Top 5 Perks of Travel Nursing

Updated on July 22, 2013

Screen Shot 2013-07-22 at 8.32.38 PMSo, you’re looking into becoming a traveling nurse. Maybe you’re channeling your inner nomad, you want to learn a new language or you’re going stir crazy in your everyday, routine life. No matter why you’re researching travel nursing as a possible career, you’ll be interested in these top perks.

All the Benefits of a Regular Job — and Then Some

Most nurses who quit their day jobs to travel the world find they earn just about as much, if not more, than they did in their regular full-time job. Some nurses earn more than $10,000 per month, www.travelnursing.org reports. While travel nurses work on a contract basis for shorter periods of time, their contracts generally include a cost of living and travel allowance in addition to their normal salaries. For registered nurses, average about $65,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That cost of living and travel allowance means you probably won’t have to worry that it costs $2,000 for that ticket to Malaysia. Your employer is going to foot the bill, and possibly even have an apartment waiting for you. Of course, details of each contract vary widely, but in general you can expect to enjoy a competitive income with benefits as you travel.

Plan Your Own Permanent Vacation

Want to walk in the steps of your Viking ancestors? Love the cold weather? You can likely find a job in Scandinavia for a few months. Or, if you’d rather be knee-deep in warm, blue water somewhere, just arrange to spend your spring months in the Mediterranean or Caribbean. The flexibility of travel nursing jobs allows you to choose where you want to go, then make it happen. Not sure where you want to go? Royal Caribbean International hires medical professionals with 3 years ER or ICU training. Cruise around while you decide.

Continue Your Education

By continuing your education, we’re not necessarily talking about formal classes. Traveling the world offers you an abundance of opportunities to learn languages, cultures and history. If you’re interested in learning Spanish, for example, you could immerse yourself in a Spanish-speaking culture and practice ordering your favorite cocktail over tapas in Spain. Getting out of your own little world is a great way to see more, learn more and develop an interesting mind.

Gain Valuable Experience

By working in a wide variety of hospitals and clinics around the world, you’ll be adding valuable experience to your resume, sharpening your skills and making contacts that will last you a lifetime. This is a career move you won’t regret, even if you decide to quit the nomadic lifestyle further down the road.Try Out a New Place Before Moving

If you’ve ever thought about packing up and moving overseas, but weren’t sure about the details, you’ve probably wished there was a way to test drive your new lifestyle for a while. Travel nursing offers the perfect opportunity to try out a new country and see how you like living there before committing to a complete, full-time move. You can stay in one place for just a few weeks or months at a time. What better way to give yourself an idea of what to expect in a new locale?

Have you considered a career in travel nursing? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

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