September 4, 2024

1194 Views

Extending Your Travel Nurse Contract: Pros, Cons, and Tips

Posted on September 4, 2024August 29, 2024 by Fusion Medical Staffing

Fusion Medical Staffing provided this article.

Deciding whether extending your travel nurse contract or moving on after your assignment ends can feel like a tough call. On one hand, there’s comfort in the familiar — the friendly faces of the hospital or healthcare facility, the routines you’ve mastered, and the friends you’ve made along the way.

On the other hand, the thrill of your next assignment might be calling your name, teasing you with the allure of fresh experiences and a change of scenery. If you’re on the fence about a travel nurse contract extension, you’re not alone. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of extending your travel nursing contract, as well as some helpful tips, so you can make the choice that feels right for you.

Extending Your Travel Nurse Contract: Pros, Cons, and Tips

Pros of extending your travel nurse contract

Familiarity with the healthcare facility

One of the biggest perks of extending your travel nurse contract is the familiarity you’ve built with the healthcare facility. Since you’ve had time in your current contract, you already know where everything is and the quirks of the charting system and have learned the ropes of how things operate day-to-day. That means you’ll spend less time adjusting and more time focusing on what you do best — providing top-notch patient care.

No repeat credentialing

Another benefit of a contract extension is avoiding the headache of repeat travel nurse credentialing. If you’re not a fan of the paperwork that comes with starting new travel nursing contracts, extending may be the move for you since you can skip the hassle of submitting documents, going through background checks, and filling out forms.

Less moving hassle

Packing up your life, finding new housing, and adjusting to a different city every few months can be exhausting. By extending your travel nurse contract, you get to bypass all that chaos for a little while longer and settle into the comfort of your already-established routine.

Cons of extending your travel nurse contract

Less opportunities for skill diversification

One downside of extending your current contract is that you may miss out on new opportunities to diversify your travel nurse skills. Part of the excitement of travel nursing is jumping into different healthcare facilities and settings, as well as learning a variety of techniques and practices. When you stay in one place for an extended time, you risk missing out on other opportunities that could broaden your experiences and keep your travel nurse skills sharp.

Missed chances for personal growth

Travel nursing is all about seizing new experiences, such as adapting to different work environments and exploring new cities. With new places come fresh perspectives and personal growth opportunities, which you may not experience with travel nurse contract extensions.

Potential housing issues

Travel nurse housing is enough of a headache as is, and when you factor in a travel nurse contract extension, it could get even more complicated. You could find yourself renegotiating your lease, finding a new rental space, or even dealing with unexpected housing expenses and fees.

Tips for extending travel nurse contracts

Communicate early

One key tip for extending your travel nursing contract is to communicate early with both your travel nurse recruiter and the hospital or healthcare facility. By reaching out sooner than later, you give your recruiter ample time to negotiate on your behalf and iron out any details with your current healthcare facility.

Review contract details

Before agreeing to an extended travel nurse contract, be sure to dive into contract details like pay rates, benefits, and other stipulations. Take a close look to see if your pay changes and that all your benefits are still solid. Knowing exactly what’s on the table can save you from surprises down the road.

Maintain a work-life balance.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of staying put and diving deeper into your travel nurse assignment, but don’t forget to carve out time for yourself to enjoy downtime, explore your surroundings, and recharge your social battery. A healthy work-life balance not only helps you stay refreshed but also keeps you motivated and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.

Deciding whether to extend your travel nursing contract comes down to what’s best for you in the moment. Noodle on your personal and professional goals, consider how a travel nurse contract extension may impact your growth and well-being, and think about how you can make the most of your time in your current contract and, ultimately, your travel nursing career.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By AB Staffing Solutions

June 14, 2024

3082 Views

The Pros and Cons of Extending Your Travel Nurse Contract

Posted on June 14, 2024June 10, 2024 by AB Staffing Solutions

AB Staffing Solutions provided this article.

Are you enjoying your travel assignment? Are you flexible regarding the night vs. day shift? Do you want to explore the area more? If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider asking your Recruiter about extending your travel contract. While we cannot guarantee an extension, we will ask what is possible. Not all travel nurse contracts can be extended as it depends on factors that include:

Needs at the medical facility
Demand for your specialty
Demand for healthcare services in the area

Contract extensions can be unpredictable at times, but your recruiter should always be looking for ways to keep you happy and employed. Make sure to ask about 7/8 weeks into your contract if an extension is possible if you want one. Keep in mind that extended travel nurse contracts have pros and cons.

