Do Your Homework and Prepare
“Take the time needed to prepare well and have a bit of funds for back up. Do some research on the agencies and locations you want to go.” -Lucie
Have an Open Mind
“Be open to jobs that are offered. I have gained so much experience from being open to different fields of nursing. It truly opens the door to loving a specific field that maybe you never thought of trying.” -Teri E.
Build on Your Experience
As a travel nurse, it’s essential to continue learning. You already have solid nursing experience, but you can always discover new methods and skills throughout your travel career. Even though you’ll be moving on after your assignment ends, treat your time at each facility like a probationary period; it will help you make the most out of your time. Every assignment offers you a chance to gain new skills, references, and maybe even an extension if you’re looking to stay in your new location a little longer. You became a nurse to care for your patients, so continue to remind yourself why you’re in the profession to begin with. It will keep you grounded and prevent burnout.
“Always do the best job wherever you go! For me, taking care of my patients is the same wherever I go and the best experiences of my nursing career. Always have compassion and empathy with every assignment” -Lorry M..
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Even though you have plenty of nursing experience under your belt already, you’re still the new kid on the block when you start out on each new assignment. Make sure you know the facility’s codes, procedures, and policy as soon as you start; you wouldn’t want to find yourself in an emergency without the answers. Your coworkers are thankful for the extra hands and happy to help get you up to speed, so don’t be afraid to ask them! IT is also just phone call away if you have computers issues or trouble logging in on your first day.
“First thing, no matter where you land: ask these questions. Where is your crash cart? Where is your first dose machine and who can access it for me? What are the facility codes/phone directory? The rest you can kind of build in as you work there but if you don’t know these bare bones policies you may find yourself up a creek with no paddle.” -Lydia D.
Partner With a Recruiter
A great resource you may overlook is your travel nursing agency and recruiter. Agencies have years of experience in the industry and your recruiter will act as your career advocate throughout the entire process. They place nurses in jobs every day, so they can help you understand how travel nursing works and answer any questions you may have about your schedule, pay, housing, and compliance. They also have close relationships with the facilities they place nurses in. Find a great recruiter and they’ll take care of the rest so you can find your dream assignment.
Build Your Community
Just like our seasoned travelers, the rest of the travel nursing community is happy to share their tips and tricks with newbies. Social media groups specific to travel nursing are a great place to learn more and meet other travelers. While on assignment, you will also meet nurses in your unit and other travelers at orientation that can become lifelong friends. Take advantage of the opportunity to find others that have your same passion for nursing and travel!
Meet other travelers at orientation who may be at other hospitals within your system. Two of my closest traveler friends worked at different hospitals but we made time to get together and see each other during our 26-week assignments. We still stay in touch and see each other.“ -Ellen
Build Your Community
At the end of the day, if you’ve been thinking about travel nursing for awhile and are nervous about making the leap, just do it! Now is the perfect time to start our on your travel journey. There are plenty of travel nursing opportunities and resources to get you started. So many of our travelers say their only regret is not starting sooner. Contact us today to learn more about travel nursing in general and openings in your desired location and specialty!
““If your tired of cards you’ve been dealt, change the deck entirely. Take control of your life and join travel nursing.” -Damone T.
