Travel Nurses Inc. provided this article.

Diving into the world of travel nursing can be an exciting but daunting transition. You get to explore new places, meet new people, and gain experience across various healthcare settings.

However, to make the most of this career path and navigate its challenges, there are several things to know before you start traveling. Whether considering your first travel assignment or looking to make your journey in this field more rewarding, understanding these areas will help set you up for success.

5 things to know before you start traveling:

Essential Nursing Experience for Travel Nurses

Navigating the dynamic environment of travel nursing requires a strong foundation in clinical skills and adaptability. Healthcare facilities expect travel nurses to seamlessly integrate into their teams, often with limited orientation or guidance. For this reason, a baseline level of experience is required.

Typically, facilities require at least one year of experience in an acute care setting, though two years are preferred. This experience ensures that travel nurses are equipped to manage the diverse challenges they will encounter, from complex patient care situations to navigating different hospital systems and protocols.

It’s about more than just having technical skills. You must also be able to quickly adjust to new environments, work cultures, and patient demographics. This adaptability, grounded in solid professional experience, makes for a successful and effective travel nurse who can confidently step into new roles.

Understanding the Types of Nursing Licenses

Understanding the intricacies of nursing licenses is crucial for aspiring travel nurses. The landscape is divided into compact and non-compact licenses, each with its own set of rules and mobility options.

Holders of a compact nursing license enjoy the privilege of working across multiple states within the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) framework without the need for additional state-specific licenses. This significantly increases options for travel opportunities, making it easier to accept assignments in a variety of locations.

Those with a non-compact license can only practice in the state where the license was issued. To work elsewhere, these nurses must obtain licensure by endorsement in the desired state. It’s important to note that some states process licenses faster than others. Early preparation and a clear understanding of these licensing distinctions are crucial steps for those looking to pursue a career in travel nursing.

Willingness to Travel Far and Wide

Embracing the essence of travel nursing means being open to assignments in a variety of settings, including less sought-after ones. Your willingness to explore opportunities in diverse geographical locations can significantly enhance your access to a range of job positions.

It’s not uncommon for certain areas, particularly those that are more isolated or experience seasonal population fluctuations, to exhibit a greater need for travel nurses. By demonstrating flexibility in your preferred work locations, you can position yourself for potentially higher compensation and the chance to encounter unique healthcare environments.

This openness to geographic mobility enables you to truly embody the adventurous spirit characteristic of successful travel nurses, providing you with the means to gain a wealth of experience while contributing meaningfully to communities across the nation.

The Importance of Scheduling Flexibility

In the fast-paced world of travel nursing, having a flexible schedule can greatly influence the opportunities available to you. It’s important to remember that as a traveler, you are there to help fill staffing gaps at the hospital.

The nature of temporary assignments means that demand can vary significantly, with night shifts often more prevalent than day shifts. This variability extends to the scheduling practices of hospitals and facilities. While some might offer a set schedule, others may require you to adapt to shifts that change from week to week.

Your ability to accommodate these variations enhances your attractiveness to potential employers. Being open to working different shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, can be a pivotal factor in securing assignments. By embracing scheduling versatility, you position yourself as a resilient and adaptable professional ready to meet the diverse needs of healthcare facilities nationwide.

Financial Security is Key

Navigating the uncertainties of travel nursing requires some financial planning. The attractive pay rates and benefits often associated with travel assignments must be balanced with the reality that job stability can fluctuate. Unforeseen circumstances, such as a sudden contract termination or assignments with inconsistent hours, underscore the importance of maintaining an emergency fund.

It’s imperative for travel nurses to budget for the intermittent periods of downtime or relocation costs that come with transitioning between assignments. Establishing a financial buffer alleviates the stress associated with income variability and ensures you can fully engage with your travel nursing adventures without monetary concerns.

We hope you found these 5 things to know before you start traveling helpful. Is there anything you wish you knew before you started traveling? Comment them below.

To start your next adventure, check out the Travel Nurses, Inc. job board, and contact us today!

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 housing search.

