Meet a Travel Nurse
Explore the diverse roles that travel nurses undertake and delve into the recommended educational background and essential skills required for success in this dynamic profession. Travel nurses, classified as registered nurses (RNs), fulfill temporary staffing gaps within hospitals and clinics throughout the nation, offering care on a short-term basis. Though the specifics of each travel assignment differ, a common thread unites most of these nurses—a shared passion to provide much-needed assistance in high-demand areas while simultaneously embracing the opportunity to discover novel locations.
In our insightful conversation with Stan John, a seasoned traveling RN, he candidly discusses his voyage into the realm of travel nursing. From his initial foray into this career to his inaugural assignment that transported him across the nation, his experiences shed light on the intricacies of travel nursing. Keep reading to gain valuable insights into the workings of this profession and glean advice on how to embark on a flexible, high-demand, and deeply rewarding career path.
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Q&A With a Travel Nurse
Q: What ignited your interest in pursuing a nursing career in the first place?
Upon relocating to the United States, my uncle advocated nursing as a burgeoning field worth exploring. Intrigued, I heeded his counsel and decided to take the plunge. To gain a foothold in the healthcare landscape, I worked as a caregiver in an assisted living facility.
The gratification derived from aiding others sparked a sense of joy and contentment within me—emotions mirrored during my interactions with patients. This resonance affirmed my conviction that nursing was my destined path.
Q: How did you transition into the realm of travel nursing?
The prospect of travel nursing didn’t initially figure into my plans. I accrued three years of experience as a nursing assistant at a level one trauma center. Following the attainment of my associate degree in nursing, I secured a role in the surgical unit of the same hospital. While working full-time, I concurrently pursued an online bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Within a mere five months of transitioning into the role of an RN, the surgical unit metamorphosed into the “COVID unit” due to the pandemic. Driven by the aim of augmenting my income, I applied for various nursing positions.
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It swiftly dawned on me that my five months of experience weren’t particularly enticing to potential employers. Seeking a feasible avenue, I reached out to travel nurse agencies, only to encounter a common prerequisite of one to two years of experience. As I marked the one-year milestone, I engaged with an agency, which subsequently initiated the search for a suitable travel assignment.
Q: Could you elucidate your experience as a travel nurse during the pandemic? Were your assignments predominantly aligned with the COVID-19 crisis?
The pandemic period rendered my role as a travel nurse especially significant. Witnessing the pronounced dearth of nursing professionals and the vital role played by travel nurses in fortifying patient-nurse ratios evoked a sense of purpose. My contributions to a community in dire need of additional assistance left me with a profound sense of fulfillment. The hospitals I served expressed deep gratitude for each shift I undertook. Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly shaped my nursing journey.
Q: From your perspective, how were aspects such as lodging and living expenses managed during your assignments? Were you able to journey alongside family members?
Travel agencies typically assume responsibility for housing and living expenses. They facilitate housing arrangements or extend a housing allowance to nurses. Notably, my wife, pursuing online nursing studies due to the pandemic, accompanied me. Her flexible learning setup empowered me to undertake travel nursing assignments in remote locales away from home.
Q: What is the standard duration of a typical travel assignment?
Travel assignments conventionally span a duration of 13 weeks. However, six-week and eight-week assignments also exist, often featuring elevated compensation rates for crisis situations.
Q: Could you share your initial experience as a travel nurse in Oregon? It seems to have been a whirlwind adventure.
Undoubtedly, my inaugural assignment in Oregon was a saga of adventure. Navigating the uncharted waters of a new nursing career while grappling with associated uncertainties inevitably evoked apprehension. Within the very first week of our arrival, my wife and I confronted an unexpected twist—an evacuation from our rented dwelling due to a rapidly escalating forest fire, which morphed into an urban inferno. The conflagration engulfed homes and structures within proximity to our location.
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The inferno’s impact extended to the hospitals where I was stationed, disrupting internet and phone communications. Despite these challenges, collaborative efforts facilitated the execution of routine tasks. Beyond the fiery ordeal, the assignment became a tapestry of experiences—climbing mountains, nurturing a passion for hiking and exploration, and forging enduring friendships with fellow travel and staff nurses.
Q: What facets of working as a travel nurse are particularly rewarding to you?
The allure of travel nursing emanates from the opportunity to make a difference in communities grappling with perilously understaffed medical facilities. By alleviating the strain on staff nurses, I contribute to the provision of quality care and, in turn, enhance patient safety—an immensely rewarding endeavor.
In the context of the fire crisis, I extended my work hours to enable staff nurses to attend to their homes and loved ones’ safety. Furthermore, my role in tending to COVID-19 patients during the pandemic underscores the significance of my contribution, not only in my immediate community but also in locales beset by resource shortages.
Q: What advice would you offer to aspiring nurses contemplating a career in travel nursing?
My advice is to embrace the prospect wholeheartedly. While the prospect of contract cancellations, unfamiliar work environments, housing intricacies, and geographic distance from family can be disconcerting, they should not overshadow the profound rewards that await. Embrace the experience, for my wife and I discovered that our apprehensions dissolved into an incredibly enriching journey that surpassed our expectations.
Travel nursing endowed us with an alternative lens through which to view life, fostering an abiding appreciation for exploring the vast expanse of our beautiful nation. Forge connections with fellow travel nurses, even though inevitable goodbyes punctuate each assignment. The camaraderie and shared experiences far outweigh the transient nature of these connections.
Ultimately, life is an adventure brimming with opportunities. Rather than shying away from the unknown, embrace life’s voyage with courage. The joy of exploration and the thrill of embarking on life’s captivating adventures are bound to eclipse any regrets stemming from unexplored opportunities.
What Does a Travel Nurse Do?
Travel nurses assume roles facilitated by independent staffing agencies, unshackling them from geographical and workplace constraints. This latitude allows them to select assignments tailored to specific facilities and specialties, facilitating skill enhancement. The work landscape spans hospitals, community health centers, and rural establishments, where they engage with healthcare professionals and patients.
Key Skills and Responsibilities:
– Imparting health education to patients
– Administering medications
– Monitoring patients’ conditions
– Collaborating seamlessly within healthcare teams
– Tracking patients’ vital signs
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How to Become a Travel Nurse
1. Obtain an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN).
– ADN entails a two-year program, while BSN requires four years.
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam to secure RN licensure.
– This comprehensive exam evaluates knowledge across nursing practices, treatments, legal/ethical aspects, conditions, and patient communication.
3. Garner experience in various RN positions.
– Typically, travel nurse agencies stipulate at least one year of RN experience
4. Contemplate acquiring certifications in specialized areas.
– Enhancing expertise in specialized domains bolsters employability.
5. Elevate career options through postgraduate studies.
– Pursuing a master’s of science in nursing (MSN) not only expands earning potential but also presents the chance to undertake in-depth explorations of specializations such as anesthetics, education, and psychiatry.
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How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?
As of July 2020, statistics from Vivian revealed that travel nurses garnered an average weekly income of $1,841, with the maximum reaching $6,347. This reflects an increase of roughly $125 per week compared to figures from 2019, and these computations are based on a 36-hour workweek.
Comparatively, RN salaries generally exhibit a lower range and encompass additional weekly hours. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019, the average annual salary for RNs stood at $73,000. Breaking down these figures into weekly and hourly components—factoring in a 40-hour workweek—translates to $1,409 weekly and $35.23 hourly.
Several factors introduce variability into salary ranges. Notably, travel nurses, based on location and work environment, hold the potential to accrue annual salaries exceeding $100,000.
– Average Hourly Wage: $51.14
– Average Total Weekly Pay: $1,841
Source: Vivian
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