Imagine yourself traveling from one city to another doing what you love the most and that is providing patient care. No doubt travel nursing has its perks such as higher pay, exploring new cities and growing personally and professionally but it has its challenges. Some travel nurses travel alone leaving behind their family and friends, which can be emotionally challenging, but it is possible to travel with family. Some travel nurses choose to travel with their families, but it comes with challenges such as adjusting to new schools, childcare routines and much more. In this blog, we will guide you on how to make travel nursing with family work. So, let’s dive in!
Is travel nursing with family possible?
Having a family should never stop you from achieving your goals as a travel nurse. Nowadays, travel nurses can travel with their families. However, it is important to consider that travel nursing comes with its own rewards and challenges. Planning and communication is the key to make your travel assignments smooth and easy. Here we will give you tips on how to travel with family.
Tips on how to make travel nursing with family possible
Discussing with your family
Before you choose travel nursing as your career and sign your first contract it is important to involve your family in making the decision. This can be a huge and sudden change for you and your family therefore involving them in the discussion is very important. If you have older kids, it is important to get them involved in the discussion too. Discuss the pros and cons of travel nursing before you decide to choose travel nursing as a career.
Plan your housing
Some agencies will provide housing for travel nurses, but it is important to know whether the housing provided is family-friendly or not. If you are planning your own housing, make sure it is not only closer to your work but also to schools and other family activities. So, after your free time, you can spend time with your kids in parks, and during emergencies, you can visit school easily.
Research schools and educational options
The other things to consider while travel nursing with kids are schooling and educational options. Some travel nurses provide home or online schooling for their kids because enrolling them in a new school every time is very difficult. But if you want to put your kids in temporary schools then do your research.
Choosing family-friendly assignments
As a travel nurse, you always choose assignments that match your needs and interests but when traveling with family you have to choose assignments carefully. You need to choose contracts that align with your family’s needs and interests too.
Budget wisely
The most important thing to consider while traveling with family is budgeting. Things you must consider before budgeting are housing, relocation costs, health insurance, education, transportation, entertainment, taxes, and much more.
Support from your partner
As we know travel nurses have unpredictable hours. If you are traveling with family, then you need support from your partner and other family members who are traveling with you. Especially if you have small kids, you must have a supporting partner or a family member who is taking care of the kids when you are not home. You can also do your research on daycares and also look for 24-hour daycares that can look after your kids while you are at work. A solid support system is needed when you are a travel nurse.
If you are a travel nurse and looking for job opportunities, then download our SkillGigs app. This app helps travel nurses find personalized job matches based on skills, career goals, and preferences, making it easier to find the right fit! Happy travel nursing.
What are the pros and cons of travel nursing with family?
Travel nursing with family and kids can be fun and entertaining if it is planned wisely. However, travel nursing with family can have its own benefits and challenges. Here is the breakdown of the pros and cons of travel nursing with family.
Pros:
- Exploring new places.
- Financial benefits such as higher pay, bonuses, and insurance benefits.
- Spending quality time with family.
- Professional growth for parents.
- Meeting new people and making social connections
- New learning opportunities for kids.
Cons:
- Constant relocation
- Finding family-friendly housing
- Kids educational challenges
- Managing childcare and family
- Struggling to find a work-home balance
Tips for travel nurses to find balance between challenges and rewards while traveling with family
Travel nurses should follow these tips to make their travel nursing career successful and smooth while traveling with their family:
- Be honest and set clear expectations.
- Be patient with each other.
- Stay organized.
- Keep track of your work, school, and other activities.
- Get involved locally.
- Making friends
- Celebrate milestones.
- Communication with family.
Can travel nurses bring their families during their assignments?
Yes, travel nurses can travel with their families during their nursing assignments. Travel nursing with family can be fun and exciting but it has its own challenges. You need to know the pros and cons before you decide to travel to nursing with your family.
Is travel nursing with kids possible?
Yes! Travel nursing with kids is possible. You need support from your partner or other family members to travel with kids as a nurse. It has its challenges such as their education, research on daycare, and housing but with proper planning and research, it is possible and rewarding at the same time.
Conclusion
Travel nursing is an exciting and rewarding career to choose from. Traveling nursing has its benefits such as higher pay, and professional and personal growth. But it is very difficult to stay away from your family while you are traveling. But travel nursing with family is possible. With some tips such as communication with family, choosing the right assignments, housing planning, and educational planning for kids you can have a smooth travel nursing career. But it is important that before you choose travel nursing with family you must involve them in discussion and consider the pros and cons of travel nursing with family. If your family is supportive of your travel nursing career can be smooth and successful.
If you are a travel nurse and looking for job opportunities, then download our SkillGigs app. This app helps travel nurses find personalized job matches based on skills, career goals, and preferences, making it easier to find the right fit! Happy travel nursing.
