5 Important Facts about Travel Nursing: Dispelling the Common Myths

The world of travel nursing is an exciting industry that’s been flourishing for at least two decades now, but despite that, some nurses have hesitated to take their skills out on the road due to a number of misconceptions. We think it’s time to put those myths to rest so that all nurses can make the best decision possible when it comes to their career choices.

Travel Nursing Means Traveling Far from Home

While it is true that some facilities restrict travel nurses from applying for assignments in their local area due to radius rules, there are lots of opportunities for those who want to stay close to home while still enjoying the benefits of travel nursing. If you’re working with a great recruiter (like our Health Carousel Travel Nursing Super Nurse sidekicks), he or she is likely to be able to find travel jobs that are within driving distance of home, often through block scheduling, such as three 12-hour shifts in a row, that allow for more time with your family, vacations and other personal activities.

Travel Nursing Is Just for the Young

This career certainly isn’t only for young nurses – it can be ideal for just about every age. In fact, it’s extremely popular among nurses whose children are grown who either travel alone, travel with their significant others or meet up with them during their off time. It can be a great way, for example, to enjoy summers in New England and winters in Florida.

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Travel Nurses Don’t Receive the Benefits or Respect That Permanent Nurses Do

Once you start doing the research, you’ll find plenty of agencies offering benefits that are just as good as what permanent nurses enjoy. Many of them even provide health insurance from day one along with multiple plan options.  Family coverage, life insurance and 401ks are all possible too.

When it comes to respect, while every situation is unique, there are many facilities that are quite traveler-friendly, and greatly appreciate the job that travel nurses do, meaning they get just as much respect as the permanent staff. Travel nurses often make schedules easier for them and lighten patient loads, meaning less stress and more time for them to enjoy with their families. It’s usually possible to tell whether a facility treats its travelers well during the interview, which is why it’s important to ask questions such as what the patient ratios are.

Travel Nursing Isn’t a Sustainable Career

With nursing shortages in many places across the country, there are more travel jobs available than ever. Because these jobs simply can’t be filled, many facilities are willing to pay more money to bring travelers onboard, making it even more lucrative. Nurses that can be flexible when it comes to location, can easily build a successful career as a traveler.

Travel Nursing Weakens Resumes

Some nurses are under the impression that continuously changing assignments/facilities will hurt their resumes, but that’s simply not the case, in fact the opposite is true. Travel nurses who work in a variety of settings bring a depth of skill level and flexibility that makes their resumes even stronger. As the industry has been around for many years now, there is no longer a stigma that may have existed when it was first getting started.

Travel Nursing Assignments are Only in Big Cities

While it’s natural for there to be a big need in large cities where there’s a significant, condensed population, the reality is there are many small towns and remote places with facilities in dire need of nurses. Contracts can be found everywhere from Alaska, Wyoming, and Montana to South Dakota and West Virginia. As it can be more challenging to bring well-trained, experiences into more rural areas, the pay may be even higher too.

Now that we’ve debunked travel nursing common myths, it’s time to explore your next assignment. Learn more about travel nursing benefits with Health Carousel Travel Nursing.

FAQs

Is travel nursing worth the money?

If you like to travel around the country, earn high travel nurse pay, and learn valuable nursing skills, then travel nursing is for you. Many travel nursing agencies offer high travel nurse pay, cover travel expenses, and sometimes offer free housing. While every travel assignment is unique in its offerings, you can tailor your assignments to meet your wants and needs. 

Is being a travel nurse fun?

Being a travel nurse is definitely fun! You have the opportunity to work in high-demand areas and work with a variety of patient populations. When you are off work during your travel assignment, you can explore new locations and meet new friends.

What does a travel nurse do on a typical day?

A travel nurse’s job responsibilities are the same as a permanent position registered nurse, depending on your primary specialty. However, your days off can look quite different since you are in a new city. You can meet new friends, explore the local culture, and discover new locations, especially around areas like New York City or San Francisco.

What are the benefits of travel nursing?

Travel nurses have the benefit of working at large healthcare facilities, magnet hospitals, and teaching hospitals. Travel nursing assignments often offer career path advancement opportunities, professional networking, and the opportunity to work with different patient populations. Some other benefits of being atravel nurse include job security, learning new nursing skills, and the opportunity to gain experience.