The first time I heard about nurse travelers I fell into a slumber with dreams about my future. I am a bit of a romanticist and here was an opportunity for me to delve deeply into my own fantasies. As an RN Operating Room Traveler there was going to be evening parties on the Riviera after saving lives in distant hospitals with ignorant staffs who were going to require my wisdom and expertise.
Dude, it was going to be awesome!
I have been awakened from that slumber 17 times! (BTW, that's the number of contracts my wife, Genie, and I have finished.) I am daily reminded by my own ignorance. And wisdom? Seems I had a bit of experience and felt I was prepared to go out with my Florence Nightingale surgeon’s cap and storm operating rooms coast to coast with a blast of self confidence rivaled only by a few neuro surgeons I know.
There are so many common misconceptions about travelling. Goodness knows I have lived through enough of them. These are a few of the misconceptions about travelling that I personally have suffered with:
1. Travelers make a lot of money!
I wish! Very often the traveler will make the same and sometimes less than the staff that they're assisting. There once was a time when travel nursing was a limited industry that offered a few companies and fewer nurses who were able to obtain contracts quickly often without interviewing (desperate managers) for very high wages. Now there are many companies who negotiate contracts with many hospitals (and some very savvy managers) saving the hospitals money while passing on the now lower rates to the traveler. Competition is certainly a very good thing... unless you happen to be at the bottom of the food chain.
2. Travelers are loved by the staff!
Hard as you try, not everyone will like you. Yeah, I know. You already knew that. But coming into strange surroundings where no one trusts you is very much the same thing. Convincing your surgical tech that you know what you're doing the first day on the job when you can't find a pair of sterile gloves has a tendency to instill little if any real confidence in your abilities. The tech's security is blown while you're out looking for his next request. Needless to say making friends can be sometimes difficult.
3. Travelers are hated by the staff.
While some staff members will believe that you are somehow taking money out of their pockets and jobs from their neighbors, others will understand that their every-other night call schedule is about to get better. And the fact that you are willing to pick up additional call won't hurt. It feels great to be welcomed by this kind of staff member who knows you are there to help.
4. There will be luxury condominiums by the seashore for every assignment.
OK, that might be a wee bit over the top. Still, not all housing will measure up to your standards. Clean is crucial. A safe environment that has relative proximity to your assignment (if you have a 30 minute call back, 30 miles is too far!). Free of bugs and vermin... no wincing please. Establish your needs and maintain them.
5. Travelers take a lot of time off!
Yep. Some of the best experiences of our lives have been taking longer-than-2-week vacations while we were RN travelers. But some of those vacations were not planned. There have been a few dips in the economy over the past few years (Ya think!?!) and there have been times when jobs have been scarce and hard to come by. There has also been a few dips into the retirement account. Unlike many of our traveler friends, Genie and I like to take several weeks off between contracts. That's great. But remember that many companies do not continue to carry you on their medical plans between contracts. So, we make sure that our prescriptions are filled before the contract ends, and we pray for good health... cuz the benefits end then too.
6. Travelers get lots of money back at the end of the year on their taxes.
There are travelers who get back lots of money, and refuse to report their stipend as non-taxed income. And then pay it back to the government when they're audited. This is very avoidable. Follow the rules and get good advice or, better still, get a good tax accountant who is familiar with traveler incomes. Btw, you should know that the travel companies recent requirement that travelers take a reduced wage and an increased stipend (non-taxed income) does nothing to increase your tax refund nor does it help you toward retirement… seems you have to pay into retirement accounts, including Social Security, in order that you get something substantial back.
7. Traveler Nurses know everything.
I have a tendency to say to people that travelling is a lot like getting directions from 10 people. Each one will give you a different route, and most of the suggested routes will get you to your destination. Some routes are longer, some are shorter. Some routes are expensive and others are hard on the driver. And sometimes you find out that there is more than one perfect route. So, every time I go to another assignment I get a whole new set of driving directions…and a whole new level of respect for the drivers of the new bus… uh, OR staff. Anyway, travelers don’t have all the answers and we should be willing to listen and learn to the needs of the staff we are serving. This is the point of the contract when I catch myself saying things like “When I was at Merciful Destination Medical Center we did it this way.” Please, somebody stop me!
8. Traveler nurses can’t make it in the “real world”.
Real World? What does that mean?
I love nursing, and the first time I stepped into a surgical suite I knew I was at home. I never even considered anywhere else. This was my career path…period! And sharing it with my wife, my best friend, while traveling across this great country, well… I am blessed. We made a choice to take on this challenge and we have never looked back. For us this is the “real world”. Four new OR suites every year.
I was fairly certain that this would turn into an even 10 items but I find I am out of ideas…I know there's more to add to this list and I'm hoping that you'll help find our way to resolving other great traveler misconceptions, adding at least a couple of items to round out this list.
Genie and I have picked up a few ideas about traveling and we have read about folk who have more to share than we. I will do my best to bring these ideas to you. But hearing from you and your experiences would be… well Awesome, Dude!
Chris & Genie Antalek
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