Debbie Maxwell, MS, CCC-SLP, was really looking forward to the next phase of her life. You see, her grown children were busy establishing themselves as independent adults. She had already spent many years working as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) for a private rehabilitation company and thought she would spend the next several there before retiring to enjoy life with her husband. But then things suddenly turned upside down. The company was sold and Debbie was laid off. Unfortunately, this all happened at the same time that Medicare reimbursement cuts were drastically affecting the healthcare industry.

It was an unplanned situation, but Debbie actually had several options from which to choose. Of course, she could take early retirement, but she was not prepared for this yet, personally or financially. "Although I did not have the responsibility of children anymore," Debbie explains, "I still had to earn a living."

She also could try to find another full- or part-time position locally, but Debbie was ready for a change. And what better way to shake things up than to switch work environments every few months? Indeed, she saw her circumstances as an opportunity to start a travel career." I was unemployed and my children had moved out," she recalls, "so I thought, 'Now I can travel.'"

While the specifics of her situation may not apply to everyone, Debbie's desire to try something new after years in a permanent position is a growing trend among healthcare professionals. In fact, she is a perfect example of today's empty nester. Not ready to stop working, Debbie is just one of a wave of nursing and allied health professionals who have chosen to begin traveling later in their careers.

TAKING YOUR HOME WITH YOU One of the most appealing aspects of a travel career is the fact that housing - safe, comfortable, and clean apartments - is paid for. Some mobile practitioners, however, prefer to take their homes with them. A small number of nurses and therapists have invested in recreational vehicles (RVs) for both transportation and lodging while on assignment. Not surprisingly, the majority of these travelers are also empty nesters. According to a 2001 survey commissioned by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), the typical RV owner is 49 years old. Baby Boomers are the fastest-growing segment of the RV market, of which there are nearly seven million members already. Jane Adams, a recruiter for The Surgical Staff, has three empty nesters on her roster, and all of them use RVs. Of course, traveling and living in a motor home demands a large financial commitment up front. The vehicles range from $14,000 for a truck camper to as much as $130,000 for the largest, most luxurious model. While it is uncertain whether RV ownership will grow substantially among healthcare travelers, the process of hitting the road while not leaving home has become easier. Practitioners who use their RVs as lodging during assignment may receive per diem fees from travel companies to help cover lot site costs. And, according to Ms. Adams, some hospitals even have RV hookups in their parking lots so travelers can leave their motor homes on facility grounds.

THE AGING OF A PROFESSION
For decades, American pop culture has been fixated with the Baby Boomer generation. During the 1960s, they transformed our cultural and political perceptions. Now, society is waiting to see what kind of impact this segment of the population will have on the healthcare system as individuals age and retire. For a large percentage of this generation, however, retirement is still a long way off. Many enjoy being active professionals, and - like Debbie - need that income. Also like Debbie, more and more are adopting another label…that of empty nester.

By popular definition, an empty nester is someone whose children are grown and have their own homes, outside of the comfort of Mom and Dad. But do not let the label mislead you. Depending on the individual, an empty nester could be as young as someone in his or her early 40s - of which there are millions. The 2000 U.S. Census reports that there are nearly 86 million people between the ages of 30 and 49. Another 76.9 million are 50 and over.

Alarmingly, these classifications apply to the majority of America's nurses as well. The average age of today's nurse hovers around 45. Specifically, a 2001 study by the University of Illinois College of Nursing and Nursing Institute found that 60 percent of these clinicians nationwide are older than 40.

While men and women in this age bracket are perfectly able to handle the demanding responsibilities of RN positions, they will be retiring in the near future. In fact, industry analysts predict that approximately half of all nurses will reach retirement age within the next 15 years. Indeed, healthcare executives point to these statistics as the leading cause of the current staffing shortage. Without increased nursing school enrollments to match the number of retirements, many positions will remain vacant.

Meanwhile, many nurses and therapists have practiced in only a select few facilities for most of their careers. A substantial number are burning out or simply want change. According to the May-June 2001 issue of Health Affairs magazine, 43 percent of surveyed nurses complained of experiencing burnout. Unfortunately, some of these practitioners are choosing to leave the industry altogether to start a new career, which only adds to the staffing crunch. Others, however, want to continue practicing, but not in the same vein. For these providers, traveling is a real consideration.

