NewsBreak Original

For nurses looking for flexible employment, travel nursing provides many benefits. It offers a variety of assignments in different locations and specialty areas, allowing for more time off between contracts.

We spend our first holidays away from family as full time RV Newbies in the Hill Country of Texas (Fredericksburg, TX). By the time we knew it Thanksgiving popped up on the calendar and we were unprepared. So we decide to pick up some things for our throw together RV Thanksgiving dinner. We hit the road to spend the first part of our Thanksgiving weekend in Fredericksburg, TX. Originally a German pioneer town, this place is very popular for Texans as a not so far away holiday getaway. For such a small town, there is a never ending amount of places to check out between restaurants, wine shops, clothing stores, etc. PLUS, you can walk around Main Street with alcohol, which was a nice little surprise. We were hoping this trip would get us in the holiday spirit. Fredericksburg 55 Nights of Lights definitely did the trick! Victoria is officially ready for Christmas.

Travel nursing isn’t new. It’s actually been around for a while. And even so, there are still some basic curiosities about being a travel RN. And even to this day, there are many tall tales and misunderstandings about travel nurse pay rates, how a traveler is treated at different facilities, and of course, the lifestyle that comes with being a nomadic RN.

Why would anybody in their right mind want to become a nurse now?. That was the question my wife asked me after hearing the verdict in this case. Why would I want to continue being a nurse from this point forward? That was what I said back to her.

Nowadays, travel RNs are making top dollar for their skills. Crisis work, and travel gigs in general, are the hot topic everyone is chatting about. As a travel RN myself, I know that it's always something we discuss at the dinner table. Even when we're on the road.

Like every other muscle in the body, the mind needs exercise to gain strength. It must be cultivated and developed over time with regular effort. Of course, if you haven't forced your mind to bend and grow in thousands of little ways throughout the years, it will fold when things get tough.

Becoming a travel nurse can help you pay off your student loans. Not only do you receive a higher salary than you would as a staff nurse, but you also receive a housing stipend and per diem. You shop less when you travel due to less space, and working overtime is a great way to make extra money. All of these factors can help you pay off your student loans in no time.

We all know that nurses are the backbone of a hospital. Heck, nurses are the backbone of the entire healthcare industry. They are the ones who are by the patients' side 24/7 and who make tough decisions when it comes to patient care. They work diligently to stay current on the latest medical advancements.

Nursing is changing, and some say for the worst, especially if you're a "younger" RN. Mainly because Millennials and Gen Z nurses are taking it hardest. While I don't necessarily agree with that sentiment as a blanket statement, some stats may actually point to that being true, especially for millennial RNs or Gen Z nurses looking to start or continue travel nursing.

Travel nurses work in a high-stress environment and often find themselves struggling to manage their emotions. They may be angry, frustrated, or depressed. It's essential for nurses to learn coping mechanisms to help them manage these feelings to continue providing excellent care to patients.

Travel nursing might be hectic and unpredictable. A smartphone can help you stay in contact with your travel firm, track your working hours, and even assist you in locating lodging for the next contract.

We all have some dream location where we've wanted to be a travel nurse, am I right?. For some of my RN friends, it's the beach. I mean, who wouldn't love a gig in LA, Miami, or even the northwest around Seattle or Oregon. Then some want big cities, and some who shun the hustle and bustle of city life.

No one is perfect. And no one will ever be perfect. This is a truth - a sad truth, but a truth nonetheless. While it does sound deflating at first, the fact that you're not perfect doesn't have to upset you or break you into pieces.

Perhaps you’re a registered nurse, or maybe you’ve been thinking about a career move. Either way, if you’re here and reading this right about now, then it’s likely you’re a bit curious about what this travel nursing thing is.

When I was offered a travel assignment in Europe, many of my colleagues were flabbergasted. Truth be told, I was as well, to an extent. However, when a fellow travel RN asked how one goes about nabbing a gig like that, I have to say there wasn't a step-by-step plan. It was more a sequence of events and, more so, people who I've met and connected with over the years.

The nomadic nursing life has, without a doubt, lots of fun perks, side effects, and benefits. In fact, so many that we might often forget that we still need to take care of #1.