TTATN 002 : 9 Advantages, 8 Disadvantages, Qualifications and Expectations of Travel Nursing

The Truth About Travel Nursing Podcast

In episode 2 of The Truth About Travel Nursing Podcast, we discuss 9 advantages and 8 disadvantages of travel nursing. We also cover some of the qualifications and expectations for travel nurses. Below is an outline of the topics we cover.

What Are The advantages of Travel Nursing

1. The adventure: Travel to great locations. Meet tons of new people. Experience the culture of the country. 79% of respondents to our survey cited Adventure as one of the top two reasons they chose travel nursing as a career option.
2. Travel Nursing Pay: Not always Better. But it can be if you know what you’re doing. Ebb’s and flows with job market. 82% of respondents to our survey cited pay as one of the top two reasons they chose travel nursing as a career option.
3. You gain experience quickly and learn new processes and procedures: 49% of respondents to our survey cited this is the number 4 reason they chose travel nursing as a career option.
4. Flexibility to potentially take more time off
5. Easier to avoid office politics: 47% of respondent to our travel nursing survey cited this as the number 3 reason that they chose travel nursing as a career option.
6. You can use it to quickly depart a bad situation
7. You can use it to visit remote family for extended periods
8. Try before you buy employers
9. Professional Networking

Here are the full results of the BluePipes travel nursing survey.

What are the Disadvantages of travel nursing?

1. Rare for paid time off
2. It can sometimes cause problems when declaring unemployment
3. Low taxable rates make your unemployment and workers comp payments lower
4. Low rates make it difficult to qualify for loans
5. Low rates affect your future social security payments
6. It can be difficult to manage medical benefits
7. You spend a lot of time onboarding
8. It’s difficult to maintain relationships and lifestyle: MeetUp.com, GeoCaching, Facebook Groups can help.

Qualifications for Travel Nursing

1. 1 year of experience within the last three
2. Sometimes more, sometimes less
3. Some agencies/hospitals maintain more stringent requirements
4. Many nurses wonder about Education Requirements: ASN is fine.

Certification requirements:

1. Be licensed before applying in most cases
2. Everyone needs a BLS
3. Beyond that each specialty is different MS should have ACLS L&D AWHONN and ACLS

Travel Nursing Job Expectations

Some of these expectations are not necessarily fair. However, they are expectations nonetheless, so it’s important to be aware of them.

1. Self starter: You’ll often receive minimal orientation and be expected to take initiative to get the job done.
2. Flexible with processes and procedures
3. No calling in sick?
4. Floating is often a requirement so ask in the interview
5. There will be really difficult assignments.

Helpful Links Related to the Podcast

BluePipes Travel Nursing Survey

Tips for Your Travel Nursing Job Interview

Blog post on this same topic

Support Groups:

Delphi Travel Nurses and Therapist Forum

Gypsy Nurse Facebook Group

Gypsy Caravan Facebook Group

Healthcare Staffing Facebook Group

Networking and Fun for Travelers

MeetUp.com: Find people who share similar interests to meet with.

Geocaching: Treasure hunting on the road

Resources

Compare agencies and get great information on Highway Hypodermics.

Gypsy Nurse

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