Travel nursing is a great way for nurses to explore new places while advancing their careers and earning a higher salary. If you have family, it can be a fantastic opportunity for everyone to experience new adventures together. Whether you’re traveling with a partner, kids, or even pets, here are some simple tips to help make your travel nursing experience a success.

Can You Travel Nurse with Your Family? Absolutely!

Many new travel nurses wonder if they can bring their families along. The good news is, most travel nursing agencies allow and even encourage this! However, some agencies are more experienced in helping nurses manage the logistics of traveling with family. Ask if the agency has recruiters who specialize in working with families to help you navigate any challenges that may arise.

Pros and Cons of Traveling with a Spouse

Travel nursing isn’t just for solo adventurers. Many travel nurses bring their spouses along. It’s a fun way to explore new places together and save on travel costs. Plus, you might get the chance to visit family members across the country more often. Traveling together can also strengthen your relationship by sharing new experiences.

However, employment can be tricky for your spouse, depending on their job. If they need to work on-site, finding new work every 13 weeks might be hard. But with the rise of remote work, thanks to the pandemic, your spouse might be able to work from home no matter where you go. 

Making friends might also be a challenge for your spouse due to frequent moves. They can combat loneliness by joining local clubs, gyms, or pursuing hobbies in each new location.

Benefits and Challenges of Traveling with Kids

One of the biggest benefits of travel nursing with kids is that you get to spend more time with them and witness important milestones. You can take advantage of family-friendly activities, explore new places together, and expose your kids to different cultures and experiences.

On the downside, schooling can be tricky. Some families enroll their children in public schools in each new location, while others prefer homeschooling or virtual learning options. Each choice has its own challenges, so it's essential to find what works best for your family.

Kids might also find it tough to leave their friends behind, but moving can also help them build new relationships and adapt to different environments. Modern technology like texting and video calls make it easier to stay in touch with old friends.

If you're a single parent, travel nursing with kids is still possible, but it might take extra planning. Finding reliable childcare in each location could be another hurdle to overcome.

Tips for Traveling with Pets

Pets are part of the family too! Many agencies welcome pets, but not all travel nurse housing is pet-friendly, and pet fees can add up. Make sure to plan ahead by checking housing policies and keeping up-to-date on vaccination requirements, especially if you’re crossing state lines.

You might need to show proof of rabies vaccinations and other certifications depending on where you travel. If you're flying, make sure to research airline requirements for pet travel well in advance.

Do Travel Nurses Get Family Stipends?

Travel nurses receive stipends to cover housing, food, and other expenses, but these are based on the nurse’s needs—not the size of their family. So, you may need to cover extra costs yourself, like larger accommodations or higher food expenses.

Finding Housing for Your Family

One of the perks of travel nursing is free housing, but if you’re traveling with your family, it might not be entirely free. If you’re just with your partner, a one-bedroom apartment might suffice, but if you have kids, you may need bigger accommodations. Work closely with your recruiter to make sure your housing suits your family’s needs.

Maintaining Strong Relationships on the Road

Travel nursing can strain relationships if you're away from your loved ones for long periods. Bringing your family along can help you spend more time together and keep those bonds strong. However, if your family prefers to stay home, consider taking travel assignments that are closer to home, so you can visit more frequently.

Travel Nursing with Family: A Worthwhile Adventure

Travel nursing with your family can be a rewarding experience. It may require extra planning and flexibility, but the memories you create along the way will be worth it. Every family is different, but with some preparation, you can make travel nursing work for yours.

With proper planning and attention to detail, you can make travel nursing a rewarding and manageable career along with your family. TriOptus is an equal opportunity employer and we offer a variety of travel opportunities to Nurses from all across US, Canada and Mexico. We are a one stop shop for all your travel needs ranging from finding high paying jobs, procuring licences and certifications, keeping your credentials up-to-date, keeping your health documents in check, consulting tax accountants to file your tax returns, to helping you build a thriving career in nursing. TriOptus also offers recruitment services to other industries such as IT, Manufacturing, Engineering, Banking & Finance and Pharmaceutical. Hence helping your family members secure a job outside of healthcare can be arranged with our multifaceted clientele. 

If interested in learning more about travel nursing, please reach out to us at [email protected] with your latest resume or schedule a discussion with one of our career experts by visiting the chatbot located on our website www.trioptushealth.com.