Being a travel nurse can be one of the most rewarding professions in healthcare.
Whether you want to explore the four corners of the U.S. or find the ideal place to settle down, travel nursing provides excellent opportunities for adventure, career enhancement and personal fulfillment.
But make no mistake, as a traveler, you’ll be assigned to hospitals or medical facilities that need your help. Whether it’s due to lack of staff or increased patient load – you’ll work hard every shift.
So how can you ensure that you enjoy your free time away from the hospital? Here are some tried and true methods for making your travel assignment more enjoyable.
Discover New Places
From the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest to the thrills of New York City, there are no limits to where travel nursing can take you. Assignments are available throughout all 50 states, from small towns in the Midwest to major metropolitan areas. Traveling provides nurses with the opportunity to live in any place they desire – something few professions can offer.
Make New Friends
One of the nice perks to traveling is getting to know new people. From your new colleagues at the facility to friends you make outside of work, traveling allows nurses from all walks of life to intertwine with new people and cultures. Travel nursing puts you in touch with people that you would otherwise never meet who share similar hobbies and interests. Establishing strong friendships as you get to know the city is one of the most rewarding parts of traveling, and something you can take with you for years to come.
Develop New Hobbies
Exploring new destinations can lead to new experiences, such as skiing or hiking if you’re near the mountains and surfing or biking if you’re near the beach. Traveling can help to develop new interests that you may not have access to back at home. The options are endless when traveling and a new location almost certainly brings about an opportunity for a new hobby or fun activity that you never expected.
Find a Great Place to Settle Down
Have you always wanted to live by the water? How about not having to experience a cold winter? As a travel nurse, you can test a variety of cities or locations before finding a place to settle down. This is a unique benefit to being a traveler – think of it as an opportunity to “try before you buy.”
Travel with a Friend, Spouse or Pet
One of the great perks about being a travel nurse is you can venture to a new location by yourself – or with a friend or spouse. Many travelers feel that not being alone when on assignment is one of the best benefits of travel nursing. What’s more, as a travel nurse, you don’t have to leave your pet at home. If you’d like to bring one along, ask your staffing agency about opportunities that include traveling with a pet.
At Focus Staff we understand the ins and outs of traveling healthcare professionals during these challenging times and have access to a wide variety of excellent professional opportunities. To learn more, contact us today.