Identification

A traveling nurse works in different hospitals, each for several months at a time, before moving on to another hospital in another state or part of the country. Traveling nurses are generally not employees of a specific hospital; rather, they work for and are paid through a traveling nurse agency.

Benefits

For those who like to travel, being a traveling nurse not only allows you to see other places, but to actually live for a time in different regions. It is also an opportunity to see how different doctors and hospitals operate and to learn new things. If a nurse doesn't like a certain area or doesn't get along with a co-worker, he knows the job is only for a limited time.

Incentives

Traveling nurses make between $30 to $40 an hour, often significantly more than nurses who are employed by one hospital, according to Payscale.com. Hourly wages may go up to $60 an hour depending on the nursing assignment and location of job, according to Travelingnurseguide.com. Traveling nurse agencies often offer excellent insurance and benefits as well. Some agencies even offer bonuses when an assignment has been completed or for referrals when new traveling nurses join.

Options

Nurses who are friends may sometimes be able to sign up to be traveling nurses together. This gives a sense of familiarity to new places and can make the job more fun.

Considerations

Most nurses don't remain traveling nurses throughout their career, according to Travelingnurseguide.com. However, spending time as a traveling nurse allows a nurse to know what she is looking for in a permanent hospital job. She will also have a better idea of where she wants to settle down, after living in many places for comparison.

Source:

Travelingnurseguide.com: The benefits of being a traveling nurse

Payscale.com: Traveling nurse opportunity