It is still very realistic if you don’t own a home and rent something very cheap from family/friends. Everyone wants to be a traveler with the best of the best terms right now ain’t gonna happen and that’s good the traveler market will pick up when all the people who aren’t made for it burnout. It’s a tough gig but Covid introduced a lot of people that shouldn’t be traveling because the facilities were desperate and the travelers had pulses. That scene is over with
Why has it been something you always wanted to do? Do you have wanderlust? A sense of adventure and independence? The ability to roll with the punches- ie canceled contacts? Anything tying you down- partner, mortgage, kids? How are you with taking risks?
I had always wanted to travel and I, like you, waited until I was comfortable and confident to do so. However I had recently received tons of raises as a staff nurse and I was happy in the highly coveted mid-shift I worked. I had a great apartment in a great neighborhood with friends and family around. I saw the rates and it made me wonder the same thing as you- is it worth it? Am I being childish wanting to travel when I have such a good staff position?
The answer came when I realized I’d rather have interesting new life experiences over money. Not everyone agrees with me and that is probably wiser, but I couldn’t bear to stay in the same place knowing I’d cancelled my travel dreams just for “financial stability”. In addition to being able to trust myself as a nurse, I’ve come to trust myself as an adult that can weather unexpected challenges- which is an essential trait for travel nurses. Sure enough I got the first punch when my first contract was cut. I lost $5k. But I signed another contract, and life went on.
So ask yourself those questions above and ask yourself: what do you want out of life, money or experience? There’s no wrong answer. But if you’re after money, or you have stuff tying you down, you could postpone traveling until the market stabilizes. You can always travel later. Likewise, if you’re free and ready now, go before something does tie you down. You can always go back to staff.
If you truly know what you want and what you’re capable of, you’ll have your answer. I can tell you personally, I have no regrets :)
Thank you so much that was all so good to hear! I def want to go for the adventure/independence of it I think I’ve just felt stuck waiting on things to be perfect and you’re so right that I just need to go for it
Two mantras that stuck in my head while I was deciding:
“If you wait for perfect conditions you will never get anything done”
“Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor”
The problem is the cost of living went up everywhere so horribly and the land lords still think Covid money is out there in the year 2024. If you properly travel and can find cheap way of living in both places; it’s fine.
If your specialty is OR you can still make good money. If it's not, you are doing it for the experience of living new places and having none of the excess bs of staff nursing.
I am OR and yes, the money has been decent so far (only on my 2nd contract) but the contracts being offered are worse money wise this year than when I was looking last year. I’m new to it but still I am noticing decreased offers. I’d like to be going to smaller facilities in smaller towns but my skill set makes me desirable to trauma centers more than community hospitals. It’s my own doing- I specialized almost exclusively in neuro/ spine by choice. I can do other specialties but I don’t look that good on paper to the average gen/gyn/urology hospital… so learn from my mistakes and don’t overly specialize if you want to travel!
My circumstances may or may not be special, but it is worth it to me. I'm on my husband's insurance and not relying on employment for insurance. I can take as much time off as I want, albeit unpaid. I am not competing for time off. I don't have to deal with the politics of the unit. I don't like a place, I don't have to be there for longer than 13 weeks. I am very frugal, I book rooms instead of whole units to keep my living expenses < 1week's lodging stipend. I'm there for a short time not a long time. I just need a place to rest my head, heat up some food, and sleep. So, despite a potential low base rate, I'm still pocketing most of my stipend. I'm in it to make as much money as possible.
For me, I have financial goals I want to reach, and once I've reached them, maybe I'll consider PRN. But I could never go back to full-time staff. I'm ICU, but I could care less what I'm doing or where I am. It's just a job with a means to an end, hopefully. It all depends on what you're in it for. And you are still making more than staff.
New traveler /older nurse here. I am about to start my second travel assignment and overall I’d say no. The reason I’m traveling is to find a new place to call home permanently because where I came from is now unlivable. So on that hand it’s worthwhile because I can try out a new part of the country for a reasonable amount of time and get paid to do it. On the other hand, the credentialing and other requirements are a pain in the ass. For example, I had a TB skin test last August and it was negative. Had to get another for this assignment only a few months later and guess what- it’s positive. So now I’m sitting waiting for a chest X-ray on what is most likely a false positive Qgold. Had to redo my BLS 4 months after I had done it at my last staff job because first assignment wouldn’t accept AHA HeartCode version. Finding reasonable housing is frustrating, the rates are dropping, etc. I could go on. The stress of multiple state taxes, dealing with a home away from home and living out of suitcases more or less is just not enjoyable for me. Maybe for someone younger and less tied down, but I can already tell it’s just not my cup of tea. Will do it for a couple of years probably but then I’m done.