Pros of Extending Your Travel Nurse Contract

Let’s talk about the pros of staying in one place for more than 13 weeks, the average length of a travel contract.

Stability and Continuity. Extending a travel nurse contract provides job security and a familiar work environment. The systems, processes, and people are familiar. If you stay, take advantage of the benefits of building relationships with colleagues, patients, and communities. The longer you’re in a position, the better for your professional development and skill enhancement. It’s also stability for you and your family to be on the same routines for an extended time rather than having to transition to a new place and routine every few months.
Enhanced Relationships. Because you’re staying longer, you’re able to continue to build strong work relationships with colleagues, patients, and communities. You’re able to grow a professional network that can lead to other opportunities while learning from others. You’re better able to build relationships with patients, explaining treatment in terms they and their loved ones understand. With all this, you’re building trust so that when you need help, you can ask and offer help to other colleagues and patients.
Opportunity for Growth. Choosing to extend a travel nurse contract can lead to professional development and skill enhancement. You’re learning how to effectively support different communities in ways they understand. Not every population is the same in terms of how they are cared for, so this is an opportunity to continue learning not only about patient care, but also procedures, both of which help you grow professionally.
Financial Gains. If you choose to stay, you will be able to save more and go on more adventures when you’re not working. Extend your summer contract through the fall and then take time off for the holidays, resuming work in the new year.

There is comfort in settling into one place. We get it. Your days have a rhythm, and you realize you love the place and its people. And if it works that you can continue to care for patients and serve the community, we’d love to help you make that happen.

Let’s face it, there is something to be said for what stability can do.

You know how much money you earn, how much to save, and what you can spend when you’re not working.

What if you love change? What if routines bore you? Extending the contract might not be a good choice for you.

Cons of Extended Travel Nurse Contract

Our travelers tell us that while they may extend a contract, they also find downsides to staying in one place.

Career Stagnation. Perhaps a position or living situation isn’t what you thought it would be. If you were expecting to learn more or care for a particular patient population that’s not meeting expectations, it can feel like your career stagnates. You’d rather move on to another experience than stay where you are, and that’s okay. Talk to your Recruiter about your expectations and what is happening at the current facility so they can better match you in the future.
Burnout Risk. If you feel like you’ve met career expectations for a position and/or you do not like where you’re living, then it may be time to move. Maybe you’ve checked off all the items on your bucket list, and your days feel routine. Extended contracts may limit the ability to explore new locations and opportunities, especially if you’re not feeling inspired by your work. If you’re experiencing the same workload day in and day out, then changing contracts can provide opportunities to expand your skills and knowledge.
Financial Considerations. Evaluate the aspects of extending contracts. Ask questions like if there is a salary increase, bonus, or other benefits associated with extending. The answers can influence your decision to extend a travel nurse contract or look for a new one.
Family Events. Depending on how far you are from loved ones, you might want to move closer. If there are family events like siblings getting married and starting their families or as parents and grandparents age, you may want your children to be close to their cousins, so remaining in a different place may not be as attractive as it once was.

The decision to extend a travel nurse contract is up to you. As with making the decision to be a travel nurse, this takes thinking and asking your recruiter questions to evaluate what is best for you. We’d never want you to feel like you’re stuck or need to cancel a contract because you can’t fulfill the obligation.

Whatever you choose, the AB Staffing team is here to support you.

Find Your Next Travel Healthcare Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel healthcare gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities. We have opportunities for all travel healthcare professionals.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel healthcare assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By Medical Solutions

September 16, 2023

9881 Views

How Long Do Travel Nurses Stay at One Assignment?

Posted on September 16, 2023September 25, 2023 by Medical Solutions

Medical Solutions provided this article.

By Sarah Wengert

If you’re a new or aspiring traveler, you’ve probably wondered about the length of travel nursing assignments. Are travel nurses constantly on the go, or can they unpack and stay awhile? What is “awhile” anyway?

Travel nursing jobs vary in length, and that variance depends on each facility’s staffing needs. When choosing the right assignment length, travelers should consider things like original contract length, the possibility of extending an assignment, and other factors that will be unique to them and their needs.
There are also important IRS tax compliance considerations that impact your ability to receive lodging, meals, and incidental per diems on a non-taxable basis. Your staffing agency will have its own internal policies that align with several important IRS rules that ensure you are eligible to receive non-taxable travel benefits.

How long can You remain in the same general location while on a Travel assignment?

