Are you headed to a new assignment soon where severe weather is common? Here are some tips to consider as storm season rolls in and you’re preparing for an assignment in a new location with unfamiliar weather:
Keep a weather bag
Keep a “Weather Bag” in your vehicle and fill it with a few items such as extra clothing, non-perishable foods, water bottles, power cords and medicine. Having these items in your car allows you to travel in comfort with necessities on-hand.
Avoid driving in flowing water on the roadways.
Often it can be difficult to know exactly how much water is in on the road when it’s raining, but if you notice it beginning to rush down the road, don’t continue any further. It only takes 6-inches of flooding to lose control and take your vehicle off track.
Watch for unusual clouds
Watch closely for unusual clouds moving into your area. Often times, clouds can be the first telling sign of bad weather. Dark and/or green-tinted cloud coverage can be an indication of severe thunderstorms, hail or possible tornadoes.
Stay away from water and wires.
Electricity can flow through these elements even if lightning strikes are a good distance away. It’s also encouraged that you stay off electronics that are hooked into an outlet and stay away from water sources.
For weather updates during your travels, be sure to follow the National Weather Service and their website at weather.gov
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If you’re ready for your next travel assignment, give Titan Medical a call today at 866.332.9600, and we’d love to assist in finding your next adventure!
We hope these tips for staying safe when severe weather strikes helpful. Do you have any tips for severe weather for travel nurses? Comment them below.
Are you looking for our next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel assignment? Click here to search our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Travel nursing is one of THE MOST talked about professions in the last two years in light of the COVID pandemic. I had heard of travel nursing long ago and knew it was something I wanted to do even before I got into nursing school. I loved the idea of traveling the country and having more schedule flexibility and financial stability. When I started travel nursing back in 2014, travel nursing was fairly popular but still a bit under the radar. Boy, did that change in 2020!
Fast forward to 2022, travel nursing is a buzzword and essentially a household name. There are talks of capping travel nurse pay, continued volatility of pay rate changes and contract cancellations, some voracious travel nurse recruiting companies, and perhaps a bit of a stigma now attached to the travel nurse.
So I’m here to talk about the case for travel nursing! For those unaware of what it is to be a travel nurse and perhaps those that may have a less than desirable opinion of travel nurses.
Because at the end of the day, just as nursing is in general, this is a great and honorable profession. Travel nurses (along with permanent staff, of course) have been very instrumental in helping to get over this COVID pandemic. Without travel nurses, hospitals would have been even more overwhelmed and unable to provide the care needed in very dire circumstances. Travel nurses do the same work as staff nurses, but sometimes we get a bad rap because people think we are just in it for the money. But it’s more than that!
The COVID pandemic has changed everything and, most dramatically, the healthcare system. The COVID pandemic brought an acute and immediate need for nurses EVERYWHERE. As a result of the high demand and obvious occupational dangers, the pay rates skyrocketed. And nurses noticed.
Why stay at a staff job for meager pay not comparable to the cost of living? Why be worked to bone with unsafe patient ratios and overbearing administration? It’s a no-brainer why nurses have left staff jobs to take high-paying travel nurse contracts. They get paid good wages, have the flexibility they want, and stay out of the hospital’s oppressive and demoralizing politics. So we leave to travel to afford us a better opportunity. An opportunity to make good money and take the time for rest all of us healthcare workers so very dearly need. It’s an opportunity to take a vacation of a lifetime, finally, pay off that debt, be able to afford your only daughter’s wedding, and finally be able to buy a house. The list goes on!
Isn’t that the American dream? I think any rational person given the choice between a staff job and a travel nurse would easily pick the latter, given the current circumstances. But not everyone can just pick up and do travel nursing!
It takes a special person. A brave person. To go out into the unknown, where you may not know anybody or anything. To trust that you will make it across the country in your beat-up car because you couldn’t afford a new one on a staff nurse’s pay. To leave your comfort zone of the hospital, you know, akin to Cheers… where everybody knows your name. To leave your support system behind. Or to bring your support system with you and adjust to frequent moves and all that traveling life brings. To strive to meet new people and make new friends. To do things solo and be ok with it. To spend more time by yourself and fall in love with yourself. To do things you only dreamed of and things you thought for yourself were impossible!
If there is anything the COVID pandemic has taught us is that life is so very short. It is too short to be stuck in a job you hate, or that is draining your life away. Nurses aren’t the only ones changing things up, though. We are in what we call “The Great Resignation.” Thousands of people are leaving their current jobs to pursue better opportunities. Opportunities that we nurses are also pursuing: better pay, fair treatment, safe working conditions, and more schedule flexibility. It’s pretty simple, really. But the COVID pandemic has really brought this to light.
People are tired, particularly healthcare workers. The healthcare system was broken long ago before the COVID pandemic. My father, a physician, tried to convince his children NOT to go into healthcare, and for good reason. But alas, 3 of us are now and now have an understanding of what he meant.
