Traveling Nurse: Is it For You?

You may want to consider becoming a traveling nurse. These nurses register with a travel nurse agency, which then places them in jobs across the country. The positions are considered temporary, but may last anywhere from a few weeks to a year. As a traveling nurse, you would fill in for hospitals and other facilities when they have a shortage of nurses. This could be due to:

• Lack of applicants in their area
• Large numbers of nurses on vacation
• Nurses on maternity leave
• New facility that isn't fully staffed yet
• Nursing strikes
• Not enough Human Resources people to interview and hire nurses that are needed

Most agencies will want you to have a year of experience as a nurse. After that, you can register and be hired quickly.

 

Some facts about being a traveling nurse:

 

• Pay is excellent, commonly more than the average nurse's pay. This is because it is not a permanent position and requires you to move, even if temporarily, away from your home. It may be up to $48.00 an hour in some cases.
• Your housing, including furnishings, is paid for by your agency; you pay nothing for rent
• Travel to and from your temporary assignment is also paid for
• You do receive benefits from the agency who employs you, in many cases exactly like any other employer (medical, dental, 401K, etc)
• Licensure is something to be discussed with your agency; typically a nurse who has passed Boards is licensed only in the three or four states surrounding that nurse's home. Read more about licensing for traveling nurses here: https://www.travelnursing.com/news/career-development/have-license-will-travel/

 

In order to be a good traveling nurse, you must be

 

• Flexible-willing to accept a variety of assignments in a variety of locations
• Adaptable-you can tune into your temporary location's practices and get along with others
• You genuinely like traveling-you're not going to be 'homesick'
• You must have high level skills: the hospital or other facility you are sent to expects you to be excellent at what you do and not need a lot of training
• You need to be independent and able to manage your time well, and to find your way in a new location-to look at it as an adventure

And as with any position, a facility has the right to dismiss you if you don't work out for it; you are not in a union with a contract type of nursing job.

 

There are also opportunities for specialty nurses, such as an Oncology, Pediatric, Cardiac, or Neurological nurse, for examples. You can also travel as a Radiologic Technician, Occupational, Physical, or Speech therapist; Nurse Managers and Nurse Practicioners.

 

This is a site that hires traveling nurses. We are not recommending it, necessarily, but it gives descriptions of Traveling Nurse positions: https://www.travelnursing.com/what-is-travel-nursing/traveling-nurse-RN-salary-benefits-housing/


If you want to travel, make good money, get a variety of experiences and learn more about people and places, consider being a travel nurse!

Going Places: Careers That Involve Travel

There are plenty of ways to have a career in another country. Be aware, though, that simply wanting to do it needs to be coupled with a number of factors...

• Adaptability
• Ability to earn enough money
• Self-confidence
• Openness to other cultures

Obviously, being able to converse in another language will be key. It will always be helpful to include any studies about world economics, world culture, geography, and political science.

A great piece that explores things to think about: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0401/what_it_takes_to_life_and_work_abroad.shtml








Retail buyers buy merchandise to be sold for their companies. In other words, the company sends them to find things that will sell in their stores, the buyer figures out how many of each item they'll need in a store, and it's then purchased and shipped to the stores. Often, buyers are sent to countries where the products are made (they may be made in another country for less money) to choose what to offer their customers.

• Majors: Marketing, Business Admin, Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Merchandising.

An Au Pair cares for children in their home and usually also lives in the home with them. Typically, an au pair has her own room and possibly a small 'apartment' within the childrens' home.The Au Pair may travel with the family. 

• Majors: Elementary Education, Child Psychology, Nursing.

A Language Translator will always be in demand. The more languages you master, the more in-demand you will be. In some areas, there are widely different dialects, or versions, of the same language. See Triogenius, March 10, 2014, about work as a translator.

• Major: One or more languages, as well as Sociology, Linquistics, and Political Science. Study areas: foreign relations, social studies, economics
• You can also work as an English teacher in another country.

Geologists There is a constant need for fuel, and so geologists study resources worldwide. Geologists also work to improve roads, dams, and bridges, as well as cleanup of pollution of the earth. *look for a future blog at Triogenius about Geology as a career.

• Major: Geology, obviously, but if you plan to travel, include social studies and other world languages.

Here's one source that talks about different kinds of geologists: http://www.personal.kent.edu/~cschweit/Stark/whygeologymajor.htm

You could work for the State Department at one of our U.S. Embassies in another country. Jobs include Accounting, Visa/Passport Services, Legal, and Technology. http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/local-employment

• Major in: Social Studies, Communications, Geography, International studies, World History; Law, International Law, Accounting

           
                                    U.S. Embassy, Rome, Italy
**WOW for 1-25-2016: Embassy: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embassy ***



Doctors and nurses are always in need, here and in other countries. Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, and World Relief, will be happy to have you working with them.


International Aid Workers are always in demand, whether you have a medical background or not. There is also a need for pharmacists and lab techs.
Majors: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/who-we-need

• Medicine
• Nursing
• Social Work with an emphasis on Third World Economics

 

Archaeologists study past civilizations in other countries. If you're into relics, fossils, and generally uncovering the mysteries of centuries ago, consider this as a career (See Triogenius November 4, 2013)

Tech wizards can always find work in any country: Again, studying a foreign language will be helpful as well. Tech Security will be an ongoing concern worldwide.
Majors: Technology, Criminology, Sociology; coursework in International Studies.




If you love travel, Africa, and photography, consider leading Photography Safaris: Tourists take only pictures of the amazing animals they see. You help them get their best pictures, so knowledge of cameras and the art of photographing wildlife is essential. Other uses for photographers include map-drawing, and news photography.

• Areas of study: Photography, language, Political Science, Geography, International Relations, World History

You can travel for years or only for a while, or sporadically throughout your career. If you have a desire to see the world and meet lots of different people, consider a career involving travel.


For a post about studying abroad, see Triogenius May 5, 2014.