You’ve probably heard that travel nursing is a great way to earn more money, expand your skills, and see the country. However, you could’ve also heard a few “he said, she said” statements about the industry that are very wrong!
Travel nursing’s rapid growth has caused some confusion about the industry and has deterred nurses from taking travel nursing assignments as a result. While all the moving parts can make the industry a little complex, working with a traveler advocate and your travel nursing agency will have you on the road in no time. Don’t let a few misconceptions and myths stop you from entering a lucrative field. To help you determine your path, we’re here to debunk five myths you might have about travel nursing.
Five Common Travel Nursing Myths Debunked
1. Travel Nursing Is Only For Extroverts
Truthfully, healthcare facilities don’t care if you’re extroverted or not. Yes, meeting new people during travel nurse assignments can be a concern for some people, but it doesn’t have to prevent you from accepting a travel nursing assignment. Nurses who are knowledgeable, compassionate, and seem like a good fit for the position and facility are always welcome!
2. Travelers Always Float
Many travel nurse agencies tell travelers, especially new travelers, that they must be willing to float to be a travel nurse—that doesn’t mean they always will. While it’s true that travel nurses are often the first to float when another unit needs help, they do not float every shift, and it’s not necessarily more than staff nurses. Since you have control over your assignments, you may be able to negotiate your way out of floating altogether if you want.
It’s also important to remember that some hospitals require travel nurses to float in order to qualify for guaranteed hours. If the traveler chooses not to float, they don’t get guaranteed hours.
3. Travel Nurses Are Not Treated Well By Permanent Staff
The nature of travel nursing makes it easy to believe that permanent employees treat travelers poorly. However, that idea is completely false. The main reason travel nurses are hired is to ease the burden on permanent staff who have been working short-handed. They are usually grateful for the help. In some ways, the first day as a travel nurse in a new facility is no different from the first day at any other job. The more you can do to help out and keep a positive attitude, the easier it will be to integrate into your new team. Usually, at the end of your travel nursing contract, the permanent staff nurses will become some of your closest friends in the field.
4. Travel Nurse Positions Are Only Available In Large Cities
Available travel nursing jobs are often based on demand, so larger metropolitan areas have more needs but don’t have all of them. Smaller communities often find themselves devoid of professional talent and depend on travelers to fill the gap. Talking with your advocate can help match you with nursing jobs in travel nursing locations that fit your professional goals. As a travel nurse, you can work pretty much wherever you want—big cities and small towns included. There are so many opportunities to work in all kinds of places.
5. “We’ll Just Find Another Travel Nurse To Take This Job”
Sometimes, recruiters will tell a travel nurse that the agency will just find someone else to take a job if they aren’t interested in a specific travel nursing assignment. This usually happens out of frustration on the recruiter’s side in an attempt to pressure a traveler to take a job. This is a common misconception within the industry that leads travelers to agree to assignments they don’t necessarily want.
The truth is that travel nursing agencies don’t make offers; hospitals do. Agencies are not responsible for deciding which candidate is best for an assignment. Any traveler interested in a certain position can send their application, and multiple nurses can apply for the same one. There are too many facilities and available positions, so if one doesn’t meet your needs, then it’s okay to move on to the next!
Ultimately, your experience in travel nursing is what you make it. The flexibility as a travel nurse allows you to experience new places and increase your control over your work. Most importantly, travel nursing gives you the opportunity to see the country while doing the job you love. Whatever rumors you hear about the travel nursing industry, be sure to do your research and find out for yourself. If you want to know more about this amazing industry, visit travel nursing blog to see more expert tips and advice. You can also contact us to hear the many benefits we offer our travelers and how you can get started!
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