10 Excellent Pros (and Cons) of Travel Nursing Careers
If you’re starting your job search and looking for a profession that offers both adventure and stability, then you should consider all the pros and cons by doing some research on travel nursing blogs, forums, or with your peers.
With an endless number of pros and very few cons, a travel nursing career equates to great pay and limitless opportunities!
The most notable advantages of being a traveling nurse are the ability to spend time traveling around the U.S. working in a diverse range of environments, and forming lasting friendships that you can’t find in many other environments.
What’s more, it’s an in-demand career field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for registered nurses is expected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2023 .
So, is a travel nursing job worth it?
Let’s take a look at the ten excellent pros and cons of travel nursing to determine if it is right for you!
( If you’re curious and want to learn more about beginning your career as a travel nurse , make sure to contact us now to speak to a recruiter )
What are the Pros of Travel Nursing?
1: Travel Opportunities
Travel nursing jobs can be found in any city imaginable. That means you have a multitude of opportunities all over the United States to pick and choose your next adventure.
Maybe you want to spend some time in a bustling city like New York, San Francisco , or Chicago . You can find a job there.
Or, perhaps, a small town with charm and a slow lifestyle has more appeal (think: New England ). They need travel nurses, too.
Even better, as a travel nurse, you don’t have to limit your travel based on the season! In this case, the pros and cons of travel nursing in your area are irrelevant because you can change “your area” at any time.
Let’s say you’re a snow bunny. The best places to travel in the winter include many incredible nursing opportunities as well.
For example, Denver, Colorado offers access to some of the top world-class ski resorts in the world, including Telluride, Aspen, and Vail. And it also has access to top-ranked hospitals such as Porter Adventist Hospital .
Basically, as a travel nurse , you can base your travel assignment on anything you’d like:
Some travel nurses enjoy the “snowbird” lifestyle, while others travel to where they can hike, scuba dive, surf, or explore their favorite historical museums to their heart’s content.
2. Professional Growth
The travel nursing career is ideal for individuals who want to work at different facilities and gain unique experiences.
Travel nurses can choose from a plethora of environments.
Want to work at a large-scale teaching facility? You can do that.
Or , maybe you’re more interested in a rural medical facility that requires you to stretch your skills to the limit? That’s an option too.
There’s no limit to the type of experience you can gain as a travel nurse.
- You’ll learn how to be more flexible in different settings
- Enhance your cultural competency
- Gain more independence
- Develop your people skills
- Acquire new skills and specializations
In addition, there’s increased demand for nurses experienced in emergency departments, intensive care, and other specialty areas.
In some parts of the country, these jobs may be difficult to obtain or limited in opportunity, but as a travel nurse, you can travel to where the job contract is located instead of waiting for it to come to you.
Travel nurse jobs can vary greatly from one region of the country to another—this includes dealing with different diseases, special cases, and operations at different facilities.
By traveling, you gain exposure to a little bit of everything, meaning that when and if you finally decide to settle down, you’ll have a far more vast array of professional experience than your peers.
Even McKinsey & Company places improved nursing skills at the top of the priority list for hospitals, and a travel nurse lifestyle is the perfect start.
3. Pay and Benefits
The average travel nurse salary could reach as high as $103,893 a year, according to Payscale.com . That’s around double what a regular licensed nurse earns —$43,170 per year .
But pay for travel nurses isn’t just about your base salary.
Travel nurses can also expect many incredible salary benefits:
- tax-free stipends
- generous reimbursements
- healthcare and retirement benefits
- tax breaks
- bonuses
- deals and discounts
- and more.
Basically, by the time you add everything up , including your housing, health insurance for travel nurses , and competitive salary package, it’s a very lucrative career.
And when tax time rolls around, you also get to enjoy many different travel nurse tax deductions . Just remember, these deductions can vary by location.
4. Freedom and Flexibility
We already talked about adventure, but what about the freedom to choose what you want, when you want, and where you want.
As a travel nurse, you are only limited by your own choices. That’s why being a travel nurse with a family is actually a realistic possibility.
When you choose your different travel assignments, you also choose when to take time off and spend time with your family and friends.
As a regular registered nurse, you’re limited by your vacation time and the business of your organization. On the other hand, a travel nurse has the flexibility to choose how much they want to work.
This can be especially beneficial when life presents unexpected challenges.
For example, what happens if an emergency family situation comes up that requires you to take months off of work? As a travel nurse , you can work that into your schedule and change your assignments to be near your family, so you can be there as needed.
