Travel Nursing for New Grads: 5 Reasons to Just Go For It

There is something about travel nursing for new grads that “feels” right.

Perhaps it is the natural wanderlust of the youthful, or being in the stage of life where the world truly is your oyster.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine

Whatever the reason, travel nursing jobs for new grads are an amazing way to gain valuable work experience. Traveling the country means you will gain valuable life experience, too.

It’s a win-win.

Agencies typically require six months of experiencing before travel assignments, but some are more lenient on this than others!

New graduate travel nursing jobs are coveted and each agency can help you understand your options.

If you are considering the travel nursing lifestyle…it’s time to go for it!

There are many reasons why; let’s look at them.

1. Earn Higher Salary as a Travel Nurse

Nurses do not go into the profession for money, they do it because they have a passion for helping others.

However, while helping others, you must still support yourself and your family. With this in mind, it is great to know that travel nurses make more than nurses who work in one location.

It may seem too good to be true, but it is a fact! Full-time placements are not as lucrative as travel placements.

Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses earn approximately $43,170 per year on average.

Here’s the best part:

The annual salary of a travel nurse could reach as high as $103,893 a year.

On top of that, you can enjoy significant travel nurse tax deductions that serve to bring your bottom line up, up, up. They also get fully reimbursed for everything related to work, like:

Airfare
Train tickets
Ferry costs
Tolls
Taxis
Shuttles
Gas
Parking
Luggage costs
Food
Courseware and trade literature
Uniforms
…and so much more.

Plus, many travel nurses enjoy sign-on bonuses – some as high as $10,000 per assignment!

Depending on your employer and position, sign-on bonuses can make a huge impact on your overall income for the year. Imagine getting four bonuses a year!

SEE MORE: Why the Average Travel Nurse Salary Will Surprise You (In a Good Way)

2. Easier Work/Life Balance

It’s no secret that finding the right balance between your professional and personal life a must.

Burnout strikes every industry, but nursing is an emotionally and physically demanding profession. Because of that, finding work-life balance is highly important.

For travel nurses, finding the right balance is a goal that can easily be accomplished.

Travel nurses enjoy 13-week assignments with ample time off between them.

This time off can be used to explore the locations you are visiting. Perhaps you just finished an assignment in New York…

Picture this:

You could spend a few days in the city, then a road trip to Nashville before landing in New Orleans for your next assignment, for example.

[clickToTweet tweet=”“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” – Danny Kaye #TravelNurse #RN” quote=”“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” – Danny Kaye”]

Maybe you’ll use your time off to kick back and relax or touch base with family and friends. Because you have extended time to yourself, the choice is yours.

Time off between assignments can range from days to weeks depending on your preferred schedule and available assignments.

Travel nursing is the perfect profession for those seeking a balanced, fulfilled life. It is easy to avoid potential burnout when you have a stable job, the ability to travel, and plenty of time to yourself.

3. An Opportunity to Specialize

As a travel nurse, you can seek out assignments that help you further your career within a speciality.

Traveling is sure to help you expand your knowledge in all areas, but you can really focus on honing your specific skills as well.

In fact, your agency can help you take on assignments that match your specialization as you move from location to location.

And here is something especially exciting:

You will get to work with leaders in your specialty throughout the nation.

As you add each new assignment to your resume, you will be growing and adapting under a variety of worthy teachers.

This experience is invaluable. It goes without saying that travel nursing allows nurses to round out their experience quicker than nurses who work in a single setting.

This is because travel nurses:

Learn to become flexible
Are highly independent
Build great people skills
Work in top healthcare facilities

When it comes to nursing jobs for new grads, there is no better way to build a resume than to travel.

You can rack up multiple respected organizations in a short period of time and that goes a long way.

Remember, the more you travel, the more people with whom you work. As your career advances, your network will become more vast.

A strong network is priceless. Working all over the country ensures you build a large network within your specialty.

Advancing in your career will be easier because it will be easier to get referrals, recommendations and interviews.

4. Practice Cultural Competency

Adaptability is another excellent skill that every nurse must have. When working in ever-changing professional cultures, you will quickly learn values, norms, and customs.

In the workplace, culture is defined as “a set of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors all employees share”.

Because every organization has its own culture, travel nurses are able to expand their cultural competency at a fast pace.

More than anything, this aids in building strong communications skills. Knowing how to communicate clearly with others is an incredibly important skill for nurses.

But remember, cultural competency in nursing is bigger than your workplace culture and getting along with coworkers.

For nurses, cultural competency extends into patient care.

In fact, as it relates to nursing, cultural competency mostly focuses on how you treat patients and their families.

Did you know that culture can affect how people perceive their illness?

Because culture often affects patient care, it’s crucial to be well versed in every culture you encounter as a nurse.

Travel nursing for new grads is an especially effective way to get exposed to new cultures. Because your environment changes multiple times a year, you inevitably practice cultural competency.

5. Travel Anywhere in the Country

Last but not least, the obvious perk is travel.

Imagine collecting memories in a new place every few months.

Spend your summers in New England and your winters in South Beach.

Watch the leaves turn in the Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoy springtime in Wine Country.

No matter your preference, you and your travel nursing agency can find an assignment that fits your lifestyle. As your needs and preferences evolve, so can your work.

Travel nursing for new grads is an exciting way to see the country. While many people live the same routine day in and day out, you can fulfill your professional calling and travel for free.

Anyone will tell you that traveling is a surefire way to experience joy in your life. Travel can help you in a multitude of ways, like:

Helping you find/remember your purpose
Opening your mind to new ways of thinking
Learning how to make friends easily
Having a deeper understanding of humanity

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

[clickToTweet tweet=”Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain # Nursing #TravelRN” quote=”Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain”]

When it comes down to it, being able to travel for your job is a perk that most only dream of. Not only do travel nurses enjoy this in spades, but they also get to help many people in the process.