5 Travel Nursing Myths Debunked

5 Common Travel Nursing Myths

There are several myths about travel nursing that can deter nurses from taking travel assignments. Below, we bust some common misconceptions about travel nursing and give you the truth.

Myth #1: Travelers Always Float

This is the biggest reservation I had when initially considering traveling. As a staff nurse, I loathed floating. So, I was happy to discover that travel nurses don’t necessarily float more than staff nurses.

Do they float first? Typically. Do they float every shift? No.

In what situation might a traveler float? The same situation in which a staff nurse would float: when the census is low and another unit needs help. Just remember, your purpose as a travel nurse is to fill a hospital’s need. If that hospital needs flexibility in their staffing, then you need to be flexible.

I’ve had travel assignments where I never floated a single shift in three months and others (mainly in the summer) where I floated once or twice a month. After four years of travel nursing, I actually don’t mind floating anymore because traveling has made me more flexible and more inclined to have new experiences.

Your contract should say whether or not you’re required to float. If this is something you think you can’t handle (or don’t want to), then it may be wise to choose your assignments accordingly.

Myth #2: Travelers Get “Bad” Patient Assignments

I’ve never left a travel contract feeling taken advantage of. It’s true that, at the beginning of an assignment, you may feel like you’re getting the “easy” or “bad” patients, but remember two things:

First, they’re testing you out. They don’t know you. The only thing the unit knows is what you put on your skills checklist and what you said in your 30-minute phone interview. Once they get to know you, they’ll start trusting you and using your skill level.

Second, you’re there to help out. Travelers exist because hospitals are short-staffed. If you weren’t there, then some other permanent staff nurse would have that assignment or worse, that assignment plus one…or more. I’ve never worked in a unit or heard from another traveler that they were directly targeted to take a “bad assignment.”

Myth #3: Travel Nurses Don’t Qualify for Health Insurance

This persistent myth keeps plenty of aspiring travel nurses from hitting the road, but it’s just not true.

Many travel agencies offer health benefits. You’ll need to check the details of your contract, as coverage will vary from agency to agency. If you plan to work with the same agency for multiple assignments, there may be an extended coverage option that ensures your coverage won’t lapse between contracts.

Alternatively, some agencies offer reimbursement to cover your health insurance costs, which you can put toward a personal insurance policy.

Many travel nurses opt for personal insurance so they can select a policy best suited to their individual needs and avoid any coverage lapses or expensive COBRA premiums between assignments.

So, while your health insurance may be more complicated than it was when you were a staff nurse, you have plenty of options and don’t need to skimp on coverage while you’re traveling.

Myth #4: Travelers Always Have to Work Nights

This is false. I am a day shift traveler. I am on my 14th travel nursing assignment, and I’ve only taken three that had potential night shifts.

It’s definitely easier to find night shift positions. If getting a day shift is more important to you, you’ll have to be more flexible with location, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to miss out on that city you want to go to or hospital you want to work in. You just might not get there exactly when you want to get there.

When it comes to scheduling in general, choosing your assignment to fit your needs is extremely important for your satisfaction. I have never had to work every weekend and every holiday as a travel nurse. The units I chose to work on had self-scheduling with a weekend and holiday requirement, which was the same for staff nurses. Your schedule may not be exactly as you asked, but it’s usually close. If you know you need some time off during your assignment, it’s important to have those dates ready when you interview so they can be written into your contract.

Myth #5: Travelers Only Work In Small Towns

As a travel nurse, you have opportunities to work in some of the most prestigious hospitals in the country. You can work pretty much wherever you want to work — big cities included.

If you want to get to a specific city, you might have to be more flexible about which hospital you work in. However, if you want to get to a specific hospital, that shouldn’t be much of an issue. I’ve worked in some of the best children’s hospitals in the country.

Hospitals need help, all of them. Unless you want to, you won’t get stuck in a tiny county hospital in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Travel nursing opens so many doors to so many great opportunities in all kinds of places.

Are Travel Nurses Treated Unfairly?

Travel Nursing Is What You Make It

When interviewing for your assignment, it’s important to ask how often travel nurses work on that unit. There are some hospitals that have A LOT of travel nurses working for them. I feel this puts a burden on the staff nurses, which may lead to bullying or poor treatment.

You’ll find that most people don’t talk to you for the first couple of weeks. This doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t like you. It’s just the way it is sometimes. If you’re open and friendly, though, you’ll find it easier to connect with your co-workers. If you’re quiet and keep to yourself, then people probably won’t approach you.

Choosing a unit that already has a few travel nurses always seemed to be better for me. The nurses are less stressed, the onboarding process is more thorough, and the management is generally more supportive.

Ultimately, your travel experience is what you make it. You can choose your own path -- what city you live in, what shift you work, what unit, and what hospital. So don’t let these common myths prevent you from a travel nursing career — and enjoying perks that come with it: great pay, professional development, and adventure!