Can I Travel with My Family?

Without a doubt, travel nurses live a dynamic lifestyle. Humming around in an RV, accepting short-term work assignments from 'Frisco to Nevada, and braving the path to new adventures on the road is an active lifestyle. Upon job acceptance, many questions arise with married travel nurses. Can my husband and children come along with me? Is it possible to nail a work assignment where my children's education will not be interrupted?

The answer to these questions is a resounding yes. Travel nurses can and do travel with their children and husbands. To begin, travel nursing assignments don't always dispatch professionals 200 miles away. Healthcare staffing agencies have positions available as close as 50 miles away or whatever distance the travel nurse prefers. Flexibility is a hallmark of recruiters; by telling them your preferences, they will pair you up with the right job assignment.

For those who want to travel far distances, bringing the family along is an excellent bonding experience. Life lessons could be learned by trekking through Dallas' downtown area and working in San Diego clinics, where a trip to Mexico is a stone's throw away. When school is in session, many travel nurses can opt to home school their children on a work assignment of more than the standard 3-months. For short-term assignments during the summer, travel nurses can choose a desirable, warm weather location to take their children to.

Many travel nurses find themselves questioning their spouse's role in their job assignments. If a long-term work assignment is in the picture, spouses can opt to interview early and accept a new position in the work assignment destination. Sometimes, travel nurses follow their husbands or children along instead of the other way around. An on-the-move executive or a freshman in college might move to another city, leaving the travel nurse to choose from the wide selection of work assignment destinations recruiters have to offer. A change of lifestyle is fresh and offers plenty of family bonding in the process.

Another bona fide aspect of the work assignment game is that travel nurses have some flexibility when it comes to working shifts. Parents can work 12 hour shifts starting at 12 am to 3 am three days a week to allow time for children. Many companies force 8 hour workdays from 9 am to 5 pm, leaving family time out of the picture; making this an exciting proposition.

It's important to follow a few rules of thumb when bringing your family along. First, make your children an active part of the decision making process. Ask them for destination recommendations so that they may be more energized to move there, especially for a short-term assignment. Also, inform your recruiter of any traveling companions so they can make the necessary accommodations. If home schooling is on the menu, its best to accept short-term work assignments during the summer months if possible. Of course, it is up to the travel nurse to accept his/her work assignment duration. When moving, always check up on schools nearby and keep all prior records handy. They are very much a part of this, if not on a higher level, than you are

Bringing the clan along for the ride has proven to be an exceptional experience for thousands of travel nursing families. The flexibility of work assignments compared with the lifestyle benefits available make for an excellent family decision.