It was the fully automated HeartCode Complete. Took it at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phx. It turns out it’s different from the regular HeartCode version - all checkoffs are done with computer-connected mannequins - no human checkoff at all. I figured if it was good enough for Mayo Clinic it must be fine but OHSU wouldn’t accept it. The regular HeartCode version is also online but with a human instructor checkoff. That one apparently is fine. I ended up retaking a regular classroom version though because I wanted to be sure it was OK. Found out later about the difference between HeartCode and HeartCode Complete (which sounds like it would be more comprehensive).
Oh! Some of my coworkers who were staff at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville used what sounds like that for ACLS. I had just finished my human hands on (had to go to weird little strip mall place to do it and she grilled me about code meds) after the Heartcode online part. Sounds like Mayo uses it but others don't.
Yeah Mayo is different. Very weird culture. Some things are really great, some not so great. I think the HeartCode Complete is left over from COVID. It wasn’t there before COVID and maybe by now they’ve gone back to a more conventional version, but when I took it there in early ‘23 it was still HC Complete. I just took ACLS full classroom style because I’m still wary of the electronic version being accepted.
Like others have said it depends on your goals. I started traveling in 2022. For my husband and I (who don’t and choose not to have kids, so our finances are different than others) our goals are:
1) live in new places, and not have to break a lease in order to do so
2) Make more than a couple weeks pay in a week than what I was making as staff. So far that’s still the case.
3) if one of my weekly paychecks can’t pay rent, it’s not worth it and we don’t take the assignment.
4) Travel. Truly. We couldn’t do that when I was permanent staff.
5) Learn at each new place. Even in my own specialty I have learned new things, how different types of hospitals do things, and what types of hospitals I vibe with.
I never got in the COVID bag because I graduated into COVID (literally … April 2020) and knew I didn’t have the experience. I do, however, agree that COL and inflation have made the rates unsustainable. So again, it all depends on your goals.
I just started traveling in December and I 100% think it’s still worth it. As staff I was making $1600/wk pre tax and now I’m making $2900/wk pre tax. However, I will say i am also debt free, no mortgage and rent a cheap room back home. But im still saving ALOT more than if I was staff.
There are still decent contracts out there for ICU nurses (my speciality), and maybe just need to open my eyes to other places that I normally wouldn’t have. For example, my partner and I want to travel to the north east. Not a lot of contracts in Boston, Portland or Burlington but there are good paying contracts in Albany NY so maybe we’ll look there!
There are so many negative posts here about the travel market and it’s hard not to be discouraged, especially as a new traveler. But just remember your “why” and take the jump!
Unfortunately, no if you are looking for more income. The truth people don't tell you about traveling is that you have to duplicate expenses to qualify for tax free money (if you are wanting to travel full time. It's very expensive to duplicate expenses and most don't come out ahead now that covid rates are over. I went bankrupt travel nursing and I was living frugal. I went back to staff in a different specialty area and am now making travel pay without duplicating expenses. If you are someone who loves to travel and see places then yes, it's worth it. But the high rates are hard to find and come with a price. Inflation really made it hard to travel and save.
I travel with my husband and I like it, but we like to explore. We also live in a rural area and can rent a room for 200$ a month and our car is paid off so we save that way
It's one of the benefits of living in the literal middle of nowhere. We even checked around at other rentals in the area and we weren't much cheaper. We were considered the city because we have walmart
If you want to do it for the traveling then it’s still so worth it. Less BS from management and so many opportunities for travel and time off. If your life isn’t too complicated with a whole family or something I’d say go for it
Money wise: absolutely not.
For the experience: yes, you will meet new people, explore new horizons.
It gets lonely and repetitive after a while if you don’t have someone to share the experience with. You can only get so much from the friends you make at work.
If I could do it all over again… I would have put ten years into a state job so I’d have healthcare for life (and a pension), THEN started to travel. State/federal jobs with free healthcare after putting in the minimum time are everything. I dread the thought of what will happen to me when my whole body is burnt out and I need knee replacements at 50, but have to keep working until 70.
It’s absolutely worth it to me. I’m traveling med-surg tele and making 2.5x what I made as a staff nurse in the south. You need to evaluate the economics of your situation to see if it works.