Nurses are tired of unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios, tired of meager pay, tired of always being expected to do more with less while the CEOs in business suits make decisions based on hospital profits. It’s a tough job. And what is even more concerning is that so many nurses are considering leaving nursing ALTOGETHER. And then where does that lead us?
So yes, we are making good money right now. And hopefully, this will continue but at sustainable rates. I don’t think anyone expects travel nurses to be always making $5000 a week. But keep in mind, we are having double expenses, keeping up residences at home, and now paying exorbitant housing rates.
But wouldn’t you do the same if you had the same opportunity? It’s human nature to strive for success and want the best for you and your family.
Maybe, for some of us, travel nursing is the only way to want to be able to stay in the nursing profession. Maybe, we can finally get a good work-life balance. Maybe, even though the job is still very hard and stressful and we fear for patient safety, we can at least be making good money.
To those resentful of travel nurses, the enemy is not travel nurses. Travel nurses are there to help alleviate the short staffing and work alongside you for better patient care and working conditions. They also deserve your respect and consideration. Just because we are travel nurses does not mean we are somehow superhuman and can take on more patient loads and be treated poorly. Please treat travel nurses as your own. We all know too well the toxic behavior catchphrase of nurses “eating their young.” Seasoned nurses being demeaning and condescending to new nurses out of spite. The same behavior can be seen towards travel nurses at times.
The problem is that healthcare is broken and has been for quite some time. Profits over patient safety, lining the hospital system CEOs’ pockets over staff pay raises, productivity over safe nurse-to-patient ratios.
Legislature, the enemy, is not travel nurse pay. Fix the problem, and you will find your solution. Mandate safe nurse-to-patient ratios, give the nurses the needed breaks, give nurses the pay they deserve. Give back to the community that cares for the sick, downtrodden, and dying. The community bore the CRUSHING weight of the COVID pandemic. Otherwise, you won’t have any nurses left.
So let’s give more love and kindness to each other. Be kind to each other. Treat travel nurses as your own. We are in this together!
I rest my case.
Gypsy love,
Katie
P.S. If you are ready to start travel nursing, hit me up! 🤙 😃
We hope you enjoyed and found this article on making a case for travel nursing educational and helpful. Do you have anything to add? Comment below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.
Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gypsy Nurse and its staff.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
As a travel nurse, you are a vital contributor to the healthcare industry. This isn’t just about your ability to provide your services to more people, either. You bring vital expertise to communities and patients that are underserved. Travel nurses are key influencers of wellness equality.
Still, it’s important to recognize your important work often comes with personal sacrifice. Your time spent traveling can mean your family life is disrupted, and you may not see your friends for weeks or even months. As rewarding as your nursing career is, your inability to maintain your relationships can have a detrimental effect on your well-being. The good news is, this isn’t entirely out of your control.
Let’s explore a few ways you can stay connected to your family and friends while traveling as a nurse.
Video Calls
Video call platforms have been among the most powerful tools available for our contemporary digital landscape. As a traveling nurse, it can be one of the most important ways you can help keep your relationships strong. There are a range of apps on the market that can bring your loved ones closer to you. These can be used on smartphones or your laptop, and it’s worth exploring which is most accessible to your family.
However, not all of your friends and family may be familiar with this technology. You might need to dedicate a little time and energy to working with them here. Anybody pursuing a career in healthcare needs to build a variety of skills beyond purely medical knowledge. Chief amongst these tends to be empathy and great communication. You may find you’ll be directing these toward assisting your family members over their initial hurdles with video call software.
Community Activities
One of the most difficult issues as a traveling nurse is the sense of isolation. Engaging meaningfully with the communities you’re visiting can actually be an important way to stay connected to your friends and family. On an emotional level, performing activities alongside local religious, social, and cultural groups can help you maintain the values that are central to your background. It can help you feel closer to your family even when you’re far away.
However, if you’re a parent and your child is traveling with you, getting involved in community sports events can be good for you both. Alongside the physical benefits, sports are known to have a range of mental health advantages. This isn’t just from the perspective of boosting your mood or aiding sleep. Both you and your child can gain from enhanced social experiences and strengthen your family bonds.
Social Media
There is a tendency as of late to talk about social media in a negative light. Particularly from a medical perspective, it has presented challenges with regard to misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s important to recognize it can also be an important communications tool. You can use your social accounts to connect to your friends and family and maintain your relationships throughout your time away.
This could include posting photographs of the places you visit on your Instagram account, or you could make TikTok videos of the adventures you embark on outside of your nursing duties. This doesn’t have to go down the common social media route of carefully curating your experiences to give the impression of perfection. You’re not posting for likes and follows. Rather, be open to sharing the realities of your life, the challenges of being a traveling nurse, and the ways you are coping. Make sure your friends and family can see an honest depiction of yourself and encourage them to interact with you on these channels.
Special Deliveries
Delivery services have become far more accessible in the last couple of decades. No matter where you are in the world, there are ways to send your friends and family gifts. This can be a great way to stay connected to them.
