Rural & Remote Nursing: How it’s evolved & why it's the perfect next step for you

A woman with a backpack is standing on top of a hill overlooking the ocean with her arms outstretched.

If you are a registered nurse (RN) searching for the opportunity to have a break from your standard hospital environment, now is the perfect time to embrace the idea of travel nursing. Dedicated agency nursing services, like First Choice Care (FCC), provide extraordinary RN’s the chance to make a genuine impact on communities that are in need of help. FCC concurrently work alongside their nurses to establish a lifestyle they will love, in amazing locations across parts of Queensland (QLD). Curious about what travel nursing looks like as an agency nurse? This blog uncovers what you can expect, the benefits, whilst also exploring the history of this special side of our healthcare industry.

Where Travel Nursing Began

Though the travel nursing industry is booming in Australia and around the world right now, this was not always the case. According to Travelnursing.org, the idea of travel nurses only started in the late 1970’s in New Orleans, around the time of the popular Mardi Gras Festival. Due to the volume of people likely needing medical attention during the festivities, more staff were required on a short-term basis to help – so the idea of a new nursing workforce was born.

Travel nursing popularity grew into the 1980s as a temporary staffing solution to a national nursing shortage. This resulted in the opening of many agencies, employing skilled nurses on short term contacts.

Another historical nursing milestone was initiated by the Health System Research Institute (HSRI) in the 1970s where the study found that doctors would be willing to practice in remote and rural areas as long as they were guaranteed adequate scheduled time off. As a result of this study, a group of willing and able physicians were found who wanted to work on short term assignments in rural locations as needed. This is where others believe the idea of traveling healthcare really took off.

What is the Future of Travel Nursing

As we continue to ride this COVID wave, the concept of travel nursing and the possibilities that exist are only getting stronger and more established. According to the ABC, in 2020 “Australia’s regional areas have had their largest net inflow of people since the Australian Bureau of Statistics started measuring internal migration in 2001”.

With more and more Australians moving into regional areas, away from capital cities, it’s changing the landscape for healthcare. Advanced nursing and medical skills are required to cope with the influx of people embracing life away from big cities, which creates more job opportunities in these locations, which nurses can take advantage of.

The Appeal of Travel Nursing for Agency Nurses

Competitive pay – rates are based on specialty and experience
Free or subsidised housing is commonly available through nursing agency
Most travel nurses work on short-term assignments (4-12 weeks are common contracts)
Flexible working hours available, including full- time
You only need to provide your details/documentation papers to the nursing agency once and not the individual facilities/organisations
Satisfying, challenging and rewarding work
Discover incredible parts of Australia you’ve never been to
Meet new people and establish amazing friendships
You have the support of a passionate nursing agency behind you, ready to answer any questions you may have

The prospects for agency nurses are enormous, as new opportunities continue to arise right throughout the north/eastern states of Australia. Competitive pay rates and the chance to embrace different experiences is just the beginning. If you’re interested in exploring new and exciting locations, head to our website for more information or apply today and – start packing your bags!

To learn about exclusive contracts and hear from our nurses across remote and rural areas of Queensland, be sure to ‘follow’ and ‘Like’ our FCC Remote & Rural Facebook Page.

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Nurse of the month February 2025 – Holly

By Matthew Power • February 17, 2025

Congratulations to our Nurse of the month for February – Holy! She’s an incredible nurse who puts a lot of care and effort each day for her patients. We absolutely love working alongside you! You can hear all about Holly’s time as a nurse at the interview below: What do you like most about FCC? I appreciate the assistance and communication from the allocation team when a shift has been cancelled and how they try to provide a shift. I like that I deal with the same allocation staff if I call to change a shift or need information; I have my two main men, Michael and Tait, who help me with anything I need. Why did you want to be a nurse? I have always wanted a career that continues to teach me something almost every day; this career has no end to gaining knowledge, educating oneself and sharing that with patients to help them understand their situation in a caring and informative way. Being an agency nurse, you are constantly placed in different environments and departments, learning a new procedure or medication or dealing with a different hospital protocol on matters; it is fascinating. What has been the highlight of working with FCC? Being able to work in multiple hospitals, obtaining rapport with NUM's and permanent staff. I like the challenge of trying to fit in when times are stressful and busy. Would you recommend FCC to other nurses and why? I have recommended FCC to many nurses; none have yet made the leap, but I am pleased with the services they provide and the support. I explain the flexibilities of the role and how the learning of new protocols and procedures is forever keeping me on my toes, the hourly wages making up for the occasional cancelled shift. Forever learning and being challenged, I couldn't love it any more.