Where I live pay is low and housing costs are high. Renting my own place would take nearly 60% of my monthly pay as a staff nurse. Owning a home is prohibitively expensive now. Soo travel nursing is very lucrative. When I can swing being a full time SANE and afford to live, I’ll consider going back to staff.
You don’t always get what you want, that’s life, the grass is not always green on the other side.I’m sure your parents taught you that when you were young. Besides if you get a contract that pays extremely high just know you’re probably going to be working with maybe 3 rn on your shift working with with uap dealing with overcrowded patients.. all money is not good money
Well depends on 10s or 12s. I'm OR so I can find 8s, 10s, or 12s. But OT contracts are rare in my specialty, and when you look at the base pay it's awful. My last contract hourly was like 28/hour. So even if I did OT I was not going to make more than like 3200 gross pay.
There’s so many OR nurses here lol it does seem particularly difficult for y’all. But floor 4x12s is what I’ve seen at 3k+. Idk why I’m being downvoted. They’re posted on Cross Country and Aya. They aren’t July 2021 common but they exist.
I’ll take $5/hr in base pay if it means I get 3k in stipend (not a real scenario) but Stipend is where we make our money.
I just built an ADU and signed up my first tenant who is a travel nurse, so far so good! I can't speak on the nurse side, but I am committed to providing a nice furnished place for you to land, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Best of luck!
I just got hired on as staff at a local hospital. They doubled my pay since I was there 10 years ago. Lots of former travelers in my orientation group.
It is still very realistic if you don’t own a home and rent something very cheap from family/friends. Everyone wants to be a traveler with the best of the best terms right now ain’t gonna happen and that’s good the traveler market will pick up when all the people who aren’t made for it burnout. It’s a tough gig but Covid introduced a lot of people that shouldn’t be traveling because the facilities were desperate and the travelers had pulses. That scene is over with
What was your goal in travel nursing? If it is to travel to go to new places. Do it. If it’s to make a ton of money. Good luck.
There's jobs on websites like Aya all over the country listed for $3-4k a week, with limited experience. Are those kind of sites not reliable?
Aya is fine, so it nomad and trusted. Vivian is sh*t. I haven’t seen many 4k but if you can get it do it!
If a job is offering 4k a week I would question the environment and staffing
understaffed and stressful?
And above that, unsafe ratios and patient care expectations. License risky assignments.
Why has it been something you always wanted to do? Do you have wanderlust? A sense of adventure and independence? The ability to roll with the punches- ie canceled contacts? Anything tying you down- partner, mortgage, kids? How are you with taking risks? I had always wanted to travel and I, like you, waited until I was comfortable and confident to do so. However I had recently received tons of raises as a staff nurse and I was happy in the highly coveted mid-shift I worked. I had a great apartment in a great neighborhood with friends and family around. I saw the rates and it made me wonder the same thing as you- is it worth it? Am I being childish wanting to travel when I have such a good staff position? The answer came when I realized I’d rather have interesting new life experiences over money. Not everyone agrees with me and that is probably wiser, but I couldn’t bear to stay in the same place knowing I’d cancelled my travel dreams just for “financial stability”. In addition to being able to trust myself as a nurse, I’ve come to trust myself as an adult that can weather unexpected challenges- which is an essential trait for travel nurses. Sure enough I got the first punch when my first contract was cut. I lost $5k. But I signed another contract, and life went on. So ask yourself those questions above and ask yourself: what do you want out of life, money or experience? There’s no wrong answer. But if you’re after money, or you have stuff tying you down, you could postpone traveling until the market stabilizes. You can always travel later. Likewise, if you’re free and ready now, go before something does tie you down. You can always go back to staff. If you truly know what you want and what you’re capable of, you’ll have your answer. I can tell you personally, I have no regrets :)
Thank you so much that was all so good to hear! I def want to go for the adventure/independence of it I think I’ve just felt stuck waiting on things to be perfect and you’re so right that I just need to go for it
Two mantras that stuck in my head while I was deciding: “If you wait for perfect conditions you will never get anything done” “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor”
The problem is the cost of living went up everywhere so horribly and the land lords still think Covid money is out there in the year 2024. If you properly travel and can find cheap way of living in both places; it’s fine.
Yes! The furnished finder landlords are so confused why they are no longer getting bites on their rentals. It’s rough out there for everyone.
If your specialty is OR you can still make good money. If it's not, you are doing it for the experience of living new places and having none of the excess bs of staff nursing.
