Travel nursing can be an exciting opportunity to gain valuable nursing experience, provide care in areas of need, and see the country at the same time. Many new travel nurses look forward to the adventure that lies before them. But, like any job, travel nursing has some downsides. If you are considering a career as a travel nurse, you should take the time to thoroughly evaluate this job opportunity before signing a contract. Here are the pros and cons of being a travel nurse in 2020. 

Pros of Being a Travel Nurse

  • Amazing Benefits and Allowances: The average travel nurse in the U.S goes home with around $100,000 a year. But travel nurses enjoy other benefits in addition to the paycheck. Travel nursing jobs provide incredible benefits including bonuses, discounts, retirement plans, healthcare, generous reimbursements, and so much more. 
  • Chance to Make New Friends: When you move a lot, you constantly meet new people. Travel nurses can quickly make new friends at each new assignment, especially with other travel nurses who are new to the area as well. Starting a new job in a new place together can really be a bonding experience.
  • Career Control: With nurses in demand all over the country, travel nurses have the ability to control their careers in terms of speciality, position, and location. A travel nurse can tell their agency where they want to travel to next and how long they wish to stay. No other nursing jobs offer quite so much flexibility.
  • Escape Work Politics: Travel nursing jobs allows nurses to escape one of the most difficult parts of working in a hospital: management and work politics. Permanent nurses have no choice but to engage in office politics but it is easy for travel nurses, who only work in the hospital for a short time, to remain above the fray and stay focused on patient care.

Travel Nursing Cons

  • Effect on Your Vehicle: If you use your own vehicle as a means of transportation, expect some wear and tear issues from frequent movements. While you can expect some reimbursements, the miles on your car will still add up.
  • Loneliness and Homesick: Don’t forget that travel nursing isn’t actually a vacation. It is a job, and the assignments are not short. The typical travel nursing assignment is three months. You will be away from your home, family, and friends for long periods of time. There may be times when you miss out on important events or when you just miss your routine.
  • Commitment: Travel nurses sign contracts, so when you start an assignment, you commit to finishing it. You may find that a certain assignment is not what you thought it would be or that you don’t really like the location after all, but you can’t just walk away.

Conclusion

Travel nursing has so much to offer: a flexible lifestyle, the opportunity for adventure, and the chance to travel to locations you might not otherwise visit. In addition, travel nursing is lucrative, which is an attractive feature in any job. But before you sign a contract, think critically about travel nursing as a whole. Weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether travel nursing is a good choice for you.

Join New Directions Staffing

If you believe travel nursing is something that suits your career goals and lifestyle, New Directions Staffing can help! We connect the best healthcare facilities with medical professionals. Let us help you find a job that brings fulfillment to your life.