Travel nursing vs. staff nursing: which one should you choose?
Nursing isn’t the cut and dry job you think it is. Most people don’t realize that it actually has a lot of variety. Travel nursing and staff nursing are two of the most popular specialties today. These two offer completely different experiences for nurses.
What is a travel nurse?
A travel nurse is a registered nurse that works contract nursing jobs in different places. They are usually there to fill in gaps in a hospital or as extra helping hands.
As the name suggests, travel nurses get sent to different places and work in healthcare facilities for a limited amount of time.
Pros of being a travel nurse
You get to travel to new places
Travel nurses are often sent to different states several times per year. The best thing about this is as a travel nurse, you get to choose where you want to go and decide how long you’ll stay.
If you love traveling and want to incorporate it into your job, travel nursing may be for you.
Higher salary and multitude of benefits
Pay is relative to the location you are assigned to, but most often, you will be well-compensated.
The average yearly salary will start at around $108,170 and more if you work overtime. Overtime pay in travel nursing is lucrative, with extra overtime pay of about $13,750.
Flexibility in schedules
Travel nursing offers a flexible schedule, allowing you to choose the location, duration, and specialties of your assignments.
It would enable you to balance your work and life while offering a unique career advancement and personal growth opportunity.
Cons of being a travel nurse
Inconsistent pay rates
Travel nursing can have inconsistent pay rates. Pay usually depends on the agency, location, specialty, and demand.
Your next paycheck will not be guaranteed, and your salary will fluctuate depending on your contract signed for the time being.
Constantly changing environment
Traveling around might seem fun, but it can also be emotionally and mentally taxing.
You must constantly reintegrate yourself into the new hospital environment whenever you change locations.
There are also increased chances of mistakes in patient care occurring when going to work in an environment unfamiliar to you.
Uncertainty of contract
Travel nursing is based on contracts. This can be a significant drawback for you.
Each contract is different, and each job will be something new. However, you will always run the risk of a contract being canceled suddenly and leaving you hanging.
What is a staff nurse?
A staff nurse is a registered nurse who works in a specific healthcare facility, providing direct patient care.
Staff nurses have a stable schedule and regularly work with the same patients and colleagues.
Pros of being a staff nurse
More consistency at work
Staff nurses work at the same hospital every day. It offers more consistency, and you will acclimate to the work environment.
You won’t be exposed to unfamiliar environments a lot. Your schedule will follow the same pattern, and your paycheck is guaranteed.
Broad options for specialties
Working as a staff nurse can help you choose a specialty in nursing by allowing you to gain hands-on experience and exposure to different clinical areas and patient populations.
With this in mind, you can choose the institution you will work for. You can choose a healthcare facility aligned with your goals.
More chances for career advancement
Working at the same place for a long time will establish your reputation as a nurse. This could lead to avenues for career advancement.
You could move up the career ladder through promotions. You can fill management roles or choose a more specialized field.
Cons of being a staff nurse
Longer shifts
Shorter workweeks will mean longer shifts. These shifts can tire out your body and exhaust you.
Sometimes, nurses will even opt to work on holidays and even on the weekends.
Nursing burnout
The stress and pressure will get to you and lead to nursing burnout. This is one of the chief complaints of staff nurses.
It is a job that is both mentally and physically demanding on your body.
Lower pay
Staff nurses enjoy more consistent pay; however, they also have a lower salary when compared to travel nurses.
Pick which is better for you
In the end, it all comes down to what you want. Staff nursing is the one for you if you prefer consistency and stability. Travel nursing would be the way to go if you want to be flexible and love experiencing new places. Your priorities will determine the best job for you.