Updated 2023
A travel nurse is a professional registered nurse working on a contract basis. But what’s behind the world of working as a travel nurse?
Most people at one point or another in their lives, dream with the idea of working and travelling the world all at the same time. While there are various options for jobs you can do while living your best life abroad, there are some specific careers that just jump out immediately, especially in the medical field.
For example, have you ever heard of travel nurses? A travel nurse is a professional registered nurse working on a contract basis, usually for 4 to 6 months to fill in hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities that have staffing needs. But what’s behind the world of working as a travel nurse? Let’s dig right into it.
The Path to Becoming a Travel Nurse
In order to become a travel nurse, there is an essential basic groundwork that needs to be covered. First, a proper nursing school education will be needed. You will need to complete an accredited nursing program prescribed for all registered nurses. Once an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing is obtained, the next step is getting the proper certifications in order to apply for travel nurse jobs.
Afterward, you must gain experience in the field of nursing. Sometimes even as little as a year is enough to get the ball rolling.
Once you have some basic experience under your belt, you can sign up with a staffing agency that specializes in travel nursing jobs on Medical Solutions.
What Do Staff Nurses and Travel Nurses Do?
A travel nurse, just like any other registered nurse, carries on a lot of critical and important responsibilities in their day-to-day work. While the world of nursing specialties is broad, the core duties of travel nursing, such as taking care of patients, administering medicine, checking vital signs, and performing day-to-day actions, remain paramount. But as a nurse abroad, practicing your line of work also involves building relationships with patients, other nurses, and doctors. Clear communication skills, along with the comfort provided by appropriate footwear, like Crocs for nurses, are paramount when living and, most importantly, working abroad.
Dominating one or two languages is always key and a clear step up the way to becoming a top performer in travel nursing. Having a strong tool like a top-class translation and interpreting service at hand is always a bright spot for anyone working within the travel nurse industry.
The travel nurse job, just like a regular nurse job, also includes the personal part of listening and communicating most clearly with patients who need counseling and attending to their needs. All this while still staying on top of the latest and most beneficial plans, options, and advances in the medical field, all to best serve the patients.
Advantages of Travel Nursing
While the life of a travel nurse is one of many sacrifices, long hours of work, research, groundwork, and compromises, it has various advantages too. Travel nurses get the unique experience of having the chance to immerse themselves in new cultures, both personally and in work life. Though the periods of work might be short in lifespan, the amount of experience that can be gained from it and the exposure is invaluable.
There is ample room for professional, economic, and personal growth that broadens significantly when taking the leap to work in a field like this. And if you take into account that the contracts are usually on a four to six-month basis, it’s an opportunity that can help you see the world while helping those in need.
Nurses are usually asked to work 12-hour shifts. This means that their working weeks generally consist of 3 working days and 4 days of free time. With four days off in a new city or country, the possibilities for exploration and adventure are endless.
With activities like having beach days, touring the countryside, and visiting museums, the possibilities for travel nurses looking to expand their horizons are endless.
Why Are Travel Nurses Important?
Travel nurses are an important part of the healthcare team because of their capacity to create gaps in demand and availability for nurses’ jobs in the field. The requirement for a nurse-patient ratio has resulted in better patient safety, reducing patient mortality. Despite being positive, and more states are introducing legislation to reduce staff, nursing shortages are not enough to fill the vacant positions. Travel Nurses are assigned the position to improve patients’ health and safety and improve their quality.
Average Travel Nurse Salary and Benefits
According to a study released by PayScale, travel nurses earn between $113,893 and $104,893 in salaries every year. The average salary is more than twice the salary of an ordinary nurse. According to travel nurse agencies and healthcare staffing agencies, this specialized division of the nursing profession is highly sought-after for its attractive benefits. Travel nurse salaries are very competitive, despite the salary structure. And when the tax season starts, you can take advantage of various nurse travel tax benefits. Keep in mind that deduction varies by place.