Gifted Healthcare provided this article.
Travel nurses and healthcare professionals have been through so much in the past two years. Without a doubt, 2022 will bring a new series of resolutions, opportunities, and challenges to your travel nursing career. No matter what lies ahead, it’s important to start working toward your 2022 career goals sooner than later.
Read on for a list of tips to help you stay focused, fulfilled, and successful in 2022!
Reflect on What You Want
Before you set out to meet your new goals, it’s important to take some time to reflect on what’s important to you this year. This will help you pursue what’s right for you.
Do you feel happy in your current facility, specialty, or location? Is it time for a change? Is there something else you want to learn or achieve? What were your biggest struggles in 2021? Your biggest accomplishments?
You don’t have to come up with the answers right away. Be patient with yourself. Take the time that you need to consider the best path for you.
Set Clear Goals
Studies show that people who set goals are more successful. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, “goal setting is most likely to improve task performance when the goals are specific and sufficiently challenging.”
Use the conclusions you’ve drawn from reflection to set clear and concise goals for yourself in the year ahead. Don’t be afraid to be ambitious; just make sure you’re realistic.
Update Your Resume
We understand that updating your resume can be a bore, but it’s really important! Take some time to revisit, revise, and improve your resume so that you’re ready for the next amazing opportunity that comes along.
Highlight any clinical expertise, special procedures for which you are trained, unit-specific patient types, unusual cases, and higher-acuity patients. Be thorough in the descriptions of your nursing experience to help your recruiter make a great match between your skill set and future clinical environments.
Learn more about how to create a great travel nursing resume.
Check-In With Your Recruiter
Spend some time nurturing your relationship with your travel nurse recruiter. As you build trust and rapport with them, they will develop a better understanding of what you want in a contract.
Staying in touch and being transparent with your agency provides many benefits. Be sure to check-in, share your new goals, and tell your recruiter what you want to achieve in 2022.
Get a New Nurse Certification
The world of travel nursing is vast, and there are many great opportunities across the country. Earning a nursing certification can provide a boost for your career, opening the door to better nursing assignments, higher pay, and personal growth.
Some important nursing certifications include Wound Care Certification (WCC), Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) Certification.
Learn more about why nurse certification is important for travel RNs.
Be Adaptable
As we have learned, it’s important to be ready for unforeseen obstacles or changes during the year. You won’t be able to predict exactly what challenges await you, but you can prepare for how you’ll receive them when they arrive.
Remember to keep an open mind. If you have to revise your goals mid-year, it’s okay! It’s all part of the process. Stay positive and view these challenges as a learning experience.
Trust Your Instincts
Don’t create goals based on what people expect of you or by comparing yourself to others. Set goals that you know will make you feel great when achieved.
2022 will present many new and exceptional opportunities for travel nurses. Make sure you’re honest with yourself about your priorities and make the most of the exciting months ahead!
We hope you found this article with tips for travel nurses and achieving your career goals in 2022 helpful. Do you have any career goals? How do you plan to achieve them? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.
