Imagine being able to work a few months out of the year, making vacation plans, and visiting friends and relatives from different parts of the country or even the world. This balance of practicing the profession you love, earning good money, and having the flexibility to spend time with loved ones and pursue passion projects is something that you can achieve with travel nursing. Travel nursing might be the perfect fit if you’re a retiring or retired nurse.
Travel nursing is not only good for retiring nurses, but it’s also beneficial for healthcare facilities that need workforce support. According to one survey, the number one reason nurses are leaving bedside care is that they are retiring. With the average age of nurses in the US being 43.6 years old and nurses typically retiring at 58 years old, there will be a large wave of nurses retiring within the next 10 or 15 years, and facilities will need extra help when it comes to filling employment gaps.
We’ve compiled some of the most important and practical reasons why starting travel nursing later in life simply makes sense.
Working after retirement: The benefits of becoming a travel nurse as a seasoned healthcare professional
1. Find fulfillment in being a mentor
As an experienced nurse, you are a treasure trove of skills, competencies, knowledge, and experiences. You can share the wisdom you’ve gained through the years with newer and less experienced nurses, to help them become better at their jobs, improve their decision-making and problem-solving skills, and get the important guidance they need to thrive. It’s hard to work on the floor as a new nurse; it can be scary and overwhelming, and as an experienced mentor, you can help assuage fears. You can also teach young nurses the values and habits they need to become resilient and effective nurses.
2. Explore new places
With travel nursing, you’ll get the chance to explore different states and places. You’ll get to experience working at various facilities, learn about their unique practices, and in your free time, go on adventures. As a bonus, you can even choose travel nursing locations where friends and family members are so you can spend quality time with them after work.
3. Enjoy medical, vision, and dental benefits
Travel nursing agencies such as Meda Health offer medical, vision, and dental benefits, that start on day one, which can be something that can be very attractive to retired nurses who are no longer enjoying employer-sponsored HMO benefits.
4. Stay physically and mentally sharp
According to reports, working a part-time job after retirement is linked to fewer health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, lung and heart diseases, stroke, and psychiatric problems.
Working during retirement can also keep your brain sharp. According to a 2022 Forbes Health survey, 32% of the 1,000 respondents said that they wished they’d kept working longer in their careers. To keep your cognitive functions at optimal levels, working at least some weeks out of the year as a travel nurse can give you the perfect balance of work and free time, and the benefits that come with experiencing both.
5. Grow your social network
After you retire, your social and professional network might become smaller. The people you always interact with at work may no longer be part of your post-retirement social circle. Working at a new location and healthcare facility is an opportunity to meet and learn from new colleagues. When working, you can engage with your peers, participate in facility events, and show genuine interest in the local community. Doing so can help you build a robust social network, which is important for your well-being and health.
