Whether you’re a new graduate looking to start your career or you’re a seasoned nurse wanting to expand your professional opportunities, transitioning to a career in travel nursing is both exciting and daunting. Being a travel nurse is a fantastic way to propel any nursing career to new heights and make a real difference in a range of communities, but knowing what you’re getting into and how to make the right career choice for you is critical for making a confident and informed decision. Choosing the right assignment for your desires and needs is critical for nurses who want to have a successful travel nursing experience and stay on track to reach their future goals.
Evaluating Hospital Ratings and Staff Reviews
When you’re a travel nurse, one of the biggest setbacks can be to end up in a place far from home that you don’t enjoy. A job opportunity may seem perfect based on the kind of work and location, but when you see how the hospital or clinic runs, you may realize that that is not the case. Look at ratings of the hospital and staff reviews to get a better idea of how work might look at that location. Poor reviews and ratings may indicate that there are far-reaching problems in the organization. Some issues you may be able to overlook or deal with, but others may let you know that this job isn’t for you. Finding the right travel nursing job can take some time, but a diligent search will reap better-fitting results.
Understanding Contracts and Benefits
When looking into assignments, you want to know what the contract entails and what benefits are included. By understanding your contracts and benefits, you can make a smart decision based on your circumstances and skills.
Look Closely Before Signing Up
Before choosing an assignment, you want to know the terms of that assignment. What kind of work will you have to do? What responsibilities and duties are core to the position? You also want to think about how long the contract will be. Will you get healthcare or dental benefits? Are retirement benefits included? Some contracts may even have added benefits like signing bonuses or travel reimbursement. Not all of these benefits will be equally important to you, so consider what benefits are most important for any assignment and prioritize those as you look for jobs.
Consider the Pay
While most nurses haven’t chosen their careers because of the pay, there’s no doubt that pay matters. You have to consider any existing and emerging financial needs and whether an assignment will meet those needs. For example, a nurse with a family will commonly need higher pay to sustain their needs than a single one with fewer financial needs. Travel nurses can maximize their earnings, and the good news is that because travel nurses are so in demand, they often make a significant amount of money.
You should not only consider the pay, but also how it compares to anticipated living costs. Certain areas will have higher living costs, so you may want to look elsewhere if the pay doesn’t reflect that.
Think About Benefits Beyond What’s in the Contract
Contract benefits are the first thing you’ll look for when deciding whether an assignment is right for you. Still, you also want to consider benefits beyond what’s in the contract, such as benefits that may come with living in a certain area, lifestyle needs, and whether you’ll have a balanced life.
Your lifestyle is a critical part of any career decision because if a job doesn’t align with your lifestyle, you may risk your mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. Do you want to make sure you’re near a yoga studio because yoga helps you relax? Are you part of a particular religion and need to find a place of worship that is right for you? Do you want a place where people embrace outdoor living, or would you like one where you can find many amenities? It can be fun to explore different environments as you travel, but you want to consider your limits and preferences as you make a decision.
Adapting to Different Hospital Cultures and Practices
Being a travel nurse means that you’ll be thrust into different medical environments, which can drastically differ from place to place. How these environments are run, what they prioritize, and the work structures they use depend on a range of factors. Resources, leadership, and demographics all influence how cultures and practices will form in any facility.
To be a good traveling nurse, it helps to have an attitude of embracing new work cultures and practices. You may not always be able to do things in your preferred way, but by accepting that each work location has its own special environment, you can learn from what each hospital culture offers. In some cases, you may learn that certain practices are more effective, and in other cases, you may learn what doesn’t work. No matter the circumstances, think of each medical facility as a chance to grow and discover more about yourself as a nurse and a person.
Promoting Balance
The goal of any traveling nurse, especially one just starting with travel nursing, should be to find balance. This balance will allow you to adjust to different hospital cultures and practices while still feeling aligned with your own needs and values.
If you’re away from your normal environment and support system, it can be hard to find the balance you need to thrive. Balancing your travels with your work helps you prepare for the burdens that come with long, demanding hours and being on the move. One part of this balance is choosing assignments that reflect what makes you feel like you can cope and find satisfaction in your life.
As a travel nurse, think about what will bring you balance. For example, you may want your first assignment to be within driving distance from your family so that you can still have relatively frequent visits when you need support or decompress. For other people, being farther away from their hometown may offer them a greater ability to explore without feeling pressure from all the people in their lives. Balance looks different for everyone, but every nurse needs to know what helps keep them in the right mindset to do the best work while also fulfilling personal needs.
Searching for the Right Job
When you choose to be a travel nurse, you empower yourself to explore different areas while choosing a specialty that fits your skills, interests, and career goals. Still, you may worry about finding a proper assignment that matches your ambitions and preferences.
Fortunately, there are hundreds of available jobs so that each nurse can find options that make them enthusiastic to embark on new adventures. Go to scenic Montana to work in labor and delivery, check out California living as an ICU nurse, or opt for psychiatric nursing while taking in the tranquility of Woodsville, NH. With jobs available at AB Staffing, travel nurses can explore options that they might not have locally while building their resumes, earning competitive pay, and opening their futures.