Travel nursing might seem like a mysterious and magical career choice for nurses who work on the same floor every shift. And in some ways, it is all it’s cracked up to be — but in others, it’s not.

At least, that’s the perception of one travel nurse, Duffy McCaughan, BSN, who’s worked in Pennsylvania and California throughout his career. McCaughan began travel nursing almost two years ago and went through the agency American Mobile, which has placed him at several Kaiser hospitals along the West Coast. He’s worked in telemetry, the ICU, pre- and post-cardiac catheterization, among others.

McCaughan sat down with us to discuss the pros and cons of his experience so far.

Pros of Travel Nursing

More Money

While hourly rates of travel nurses can be lower, McCaughan says he’s making about double what he did at his previous employer, one of the area’s best-compensating hospitals. How? The stipend you receive as a travel nurse for your housing, food, and more isn’t taxed, so all that money goes into your pocket.

More Autonomy

Travel nurses get to pick their assignments, so even though McCaughan recommends first-timers take the first thing they’re offered, once you build up your resume, you can choose the gig that feels best for you. With that freedom, you can also see the parts of the country that appeal to you, and McCaughan says that brings him a sense of happiness that translates into his work.

Meeting New People

You can grow your nursing network, which McCaughan feels has been central to his career. You also learn different styles of nursing and are exposed to new ways of performing critical tasks.

You Learn a Ton

This is perhaps the most important upside! Switching environments so often hone your communication skills and adaptability. As McCaughan explains, “When you’re not traveling, you just know the culture and flow of your floor — you don’t think twice. Traveling, you learn to ask questions, be flexible, and not be stubborn about how you think something should be done.”

Cons of Travel Nursing

Frustration

Part of being exposed to new environments, McCaughan says, is that you’ve seen different — and often seemingly better — ways of running a healthcare system. Of course, McCaughan adds that you never do anything unsafe, but at times, it can be challenging to leave behind your tried-and-true approach.

Loneliness

Not seeing the same people for more than a few weeks — McCaughan’s contracts have been about three months each — can create a sense of isolation. On top of that, you might get switched to a different floor, where the faces are entirely new, in the middle of a shift.

Working With Lots of Personalities

The more places you work, the more people you deal with. The other side of advancing your communication skills is that each batch of new people poses a different set of potentially exhausting demands and quirks, McCaughan explains.

Less of a Relationship With the Hospital

As a travel nurse, McCaughan says you exist “to fill” the hospital’s personnel holes. “It took getting used to, but now I know my role, and that’s what it is.”

Ultimately, McCaughan has enjoyed his experience and would recommend it to fellow nurses interested in seeing the country and who love being active. Just remember to make friends, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and do the best job you can. “That way,” he advises, “you’ll have even more options.”