When you or someone you know starts asking “Am I ready for an Adventure?” usually a vacation comes to mind.  However, as an occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist, nurse, or another medical professional, it may mean considering a travel medical job.  More than ten years ago I started asking this question.  Even though I was enjoying my job at the time, I started to wonder if I was at a point in my life and career to begin considering a travel job.  This initial question led not only me but also my family and friends to ask a lot more questions about travel medical jobs.

Our journey starts by looking at some of these initial questions.

What is a travel medical professional? 

• A travel medical professional is a medical professional who signs a contract to work at a specific medical facility that is usually more than fifty to one hundred miles from their permanent residence for a pre-determined amount of time (typically 13-26 weeks).

Am I Ready To Be a Travel Medical Professional?

• Single vs. Married vs. Committed Relationship.
  • Are you single and now is a good time to travel before you meet that right person and settle down? If you are married or in a committed relationship, is your significant other willing and able to travel with you?

• Children
  • Having children does not have to stop you from traveling, but how will it affect the children to move to a new location for a short period of time? Will you need to consider school, daycare, etc?

• Family & Friends.
  • Are my family and friends willing and able to visit? Do family members or friends have health issues where you may need to be close to them?  This may actually be a reason you are looking for a travel job or maybe why now is not a good time to travel.  I chose my first travel job to be close to a sibling who was starting their freshman year of college in another state.  I have also turned down travel jobs to stay close to a family member who was having medical issues.

• Planning a Permanent Move.
  • Are you planning to move to a new state and may not be familiar with the medical facilities or where to live? I had a friend and her family who were planning to move from Florida to California.  My friend decided to take a travel assignment in California when they moved.  This allowed her time to get to know the local job market before committing to a permanent job.  It also gave her family time to find a home in an area that met their needs.

• Higher Income.
  • Are you looking for a higher income to help pay off loans or save for a home? I do have to admit that I am hesitant to list this as a factor, but I know a lot of medical professionals consider this when looking into travel assignments.  The reason I am hesitant is that even though you may make a higher income you may be spending more on tourist activities.

When I started traveling, I was single, no children, my family and friends were willing to travel, and my family and friends were in good health. Also, I had a sibling starting college across the country and it gave me a chance to work near their college to help them adjust to this big move as a college freshman.  Even though I was enjoying my current job, I felt it was a good time to look into travel medical jobs before I had a significant other, children, or any other life-changing events that may limit my ability to travel.  It was not an easy decision to decide to try life as a travel medical professional, but it has been a rewarding one in many ways.