5 Ways Travel Nursing Makes You a Better Nurse
By Aaron Moore, MSN, RN-BC, travel nurse expert
There are many ways and opportunities to better yourself as a nurse. Education and experience compete in our career for top dog when it comes to this topic. It’s a nature vs. nurture battle in many ways.
Classroom instruction is important, but I tend to view experience as the best educator. Every place you work, and every shift you put in, helps you learn more and have the opportunity to become a better nurse.
I’ve also found that travel nursing assignments can do wonders for your experience level and your nursing knowledge. These short-term nursing jobs allow you to experience a variety of working environments and cities, while enjoying free housing and other benefits.
Here are 5 ways travel nursing can make you a better nurse:
1. Travel nursing makes you more adaptable.
Things are always changing in patient care, and nurses have to think on their feet. Travel nurses become pros at adapting to change – like every 13 weeks or so.
Future employers recognize this and are often reassured that an experienced traveler is more likely to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact in their unit.
2. Travel nursing helps you gain more diverse experience.
Yes, a patient is a patient, no matter where you go, and treatment plans are standardized in many areas. But there are more opportunities to see different things when you travel. I saw different comorbidities and learned about new diseases I had never treated before that where geographically specific.
Equipment and medication choices may change as well, and having that diverse experience in your nursing tool belt is a really good thing.
3. Travel nurses develop greater confidence.
I’ve seen it so many times: a recent RN grad leaves to work travel nursing assignments for a while, and returns a much better, more confident nurse. The confidence that comes with experience in our field is so important.
Travel nursing helped me grow leaps and bounds in my abilities and my professional confidence. It gave me more personal confidence, as well, as I learned how to navigate new cities and reach out and make friends in new places.
4. Travel nurses are motivated to grow and excel.
When a potential employer looks at your resume and sees where you’ve been and what you’ve done, they will automatically know a few things about you. You’re a go-getter. You are self-motivated. And you are willing to challenge yourself. All of these features are desired qualities when they are seeking quality nurses to add to their staff.
Travel nurses can also take advantage of free continuing education while on the road, to grow in their nursing career. (Check with your travel nurse agency).
RELATED: Three Ways to Be a Better Nurse
5. Travel nurses can be proven reliable.
Reliability is an important trait in nursing, and something employers notice when it comes to a long-term travel nurse. Every travel nursing assignment gives you the opportunity to improve your skills, prove yourself and earn a good reference from employers and your recruiter.
When you work hard and apply yourself, your good reputation will travel with you. The professional networking opportunities you’ll gain can also help you down the road.
So, you want to be a better nurse? Consider travel nursing as the next step in your career.
WANT TO KNOW MORE about travel nursing?
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