The nursing field offers a lot of opportunities, but for many new and experienced nurses, a significant question gets asked pretty early in their careers. Should I be a travel nurse or a staff nurse? This is a harder decision than a lot of people think. Each path has its unique advantages and disadvantages, and each can accelerate different areas of your career. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of each to help you answer the question, travel nursing or staff nursing?
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Do You Crave Adventure or Stability?
The biggest difference between travel and staff nursing lies within the nature of the job. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that travel nurses travel. They’ll go to different healthcare facilities across the country (and the world). The contracts are usually 13 weeks long allowing nurses to learn about new areas, cultures, and healthcare environments. If you’re a nurse who craves adventure and a break from routines, travel nursing is a great option. However, constantly being on the move can be challenging for a lot of people. Packing up your life every few months, finding temporary housing, and adapting to new work environments all require a certain level of adaptability.
Staff nurses, on the other hand, establish themselves in a single healthcare facility, which helps them feel more stability and develop better routines. It’s also a lot easier to make friends as a staff nurse than a travel nurse. Staff nurses spend more time in one place and have an easier time developing deep connections with coworkers, patients, and their surrounding community. One major advantage for staff nurses is not having to learn a new building every couple of months. Staff nursing is better for the directionally challenged and ideal for nurses who value a sense of belonging, predictable routines, and stability.
Take a Look at Your Personal Goals
Both travel and staff nursing offer excellent opportunities for professional growth but in different ways. Travel nurses gain more exposure to different healthcare settings, patients, medical conditions, and treatment protocols. The constant exposure to new things broadens their skillset and adaptability, making them valuable assets in any healthcare environment. Some nurses use travel nursing to try out new healthcare settings before they become staff nurses.
On the other hand staff nurses have the opportunity to specialize in a specific area of practice. Since they work in the same unit or department for a longer period of time, they can develop more in-depth knowledge and expertise in their specific field. Specialization can lead to career advancement within the same facility like becoming a nurse educator or taking on a leadership role.
At the end of the day, the best path for professional development depends on your goals and preferences. If you like the idea of being a jack-of-all-trades and extremely adaptable, then travel nursing may be the best fit. However, if you want to specialize in a specific field then being a staff nurse is probably the best option.
Who Makes More?
Finances are important for any career decision, and nursing isn’t any different. Travel nurses typically earn a higher hourly wage than staff nurses. This is often supplemented by tax-free housing stipends, travel allowances, and other benefits offered by travel nurse agencies. The potential for overtime pay on travel contracts can further boost income. Depending on the agency nurses work with, they may even get access to health benefits.
Even though staff nurses are paid well, and receive health benefits from employers, they tend to make less money than travel nurses. This is mainly because travel nurses know they are going into an understaffed facility, and they don’t have the same level of stability as staff nurses.
Travel Nursing or Staff Nursing? The Choice is Yours
There are benefits to being a travel nurse, like making more money and getting to explore new destinations. But, being a staff nurse has its own set of perks, like stability and a sense of community. When you are trying to figure out what the best fit is for you. Remember that nothing has to be permanent. It’s okay to try something new and make a decision based on your experiences.
If you’re looking to get into Travel or PRN nursing, Cascade Health Services can help! We offer a wide variety of Travel assignments in different locations across the United States. Our expert recruiters are here to help you find the best fit.