"When nurses are close to retirement or just want to make a change," notes Andrew Carson, national sales director for TravelMax Medical Professionals in Tampa, Florida, "traveling offers many options, which helps keep them in the profession." Scott O'Carroll, president and founder of Procare USA in Farmington, Connecticut, concurs, adding, "Traveling is a spark to recruitment and retention because it gives nurses choices. Due to the flexibility it offers, we are able to retain people in the healthcare industry who may otherwise leave."

CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
Indeed, traveling is growing more popular among the empty nest population as evidenced by increased numbers at travel companies. As recently as 10 years ago, the typical mobile practitioner was young, single, and childless. That description has changed. Numerous agencies say empty nesters constitute as much as 15 percent of their total traveler base. Mr. O'Carroll believes at least 10 percent of Procare USA's roster is made up of older nurses. "My guess is that travel companies are only just now beginning to identify empty nesters as an appealing group."

While Kellie Porter, vice president of ProMed Staffing in Seattle, Washington, cites a smaller percentage of empty nesters on her staff (five percent), she agrees that it is a sign of things to come. "We certainly have more empty nesters than in the past and this trend appears to be gaining strength."

Recruiters are noticing a shift in the average ages of their allied health travelers as well. Jane Adams, a recruiter for The Surgical Staff in Hilliard, Ohio, has three people who currently fall into the empty nester category, but she expects that figure to change dramatically in the next few years. "I see an increase in the number of older professionals choosing the travel lifestyle, especially as the market recuperates from the Medicare fallout and people return to the practice environment."

THE NEXT STEP
When hospitals first started contracting with supplemental staffing companies, many permanent employees held travelers in low regard. Throughout the years, however, mobile nurses and therapists have proven themselves to be capable and qualified healthcare providers. Indeed, this alternative has gained tremendous respect and it is no wonder seasoned professionals consider traveling as a natural progression of their professional practice.

"Travel has emerged as a career path of choice," remarks Mr. O'Carroll. "This is critical because nurses have not had that choice for so long. They either worked full-time as regular staff members or as local per diem nurses."

The professional, financial, and personal perks that come with a mobile career are hard to resist. Of course, the continued income is always appreciated, but many times, travelers earn even more than permanent staff, not to mention the paid housing, travel reimbursements, and other benefits.

"People in their late 40s and 50s are not ready for full retirement," says Ms. Porter. "Traveling is an excellent compromise because retaining income right now is important to so many practitioners."

Such is the case for Maureen Dwerlkotte, RRT, a respiratory therapist on her first assignment with MedStaff Inc., at Redding Medical Center in Redding, California. "It was important to me to have my house paid for before I retire," she explains. "In order to save enough money, I needed to earn more and I chose traveling as a way to do it."

She adds, "Although I had been thinking about becoming a traveler for a long time, it seemed the right thing to do now, since I am only five years away from retirement."

NO ATTACHMENTS
Timing is everything and it seems to be especially true for deciding when to make a career change. While some travelers bring their spouses, significant others, or children with them on assignments, this is not the typical scenario. Usually, people leave the healthcare travel industry to establish themselves in one location when they feel it is time to start a family.

"When you have kids, the priority is what is best for them," says Mr. Carson. "Once the children are out of the home, people refocus their priorities onto themselves."

It is almost stereotypical, but many retirees hope to spend at least the first several years of their newly found freedom exploring the country or world. After all, they now have the time to experience the places they fantasized about for years. But why postpone that desire until retirement? For empty nesters, a travel career affords them the opportunity to turn that dream into an immediate reality.

"My husband and I like to travel," states Susan Bowers, RNC, a new traveler with PSR Nurses, "but it can be expensive and we are not millionaires. So the question became, 'How do we get what we want?'"

When the idea of adopting a mobile career became a serious consideration, Susan logged on to the Internet to research the possibilities. With her extensive experience as an obstetrics and labor and delivery nurse, she was surprised to find out just how marketable her skills were. Susan soon realized that she could find work almost anywhere they wished to go. The couple's first choice was Las Vegas, where she works nights at Sunrise Hospital and her retired husband spends his time writing. "We are really pleased with how things have turned out."

Others use traveling as a way to determine exactly where they would like to spend their retirement years - not unlike younger colleagues who roam from assignment to assignment exploring communities in which to lay down roots and establish themselves. Still others hit the road to visit family and friends. "They get paid to be in the same city as their loved ones, while having the opportunity for a relaxed and prolonged visit," notes Ms. Porter. "Another perk is that housing is provided, so they do not have to stay at relatives' homes."