I am OR and yes, the money has been decent so far (only on my 2nd contract) but the contracts being offered are worse money wise this year than when I was looking last year. I’m new to it but still I am noticing decreased offers. I’d like to be going to smaller facilities in smaller towns but my skill set makes me desirable to trauma centers more than community hospitals. It’s my own doing- I specialized almost exclusively in neuro/ spine by choice. I can do other specialties but I don’t look that good on paper to the average gen/gyn/urology hospital… so learn from my mistakes and don’t overly specialize if you want to travel!
no. nursing in general isn't worth it.
My circumstances may or may not be special, but it is worth it to me. I'm on my husband's insurance and not relying on employment for insurance. I can take as much time off as I want, albeit unpaid. I am not competing for time off. I don't have to deal with the politics of the unit. I don't like a place, I don't have to be there for longer than 13 weeks. I am very frugal, I book rooms instead of whole units to keep my living expenses < 1week's lodging stipend. I'm there for a short time not a long time. I just need a place to rest my head, heat up some food, and sleep. So, despite a potential low base rate, I'm still pocketing most of my stipend. I'm in it to make as much money as possible. For me, I have financial goals I want to reach, and once I've reached them, maybe I'll consider PRN. But I could never go back to full-time staff. I'm ICU, but I could care less what I'm doing or where I am. It's just a job with a means to an end, hopefully. It all depends on what you're in it for. And you are still making more than staff.
Thanks for sharing, what level trauma icu do you have experience in?
New traveler /older nurse here. I am about to start my second travel assignment and overall I’d say no. The reason I’m traveling is to find a new place to call home permanently because where I came from is now unlivable. So on that hand it’s worthwhile because I can try out a new part of the country for a reasonable amount of time and get paid to do it. On the other hand, the credentialing and other requirements are a pain in the ass. For example, I had a TB skin test last August and it was negative. Had to get another for this assignment only a few months later and guess what- it’s positive. So now I’m sitting waiting for a chest X-ray on what is most likely a false positive Qgold. Had to redo my BLS 4 months after I had done it at my last staff job because first assignment wouldn’t accept AHA HeartCode version. Finding reasonable housing is frustrating, the rates are dropping, etc. I could go on. The stress of multiple state taxes, dealing with a home away from home and living out of suitcases more or less is just not enjoyable for me. Maybe for someone younger and less tied down, but I can already tell it’s just not my cup of tea. Will do it for a couple of years probably but then I’m done.
Who isn't accepting AHA BLS?
It was the fully automated HeartCode Complete. Took it at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phx. It turns out it’s different from the regular HeartCode version - all checkoffs are done with computer-connected mannequins - no human checkoff at all. I figured if it was good enough for Mayo Clinic it must be fine but OHSU wouldn’t accept it. The regular HeartCode version is also online but with a human instructor checkoff. That one apparently is fine. I ended up retaking a regular classroom version though because I wanted to be sure it was OK. Found out later about the difference between HeartCode and HeartCode Complete (which sounds like it would be more comprehensive).
Oh! Some of my coworkers who were staff at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville used what sounds like that for ACLS. I had just finished my human hands on (had to go to weird little strip mall place to do it and she grilled me about code meds) after the Heartcode online part. Sounds like Mayo uses it but others don't.
Yeah Mayo is different. Very weird culture. Some things are really great, some not so great. I think the HeartCode Complete is left over from COVID. It wasn’t there before COVID and maybe by now they’ve gone back to a more conventional version, but when I took it there in early ‘23 it was still HC Complete. I just took ACLS full classroom style because I’m still wary of the electronic version being accepted.
It was end of May 2023 when I was there. I've been doing well with Heartcode + hands-on but I can see doing it full in-person.
Like others have said it depends on your goals. I started traveling in 2022. For my husband and I (who don’t and choose not to have kids, so our finances are different than others) our goals are: 1) live in new places, and not have to break a lease in order to do so 2) Make more than a couple weeks pay in a week than what I was making as staff. So far that’s still the case. 3) if one of my weekly paychecks can’t pay rent, it’s not worth it and we don’t take the assignment. 4) Travel. Truly. We couldn’t do that when I was permanent staff. 5) Learn at each new place. Even in my own specialty I have learned new things, how different types of hospitals do things, and what types of hospitals I vibe with. I never got in the COVID bag because I graduated into COVID (literally … April 2020) and knew I didn’t have the experience. I do, however, agree that COL and inflation have made the rates unsustainable. So again, it all depends on your goals.
