A lot of people assume that traveling nurses are just fill-ins for home care assignments. Well, there is much more than that. There are much more assignments and placements than working in someone’s home. Traveling nurses are essential to the medical industry. Here is what a traveling nurse does.
What is a Traveling Nurse?
Traveling Nurses are assigned to hospitals or other facilities that are short-staffed or in need of special skills. These nurses do short term assignments; they are not long term workers. They stay in a facility until they are not needed or the work is done. Because of the nurse shortage in America, traveling nurses are needed more today than ever.
Because these nurses are independent and usually work for an agency that could place them anywhere, even in another country. Lots of people are flocking to this type of job because of the many perks it offers. From discovering new places to the great pay, this is an amazing job for any nurse who is looking to get out of the everyday rut of working in the same place.
As a traveling nurse, the pay is not measured by experience or education. A traveling registered nurse with two years of experience can make the same amount of money as a registered nurse who has 15 years of experience. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to optimize their paycheck while gaining experience.
The Requirements for Becoming a Traveling Nurse
If you want to become a travel nurse, there are a few requirements. You need to be a registered nurse with a license in good standing with 2 years of nursing experience. There are no needed other certifications, but as you gain experience, you always want to further your education as a nurse. Adding certifications while working and traveling makes you more of an appealing employee.
What do Traveling Nurses do?
Traveling nurses usually work in their specialties, which means that their duties will vary. A general nurse’s responsibilities are:
- Examining patients while speaking to them about symptoms, and health histories to ensure that proper care and treatment is given.
- Delivering essential information and counsel to improve health.
- Playing a key role in medication and treatment delivery.
- Premform essinetal research.
- Collaborating with other health care professionals to ensure a high quality of care is given.
Traveling Nurse Pay
Well, we all want to know, what does a traveling nurse position pay? There is a potential of making around $3,000 per week. Traveling nurses can usually be paid $50 per hour with the perks of company-paid housing and amenities. This makes it possible for a traveling nurse to make up to $100,000 a year.
How to Become a Traveling Nurse
If you are reading this and thinking that this is a job for you, well, then there are a few things that need to be done before you jump all in. You want to be sure that this is the role for you. Here are the special characteristics needed to succeed in this role:
- Enjoys experiencing new cities, towns, and organizations.
- Enjoys freedom. Traveling nurses can choose when and where to work. They can also choose the duration of their assignment or employment.
- Enjoys flexibility; Since traveling nurses create their schedules, there is a great sense of flexibility with this role. There is also flexibility in benefit packages and income based on which agency you want to work with.
- Thrives with challenges; Moving to different locations can be challenging, especially when you are away from home. Also, learning new organizational systems can be challenging as well.
- Loves learning new things; each assignment can take you to new locations, new departments, etc. There are a lot of skills to pick up and learn. Especially with technology. It will only further your career.
Also, traveling nurses need supportive friends and families. It is difficult to pack up and move states away. You need a strong support system to get through the long periods when you can’t see them.
Conclusion
Becoming a traveling nurse is not only a great opportunity for you but a great opportunity for hospitals and their patients. A lot of these hospitals need great, knowledgeable, and highly skilled persons to help them through health crisis’, and lack of staff. TLC Nursing is a great place to get started if you are thinking of becoming a traveling nurse. With their highly knowledgeable staff, you will be able to further your career as a nurse.
