A Career in Health Care
Independence and Adventure Found in the Field of Travel Nursing
A nurse "is a person who is trained in the scientific basis of nursing and meets certain prescribe standards of education and clinical competence. A nurse provides services that are essential to or helpful in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health and well-being." ("Nurse")
Becoming a registered nurse (RN) requires specific education. There are three ways to get this education. "Associate degree in nursing (ADN) programs takes 2 to 3 years in a community or junior college. There are Diploma programs that take about 3 years in a hospital. Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) programs takes 4 years in a college" (BLS Career Information).
There are also Continuing Education Credits (CEU's). These are short up to date information packets that can be worth one to five CEU's. Some states require a certain amount of CEU's per year. Individual facilities also have their own CEU requirements. CEU's can be obtained thru your employer, various web sites or magazines. Two of the most well known sources for CEU's are MEDCEU, www.medceu.com and RN.com. Pennsylvania has no CEU requirements.
Another type of education a nurse might need, would be specific field education or training. Such as, if a nurse chooses to work with cancer patients, they must become certified to administer chemotherapy. A cardiac nurse is required to have their Advanced Life Support Certification (ALS). For each specific field there are specific requirements in education and training.
There are thousands of different job opportunities for a nurse, each with its own unique environment. The typical job opportunities are in hospitals and long term care facilities. These are usually clean, well-lighted and well-organized work environments.
The next type of nursing is in the Occupational Health field; this is where you will find Industrial Nursing and Corporate Nursing. In this category you will find jobs in prisons, schools, military, insurance companies, legal consultants and factories. For example, Harley Davidson, who has there own occupational health office on the premises and employs several RN's. The environments of the above job settings vary, depending on location and facilities, however most are well-lighted and well-organized work areas.
There are also some unique, fun and interesting jobs available to nurses. These include cruise ships, resorts, and amusement parks, as for environment, well can you just imagine going to work at Disney World every day, or going to awesome destinations on a cruise ship! In most of these areas the nurse works independently.
The next type of nursing is agency and travel nursing, these nurses are frequently going from place to place on assignment, they can work in any one of the areas mentioned above, which is known as facility staffing, they can have just one assignment at a place or make a contract for a specific amount of time at one place. Agencies also provide home health nursing for the chronically ill patient and home hospice for the dying patient. Travel nursing is the area we will look at in depth.
Travel nursing "began in the early 1980s when health care facilities started experiencing seasonal and regional shortages. Since then, travel nurses have been used throughout the country on an ongoing basis to help ease staff shortages, adjust staff levels for specific times of year, or fill positions when nurses are on maternity leave or undergoing training. Because there are more nursing positions than there are nurses, the demand for travel nurses nationwide has continued to grow" (Travel Nursing).
According to one survey the nursing shortage will continue to grow and the "US will lack approximately 808,000 nurses by the year 2020" (Hansen 4) (see appendix). Traveling nurses are taking advantage of this nursing shortage, and are finding independence and adventure along the way. Any traveling nurse will tell you it is the best career move they have made.
When a nurse decides to travel, they contact a travel company or an agency. "The brokers help travelers determine where they want to work, what types of facilities interest them and which assignments are available. They also facilitate job interviews, which are often conducted over the telephone" (Hansen 29).
A contract is than designed with the majority of the input from the nurse who will be taking the assignment. Things such as specific days off, bonuses, pay and hours are included in the contract. According to Mary, her contracts might look something like this when taking a contract in New Jersey from Oct. 1st until Jan. 1st, She will first assure any bonuses offered are in writing, such as a sign on bonus of $3000 and a completion bonus of $1500 both to be paid at the end of the assignment.
Mary will also make sure that it is fixed so she works on Thanksgiving and the sets it up so that she has seven days off over the Christmas Holiday. Mary says that she also tries to work it to be fair to the facility. Once the contract is prepared it is submitted to the facility for approval, they may approve it or they may have some requests for changes. This negotiation usually goes quickly and both parties are happy. Mary says this is the only time she has felt in full control of her career."Travel assignments can range from 8 to 52 weeks in length, with the majority of assignments being 13 weeks. At the end of your assignment, you can travel to a new assignment of your choice, take a permanent job or extend your current assignment." (Travel Nursing).
