Are you dreaming of a career that combines your professional skills with your passion for travel? For Physical Therapists (PTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), the possibilities are more varied than you might think. While travel therapy is a well-known option, it’s not the only path for therapists who want to explore new places. Many believe their choices are limited to settling into a permanent, location-bound job or constantly being on the move with travel assignments. However, the reality is much more nuanced, offering a spectrum of options for a fulfilling career that aligns with your wanderlust.
Many therapists begin their careers embracing the nomadic lifestyle of travel therapy, then transition to a permanent position when they are ready to settle down. Others might start in a permanent role and later decide to experience the freedom of travel work. What’s less discussed is the fluidity between these options. Therapists can, and often do, move back and forth between travel and local positions. They might utilize PRN (as-needed) jobs or take on “permanent” roles with the understanding that it’s a temporary arrangement, fitting their needs for a year or two.
For instance, consider the experiences of therapists who have successfully navigated this flexibility. Some have seamlessly alternated between travel therapy assignments across the country and local PRN jobs closer to home. After years in their profession, they may have consciously chosen to forgo traditional full-time permanent positions, opting instead for a semi-retired lifestyle working part-time while maintaining their clinical skills.
In this article, we delve into the story of Morgan, an Occupational Therapist who has expertly transitioned between travel therapy and PRN work. Her journey provides valuable insights and advice for those considering similar career paths.
Morgan’s Journey: From Travel Therapy to PRN and Back
Travel therapy can indeed be captivating. Many healthcare professionals find themselves drawn to this lifestyle for years, sometimes without a planned end date. However, there are times when stepping away from constant travel to embrace local therapy jobs can be advantageous. For those not yet ready for a full-time commitment, a PRN job offers a compelling alternative.
While travel therapy and PRN jobs share some appealing similarities, such as the autonomy to manage your schedule and reduced exposure to workplace politics, significant differences warrant careful consideration. Here, we will explore Morgan’s experiences transitioning between travel and PRN positions, discuss the various reasons why a therapist might consider this career flexibility, and provide practical tips for navigating these transitions successfully.
Morgan enjoying her travel therapy journey
My Path
My journey into travel therapy began in 2019 right after graduating as an Occupational Therapist. Immediately, I was captivated. The opportunity to explore different corners of the country, immerse myself in local cultures I might never have encountered otherwise, aggressively pay down student loan debt, earn a good income, and connect with incredible people along the way – it was an exhilarating experience I envisioned continuing indefinitely.
One of my primary motivations for choosing travel therapy was to broaden my clinical experience across diverse healthcare settings. Having completed an inpatient fieldwork placement in a spinal cord unit at a VA hospital, I was eager to return to a hospital environment. However, my initial travel therapy contracts were in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). While SNF settings provided a comfortable starting point and valuable experience, my ambition was to expand into inpatient, acute care, and Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC) settings. The challenge arose when I started seeking hospital-based travel assignments. Despite applying to numerous positions, I consistently encountered the requirement for prior experience in those specific settings. While some facilities are open to training new graduates or therapists without direct setting-specific experience, the majority of hospitals I targeted preferred candidates with at least one to two years of relevant experience. This created a frustrating cycle. After nearly three months of actively searching for a hospital contract without success, I felt compelled to accept another SNF assignment. This decision, driven by market limitations rather than personal preference, unfortunately led to burnout.
Recognizing that the travel therapy market wasn’t immediately aligning with my professional aspirations, I decided to forge a different path. Although leaving travel therapy after only 2.5 years wasn’t in my original plan, an opportunity emerged for a PRN position in Asheville, NC. This role offered precisely what I needed: access to a variety of settings, including acute care, inpatient rehab, LTAC, home health, and PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly). I understood that gaining experience in these settings through a PRN role would eliminate the “prior experience required” barrier when I returned to travel therapy. I dedicated another 2.5 years to this PRN job, accumulating invaluable clinical experience and professional growth.
When I felt ready to transition back to travel therapy and re-engaged with recruiters, I was finally able to secure an acute care travel contract at a Level 1 Trauma Center. This assignment fulfilled all my professional criteria. For me, taking a break from travel therapy to pursue a local PRN job was undeniably worth it. It was a strategic move that empowered me to achieve my career goals and expand my professional horizons.
Morgan with her travel companion Zoey
Reasons to Transition Between Travel & PRN Roles
Expanding Clinical Expertise
As highlighted in my experience, gaining specific clinical expertise is a significant reason to consider a local job. While opportunities exist for new grads or therapists without setting-specific experience in travel therapy, these can be competitive. Applying to such positions is always recommended – you never know unless you try! However, if those opportunities are scarce, PRN work can be a strategic alternative to gain the necessary experience and make you a more competitive travel therapy candidate in the future.
Closer Ties to Loved Ones
The transient nature of travel therapy can present challenges in maintaining close relationships with family and friends. There are periods in life when prioritizing proximity to loved ones becomes paramount. Returning to your home base for a while, taking on local assignments, allows you to nurture these important connections. Similarly, if you form a significant relationship while on a travel assignment, you might consider settling down in that location, at least temporarily, to cultivate that relationship further.
