Adventure More as a Travel Nurse

With the word “travel” in the name, one can assume that Travel Nurses travel more than the average human. And yes, you will travel to each contract and experience that new city. This post is about more than that, though. It’s about how to take advantage of days off and time between contracts. I’ll share ways to see more of the whole world. This is about how to adventure more as a Travel Nurse.

What is Travel Nursing?

Travel Nursing is working as a Nurse in different places for short periods of time. You are hired by a Travel Nurse Agency, and you typically work 8-13 week contracts at different hospitals or clinics that are in need of short-term help. If you are brand new to this concept, read my Advice for Travel Nurses first, and explore the Best Reasons to become a Travel RN and the Cons of Travel Nursing. It is an awesome career path, but you should know what you’re getting into.

How to Adventure More as a Travel Nurse

Aquamarine cracker lake with a backpacker

Hi, I’m Danielle! I’m so excited that you’re thinking about Travel Nursing!

Choose assignments based on where you want to explore

When I decided to be a Travel Nurse, I didn’t quit my regular nursing job until a recruiter could get me a job in Colorado. I wanted to see the Rocky Mountains, go snowboarding, and hike 14ers. That Travel Nurse assignment was adventure in itself. I was traveling to somewhere I had always wanted to visit.

If you have the ability to be flexible, make a list of places you want to travel, and don’t take a Travel Nurse assignment until one is available in your list of cities.

Sometimes you are in a time crunch and have to take a travel contract ASAP. Spend some time on your travel agency’s website browsing the job openings. Google the different towns/cities, and see what kind of adventure you could get into in that place. Maybe a town that you’ve never heard of is hiring and has incredible hiking trails nearby. You never know.

Adventure in your new city or town

Once you know where you will be living for the next few months, make a list of things you want to do in that place. Look up hiking trails, kayaking, snowboarding/skiing, rock climbing, and whatever else excites you. For me, this always includes that city’s best pizza places too.

When you arrive and have your first day off, you’ll already have a bunch of options for an awesome day.

Explore nearby cities, towns, and parks

Pull up your new city in GoogleMaps. Zoom out slowly and see if there are any nearby cities or towns that are worth a trip. Also, travel blogs are awesome. (Not just saying that because I have one.) You can google “weekend trips near …” and you will have tons of articles on what to do nearby.

For example, I lived in Denver for 6 months as a Travel Nurse. I learned that Moab, Utah is only 4 hours from Denver, so I spent a few days camping and hiking in Moab’s National Parks. When I lived in Boston, I went to Cape Cod to explore the beautiful beaches. Did you know Minnesota has a National Park? If you live in the Twin Cities, you can take a road trip up to Voyageurs and canoe camp.

Each contract can be more than just exploring the city in which you’re living.

Take advantage of your 4 days off per week

Nearly every travel nurse contract requires you to work 3 12 hour shifts per week. This means you will have 4 days off per week to adventure. If able, talk to your scheduler when you arrive to your new assignment and see if they can do block scheduling (working 3 in a row). 4 days off in a row can easily turn into a road trip or a short flight somewhere.

If the block scheduling works out right, sometimes you will have more than 4 days off in a row. Be organized. Plan adventures for that time off.

Request time off in your contract

When you are applying for travel nurse jobs, you always have the ability to request time off in your contract. If it allows you to still fulfill your 3 days per week, it will almost always be approved. If you’re wanting 10 days off in the middle of your contract, that isn’t as likely, but it’s still possible. And once it’s written in your contract (always get it on paper!), they can’t take it back once you start working.

Take time off in between contracts and plan an epic backpacking trip. The opportunities are endless.

Plan adventures in between your contracts

One of my favorite things about Travel Nursing is that in between contracts you are truly free to do what you please. You can take as much time off as you want in between contracts. It’s the perfect way to spend 3 weeks in Europe, backpack in Patagonia, or do some disaster relief work. The opportunities are truly endless.

A couple things:

If you are taking more than 30 days off between contracts, you will most likely lose the travel nurse health insurance. Use Cobra or buy your own health insurance; don’t go without it, especially if you’re going on crazy adventures.

You won’t be paid during this time. If money is tight, taking 4 weeks off might not be plausible for you. If you’ve saved some money up, go for it.

Which brings us to our next topic…

Save that Travel Nurse money and use it for travel

Travel Nurses almost always make more money than Staff Nurses. By being flexible with your time, moving around the country, and working for hospitals when they desperately need extra hands, you get paid more.

Every contract varies on how much you will make, so I can’t give a number here. If you work in California, you are going to make more money, but your housing will be MUCH more expensive. Taking a contract in Colorado is often less money because it’s such a desired destination. Occasionally, crisis contracts occur, and then you can make loads of money.

This article shares how to save more money as a Travel Nurse

You can also save more money by finding your own housing rather than taking your agency’s housing. If the housing you find is cheaper, you get to pocket the leftover stipend. I talk more about this on my Advice for Travel Nurses post.

Travel the world

The fact that you are reading this post means that travel must be a passion of yours. With the advice in the post, you definitely have the ability to plans trips and explore the world.

Life can get in the way of our passions sometimes. We get busy, lazy, or afraid to take the plunge.

Plan. The. Trip.

I have never once regretted a trip that I have taken. If it had disastrous moments, I grew from them. Usually, though, I end up with incredible memories and a deeper understanding of the world. I am a big fan of lists. Keep a list of destinations that you would love to experience, and actually put effort into visiting them.

I HIGHLY recommend Iceland as a solo travel destination. It is incredible and super safe.

Solo Travel

“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark

If you are limited on when you can travel, you might not be able to find a BFF that’s available on the only week you can make it to Iceland in February. Don’t always wait for someone else to accomplish what YOU want to do. Solo travel may seem daunting, but it can be one of the greatest experiences.

Traveling alone gives you the opportunity to really put yourself out there and meet other travelers. You learn about yourself and immerse yourself in new cultures. And most importantly for Travel Nurses, it allows you the flexibility to travel when you want and on your own schedule.