5. High Demand Locations
As a travel nurse, you don’t have to depend on location.
Instead, you can choose assignments only in the best places to live as a nurse . Consider locating to fascinating cities and become a travel nurse in Winston-Salem, NC, where nurses make $2,623/week .
Or you can even choose to head to Chicago, where nursing is one of the top jobs in demand, and where you’ll get to enjoy a city full of art, music museums, festivals, and more.
And if you end up having a hard time finding new travel nurse jobs in your current location, you can easily pack up your bags and move to a new location and facility that better fits your changing needs.
6. Avoiding Work Politics
One of the difficult parts of working in a hospital is the politics and management issues.
For most nurses, you see the same people and issues day in and day out, meaning you’re constantly embroiled in drama, whether you want to be or not.
Not so for a travel nurse.
When you travel from job to job, you’re able to focus more closely on patient care and avoid all the hospital politics. And if you find yourself in a hospital or clinic where the drama is overwhelming, that’s the blessing of short-term travel nursing contracts.
It’s already been stated that burnout and compassion fatigue are common among nurses, but you can decrease that potential as a travel nurse who only spends 13 – weeks at a time in a location.
This lets you get back to the real reason you became a nurse in the first place—patient care. You can get back to basics and say goodbye to hospital politics that can drag you through the mud and make you miserable.
7. New Specialties
Sometimes nursing can become boring when you’re stuck in the same specialty year after year. It’s especially easy to get stuck when only a few specialties that interest you are available in your hometown.
Travel nurses have an almost unlimited array of specialties they can choose from.
You can choose a specialty based on which one pays the most , or you can even choose your specialty based on its rarity—giving you a unique skill set that would be hard to deny.
For example, have you ever considered being a labor and delivery nurse? As a travel nurse, you can work at some of the top hospitals that prepare women and their families for the stages of birth, and help patients with breastfeeding after the baby is born.
8. Housing
Being a travel nurse means that you get to remove one of the biggest stressors that most people face: housing.
In general, travel nurse housing is provided with your job. That means you don’t have to find a new home everywhere you move.
Common living expenses are eliminated or dramatically decreased as a travel nurse. In fact, in many cases, you’re provided with a fully-furnished home wherever you go.
It’s also an excellent option for anyone who doesn’t know where they want to make their permanent home.
With travel nurse housing, you can set down short-term roots in a variety of locations around the country or even around each state until you discover the pros and cons of each area and are able to choose the location that best fits your needs.
9. Resume Building
Are you ready to upgrade your nursing resume? A travel nurse career is a great resume builder.
Travel nurses possess a skill set like few other individuals. Just think, how many nurses have experienced a small critical-access hospital setting and a large teaching hospital?
Between your professional contacts, range of on-the-job skills, and experience in a variety of environments, a travel nurse resume stands out in the crowd.
Plus, as a travel nurse, you’ll typically have far more confidence when it comes to interviews since you’re used to meeting new people and making new friends everywhere you move.
You know what it takes to learn from others at every job and how to take control of situations because you’re used to walking into a hospital and learning as you go.
All of those skills and abilities will not only make you a better nurse, but they’ll enhance your resume and make you a killer interviewee.
10. Meeting New People
Finally, the travel nurse lifestyle is ideal for anyone who loves to get to know new people.
Whether you just graduated from your nursing program or have been out of school for years, at each location you’ll meet new colleagues at the facility where you work, and you’ll make new friends outside the office.
Travel nursing puts you in touch with people that you would never meet otherwise—people from different places, cultures, neighborhoods, interests, and hobbies.
The options are endless when traveling , and you’ll find yourself with budding friendships and relationships all around the country that you can visit whenever you have a chance.
11. Professional Growth
The traditional route for gaining professional experience often includes a lengthy stint with a single employer. In most other professions, bouncing around from employer to employer is frowned upon. However, travel nursing is one career that favors the number of employers for whom you have worked! Plus, with each stint, you can learn new skills that you could add to your resume.
What are the Cons of Travel Nursing?
1: Finding Travel Opportunities
It’s hard to find a con when it comes to adventure! However, finding the perfect location that matches your career goals and lifestyle needs can be difficult. MAS Medical Staffing offers 24/7 access to our dedicated team of recruiters who can connect you to the best opportunities. Think about all of the things you can embrace moving on to a new place and assignment every few months—it is an exciting way to build a career.
2. Having No Base Salary or Benefits
When it comes to pay, the only potential con for travel nursing is minimal: no salary.
