Travel Nurses

Travel nurses, or traveling nurses, provide care to persons in remote areas, in areas of great need or an area you'd like to visit. Maybe you've wondered what it's like to live in southern California, or rural Wyoming. Maybe you're from a little town and want to experience life near New York or Miami Beach. Becoming a travel nurse is a great way to "try out" a new locale.

Travel nurses usually sign on to remain in an area anywhere from 4 weeks to a year, although the minimum is more often three or four months. Locations are unlimited, for all intents and purposes. The only requirement would be licensure in the state where you plan to work, and most travel nurse placement firms offer assistance with that.

There are even local travel nurses, who may choose to work only six or nine months per year (maybe during the school year only) or wish to travel, but only within a defined geographic area. Another advantage of travel nursing is that you can decide if you want to work at a particular facility or not. Especially for local travel nurses who likely know quite a bit about hospitals and clinics in their area, this could be a deciding factor.

As a travel nurse, you will always be in demand, because you'll be working in locations where nursing care is needed. Most locations will offer very competitive wages, plus a thorough benefit package. Travel nurse staffing companies like American Mobile or Nurse.tv will have many listings, and you can compare locations, packages, and working situations across a broad range of employment opportunities.

Most travel nurse placement companies offer free or discounted housing, plus housing placement assistance. They can often help you compare locations by providing information not only about the city or town, but the professional environment. If you want to ski in the winter, the placement company can help you compare a hospital in Aspen with a Vermont specialty clinic.

Another advantage to a travel nurse job is that you'll build an impressive resume, and likely do it much faster than someone who nurses in one spot. Since you're choosing your employment locations, you can work in various specialty clinics, in a particular area of a hospital, or even sometimes with specific medical personnel. The choice is yours!

If you're willing to be mobile, a whole universe of possibilities can open up for you as a traveling nurse. Many employers will fully or partially reimburse your travel expenses because they need you at the location. So your travel may get reimbursed, you generally live rent-free, you get good pay, and you get to work where you want, when you want.

The job of a travel nurse isn't for everyone. It requires someone who's independent, who enjoys new challenges, and who isn't afraid of different environments. You need to acclimate well to change. Most travel nurses are single, but there are certainly nurses with families and pets who travel, as well. Just be sure to outline your requirements when interviewing a travel nurse staffing company.

Travel nurses can have all the advantages of a nursing career with scenery that changes on a schedule you dictate. If you've got the travel bug, it's a great option!