Traveling Nursing: Is it for you?

Travel Nursing is growing in popularity, both on the side of nurses and employers. Travel nursing basically means that a nurse is hired out for a short contracted term to a medical facility in need of nurses.

Because there is a shortage of nurses, many health care centers have tried to come up with creative solutions. Hiring traveling nurses was one of the answers. And as the need has grown for traveling nurses, agencies have been created that specialize in placing nurses into the hospitals and centers that are in need of nurses.

Now here are some of the benefits of becoming a traveling nurse:

You do get a good paycheck. Often you are paid above what a salaried nurse in the same position would make because there is an increased need for your specific skills. You usually are also provided housing and travel expenses. It costs money to relocate and/or commute! Most often you receive licensing assistance and payroll services as well.  Different states require different licensures and if the need is present, medical centers will pay what is necessary to stay open.

The downside to this is that it is not a salary and the employment is a fixed period of time. You also may not receive other types of benefits such as retirement and family health benefits. Another downside is if you do have a family. Depending on the commute or the actual relocation, this can be a tough decision for working moms.

However, if you are single, or already live in  a metropolitan area, you may be able to find the employment you need right in your own city.

The best way to get your foot in the door, so to speak,  is to join a traveling nurses association. Made up of members of the medical profession, they are a union of types that protect the interests of traveling nurses and help you find employment.

There are a number of traveling nurse agencies that will also aid in finding placement, negotiate pay, and maybe even have openings lined up once one contracted job has ended. I will go into this more in future posts.

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