This means that travel nurses cannot count on the expected incremental pay raises that come with a salaried position.
Luckily, the more experience you gain as a travel nurse, the higher paying assignments you can take. This is essentially the same as earning raises in a static position based on time spent at the job.
You can also partner with a travel nurse agency like MAS Medical Staffing who offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes relocation stipends, health insurance, 401(k) plans, and so much more! We’ve got you covered so you can further your career in nursing.
3. Time Away from Loved Ones
When it comes to the pros and cons of travel nursing jobs, time spent with family and loved ones is an important thing to note. On the surface, it may seem difficult to be a travel nurse with a family. In fact, the freedom and flexibility make s this a unique opportunity for a family with a sense of adventure!
4. Assigned to a State You Don’t Like
In very rare cases, there may only be positions in high – demand areas. While it’s very unlikely, it is possible that none of those locations appeal to you. If you’re curious about which locations are searching for travel nurse positions, make sure you contact recruiters at MAS Medical Staffing to learn about our retirement savings, travel reimbursement, and long-term contracts that we provide.
5. Adjusting to a New Environment
Being the “new nurse” may be a bit of a challenge at first. Honing your adaptability through experience ensures you fit in anywhere. Pairing with a mentor or companion will also help you develop soft skills as you learn the ropes of the organization.
6. Learning Curve
If you’re thinking that trying new specialties can’t possibly have a con, you’re right! Knowledge is power. However, there are some skills that require more time to refine. Transform your mindset to think of these instances as challenges that you can overcome. With practice, you’ll eventually be able to develop these skills.
7. Cost of Moving Homes
There’s just one thing to remember when it comes to housing; you have to bring all of your personal items with you. The cost of moving can vary depending on the state. Some areas might be cheaper while others may outweigh the pay offer. If you think you’ll struggle with this, check out our travel nurse packing list .
8. Being in Unfamiliar Neighborhoods
Being on the road also means you aren’t near your hometown friends as much as you may like to be. The great news is that you can spend your extended breaks between assignments visiting them without work interruptions.
Is Travel Nursing Worth It?
As a travel nurse, you have a fun and flexible lifestyle that few people can boast. But more than that, it’s a great way to build up your career and experience in ways that you could never imagine.
- Endless adventure
- Professional growth
- Great pay and benefits
- Freedom and flexibility
- High demand locations
- Avoiding work politics
- Trying new specialties
- Affordable housing
- Resume building
- Meeting new people
Then the travel nurse lifestyle is right for you!
What are the pros and cons of travel nursing that you have encountered?
Share with us in the comments below!
Reviewed By:
Nick Gypsy, Travel Nurse Recruiter
Nick was a former traveler turned nurse recruiter, having completed 32 assignments and 13 FEMA Crisis deployments specializing in Long Term Acute Care and the critical care unit. While traveling, he was able to finish nursing school and further his career debt-free. Nick was able to do all of this for a career of his passion. He began blogging about his experience and providing advice through the social media platform TikTok under the username NickMurse. Nick has gained a mass following of over 100,000 travel nurses. He started with MAS in early August 2021 and has enjoyed sharing his insight with his travel nurses. Nick lives in coastal Florida, and in his spare time, he enjoys going to the beach and traveling.
Is Travel Nursing in Your City, A Good Idea or a Bad one?
One of the most popular misconceptions regarding travel nursing is that it necessitates long-distance travel or employment outside your state. Many people believe that you must be at least 50 Miles from your primary residence to qualify for tax-free travel nurse pay. However, that is not true. Travel nursing in your city is quite a possibility.
But is it a good idea to travel as a nurse in your city or state?
Read on to learn how to become a travel nurse in your local state, the advantages and disadvantages of doing so, and more in the following sections!
Travel Nursing in Your State, Is it Possible?
Yes! Travel nursing is possible in your state. Although the specifics may vary depending on your state’s Board of Nursing, generally speaking, a travel nurse can work in any state as long as he or she has a current, active nursing license in good standing.
Many prospective travel nurses have no idea that they can work as travel nurses right in their state. You don’t have to leave your native state or go across the country to become a travel nurse. The “50-mile rule” may have you thinking, “I can’t be a travel nurse ever; I like to remain near home.”. But that’s the beauty of travel nursing: you can work ten miles from home, as long as you follow the requirements of the IRS and your employer’s agency.
But this leads us to our next question, i.e. can you be a travel nurse in your city?
Can You Do Travel Nursing in Your City?