Not everyone knows about being a travel nurse, a unique life path. If this is your first time diving into this line of work, there are a few things that you should know so that you can make the most of it. In this article, we’ll cover different tips for first-time travel nurses that you can apply so that the start of your life as a travel nurse will be a smooth one.

10 Practical Tips for First-Time Travel Nurses

1. Do your research

When you think of being a travel nurse, the thought that occupies you most is the traveling part. However, there’s more to being a travel nurse than you should research first to ensure that you are appropriately prepared for the job.

Of course, travel is one of the first things that you should think about. Prepare all your travel documents, have a ready-to-go travel pack at all times, and so on.

If you’re working with a travel nurse agency and recruitment, look into the customer testimonials. They should have a positive reputation and a portfolio of travel nurses they’ve helped. Before you send your travel nurse application, though, don’t be afraid to interview the agency since if things don’t go well, you will have to clean up the mess in the first place.

Another thing that you should look into is the tax part. You can consult a tax professional about the different tax requirements, especially as you move from state to state.

2. Read your contract thoroughly

For first-time travel nurses, it is especially important to read your contract thoroughly. If you’re doing anything that involves a legally binding contract, make sure that you read through it thoroughly. Since it may be your first time, you might feel pressured to sign the contract and move on. However, you’re just setting yourself up for future frustrations.

Make sure to read through the contract terms. Some of the critical factors that you should be paying more attention to in the contract would be:

Assignment length
Requirements for the shift
Payment, compensation, benefits, and any travel reimbursements
Specific job responsibilities
Housing arrangements
Time off and sick leave conditions

If there are any terms in your contract that you want clarification on or want to change because they are not favorable to you, then bring them up with the representative.

3. Pack smart

If you plan to be a travel nurse for a long time, you must start mastering the art of packing for travel. For first-time travel nurses, it may seem strange to pay so little, but it’s unlike how you would usually pack for leisure. It would help if you were as intelligent and picky with what you pack as much as possible. Given that you’re traveling often, packing a lot of items all the time will be rough and time-consuming.

Stick to clothes, toiletries, and only a few shoes. Creating a list of the items you regularly need and use during your assignments can help you establish the core items you should pack.

Creating a standard list of your core travel items might take a while. Once you’ve narrowed that down, it’s a good idea to have a pack of items or toiletries to throw in your luggage and be ready to go.

4. Plan your housing

First-time travel nurses may choose to take agency-provided housing; your travel nurse contract should include terms of your housing if there are any. It should consist of details like:

Check-in and check-out times
The type of housing they provide
Furnishing availability
Cleaning items availability
Details on utilities
Parking situation
Laundry facility

Again, if you have any questions about the housing arrangements, you should talk to your recruiter to clarify the details. That way, you will know what your housing might not have and what you might have to buy when you get there.

Sometimes, they might not provide housing for you, or you may choose not to take agency-provided housing. In that case, you will have to make the arrangements yourself. What you should look for in your housing will depend on your stay there. The longer you have to be there, the more amenities you should want in your accommodations.

5. Prioritize self-care and work-life balance

When you are well cared for, that energy and proper self-maintenance will translate to better work performance as a nurse. While providing excellent service in your work is a good idea, that doesn’t mean you should forget your life outside of being a travel nurse.

Make the most of your ability to move around. During your downtime, get out of your accommodations and explore the area. You should dine out sometimes and hike on local trails if there are any.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself by eating healthy foods and adding some exercise time to your schedule whenever possible.

6. Bring your family along on your travels

While it might feel better to leave your family behind when you have temporary assignments, especially for first-time travel nurses, having your family along for your assignments might provide the emotional and social support you need, especially as you move from place to place.

Bringing your kids along is also a great way to expand their minds and let them experience new environments. While doing this might take much more work to arrange, it can be a great bonding point for everyone involved. Plus, you don’t always have to do it for every assignment.

7. Maintain an optimistic mindset

You might feel like since you’re a travel nurse, creating positive relationships with the people you work with is a waste of effort, but that sort of mindset can create unpleasant work environments.

