Photo by Eleonora Patricola on Unsplash
This article provided by: PPR Travel Nursing
When your 13 weeks are almost up, sometimes your assignment will give you the option to extend your contract. This is a big compliment, as it means you are a great fit for the hospital.
For a travel nurse, contract extensions make a lot of sense. Read on to find out why!
Easy Logistics
Think about all the work you have to do to begin a new travel nurse contract. You have to research a new place, make sure housing is taken care of, and get yourself there. With a travel nurse contract extension, the logistics are already taken care of. You don’t have to fill out any additional paperwork, and there’s no travel involved. And, you’re already settled into your housing and know the area well.
More Time to Explore
Another big benefit of a travel nurse contract extension is having more time to explore the area. If there’s anything you haven’t had time yet to see or do, a longer stay gives you that opportunity. Maybe there’s a concert or festival coming up, or you’ve made some solid friends in the city that you just can’t say goodbye to yet. Staying on through another season means you won’t miss out. Plus, you have more chances to do day trips to nearby places.
Negotiation is in Your Favor
When you’re staying past 13 weeks, you have a lot of advantages to your hospital over a new Travel Nurse. You already know the charting system, and you’re familiar with the hospital’s policies and protocols. A new travel nurse contract means new terms, which means you get a chance to negotiate for better pay. Do keep in mind that your first contract might have been the best offer in terms of compensation, travel stipend, and other bonuses due to high demand or crisis pay.
Flexibility
Finally, if you choose to extend your travel nurse contract, you’ll likely get a lot more say in how long your extension is. Since you’ve already finished on boarding and orientation, the hospital knows that you’ll be contributing rather than training from day one of your extension. That means you often get the flexibility to choose the length of your new contract, rather than the standard 13 weeks.
Deciding whether extending your travel nurse contract is sometimes difficult, we hope that this information makes the decision a little bit easier. Still on the fence about extending your travel nurse contract? Why Should You Extend Your Contract? Read why a fellow Gypsy Nurse feels travel nurse contract extensions are a good thing.
Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?
