Picture this. You wake up one morning, and you start to ponder on what else there is to this big thing we call life. You enjoy your job as a nurse and you take so much pride in being able to continuously help those who are in need. Yet you are searching for a little more. You want to expand your horizons, travel more, experience new people and things and not look back and wonder where all of that time went. But how can you just quit your job, pack up and leave? After all of that time studying and working? Well, you don’t have to. As a nurse, you have options, and that option is to become a travel nurse!
You may have heard of travel nursing before or have had travel nurses come into your department. They are an critical part of staff shortages or a sudden influx of patients and once their contract is completed, they can try and stay in their current position or venture on to their next adventure. If that sounds like something you could get on board with, lets us give you five of the real reasons you should try travel nursing,
Earn Your Money
The conversation on how much a nurse is compensated is a continuous topic with few changes. We consciously know nurses deserve to be paid generously – very generously – for all of the hard work they do but it just doesn’t seem to be occurring at the pace that it needs to be. As a travel nurse, your income is at the top of most lists. This is because you are in need and demand. Hospitals need you because they don’t have enough hands to take on what is currently happening, so you are being paid very well because of the urgency. On top of this, travel nurses are eligible to receive other compensations like housing and health insurance.
Building Your Career
When you are jumping from facility to facility, working in all different kinds of hospitals, meeting new demographics of patients and working with new people, your professional growth is going to skyrocket. Every time you step into an assignment; you are taking on extensive amounts of newness. These aren’t the type of situations where you can go in and alter what’s already occurring, so it’s about adapting and learning your way around and through a new hospital. The skills you are capable of building on or learn are immense, but the ways in which you can understand how to work with any patient and coworker is top-tier.
Work-life Balance and Burnout
Our work-life balance is a vital part of our well-being. The result of not being able to accomplish this is burnout. Something that many nurses have experienced in their careers. With travel nursing, burnout can be avoided in two ways. Firstly, if you are feeling stuck, unmotivated or tired of hospital politics, travel nursing can be that push forward that you need. On the other hand, you not only get to choose when and where you want to work but also how much time between assignments you’d like to take so that you can spend time home and with family and friends rejuvenating. It really does give you the freedom and flexibility you need to thrive.
Finding A Place to Settle
Whether you are in California, New York or Utah, you could use this time to find the ideal living situation for yourself, and many others have. Spending 13 weeks in various parts of the country presents you the opportunity to try out places before you may want to make a permanent move. You’ll be able to compare different cities – which is important – but you’ll, more importantly, be able to find hospitals and facilities that work best for you. When your choice of assignments can be so vast, it’s the perfect opportunity to consider your future too.
Of course, Travel!
Last but definitely not least, the best part about becoming a travel nurse is the actual travelling and there are so many ways to take advantage of it. Take your car on your next assignment and discover everything there is to see along the way, enjoy the time you are there by meeting up with coworkers to show you around, be adventurous and find the things you enjoy in your new city or town or take a break between assignments to take a vacation. The options for travel are endless, and you can do and see as much as you are willing to. You won’t have to worry about travelling later in life or feeling like you’re missing out. With travel in the title, you are doing yourself the greatest favor by being able to travel and work simultaneously!
The travel nursing industry will always be a part of healthcare. With hospitals being short-staffed, seasonal changes or unexpected natural disasters, some extra help is always necessary to keep patients well taken care of. Being able to generate a great income, build on your resume, learn some new skills and enjoy the perks of travelling, you really do have yourself an opportunity of a lifetime.
Here at TheraEx, our recruiters not only find you the best assignments to satisfy your wants and needs but support you every step of the way. We are your right-hand man, making sure you are getting the most out of your experience. If you are interested in becoming a travel nurse, you can find out more here! We can answer all of your questions and concerns to help you into the next journey of your life!