Top 5 Travel Nurse Benefits
Imagine a career where every assignment is a chance for a fresh adventure, diving into new cultures, and touching lives across the nation. That’s travel nursing. Unlike traditional nursing roles, travel nurses take temporary assignments in various locations, moving from one healthcare facility to another to fill staffing shortages. Besides adventure, there’re plenty of travel nurse benefits that make this job well worth your consideration.
This article offers an inside look into the pros and cons of being a travel nurse, giving you a glimpse into what it’s all about.
Snapshot of Travel Nurse Benefits
- Competitive pay: You’ll earn higher wages than in permanent nursing positions.
- Tax savings: You’ll enjoy tax-free stipends and reimbursements.
- Flexible schedule: You’ll be able to choose assignments that suit your lifestyle.
- Housing allowance: You may receive free housing or accommodation allowance.
- Opportunities to explore the country: You’ll explore new places and cultures.
What’s It Like Being a Travel Nurse?
A travel nurse is an independent contractor who temporarily fills staffing gaps at various healthcare facilities, whether across the country, locally in your own city, or even internationally. Assignments are usually 13 to 26 weeks. These nurses are hired by travel nurse agencies like Aya Healthcare or American Traveler that find the assignments, negotiate the contracts, and help the nurse settle into the new position.
When it comes to job responsibilities, they are similar to those of other nurses working domestically: they assess patients, administer medication, and handle documentation. On top of that, travel nurses need to:
- Adapt quickly to new environments
- Navigate various computer EHR charting systems, such as Epic or KIPU
- Understand state-specific RN/LPN/CNA scope of practice
- Build quick rapport with team members
- Be culturally competent
Top 5 Travel Nurse Benefits
1. Competitive Pay
One of the biggest benefits of travel nursing is its earning potential. Due to the urgent staffing need and stress arising from being thrown into a new work environment, travel nurses are paid a competitive hourly wage — sometimes even double the amount of the staff nurses.
- Hourly wage: Hourly rates vary by specialty. For instance, ER travel nurses earn about $51.56 per hour, while labor and delivery nurses make $57.33 per hour.
- Weekly wage: For example, a travel nurse earns about $2,657.4 per week, while a staff nurse only brings in $1,340.6 during the same period. That’s quite a gap.
- Yearly wage: The average travel nurse salary in the U.S. is $100,700 per year, which is higher than the national average for non-travel nurses, at $89,010. LPN travel nurses typically make around $74,520, while non-travel LPNs typically earn around $55,860. Wondering why the salary isn’t half higher? One reason is that travel nurses have breaks between assignments, while staff nurses work consistently throughout the year.
2. Tax Advantages
Among the benefits of being a travel nurse are tax deductions, reimbursements, and stipends to cover essential expenses related to the job. Here’s what you may be able to deduct from your taxes:
- Lodging expenses like rental housing or hotels
- Utilities associated with lodging
- Transportation costs such as airfare, car rentals, and auto expenses
- Meal expenses while traveling
- Work-related expenses including professional certifications, education courses, and uniforms
3. Flexible Schedule
The intense time spent during assignments is offset by your ability to choose when you begin another assignment. The length of your breaks is entirely up to you! You can simply recoup, take a vacation, pursue a certification, or do anything else that suits you. Want to work three months on and then take three months off? As a travel nurse, that’s absolutely possible.
4. Housing Allowance
Travel nurses in the US often receive a housing allowance — an amount of money to cover housing expenses — as part of their compensation package. It helps cover housing costs during assignments. In contrast, some agencies offer free housing, such as a furnished apartment near the workplace. It’s a valuable benefit that adds convenience and comfort to the travel nursing experience.
5. Opportunities to Explore the Country — and the World
Traveling and discovering new places is yet another of the numerous travel nursing benefits. You’ll encounter fresh landscapes, lifestyles, and new people. It’s especially true with international travel nursing, where you might work with people of different cultures. This is also a great opportunity to test a location before making a permanent move.
Disadvantages of Being a Travel Nurse
As you can see, there are plenty of travel nurse benefits. But what about the downsides? Are there any challenges of being a travel nurse? The potential drawbacks of working in this field may include:
1. Possible Passive Aggression From Regular Staff
Some of the full-time employees may feel resentful about the fact that travel nurses are paid nearly double the wages to do the same job. As a result, staff nurses might give travel nurses difficult assignments, refuse to help, or even bully them. Don’t let this discourage you — there are plenty of staff nurses and nursing assistants who are grateful for your help.
2. Travel Nursing Can Grow Tiring
Adjusting to new locations and facilities takes a lot of energy. Constantly repeating the moving process, learning new procedures, and meeting new coworkers are just a few examples of things that may grow tiring over time. As a travel nurse, it’s essential to prioritize self-care and learn effective stress coping strategies to ensure your well-being.
3. Facilities Might Alter or Cancel Contracts With Little Notice
A facility going back on their word can be jarring, especially if you’ve already arranged housing or don’t have a back-up job ready. This is particularly common in strike nursing, where facilities are always bargaining with staff to avoid strikes. It’s unfair, but it happens. To support yourself in case of a canceled assignment: build savings for financial security, have a lawyer review contracts, and take per diem shifts for income as you plan your next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions: Travel Nurse Benefits
What are top-paying travel nursing specialties?
Curious about which travel nursing specialties pay the most? Here’s a quick rundown of the top-paying travel nursing specialties:
What are top-paying nursing states?
Looking for ways to maximize travel nurse benefits? These are the states with the highest salaries for RNs:
What qualifications do I need to become a travel nurse?
You can work as a travel nurse with various levels of nursing qualifications, including licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
Enjoy the Many Travel Nurse Benefits Waiting for You
Ready for your next job adventure? Explore travel nurse job openings on IntelyCare across the nation and take the next step by applying today.