Travel nursing might have piqued your interest or been on your radar if you are a nurse or becoming a nurse and love to explore. Becoming a travel nurse can blend your passions for traveling and nursing into a full-time career. With our travel nursing pros and cons list, you can weigh your options before tackling your next career adventure! Stability Healthcare is here to help determine if this is the right fit for you.
Pros of Travel Nursing
It’s no secret that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to travel nursing. From the incredible benefits to the continuous adventure, travel nursing may be your best option. Here are some of the “pros”:
Increased Compensation
Most travel nurses receive a higher salary than permanent staff nurses. Although the pay is appealing, the hourly, tax-free benefits for lodging and travel expenses, lucrative referral bonuses, overtime compensation, and comprehensive benefits are some of the more attractive incentives for nurses.
Endless travel + flexibility
Travel nursing gives nurses the unstoppable freedom to decide where and when they want to work. A typical travel nurse is on contract for 13 weeks, giving them ample time to explore new cities, cultures, and facilities. Plus, nurses can take well-deserved time off between assignments to dive deeper into their placement city, spend time with friends and family, or just rest and relax!
Block scheduling
As we mentioned, a huge perk is a flexible schedule between assignments. Another way hospitals and facilities can accommodate travel nurses is through block scheduling. A contract may offer a row of back-to-back shifts, which allow travel nurses to return to their permanent homes between shifts and stay close to family and friends.
Networking opportunities
Travel nursing provides a unique opportunity to expand your professional network. From meeting a diverse spectrum of professionals to working in a myriad of facilities and environments, travel nursing will offer a wide range of contacts that can potentially advance your career.
The ‘try before you buy’ method
Last but not least, the capability to sample cities and employers before you fully commit is an excellent life hack! If you are a nurse who wants to move away from their current city but are unsure where to go then travel nursing is a perfect jumping-off point to begin exploring!
Cons of Travel Nursing
Moving and packing
As a travel nurse, you must be on board with moving several times a year. While you can take time off between assignments or extend your placement, contracts usually last for 13 weeks, which means you could be looking to move four times in one year.
Pro-tip: The more you pack, the harder it will be. To make it easier on yourself, we created the ultimate packing list to make your move easier.
Feeling lonely
Moving to a new city and leaving family and friends behind is never easy, especially when you don’t know anyone. Getting out of your comfort zone and meeting new people can be challenging. To make the most of your time and branch out, we created a helpful guide to make and keep friends on your travel nursing journey.
Fluctuating pay packages
Travel nursing jobs have different compensation packages because not all hospitals have the same bill rates. If you are unfamiliar, bill rates are the hourly rate a hospital pays for each hour a travel nurse works, making bill rates the basis of travel nursing pay packages. Stability Healthcare provides nurses with complete transparency before they apply, with a list of the pay, benefits, and hospital information.
Routine Interviews
Routine job searches and interviews are a disadvantage when it comes to being a travel nurse. As we’ve stated, the placement usually lasts for 13 weeks. Once it ends, you can either extend your contract or find another position, signifying that travel nurses may submit an application and interview whenever they apply somewhere new. Fear not, Stability is here to help prepare you for your upcoming interview and get you to your next destination.
Obtain licensing
Nurses must obtain a valid RN license within the state of the assignment. Three types of licenses are accepted: a nurse compact license, walkthrough license, and state-specific license. We recommend obtaining the compact license. Most recruiters prefer nurses with their compact licenses because they are more verifiable. This license also speeds up the hiring process, making your position much more painless.
As with any career, you must do your own research before making a serious commitment. Consider your options before making any severe leaps by examining your goals, character, and surroundings. Travel nursing allows you to explore places with a purpose while being financially rewarded, which can be an excellent career move for someone looking for something new. If you’re interested in becoming a travel nurse, learn more at Stability Healthcare! Visit the travel nurse blog for more information.
