Many nurses are drawn to their profession due to their desire to assist people during their most delicate moments. Travel nursing amplifies that effect by placing nurses in places that need them the most.
Usually, all aspects of an assignment, including days off, are worked out before the nurse accepts the job. This flexibility makes travel nursing an excellent option for exploring new environments.
Career Advancement
The variety and higher-than-average pay in travel nursing jobs in Montana open many opportunities for nurses seeking career advancement. Many RNs who have completed several travel nursing assignments find themselves offered permanent roles at the hospitals and healthcare facilities they have worked at.
Hospitals often need temporary nurses in specialty areas of nursing like pediatrics, critical care, or adult acute care. When a travel nurse successfully fills the hospital’s needs, they can move up to become a float nurse or even a unit supervisor.
If you’re a nurse who wants to travel, you’ll need to love exploring new places and be able to adapt to different environments quickly. Travel nurses also need to be able to work without the structure of a traditional job with regular schedules and coworkers.
In addition to these professional skills, travel nurses often learn life lessons while on assignment. From learning to adapt to a different cultural environment to working alongside new colleagues, these experiences can benefit nurses when they decide to take on more permanent employment opportunities.
Experience
Many RNs pursue travel nursing because it provides more personal and professional growth opportunities. It includes experiencing new locations to live in someday, earning more money to pay off student loans or purchase a home, and learning skills from colleagues at each assignment.
An essential quality of successful travel nurses is an upbeat and cooperative attitude, which healthcare staffing agencies often screen for. Hospital executives increasingly recognize travel nurses as crucial parts of their staff, and they offer sign-on bonuses, completion bonuses, housing stipends, and increased salaries to attract these temporary workers.
Taking on contracts in unfamiliar healthcare settings requires a high degree of adaptability. Nurses must learn to navigate hospitals’ policies and procedures in each new environment. It also means forming short-term relationships that may or may not last when their contract ends. It can be challenging for those with children or other loved ones at home. For this reason, some travel nurses choose to take on shorter contracts or to move on to another location once they feel comfortable.
Travel Opportunities
Travel nursing jobs allow nurses to experience a variety of locations and environments. It can help to prevent nursing fatigue, which can be a real problem for some nurses in a permanent positions. Travel nurses can also take advantage of the nursing shortage in some areas by taking a temporary assignment in an area that desperately needs their skills and expertise.
Travel nurses will be able to meet many new people, both at work and when exploring their new city. It can help build an extensive professional network that could be helpful later in their career.
However, it’s important to note that travel nurses may be away from family and friends for an extended period. It is something that all travel nurses must consider carefully before pursuing this path. Some nurses travel with a friend, making the experience less lonely and saving money on living costs. Some staffing agencies will even provide housing for travel nurses during their assignments. It can be a massive relief for those worried about housing and expenses.
Flexibility
One of the main features of travel nursing jobs is the flexibility that it offers nurses. Travel nurses can work contracts as long or short as they want and take time off between assignments to visit friends and family and enjoy the attractions of each new city. It allows them to explore their interests and make lifelong connections.
Working at various healthcare facilities allows travel nurses to expand their skill sets. It will enable them to build a more comprehensive set of experiences on their resume, benefiting those seeking permanent hospital employment. A nurse will be exposed to many environments and patient populations, from small rural hospitals to large urban trauma centers.
Additionally, travel nurses can avoid on-the-job politics because they are at each assignment for an average of 13 weeks. It can give nurses a fresh perspective and the opportunity to grow professionally without worrying about the effects of workplace politics.
Travel nursing allows nurses to explore different parts of the country and experience new cultures. It also gives nurses a break from the monotony of routine that can sometimes be present in long-term nursing positions.
Additionally, most travel nurse agencies will find or provide their nurse’s housing and other perks like transportation and meals.
Because of this flexibility, travel nurses can earn higher salaries than staff nurses. They are also often eligible for additional monetary incentives like non-taxable stipends and travel reimbursements. Despite the many benefits, travel nursing is only for some.