In order to work as a travel nurse, you need to pick a travel company. This can be a huge task, as there are hundreds of companies. It is important to do your homework. One traveler working at Hershey Medical Center says she makes a list of pros and cons to compare companies. One of the best ways is to ask other travelers, they are usually quick to share and compare information.
Being a travel nurse is a lot like running your own business, networking and research is important for you to do. Most travel companies are ready and willing to send you all the information you might need to help you make the right choice. Instead of sending you a simple brochure they send you a very elegantly put together presentation package designed to entice you. It is important to remember the travel company makes their money thru the nurses they hire.
As long as you are a licensed RN, you are an eligible candidate for travel nursing. However the more skills and special training you acquire, the more of a commodity you will be. Most travel companies do require at least one year of experience in the field you will be working. You are also required to have either a walk thru nursing license or a nursing license in the state you will be working in, usually your travel company will help you with this. A nurse can have multiple state licenses.
The job opportunities for the traveling nurse are numerous and can be found in almost any field of nursing mentioned above. From hospitals to factories and everywhere in-between you can find travel nurses. The following are two recently posted offers. "ICU, Denver, CO, $4,500 bonus. With its friendly ambiance, Rocky Mountain backdrop and big city attractions, Denver is a favorite destination for travel nurses. The "Mile High City" boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year; while its proximity to great skiing, hiking, camping and mountain biking make it the ideal playground for outdoor enthusiasts" or "PEDI, Boston, MA, $36/hour. Sail the Charles River, picnic on Boston Common, catch the Red Sox in action at Fenway Park and enjoy a slice of history and culture at every turn. Travel nurses who venture to this historical New England city have the opportunity to enhance their rsums at some of the nation's finest facilities while enjoying Boston's unique old-world ambiance" (Travel Nursing)
The salaries and benefits of the travel nurse are very lucrative. The pay rates for the traveling nurse are usually much higher then the typical staff nurses. After speaking with several travel nurses, looking thru several job offers and online sources it is safe to say, a staff nurse averages $20 - $30 an hour, while the travel nurse averages $35 - $50 an hour. Add that to sign on bonuses that can be any where from $500 - $6000. Some companies even offer double pay for over time hours. (Travel Nursing)(Health Care Traveler)(RN Network).
Most companies have a full benefit package. The RN Network Travel Company boasts these very lucrative benefits. "Double pay for overtime hours on most assignments, Free major medical and dental insurance, Life Partner and AFLAC supplemental coverage available, $20,000 life insurance, 401(k) Plan with company contributions, Instant direct deposit of payroll, Medical malpractice insurance, Continuing education courses - CEU Program, Meals Allowance - $30 meal per diem, PLUS...Vacation Pay Program, FREE private housing or generous housing allowance, FREE washer and dryer where available, Generous travel money allowance, Extension bonuses, Echo referral program, 100% Licensure reimbursement, Free drug screen if required, Assistance with immigration if required"(RN Network).Most companies have similar offers but again it is important to do your homework and check the details that each company offers.
The pros of travel nursing include. Travel, you can see many different places in this country as well as other countries. Salary and benefits as mentioned above are very good and competitive along with bonuses. Making friends, and meeting new people along the way is a big plus.
Expanding your skill set, by learning and perfecting new skills and a wider range of skills. Less stress and no politics make it easy for you to concentrate on your patients. One of the biggest pros is, you have independence and flexibility, and you are in control of your career. Guaranteed work hours, if the facility cancels a shift you still get paid.
Some of the cons of travel nursing are that not all of the more desirable and popular locations are available and tend to have lower pay rates. You are not always sure of your next assignment. Often contracts are made by phone and you do not have the opportunity to see the facility or the housing.
Some companies cut benefits between assignments, or during vacations. Pay rates with in some companies are not across the board. For example Donna has more experience and has been with the company longer than Mary, yet Donna and Mary have both taken a job at the same facility and found out that Mary with less experience is being paid more than Donna. This can be detrimental to a travel company.