Maintaining Tax Home Compliance
For travel therapists, maintaining a tax home is crucial for tax-free stipends. Working local contracts that are fully taxed, or PRN jobs within your tax home location, is a practical strategy to ensure you continue to meet tax home requirements between travel assignments. This helps avoid potential tax complications and maintain eligibility for valuable travel therapy benefits.
Bridging Income Gaps Between Contracts
Finding the ideal travel therapy contract can sometimes take longer than anticipated. Rather than feeling pressured to accept a less-than-ideal assignment due to time constraints and financial concerns, taking a local job in the interim can be a smart move. It provides a steady income stream, alleviates financial pressure, and allows you the time and flexibility to find the travel contract that truly aligns with your professional and personal goals.
Exceptional Facility Discoveries
Occasionally, travel therapists find themselves at a facility they absolutely love. In such cases, facilities may extend offers for permanent, full-time positions. While this can sometimes lead to a long-term permanent career change, more often, therapists are tempted to stay for a year or two without committing to making it their forever home. Many therapists will strategically accept a “permanent” position temporarily, knowing they will eventually return to travel therapy or explore other opportunities after a set period.
Practical Tips for Transitioning Between Travel and Local Jobs
Remember the Key Differences: Pay Cycles, Stipends, Guaranteed Hours, and Schedule Flexibility.
Adjusting from the travel therapy mindset back to a traditional, local job can be an adjustment. Preparation is key. Be aware that pay frequency will likely shift from weekly to bi-weekly. The absence of tax-free stipends will mean a change in your take-home pay. Carefully evaluate the guaranteed minimum hours offered by PRN positions, as they can vary significantly. While you retain schedule flexibility in PRN roles, your schedule will ultimately be dictated by the facility’s staffing needs.
Understanding these differences upfront helps manage expectations and ensures a smoother transition. Assess your financial needs and desired work-life balance when considering local versus travel options.
Evaluate Your Health Insurance Options.
Many travel therapists utilize their agency-provided health insurance while on assignment. However, health insurance can become complicated during breaks between contracts or when transitioning to local or PRN jobs. Full-time local positions typically offer benefits packages, including health insurance, while most PRN jobs do not. Exploring private health insurance plans, or other independent options, can provide continuous coverage throughout the year, regardless of your employment status. Switching to private insurance when transitioning to PRN work is a common strategy. Depending on your healthcare needs, a more permanent, full-time position with benefits might be a more suitable choice. Researching and understanding your health insurance options is crucial when making career transition decisions.
Remember: Travel Therapy is Always an Option!
Both travel therapy and permanent job opportunities will consistently be available. Taking a break from one to pursue the other will not limit your future options. If you decide to return to travel therapy, you’ll likely find numerous recruiters eager to assist you in securing your next assignment. The demand for travel therapists remains strong, providing ongoing career flexibility.
Key Takeaways
Ultimately, various compelling reasons may lead you to pause travel therapy and pursue a local contract, especially if it aligns better with your current goals and life circumstances. Fortunately, as healthcare professionals, we possess a wealth of job options, both in travel and local settings. We have the agency to design flexible careers and pursue opportunities that best fit our evolving needs and life stages. Feeling confined to a single type of job is unnecessary. Flexibility is a hallmark of a therapy career.
Hopefully, these insights and tips will facilitate a smoother transition between travel therapy and local therapy jobs. And remember, whenever you’re ready to return to travel, it will always be a viable and exciting option. After all, once a traveler, always a traveler at heart.
Special thanks to Morgan for sharing her valuable experiences and perspectives. Learn more about Morgan below.
For a deeper dive into this topic, check out our video discussion here.
About the Author: Morgan Lauchnor, OTR/L
Morgan author bio image
I embarked on my travel occupational therapy career in 2019 as a new graduate, moving from Pennsylvania to the West Coast to fulfill my dream of exploring the country while pursuing my ideal job. I’ve completed five travel assignments in SNFs across Oregon, California, Texas, and North Carolina. About two years ago, I temporarily settled in Asheville, NC, to gain inpatient, acute care, LTAC, and home health experience through a PRN position with a hospital network, before returning to travel therapy this year. I travel with my mini-Australian Shepherd, Zoey, who is the best adventure companion. We are currently in Indianapolis, IN, where I am working an acute care travel therapy contract at a Level 1 trauma hospital. We love discovering new cities, spending time outdoors, and connecting with wonderful people along the way! Feel free to connect with me on social media: Instagram: @zoandmo_onthego or via email at mlauchnor@gmail.com.
For more resources to support your travel therapy career, explore Travel Therapy Mentor’s Traveler Resource Hub. If you’re ready to begin your travel therapy journey and want to connect with vetted recruiters, please complete our Recruiter Recommendations Form. For any questions, please don’t hesitate to message us!
Share this:
Like this:
Like Loading…
Related
Published by Travel Therapy Mentor
Travel Therapy Mentor is created by Jared and Whitney Casazza, two traveling physical therapists with experience since 2015. We are dedicated to mentoring aspiring travel healthcare professionals and providing valuable information for current travelers to enhance their knowledge and careers. View all posts by Travel Therapy Mentor
