What is a Travel Nurse?

What is a Travel Nurse?

Travel nurses play an indispensable role, providing crucial support to hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide by bridging the gaps for short-staffed facilities- or facilities that have a surplus of nurses either in training or on temporary leave. In this blog, we'll delve into what it means to be a travel nurse and why people make the switch from staff nursing to travel nursing.

What does a travelling nurse do and how does travel nursing work?

A travel nurse is a registered nurse (RN) hired to work in a specific location for a set period, typically ranging from 8 to 26 weeks. However, these can be shorter or longer assignments, depending on the needs of the facility. Travel nurses fill staffing shortages in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.

Travel nurses bring the skills of their specialty to support staff nurses to maintain an outstanding service for their patients. Therefore, travel nurses can transfer into positions that already are within their specialty- as they must be ready to 'hit the ground running’ immediately.

What are the main pros of travel nurse contracts?

Discovering new places

One of the most appealing aspects of being a travel nurse is the opportunity to explore new cities, cultures, and environments. Whether it’s the vibrant streets of New York, the dazzling beaches of California, or the historic charm of Boston, travel nurses can choose assignments wherever they would like to work. Local assignments are even a possibility for nurses who prefer to stay closer to home or have responsibilities that make travelling difficult. However, these may have tax implications so it’s important to read up on this (and speak to an accredited financial adviser) before pursuing these opportunities.

Higher Pay Rates

Travel nurses often have better rates of pay compared to their staff nursing counterparts. Combining this with stipends and benefits, travel nurses enjoy a generally higher level of disposable income from their increased pay. A travel nurse working 52 weeks per year can earn $107,016 annually. To find out why AMP are one of the highest-paying travel nurse agencies, check out our blog here.

Better Work Experience and Networking

Working in new facilities and new people exposes travel nurses to best practices and potential career mentors. By absorbing these varied experiences, nurses can apply

Flexibility and Work/Life Balance

Travel nurses have the flexibility to choose when and where they want to work. This allows for better work-life balance and the freedom to take time off between assignments for rest, travel, or further education.

Nurses often take these opportunities to tick items off their bucket lists and go travelling for extended periods of time. However, this can also give nurses who also happen to be parents the flexibility they need to help with childcare.

Being a travel nurse is more than just a job; it’s a lifestyle. It offers the unique combination of professional development and personal adventure.

However, travel nurses don’t need to travel too far if they don’t want to! You can undertake local assignments in your state or area, which is perfect for nurses with commitments, children, or who simply would prefer to stay closer to home.

At Advantage Medical Professionals, we are committed to supporting our nurses every step of the way, from when you first find out how travel nursing works to navigating travel nurse contracts. Ready to embark on an exciting and rewarding travel nursing journey? Our team of seasoned recruiters can't wait to match you with your dream assignment. Check out our open travel nurse jobs here.