Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing

GingerSue · Mar 31, 2007

where will they arrange for you to live?

how will you know if the living arrangements are suitable?

oMerMero · Mar 31, 2007

The benefits aren't the same as working in a hospital. When I was working as a traveler I didn't get vaction or sick time...so anytime I took off was unpaid. While I didn't have to pay for the insurance, the coverage was not as good as I would have hoped...high copays. Overall though, it was a great experience, and would recommend giving it a try if you are thinking about it.

I_am_Julia · Mar 31, 2007

pros

high hourly wage

meet new people

see various parts of the us

minimal exposure to staff political drama

cons

changing jobs every 13 weeks to one year

driving

packing

getting the crappy shifts

possible high stress assignment (can be with staff too)

i am interested in travel nursing when i get enough experience under my belt. i always hear the perks about it, but there has to be some cons to it.
what pros and cons have any of you experienced with travel nursing and is it worth it??

ertravelrn · Mar 31, 2007

The benefits are getting better for travelers, I actually get PTO with my company, along with the other benefits.

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Mar 31, 2007

I have a condo that I have rented to travel nurses in the past. One nurse had been put up in an Extended Stay America or something like that, with only a bed and a lounge chair in the room (per her report), in a rather questionable area. I guess she rebelled, and the agency put her up in my condo, instead (MUCH nicer!)

So, you want to make sure you know where you are staying ahead of time, and hopefully get pictures and the address, so you know if they are trying to put you up in a slum or not.

Oldiebutgoodie

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2007

The key to success if finding a reputable company with a recruiter who is a good match for you. I have had the same company and same recruiter since 2000 with very good results.

I can't really come up with any cons right now. My company offers great insurance, a generous housing stipend which I usually take or they will put you up in very nice single housing.

We get a week pay for every year equivilent in hours worked, extension bonuses, etc.

You can consider having to move around a lot as a con, but that is why a lot of us do it. I have had only one assignment that I did not renew. I stayed at one hospital 2 1/2 years. I did take a month off between each 13 weeks, which makes it very nice.

I worked at my current job 15 months, left for 13 weeks and am now back for 26 weeks.

You don't get bogged down with mandatory meetings, inservices and general BS when you travel. I have met many wonderful people and have a long e mail list.

When I look at my paycheck every other week I remember why I am traveling.

bobbyll · Mar 12, 2008

So far I have loved travel nursing. Freedom of travel, great money, and new places. However, one the cons is always leaving new friends behind. I just joined http://nursetrek.com which a social network for travel nursing. Hopefully I can stay in touch better! So sad to leave people behind. Other than that I say travel nursing rocks!

Di Deanna · Jun 20, 2009

cool thread. i'm actually traveling as a nurse in italy now.

GoNightingale, BSN, RN · May 20, 2010

I started a 13-week travel assignment and after the second week the hospital discontinued my contract. They wrote up things that, if I would have been a staff nurse, they (meaning the hospital) would have taken the interest to ask me my side of the issues. They said a bunch of patients complained about me with regard to getting them their pain meds and the other said I left her on a bedside commode for over an hour (both were entirely not true nor accurate. I am known for being a patient advocate and would never doeither of the above. Nevertheless, i have shrugged it off and have attained a new contract- but directily with the hospital instead of an agency. I would prefer to not do travel nirsing but quite frankly I am a 2-year old nurse and the hourly pay on average is not enought to straighten me out financially at this time of my life. I have $60,000 of student loans and an aging mother and I am aging myself and need to save money.

Please, please, you sound like you havebeen trvalling for quite a while, if you or anyone out there can give me some solid advice on how to make it through these 13 weeks without loosing this contract I would appreciate it. This will buy me time to see if (a) I would like to renew it or (b) seek a stable position. I have worked Vascular Med/Surg-blended PCU unit. I have had quite a few experiences this year to wake me up to the fact that you really have to be a good clinician as well. I am working very hard to be just that.

I would appreciate any good advice out there, tips, etc.

Thanks folks.

GoNightingale, BSN, RN · May 20, 2010

I fogot to add that on this new contract I will be working a Med/Surg Telemetry unit but will be floated to other units like ICU. I have already informed them that I do not have the competencies of an ICU nurse to which they replied, they will not give you vent patient or critical patients. Well...I'll cross that bridge when they float me. :uhoh3:

ohwang04 · Mar 12, 2012

Is it true that you need at least 1-2 years of experience before you can become a travel nurse?