No matter if you have been a nurse for a couple years or more than twenty, if able to, you should give travel nursing a try! Travel nursing opens you up to so many opportunities and experiences. Not only do you have the option to travel to cities you’ve never been to, but you will also enhance your skills, earn higher pay, and meet new people along the way. If you have been debating about becoming a travel nurse, read on for our top reasons why you should join the travel nursing industry!

1 – Explore New Cities

One of the top reasons for becoming a travel nurse is the opportunity to visit new cities while pursuing your passion for helping people. Check off your bucket list of National Parks or Landmarks to see during your assignments; or visit places you would never think of going. For example, if you are from the city, go to a small town for your next assignment and see all they have to offer.

2 – Flexible Schedule

Another top reason for travel nursing is the flexible schedule. After your 13-week assignment, you can decide whether to continue to a new assignment or take a break. Travel home and spend some time with family, or go on vacation. No matter how long you decide to go on break for, you can easily pick up where you left off and start a new assignment!

3 – Higher Pay

On average, travel nurses earn more than staff nurses since they are filling in for a nurse shortage. According to Indeed, the average travel nurse makes around $100K a year! Plus, most of your travel salary is tax-free due to traveling more than 50 miles from home. At TotalMed, we will do everything we can to ensure you are getting the best compensation package possible!

4 – Gain More Experience and Skills

Each assignment contains new people to meet, new systems and techniques to learn, and a new town to explore. Not only will you enhance your nursing skills, but you will also improve your communication, critical thinking, and confidence. Traveling between cities will help you get acquainted with learning a new town and traveling alone. Applying these new skills to each and every assignment will help you build your resume and land your dream assignment!

5 – Avoid Burnout

While burnout can happen to both travel and staff nurses, it is less common to occur for travel nurses. For instance, staff nurses may have more responsibilities within the facility than a travel nurse. With contracts typically lasting only 13 weeks, you are less likely to have that “stuck” feeling. During your assignment, make sure to take time to take care of yourself; socialize, go on a hike, or try out a new hobby to help avoid burnout.

6 – Meet New Friends

Travel nursing is a great networking opportunity to connect with other nurses and mentors. Throughout your journey, you are bound to meet other healthcare professionals and local residents to build lifelong friendships with and may even help further your career. Who knows who you will meet along the way?

Are you ready to begin your travel nursing career? We would love to work with you! Start your new adventure with TotalMed by applying today here!