Want To Travel With A School-aged Child~ Can It Be Done?

MrsWampthang, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2006

Do you home school? I think that would be the only way you could do travel assignments with a school age child. Also, what would you do with your child while you worked in different cities if you didn't know anyone? I think some travel companies offer local assignments so that might be an option for you. I have never done travel nursing, but those are two things I would think about if I wanted to do travel nursing with a school age child. Just a thought.

Pam

tencat · Jun 1, 2006

I would have to agree that unless you are homeschooling, or working very locally, it would have a really negative impact on your child's life and education to be changing schools and/or towns frequently.

panamama · Jun 1, 2006

i too am a single mom interested in travel nursing. however, i am just a pre-nursing student (hoping to start pre-reqs in the fall), so i don't have experience to offer you. what i can offer, are some things i've thought about since i am in the same situation and have the same interest. i see that homeschooling has been suggested. i would not ever consider this for my child b/c i know i don't have the patience for it. the same reason i'd never consider teaching as a career. so, when thinking about travel nursing i thought about perhaps signing up with an agency and only taking local assignments during the school year then maybe traveling in the summer. or...maybe only taking local assignments the first couple years and then traveling once the kid is in college (my child is a little older than yours). if you have family and/or close friends spread out then maybe only travel where you'll have a local support sytem...but i do have to agree that frequent travel and school changes would probably not be very good for the child. i don't suppose it'd be that different from being an 'army brat' or similar, but why put your child through that if you don't have to? best of luck in your nursing journey.

mtngrl, ASN, RN · Jun 1, 2006

Sorry but I don't think that's a good idea. Most travel places don't send you locally, and most contracts are not very long...a few months or so. You wouldn't likely know anyone where you would be sent. My sister did traveling but not for long. And she never got the places she really wanted to go to. Your kid would change schools all the time and it would just be a really bad situation I think. Even if you homeschooled, your child would never develop any strong friendships, and kids need that. Why do you want to do travel nursing? Perhaps you should just move to an exciting new town and settle down there.

burn out · Jun 1, 2006

I always thought it would be neat to take a leave of abscense from my full time job in the summer for 3 months and take a travel assignement out west. On my days off my children and I could explore places like the Grand Canyon, Painted Dessert and all the wonderful National parks out there, or maybe an assignment at the beach somewhere. So far I have never gotten around to do this wonderful dream but maybe something like this would suit you and your son.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 1, 2006

Any of the nurses that I know, who travel and have school age kids, home school them. There is never a guarantee that you will be in one area for more than a thirten week contract, and that would be quite difficult on the child. The ones that are home schooled love it, they get to see new adventures and scenery on a roving basis.

HARRN2b · Jun 1, 2006

This depends on the personality of your son. Is he shy or outgoing? Does he like new experiences or do they scare him. What a wonderful opportunity for him, if you do decide to do it. It takes learning outside of the classroom. He can learn about different parts of the country that you are working/visiting. Maybe just do it for a year. Do you have a friend with a child that is desiring to do the same thing. Maybe you could travel together and watch each others child while the other is at work. Also, today's society is very different. The friends he has today, he will most likely loose contact with by the time he goes to high school. People move all the time. This is just by opinion, but I would love to do this with my 11 year old son! Problem is I also have 7 and 8 year old sons as well!!!!!

catlady, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2006

I'm also a single mom who wanted to travel. I didn't have a problem with the homeschooling aspect--I'd homeschooled her before--but I had a big problem with the childcare aspect. I was told very bluntly by one agency that any hospital on-site child care was for the permanent staff, not for travelers. I never did go. I did take one local travel contract, but that was it. And yes, you can get a local contract, although if your purpose is to see the world, it's obviously not happening.

As for going in the summer, not too many schools give a full 13 weeks off. You'd have to find a short-term assignment.

Best place to ask experienced travel nurses is on Delphi's Travel Nurses and Therapists forum.