If you wish to continue to receive non-taxable per diems (and nearly all traveling clinicians do!), the short answer is that you cannot remain in the same general assignment location for more than one year. While many IRS rules are unclear, this is one that’s fairly straightforward: Among other requirements, working in any particular assignment location must be “temporary” in order to receive non-taxable per diems. The IRS rules state that if your assignment lasts, or is expected to last, more than one year, then the assignment is not “temporary”. And as a result, you are not entitled to non-taxable per diems. The months at the assignment location do not have to occur consecutively to hit the 12-month limit.

What is the Average Length of a Travel Assignment?

Most travel nursing assignments last 13 weeks, but they can come in many other lengths. Other common travel nurse assignment lengths include 8, 4, or even 1-2 weeks on the shorter side. On the longer side, sometimes travel jobs last 20 or even 26 weeks.

That brings us to the next important thing to know about how long travel nurses stay in one location: Travel nursing assignment extensions!

Can You Extend Your Travel Nurse Assignment?

Yes, you can extend your travel nurse assignment if both you and the facility agree to an extension.

Many facilities like to extend a travel nursing assignment when they still have the staffing need and are happy and familiar with a traveler. Many travelers like to extend their assignment when they’re happy with the facility and location.

When it works for both a facility and a traveler, travel nurse assignment extensions provide a smooth transition into a longer-term arrangement for both parties!

Remember that you can always ask your recruiter for a specific length of assignment if that’s what you need. You might not be able to choose your exact travel nurse assignment length, but it never hurts to ask your recruiter so they’re looking out for you and your unique needs. A good recruiter will always do their best to get as close as possible to your request from the current pool of available travel nursing assignments — so make sure you openly communicate your needs to them.

Again, the duration of your travel nursing job depends on the facility’s staffing needs and their particular interest in you. So, some assignments may last for an irregular time span if that’s what’s needed. Ultimately, a travel nurse can safely stay in one place for as long as the facility needs them and agrees to rehire them for up to 12 months. And, of course, when a traveler agrees to stay in that facility and location!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By AMN Healthcare

August 18, 2023

3663 Views

How to Land a Travel Nurse Contract Extension

Posted on August 18, 2023August 18, 2023 by AMN Healthcare

AMN Healthcare provided this article.

One of the best parts about travel nursing is the chance to temporarily live and work in a new location, with your housing and travel expenses covered and plenty of time to explore.

This career option also allows you to choose when and where you work, with contract terms ranging from four weeks for a crisis assignment up to 13 weeks for a more typical travel nurse assignment. But what happens at the end of that assignment period?

Nurses can choose to move on to another location, or their assignment facility may ask the traveler to extend their contract and stay a while longer. Usually, organizations will broach the subject about halfway through an initial assignment, but that timeline can vary.

Extending a travel nurse assignment is very common, reports Michele S., a recruitment and placement specialist with Onward Healthcare, adding that extensions are a “win–win” situation for all parties. Many nurses like the chance to stay put a little longer—to work in a place where they’ve gotten to know the people, the culture, and the electronic health record system. They also don’t have to worry about going through the credentialing process again or relocating. At the same time, the facility managers don’t have to worry about finding, onboarding, and training a new travel nurse.

If you’re interested in extending a travel nurse assignment now or in the future, here’s what you need to know.

How to Land a Travel Nurse Contract Extension

According to Michele, site managers will often initiate the extension process, but the nurse traveler can initiate the process, too. She offers the following tips to boost your chances of landing a travel nurse contract extension:

Be the best nurse you can be. You want to create a good impression at work. Give the managers and staff multiple reasons to want you to extend with them. Be reliable. Use good clinical judgment. Make an effort to get to know your new colleagues and to get along with everyone.
Consider extending as early as possible. If you think that you might be interested in staying at your current assignment a while longer, start planning as soon as possible. Know what you want to do and be ready to discuss how to make it work.
Talk to your recruiter. Once you’ve decided you would like to extend your travel nurse assignment, talk to your recruiter right away. Your recruiter will know if your facility tends to offer extension opportunities so that they can give you a better understanding of the likelihood. They can also initiate contact with the organization to discuss options and get the paperwork started if an offer is made. Your recruiter can also discuss other options with you, just in case the extension doesn’t work out.
Feel out your manager. “If you have a good relationship with your manager, talk to them and put the idea in their ear,” suggests Michele. This can get the ball rolling, and you will be at the top of their mind if they decide they need a travel nurse for an additional period.

