Hi! I’m considering going into travel nursing but have a couple of things I’m figuring out to see if this would be the best fit.
I am traveling with my family – I wonder how common or workable it is to do traditional school vs. homeschooling? We want to plan on assignments based on the school year and in locations where multiple hospitals are within driving/public transit commutes so the kids can have the majority of their schooling in one place, and I can be flexible with assignments.
Thanks for reading this whole message, and I can’t wait to hear back!! -Sherrie
Many of the travelers I know that travel with children do home-schooling. I don’t know if any of them enroll their children in the public school system or not. I would caution you on enrolling a child in school due to your tax-home status.
The travel nurse would still be “governed under the one-year rule that affects the tax residence. Additionally, some conflicts arise with the school district if you are not officially a resident of the jurisdiction. This is why homeschooling is more common with travelers.”
I hope that this helps at least a little bit. I would encourage you to the Travel Nurse Network – The Gypsy Nurse. Lots of travel nurses there to help answer your questions and lend guidance along the way!!
We hope you found this information on Public vs. Home Schooling helpful. Do you have experience with home schooling or public school while travel nursing? Comment any tips you have.
(Disclaimer: Please note that this is the Author’s opinion only. I do not provide career counseling, legal or medical consults. If you require any of these, please search out the appropriate resources)
Travel nursing is a career that offers both flexibility and adventure. The job requires nurses to experience working around the world, and after a few weeks or months, they move to another place. The main reason this concept was initiated was due to the lack of ample nurses in different regions.
It looks exciting, for sure. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to choosing this career.
The advantages:
High income: Travel nurses are among the highest paid healthcare personnel. They also receive tax-free stipends, healthcare and retirement benefits, bonuses and generous reimbursements.
Career growth: Through encountering different facilities, travel nurses learn to be more flexible.
Adventure: Since travel nursing involves a lot of travelling, you will find yourself in new and unusual places with each posting.
Exposure to new cultures: The world is a hub for different cultures. A career in travel nursing exposes you to some of these cultures.
Freedom and flexibility: As a travel nurse you get to choose where you want to work and when. Therefore, you choose the time you spend with friends and family.
The disadvantages:
Temporary employment: In most cases, travel nursing employment is contract-based. You end up jobless when a deal comes to an end.
No paid time off Most companies doesn’t offer time off to travel nurses.
Low or no insurance benefits: They get low insurance benefits because they are based on taxable wages, which are also low.
Travel nurses share their personal experiences: Dr. Helen Rook
I moved to New Zealand in 2001 because I wanted to visit a new place and explore a different culture. I started working at Wellington Hospital in the intensive care department.
Later I got married to Andrew, and we now have two beautiful children, Conor and Aidan. In 2017 I received a PhD in nursing, and I’m a full-time academic at Victoria University of Wellington researching on nursing values. At the moment here in New Zealand, nurses are complaining about the low pay, lousy working conditions and low staffing.
Sharon Steeves
I work at DeSalaberry District Health Center in southern Manitoba, Canada. I love my nursing career because this is what I have always wanted to do, since I was four years old.
The theme of International Nurses Day for this year motivated me to join a group of other protesters to agitate about the ongoing cuts to our health services. I like how as nurses we come together to ask for justice and human rights.
Laura Byrne
I’m currently working as a volunteer in a community clinic in Cape Town, South Africa. The clinic mostly deals with refugees from DRC, Zimbabwe and Central African Republic.
The nursing experience for me has been very challenging here because it is different from what I’m used to in Ireland. The patients here are vulnerable, and diseases like HIV, malnutrition and TB are prevalent compared to Ireland.
The Irish nursing degree has helped me work in different environments. For instance, I had the opportunity to work in Australia as an agency nurse for a year. I have also worked for Princess Cruises for a year, and I loved it there.
Michelle Roche
I left Ireland five years ago, and since then I have been working in Victoria, Australia. Emigrating is the best decision I have ever made; working full time in Ireland I was never able to pay my bills.
Here in Australia, I have a good life; I am well compensated for the hard work. I am now a unit manager and there are numerous opportunities available to me.
