Well the short answer would be 'it depends on whether you're a nurse that likes to travel!' but that would be a bit glib, and anyway wouldn't make for much of an article, would it!

Of course being a nurse is the first requirement, and if you have no qualifications, you won't get travelling nurse job in a million years. So you need to be prepared to put in the work to get qualified, and then to spend a year at the minimum getting work experience.

Of course if you're already a nurse with experience, that's not something you need to think about - you need to look at weighing up the pros and cons...

Some of the advantages...

You get to travel to all sorts of locations, both at home and overseas. Speaking of overseas, you may fancy a job on a cruise ship! There are all sorts of unusual places that need nurses.

You'll get to meet lots of new people, and discover new ways to do medicine, new tricks of the trade that people use.

You'll get to choose the length of your job. If getting stale has been a problem, you can opt for the shorter jobs with more changes, or at the other end of the scale. some travel nurse jobs can be very long, seeming more like a permanent position.

You can also get to choose the type of job you do. You may want to challenge yourself in new medical fields, to build up your all round skills, or you may prefer familiar territory - both are options.

There are some great benefits on offer from the good agencies too - good travel and housing assistance, bonuses and health programs.

Here are some of the disadvantages you need to consider...

Basically the downside of the advantages! You need to be strong of character and have a genuine enjoyment of meeting new people and adjusting to different locations. If you're reserved in this department you may struggle.

Also, even if the actual travel isn't a problem, leaving people behind might be. It can by nature be a transitory lifestyle, so don't choose it unless you know that kind of thing suits you.

There is good money and benefits on offer for a busy traveling nurse, but don't forget to consider the full lifestyle implications before you decide if it's right for you.

About the Author

Gordon Bryan provides more information and resources about being a traveling nurse at: http://www.gordonbryan.com/how-to-become-a-traveling-nurse.html