3 Things to Consider When Planning a Contract Extension

If you and the staffing manager at your assignment facility are both interested in a travel nurse contract extension, there are still some things to consider before you sign on the dotted line:

Time off. Many nurses prefer to take some time off in between travel nursing assignments. Scheduling a vacation, especially a longer vacation, can be a little trickier if you’re planning to extend your travel nurse contract and remain with the same healthcare facility. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on the idea. Instead, Michele strongly suggests speaking up and making arrangements for vacation or time off as soon as you possibly can. She encourages nurses to be upfront and address the issue before agreeing to an extension. Nurses should also clarify with their recruiter if all of their traveler benefits will remain in effect if they are taking a break from a regular work schedule.
You’ll also want to verify the availability of your travel nurse housing when planning an assignment extension. If you arranged your own housing, check to make sure it’s available during the period of the extension. Otherwise, talk to your recruiter or the agency’s housing staff as soon as possible about making arrangements for you to stay in your company-arranged housing.
The fine print. Finally, be sure to read your contract extension offer carefully and pay attention to all the details. Sometimes the details can change from an original contract to an extension contract. If you have any questions, ask your recruiter.

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.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By AB Staffing Solutions

June 9, 2023

3013 Views

How Long Can Travel Nurses Stay in One Location?

Posted on June 9, 2023June 9, 2023 by AB Staffing Solutions

AB Staffing Solutions provided this article.

Traveling and taking vacations can offer many health benefits and is a great way to improve your overall well-being. Exposure to new cultures, landscapes, and experiences can help stimulate your mind and enhance your creativity. Taking a break from your everyday routine can help you relax and rejuvenate, which will lower your stress levels.

Just like traveling for vacation, travel nursing assignments come with loads of benefits for your body, mind, and career. Work freedom and acquiring new skills that put you ahead of your nursing peers top the list.

You can also make more money as a travel nurse while enjoying various perks, including travel and accommodation untaxed per diem. The average salary of a travel nurse, according to Salary.com, is $92,247 as of December 2022, compared to $60,100 for a staff nurse.

If you love the area and facility where you are working, you have the possibility of extending your contract. Staying in one place for too long can have its downsides, though. You can end up losing some of your travel benefits. How long can you stay in one place as a travel nurse and still enjoy your high pay rate and untaxed per diem? Here’s what you need to know.

For How Long Can a Travel Nurse Stay in The Same Place?

How long you stay in one place depends on several factors, including your contract period and whether your facility wants to extend your contract. The typical travel nurse contract usually lasts 13 weeks, while some last up to 6 months.

According to the IRS, if you’re a travel nurse with a tax home, there’s a one-year (12 months) limit to staying in one assignment. The months do not have to occur in sequence to achieve your 12 months limit. The IRS refers to assignments that last over one year as ‘indefinite.’ These assignments do not qualify for tax benefits on reimbursements or tax deductions.

The Real Reason Travel Nurses Can’t Overstay in One Place

Foregoing tax deductions is just one downside of staying in one place for too long. But here’s the real reason: Your tax home could shift to your current area, which means you lose your tax home.

If your tax-home shifts, you will pay taxes on all the tax-free reimbursements you collected for your entire travel assignment period in that city. That could mean huge expenses for you.

For How Long Should a Travel Nurse Leave Before They Return to the Same Place?

The IRS directs that you cannot stay in the same location for more than 12 months in a rolling 24-month period. That means you cannot exceed 1 year at one workplace within 24 months, whether you’re working continuously or taking breaks between the months.

If you’ve worked in an area for 3 months, you can still return and work for 9 more months before you hit your one-year limit.

The main trick is to avoid working in one area for too long, as that may shift your tax home.

Your tax home is where you earn the highest percentage of your annual income. If the annual income from a new location exceeds that from your tax home, your tax home shifts, and you lose your tax deduction benefits upon travel.

The Bottom Line

While you can work in one place as long as you like, staying in one area for over a year disqualifies you from receiving tax-free reimbursements and tax deductions. You could also lose your tax home if the annual income from a new area exceeds that from your tax home.

You must keep moving around to maintain your current tax home. No hospital away from your tax home should become the leading source of your income for many years.

The Right Agency Can Help You Land Travel Nursing Jobs in Different Areas

Having a variety of travel nursing jobs in different areas is one of the best ways to grow your travel nursing career. Choosing the right travel agency helps you land the best travel nurse jobs when you need to make that change. AB Staffing can help you find jobs in various travel nursing specialties, including Acute Care, Corrections, and Education jobs.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Medely

December 23, 2022

2407 Views

Want To Keep Your Travel Nurse Contract In The New Year?

