Travel nursing is a popular career path in the nursing field and offers plenty of opportunity for adventure. If you’re a healthcare professional thinking of taking a step into travel nursing, you might be wondering: what exactly do travel nurses do?
In this article, we will take a closer look at what travel nursing involves and everything you need to know if you’re considering a career in travel nursing.
What Is Travel Nursing?
Travel nursing is an assignment-based healthcare career, meaning it involves taking temporary nursing jobs in a variety of healthcare settings. A travel nursing job is typically a short-term role, ranging from 8 – 26 weeks, although it is not uncommon for an assignment to run for 12 months. Travel nursing assignments are based on the specific needs of the various healthcare organizations they collaborate with.
Travel nurses have no fixed address, and the work requires them to be flexible and adaptive. Those considering a career in travel nursing must be comfortable with being away from home for a period of weeks, with only the occasional visit home.
What Skills Does a Travel Nurse Need?
The skills required of a travel nurse are broadly similar to those of any other registered nurse, but extra requirements depend on the type of assignment the nurse takes. The two main skills travel nurses must have are excellent patient care skills and the ability to adapt to new environments quickly.
Successful travel nurses also have great communication and problem solving skills and are able to think on their feet; they are also highly organized and capable of efficiently managing their work.
Travel nurses must be mindful that they will need to set up in a remote facility and be prepared to tackle any challenges they may encounter with their new hospitals or medical practices. Additionally, travel nurses must be able to keep up with the traveling and new environments they will encounter.
What Do Travel Nurses Do?
Travel nurses will typically work in the same healthcare setting as regular, permanent nurses. They are responsible for typical duties such as monitoring patient’s conditions, providing medical care, administering medications, and offering advice and guidance.
Travel nurses may also be asked to provide technical or specialized support. They may be used for research, emergency care, short-staffing, daily rounding, or to fill seasonal demands.
Travel nurses may also be used as a type of mentor or teacher to new staff members and may need to instruct and review medical units about the basics of nursing practices and procedures.
Travel nurses have an important role in providing quality healthcare for patients. As such, they are required to complete a thorough assessment on all patients under their care.
In addition, travel nurses should be aware of the regulatory and legal provisions in place for the hospitals or facilities in which they work.
What Are the Benefits Of Being a Travel Nurse?
Travel nursing is an exciting way to apply your nursing skills in exciting and varied work settings. In addition to finding new locations and working to help those in need, there are plenty of benefits for those considering a job in travel nursing.
For starters, travel nurses benefit from an increased earning potential, as travel nursing jobs typically pay higher wages than regular nursing jobs. This is a great incentive for travel nurses, especially since they are required to be away from home for longer periods than permanent nurses.
The cost of relocation is also taken care of by the hospitals and facilities that recruit travel nurses. So, you can expect to have your flights, housing and other expenses taken care of. Additionally, several travel nursing companies provide insurance and other benefits such as sign-on bonuses and 401K programs.
Travel nursing also gives nurses the opportunity to explore areas that they may not have visited before. Being stationed in different locations also provides travel nurses an opportunity to network and build new relationships.
FAQ About Travel Nurse
A: Travel nurses typically work in the same healthcare settings as regular, permanent nurses. However, travel nurses may be used for research, emergency care, short-staffing, daily rounding, or to fill seasonal demands.
A: A travel nursing job is typically a short-term role, ranging from 8 – 26 weeks, although it is not uncommon for an assignment to run for 12 months.
A: There are plenty of benefits for those considering a job in travel nursing, such as increased earning potential, cost of relocation is taken care of by the hospitals and facilities, insurance and other benefits such as sign-on bonuses and 401K programs, and the opportunity to explore new areas, network and build new relationships.
Conclusion
Travel nursing is an attractive option for many healthcare professionals looking for a new and exciting career path. It is a great way to apply your nursing skills while experiencing new and varied work settings and areas.
Overall, travel nursing is an exciting and rewarding job, with many benefits and opportunities for those who take the leap. With the right preparation and qualifications, you can excel in this profession and be an expert traveler-nurse in no time.
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