What if I Don’t Know Where I Want to Go?

Q: I am considering working as a travel nurse, but what if I am unsure about the places I want to travel to? Do I need to have specific locations planned out for months ahead of time before I start traveling?

A: One of the greatest things about working as a travel nurse is that you can be spontaneous and make decisions on the go. You don’t need to have your destinations planned out months in advance and, even if you have an idea of where you want to go, you can change your mind at any time.

Most travel nursing assignments are three months long. During those three months you will be obligated to work at the assignment hospital for your travel nursing company. However, once your three-month assignment comes to an end, you are free to do as you please. If you like the location and want to stay longer, there is often the option of extending your assignment. If you want to move on and explore a new destination, you’re free to do that, too. Or, if you want to take a few weeks off before you start your next travel nursing job, you have the flexibility to do so.

Life is full of twists and turns, and the great thing about working as a travel nurse is that you can adjust your work to fit around your life. For instance, if you have a family member who is sick or who needs you to be nearby, you can take an assignment to be close to them. Or, if you suddenly decide that you’re tired of frigid northern winters and want to escape to a warmer climate, you can take an assignment in a sunny part of the country for the winter months. It’s entirely up to you and what you want at any given time.

On the other hand, if you’re the type of person who likes to plan things well in advance, you probably want to start out with a general plan of where you want to be in the coming months or year. Within your plan, add a little flexibility in case it doesn’t work out exactly as you expected. In other words, for every plan, have a backup plan and you should be fine.