Is 28 too old to become a travel nurse?

Specialties Travel

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I'm about to turn 28 years old, I'm very single, and I have a huge passion for travel. I've been feeling so antsy with my life and feel as though I've been a bit stagnant. I've been a med/surg/GI nurse for about a year and three months and, though I still don't have much experience, I think I have just enough to be more comfortable with different placements.

On the other hand, I still want to find a life partner and have kids at some point... I'm just afraid that 28 is getting a bit too old (for a woman) for travel nursing because I also want to pursue those things I mentioned above.

Any thoughts? Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Many of my friends in there thirties have recently become travel nurses, the more experience the better. Honestly if it is something you really truly wish to do then why not!?

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
Yes!! People in my part (conservative West Michigan) get married in their early twenties and are having babies by my age (or younger). In fact, I'm an odd ball in that I haven't married or had kids yet.

So, this is likely the reason why I feel the way I do.

I am from the same area that you are! Get out for a while! I started traveling at 29 years old, and it was the best career AND life decision that I have ever made. Granted, I had nearly six years of experience at that point - so I would advise you to get to the 2-year mark at least, and then, if you still desire it, travel! I've known several travel nurses who have met their future spouses while traveling, so don't worry about that. If anything, you are just increasing your dating pool :)

Another thought - if you work in med-surg as a travel nurse, those are lower paying contracts. Consider if you would like to move to a different specialty and get some experience there to get higher paying travel gigs. But if you love med-surg, still with what you love. You can still make money!

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Ha... I know I probably sound pathetic to people who are maybe twice my age, but it's still a legitimate question if you look at the fact that I'm getting closer to the end of child-bearing age...

Staying in one place won't make it any likelier for your life partner to find you. Follow your path and see who joins you on it. You have lots of childbearing time ahead of you.

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Specializes in Critical care, Trauma.
I'd be more concerned about having only a little over a year as a nurse under your belt. You're still a new nurse. I would wait until you've been a nurse at least a few more years before traveling.

Definitely agree with this! My hospital is going through a transition right now and we have travel nurses everywhere. They get the usual 3 day hospital orientation then a whopping ONE day of floor orientation. You have to have a strong foundation in your nursing, because one day on the floor is mostly just "where is ___," "how do I reach ___ provider?" "how do I know who is on call?" and "can you show me the required documentation I need to do?". I have seen a lot of older, more experienced travel nurses look at me like a deer in the headlights when I'm giving them report. So I feel that experience is really important, you never know the culture of the unit where you'll be placed and how helpful they'll be with guiding you through that initial rough transition.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Yes!! People in my part (conservative West Michigan) get married in their early twenties and are having babies by my age (or younger). In fact, I'm an odd ball in that I haven't married or had kids yet.

So, this is likely the reason why I feel the way I do.

It's also the reason to get out and see the rest of the world. It's easy to get roped in to the culture you were raised with. How many of your high school classmates felt pressure to marry right after graduation? To the point of getting pregnant to make it happen? How many are sitting in their parents' homes working dead end jobs because Prince Charming hasn't shown up, yet? How many snarky little cracks come your way about not having a man, yet?

Time to see the world. The only real factor is having enough experience under your belt to make travel nursing doable.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
I get it, though — if you live in a place where people have babies much younger, it can feel like time is slipping away at 28. I realize I am also a bit of an oddball, being almost 37 weeks pregnant at 45. :D But seriously, even though 35+ earns the "advanced maternal age" label, it's just that — a label.

OP, go see the world! But do it when you have enough nursing experience to walk into a hospital and be functional with computers and patient care with about a day of training under your belt.

I get it to a certain extent as I live in an area where it isn't uncommon for people to having babies in their early twenties.

However, if you are hanging around a more educated and career-focused ground, people from that group typically are waiting until their very late twenties to early thirties to have their first baby.

I am going to be 26 soon and while I still get the sense of urgency to hurry up and get an advanced education before motherhood, I realize that, biologically speaking, I have a minimum of ten good childbearing years left before I need to start "worrying."

And congrats to your new one! I used to work as a tech in L/D and High risk OB and took care of a 50-year old pregnant with twins. So 45 isn't the oldest yet.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
I'm rolling my eyes so hard at this post, it hurts.

My mom had her first at 29 (me), her second at 33 and her last at 36. She could have had more if she wanted.

Don't roll them too hard, Princess! I remember posts of yours a few years ago, with very similar concerns as the OP's.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
Don't roll them too hard, Princess! I remember posts of yours a few years ago, with very similar concerns as the OP's.

In regards to a career and how it would affect motherhood and wanting to hurry up and get an education before a baby.

But I never flat out said that anywhere in the twenties was too old for anything. And if I did, feel free to slap me...hard.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
In regards to a career and how it would affect motherhood and wanting to hurry up and get an education before a baby.

But I never flat out said that anywhere in the twenties was too old for anything. And if I did, feel free to slap me...hard.

Interesting how your perspective changes as you get older, isn't it?

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You can meet that special someone anywhere. When you do, then you'll probably not want to travel. Until then... enjoy!

I knew of a nurse who traveled after only 1.5 years of experience. It's possible. Maybe try floating a bit more where you are to see different pt populations and judge how traveling would fit.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Are you freaking kidding? Is this April Fool's day?

You want to marry and have kids and are afraid travel nursing will prevent this. Did you know that eligible marriage partners can be found all over the place. Also, there are aforementioned eligible (and willing) marriage partners who have jobs that also travel. Also, there are many families living a travel career lifestyle (hello armed forces!) and at any time, yes, ANY time, you can decide to stop traveling and live in only one place.

Heavy snark, but I couldn't help myself. So many young people who think that life choice are limited to "A" or "B".

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Don't roll them too hard, Princess! I remember posts of yours a few years ago, with very similar concerns as the OP's.

I remember that one as well. I bore the brunt of that snarkfest.

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