Posted on December 23, 2022December 20, 2022 by Medely

Medely provided this article.

The New Year is synonymous with new beginnings, but what if you’re nearing the end of your winter travel assignment and aren’t ready to move on?

For a travel nurse or allied professional, a contract extension means:

There’s no need to relocate. Sometimes the timing isn’t right for a move—maybe you’re enjoying yourself too much, or you just don’t have the energy right now. Whatever your situation, a longer assignment will allow you to hold off for a bit.
Developing deeper relationships. Healthcare is a small world, especially if you tend to look for contracts within the same area. Stronger connections with managers, nurses, and other professionals can be an asset if (and when) you cross paths in the future.
Gaining valuable knowledge. Traveling adds a great breadth of experience to your nursing resume, but extending the current assignment can be an opportunity to sharpen your skills. If you think there’s more you can learn in your current job, staying can support your next career move.

There are plenty of advantages for the facility, too. Among the top benefits is the one that brought you there in the first place: Having a professional on hand who’s committed to patient care and their work is an asset, particularly during an unprecedented shortage of nurses.

But is staying with the same facility the right move for you? And, if so, what can you do to help ensure the facility wants you to stay? That’s what we’ll explore in this blog post. Let’s get started!

Five questions to ask before you extend a travel nurse contract

Before asking for an assignment extension, take a moment to reflect on your recent experiences. Staying at a healthcare facility isn’t just about liking the neighborhood or being comfortable. It should also help you advance your career. Consider the following five questions…

1. How well do you fit with the team?

Travelers can feel like outliers, especially when they’re new and finding their footing. But caregiving is a team activity whether the individuals are permanent or not. Do you work well with the staff nurses? Do you feel valued and respected by the team—and is the feeling mutual? You may still be learning people and processes, but if you aren’t asked for your help or input, it may not be the right environment for you.

2. Is the pay commensurate with your duties?

While typical rates for travelers are still quite high, it’s important that you feel you’re being paid an appropriate amount considering the work that’s being asked of you in this travel nursing job.

3. How do you feel before and after your shifts?

Consider your typical shifts at this facility and how they make you feel. Nursing has its highs and lows, but that means it’s even more important for you to protect yourself. If you enjoy some aspects of an assignment but are left feeling mentally and physically drained, it might be better to prioritize your well-being with a change of scenery.

4. Can you continue to contribute here?

Introspection is often about what you get out of a travel nursing assignment, but it’s as important to consider the facility and its patients. Are you able to create the impact you want? Through your relationships, experiences, and commitment to care, it’s important for you to feel you can add something to the team.

5. How do you feel about staying—or going home?

Maybe you love your new community but are also struggling so far from family and friends. What will you miss at home if you extend your travel nurse contract? You can always negotiate if you need time off. But if a longer stay will leave you feeling lonely or even resentful, you may want to reconsider.

If you feel confident about your desire to stay put, let’s look at what you can do to put yourself in an optimum position before you make your request.

How to position yourself to extend your travel assignment

From day one, you prove yourself as an asset to an organization through your professionalism and approach to day-to-day activities. Here are seven things you can do proactively to position yourself for the extension you’re looking for.

1. Be an active part of the team

As someone who may be seen as an outsider, it can take extra effort—and pushing out of your comfort zone—to connect with other nurses and allied pros. If you’re invited to attend staff meetings, educational opportunities, and other activities, do what you can to show up and participate.

2. Be dependable

From sick days to family emergencies, call-outs happen. When they do, be accountable for the disruption and communicate with the facility as quickly as possible so they can address the impact as quickly as possible. And for your other shifts, be there on time and ready to go.

3. Flex your nursing muscles

Dedicate your attention to your work and push your nursing abilities by going above and beyond when the team needs the support. For example:

Offer to work longer if the next nurse is running late
Lend a hand when you see another nurse struggling
Ask for help if you need it to ensure you’re providing the best care
Go above and beyond for patients when it’s appropriate to do so

In short, be the nurse you would want to hire!

4. Find ways to be present with your colleagues

Building relationships at work doesn’t always come naturally, but sometimes it takes just a small step to break the ice. If the facility shares the team’s birthdays, drop off a card for the celebrant. Write a brief handwritten thank you note when another nurse goes out of their way to help you out. Ask a colleague how their day is going and pause to listen to their answer.

5. Get to know the decision-makers

You don’t need to go overboard, but familiarize yourself with the people in charge. Check-in regularly with the hiring manager during your current assignment. Learn the names of the management team. Introduce yourself to the human resources folks, the person in charge of scheduling, and the nursing management team, so you aren’t a stranger to them.