You don’t need to send expensive items. Rather, make them meaningful. You can order meals that have significance in your family or friendship group and have these delivered occasionally. You could even arrange to share the meal virtually over a video call.
It can also be fun to ship small souvenirs from the area you’re staying as a traveling nurse. Be sure to buy from small local businesses and craftspeople. This way, your family and friends get to share a little of your experiences with local products and customs.
Conclusion
Being a traveling nurse often means spending significant time away from family and friends. The good news is there are effective tools to help you stay connected while you’re away. Help your family to utilize video call apps and find ways to engage meaningfully with the community. Social media can be a great way to share your experiences with your loved ones. Alongside sending the occasional small gift, these steps can help you make sure you don’t just maintain your bonds but also strengthen them.
We hope you enjoyed this article on ways to stay connected to family and friends while on travel assignments. Are there any ways that you use to stay connected to family and friends that we didn’t mention? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Whether you’re on your lunch break or on the road between travel assignments, podcasts are a great companion for a travel nurse or allied professional. Sure, they can be entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking—but let’s be honest, having a familiar podcaster in your ear is also a bit like having a friend to travel with you.
Deciding what to listen to, however, can be overwhelming. According to Podcast Insights, there are more than 48 million episodes in circulation! Nursing-related podcasts still make up a small niche within that ocean with many emerging just over the past five years—including a slim selection of travel nursing podcasts.
To help you curate your best podcast playlist, we’ve put together a list of a few of our favorite informative podcasts. Have a listen!
Ask Nurse Alice
Frequency: 2-4 episodes each month
Host: Alice Benjamin, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C
Nurses and allied professionals have to navigate many different issues as both travelers and medical professionals. Ask Nurse Alice is a nursing podcast that draws on Benjamin’s more than 20 years of nursing experience and brings on a wide range of guests to share their personal stories and take a critical look at healthcare industry trends, day-to-day realities, and how to navigate health issues.
Hosts: Amie Archibald-Varley, RN, BScN, MN- CP Women’s Health and Sara Fung, RN, BScN, MN, IBCLC, CAPM
People rely on The Gritty Nurse Podcast for unfiltered and engaging conversations for healthcare professionals about topics that are often considered too taboo. Driven by a desire to get these issues on the table, Canadian nurses Sara and Amie dig into topics like racism, bullying, and accountability through the lenses of healthcare providers.
Frequency: New episodes released sporadically but regularly
Hosts: The folks behind TravCon, an annual conference for travel nurses and allied professionals
Travel Nursing & Allied Life isn’t just an obvious choice because of its name, the podcasts serves up a lot of different information for travelers—including episodes for those who are interested in taking assignments outside of the U.S. Since most episodes feature speakers and exhibitors from TravCon, a conference for the healthcare travel industry, the show can have a promotional flavor. However, it’s still a great way to meet interesting fellow travelers, discover new tools created specifically for this community, and stay on top of what’s new for your travel nursing career.
Keith Carlson is committed to his own nursing career as well as coaching others, and he’s turned that passion into the Nurse Keith Show. Episodes typically feature an interview with guest nurses or other healthcare professionals with conversations about professional development, news and technology that can impact our work, and more personal topics such as burnout and mental health—factors that have prompted many in our field to pivot over the past few years.
While this podcast is broadly related to healthcare, Dr. Jena is a Harvard physician and economist who brings this dual perspective to a cross-section of topics. Some topics are things you may have pondered during a long shift while others may seem a bit more abstract, but every episode offers a thought-provoking discussion that may change the way you think.
Episode to start with: We’ve all seen the placebo effect in action. In “Is the Placebo Effect for Real?” Dr. Jena explores how the placebo effect works and whether there’s a way to put that effect to good use in practice.
Atlas Obscura
Frequency: Weekdays
Host: Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura
Fuel your wanderlust with short features about weird and wonderful sites in the U.S. and around the world. The Atlas Obscura podcast draws on the website’s extensive collection of stories and can put all kinds of detours on your radar for future assignments.
We hope you found this article helpful and that you can check out these podcasts. Are there any podcasts you would recommend for travel nurses? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Getting ready to hit the road for another assignment? The life of a travel nurse can be full of excitement and adventure, but it can also cause a ton of stress and inconvenience without the right preparation. To help you avoid this situation, we’ve made a list of 6 packing tips for travel nurses that are easy to remember and simple to do.
Let’s get started.
Tip #1: Find out how long you’ll be traveling
Being on the road distances you from a ton of society’s modern conveniences, e.g., department stores, specialty boutiques, and restaurants. Before embarking on the next journey of your life, find out exactly how long this trip is going to be. That way, you can come up with an appropriate estimate of items to bring on your trip. Some assignments may take nurses over a month to complete. Others may only last a few days.
Tip #2: Location, location, location
Our second travel nurse tip is to research details about your assignment location. Is the climate warm or cold? Does it rain a lot in the area? What activities can you participate in while you’re there? Will you need to get any papers or certificates while in the area, e.g., a driver’s license, IDs, a card to ride public transportation? Knowing details like this can help you get a better idea of what items you need to pack and what procedures you need to follow.