The people who travel can be put in four categories. The first is the young twenty something nurse, they "are eager to see the United States and broaden clinical horizons while serving communities affected by growing patient demands Multiple reasons existfrom the opportunity to earn great benefits and a lucrative income, to the absence of ties to a single locale, to the search for a place to call home." (Ericksen)
The second category is couples whether married or just dating they pack up and travel together, taking assignments at the same facility. One couple, which were both OR nurses, worked at Hershey Medical center for three thirteen-week contracts. They spoke very highly of their travels and were looking forward to settling down one day in the south to raise a family.
The third category is older people who have raised their children and have been at the same job for what seems like a lifetime, they are breaking free and taking the opportunity to see the country. These people are looking for a change and seemed to have found one they enjoy.The fourth category of travelers is surprisingly families. "One such family is the Holz's, they are married with two children ages five years and nine months. Both RNs, and they take corresponding positions at the same hospital with alternating shifts so one of them is always with their children. They say they are having a whale of a time!"(Burkett).
Many travel nurses usually find what they feel is the perfect place to call home and settle down. One nurse who used to work in a local hospital traveled until she went to Alaska, she fell in love with it and settled down. Some travel nurse's only travel at certain times of the year. One school nurse selects an assignment at the families annual vacation spot over the summer. She says it is the best way to vacation.
There are only a few good resources for the traveling nurse because of the rarity of this type of job. You cannot just walk into a Borders Book Store and buy a Traveling Nurse Magazine or guide. One of the best resources for the traveling nurse is a magazine and corresponding website called Healthcare Traveler and best of all the monthly subscription is free and they are not affiliated with any specific travel company.
Healthcare Traveler has done a lot of homework for the traveling nurse. Checking and comparing travel companies, and publishing profiles for the top ranking travel companies, complete with contact information. Each month you will find articles submitted by travelers with their stories from the road. They also make available many tools useful and helpful for the traveling nurse. Such as tax facts, licensure information, travel tips.
Another good resource for the traveling nurse is a website called travelnursing.com, however they are affiliated with several travel companies, so some of there information may be bias. Other resources useful for a traveler is a professional phonebook, and a membership in a travel club, such as the American Automobile Association (AAA) not only incase of emergency but also for discounts on travel as well as maps and tour guides.
From speaking with many travelers and reading much information on the job, there seems to be several things that all agree are a must for the traveler. A traveling nurse must be well organized, well acclimated, and flexible. A traveling nurse must have a good work ethic, good people skills and keep good records. Most importantly a traveling nurse must do their homework, do the research and compare facts. It is much like running your own business, and you the traveling nurse are the commodity.If you like diversity, traveling, adventure, and the independence being your own boss, than you will love being a travel nurse. Travel nurses like the idea of going to work and concentrating on their patients and not having to get involved in the facility politics. The benefits far out way the negatives, and best of all you get something most people only dream about, you are in control of your career!
Works Cited"BLS Career Information." Nurse: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 21 October, 2004. http://www.bls.gov/k12/print/help04.htmBurkett, Harry. " A whale of a time." Healthcare Traveler. 1 Oct. 2005. http://www.healthcaretraveler.com/healthcaretraveler/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=185792Donna. Personal Interview. 10 Apr. 2006Ericksen, Anne Baye. "20 Somethings:The youngest generation of travelers makes its mark." Healthcare Traveler. 1 Jul. 2005. http://www.healthcaretraveler.com /healthcaretraveler/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=169453Hansen, Brian. "Nursing Shortage." The CQ Researcher 12.32 (2002). 17 April 2006 . Document ID: cqresrre2002092000.Healthcare Traveler. 17 Apr. 2006. http://www.healthcaretraveler.com/healthcaretraveler/Mary. Personal Interview. 13 Apr. 2006."Nurse." Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health. 5th ed. 1992.RN Network. "Benefits" 15 Apr. 2006. http://www.rnnetwork.com/travelNursing /benefits.vmTravel Nursing. 17 Apr. 2006 http://www.travelnursing.com/
