Traveling Nurse - What To Expect

By Peter Johnson

A traveling nurse needs to be prepared for every scenario- be it a busy emergency room, or a quiet shift on the day care ward, whatever the assignment a traveling nurse needs to be ready.  Obviously it is completely up to the traveling nurse as to which assignment of shift they decide to take. This flexibility makes the position very attractive- coupled with the possibility of selecting shifts at unsocial hours with overtimes paid, which can be an effective way to save money in the short term.

Usually a traveling nurse's assignment is only temporary and he or she will work in a variety of clinical/hospital settings.  Jobs can last from a week or to as long as the employed nurse is willing to work.  As a traveling nurse you can work anywhere in the country and you are able to expand on your skills. By expending on your skills you will be able to further your nursing career.

As a traveling nurse you get to decide which assignment you wish to accept. Obviously an agency will indicate which shift they need you to fill, but should never discriminate if you choose not to take a certain assignment or shift.  A traveling nurse is given the opportunities to not only help where needed but to travel the world and tackle various jobs in the nursing field. A traveling nurse’s job description can encompass other tasks such as filling out paperwork, moving around from assignment to assignment and negotiating their contract provisions to name a few.

The possibilities of travel options for a traveling nurse are endless- and not necessarily always on land. Did you know a cruise ship can not leave a port unless there is a doctor or nurse on board? This would be an unbelievable opportunity for a nurse would loves cruises and wishes to take their passion for cruising and their passion for nursing and blend them into a career and lifestyle.

 As a traveling nurse, there are also the opportunities to assist areas of the world in crisis. Hospitals are often hurriedly erected in areas of disaster. These places are always looking for nurses to travel to the area and help in times of crisis. Think of the Katrina hurricane, medical attention was needed in the area and many traveling nurses where employed for this medical disaster. In these cases a traveling nurse if filling a vital position, and the benefits go far beyond your average nursing postion.

A traveling nurse's job can sometimes be more rewarding and challenging than your regular full time nursing position. You are learning new skills, sometimes under pressure in emergency situations. You are going to foreign areas that you are not familiar with and learning new techniques and styles of doing things. Procedures may not be the same from area to area so as a traveling nurse you are constantly learning. It's not only a job but a full time education.

Depending on the length of the ssignment or the contract, a traveling nurse will always be paid more than a respective full time nurse, and the resulting over time and extra penalty rates will be more attractive.  In some cases a nursing agency will even cover re-location costs for the nurse, and possibly housing expenses. Some agencies will even offer you other incentives while you are employed with their agency.  When you are searching for the right place of employment its best to search out agencies and become aware of exactly what an agency offers and get everything in writing.

A traveling nurse is exposed to many varied aspects of the medical industry. The money is fantastic, the travel opportunities are almost endless and the life experience one gathers is unique.