Getting The Maximum Out Of Travel Nursing

Traveling the country as a nurse expands ones skill set, helps them reach goals and gives them benefits they will only receive as a traveler. If a travel nursing career is a lifetime experience or needed to reach an important milestone, many nurses find traveling a great experience as a whole.Saving money is usually a key factor for the long-term traveler. Many travelers are able to take a year or two of assignments, close to home and pay off debt, or purchase a major item. With pay sometimes double what a nurse would make as a staff nurse and the tax free benefits saving a large sum of money monthly is easy for nurses and well worth the few years of being away from home, for many.If a nurse is interested in travel nursing jobs to experience a challenge and/or increase the profitability of a resume, new hospitals are a great place to start. Usually if a hospital is building an addition or a new location, they will want travelers until they are able to train new staff. A new hospital is great for nurses looking to work with new technology, state-of-the-art equipment or associate with staff that has break-though practices. A travel job is also a great way to get references from prestigious facilities and doctors. All of these features look well on a resume when a permanent position with higher pay is sought.When travel nursing jobs are desired because of the opportunities to see other places, the best way to approach the field is for a nurse to make a list of states that are of interest. The states should work from one side of the country to the other, and list the cities that are the best and worse choices for that state, if any. This list will do two things, it will help the recruiter see where to look for positions when a contract is almost finished, as well as keep travel costs down if the recruiter is told to concentrate on a radius near the last contract. If one starts on one side of the country and travels across to the other, they will be able to hit many states and can opt for 13-week contracts and then move on if an extension isn’t optimal.If a travel nurse job is being sought for the income opportunities, the tax free benefits will allow a nurse the ability to save or live a luxurious life-style while seeing the world. To take advantage of tax free meals, incidentals and housing a nurse needs to have a residence away from the job, that bills are being paid on while working. Most nurses get rid of their standard housing and rent a room in their hometown, or from a relative, which is the cheapest way to get the tax-free benefits. Doing this will also allow a nurse to go home and enjoy a few weeks off between contracts to see friends and family.Travel nursing is a great opportunity for those who are interested in seeing the world, without the savings account to do it with. Keeping a room or small apartment in a home state is necessary for the maximum benefits in pay and down time for a nurse. Mapping out the places one would like to travel will help a nurse and their recruiter decide what jobs are best. If a nurse takes the time to study the hospitals that offer travel nursing positions he/she will find challenging work, which is a great way to increase the magnitude of a resume.