Maybe you’ve always wanted a stable career, and have worked hard to create one. But you’ve also still got a bit of a wild streak and don’t like being pinned down. Or maybe you’re thinking about changing fields, but you want to specialize in something that gives you flexibility. Perhaps you like the life and career you have, but need a break to try something different. For whatever reason, travel nursing could be an attractive option to consider.
Travel nursing could help you grow your career, while experiencing the world and meeting tons of people. If you’re adaptable, flexible, and good with variety, it could be a really refreshing choice. If you’re the type to get homesick or crave a particular routine, it might not be for you. Being a travel nurse comes with some unique advantages and challenges and requires a particular skill set. If you’re thinking about becoming a travel nurse, here are some things to consider before setting off on the road:
1. Finding Housing Can Be a Pain
Most travel nursing agencies will offer you a choice between temporary housing or a stipend to cover housing costs. If you accept agency housing, you don’t have to spend time looking for a place, and you don’t pay for housing up front. There’s built-in quality control, because landlords want to maintain relationships with nursing agencies. You also can’t be locked into a lease or other temporary housing arrangement if your nursing contract is canceled. On the other hand, you can get stuck in a neighborhood you don’t like and agency housing may not be pet-friendly.
If you handle your own housing, you could potentially find a lower-cost option and keep some of your stipend. But finding housing takes time, housing can be limited in some areas, and you could encounter scams or shady landlords. If your contract is canceled, you could still be stuck paying a few months’ rent. Stipend housing can also wind up being much more expensive than the agency’s option. Either way, you’ll have to manage your own pet transport, keep your car maintained, and possibly incur other relocation costs.
2. Finances Can Be Frustrating
Working as a travel nurse can be pretty lucrative — significantly more so than being a staff nurse. Weekly wages can average around $3,000 a week, depending on the location and specialty. As a travel nurse, you have the potential to earn six figures a year, even as an RN. If you work in a high-demand specialty or take a lot of night shifts, that number can be even higher. Accepting crisis response jobs or covering workers on strike can mean even more money.
But there are financial complications to travel nursing, and you won’t necessarily see all this extra cash. An agency can cancel your contract at the last minute, leaving you in an unfamiliar location without a paycheck. Temporary housing is usually stipend, but if you maintain permanent housing back home, you could be paying rent twice. Travel nursing usually comes with medical benefits, but you may have to pay for your own health coverage between assignments. Finally, taxes can be complicated, and you may need to file a return for every state you work in.
3. You Never Really Get to Know Your Colleagues
The standard travel nursing contract is about 13-weeks long, which means you never really get to know your coworkers. If you’re good at making friends, it can be fun to dive into a new social circle with every contract. It also means that when conflicts happen or bitter office politics arise, you get to walk away. If a supervisor is especially strict, it’s nice knowing you only have to deal with them for a few months. And you can really focus on your career without worrying too much about maintaining your personal reputation.
On the other hand, it can be harder to communicate with a team you don’t know as well. Poor communication with your team can lead to errors or frustrations in the workplace. It can also get lonely not having a fixed or local social support system because you’re always new in town. And always being on the road can take a toll on your relationships back home. Plus, if you do form good relationships on the job, you always wind up having to leave people behind.
4. You Can Take Time Off Between Jobs
Most travel nursing contracts make it hard to take time off during an assignment. But between gigs, you can take as much time off as you want. Since travel nursing is usually in pretty high demand, it’s easy to land a new assignment when you’re ready. If you have an in-demand specialty or licenses in many states, it can be even easier. And with the high pay grade, you could have plenty of cash to cover gaps between postings.
With all this extra time, travel nursing could mean you get to see the whole country. You can take an extended vacation more or less whenever you want. If you like a location you’ve worked in, you can stay a bit longer and get to know the area. You can also go home and see your partner, or visit all those friends you made on other assignments. Or, you can drive off to another state and spend a week — or six — at the beach or hiking in the mountains.
Doing Your Research
If you do decide to become a travel nurse, your most important tool is information. You’ll want to thoroughly research agencies before you make a contract with them, and do your homework on potential locations. Read your contracts carefully and make sure you know what you’re signing up for. Study the housing market before accepting a stipend. Travel nursing can be an incredible career, but you’ll need proper preparation to make the most of it.
