There are partial truths to this common con. Yes, you won’t be building a patient population, creating relationships with referrals, or getting your name out there in a community. But to say that you aren’t developing as a clinician, therapist, nurse, etc. isn’t true.
I feel that every assignment that I have taken, I have significantly developed in my communication skills and adaptability. Think about it, you are working with brand new patients, colleagues, and staff every 13 weeks. You are forced to quickly adapt to any situation and build relationships very quickly.
I have felt like I have improved my overall care with my patients as a direct result of traveling. Being an effective communicator is probably one of the top skills of any healthcare professional. If your patient is confused, not following, or disagrees with your presentation of your thoughts, your treatment or care is not going to go anywhere. No matter how great your skills are, communication takes precedent.
Traveling also lets you work with patients from many different cultures, locations, and backgrounds. This helps broaden your world view and helps you to optimize your care for ALL patients, not just the ones within your comfort zone. If we don’t push out of our comfort zone, we get stagnant. This applies to healthcare as well as life in general.
But how am I going to develop my Skills??
Your skills will also improve with traveling. I get the opportunity to work with therapists across the United States who all come from various backgrounds, different PT schools, and various schools of thought. I get to learn from observation and conversation from these great clinicians every single day.
Has any clinician you have ever worked with said no when you have kindly asked them to show you a technique, explain why they are doing something with a patient, asked for help for that overly confusing patient or needed guidance on a diagnosis you have never seen before?
No? I didn’t think so.
On one of my assignments, I was actually lucky enough to have a fellow in training take me under his wing. Over lunch, or in our free time he would show me techniques, practice manipulations, or talk through complicated cases with me. Sounds like poor career development to me!
Free Training/Certifications
I’ve heard from many nurses who may have experience on a medical surgery floor for example, but then sign a contract for a telemetry position while traveling. These nurses then get their classes to become telemetry trained paid for and get a full on floor training/orientation as well.
Yes, this is difficult, but now these nurses have one more advanced degree for free. This makes you that much more marketable for future travel assignments and full time positions in the future with no money out of your pocket.
Sounds like poor career advancement to me.
I haven’t heard of physical therapists getting certifications paid for, but I have had the opportunity to take numerous classes that were only offered through the hospital where I was working at the time. Usually I am able to take these classes at a very discounted staff rate or sometimes even for free. Again, sounds like poor career development.
Even on my assignment in which I was the only clinician on staff, I still developed because I learned how to practice independently.
Side Bonus: Traveling allows you to be closer to different locations that may be offering that one continuing education class that you have been dying to take. How many of us have been wanting to take that one class but it never seems to come into your area? You don’t sign up because you don’t want the expenses of traveling across the country for a weekend course. Now, you can just drive to the course and drive home when it’s done. This cuts the expenses of travel, lodging, and eating out for an entire weekend course.
Conclusion
Yes, there are cons to traveling. It is hard to be away from your friends and family. This work isn’t for everyone. But some of the common cons like lack of career development aren’t as real as you might think.
Before you completely disregard traveling, make sure you actually are exploring the teal reasons/barriers for why you don’t want to. Don’t convince yourself not to travel before you have talked to someone who has done it. Because the benefits and the experience might be once in a lifetime.
What are some of the other cons that you have heard or experienced with traveling healthcare?
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