We hear from nurses all the time who are interested in travel nursing but are hesitant to actually take the plunge. It’s understandable. Packing up and moving to a new city for a new job is a big commitment. But then again, so is staying at your current job in your current city. While the prospect of travel nursing can be a little nerve wracking, we feel the positives far outweigh the negatives. Let’s look at some of the common barriers and benefits involved with travel nursing and show you why now may be the perfect time to begin your life as a travel nurse.
Family matters. Some nurses put off travel nursing because they have children and think the demands of parenting make travel nursing impossible. But this simply isn’t true. You could bring the whole family along for a travel nursing excursion during the summer without disrupting their school schedule. It’s a new job and a summer vacation all rolled into one! For tips on making the transition easier for you and your loved ones, check out our blog on how to make travel nursing a family affair.
Travel opportunities. If you don’t like to travel, sure, travel nursing may not be for you. But the fact that you’re even reading this suggests otherwise. We may be biased, but one of the things we love most about travel nursing is the travel itself. You get to explore new cities, new cultures, new landscapes and truly have a unique experience that can fuel your passion for adventure.
The best part is, you get to pick your destinations, and with an average assignment length of just 13 weeks, you can explore a lot of places in a short amount of time. On the other hand, if a city turns out less spectacular than you hoped, you can leave soon too. A win-win!
Age concerns. We hear it all the time: “I’m too old to start travel nursing.” But age is just a number, especially when it comes to travel nursing. In fact, the average age of a travel nurse is just over 41 years old. According to a study by Bluepipes.com, 25% of nurses launch their travel careers between ages 20 and 29; 19% between 30 and 39; 28% between 40 and 49; 24% between 50 and 59; and 5% after age 60. Travel nursing really is an ageless profession.
If you’re a new nurse, you can start your career by exploring cities you may someday want to call home. If you’re approaching the end of your nursing career, you can use travel nursing as a retirement tour, seeing new parts of the country and helping you ease into retired life.
Nursing shortages. The ongoing nursing shortage means nurses are in high demand across the country. This creates perfect conditions for travel nurses because there is no shortage of destinations to choose from. Plus, hospitals and other healthcare organizations offer travel nurses higher than average pay to keep their staffing levels high.
Travel and excitement at any age, and the ability to share experiences with your family all while earning top dollar in your field? If that sounds good to you, now may be the perfect time to stop procrastinating and finally give travel nursing a try.
Ready to take that first step into travel nursing? Here’s our handy guide on how to prep for your next assignment. As always, don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, or if you’re feeling ready, you can start the application process today.