Once you’ve decided to pursue a travel contract extension, don’t be afraid to tell the decision-makers why you’re enjoying your work at the facility. If you aren’t able to tell them in person, consider leaving a handwritten note or sending an email.

7. Be open about your expectations

As you start to discuss a possible extension, don’t hesitate to ask questions about the contract and be transparent about your needs and expectations, including dates, any pre-existing commitments, your hourly rate, and your schedule. These important details should be clearly communicated ahead of time so that any requests and adjustments can be addressed before the extension occurs.

Let your travel nursing agency know you’re interested in an extension!

Practically speaking, a conversation about extending your contract can be initiated by you and your recruiter or by your manager. Once you’ve decided you would like to stay, let your recruiter know in writing and in person (or by phone) as soon as possible. That way, they’ll have time to connect with the facility to negotiate and confirm details on your behalf.

What are your go-to tips for keeping your travel nurse contract or extending a travel nurse assignment? Tell us about them in the comments!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. If housing is an issue, we have you covered with our housing page. You can search for what you are looking for.

By PPR Travel Nursing

August 5, 2019

5424 Views

Everything You Need to Know About Contract Extensions

Posted on August 5, 2019January 16, 2023 by PPR Travel Nursing

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?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

By Jackson Nurse Professionals

March 25, 2019

12423 Views

Tips for Asking for a Travel Contract Extension

Posted on March 25, 2019May 20, 2021 by Jackson Nurse Professionals

This article provided by: Jackson Nurse Professionals

While travel nursing enables you to discover and enjoy various new destinations, you might find yourself attached to a certain location based on how much you love your nursing assignment. If this occurs, you may consider asking for a travel contract extension.

Before you talk to someone about extending your current contract, it’s important to keep in mind that some hospitals may be more flexible than others. Being open about the potential outcomes will save you stress, and a potential let down in the long run.

Tips to asking for a travel nurse contract extension:

Talk to your current nursing manager

As soon as you feel passionate about remaining in the same location for a longer period of time, have a discussion with your nursing manager. This gives you an opportunity to be vocal in how you’re feeling about the end of your contract, and this conversation can enable your nursing manager to empathize with you and work with your recruiter in your favor. You must act fast, however; waiting too long may result in your position already being up for grabs, according to Melissa Wirkus, associate editor of Travelnursing.com.

“Always be vocal about how you’re feeling

at the end of your contract.”

“It can be difficult if the traveler does not talk with their nurse manager and discuss their desire to extend,” she wrote. “In situations like that, the facility may start interviewing new travel nurse candidates or, if they wait until the last minute, their apartment may get rented out to another traveler.”

Connect with your recruiter

Once you’ve talked to your nursing manager about your interest in staying, get in contact with your recruiter. He or she will let you know if they have the authority to grant you the extension. There’s absolutely no reason to feel reluctant about asking your recruiter, even if they’ve been looking at other locations for you. In most cases, your recruiter will be thrilled to hear you want to extend your contract. Because that means you’re happy.

Always keep your options open

No matter how the conversation goes, it’s important to keep your options open. Perhaps there’s no way to extend the contract at your current facility, but there’s an opportunity at a hospital nearby. Or, maybe your recruiter just presented you with a potential assignment in a location you’ve always dreamed of visiting. Keep this in mind as you start weighing your options.

If your heart is really set on staying put for longer than your contract entails, don’t be afraid to ask. It’s important, however, that you don’t dwell if your request is denied. Remember, there’s a reason you pursued this career path in the first place. And that was to explore other cities and areas in need of care across the country. There are plenty of opportunities out there for travel nurses, so get out and explore!

Extending Your Travel Nurse Contract: Pros, Cons, and Tips

Pros of extending your travel nurse contract

Familiarity with the healthcare facility

No repeat credentialing

Less moving hassle

Cons of extending your travel nurse contract

Less opportunities for skill diversification

Missed chances for personal growth

Potential housing issues

Tips for extending travel nurse contracts

Communicate early

Review contract details

Maintain a work-life balance.

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Five questions to ask before you extend a travel nurse contract

1. How well do you fit with the team?

2. Is the pay commensurate with your duties?

3. How do you feel before and after your shifts?

4. Can you continue to contribute here?

5. How do you feel about staying—or going home?

How to position yourself to extend your travel assignment

1. Be an active part of the team

2. Be dependable

3. Flex your nursing muscles