read between the lines to see how the purported pros and cons apply to you.

A short list of factors might include better paychecks, but at the cost of benefits. Toxic workplace politics will barely affect you but in any case will be time limited. Don't do it if you don't like being thrown into new environments with different culture and minimal orientation and adjustment time. Don't do it if you don't like traveling to new places (seems obvious to me, but some focus on money or getting away from bad situations). Do it because you think you might love it, not for money. In the long run absent odd factors like a pandemic (or perhaps working in the South as staff), a career as a prudent staff or a traveler will leave you in about the same financial situation at retirement. That said, it used to be the young nurses travel attracted treated it like a vacation or party and did badly financially.

[behealthyitsfun]

Thank you

[NedRN]

Ha, forgot to mention biggest hassle: housing. The way travel works is that you get a tax free housing stipend. The goal is to find your own housing and pocket the difference. There are resources, including ones agencies also use to provide housing (then they keep the difference) such as Furnished Finders (turnkey housing - very luxurious and expensive).

My personal strategies have changed over the years, but commonly I cruise the local Craigslist roommates wanted and short term housing and line up appointments to visit day of arrival. I also post my own ad that often finds great housing that is never advertised. I'd say the latter is successful at least 50% of the time (travelers are a valuable commodity, everyone knows they can afford it). I'll negotiate higher (for short term if long term rental), or lower (often paying three months in advance).

The hospital can be a resource, especially if they have residents and locums they provide housing for. And landlords often post availUsually my last ditch thing is property managers - I prefer negotiating directly with owners. But yes, sometimes I'm working a couple weeks without housing - I'm rather picky in not so usual ways. My car is outfitted with a full length mattress to hold me over such periods. Shower at the hospital, or sometimes a gym.

Many travelers use extended stays and some are quite nice. But certainly the cheaper ones are full of construction workers and noisy. Not even once have I done this!