This one is for all the nurses, allied healthcare professionals, physical therapists, and healthcare providers who are on the fence: To travel or not to travel? Let’s see if we can offer you some guidance with our new pro/con list…

Pros of the travel nurse life

• See new places and have all sorts of adventures: This is our favorite pro of being a travel nurse. There are so many beautiful and fun places to experience in the U.S., from breathtaking national parks to fast-paced city living, and you can put them all on your 2025 bucket list. 
• Get competitive compensation: According to Indeed, the average yearly salary in the U.S. for travel nurses is $114,928 or $49.25 per hour.[1] Comparing that with the average for standard nursing roles at $93,000, it is a no-brainer, really.
• Augment your CV with diverse roles: Boring CVs don’t exist in the travel nursing world. You can get career-moving experience in the full spectrum of nursing, allied healthcare, imaging, and physical therapy roles to enhance your appeal to employers.
• Always pick your shifts: No more landing the least desirable shifts, you get the autonomy to pick whichever shift you like. 
• Choose your contract length: From three weeks to three months, you have all the control over where you go and how long you stay there. 
• Travel to match the seasons: Seasonal depression will be a thing of the past when choosing the best spots around the nation to work from —  or opt for perfect temperatures all year long! 
• Get all the perks, bonuses, and benefits: Travel nursing agencies like IDR Healthcare offer a full stack of financial benefits, including health benefits, housing stipends, a Health Savings Account (HSA), an ESOP, a 401k, travel stipends, and more. 
• Make new friends from all over: This is the perfect role for the person who is thrilled to meet new people and is eager to expand their personal and professional network. 
• Only work when it works for you: Take contracts back to back or take a break in between, it’s up to you. 

Cons of being a travel nurse

• You’re often away from home: Your loved ones will most likely be far away while you’re out adventuring, and you may not know how the distance for an extended time will truly affect you until you hit the road for the first time.
• You have to intentionally seek out community: There’s no place like home for a reason. You’ll want to be proactive with joining clubs or groups while you’re traveling to get connected and mitigate loneliness. 
• Setting routines can be difficult: You’re in a new place, and it’s going to take some time to find your route for a daily walk, a good gym, the best coffee, and self-care services before you’re fully settled. 
• Onboarding on repeat: New contracts may require new documents and credentialing, which can be tedious without a support team helping you. 
• Frequently adapting to new work environments: It can be challenging to always be adjusting to a new place or team.
• Traveling is not always glamorous: Sometimes, it’s long flights, hotel rooms, people who aren’t your favorite, and a feeling of being unsettled. 

Ready to make your decision? Let us know! If you’re prepared to jump into travel nursing with both feet and an aisle seat, we’d love to help you get started. Connect with an IDR Healthcare recruiter here. 

Sources:

[1]Travel nurse salary in United States. (n.d.-c). https://www.indeed.com/career/travel-nurse/salaries