You can do travel nursing in your city if a hospital nearby needs licensed travel nurses. Travel nurses can work in any location within a 50-mile radius despite the IRS’s restrictions of an overnight stay, and we’ll discuss this in more detail in the following lines.
All you need to do is sign up with any travel nursing agency. You will collaborate with a recruiter to tailor your resume to the roles that attract you in your area — or elsewhere. Once you’ve been offered a job, there are some things you should be aware of. Check if the role is temporary or permanent.
On the outside, this might look trivial, but it is not. Here is why.
50 Mile Rule. What is it?
The 50 mile radius is more of a rule of thumb than a specific distance provided by the IRS. To qualify for tax free stipends you must duplicate your home and living expenses. In general terms this means staying overnight away from your tax home while you are working. Hospitals also enforce their own 50 or 100 mile rules to ensure they are not hiring travelers that could be permanent employees. We always recommend contacting a licensed CPA to help determine your tax exposure and withholdings. More information can be found here on the IRS website, https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463.
Travel Nursing Away From Your Home.
Suppose your primary residence (also known as your tax residence) is more than 50 miles away from your assigned facility. In that case, you may be eligible for special taxpayer subsidies for housing and food that are not subject to taxes.
For your job at the hospital, you will need to take a break somewhere close to your destination because of the long distance back home. In this case the IRS considers your expenses as duplicated. You’re paying for your tax home and a temporary home near your work site.
Travel Nursing in Your City within 50 Miles
As per the Internal Revenue Service, you may work as a travel nurse for a facility that is close or near your tax home. However, you will not be eligible for the same incentives (stipends) for accommodation and meals as other participants.
The Government does not want someone to be compensated for housing and food if they are not required or expected to do so, which makes sense.
This makes one wonder whether it is worthwhile to work as a local travel nurse if the additional subsidies are not available? The answer is can be YES.
Perks for Travel Nursing in Your City.
Local travel nursing has several advantages, some of which are financial and some personal.
We’re sure you’ll agree with us after reading the next part. Following are some of the perks of travel nursing in your city.
You get To Stay With Your Family
One of the perks of travel nursing in your city is staying with your family. People at times wonder
Is there a way to work as a travel nurse in my home state if I cannot travel with my family?
The answer is yes, it is possible. Local travel nursing is a great option if you love your work but aren’t ready to move or can’t take your family with you. One of the key reasons several nurses choose to keep their travel nursing jobs in their home city is that they can travel home on the weekends.
No Additional Licenses
One of the perks of travel nursing in your state is you won’t need any additional licenses . Additionally, if your state does not provide a compact nursing license, you won’t have to bother getting an additional nursing license, provided you go with local travel nursing.
However, If you’re on a tight schedule, getting a license in another state can be a burden, even if your travel nursing agency pays for it. A single state license is all you need to work as a travel nurse in multiple locations in the same area.
Market-Competitive Payrates
By doing travel nursing near your home, you’ll receive market competitive pay rates, if not better. As a travel nurse, even in your state of residence, you’ll generally earn more money than an ordinary staff nurse – even without the stipends for accommodation and food.
While working as a local travel nurse, you can step into a nursing job with little or no training because of the high demand in some locations or in an emergency.
Better Professional Connections
If you do travel nursing in your city or nearby, you’ll probably work at the same hospitals wherever you go. This will help you make better decisions regarding your future endeavors. Your chances of being selected for future assignments will increase as you get to know the hospital’s employees. Making a good impression on seasoned doctors and nurses is also an excellent approach to developing your resume and network. It will be easier to concentrate on your career when you are not distracted by the need to travel.
Better Work-Life Balance
Travel nursing in your city will help you manage your finances better. Aside from this, it is a well-known fact that traveling frequently can be a real strain on the body and mind. If you travel nursing locally, you will not have to abandon your loved ones, friends, pets, or home behind. You won’t have to stress about what you’ll be missing out on while you’re away. Working as a local travel nurse makes it less difficult to start a family if you desire. You can spare yourself a lot of worry by staying close to home if you’ve settled down or plan to do so in the coming years.
Added Comfort
What good is it to give up a superb location in one of the finest states for nurses? Doing local nursing in your city wouldn’t have to bother about migrating to a new location. You can apply for projects in your home state. In addition to earning a good living, working as a local travel nurse will give you the flexibility to visit your family whenever you choose. It is possible to take advantage of the perks of travel nursing in your state while still getting a change of scenery by working at hospitals in the neighboring area.