Kerr Janer
I am a paediatric nurse from Limerick, Dublin where I used to work earlier in a children’s hospital. Currently, I work at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh City. Emigrating has grown my career and also led to personal development. I now work in a big specialist hospital with people from different cultures. There is better pay here with free accommodation and 54 days paid annual leave.
Without a doubt, travel nursing is one of the best things that happened to the nursing community. From the experiences shared above by several nurses, it’s clear that emigrating has been very beneficial. Most of them now work with flexible schedules and receive high incomes. By working in different environments, they have gained personal and professional growth.
Though it comes with some disadvantages like being away from family and difficulties in adapting to a new environment, it is still one of the best careers. It is important that nurses are opting to move away from low-paid jobs and lousy working conditions. Nurses do great work so they should be respected and paid well. There are various organisations around the world that have come up to help nurses fight for their rights and also help them get better job deals around the world.
Sandy Getzky is the executive coordinating editor at The Global Nail Fungus Organization, a group committed to helping the 100+ million people suffering from finger and toenail fungus. Sandy is also a registered Herbalist and member of the American Herbalist’s Guild.
Is there a requirement for a nurse to have a ‘calling’ or to be altruistic in their reasons to become a nurse?
Provide by Mellisa Dockley via Instagram (melldkly)
I’ve recently ran across several articles and nursing forum posts related to nurses having a ‘calling’. Something deep seated in their personality or their mind-set, a need or want to ‘help’ others. Something altruistic in their reasoning for becoming a nurse. The argument that I’m seeing repeated over and over is that you ‘have to’ or ‘should’ have a need, want and desire to help others in order to be a good nurse.
I’m going to rant on this…please do not send me ‘hate’ mail. If you would like to have a respectful discussion; I’m open and willing to participate
Confession: I never wanted or desired to be a nurse.
WHAT??!!??!?
That’s right. I started my nursing career as a career choice and a JOB. There wasn’t any deep seated desire to make a difference in the world. No passion to ‘help others. No ‘calling’ from a higher power. Nursing to me was a stable career with attainable educational requirements, decent pay and job security. I consider myself an altruistic person but that was not my drive to become a nurse.
There are many that will immediately think that I am a bad person or worse yet, a bad nurse for my decision to become a nurse as a means to provide myself and my family a decent lifestyle. To them, I say ‘YOU’RE WRONG’.
I look at nursing as I would any other job or career that I could have chosen. I WANT to do a good job. I need to perform well. I expect to be able to take a certain amount of pride in a job well done. These feelings are no different than if I had chosen to be a basket maker. If I were a basket maker…I would still WANT to do a good job, I would need to perform well and I would expect to be able to take a certain amount of pride in a job well done.
So, am I automatically a bad nurse because I chose Nursing based on purely career and stability oriented reasons? Or is it possible that even though my reasons were not altruistic, I am still a good nurse, a patient care-giver and able to provide safe care with positive outcomes?
I want to hear your thoughts. Were your reasons for becoming a nurse altruistic? Do you think it’s a requirement for someone entering the nursing profession to want to ‘help’ people? Are you like me and see nursing as a career and a job to be performed to your best ability?
I’m speaking to a travel agency currently about a job that is nearly 8 states away from home. I originally thought I would be perfectly fine with a job that required flying, but there is no subsidy for a rental car, and the apartment is 20 minutes away. I am looking into the bus system in the contract city, but I have to ask – how do you generally travel? I noticed you mentioned mileage reimbursement in your treatment plan, so do you typically drive to your travel jobs?
Thank you, Kate, RN ASN
Thank you for reading The Gypsy Nurse. You have taken the first step on your journey to becoming A Gypsy Nurse.
Kate,
I generally choose to drive to my contracts. I lose out on the ‘pay’ because it always costs me more to drive than a company will reimburse me. I don’t like being without a vehicle though, so it’s worth it to me. If you keep records of your mileage and hotel and meal expenses during travel, these are deductible on your year-end taxes
Flying
If you choose to fly, there are several things to consider and it looks like you have already started checking into this. How far are you from conveniences ie grocery, banking, activities, etc. what is the public transit like? How far are you from work and it easily accessible via public transit?