Tip #3: Personal care items first
If you’re someone who’s particular about the products you use on yourself, make sure you pack all your personal care items first. Everything from your skincare essentials down to your favorite brand scrubs. Some states or countries may not carry the product you’re using or perhaps may not have the model you’re looking for in stock.
For some women, this may also mean packing more period underwear than you normally would. You never know what period accidents may happen while you’re during your assignment. In this case, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Tip #4: Travel light
Unless you’re planning to stay in a location for more than a couple of weeks, you don’t need to bring an excessive amount of things with you. Apart from really important papers and personal care items, everything else you need you can simply buy or rent while you’re in a foreign location.
Travel nurses need to be quick on their feet in case of emergencies or new assignments. Traveling light reduces the level of struggle that you may experience during each transition. So as much as possible, stick to the basics.
Tip #5: Consider compression bags
Running out of luggage space? Compression bags are nifty equipment that you can use to squeeze your clothing into tighter shapes, so you can easily squeeze them into your suitcase. They come in a variety of sizes and, most cases, in sets. The great thing about compression bags is that they can also keep your things protected from possible leakage in your bags, e.g., from lotions, oils, and creams from your personal care items.
Tip #6: Consider leaving behind unnecessary items
If you want to make more room in your suitcase, perhaps consider leaving a few items that aren’t technically necessary on your trip. For instance, you don’t need to bring along your entire library of books. Get a kindle and download all the titles you want to read on that single device.
Want to take amazing pictures of the sights you visit? Most mobile devices nowadays have cameras that can take HD images that are just as good or even better as larger cameras.
Pack it all up!
Packing for a nursing trip can be overwhelming, especially if this is your first time. However, with the tips that we’ve given you above, you should be able to manage packing without any trouble. Enjoy your next nursing adventure!
We hope you found this article with 6 packing tips for travel nurses helpful. Do you have any packing tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Administering calming techniques to distressed patients is a skill of great value to any travel nurse because, let’s face it, most patients don’t enjoy being in the hospital.
It can be a trying time, and it’s common for patients to struggle with fear, stress, anxiety, pain, and other physical symptoms.
You must use emotional intelligence when dealing with difficult patients. This refers to non-clinical skills like self-awareness, social awareness, and self-regulation. Learning how to stay calm takes intention and skill.
Sometimes, the stress can get the best of the patient, and their emotions take over. It is important that you understand how to stay calm and implement the best calming techniques when dealing with difficult patients.
How to Stay Calm When Dealing with Difficult Patients
1. Actively Listen
Patients lack control. Nurses and other staff are in and out of their rooms at all hours of the day and night. This can stir up anxiety and fear. Allowing the patient to voice their feelings openly is a useful calming technique and improves the patient experience.
Take a few minutes to sit and truly listen to your patient’s fears and worries. Talk to them and encourage them to speak their mind. Asking open-ended questions encourages communication.
Are you struggling with how to keep them talking? Simple questions like “How are you feeling?” or “Is there anything I can do to help you?” work great. Using affirmative statements like “I hear you,” let them know you’re interested in connecting and helping.
2. Compassion and Empathy
According to a study by Louise Bramley and Milika Matiti, compassion is a fundamental part of nursing care. Showing compassion when dealing with difficult patients builds relationships and breaks down barriers between you and the patient.
Patients don’t want you to feel sorry for them. They want you to understand them. When you try to understand how your patient feels, you are empathetic. Empathy works well for dealing with difficult patients. It lets them know that you hear them and try to understand how they feel.
3. Use a Calm Voice
When dealing with difficult patients, you must stay calm. Keep your voice in a low pitch. Control the volume, tone, and speed of your voice. Speaking at a normal volume can help calm the patient. Most people instinctively match the tone and volume of the conversation.
4. Give Them Space
Tensions can arise when dealing with difficult patients. If the patient becomes angry, giving them plenty of space can be used with other calming techniques.
Taking a step back gives the patient a sense of control over the situation. If the patient is in bed, try sitting down across from them. If the patient is standing, you should stand too. Being on the same level as the patient de-escalates tensions.
5. Be Prepared
One study recommends receiving yearly training on dealing with difficult patients. These skills come with practice. This study also recommends using an objective scale to measure agitation and mitigate defensive behaviors. One such scale is the Behavioural Activity Rating Scale (BARS).
Another part of being prepared is understanding your own personal state of mind. Your own stress and frustration can make the situation worse. Remain calm. Observe the patient’s verbal and non-verbal cues for anger or physical agitation signs. Call for help if needed.
Dealing with difficult patients takes skill. Use these five tips to learn how to stay calm when dealing with distressed patients. Arm yourself with empathy, compassion, and the knowledge to know when you need help.
We hope you found these calming techniques helpful. Do you have any calming techniques you use for distressed patients? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Nursing is a highly demanding profession, both physically and mentally. In light of these challenges, it’s important to find a mode of exercise that suits you. Everyone has their own personal taste in exercise, but this article wants to demonstrate the power of pilates for those who are uninitiated.
