Areas around the country, and around the world, that are experiencing a shortage of qualified nurses will advertise Travel Nursing Jobs. There are also agencies that recruit, and help place travel nurses. There are several advantages of being a travel nurse. Many people do it for a few years before taking permanent positions, and some travel for the duration of their careers. One big advantage is freedom. Assignments range from eight weeks in duration to twenty-six weeks. That allows nurses to explore different locations, work when and where they want, and experience different settings, regions, policies, and procedures. It also means nurses are not stuck in one place.
If they do not like the location, the clinic or hospital, or their coworkers, they can leave after the end of the assignment. If nurses like where they are assigned, they can request an extension, and nurses are often offered an extension. The possibilities are just about endless, depending on the specialty. An operating room registered nurse (OR RN), for example, may be in high demand in rural areas of the Northeast. An ER RN may be needed more in large cities on the West Coast.
People interested in moving frequently can nurse travel companies to find out what specialties are needed where. It is also helpful to speak to a recruiter at an agency that works with traveling medical professionals. The agency can help people find jobs in their specialty in the areas they most want to go to. It is a wise idea to have a few options in mind before beginning to look for a placement or interview opportunity. That will increase flexibility and ensure success.
Many agencies offer benefits and retirement plans to nurses and surgical technicians. Pay for traveling nurses is competitive, with travel costs and housing part of the package. That allows people to save a lot of money while traveling from place to place. Families are welcomed to travel with personnel. Housing expenses may be handled a bit differently in those cases, with the nurse sharing some of the expense, but is is possible. Many nurses travel in pairs with friends and colleagues. They can arrange to work at the same hospital, share living quarters, or travel at the same time.
Should a traveling nurse decide it is time to settle somewhere long-term, they usually have no trouble finding permanent positions. They have higher level sof skill than candidates that have only worked in one place, they have more State licenses, and tend to be more flexible. They are also quick learners, have been exposed to many different ways of doing things, and have learned how to adapt to different policies and procedures.