In some cases, it’s just as easy to be without a vehicle. When I was working in San Francisco, I was housed in a very good location that was close enough to work and everything else to use public transit.
One other thing to consider if flying is the apartment amenities. Is the company providing a FULLY furnished apartment? By fully furnished, make certain that dishes, linens, shower curtains, window coverings, cookware, etc are all included. I drive and bring a lot of these items with me because most ‘furnished’ apartments only include basic furniture. Google has a great resource to search the local area for conveniences called ‘walk score’ if you do a search, you’ll find it. I frequently use a walk-score when checking my housing/hospital locations.
I hope this helped a little. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me again.
I love hearing the opinions of my readers. Your opinion could be the perfect solution for someone. Please share your thoughts below in the comments…
(Disclaimer: Please note that this is the author’s opinion only. I do not provide career counseling, legal or medical consults. If you require any of these, please search out the appropriate resources)
I’m currently in Oregon. Home is Florida. I’m missing my family and would like to see them but I love being a travel nurse. ANYYY ideas??! Please help!! 🙂
Amber
Feeling lonely is one of the biggest complaints that I hear from Travel Nurses. For anyone feeling this way, the first question I would ask is ‘Do you want to continue traveling?’ It sounds like you have already decided that you do want to continue Travel Nursing.
There are several things that you can do to elevate the homesickness and missing family. Think about taking a contract next to airport, or contract close to home. You can also take time off between contracts and go home for a visit or better yet…have the family come to you!! Offer them a ‘cheap’ vacation spot! My Mother loves that I travel…her and my Dad have drove out to visit me on nearly every contract…it’s cheap vacation for them (gas and some food) and I get to enjoy their company on my off days.
I recently wrote about Homesickness and would suggest that you read over the treatment and see if you can fit some of these suggestions into your travel life-style.
I love hearing the opinions of my readers. Your opinion could be the perfect solution for someone. Please share your thoughts on missing family while on assignment below in the comments.
(Disclaimer: Please note that this is the Authors opinion only. I do not provide career counseling, legal or medical consults. If you require any of these, please search out the appropriate resources)
It’s 8 am, you hear the loudspeaker outside “GOOOOODDDD MORNING CAMPERS!!! It’s Saturday, todays activities are…bunks 1-10 please have your laundry ready for pickup…”, and any other general announcements for the day.
But wait, who am I kidding? I’m filling my wagon with inhalers and the bins of the countless allergy and PRN meds that my campers take. That’s right, I said MY campers.
You see, camp nursing isn’t just a job, it’s a commitment, it’s family, it’s being a nurse, a mom or dad, a mental health counselor, a calm voice in the panic, and a trusted professional; 24/7 for the duration of the summer.
Still with me? Okay great! Then you may want to think about exploring this rewarding opportunity that your nursing degree can offer you.
Let’s go on with our day. We packed the morning meds and head to the dining hall. Most bigger camps have a few nurses and sometimes a nurse aide, so this doesn’t have to be you every morning. In true fashion, the dining hall is chaos. You think having 2 hungry kids at home in the morning is hard, try 500! They flood in by bunk, previewing the days offering on their way to their table. You get a few coming for pre-meal meds, but all that most of them think about is their growling stomachs and all the activities they are doing that day. At some point in their meal, they stroll to the med table, wait in line, take their meds, and go about their day. Inevitably you will get a few that want to show you a new rash they found or a bug bite, just like your friends and family do in the real world.
After breakfast, you pack up and head back to the health center. This is usually where the nurses live and work out of, and where sick campers stay overnight if needed. (Many camps offer private accommodations with air conditioning, TV, and internet for the nurses.) Then it’s time for clinic. My camp held clinic twice a day, after breakfast and before dinner. The camp doctor will come over and the nurses running clinic will triage the campers and decide who needs to see the doctor. Camps usually have protocols in place to allow nurses to treat common injuries, so not everyone has to see the doctor. Clinics can run 20 minutes to an hour, depending on how many campers come in. The complaints can run anywhere from runny noses to joint pain to rashes and colds. The doctor may write some prescriptions that need to be sent to the pharmacy, and some campers may have fevers and must stay in the health center. Clinic wraps up and things usually calm for the rest of the morning.