Working with an open mind and a social approach will make you have a pleasant time at work, no matter how long you stay in a particular place. If you socialize and maintain that optimism, the job will be more enjoyable, and you will have new friendships that can make your work assignments less lonely.

8. Make new friendships

Talk to the people you work with. Please get to know them. No matter how short your assignment duration is, taking the time to socialize with your coworkers makes it a lot easier to spend your work days.

While many people don’t like small talk, sometimes it’s a great way to create a smooth working relationship without too much commitment on your part if you don’t want to. Plus, when you get along with the people you work with, the shifts go by slightly faster and easier.

9. Arrive early on your first day

The first impression you give to your new assignment can set a tone, at least for your first few shifts in the hospital. That’s why it’s a good idea to arrive early on the first day of your assignment. It’s a great way to get the lay of the land and how your shifts will go.

Aside from arriving early for your assignment, it’s also a good idea to arrive at your accommodations earlier—ideally a few days before your shift. That way, you have enough time to unpack and settle into your accommodations before the ball gets rolling for your assignment.

10. Plan your free time

Despite best intentions, sometimes, you can’t help but forget that you should be doing something during your free time. As mentioned before, it’s a good idea to make the most of your traveling as a travel nurse.

Explore the local hotspots and dining options. Join local events. These are the experiences that you should be doing with your new assignments. Instead of waiting until this happens, be more deliberate about it and plan your free time or schedule it just like you would with work.

Conclusion

The advice here should help prepare first-time travel nurses for the world of travel nursing. By applying these tips, the transition to this new and unique lifestyle should be a lot smoother, and you can soon reap the benefits and enjoy your life as a travel nurse.

Do you have any tips for first-time travel nurses? Comment any tips you think are helpful below.

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.

There is no doubt that travel nursing has been a trendy topic and more popular than ever due to the pandemic and nursing shortages. You may have met some travel nurses in your unit or have seen their adventures on social media. However, travel nursing may have been a goal and dream of yours for quite some time. For me, travel nursing had been my intention long before it gained such popularity, so you can imagine how scary the unknown was for me personally. Unfortunately, I had to learn some things the hard way and wish I had someone to guide me to the process. There are also a lot of misconceptions out there, so I wouldn’t want those to keep you from travel nursing. If you are scared to take the leap into travel nursing, I am here to help you through this transition and help set you up for success. Trust me when I tell you, the rewards will be worth it!

Debunking a Few Common Myths

If you are one of the many nurses considering a career in travel nursing, you’ve probably heard some horror stories or, at the minimum, some misconceptions. From being “too old” to start travel nursing, being assigned to the worst patients on the unit, floating, having no control over your schedule, being bullied by co-workers, or feeling like you don’t fit in. I’d like to share my perspective, both as a travel nurse and as a charge nurse.

You’re Too old to Try Travel Nursing:

My friend, you are never too old to set a new goal or have a new adventure. There is no set way you have to live your life; travel nursing isn’t just for young nurses. I will tell you one thing, you do not want to have regrets, and as I’ve gotten older, thinking about that has helped give me a new perspective on every decision in my life!

Travel Nurses always get the worst assignments and patients:

First of all, the charge nurse isn’t familiar with your skill level, and core staff often need the experience with higher acuity pts. No matter how many years of experience you have as a nurse, there’s always a chance to grow and learn while traveling. Being in a new environment requires you to adapt and be flexible. You’ll need to know your resources because with each new contract; there are new policies, new people, and new technology.

Travel Nurses are first to float:

While in many facilities, this may be true, you should not be asked to float to a unit that you are not comfortable with unless being asked to be “helping hands” to take vital signs and help answer call lights and phones, etc. Learning to float and be flexible is a skill; a skill that is only mastered by a few. During your interview, make sure to discuss floating with the unit manager. Make sure to get the units you are required to float to in your contract. It is very likely that after a few assignments, you likely won’t care as much because you have learned to be flexible and adaptable. Step out of your comfort zone and remember your purpose as a travel nurse is to fill a hospital’s needs.

