Should I Travel?

Argo · Jun 30, 2018

It can prevent you from specializing while you're traveling but when you're ready just take a staff job.

You will make more money as a traveller with a specialty first though.

NedRN · Jun 30, 2018

Travel is more lucrative for higher trained nurses in acute care, no other way to put it. That is very different from staff positions at most hospitals where all positions may pay the same. So yes, you are better off with more training. It can be difficult to travel first and then try for an internship in a new specialty. The manager/HR may not believe in your commitment to stay and give them a payback on the training. Fickleness and travel lust can also be an issue going staff on your same specialty, but a lot easier. Sometimes even the traveler doesn't know they can't go back to staff until they try and fail going back to travel so it is a valid concern. It might change you too so be warned!

There are different kinds of travel. Some nurses (usually overachievers that you admire and hate at the same time) are easily bored and over the course of a career have had every possible position their hospital offers. That is "specialty" travel, but there are some real travelers that manage to rotate and keep credentialed in several specialties. There are also nurse "travelers" who are not into short term travel contracts. Instead, they switch locations and staff positions every few years. Sometimes it is forced due to a military spouse or other occupation that has frequent relocations, but often is just the same wanderlust as regular travelers.

Once I had a travel construction job before I became a nurse (like a fifth occupation for me). Stayed in motels and hotels, and typical job lasted three to four weeks. While I liked it OK, three months at a time in an apartment as a travel nurse is far superior. You meet more locals on the job and around town, and have time get to know the features and community better without a tourist's frantic schedule.

rabiamirou, BSN · Jun 30, 2018

You ask the same question I have been asking my self! NedRN I am one of those gypsy souls that loves change and gets bored easily. I have just finished my first year of nursing on a med surg floor working nights.

I just got on for day shift, but I find myself looking at ER and L&D job postings in anticipation of what I want to do next. I feel like if I applied for another position in another year, I will look like I am not willing to stick around and people will not hire me.

But I have always heard that in nursing that moving around is not only tolerated, that it is considered a good thing. Do you think hiring managers really do not mind if people move around a lot?

I am like Argo - torn between wanting to learn more and wanting to be able to travel in the next three years.

Argo · Jun 30, 2018

All hiring managers are different. I always expected to get 18 months to 3 years from someone. Therefore it never bothered me when someone had 3 jobs in a 6-9 year stretch.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Jun 30, 2018

While you might find higher paying contracts with a specialty, general med-surg should offer plenty of opportunities for travel nursing. If you have a good recruiter you will get contracts.

NedRN · Jun 30, 2018

Only one year of medsurg? See if you can switch specialties right now. No time to waste.

NurseBlaq · Jul 1, 2018

Like others have said, get your specialty in now. You can travel with med-surg experience but pay and options multiply with specialty experience.

amzyRN · Jul 1, 2018

I'd specialize first. If you travel now you might pigeonhole yourself until you put down roots somewhere where you can get into another department. I found med/surg really boring after a while and could not do that long term. Traveling in med/surg would be nightmarish to me. If you like more autonomy and learning new things, I'd suggest trying to go to ICU or ED nursing.