How to Maximize Your Potential as a Traveling Nurse
Travel Nursing has been a booming industry for the last decade, offering an opportunity for individuals to explore diverse cultures and expand their understanding of different lifestyles. No longer confined to being in just one place, Travel Nursing allows nurses the chance to test out their skills and refine them during exciting trips all over the world. However, before considering a career in this field there are many things you should be aware of- some benefits, but also potential risks. This blog post will provide some insight on what it is like to travel as a nurse, highlight the current trends in this industry and offer practical tips on how you can maximize your potential as a traveling nurse.
Nursing is not your ordinary job where every day is going to be the same. Not only is it an exciting career, but it also allows you the freedom to experience something new on a daily basis. Travel Nursing offers you the chance to explore different parts of the world and improve your skills in an international environment. Individuals who decide to travel as a nurse could have many reasons; some might be looking for a change of scene, others are attracted by new experiences or perhaps they just want to expand their medical knowledge. Whatever your motives are, it's important to know what you're getting into before climbing aboard that moving bus!
As with any job, there are some pros and cons involved when you choose this route of employment. It is important to weigh up both sides before deciding if this is a career for you.
The main pro to working as a traveling nurse is the experience and insight you absorb from living in an unfamiliar environment. You can learn something new every day and expand your knowledge no matter where you are in the world. As well as that, it offers a chance to test yourself, which can sometimes be more helpful than sitting on the same ward day after day.
Working as a traveling nurse also offers some financial benefits – you will be entitled to travel expenses and an accommodation stipend, giving you the chance to save up some money while travelling. If a certain place becomes your home for a while, you will also be eligible to claim back any accommodation you have spent on that country.
If you're looking at traveling while working as a nurse, make sure to ask yourself some questions first. You'll want to know whether it's the right career choice for you, but also whether it's something that suits your lifestyle and how much money you want to spend. If you decide against this job, the next step is finding another suitable alternative that meets your qualifications and lifestyle needs.
It is important to bear in mind that there is a lot more to being a traveling nurse than just moving from one country to another. You will still have the same responsibilities as anybody else working in this industry; you'll need to attend meetings, keep up with regulations and maintain your license.
A great benefit of traveling as a nurse is that you are still entitled to benefits that are usually only given to full time employees, such as holidays and sick pay. However, bear in mind that if you're working abroad you will most likely be entitled to different regulations, meaning you might not be able to claim more than your usual statutory leave entitlement.
You will also need to check the cost of your travel insurance; you will most likely be entitled to at least some form of insurance while working abroad. Some companies provide a service where they collect information on your contract, working hours, location and where you will be travelling to. This way they can ensure that you are covered for certain incidents that may arise during this time.
If you're looking for a more structured lifestyle and opportunity to develop your career in the medical industry, then perhaps traveling as a nurse is not for you. If you know exactly what you're getting yourself into, and are fully aware of the possible dangers, it might not be a bad idea to consider. For example, some countries are still very strict with health care, so if traveling as a nurse is your main goal you should be careful. Others would have different priorities and may not have much of an interest in healthcare or nursing.
Overall, travel nursing provides an interesting opportunity for nurses to explore new cultures and expand their medical knowledge while working abroad. For those who want a more structured lifestyle, but also the party lifestyle, travel nursing may not be for you. For those who are adventurous and curious, travel nursing could provide you with the flexibility you need to explore new areas and make lots of new friends. Whether traveling as a nurse or not, it's amazing to think that we now have so much more access to so many different parts of the world than we did 100 years ago. If you've ever wanted to go abroad indeed I would highly recommend going nursing!
DISCLAIMER: All information in this article has been provided for educational purposes only. All content within is owned by RN Networking. The purpose of this article is to promote new age healthcare information and awareness, not to be blamed if the reader chooses not to utilize, or believes the information cannot benefit them. Individuals should consult with health care practitioners before starting any new health care program or treatment. All material is copyright protected, any reprint, retransmission and/or unauthorized use of this material is strictly prohibited.
This post was written by Kate in California- a Registered Nurse who has a passion for writing about nursing subjects. She holds a degree in English from UCLA and has been working as a nurse for over 2 years now. If you're interested in travel nursing blogs, check out her site here: www.travelnursingguru.com.
Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jusnick/1646124544/in/photostream/ [not in the public domain]
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The Nursing Minimalist
comments... A slower pace of work and moving from country to country can be a good thing. You will have the chance to experience life and culture elsewhere. I think if you like that idea, it can be a great choice. If you are not into that sort of thing, perhaps your options are different than traveling as a nurse. Posted by: Jaiya at July 17th, 2013 06:23 PM (OIgvUN) Jaiya - note we don't use pay-to-view links in comments.
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"Travel Nursing: All about the money"....is a resource for nurses with tips on how to earn more money as a travel nurse. It can help you budget your travel expenses and find somewhere to stay. It was created by Kate from www.travelnursingguru.com . You can also join her website, where she answers questions about traveling in the medical field and traveling abroad as a nurse. Join Kate on Facebook , Twitter and Google+ .