If you were born after 1980, you’ve probably been labeled a millennial. If you’ve heard that millennials are going to be the demise of the world, don’t worry, Gen-Xers heard the same thing, and so did Baby Boomers. Recent studies actually show that Millennials have some amazing qualities for life and work. So, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that millennials are opting for jobs as travel healthcare professionals. Of course, there are plenty of reasons healthcare professionals between the ages of 22 and 36 are more than willing to hit the road for work. Here’s just a few.
1. Travel Healthcare Professionals allows them to explore.
Considered the “wanderlust generation,” Millennials have a desire to get out and explore the world. They especially want to enmesh themselves in the local culture and live authentically [1]. They value experiences in life over possessions. Working as a travel nurse gives them the perfect opportunity to do this. Whether they travel to a hospital for a few weeks or a couple of months, they get the chance to live in the area, interact with locals, and plan for adventures on their days off.
2. They like change.
Unlike their parents, many millennials have no intention of staying with the first job they got out of college. In fact, 60% of millennial healthcare professionals leave their first job within eight years of starting it [2]. Previous generations would stay at a job even if they hated it because of the pension and retirement plan. Those are a thing of the past. However, living through the Great Recession thought them the value of money and the need to save. Travel healthcare professionals can help millennials find a median between change and stability. Travel healthcare professionals can stay with the same company and retain their benefits without having to work the same job day after day for decades. This gives them the best of both worlds.
3. They want a work-life balance that is hard to find in a typical job.
Millennials sometimes get the bad rap of being lazy when the opposite is true in reality. Thanks to technology, millennials have a very difficult time creating the perfect work-life balance. After all, even when they are off or on vacation, they still feel compelled to take phone calls and check their work email [3]. This is another area where travel healthcare professionals provides a huge benefit. Since they aren’t permanent employees, the facility demands will be less. Instead, when they work, they work, and when they are off, they’re off. Essentially, it allows for a work-life balance that can be hard to achieve in traditional nursing positions.
4. They appreciate the flexibility.
Once again, this is an area where millennials differ drastically. Older generations often yielded to the hours and environment of their employer. Millennials not only want, but they demand, flexibility in their work. Whether they need a schedule that accommodates their family or lifestyle, they want to work in positions that allow this. Yet again, this is an area where travel nursing has its advantages. He or she can decide what positions to take and where ultimately allowing them to work in a place that offers them the flexibility they need.
5. They thrive in new positions.
Millennials want to be engaged and challenged. They tend to flourish when working on new projects or in new environments. This is especially true when there are meaning and purpose to their work. Traveling from one place to another allows them to follow their quest for personal growth and commitment.
Today, millennials are the largest generation in the workforce. They want to have goals they want to accomplish while experiencing life. Travel nursing can help them do both.
References
[1] https://travel.usnews.com/features/why-millennials-have-become-the-wanderlust-generation
[2] https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/what-are-millennial-nurses-thinking-here-are-few-insights
[3] https://www.inc.com/ryan-jenkins/this-is-what-millennials-value-most-in-a-job-why.html