The Downsides of Travel Nursing in Your City
As with other things, travel nursing in your city has its fair share of cons as well. Following are some of them.
Lack of Adventure
Despite the financial cost, traveling does instill a sense of adventure in minds. However, if you pursue travel nursing in your state, you might miss out. Doing travel nursing in your state means you won’t see the variety of climates and places that long-distance nursing offers. Travel nursing locally isn’t the ideal option to experience seaside towns, mountainous regions, and wide deserts. Travel nursing as a registered nurse across the country will fulfill your wanderlust.
You Might Miss Out on Job Opportunities
If you restrict your job search to a smaller area, your career prospects may be fewer. Expanding your job search is necessary. Especially if you’re having difficulty finding work or aren’t getting paid as much as you’d want, to avert this, compare the pay and the cost of living in various regions. This way, you will be able to determine which one best suits your needs. Besides, you might miss out on several travel nursing perks. You must be working far enough away from home to be reimbursed for your travel expenses and meals. At the same time, it is possible to work locally as a travel nurse. But there is the potential for tax complications which need to be dealt with separately.
You may Lose Interest
It is no secret that exposure to the same environments for longer periods results in a loss of Interest. If you’re regularly accepting projects at the same hospitals, it’s possible that you’ll become bored. Nursing is indeed a fast-paced industry. But working as a travel nurse in your home city may not deliver the thrill you seek. Taking projects in new regions will help you broaden your horizons and avoid monotony or burnout by diversifying your experiences.
The hospital may have a radius rule
Hospitals can restrict how far away a traveler must live to be eligible for a travel position. Most use the 50 mile rule, some go up to 100, and in rare circumstances 250 miles is required. If you live within the radius they may offer a local pay rate.
The Bottom Line
As with other career choices, travel nursing is also a very lucrative career option. However, one needs to evaluate the pros and cons before concluding properly.
If you want to pursue local travel nursing, there’s nothing that can stop you. However, you might need to introspect whether travel nursing is a wise choice or not. There is no denying that your area might have lucrative job options. But you may miss out on pensions and tenured benefits like “no call”. Travel nursing can be local, but the pool gets bigger and more lucrative once you start exploring options outside your local area.
If you want to pursue local travel nursing, jump right into it. There’s no better career path, given the work-life balance it has to offer.
PS- If you’re still undecided, I suggest reading our other posts about whether or not travel nursing is right for YOU. Click here to check it out!
The Do’s and Don’ts of Traveling Nurse Housing
If you are looking for a lucrative career that will allow you to go and explore different places, then you should highly consider being a traveling nurse. This job is one of the most in-demand specialties for a lot of reasons.
By taking a 13-week (give or take a few) assignment in hospitals across the country, you can live the dream of caring for patients in a myriad of locales. If you work three 12-hour shifts, that will leave you with four whole days each week to explore. You can sunbathe on the beach, hike the mountains or explore the city- all in the same year.
Temporary Housing For Travel Nurses
Another thing you’ll love about being a traveling nurse is the temporary housing in which you’ll live during your assignment. Traveling nurse housing can vary widely based on location and agency. There are generally two housing options for traveling nurses.
The first option is to have your agency find you an apartment, house or hotel room to live in while you’re completing your assignment. Clearly, there are distinct pros and cons to agency-provided housing. The most obvious pro is that it takes much of the uncertainty and guesswork out of travel nursing. Provided housing will most likely be in a safe part of town and in decent shape but it will almost certainly be no-frills living.
The second option in traveling nurse’s housing is to take the agreed-upon housing stipend and secure your own living quarters. This is where you can really bank some good money.
If your living stipend is $2000 per month and you find a place to stay for $1000, you get to pocket that extra grand. Apart from saving money, choosing this option can also allow you to immerse yourself deeper into the culture of your temporary home. While this is something that will take time and effort, your agency should be able to assist you in seeking short-term housing options.
Now, the best part about travel nursing? You can change tactics with each contract.
If you are traveling to a familiar city, take the stipend and check out Craigslist options in your favorite neighborhood. You can also check out if you have relatives living in your next contract’s location. You can just crash in their extra bedroom for the duration of your contract. If your next contract takes you to a completely unfamiliar city, allow your agency to find housing for you.
Regardless of your decision, there are definitely some do’s and don’ts of traveling nurse housing. Read on to learn how to get the most out of your travel nursing experience.