Travel Nurses get the worst schedule:

The units I chose to work on have had self-scheduling with a weekend and holiday requirement, which was the same for staff nurses. Your schedule may not be exactly as you asked, but it’s usually close. If you know you need some time off during your assignment, it’s important to have those dates ready when you interview and make sure they are written in your contract.

Travel Nurses are bullied:

Unfortunately, this is a very real thing both as a staff nurse and traveler. Here are my “two cents.” If you go into your new unit with a positive, helpful attitude, you are much more likely to be well received by staff. Choosing a unit that already has a few travel nurses always seemed to be better for me. The nurses are less stressed, the on-boarding process is more thorough, and the management is generally more supportive.

Don’t let these common myths prevent you a travel nursing career— and enjoying the many perks that come with it: a great compensation package, professional development, and adventure! My Call to Action to you is to try it at least once!!!

Take the leap!

Check out TravelNurse101.com for more tips and education about Travel Nursing. Schedule your complimentary 1:1 mentoring session with Brandy today!

We hope you found this article on debunking myths and why you should take the leap into travel nursing helpful. Did you take the leap into travel nursing? Please share your story below.

Are you looking for your first travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for your 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!)

So, you are taking your first assignment and you aren’t sure what to expect, or you are looking for some advice. We frequently see posts in our Facebook group asking for tips and advice for new travel nurses. Veteran travel nurses are great about giving advice and being there to mentor new travel nurses as they start their assignments. In this article, we put together some of the best advice we have seen in our Facebook group for new travel nurses.

If you have questions, ask them

If you aren’t sure how something works or even where something is at your new assignment, just ask. There may be a few people who get annoyed answering your questions, but most will be happy to help you.

Protect your license

Just because you are a travel nurse doesn’t mean you should have to take a bigger patient load. If the floor tries to give you a patient load that you don’t feel is safe, speak up. If it continues to be an issue where you are constantly getting a bigger or harder patient load, speak to your recruiter to see what can be done.

Don’t talk about how things were done at other hospitals

While you may have learned other ways or methods of doing things at your staff hospital or even at different assignments. Others at your current facility are most likely not interested in hearing “well at this facility we did it this way or we did this another way at my staff hospital.” It may be hard, but just keep it to yourself.

Breathe

We know that sounds crazy but just breathe. You may feel overwhelmed at times during your first assignment, but you will get through it. Take deep breaths and just remember that you have the experience and expertise to do the job. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be there. Your nursing skills don’t change just because your job location does.

Remember it is only 13 weeks

Just keep reminding yourself that the assignment is only 13 weeks. You can do it. If the assignment gets tough or you are just having a hard time with it, remember you are moving on in 13 weeks and your next assignment will most likely be nothing like your previous one. You can get through it, you wouldn’t have signed on if you didn’t think you could make it.

We hope these advice and tips for your first travel assignment were helpful. Do you have any advice and/or tips for new travel nurses or first travel nurse assignments? Comment them below.

New travel nurses, just remember: You got this!

Are you looking for your first travel nurse assignment or your next adventure? Click here to view our job board. If you need to find housing for your next assignment click here to search our housing page.

5 things to know before you start traveling:

Essential Nursing Experience for Travel Nurses

Understanding the Types of Nursing Licenses

Willingness to Travel Far and Wide

The Importance of Scheduling Flexibility

Financial Security is Key

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

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10 Practical Tips for First-Time Travel Nurses

1. Do your research

2. Read your contract thoroughly

3. Pack smart

4. Plan your housing

5. Prioritize self-care and work-life balance

6. Bring your family along on your travels

7. Maintain an optimistic mindset

8. Make new friendships

9. Arrive early on your first day

10. Plan your free time

Conclusion

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

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Debunking a Few Common Myths

You’re Too old to Try Travel Nursing:

Travel Nurses always get the worst assignments and patients:

Travel Nurses are first to float:

Travel Nurses get the worst schedule:

Travel Nurses are bullied:

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

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

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If you have questions, ask them

Protect your license

Don’t talk about how things were done at other hospitals

Breathe

Remember it is only 13 weeks

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