Travel Nursing Careers Tips
Read these 8 Travel Nursing Careers Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Nursing Jobs tips and hundreds of other topics.
Tips for Beating Travel Nursing Burnout
Whether you're new to travel nursing or have been in this field for years, at some point most professionals experience burnout. However, changing your approach to daily life can allow you to rejuvenate and minimize the chances of burnout.
Allow yourself a month off between assignments. This will allow you to relax a little before accepting a new travel nursing job. This way, you'll enter the new assignment totally refreshed – instead of burnt out.
Get away to visit family and friends. Living a long distance away from family and friends can take a toll. Get away for long weekends to catch up with family and friends. Also, check out events in your new community, which will allow you to meet new friends and avoid feeling isolated.
Explore new hobbies. When starting new jobs, check out your local community center. Take a pottery, art or other class that's interesting. This will allow you to refocus your energy and relax, which can combat burnout.
Steps to Becoming a Travel Nurse
Because of the national nursing shortage, the need for travel nurses is on the rise. Many nurses aren't sure how to initiate the process, but fortunately, it's relatively easy. Read on to learn the simple steps to becoming a travel nurse.
Talk with a staffing agency. When choosing an agency, make sure to select a company that specializes in placing travel nurses. This will give you access to more jobs. Check out staffing companies like Clinical One.
Complete an application and talk with a recruiter. Once you've contacted a travel nurse agency, they will review your application and discuss your qualifications. Be prepared to answer questions about why you want to become a travel nurse, your career goals, and areas you're willing to travel to.
Interview with hiring companies. Once a travel nurse agency has evaluated your experience, they will connect you with hiring companies that are a good fit. Typically, you'll be required to attend a phone interview.
Accept the travel nursing job. Once you're done with the interview process, all that's left to do is wait for the job offers to roll in.
Popular Travel Nursing Destinations
One of the largest benefits of travel nursing is the ability to travel to beautiful destinations all over the country. Focusing on which geographic locations interest you will allow recruiters to help you find positions that suit your interests. Read on to learn popular travel nursing destinations.
Check out Phoenix, Arizona. If you enjoy warm climates, ask your travel nurse agency about assignments in Phoenix, Arizona. This is a popular destination for many travel nurses.
Ask about popular California locations. Like many other states, California is feeling the effects of the nursing shortage. Popular locations for travel nursing positions include Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento.
Check out Hawaii positions. It's no surprise that travel nursing positions in Hawaii are in high demand. Although the competition may be tough for these positions, investing time in your resume and partnering with a recruiter like Clinical One can give you more access to jobs.
Travel Nursing Benefits and Perks
Travel nursing jobs come with many benefits, but you'll need to negotiate these items into your compensation package. Read on to learn about negotiable perks such as medical, life insurance, travel reimbursement and housing.
Ask about medical and life insurance. Even if your contract is only a few months, these benefits can often be negotiated. If you're working with a travel nurse agency like Clinical One, ask them about employers who negotiate these benefits.
Tax-Free Travel Reimbursement. Depending on how far you'll be traveling to your assignment, experience can get costly. Make sure to set up a travel reimbursement plan that is tax accountable, which means you won't have to pay taxes on this reimbursement.
Rent-free housing. One of the best perks of being a travel nurse is housing is often free. These accommodations are often close to your work location and facilitated by the employer.
Tips for Preparing for a Travel Nurse Career
For most professionals, transitioning into a travel nursing career can happen fairly quickly. That's why it's important to get the necessary information organized beforehand, which will prevent you from scrambling at the last minute. Read on to learn tips for preparing for a travel nurse career.
Tell your travel nurse agency how quickly you can accept an assignment. This will allow them to focus on positions that fit your needs, and allow you time to transition out of your current situation.
Get your licensing information in order. Depending on the location of your travel nursing assignment, you may need to get a temporary nursing license. Talk with your staffing firm about where you'll accept assignments, and take care of these requirements before hand.
Take care of housing. Many travel nursing assignments will provide free or low-cost housing. When applying to travel nurse jobs talk about these benefits ahead of time. You can always decide to only choose assignments that handle housing arrangements.
Tips for Choosing the Right Travel Nurse Assignment
Whether you're just entering the travel nursing field or have been taking on assignments for years, understanding how to choose the right assignment is important. Read on to learn tips for choosing the right travel nursing assignment.
Evaluate the specialty. As a travel nurse, you will have access to a wide variety of positions. If you think you're interested in a specific specialty, like oncology or emergency room care, apply to those assignments.
Determine the length of contract. Travel nursing jobs can last anywhere from a few months to a year. When accepting your first assignment, consider choosing a shorter assignment. This will allow you to determine if you enjoy travel nursing.
Narrow down locations. Thinking about the places you're willing to live, before accepting an assignment, can increase your satisfaction with travel nursing. Dust off a map and determine which areas are desirable. Then discuss your needs with an agency like Clinical One.
Common Travel Nurse Interview Mistakes
After receiving dozens of applications, the travel nursing recruiter has called you in for an interview. This is exciting news, and preparing for the big day is important to your success. Read on to learn how to avoid common interview mistakes.
Avoid talking about compensation too soon. A travel nurse agency often can advise of a position's compensation. However, if you ask about this information on the first interview, you risk making a bad impression.
Answer questions directly. During your travel nursing interview, it's important to answer questions directly. For example, when asked about your previous experience in pediatric nursing, take a few seconds before answering the question. If you don't have any experience, don't worry. Instead, highlight your experience working with children outside of nursing.
Don't forget to close the deal. As your interview is concluding, make sure to ask about the next step in the process. This will express your enthusiasm and get you one step closer to landing the job.
Tips for Determining your Travel Nursing Salary
Registered nurses often choose travel nursing because of the attractive compensation and ability to travel across the nation. Travel nurses also can get experience in different specialties, which will make them more marketable when settling into a permanent position. Read on to learn tips for determining your travel nursing salary.
General pay rate. Typically, travel nurses who are registered nurses earn up to $40 per hour. However, these wages may be higher or lower depending on the geographic location of the position.
Sign-on Bonuses. Some companies will offer sign-on or completion bonuses to travel nurses. Make sure to partner with a travel nurse agency like Clinical One that can help you find these types of positions.
Housing benefits. As a travel nurse, you may have access to free or low-cost housing that is close to your work site. Work with your travel nurse agency to help negotiate these benefits.
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