This is a great time for some leisure, and one of the best benefits of being a camp nurse. Camps encourage the nurses to use the facilities of the camp during their downtime. This could range from lake and pool activities, to arts and crafts, gymnastics, archery, and hiking. There is plenty of downtime during the days to read a good book, or simply enjoy nature.
While the on-duty nurse is at the health center, they typically see a few campers trickle in for ice packs or prn meds throughout the day, but this should not be a constant stream of kids. We would send many away and encourage them to come to next clinic, if still necessary. Remember, camp nursing is sometimes parenting. At home, you would tell your kid to walk it off, and not schedule a doctor appointment for every sniffle or pain. Same goes for camp! Of course, the broken bones or serious cuts are treated immediately, and can come in at any time. Your camp may be able to treat some, and others would have to be sent to the ER or out for an X-ray.
Lunch is typically light for medications, and the nurses can prep for dinner and night meds and relax during the afternoon. Every camp has their own system for medications. Mine had pre-made packets for each camper that came from an outside company, and we used paper MAR’s to keep track of them.
Before dinner, the clinic was open and ran the same as in the morning. Just like the doctor’s office or ER you worked in, you will have your “frequent flyers” and kids and counselors that just need reassurance that their bug bite will not turn them into a monster. The counselors come for treatment too. Many of them are from all over the world and they are usually in their late teens and twenties. Did I mention you’re parenting them too? Dinner meds were typically similar to breakfast ones.
After dinner, most camps have some sort of evening activity. These range anywhere from a play put on by the campers, to outside entertainers like bands and magicians. This was always a fun time to immerse myself into the camp lifestyle, and really form a bond with the campers. Going back summer after summer, you see them grow and develop into young adults.
Night meds were done at the health center, and typically were low volume. At night, one nurse is typically on call. You tuck in the overnight campers and make calls to parents if needed. Campers can come during the night with their counselors if they need to be seen. Usually this would only be for fevers or if someone woke up vomiting. There were nights where I slept straight through, and some where I’d be woken by the knock on my door a few times.
If you made it through the day with me, I’ll tell you a little more.
Camp nursing is awesome! What it isn’t is a vacation. There will be stress and times you question your sanity. Try it for a summer, you won’t regret it! It gets you out of the typical healthcare setting and exposes you to a side of nursing long forgotten. When I was travel nursing, my summers were spent at camp. 8 weeks away from call bells and sirens, making life long friends from around the world, and developing my sense of autonomy. Room and board included, I hardly spent any money the entire summer, and came back refreshed. I did everything from flight nursing, to ED and ICU, and still enjoy helping in between my full-time job on weekends at camp since 2006.
Gypsy, HI Gypsy Nurse! I love your site. It’s so informative. I am currently working in the surgical trauma ICU at a Level! Facility. My one year is in Sept (brand new RN), but I am ready to start traveling, specifically in NYC! I have been talking with a travel company, started the app process, etc., but I wondered if you had any knowledge or info about being new RN and a travel nurse in NYC. Any info you might know would be SO wonderful as I start to work out all the details in the next few months…
Thank you, thank you! Nurse K, RN BSN
Thank you for reading The Gypsy Nurse. You have taken the first step on your journey to becoming A Gypsy Nurse.
Kristen, I have not personally worked in NYC, so I can’t give you any specific information on the location. Our Facebook group is a great place to ask questions about NYC. You could ask there specifically about NYC, and hopefully, someone with personal experience can help.
I would caution you on taking a travel contract as a new RN with only a year of nursing experience. As a traveler, you will be expected to ‘hit the floor running. You will be lucky to get a full shift of floor orientation. You will likely be given the worst patients. Staff could be helpful, or they could throw you under the bus and let you drown….either extreme is possible. As travel nurses, we are expected to adapt quickly to the new environment, rules, and patient loads. Not to mention new computer systems, new equipment, different drugs (what’s a common treatment in one part of the country may not be the same in another). I am not questioning your ability to care for patients. However, please understand that it’s best for the safety of the patients if you are experienced before traveling.
