When you choose a career as a travel nurse, you come to expect certain benefits. You understand that you are getting paid to travel and use your nursing skills across the country. You will be offered assignments based on the highest need for your nursing skills. You expect that you will be paid well and have some flexibility in your schedule. As a travel nurse, you will get much more than that. Consider these unexpected perks of being a travel nurse.
Less Political Environment
One of the biggest challenges many employees face each day is office politics. The politics of an office can make it an unpleasant working environment. It can cause a high amount of stress among employees. This tends to be more common in high-stress jobs. When you are only at a location temporarily for three to six months, it is much easier to stay away from any political drama. Even if you find yourself on a site that has a high amount of drama, the assignment is short-term, so you will be able to move on in a short amount of time.
Additional Skills
As a travel nurse, you have a specific skill set. However, you have the ability to learn additional skills. You are able to work at different sites and see how each one functions. This gives you invaluable experience to enter any facility and feel comfortable. You learn to adapt to different personalities and situations, which can improve your communication and critical thinking skills. You will gain life skills from moving around to new locations and acclimating to new cities, job sites, and people.
Luxury Accommodations
Anytime you work as a travel nurse, you are given accommodation as part of your assignment. You do not have to find them or pay for them. That is handled for you. You are given a place to stay that is private and comfortable. You will often find a furnished apartment in a beautiful neighborhood as part of your assignment. Most likely, you will be close to the job location. You may find that you are staying in a place that has a pool or fitness center.
Tax Breaks
As a travel nurse, you are eligible to receive tax breaks. There are tax laws that allow full-time travel nurses to receive non-taxable stipends for incidentals and meals. This is money given to you that is tax-free, which means you have more money in your paycheck. This tax law is often referred to as a Tax Advantage Plan.
License Reimbursement
When you work as a travel nurse, you may be able to have the fees for your licensing reimbursed. While every agency is a little different, it may be a perk they offer. It may also be a perk that you negotiate if this is an important one for you. The amount of time it takes to obtain a license varies from state to state. This is essential for you to know if you are not licensed in the state where you plan to travel to work.