Is traveling REALLY all that AND SOME???!!

NedRN · Mar 2, 2014

Start with paid housing, travel, and meals. Would you believe the agency also pays for every hour you work?

Best deal since high school with paid everything, an allowance, and keys to the family car! And no parents to cramp your style.

Strawberrykool · Mar 2, 2014

Start with paid housing, travel, and meals. Would you believe the agency also pays for every hour you work?
Best deal since high school with paid everything, an allowance, and keys to the family car! And no parents to cramp your style.

NedRN I find you to be hilarious. :)

ERsupertramp · Mar 3, 2014

There are a lot of variables when considering travel. In my opinion...no the money isn't that great. It's not bad, just not great. If I were in it for the money...probably wouldn't be doing it. I am usually forced to take the provided housing since I travel with my family. It's just easier for us. It seems to me a lot of nurses make the extra money by finding their own housing or staying with family to be able to bank stipend money. I bring home roughly about $400 more a month extra with provided housing which includes utilities.

You said you are currently working peds. I believe this is an excellent specialty to be in. There seems to be quite a need out there for peds. If you find a company/recruiter that you like, have them give you some figures to go over.

Aside from the money, the experience is amazing. You can learn so much. Meet new people. See the country! That's what I'm all about. Best of luck

Strawberrykool · Mar 3, 2014

I wouldnt say traveling is all that, but its super fun and I love it. Someone said it best if you cant stay in one place then travel is good for you. I take my family and I get my own housing and pocket enough money to live comfortable as a lpn

RHill9919 · Mar 3, 2014

How often do travel nurses travel?

Do the companies move your family/pets as well?

Strawberrykool · Mar 3, 2014

I travel all year round except tge beginning of the year due to facilities being in denial of needing the help. I use the money given to me to move me and my family

TNE1 · Mar 4, 2014

Most contracts are 13 weeks. Some are shorter and sometimes you can extend. I travel with my son, husband and two dogs. There have been a couple of times they tried to house us in an extended stay which I refused and just sound housing myself. This is an up expensive option. We try to save to be prepared for that.

NurseLizabeeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 4, 2014

Thanks y'all for the advice. While I know I'm not going to make a killing esp starting off, I don't want to be struggling. I'm 27 yo, single with a small dog so moving around should be pretty easy. Is it hard to find ppl to travel with? Have any of you had traveling buddies?

NurseLizabeeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 4, 2014

Yeah NedRN...you are funny.

BD-RN, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2014

I just started traveling this year. Do I make BANK? No; technically my gross income is about the same as my last staff job. But now I get to go where I want ALMOST as often as I want. I'm not tied to my apartment and the rent, I'm not tied to my job, or any other responsibilities that keep one tied to a place. Everything is tied to ME instead. And I'm still not squandering all my money trying to survive.

After nursing school, I barely had enough money the change the timing belt on my car (no I'm not a mechanic don't make fun of me) and my credit card was maxed out. Now I'm about to buy a brand new car (not a BMW or anything but a new nice NOT beater car), I actually have some money in my saving account, and I'm making great strides in paying off that debt. Why? Because being a travel nurse, I'm finding it much easier to make that same income and bank it. If you sit down and crunch the numbers after you get a couple offers, you'll see.

I also have noticed I'm genuinely a lot happier this year in my career. I'm even taking it upon myself to work on my OCN and I actually feel motivated to do it. A part of me wonders if it's because I'm not as involved in the politics of the hospital. My last two contracts haven't even been great, really; but I come to work, take GREAT care of my patients, chart, make jokes with my colleagues, and leave. I'm focused on why I became a nurse and that's it. I've made some great friends in my last two contracts. A patient who back in her day was a travel nurse gave me some advice. "You can handle ANYTHING for 13 weeks." You have a good specialty and good experience, just keep an open mind and go with the flow :)

RHill9919 · Mar 6, 2014

For most travel gigs, is it nationwide? Do the companies fly you or require you to drive? Depends on the distance? I recently found our about travel nursing and it is all foreign to me so I'm trying to understand how it works.