I would really encourage you to hold off on travel nursing until you have had a good two years of experience under your belt. In the meantime, I would suggest that you pick up a couple of ‘agency’ shifts in your local area and see how you adapt to the varied environments. This will give you a good feel for how you will adjust to travel nursing.
I realize that this is not the answer that you were looking for, and I’m sorry. I hope that you will consider my advice. If you decide to continue to pursue the travel nursing route, please feel free to contact me with any further questions.
I love hearing the opinions of my readers. Your opinion could be the perfect solution for someone. Please share your thoughts below in the comments.
Travel Nursing with a Pet can have its own questions and difficulties.
This is one of the foremost things on pet owners’ minds when considering travel nursing. The answer…YES!!
Something to keep in mind is that every pet is individual, and you should look at your pet’s personality, health and safety first and foremost. For example, traveling might be too stressful for an older animal; leaving them at home with a trusted family member might be best. There are pros and cons to travel nursing with a pet, and only you can decide if it’s favorable.
PROS:
Having a pet is the same as travel nursing with a trusted friend and companion. It can be helpful to help you get through the loneliness.
Having a dog will encourage you to get out of the house and explore. It’s always more fun to explore with a friend.
Having a dog is an instant conversation starter. When walking my dog, I am constantly approached and have met some great people this way.
You’re never alone!
CONS:
Expense. Having a pet is an added expense: deposits, daycare, etc. Most housing options that allow pets require a non-refundable deposit. I have paid as much as $400, non-refundable, to have my furry friend with me. If you change jobs after each contract, it can get costly.
Limited options for housing. This is dependent on the area. Some places are much less pet-friendly than others.
Increased preparation. If you’re going to take a weekend away and explore the local area, you will either have to plan to take your pet with you or find alternate care. Not only can this be expensive, but you DO have to plan for it.
Do you have experience travel nursing with your pet? Leave your suggestions and comments below.
Safety is of great concern to travel nurses. Here are my Top 10 Travel Safety Tips.
Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. Most generally, if you exercise common sense and use your ‘gut’ feelings you will be fine. The biggest thing that I will stress is that if you feel unsafe, leave the unsafe location immediately. Always be aware of your travel safety.
Here are some tips that I try to follow to stay safe:
2. Plan your stops in town vs rest areas. Avoid places without vehicles or people around. I prefer truck stops as they are usually well-lit and active. I park close to the door and if after dark, in a well-lit area.
3. At your assignment location, drive around and orient yourself during the day. Scout out grocery stores, the hospital and other things you need to visit while it is daylight, so you don’t have to be wandering around in the dark looking for them.
4. Have some sort of Emergency Assistance AAA is a great resource. If the car breaks down or gets a flat, stay in the car until the tow truck (well-marked with AAA) arrives. AAA will generally ask if you feel safe, if you do not feel safe tell them and they will usually send a police officer to you.
5. Give A Friend or Family Member your Itinerary and check in. I give a basic itinerary (route) as well as calling to check in when leaving and arriving.
6. Select your Hotel with Safety in mind. I suggest using a hotel with rooms on the inside, i.e. no door straight out to the parking lot
7. Choose the 2nd Floor Always ask for a hotel room on an upper floor (2nd or higher), as ground floor rooms are the most vandalized. This is a good tip for any temporary housing as well.
8. Never travel without at least two sources of money available. In addition to whatever cash you have on hand. Periodically you might find that your bank thinks your debit or credit card is being used suspiciously (has happened to me) and freeze it on you without warning. Don’t store these all in one place.
9. Secure any belongings that stay in your vehicle overnight. Don’t leave anything obviously open to be viewed from the windows.
10. Always park in a well-lit area. If I am able to park in a location that can be viewed from the front desk all the better.
Do you have additional tips to add to this Top 10 Travel Safety Tips? Please post them in the comments.
Happy Nurses Week 2025! We’re so grateful for all that nurses do—every single day. This week is all about you, and we’re excited to celebrate with a giveaway! Need more details? Visit our Facebook page.
