In Travel Assignments, Travel Nurse

Are you interested in becoming a travel nurse? Now is the perfect time to jump into this amazing career. As a travel nurse you’ll earn a great pay, advance your career, and have the opportunity to explore exciting new areas of the country. 

To make the most out of your travel nurse assignment, there are 3 key questions to consider.

  • What excites you about travel nursing?
  • What are your career priorities?
  • What type of hospital culture is important to you?

What excites you about travel nursing?

There are multiple reasons nurses are drawn to travel nursing, including adventure, pay, career advancement, and opportunities for personal growth. Think about what motivates you to become a travel nurse and focus on assignments that fill that need. 

If you’re motivated by adventure, consider the area of an assignment. Is it in a big city or small rural area? Ask your recruiter what there is to do in the area and decide if it is right for your personality and lifestyle. For example, even if you’ve always been a city person, an assignment in rural Montana could be a great fit if you love skiing or want to explore the mountains. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking to make a career change or expand your clinical skill set, consider a travel nurse Med Surg or ER  assignment that floats. Float pool nurses move between different units of the hospital to meet staffing needs. As a float pool nurse, you’ll be able to try out different clinical areas and learn new skills. When floating to different units, ask the staff why they choose that unit and how it differs from other areas. This will provide you with insight on whether that specialty would be a good fit for you

Another option for nurses looking to make a career change is taking an assignment in a new type of clinical setting. Nurses with hospital experience can easily get a travel assignment in a long-term care facility or an outpatient clinic. The great thing about 13 week contracts, is if you don’t enjoy a new clinical setting, the assignment will be over soon and you can go back to hospital nursing

If pay is your highest priority, consider a travel assignment in an on demand area. Travel nurses in these contracts are expected to be seasoned professionals who are able to jump into a busy environment with very little orientation. The primary benefit of these contracts is higher pay. Experienced travel nurses who are flexible with their schedule can take advantage of these hard to fill positions to earn a lot of money.

Analyze your career goals

Knowing what your career goals are will help you pick a travel nurses assignment that is tailored to meet your needs. For example, if you’re interested in pursuing an advanced practice degree, consider hospitals that have advanced practice providers on their medical staff. Nothing allows you to learn about a career path more than experiencing that option first hand. There are a wide range of travel nurse assignments out there. Think about what you’re interested in learning and pick an assignment that addresses your career goals.

Consider Hospital Culture

Many nurses are drawn to travel nursing because of the great pay. While income earning potential is an important consideration, hospital culture plays a crucial role in how enjoyable a travel nurse assignment will be.

Once you find a travel nurse assignment that interests you, consider these factors.

  • What is the nurse to patient staffing ratio?
  • Is there flexibility in scheduling shifts?
  • Does the hospital focus on work-life balance?

A great way to assess how hospital administration treats nurses is to determine if the hospital has earned Magnet Recognition.

The American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC) awards Magnet status to hospitals “where nursing leaders successfully align their nursing strategic goals to improve the organization’s patient outcomes”. 

Hospitals that achieve Magnet recognition have higher nurse job satisfaction, less burnout among nurses, and a lower intent to leave.  

Although Magnet status is a good indicator of the quality of nursing leadership at a hospital or healthcare facility, there are many great hospitals in the country that do not have Magnet recognition. 

If you have questions about hospital culture at a prospective assignment, have your recruiter put you in contact with another traveler at that facility so you can ask them how friendly they are to travelers and if others like it there.

Are you ready to delve into the exciting world of travel nursing? Whatever your motivations are for pursuing a travel nurse assignment, there is a contract that is right for you.  Talk to one of our recruiters today to discuss your travel assignment options.

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