The traveling nurse profession is quite unique in the medical field, in that a travel nurse gets the chance to see a variety of different locales while working short-term, temporary nursing positions. Though it may not offer the stability that some individuals look for in a career path, it does offer higher pay than a traditional nursing job, and can lead to a variety of benefits that may outweigh the disadvantages for some.

Travel Nurse Job Duties

The job duties of a traveling nurse greatly depend upon which field they are in. For instance, if they are a pediatric nurse, they will be in charge of taking care of sick or injured children and tending to their needs, whether it be administering medication or preparing them for procedures.

While a trauma nurse will deal with the daily duties involved with working in an ER or the ICU, such as administering IV fluids and medications or providing emergency life support. Therefore, the duties vary widely depending upon the area of specialty.

Education and Training Requirements

A traveling nurse must have either an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in nursing, and be either a registered nurse or a nurse practitioner. They must also have at least one year of clinical experience within their specialty, and be licensed in their state of practice. There are a number of states which have now joined the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for nurses to work in participating states with their home state’s license.

When the nurse arrives to her new location, she will usually undergo a brief orientation there to learn that hospital or medical center’s procedures, as well as any other pertinent information. This training will usually only last a couple of days.

Salary Figures

A traveling nurse typically receives higher pay and more compensation than a traditional registered nurse. The average salary is around $30/hour, but varies greatly depending upon the location of employment. There are, however, a number of other benefits usually associated with this career path, such as free housing, a travel allowance, as well as a variety of other tax benefits.

Some travel nursing agencies even offer health insurance reimbursement, licensure reimbursement, and the possibility to contribute to 401K retirement accounts.

Job Outlook

Given that there is often a shortage of nurses, and that travel nurses have the ability to work in a number of different locations, the future of the career path is a bright one. A great benefit to choosing this particular area of nursing is that, if you should find that one region is over saturated with other qualified nurses or if there simply aren’t any job available, the travel nurse is relocated to another location where the jobs are more plentiful.

Travel nursing agencies are always on the lookout for trained and highly skilled nurses, especially those with experience. Therefore, it’s a profession which will, most likely, only continue to grow with the current “baby boomer” population now prompting a rise in those requiring healthcare.

Overall, the traveling nurse profession gives you the chance to see new places and meet new people, without having to search for a new job on your own. You get the opportunity to work in a highly rewarding field, that offers good pay and benefits. Not to mention that, given nurses typically work longer hours but fewer days, you’ll have plenty of free time to enjoy your new surroundings.