Another problem that many travel nurses encounter is passive or even open hostilities toward travelers from the staff. Because it is widely known that travel nurses receive a higher pay rate and more flexibility than staff nurses, there is often resentment among the other nurses. Also, the management may feel that the travel nurse should pull more of the unattractive assignments, since there is no concern of retention with the traveler. These two factors can ruin a travel nursing experience.

Another negative aspect of travel nursing, and the one that can be most detrimental to the nurse in the long run, is the lack of career advancement. Most travel nurse contracts specifically forbid the nurse from holding any type of supervisory role. While this may be appealing to the traveler initially, once he or she is ready to head into more traditional work, their lack of supervisor experience can limit job opportunities.

Travel nursing can be a wonderful experience if your temperament is suited for the work. Take the time to find a recruiter or agency that you feel comfortable with, and if you find an assignment that you enjoy, don't feel shy about asking for a contract renewal.

Page 2 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next