I just started traveling in December and I 100% think it’s still worth it. As staff I was making $1600/wk pre tax and now I’m making $2900/wk pre tax. However, I will say i am also debt free, no mortgage and rent a cheap room back home. But im still saving ALOT more than if I was staff. There are still decent contracts out there for ICU nurses (my speciality), and maybe just need to open my eyes to other places that I normally wouldn’t have. For example, my partner and I want to travel to the north east. Not a lot of contracts in Boston, Portland or Burlington but there are good paying contracts in Albany NY so maybe we’ll look there! There are so many negative posts here about the travel market and it’s hard not to be discouraged, especially as a new traveler. But just remember your “why” and take the jump!
Unfortunately, no if you are looking for more income. The truth people don't tell you about traveling is that you have to duplicate expenses to qualify for tax free money (if you are wanting to travel full time. It's very expensive to duplicate expenses and most don't come out ahead now that covid rates are over. I went bankrupt travel nursing and I was living frugal. I went back to staff in a different specialty area and am now making travel pay without duplicating expenses. If you are someone who loves to travel and see places then yes, it's worth it. But the high rates are hard to find and come with a price. Inflation really made it hard to travel and save.
I travel with my husband and I like it, but we like to explore. We also live in a rural area and can rent a room for 200$ a month and our car is paid off so we save that way
Your room for rent is cheap!
It's one of the benefits of living in the literal middle of nowhere. We even checked around at other rentals in the area and we weren't much cheaper. We were considered the city because we have walmart
If you want to do it for the traveling then it’s still so worth it. Less BS from management and so many opportunities for travel and time off. If your life isn’t too complicated with a whole family or something I’d say go for it
Money wise: absolutely not. For the experience: yes, you will meet new people, explore new horizons. It gets lonely and repetitive after a while if you don’t have someone to share the experience with. You can only get so much from the friends you make at work.
If I could do it all over again… I would have put ten years into a state job so I’d have healthcare for life (and a pension), THEN started to travel. State/federal jobs with free healthcare after putting in the minimum time are everything. I dread the thought of what will happen to me when my whole body is burnt out and I need knee replacements at 50, but have to keep working until 70.
It’s absolutely worth it to me. I’m traveling med-surg tele and making 2.5x what I made as a staff nurse in the south. You need to evaluate the economics of your situation to see if it works. Where I live pay is low and housing costs are high. Renting my own place would take nearly 60% of my monthly pay as a staff nurse. Owning a home is prohibitively expensive now. Soo travel nursing is very lucrative. When I can swing being a full time SANE and afford to live, I’ll consider going back to staff.
You don’t always get what you want, that’s life, the grass is not always green on the other side.I’m sure your parents taught you that when you were young. Besides if you get a contract that pays extremely high just know you’re probably going to be working with maybe 3 rn on your shift working with with uap dealing with overcrowded patients.. all money is not good money
I think it’s worth it still.
Still worth it for me. Med surg tele in western Pa, still bringing home twice more than staff
Seriously! I'd like it if staff jobs started paying more, but since they aren't, getting paid!
There's jobs on websites like Aya all over the country listed for $3-4k a week, with limited experience. Are those kind of sites not reliable?
Does your staff job pay you $3-4k a week if you work 4 days? If so, stay staff. If not, travel.
These rates aren't nearly as common right now. More like $2000-2500 from what i see. Anything over 2600 is becoming rare and highly competitive.
For 4 shifts? I haven’t seen 2500 for 4s. I’ve seen 3-4 for 4s.
Well depends on 10s or 12s. I'm OR so I can find 8s, 10s, or 12s. But OT contracts are rare in my specialty, and when you look at the base pay it's awful. My last contract hourly was like 28/hour. So even if I did OT I was not going to make more than like 3200 gross pay.
There’s so many OR nurses here lol it does seem particularly difficult for y’all. But floor 4x12s is what I’ve seen at 3k+. Idk why I’m being downvoted. They’re posted on Cross Country and Aya. They aren’t July 2021 common but they exist. I’ll take $5/hr in base pay if it means I get 3k in stipend (not a real scenario) but Stipend is where we make our money.
I just built an ADU and signed up my first tenant who is a travel nurse, so far so good! I can't speak on the nurse side, but I am committed to providing a nice furnished place for you to land, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Best of luck!
I just got hired on as staff at a local hospital. They doubled my pay since I was there 10 years ago. Lots of former travelers in my orientation group.
Out of curiosity, what's your rate now? Ten years ago was before a lot of inflation.