Are you a person who would love to combine both stability and adventure in your career? Then, a job as a nurse traveling will be right up your street. You also get great pay and perks and limitless opportunities to take your career to the next level, learn new specialties, and travel around the country in some of the most exciting locations.

But not everybody is cut out for nurse traveling jobs. There is always the possibility of staying away for extended periods from loved ones, being posted to a location that you don’t like, adjusting to constantly changing environments, and more.

Whatever might be the pros and cons of a nurse traveling career, one thing is assured: you will never face a shortage of jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for traveling nurses will be growing at a steady 6% between 2021 and 2023.

This brings back the question – are you up to nurse traveling work? Here are 5 self-assessment questions to find out.

Question #1. Do you want a flexible schedule?

As a traveling nurse, you must be prepared to be work differently from permanent staff. How is that?

All traveling nurses have a contract that typically details the work schedule. It includes the shift, the length of the shift, the duration of the assignment, and time-off as decided mutually with the healthcare facility. Yes, traveling gives you the flexibility to decide your schedule, where to work, when to take a break, or when you would like to start. Your break might even mean a quick visit to a dream country. Such flexible schedules are rare in any other profession.

You will not get a fixed schedule in a nurse traveling assignment. This is because healthcare employers hire traveling nurses mainly when their permanent staff is highly overworked or stretched to the limit. You may be required to fill in during a busy season, work in positions where staff is probably out due to the flu, or even when training sessions take away most staff from their duties. You never know where you will be needed and have to be really adaptable.

If you are willing to accept flexible schedules there is nothing like nurse traveling as a career.

Question #2. Are you willing to work long hours?

Travel nurses frequently have to work long hours with little rest between shifts. This often causes great stress that leads to long-term burnout. Work-life balance is often a big issue with traveling nurses. When you are in a new healthcare environment, you might have to go the extra mile to prove yourself or work long hours when you are trying to master a new system. To keep yourself in peak condition physically, you have to take breaks to rest your feet or take a quick bite.

A 48-hour workload is not for everybody but if you are willing to work long hours, TactStaff ensures that you are adequately compensated for it. In addition to negotiating the highest hourly wage with healthcare providers, we also make sure that you get paid more for overtime hours. Initially, it might seem that you are sacrificing your freedom by working long hours but in the future, it means more money in the bank in less time. By getting a higher income, you can achieve more downtime between contracts. Work long hours and make the most of your nurse traveling job.

Question #3. Can you handle working with different people?

Travel nurses rarely know where their new contract will be. So we at TactStaff try and make life easy for them by trying to maintain location continuity as much as possible. On the upside, a nurse traveling career allows you to meet new people all over the United States. Most traveling nurses consider making new friends as part of their job’s perks. You get to live the rich experience of meeting fun people, whether at the workplace or outside.

You can’t expect others to have your lifestyle, the same outlook on life, or even your habits. Despite these differences, do you have it in you to seamlessly interact with others both where you are working and in your free time?

As a nurse traveler, it can be difficult to find time for yourself and forget about meeting others. But if you are interested in this career, you must be open to a vibrant social and work life. It brings positive vibes and opportunities into your professional life. Handling different people easily is one of the most important traits of travel nurses.

Question #4. Can you easily cope with working in unfamiliar settings?

Being able to get out of your comfort zone and easily cope well in unfamiliar settings is one of the biggest requirements of a nurse traveling job. It takes a lot of courage and determination to move to a new state leaving behind familiar settings and exploring the unknown. Every healthcare facility and assignment is unique. In one, you may find the hospital greatly helping you to acclimatize to the new setting, while in another, you might be hurried to the bedside.

One thing going for you is that other nurses in your new unit will be very grateful that you are there. They may have been overworked or else your services won’t be required. With that in mind, they will likely be more than willing help you adjust quickly to your new travel assignment. To be successful in your workplace, you should be quickly able to adapt to unfamiliar settings. Can you? If so, you will make a great travel nurse.

Question #5. Do you enjoy traveling?

If you enjoy traveling around the country or even the world and want to get paid for it, nurse traveling is the ideal career for you. Traveling nurses are required almost everywhere, you name a city and a need will be there. That, in a nutshell, means that you have a range of choices to pick your next adventure! Whether it is the glamor of the big cities or the serenity of a rural setting, you get what appeals to you. And we at TactStaff can make it happen as we have links with healthcare facilities all over the country.

Most importantly, your traveling schedule need not be based on the season as you can pick and choose your location at any time. Take up nurse traveling and see the world.

Last word

How have you ranked with the questions? Do you feel that you can be up to the mark as a travel nurse? Our dedicated team at TactStaff can make it happen for you with your choice of places, settings, and pay structure. Decide your schedule, the working hours, and the number of hours per week working and TactStaff will make it happen for you. Travel with Tact today!