Travel Nursing: High Pay and Adventure, But at What Cost?
Travel nursing is a career path that offers a unique blend of financial rewards and lifestyle freedom. But as with any profession, the allure of high pay and travel opportunities comes with its own set of challenges. While many travel nurses enjoy the flexibility of short-term contracts, the chance to work in new places, and the boost in income, they must also contend with the emotional toll of high-stress environments and the logistical hurdles of life on the road.
Key Takeaways:
- Travel nurses often earn significantly more than staff nurses. Average weekly earnings for travel nurses can be $1,400 to $1,960 higher than regular staff nursing positions.
- Travel nurses enjoy flexibility with short-term contracts. Contracts typically last a few months, allowing travel nurses to take time off between assignments and travel to new locations.
- The job comes with emotional challenges. Travel nurses often face demanding and stressful environments, particularly in prisons, hospitals, and crisis centers, which can impact their mental well-being.
- Logistical burdens are part of the package. Finding new accommodations, managing travel expenses, and navigating health insurance between contracts are common challenges faced by travel nurses.
The Appeal of Adventure and Opportunity
The ability to travel across the U.S. is one of the most alluring aspects of travel nursing. For many, it’s the chance to experience different cultures and environments, work in diverse settings, and see parts of the country they might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit.
Kirsten Newcomb, a travel nurse who moved to Maui in 2020, described her motivation as "adventure." "I just knew if I was going to start travel nursing, I wanted to go somewhere epic," she said.
Kevin Levu, another travel nurse, embraced the challenge of working in a maximum security prison in California. He saw the position as an opportunity to "experience something outside of the norm." While working with violent inmates is not for everyone, the experience provided him with a fresh perspective on his own life and freedom.
Shorter Contracts: Flexibility and Downtime
The short-term nature of travel nursing contracts offers significant flexibility. Nurses can choose the length of their assignments, often with the option to extend their contracts if they wish. This allows for extended time off between gigs, enabling travel nurses to pursue hobbies, visit family, or simply relax and recharge.
Aspen Tucker, a travel nurse who has worked in various locations, uses his time off to travel to far-flung destinations like Belize, Colombia, and Kenya. He describes travel nursing as a way to fulfill his lifelong goal of exploring the world, "When I was younger, I wrote down a list of places I always wanted to travel," he says, "I try to knock out every place on that list."
Financial Rewards: A Significant Pay Bump
Travel nurses typically command higher hourly rates than staff nurses. Combined with the tax-free bursaries or stipends they receive for living expenses, their overall income can be significantly boosted.
While the highest earning potential has since decreased from the peak of the pandemic, travel nurses still earn substantial premiums compared to their staff nurse counterparts. Newcomb saw her weekly salary triple when she transitioned to travel nursing, resulting in significant savings. Tucker, in 2022, saved enough money to make a down payment on a home, a feat that would have been more difficult with his previous staff nursing salary. Levu’s income doubled after he started travel nursing, providing him with much-needed financial security and "breathing space" in his monthly budget.
The Emotional Toll: A Heavy Price for Adventure
Despite the financial and lifestyle perks, travel nursing also comes with emotional challenges. Working in high-stress settings like prisons, hospitals, and crisis centers can take a toll on nurses’ mental health, particularly during demanding periods like the pandemic.
Newcomb described her experience working in a Dallas crisis center during the pandemic as grueling, witnessing more patients pass away than she had in her previous 10 years of nursing. Levu, while embracing the experience, acknowledged the impact of his work in a prison setting. "I have blood on my hands, and then later my shift ends," he said. "People are greeting me at the grocery store, and I’m like, ‘Dude, this feels a little unreal.’"
The long hours, often exceeding 48 or even 60 hours per week, also contribute to the emotional strain. While Tucker values the flexibility to take time off, he acknowledges the commitment required when working.
Life on the Road: Logistics and Challenges
Aside from emotional challenges, life as a travel nurse comes with logistical trade-offs. The need to constantly find new housing, manage travel expenses, and deal with the uncertainties of finding new contracts can be stressful.
Newcomb, despite enjoying the beauty of Maui, found the high cost of living there made saving money difficult. Similarly, Tucker found himself paying rent while still making mortgage payments, as well as covering the cost of pet care and home maintenance while he was away. Travel nursing also leaves many without health insurance between contracts, requiring careful management of healthcare costs.
Levu, while grateful for the experience, recognizes the inherent threat of violence in his prison environment. He sees it as a temporary career path before exploring other opportunities.
Travel nursing is a complex career choice, offering both enticing rewards and significant challenges. The decision to embrace this path requires careful consideration of the trade-offs involved. While some find the financial rewards and travel opportunities irresistible, others may find the emotional and logistical burdens too difficult to handle. For those looking for a career that offers high pay and adventure, travel nursing can be a fulfilling and exciting choice, but it’s important to understand the full scope of the experience before taking the leap.