Nurse of the Month January 2025 - Robyn

By Matthew Power • January 28, 2025

Congratulations to our Nurse of the Month for January 2025 - Robyn! We want to recognise the incredible levels of care you put in each day. Your patients are lucky to have you, and we're always grateful to have you on our team. Robyn has provided us with an amazing interview below! Check it out: What do you like most about FCC? It can be hard to choose just one reason but one of the things I like most about FCC is how consistently connected they are to their nurses. There is never a time while on contract that I feel unsupported or isolated and they are genuinely passionate about making sure that I am valued and heard. Whether it’s Easter, Christmas, birthdays or any other special occasions that I’m on contract they always let me know that while my own family may be a long way from wherever I am, I still have my work family looking after me. Not just a bit, every single time! Why did you want to be a nurse? I have had a number of different career paths in my lifetime; from fitness to aviation and just about everything in between. I became a nurse because I wanted to do something by which I could make a contribution in, not only my community but also my family. The question we ask children about “ what do you want to do when you grow up?” for me while my answer was seated in what a kind, generous, well respected and community revered role it appeared to be to say “Nurse” kind of just fell out of my enthusiastic child’s brain and never entered it until a very much family member suffered a devastating stroke that “to be a nurse” changed both our lives. I watched the nursing team show knowledge, skill and just as importantly compassionate care that made such a positive impact on my whole family that I decided I wanted to learn the same and hopefully give some of the same back. What has been the highlight of working with FCC? The highlights of working for FCC have been many. The new adventures each contract brings, the opportunities to meet new people who have similar interests and sharing those adventures with new friends who become old friends who also become the same friends I recommend my agency with. Would you recommend FCC to other nurses and why? Of course!!! Two of them are now on contract with me in Lismore!! I always tell people who I’m signed up with because I’m really proud to belong to such an amazing team.

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Nurse of the month August 2024 - Kat

By Matthew Power • August 23, 2024

At First Choice Care (FCC), we take pride in celebrating the incredible work of our nursing staff. For August, we are thrilled to announce Kat as our Nurse of the Month! As a dedicated travel nurse, Kat has made a lasting impact on patients across Australia while balancing her personal and professional life. Here's a closer look at her journey with FCC. What do you like most about FCC? "One of the things I like the most about FCC is the variety of contracts on offer to nurses throughout Australia and the work/life balance I've been able to achieve working as a travel nurse." Why did you want to be a nurse? "I chose to become a Registered Nurse because the profession offers a unique combination of personal and professional fulfillment. The ability to provide care, support, and comfort to patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives gives me a profound sense of purpose. Furthermore, I have always been fascinated by the human body and how its complex systems work in unison to sustain life. You can probably guess some of the subjects I enjoyed most whilst at university!" What has been the highlight of working with FCC? "The best part of working with FCC has been the opportunity to improve my clinical skills, meet new people, and explore locations I wouldn’t have discovered if I had continued working solely in Brisbane." Would you recommend FCC to other nurses and why? "I would recommend my consultant, Sasha, to any of my nursing friends considering travel nursing. I have found Sasha to be dependable, an excellent communicator, and proactive in securing contracts for her clients." Conclusion Kat's passion for nursing, her adventurous spirit, and her dedication to delivering top-quality care make her a shining example of what it means to be part of the FCC family. We are proud to have her as our Nurse of the Month for August and look forward to supporting her continued success as she travels and makes a difference across Australia. Congratulations, Kat!