A few months ago, we asked Triage travelers what they were looking for in a facility and we got a huge response—Triage travelers love to give their opinion. One of the questions we asked was what type of area they preferred: rural, urban or suburban. Nearly half of all travelers (47%) want to spend 13 weeks in a city, while rural and suburban assignments equally make up the rest.
Are you interested in learning more about the pros and cons of urban, rural and suburban assignments? Read on to see what you can expect.
Pros and Cons of a Rural Healthcare Travel Job
Rural healthcare is so important. It’s a literal lifeline for people who live in smaller communities, but staffing them can be difficult, which is where travelers come into play. If you’re considering taking a job in a rural location, it’s possible that you gain experience with issues that may normally be handled by a specialized facility. This is because without immediate access to a specialist, someone working at a rural hospital would need to handle things themselves without waiting for a specialist. In the emergency room, you’ll likely be able to spend more time with your patients since the emergency departments are typically less busy in a rural area.
Housing can be harder to find, simply because these areas likely aren’t full of hotels or Airbnbs. Camping in an RV may be possible, if you have one. Prices on things like groceries, gas and everyday essentials may cost more because of lower competition in rural areas. .png)
Pros and Cons of an Urban Healthcare Travel Job
Urban healthcare is much different than rural healthcare. At an urban hospital, there is a lot more specialization, which helps patients who have unique medical needs. An urban emergency room may see much different types of illness and injuries and travelers who work in urban facilities often need to be able to pivot and change direction quickly. They’ll need to be quick on their feet and some hospitals are even teaching hospitals, which means they may be going all shift without a chance to sit down.
Housing is typically easier to find, but it can be more expensive. Big cities, especially places that have large tourist populations can have expensive hotels and Airbnbs, just because they’re used to visitors. However, one definitely plus is the things to do. You’ll typically have plenty of options when it comes to places to eat and things to do so put on your tourist shoes and explore your local area. .png)
What About the Suburbs?
But what about the suburbs? If you decide that rural areas or right in the middle of the big city isn’t for you, you have another option—the ‘burbs. Housing such as Airbnbs may be harder to find in a suburb, but if you’re looking for a hotel, you probably have a decent change of finding one. Suburban hospitals may have a quieter emergency room, but perhaps the surgical center is busier (these are generalizations, so YMMV depending on where you’re actually working). .png)
No matter whether you choose a rural, urban or suburban facility, don’t forget to use your recruiter as a resource. While your recruiter might not have experience in a specific facility, chances are good that someone on their team can give them a little intel and answer any questions you may have. To see our entire range of healthcare travel jobs, visit our job board and sort by location or pay.