The Do’s of Traveling Nurse Housing
Consider taking agency-provided housing for your first assignment
Your first assignment in a new hospital in a new city with a new agency can easily make you feel anxious. So, to make sure you can stay focused on enjoying your new work and lifestyle, take out one of the most stressful parts of being a traveling nurse- picking your housing.
Tell your recruiter immediately if you’re traveling with a significant other
Some housing options may only provide one bedroom while others do not allow pets. If you are searching for your own housing, be upfront with the landlord or leasing agent. Make sure to let them know that you are seeking a short-term lease and clarify what their rules are regarding pets and having someone else live with you. Be prepared to pay deposits and extra fees if needed.
Ask about early termination policies
If you are staying in an agency-obtained housing, this is less of an issue. It’s a good idea to have some money set aside in case you need to pay for cancellation.
Join traveling nurse housing Facebook groups as well as other social media outlets
You can find tons of resources and advice from other traveling nurses on the Internet. Ask questions, learn from other nurses’ experiences and share your hard-earned knowledge with other traveling nurses.
You might even make contact with other nurses who will be at the same hospital as you. A familiar face in an unfamiliar place is great. You can even consider lodging together if you’d rather not live alone.
Remember that where you stay during your contract is only part of the travel nursing experience
Obviously, it’s important to have a safe, comfortable place to rest and recharge after your shift. The memories you make outside your apartment, though, will stay with you for a lifetime.
Contact your recruiter/agency immediately if you have an issue with your housing
They can facilitate repairs if the issue can be fixed. If the problem can’t be corrected, your agency can help you find a new place to stay. You are your own best advocate so you must speak up if you need something changed. Unless you ask, expect the answer to always be a “no”.
The Don’ts of Traveling Nurse Housing
Don’t pass up discounts at hotels
They can offer great rates for extended contracts so be sure to speak with the manager rather than the front desk to get the best deals. Additionally, your hotel may have hospital or government discounts that can apply to you. You can ask about any reward programs they have where you can earn points and get free nights during your current or future assignment.
Extended stay hotels are fully furnished and usually in decent neighborhoods. If you have a few days lag-time between when you get to town and when your lease for another apartment starts, extended stay hotels can be an economical option to bridge that gap.
Don’t forget Craigslist, Airbnb, Facebook Buy/Sell/Trade pages and good ol’ Google
There are a lot of options if you search for traveling nurse housing. If you’re leaning towards Airbnb, be sure to contact the owners of any place that interests you. There will almost certainly be a lower rate for extended contracts (more than a week’s vacay, that is) than what is posted on the site.
You can even post an “In search of” ad for housing on Craigslist. This might come with wading through some junk being sent to you, but you just might find an awesome apartment.
Don’t think you have to rent a U-Haul to move all of your stuff each time you change cities
Craigslist and the Buy/Sell/Trade pages on Facebook can be helpful when furnishing and un-furnishing your apartment. If you’re not picky about your room’s interior, you can comfortably furnish your apartment for a few hundred dollars. When you move on to your next contract, you can take the stuff with you if you become attached to it.
If you don’t have the space, you can either sell it or give it away through those same sites. Your apartment might give you the option to rent a furniture package. Additionally, furniture/appliance rental stores can help make your temporary house a home.
Don’t assume anything about your traveling nurse housing contract
You must carefully review the contract before signing it. If it’s not written in stone in your contract, it probably doesn’t exist. In-unit laundry, microwaves, plates, furniture – if your contract doesn’t explicitly mention any of them, you can request for them or just bring or buy your own.
Don’t enter contract negotiations unprepared
Make a list of all of your housing requirements.
Want to be near public transportation or the hospital? Need to have immediate access to a park or green space to walk your dog?
Separate your list into must-haves and nice-to-haves. Contract negotiations can get complicate. A list can keep you focused and ensure your needs are met in regards to traveling nurse housing.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to find your own housing or stay in an agency apartment, travel nursing is an excellent use of your RN license. You will experience new cultures, see beautiful sights and build relationships with other nurses and healthcare professionals across the country.
Even if your days as a traveling nurse are just a brief hiatus from a long and happy hospital-based career, you will gain invaluable experience working in units different from your own.
Author Bio:
HealthCare Pros is a Nurse staffing and management company with 25 years of industry-specific knowledge, experience, and care. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service and producing positive results for our clients.
Source https://www.masmedicalstaffing.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-travel-nursing/
Source https://originnurses.com/2022/05/travel-nursing-in-your-own-city/
Source https://www.nursebuff.com/traveling-nurse-housing/