Are You Allowed to Bring Pets When You Travel?

You’ll be surprised by how many travel nurses take their pets with them on the road. It is becoming more and more common, and travel nursing agencies are very accustomed to finding accommodations for nurses who bring their furry (or feathery) companions with them from one assignment to the next.

Be sure to tell your travel nursing agency about your pet companions before you take an assignment, so they are aware of it and can set to work to ensure that suitable housing can be found for you. Be as accurate as possible when describing your pet’s breed, height, weight and age to avoid any move-in complications.

In most instances, you will have to pay a pet deposit for your housing. These extra costs are not always refundable and are generally your financial responsibility.

I have a very timid dog. Based on his personality, I didn’t think he would take too well to travel and the change of scenery. To my surprise, I was wrong. As we drove from Texas to California, I discovered that he really loved seeing new places and sniffing new territory. You never know until you try. Your pet may surprise you, too.

While traveling to your assignment, you may want to break your trip and stay in a pet-friendly hotel. I find the following Web sites helpful when I’m on the road with my dog:

PetTravel.com
LetsGoPets.com
TakeYourPet.com


You might find the following books useful, too:

“Traveling With Your Pet”—a AAA Specialty Travel Series
“Take Your Pet Too” by Heather Walters
“Pet Travel and Fun Authority” by M. Nelson

I can tell you, from personal experience, that there is a lot of support out there for nurses who wish to take their pets on assignment. You may discover a whole new world of animal lovers as you journey to all the dog-friendly places and mingle with others like yourself. Your pet will no doubt love it, too!

Has the high cost of traveling affected the travel nursing industry?

That is a really good question and considering the state of the economy and the all-time high gas prices, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to believe that travel nursing jobs have been affected, too

However, the nursing shortage continues and that is what drives the demand for travel nurses. I haven’t seen any decrease in travel nursing jobs and I know that several of the larger travel nursing companies are making it easier for their travel nurses to get from one assignment to the next with increased travel reimbursements. So, even with the higher cost of traveling, it won’t impact you if your travel company offers a generous reimbursement. Ask your recruiter about this when you apply to be sure that you are being adequately reimbursed for your mileage.

If the travel nursing industry ever did become affected, which I doubt will happen, I think nurses would just need to be a bit more flexible in where they are willing to take an assignment. Being more flexible automatically broadens your choices. Also, to have access to the widest choice of assignments, I think it’s a good idea to sign up with several companies, including some of the larger ones who have an extensive network of available jobs across the country.

Is it True That I Can Make More Money as a Travel Nurse?

In general, traveling nurses do often make good money and have more opportunities to get ahead financially. Their willingness to be away from the comforts of home is considered warranted for a higher wage. However, it’s not just the hourly rate that is better. Traveling nurses who maintain a permanent residence are also entitled to many additional tax benefits that can really add up. Being away from home, they can also deduct a daily allowance for meals, which helps lower their taxes, too.

Another bonus is that housing is paid for by the travel nursing company, in addition to utilities. In most cases, you will be provided with a private, furnished apartment or condo in a housing community that offers amenities such as a pool, spa and workout facilities. It’s not a bad deal at all.

If you’re looking to maximize your earning potential, you can find out from your travel company which assignment facilities are offering completion bonuses. In some hard-to-fill positions, the bonuses can be upward of $6,000 or more.

Some travelers find creative ways to make their money go even further such as living in an RV or staying with a friend or family member while on assignment and taking advantage of the housing stipend that their travel nursing company gives them each month. If you need to make more money, travel nursing is definitely an option that’s worth considering.