Pilates and yoga are often confused with one another. While they have many similarities, it may surprise you that pilates originated in the early 20th century. Joseph Pilates developed a method he called Contrology. We now go with the eponymous name of ‘pilates,’ however.
Pilates comes in several forms, and most of them center around nine fundamental Pilates principles. They’re all to do with alignment and, as Joseph Pilates’ original name for the method suggests, control. Whichever type of pilates you land on, they’re all quite similar in this regard. Here are the main reasons for you to opt for this type of sports:
1) Improves your mental clarity
Student nurses often have to travel; in addition to learning in their job, they’re also churning out papers like an essay writing service expert. Keeping all these plates spinning at once demands that our minds have time to calm down.
Through its emphasis on breathing and flow, accentuates our mental capabilities. The near-meditative state can be advantageous for sorting out our mental clutter and making our plans for the coming days and weeks more palatable.
2) Improves your balance
As a nurse, balance is crucial in performing day-to-day duties, reaching over patients, and carrying precious medicines between wards, all in a busy hospital environment. Mat workouts are one of the most common ways of practicing pilates.
Pilates on a mat has the advantage of keeping you on your toes, which is where you’ll be during those long shifts. It feels terrific to have bare feet while exercising. That connection with the ground is, to coin a phrase, grounding. Your balance is a gift, and pilates will improve it tenfold.
3) Strengthens your core
A pilates table is a large bit of equipment which enhances various pilates exercise by adding resistance or changing the angle of exertion. A strong back and core are necessary for handling patients with care, and the range of exercises which pilates includes is well suited to building this type of strength.
By improving these facets, you will also improve your posture. And we know the psychological impact that presenting ourselves well has on those in our environment and our self-image too.
4) No impact training
Injury is a risk many nurses cannot take. Pilates allows a comprehensive workout without putting your body in harm’s way. Though soccer or hockey may feel like vigorous ways to let off steam, pilates can make you get a sweat on too. Given the tiring effort required to be a nurse, it only makes sense that your workout doesn’t beat you up even more.
5) Tones you up
Vanity is vanity; no one likes it. But coming off a long shift, you may feel like a frumpy and frazzled being. Pilates works in a very calm, controlled manner. These movements tone your body in ways and places you wouldn’t have thought possible.
Feeling fit, healthy, and looking good is a natural impulse. It can help improve your conception of yourself. The meditation element will also help you improve that sense of self-worth.
6) Helps meet friends and socialize
Collaboration, community, and camaraderie; that’s what being a traveling nurse is all about. Working in unfamiliar areas away from family or friends can make you feel lonely. This is a fantastic way to meet friendly, like-minded people. Whether they’re nursing or not, group exercise is a way to build strong bonds.
As nurses, we’re super aware that social bonds are essential for our health. So, combining the healing, strengthening power of pilates with a social group is the perfect way to unwind after a shift or prepare for the next one.
Hopefully, these points have persuaded you to grab a mat and sign up for the next class in your town. Traveling nurses need to look after their bodies and minds. The restorative power of pilates is perfect for this profession. And, given the benefits of exercise, which are extolled on patients, being able to talk about it with them from the perspective of experience will help them embark on this journey too.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
I have been a travel nurse for five years, going on 6. It is pretty clear I love it and am addicted to the lifestyle. Like with any career there is the good and bad in travel nursing. Below are what I consider the good and bad of travel nursing.
The Good:
Some of the pros of travel nursing are experiencing a new city not just as a vacationer but as a local. You get to meet plenty of co-workers who obviously are from the location you are traveling to. This leads to new friendships and experiences, not just as someone who is visiting for five days.
You get to try the local food and hang out at the popular spots on your days off. Friendships are created, which gives you a base you can return to if you ever wish to visit again.
You acquire a whole new array of skills and work with patients of different demographics. You become very malleable and become able to be thrown into any situation and excel. Your resume becomes very impressive. Not to mention, your bank account bulks up with your new travel salary.
Along with anything good, however, comes the bad.
The cons of travel nursing are not having your hospital match your 401K, which is what plenty of companies offer. If you do not take your travel company’s health insurance, because you hop from company to company, chances are you have to find your own.
If you travel alone, you are thrown into an unfamiliar city and have to make all new friends. Depending on your personality, this may be difficult for some. You could be up to 3000 miles away from home, which could lead to homesickness.
As beneficial as being thrown into unfamiliar situations can be to the development of your skills, you have to accept that you will be thrown into the fire and be forced to learn as you go. When you do not know the staff as a traveler, some units may be reluctant to help you until they get to know you better. Often the hospitals you are assigned to work for are in crisis mode and are hurting for staff, so depending on the state you work in, you may be going out of ratio.
Travel nursing has been the greatest experience of my life. It has led me to be the nurse I am today. I have created countless friendships, seen the county, and feel as if there is not a single situation I can’t handle in the hospital.
