Traveling Nurse Careers: Fact vs. Fiction

While the travel nurse profession has flourished for longer than 20 years, there are still many misconceptions about working as a traveling nurse. Before you fall prey to misleading information that could divert you from enjoying a rewarding career as a travel nurse, take a moment to get the straight story on some familiar travel nursing myths:

Myth: Travel nursing is a less stable career choice during an economic slowdown.

Travel nursing can actually shield you and your family from tough economic times as the demand for travel nurses continues to grow.  In fact, the need is so great that salary ranges for travel nurses are at all time highs.  When you work with NursesRx, you’ll have access to our longstanding relationships with the top facilities across the country—that means you’ll always have thousands of opportunities to choose from. You can add even more security by planning your next assignment while working at your current position, or extending at the same facility in many cases.

As a travel nurse, you also have the flexibility to choose where you want to go, which means you can pick a location where your dollar goes further.  Working where the cost of living is lower and salaries are higher will definitely increase your earnings potential and purchasing power.

Travel nurses with NursesRx also receive generous benefits, such as free housing close to the facility (which keeps your travel costs low) and an increased travel reimbursement to help you with rising gas prices. We’ve also added more Guaranteed Pay assignments that protect you from not getting paid if your shift gets cancelled. With all the advantages a travel nurse can receive, choosing a career in travel nursing seems like a great way to go in a declining economy.

Myth: A traveling nurse must travel to a different assignment every three months.

Typically, travel nurse assignments last 13 weeks, but many traveling nurses can now extend their assignments and stay in the same location for months--and possibly years--at a time.

For example, NursesRx traveling nurse Kimberly Bland, RN, has extended her stay while on assignment at hospitals in New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Houston:

"Staying longer really allows you to make the most of where you are, but you still have the flexibility to move on when you are ready for a change of scenery. In my experience, if you show your worth and have a positive attitude, you don’t even have to ask to extend your assignment; it will happen."

Myth: I'm too old to work as a traveling nurse.

There is no age limit on working as a travel nurse and, in fact, many tenured RNs say traveling later in life has many benefits besides the obvious advantages of optimal work/life balance.

For instance, a heavily experienced travel nurse can take a new assignment with confidence, knowing that he or she can take on a full caseload with little orientation. Also, a traveling nurse can share the adventure by traveling with family, such as a spouse or with grown children. Some nurses who have retired spouses use travel nursing as an opportunity to enjoy visiting new places while still working as a nurse. Others choose to travel around the country for extended visits with family and friends.

Myth: A travel nurse might not be treated well by permanent staff.

In the vast majority of cases, permanent staffers welcome a traveling nurse with enthusiasm and gratitude. That “open arms” reception is due to the fact that many facilities are short-staffed and need the help of other qualified nurses. Having a travel nurse come on board relieves staff nurses from having to work overtime in hectic environments.

Moreover, working as a traveling nurse gives you a chance to ensure you’ll get the treatment you deserve. NursesRx travel nurse Christopher Freedman takes the opportunity to size up a facility during the interview process:

"You can usually tell from the interview whether a facility treats its travelers well. That’s why I tend to interview the hospital as much as they interview me."

Myth: Moving from one travel nurse assignment to the next won’t look good on my résumé.

According to industry experts, experience as a traveling nurse actually strengthens a résumé. Working as a travel nurse demonstrates flexibility, a depth of skill, and an ability to quickly learn and adapt to new environments. Furthermore, a traveling nurse deals with different approaches and styles to nursing, which means they can hit the ground running. A travel nurse typically needs only a minimum of orientation before becoming a key contributor to a nursing team–qualities nurse managershighly value.

Myth: Travel companies choose your assignment for you.

Nothing could be further from the truth. As a traveling nurse, you are in control of where you want to go, when you want to start your assignment and what kind of facility in which you want to work.

Based on what you want from a travel nursing assignment and your desired location, your recruiter will match your requirements with the jobs that are available in your specialty in your desired locations. Because of NursesRx’s vast resources, experience and solid relationships with thousands of facilities across the nation, recruiters are able to present travelers with a good selection of travel nursing jobs that fit your needs. While your recruiter will be a great resource with regards to providing details on specific assignments, you get to chose whether or not you want to interview with a facility and whether the job is right for you.

With NursesRx, you will always have a talented team of experts to support you at each step in your journey. However, your assignment decisions are yours to make, no matter when or where you wish to travel.

Myth: I can't work as a traveling nurse close to my home.

While some facilities do have radius rules that restrict local RNs from applying for travel nurse assignments, traveling nurses will still find many opportunities that permit them to work near home.

Or, you might chose to take a traveling nurse assignment that brings you closer to your family. NursesRx can help you find travel nurse jobs within your local area that offer shifts whereby you stay at home and close to your family.

Most importantly, do not let myths about travel nursing jobs keep you from enjoying an exciting and fulfilling career as a travel nurse. If you have any unanswered questions about travel nursing, contact NursesRx today. We’ll be happy to help you understand the ins and outs of working as a traveling nurse, and hopefully start you on taking the next great step forward in your nursing career.