Top Travel-Friendly Jobs in Healthcare

If you're a travel enthusiast looking to build a career in the medical field, there are plenty of opportunities. Although most medical jobs involve local traveling from facility-to-facility, some jobs in the healthcare sector provide opportunities for interstate and global travel to glamorous tourist destinations and other culturally-rich nations.

Staffing companies and hospitals are always looking for medical professionals interested in traveling to those developing countries in need of medical care. Travel medical jobs are particularly lucrative, as most hospitals and staffing groups provide these travel-hungry medical professionals with various exclusive benefits, including furnished housing, full benefits packages, and a mileage reimbursement program.

If you feel these travel-intensive medical jobs might be perfect for you and your lifestyle needs, here’s a handful of travel-friendly positions to check-out in your job search. A medical staffing agency may be in your best interest as you seek job opportunities in your area. To use any medical staffing agency for a registered nurse position, you’ll need to acquire a medical diploma from a hospital-based institution and earn an associate /bachelor's degree along with a license.

Travel nurse

A travel nurse is any registered nurse who travels locally to a patient's location (home and other healthcare facilities) to provide care. Registered nurses can also travel throughout the country, and may even travel around the globe, to fill the gaps in nations experiencing healthcare worker shortages.

These nurses usually assess patients, update their medical records, administer medications, and conduct diagnostic tests. These healthcare professionals also help patients and their care providers arrange for patient care, as well as address any concerns about the patient's current condition.

Health educators and community health professionals

The day-to-day duties of health educators and community health workers will involve traveling locally to offer various health programs. These jobs entail assessing community needs and spearheading medical solutions. Health workers inform the public about various health topics and provide the needed medical resources. Health educators, on the other hand, develop materials and programs that help train community health workers.

Typically, community health workers travel more often than health educators, as they have to collect data, lead outreach programs, and discuss health matters with the public. Health educators must have a bachelor's degree and a certification from a Certified Health Education Specialist credential.

Travel therapist

Therapy is in high demand both locally and internationally. So whether you're an occupational therapist or a physical therapist with a passion for traveling, accepting a travel therapist job can deliver life-changing fulfillment. In these positions, hospitals and health companies look for therapy professionals to fill-in gaps left by employees on maternity leave or other medical leaves or in the case of staff training, emergency absences, and other unforeseen circumstances.

These healthcare professionals travel locally and around the world to provide therapy programs to both young children and adults. One incentive in the position as a travel therapist is that you can handpick your location.

Much like other traveling professionals, the role of a travel therapist is accompanied by several financial benefits. To qualify as a travel therapist, you’ll need to complete a master's degree and earn a state license.

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics

Paramedics and emergency medical technicians often travel to respond to various medical emergencies. However, most of the traveling occurs locally, given the nature of the emergencies at-hand that usually require quick response times.

Many of these professionals answer 911 calls to address severe and minor cases. The job typically requires a high-speed response to help respond to life-threatening situations and administer treatment as quickly as possible.

Once an EMT or paramedic assesses the patient, they’ll quickly transport the victim to the hospital and relay the necessary information to doctors and other care providers. To qualify as an EMT and paramedic, you’ll need to complete a postsecondary program and be licensed. It's important to remember that educational requirements may vary from one state to the other.

Medical device sales representative

Being a medical device sales representative is another best way to become a travel health care professional. This job is vital because hospitals and medical groups are always looking for medical devices designed to improve the quality of life, mobility, etc. These devices help provide the latest care to patients with up-to-date equipment. Many healthcare sales companies often recruit talented and experienced sales representatives to travel throughout their country of residence and internationally in an effort to extend their reach and provide quality healthcare to a widespread population.

Some of the benefits for sales professionals include travel packages, relocation expense coverage, business expense coverage, and a generous salary plus commission. Most importantly, there’s an ever-present need for medical sales representatives, as new innovations pop-up on the market on an annual, and even monthly, basis.

To qualify for the medical device sales representative position, you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent. Alternatively, some openings in the medical sales arena require a bachelor's degree in health sciences or business.

Physicians and surgeons

A physician or a surgeon may be required to travel locally or regionally to care for their patients. Other professionals may need to participate in large-scale humanitarian work.

The duties of the average physician include the evaluation and diagnosis of their patients. These healthcare professionals are also required to treat a wide range of health problems and injuries.

Surgeons, on the other hand, address a wide- range of chronic conditions, diseases, and infections through surgical procedures. To qualify as a physician or surgeon, you must earn a bachelor's degree then proceed to medical school training for four years. Following medical school, an aspiring surgeon will need to complete three to seven years of residency in their chosen specialization.

Conclusion

There are a hundred of travel-friendly jobs in the healthcare sector. If you want to travel and change the lives of patients across the globe, you should consider one of the medical jobs mentioned above. Before you settle on a final decision, you’ll need to consider your qualifications.