We hope you found this article on the good and bad of travel nursing helpful. Is there any other good or bad things we missed? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel nurse assignment? Click here to search our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
It’s a beautiful year to explore some incredible new locations, travelers. And when it comes to spots for your next travel nursing assignment, the cool thing is that every traveler is looking for something different, which means great-fitting jobs for everybody! Or, as Amy Poehler says, “There’s a lid for every pot.” When it comes to travel nurse assignments, there tend to be locations so popular that they’re nearly universal and always sought after, those simply in high current demand, and those hidden gem locations that only the savviest travelers will discover.
Here are our top 20 travel nurse destinations for 2022!
1. Anchorage, AK
Travel nursing assignments in Anchorage offer great adventure with Alaska’s unique location, culture, and otherworldly natural beauty making it a fantastic travel nurse destination. As the state’s largest city, Anchorage offers a neat blend of both wild and urban places to experience. Here you can explore trails, peep wildlife like moose, bears, and whales, see (and hear!) glaciers, and tons more in the wild. Explore the indigenous culture at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, or shop for Native crafts and art, fresh seafood, or other wares. Bonus: Shopping in Anchorage is tax-free! And yes, it gets cold here. But bundle up, and you might see the northern lights or midnight sun, go dogsledding, take a day cruise, kayak with expansive views of unspoiled nature, and so much more. It’s an enjoyable place to spend 13 weeks building your career in care! Barrow, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Soldotna are a few other incredible cities for Alaska assignments.
2. Jacksonville, Florida
On the other hand, this hotspot in northern Florida is the largest city in the Sunshine State and a heavenly place for your next travel healthcare job. From downtown high rises to the most extensive urban park system in the nation, JAX (as the locals call it) has something for everyone to enjoy. Originally dubbed “The River City by the Sea,” the presence of St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean make JAX a water lover’s dream indeed. Think sun, sand, boating, fishing, and diving — plus arts and culture, a lively music and nightlife scene, foodie-approved dining, fun riverwalks, and tons more. Also, the cost of living is solid in this city, so blessed by beaches! Explore Jacksonville travel nursing assignments and see if this sunny hotspot is the right fit for you.
3. Falls Church, Virginia
This charming town of approximately 15,000 offers travelers a little bit of everything. It may be small, but it’s just a 25-minute drive to everything Washington, D.C. has to explore — including some of the nation’s top tourist sites, museums, and more. However, this quaint, historic town has plenty to explore, too, like classic Victorian architecture, arts and entertainment, great dining and shopping, parks and hiking, Great Falls and the Potomac River, and so much more. Enjoy access to the big city but only when you want to venture in and spend the rest of your assignment in this adorable enclave! Explore Falls Church travel nurse jobs and see if this is the Goldilocks spot for you.
4. Phoenix, Arizona
The larger Phoenix area is a conglomeration of suburbs and cities, so this entry comes with many bonus location options and tons to do and see. Phoenix travel nursing jobs are a great choice this year for travelers who want to escape colder weather, explore the Southwestern U.S., golfers, hikers, nature lovers, art lovers, and others. Nearby Chandler is also a popular spot for an Arizona travel healthcare assignment. Not in the mood for a major metro area but still feeling a location in the Southwest? Check out Show Low, Arizona.
5. Tacoma, Washington
With a location just south of supersonic Seattle, many travelers will choose a healthcare travel job in Tacoma this year. Like its famous neighbor to the north, Tacoma has great art (it’s known in particular for glass art), creative culture, and it sits on the Puget Sound. But it all comes with a lower cost of living — which can go a long way for travelers’ take-home compensation! This is a hidden gem and an excellent spot for a travel assignment. Nearby Gig Harbor, Washington (just 20 minutes away) is also a prime location. On your days off, you can explore everything the Evergreen State offers — from the Seattle city scene to the natural beauty of its many mountain peaks and forests.
6. Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia should be on your mind when it comes to your travel nurse career. With its consistently available jobs and chock-full of Southern charm attitude, most travelers find Atlanta travel nurse assignments to be just as sweet as a peach! This capital city has many exciting features like pro sports teams, fantastic dining, shopping, history, and more to explore on your days off. Check out the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park, the Fox Theatre, Stone Mountain, World of Coca-Cola, and Piedmont Park.
A travel nursing assignment in the Aloha State is a dream for many travelers for obvious reasons. Make your dreams come true with a travel nurse job in Honolulu! There’s probably no need for us to explain why Hawaii is on this list of popular travel assignments for the year. But to nutshell it for anyone who doesn’t know, this city and its surrounding area are known for surfing, beaches, lovely tropical climate, Pearl Harbor, lush flora, volcanoes, rich Polynesian culture, nightlife, and tons more. It’s basically paradise, OK? Hilo, Waimea, and Kealakekua are a few other great cities for Hawaii travel jobs.
8. Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is an incredible little city (population just over 30,000) in north-central West Virginia, not far from the Pennsylvania and Ohio borders. The city sits along the Monongahela River and is known for its arts culture, mountaineer history, great people, and a strong food and drink scene. It’s a college town — the Art Museum of WVU, Mountaineer Field, and WVU Core Arboretum are big draws for those who take travel nurse jobs in Morgantown. And also a nature town — explore Cheat Lake, Coopers Rock State Forest, WV Botanic Garden. About 150 miles east is Martinsburg, another excellent travel nursing location to consider in West Virginia.
9. Santa Cruz, California
Sun, sand, surf. If these are a few of your favorite things, talk to your recruiter about a travel nursing job in Santa Cruz. Many people visit this charming seaside destination, but it’s a real treat to spend 13 weeks (or more!) really exploring and taking it all in as a traveler. There’s so much to do and see here; let’s do a quick roll call: the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (complete with rides, entertainment, dining, and attractions), lots of great beaches like Main Beach and Cowell Beach, the Santa Cruz Wharf, whale and dolphin watching in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, great surfing and a surfing museum, quaint Downtown Santa Cruz, historic Santa Cruz Mission, Mystery Spot, incredible hiking and views, and all just a quick drive to the famous Highway One route along Monterey Bay. The San Francisco/Oakland area, just about an hour-and-a-half north, is another excellent area for travel jobs — or day trips!
10. Redding, California
California’s so huge and full of hidden gems that we’re giving The Golden State two spots on the list. Nature lovers will adore Redding, Northern California’s largest city north of Sacramento, with a population of 91,000+. Redding sits at the Sacramento Valley’s north end, just an hour south of Mount Shasta. The natural beauty is stunning and plentiful when you take a Redding travel nursing assignment, but the cost of living is low! Redding is known for the fact that hundreds of miles of State and National Parks and Forests are within just a 30-mile radius of the town. Must-sees include Sundial Bridge, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Shasta, and many more. Redding is nicknamed the “Gem of the U.S. Trails System” and the “Trails Capital of California.” We weren’t kidding when we said this place was a gem!
11. Lewes, Delaware
This hidden gem sits right where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean in the state’s beautiful Cape Region. Lewes is a tiny, picturesque town, and it’s perfect for travelers who love the sea, sand, and sun! The town’s also got a walkable historic district with cute shops, restaurants, museums, and more. And despite its small-town quaintness, the medical facilities in Lewes are excellent. The town’s known for its great cost of living, and the state’s well known for being a tax-friendly place — always a plus for travelers. There’s a biking/hiking trail to Rehoboth Beach, which is a mere six miles away, plus Lewes is adjacent to Cape Henlopen State Park, which boasts lots of beautiful beaches and more. Ready for a travel nursing job in Lewes?
12. Terre Haute, Indiana
Located in west-central Indiana, just 5 miles east of the Illinois border, this city of 60,000 sits along the Wabash River and is known as “The Queen City of the Wabash.” Terre Haute is family-friendly and known as an educational hub. Culture, art, architecture, football, dining, outdoor activities, and more beckon when you take a travel nurse assignment in Terre Haute. The cost of living here is well below average, allowing travelers to make their compensation stretch. Terre Haute is also just about an hour’s drive each to Bloomington and Indianapolis and about a 3-hour trip to Chicago. So, it’s a great home base for regional trips!
13. White Plains, New York
White Plains is just northeast of New York City near the Connecticut border. This outer suburb of The Big Apple is known for top-notch shopping and dining and also for great schools, culture, and healthcare facilities. It sounds like the perfect spot for a traveler who may want to explore NYC but doesn’t care to live in the city that never sleeps. When you take a travel nursing job in White Plains, you can access all of New York City’s culture, dining, theater, sightseeing, and more after just a quick half-hour train ride down. Also, White Plains has some pretty great stuff to explore itself, like the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Saxon Woods Park, Battle of White Plains Park, Percy Grainger Home, Westchester Mall, White Plains Farmers Market, and more. Daring travelers may also enjoy a helicopter tour of the NYC metro area!
14. Omaha, Nebraska
Take a travel nursing job in Omaha, and you’ll see why more folks should stop and stay awhile in “flyover country.” This mid-sized city sits on the eastern edge of Nebraska with a population of around 475,000 and a metro area population nearing one million. The state’s most populous city, Omaha’s full of friendly faces, sees all four seasons and has plenty to do on your days off. The historic Old Market, Dundee, Blackstone, and Benson are hip neighborhoods to explore for a night out and some foodie fun. The famous Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a must-see. Sports fans can take in a Creighton Bluejays basketball game or make the 45-minute drive to Lincoln during football season to join the famous Nebraska Cornhuskers “sea of red.” Plant one foot in Nebraska and one in Iowa on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Admire art deco architecture at Joslyn Art Museum and Durham Museum. Hike Fontenelle Forest and Lauritzen Park. Omaha’s big enough to have great dining, shopping, art, music, museums, and theater, but also petite enough to have a slower pace than major cities.