INVALUABLE ASSETS
Of course, seasoned nurses and therapists more than satisfy the typical requirement of one year experience prior to accepting assignments. In fact, most mature providers have upwards of 15 years experience: Debbie has been practicing for 24 years, Maureen for 25, and Susan for 21. This breadth of knowledge and expertise is very appealing to hospital administrators. Not only do these clinicians have a large knowledgebase from which to draw, they also bring professionalism to situations that could escalate into a crisis.

"There is a sense of emotional maturity among empty nesters that offers hospitals and their patients a calming presence," notes Ms. Porter. Adds Mr. O'Carroll, "Mature nurses have had a variety of life experiences and been exposed to many different scenarios within the work environment, which makes them professionals at their best."

Interestingly, recruiters say there are no strong indicators that empty nesters prefer certain specialties to others. Rather, data show assignments are accepted based on the type of position available, such as medical/surgical, telemetry, and ICU. For allied professionals, need also drives most job selections.

When Debbie started traveling last year, she wanted to go where there was a strong demand for her skills. That philosophy eventually took her to Florida, Hawaii, and now Baltimore, where she is working as regional manager for Progressus. Her new responsibilities include developing the region for other mobile speech-language pathologists. "The need for SLPs is growing now, especially for seasoned therapists," she says. "In the past, most travelers were very young, new clinicians, but more experienced providers have a lot to offer."

PERSONAL SATISFACTION
Traveling affords individuals the opportunity to directly guide their careers - whether it be choosing a geographic location or concentrating on a particular clinical experience. As supplemental staff members, most mobile practitioners do not have administrative duties. Although facilities' policies and protocols must be followed, they can focus on serving their patients. Explains Mr. O'Carroll, "Travelers are able to insert themselves into the hospital workforce, without the politics, but they are still a valued and integral part of the staff."

It is this philosophy that appeals to many empty nesters. As permanent staff members with years of experience, they often became intrinsically involved in committees, management, or other executive responsibilities. At this point in their personal and professional lives, they wish to free themselves from those extracurricular activities and deliver direct care to patients.

Of course, working in various hospital settings throughout the country exposes providers to different procedures and techniques, all of which offer learning opportunities. But perhaps the biggest benefit, say empty nest travelers, is the low-risk approach inherent to this career choice. "If you are intrigued by the idea of a mobile lifestyle but not sure if it is for you," comments Maureen, "one assignment is a small commitment. The contracts are short-lived, so if you find that you are not suited to this alternative, you have not invested too much time."

MAKING IT WORK
Before making the decision to travel, recruiters and professionals alike suggest you re-evaluate your personal and professional goals and determine what you want to achieve at this stage of your life. In particular, understand the concept of what it means to become a traveler - from applying for licensure in new states, to moving every 13 weeks, to adjusting to new institutional policies, equipment, and coworkers.

For some, it might be difficult to transition from an established home to living in a series of apartments with a limited number of belongings. "Our kids were shocked when my husband and I told them we were giving up the house with the big yard," recalls Susan. "A one-bedroom apartment is fine for us, though."

If you decide that paring down is what you need, the next step is to assess what you want from an assignment, including location, facility type, and shifts. For her first contract, Maureen returned to her native state of California and requested a private institution. In the future, she is willing to expand her horizons. "I am looking forward to accepting an assignment at a teaching hospital. But, I do not like snow, so I will have to choose my winter contracts carefully."

"Look at the quality of life an assignment provides and decide what is important to you," suggests Ms. Porter. Adds Mr. Carson, "Ask yourself what is it that you want to accomplish with your career and work-life balance. Traveling is a thoroughly beneficial experience. People get hooked because they enjoy change, a fast-paced lifestyle, and challenges."

Just ask Susan and Maureen, who say wanderlust will continue to be in their futures. Laughs Susan, "I am only 45 and hope for a long and prosperous life, so I see no reason to stop now."

References
Armas, F. (2001, March 20). Census 2000: Baby boomers dominate. AP Online. Retrieved August 6, 2002, from http://ask.elibrary.com

Marrshall, J. (2001, June 30). Boomers likely to feel impact of nurse shortage. The Arizona Republic [special edition]. Retrieved August 6, 2002, from http://ask.elibrary.com

Messacar, R. (2002, January 18). Nursing shortage continues. University Wire. Retrieved August 6, 2002, from http://ask.elibrary.com

Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. (2002, August 11). RV quick facts. Retrieved August 11, 2002, from www.rvia.org/media/fastfacts.htm

US Newswire. (2001, March 20). The John A. Hartford Foundation awards $1.7 million in scholarships to geriatric nursing scholars. Retrieved August 6, 2002, from http://ask.elibrary.com