Posted By Travel Nurse Source on Dec 30, 2016 | 1 comment

There are many benefits to travel nursing with a partner, especially compared to traveling with children. With your spouse, you don’t have to worry about finding someone to take care of them, schooling, or making sure they stay out of trouble. Well, you might have to worry about that last one.

But, it seems that the biggest challenge to travel nursing with a partner is dealing with your significant other’s career. Your spouse or significant other probably won’t have trouble finding things to do in a new city. But, assuming your partner works and adds to the household income, it may be hard for them to find work just anywhere.

If your significant other is retired, they may not need to worry about providing income, but they will want to find some things in town to do to pass the time while you’re working. If your partner is also a travel nurse, this makes things much easier, but there are some considerations there as well.

So today, we are providing just a couple of tips to make it easier for your main squeeze to go with you on your next travel nursing job.

Travel Nursing with your Significant Other

Of course one of the main obstacles to travel nursing with a partner is what they will do for work while you are on assignment. There are four main life situations that a travel nurse may find him or herself in:

Travel Nursing with a Partner Who is Retired

This is typically the easiest of the situations to accommodate for. A retired partner will probably be easily convinced to visit a new location with most of the expenses paid.

If your partner is retired and they are traveling with you on your next nursing assignment, this is a great opportunity for them. With travel nursing boards like TravelNurseSource, you can choose your travel nurse destination. This may provide a chance for you to travel close to your kids or grandchildren for an extended visit.

Many people express a desire to travel when they retire. If your partner is retired and doesn’t have to worry about bringing in income, this is their chance to see the country. Choose destinations that you have always wanted to visit together. While you’re working, they can explore the town and find others that share their interests and hobbies. On your days off, you can plan to do some sightseeing or tourist activities together.

Travel Nursing with a Partner Who is a Travel Nurse

This situation may seem ideal, but there are also challenges to having a partner who is also a travel nurse. It may prove difficult to find assignments in the same city in the same hospital at the same time. If you are planning on traveling with your partner who is also a travel nurse, you will need to do some major pre-planning.

You will need to find a great recruiter and travel nursing agency (*cough, cough* try TravelNurseSource). Let them know immediately you are travel nursing with a partner. Work with them to get you and your partner’s schedules as in sync as possible. You don’t want to end up traveling to a new location with your honey only to end up working opposite hours. Talk with your recruiter and see how you can match your work shifts together or at least find some common days off.

There is another option for those travel nursing with a partner who is also a nurse. You could both alternate travel nursing assignments so one of you would be working while the other is essentially vacationing. This ensures that you would still be able to be together. A second option is for both of you to work a couple travel assignments for a good portion of the year, and then take some time off to spend together.

Travel Nursing with a Partner Who Can Work Anywhere

This situation may not present the same kinds of challenges as travel nursing with a retired partner or another nurse. If your significant other has a career that allows them to work remotely or are willing to make a career shift, there are few other challenges.

Even if your partner or spouse is not working in a remote position, there are many careers that enable workers to work virtually anywhere. Some of those careers include freelance writers, laborers, consultants, web-based business owners, and work from home careers. Your partner may be able to be transferred to a new location or work from home if they are working in one of those areas.

Once your significant other has planned for mobilizing their career or transferring to a new location, you guys should be all set to travel!

Travel Nursing with a Partner Who Must Quit Their Job

This is definitely the most challenging travel nursing situation. Let’s face it: for various reasons, not everyone can just leave their job and find another in a new place. Even if your partner is more than willing to quit their job, that only opens you up to many more challenges. Now you will have to worry about factors like insurance and cutting your household income in half.

There will also be challenges for you partner to find a job that will allow them to work from anywhere or in the city you travel to. However, if your partner has been looking for a career change, this may be the opportunity they need.

Your partner could also do some temporary work while you are on assignment. This will allow them to broaden or sharpen their skills, and continue advancing their career while you travel. Here is a list of just some of the industries that contract temporary employees:

• Accountancy
• Administration/Secretarial
• Advertising and PR
• Agriculture, Fishing, Forestry
• Automotive
• Banking
• Building and Construction
• Defense and Military
• Design and Creative
• Education
• Financial Services
• Hospitality and Catering
• IT
• Legal
• Manufacturing and Production
• Marketing
• New Media and Internet
• Public Sector and Government
• Retail
• Telecommunications
• Transport and Rail
• Utilities

If your partner is looking to make a major career change, this may also be a great opportunity for them to go back to school online. There are many online university programs in which all you need is an internet connection.