15. San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio may be known for The Alamo, but that’s not all you’ll remember from your time in this incredible city! In addition to warmer temps, travel nursing jobs in San Antonio come with lots of opportunities for historic sightseeing, shopping, dining, golfing, caving, day trips, and more. The must-dos are many here, but you’ll definitely want to see the Alamo, the famous San Antonio River Walk, Missions National Historical Park, the Pearl District, Market Square, and El Mercado. You can also take culinary classes at the Culinary Institute of America. Day-trippers will love jaunts to New Braunfels (a charming small town with a country music legacy) and Bandera (Cowboy Capital of the World).
16. Kansas City, Missouri
If you like BBQ, jazz, shopping, pro sports, and fine arts, consider K.C. This urban Midwest mecca sees all four seasons and has much to explore year-round, making it the perfect travel nurse destination. Here you can root for the Royals and cheer on the Chiefs, stroll Nelson-Atkins Art Museum and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, sample world-class BBQ and Beard-nominated fine dining, explore the American Jazz Museum, and tap your toes at local jazz clubs, have a blast at Worlds of Fun and a make a splash at Oceans of Fun — and tons more. Explore K.C. travel nursing jobs to find your perfect fit. Prefer to head a bit further south in The Show-Me State? Osage Beach is another great location that allows you to explore the Lake of the Ozarks!
17. Roseburg, Oregon
This gem in southeast Oregon has a population of about 25,000 and is known for its cool culture and stunning natural beauty. Roseburg sits in the heart of the beautiful Umpqua Valley. Its charming, walkable, historic downtown is known for unique shopping, restaurants, and galleries. On the outdoors tip, you can’t skip a stone around here without hitting an epic trail, waterfall, or forest. That means great rafting, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and scenic views. Luckily for you, this is also the land of historic, award-winning wineries and craft breweries galore if you’re thirsty after all of that fun in the great outdoors. Cheers to you because Roseburg travel nursing jobs are a great choice! Klamath Falls, about three hours southeast of Roseburg and known as the gateway to Crater Lake National Park, is another excellent location for travelers in Oregon. Roseburg is a great travel nurse destination for outdoor lovers.
18. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Travel healthcare jobs in Myrtle Beach come with the city’s famous 60-mile stretch of sandy beaches and boardwalks (part of the Grand Strand along the South Carolina coast), attractions, entertainment, golf, dining, and shopping galore! Broadway on the Beach is a bustling, touristy entertainment complex that’s a must-do for many. But from Vegas-style shows to more traditional theater to fine art offerings, there’s a bit of something for all tastes here in Myrtle Beach. The seafood, of course, is fantastic here, but you’ll find a full menu of foodie faves as well — from fine-dining sit-downs to boardwalk grab-and-gos to fresh ingredients you can whip up in your kitchen. In addition to the beautiful beaches, nature stuns everywhere in Myrtle Beach. Duck the beach crowds for some me-time at Myrtle Beach State Park, Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens, Conway Riverwalk, and Murrells Inlet MarshWalk. Also, whether you prefer golf or mini-golf, Myrtle Beach is a wonderful place to tee up on your day off.
19. Aurora, Colorado
If you love the mountains and city life, a travel nursing assignment in Aurora is an excellent travel nurse destination for you. Aurora is Colorado’s third-largest city, and it’s only about a half-hour drive from downtown Denver, so you’ll have access to all the world-class dining, art, sports, shopping, culture, events, and attractions that the larger Aurora/Denver metro area has to offer. But, the great thing about this location is that even though you’re surrounded by all the benefits of urban living, you’re never too far away from a serene mountain getaway here! So, you can add hiking, skiing, rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding, golfing, fishing, and so much more to your to-do list when you work a travel job in Aurora. This is a fantastic location for nearly any traveler — the mountain air and majestic views of colorful Colorado will do wonders for your mental and physical health!
20. Augusta, Maine
This quaint New England town of about 20,000 sits right on the Kennebec River. Augusta is the Maine state capital, located just an hour from Portland. This adorable town is known for its historic downtown (it’s a nationally designated Main Street community!) and streets lined with Victorian architecture. Speaking of historic, the Augusta’s Old Fort Western is the nation’s oldest surviving wood fort, built back in 1754. Not far from the fort, you’ll find Waterfront Park and the Augusta Greenway Trail, which is part of the larger, 6.5-mile Kennebec River Rail Trail and is a great spot for strolling and biking. Travelers also love the 224-acre Viles Arboretum, with its six miles of trails. Now imagine hiking, biking, and strolling all of that with the iconic New England fall colors all around you. This travel nurse destination sounds like heaven! Nearby Lewiston, Bangor, and Portland are also great locations in Maine for travel jobs — or fun spots for day trips from your Augusta travel nursing job!
Hopefully, our list of top 20 travel nurse destinations for 2022 gave you some inspiration and got you dreaming of where care will take you this year and beyond! Even if none of these hotspots for travel nurse destinations feel right for you right now, you can keep them in mind for later down the road. Plus, we’ve always got tons of open jobs — with new ones added every day! Are there any travel nurse destinations we missed on this list? Comment them below.
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