If you’re a perm staff healthcare worker tired of the 'same old, same old,' then it may be time for a career change. And you’ve come to the right place! Perhaps a career as a travel nurse or an allied health traveler is in your future. Here, you’ll learn all about the perks of being a professional medical traveler.
The Perks of Being a Travel Nurse or Allied Health Traveler
What is a travel nurse?
Before becoming a travel nurse, it’s essential to understand what a travel nurse is. Travel nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who travel across the country to provide medical care and services in different healthcare settings. These highly skilled medical professionals accept short-term contracts to fill staffing gaps in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to experience different cultures and destinations while providing quality care to those in need. Plus, you can gain valuable experience that will help you grow as a medical professional and increase your earning potential. Travel nursing is an exciting way for you to explore the country while making a positive impact on the lives of others.
What is an allied health traveler?
Travel nurses aren’t the only kind of professional medical travelers. There are also allied health travelers. According to the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions, allied health professionals are involved with the “delivery of health or related services pertaining to the identification, evaluation, and prevention of diseases and disorders; dietary and nutrition services; rehabilitation and health systems management, among others.”
In other words, allied health workers are healthcare professionals who provide a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic, and support systems to patients. Allied health professionals include diagnostic medical sonographers, dietitians, medical technologists, occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), respiratory therapists, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs).
Related: Wondering which allied health career is right for you?
Like travel nurses, allied health travelers are medical professionals who travel to different locations for short-term contracts. These assignments can range from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the needs of the healthcare facility. As an allied health traveler, you can explore new places while also providing much-needed medical care to those in need.
Benefits of being a professional medical traveler
Life as a professional medical traveler comes with many perks that may not be available to their perm staff counterparts. Not only do you get to travel the country and provide specialty care to patients who need it, but you also get flexible scheduling, the chance to work high-paying jobs, professional growth opportunities, and added job security.
High pay
One of the best parts of being a professional medical traveler is that you can make more money than perm staff. That’s because med travelers benefit from travel and housing reimbursements and added bonuses for contract completion or referrals. Additionally, travel nurses and allied health travelers may receive a premium for overtime hours, as well as other perks like stipends for continuing education classes.
How much you make as a med traveler can depend on your level of experience, your field of expertise, the staffing agency you work with, and the location of the healthcare facility where you’re working. Typically, travelers are paid a blended rate, which includes an hourly wage, housing stipend, per diem, and travel expense reimbursement and only part of the package is taxed.
Flexibility
Another perk of being a travel nurse or allied health traveler is the flexibility to choose when and where you work. As a medical traveler, you have the freedom to choose assignments based on your personal preferences, no matter what they are. Prioritize your desired destination, duration of stay, and specialty, which allows you to customize your experience and build a career that suits your travel lifestyle. Plus, as a professional medical traveler, you can take time off in-between assignments and treat yourself!
Professional growth
Working as a traveling medical professional provides a great opportunity for professional growth and development by gaining valuable experience in different healthcare settings. From working with diverse patient populations to learning new technologies, there are many ways for med travelers to grow professionally.
Travel nurses and allied health travelers can also expand their skill set by taking on roles that may not be available in a traditional hospital environment, such as providing care in rural areas or working with underserved communities. As an added bonus, medical travelers have the unique opportunity to learn from other experienced professionals throughout their journey and develop strong relationships that last long after their assignment. All these experiences offer invaluable insight into the medical field and help shape your career path.
Job security
Because there’s a constant demand for healthcare professionals across the U.S., medical travelers have the benefit of added job security, especially during times of national shortages. Healthcare facilities will always have a need for qualified nurses and allied health professionals, which gives you the security of always knowing there will be medical travel assignments available to you. Plus, med travelers can enjoy greater stability by moving between facilities and locations because travel nurses and allied health travelers are less likely to suffer from layoffs that may occur at one particular facility.
Explore new places
Of course, a big perk to being a professional medical traveler is the chance to explore new places across the country. As a travel nurse or allied health traveler, you have the unique chance to experience different cultures, expand your professional network, and gain insight into healthcare systems from all over the U.S. You’ll be able to see first-hand how healthcare works in other parts of the country, expanding your knowledge, and giving you insight into medical trends.
Are you ready to start your journey as a professional medical traveler? Start traveling with Fusion Medical Staffing! Find out how much experience you need as a travel nurse or allied health professional to start your medical travel career and get in touch with a Fusion Medical Staffing recruiter today. Before you know it, you’ll be reaping all the benefits of a travel lifestyle.
