August 8, 2018

18435 Views

Step #16: Prepare Your Vehicle for Your Travel Nurse Road Trip

Posted on August 8, 2018July 24, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Driving to your next contract? These tips will make your travel nurse road trip planning go smooth and easy.

Travel nursing with a car is a great way to have access to a wide array of places to explore on your days off. Driving your car across the country might seem daunting, but it is usually worth it to have your own vehicle available if you want it!

Travel Nurse Road Trip Planning

Pre-trip Inspection

Make an appointment with your local auto mechanic or garage and have your vehicle checked over, and complete any routine maintenance. Let them know that you are heading out for a long-distance trip and want to make certain that any potential maintenance issues are addressed. If you are close to an oil change, get it done. Have all of your belts, fluids, etc., checked out. Being stranded in the middle of nowhere in Texas isn’t a fun place to be when one of your belts breaks. Finding a place that you can trust to perform routine maintenance can be difficult as well as time-consuming once you reach your contract location. It’s much easier to have this done at home before you leave.

Roadside Emergency Kit

If you don’t already have one of these, you should consider putting one together before you leave. You can purchase these pre-made, or you can put together your own while you are planning your travel nursing road trip. If you already have one, check through it and make sure that everything you need is still in it and in working order.

Basic items for your Emergency Kit should include:

Water
Non-perishable food
Flashlight with batteries
Reflective poncho
First Aid Kit
Blanket, coat, hat, gloves
Tool kit
Road flares
Spare tire and a working jack
Jumper cables
Towels/Window cleaner
AAA Card with VIN number
Ice Scraper

If you don’t have some sort of roadside assistance or AAA, travel nursing with a car is much less stressful with these kinds of resources. Without friends or family nearby, it’s great to have a service like AAA that can help out in case something crazy happens, like an unexpected flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

Travel nurse road trip planning should also include any items you may need while in the car for a few days. If your travel nurse assignment is far away, you will want to have some daily necessities on hand so you aren’t constantly stopping.

Travel Nursing Road Trip Necessities:

Cell Phone with charger
Registration/License/Insurance
Credit cards
Eye Glasses/Sun Glasses
Moist Towelettes
Meds including Maalox or Imodium in case of upset stomach
Pen and paper
Comfortable/Loose Travel clothes
Grab and go bag for hotel stops
Recruiter phone number
Contact numbers for landlord
Camera to document your trip
Snacks
Cooler with drinks/perishable food items

Travel Nurse Road Trip Planning with Pets

If you are traveling with a cat or dog, check out these tips for driving long distances here. Pack your vehicle so that all of your pet’s items are accessible for those short stops to enjoy the view. Keep in mind that pets also need to stretch their legs, so plan accordingly for long drives!

Is there something we didn’t address that you always make certain to have with you for a road trip? What are your thoughts on the list/suggestions above?

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

25991 Views

Step #17: Keeping Track of Your Travel Nurse Paperwork

Posted on August 8, 2018July 24, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Travel nurse paperwork organization is very simple in the age of technology and online storage. Stay organized as you go to help minimize frustration down the line!

Determine what travel nurse paperwork you need

We have covered most of the important items you will need access to, but now is a great time to review your checklist.

When organizing your travel nurse paperwork, make sure you have the following:

Travel Nurse Portfolio
Personal Documents
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card
- Insurance Cards (auto, life, home, etc.)
- Passport (if applicable)
- Work Visa (if applicable)
- Health Information/prescriptions

Tax Paperwork
- This post by Joseph Smith at Travel Tax answers many Frequently Asked Questions regarding travel nurse taxes and record keeping. For most travel nurses, itemizing tax deductions won’t be worth it, so talk to a tax professional about your unique situation before you drive yourself crazy keeping track of tons of paperwork.

Copies of Contract and Assignment Information

Organizing your travel nurse paperwork

Once you have determined what files you need access to, the next question is how do you organize travel nurse paperwork. There are many ways to organize your paperwork and many websites dedicated to organization that you can check out for recommendations. Perhaps you already have a system that works and need to make it mobile? Here are a few ideas on how to get organized:

Accordion Files
- Having an accordion file is a nice, compact way to keep all of your important documents organized and safe.
Binder with Tabs
- A three-ring binder with folders or tabs is another great way to store important documents. Keeping each tab organized by color can be helpful.
Google Drive
- You can easily make a Google Drive folder to keep digital copies of all of your travel nurse paperwork handy. There are tons of free scanner apps that even let you convert pictures of important documents to PDF format.

Backup

When you are constantly on the move, theft or loss of documents can be more likely. No matter what method you use for travel nurse paperwork organization, be sure to have both physical and digital backup copies. For digital copies, having a portable hard drive is a great way to keep your documents safe without internet access. Consider keeping a safety deposit box or fireproof safe at home to store backup copies of physical documents.

Do you have a great suggestion or tool for staying organized while mobile? I want to hear them. What are your thoughts on the list/suggestions above?

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

15833 Views

Step #18: Planning Your Road Trip

Posted on August 8, 2018July 24, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

We’ve all heard the saying, “Getting there is half the fun.” Now that you are ready to hit the road let’s learn how to find attractions on your road trip to make it a memorable journey!

Planning a travel nurse road trip can be slightly different from standard road trips. Since most travel nurse road trips are truly moving from one contract to another, we’ve put together some specific tips to make things go smoothly.

Part of making sure a road trip goes smoothly is planning well. It can be nice to be laid back with your schedule, but if you have your car packed full, pets on board, and a time frame you have to stay within, it’s usually best to have a pretty good idea of where you are headed and when. Let’s break down road trip planning into three steps.

Step #1 Determine How Long You Have for Your Road Trip

Give yourself enough time to explore. Nothing is worse than a road trip where you are on a strict schedule and can’t stop to explore along the way. A good rule of thumb is to drive about 400 miles per day or 6-8 hours. This allows ample time to sleep each night and builds in time for you to stop if you discover a cute place to have lunch or a gorgeous viewpoint where you can get out and stretch your legs.

Step #2 Plan The Route

The best advice here is to be FLEXIBLE. Obviously, map out the quickest route if you are short on time, but be sure to ask the hotel staff or other locals if there is anywhere near your route worth stopping. Even if you do tons of research, you never truly know what you can find in a new area until you speak to the people who live there. Plan a basic route and remain spontaneous to new adventures along the way, and you are bound to have a great time.

Here are some great resources to help you find fun things to do all over the country:

Roadside America – Lists fun and quirky Route 66-type attractions that you can search by state or route.
Trip-It – Easily plan and share road trip plans with the free online road trip planner tool.
AAA – This is also a great resource for maps, attractions, service areas, etc.
Recommendations – Once again, ask the travel nurse community! Very few groups know the ins and outs of road trip planning as well as travel nurses.

In today’s world of GPS and electronic navigation, don’t forget to also carry a paper map with you. In addition to providing a backup if your devices are not working, you might spot things at a glance that you wouldn’t see following GPS.

Don’t forget to make sure to prepare your vehicle to ensure that it is in good shape and that you have all the appropriate gear for your trip, especially if you plan to hike or do anything outdoors.

Step #3 Enjoy the Experience

There really isn’t any explanation needed here. Enjoy your time. Planning your road trip is important, but your attitude on the road can make or break your experience. Make the most of the good and the bad. Realize that things come up and nothing will go perfectly, but it is all part of your story in this chapter of life!

Here is a fun example of a road trip disaster turned fond memory:

I was traveling with my pre-adolescent daughter from New Orleans to San Diego (I think it was July or August). After just an hour or two on the road, my air-conditioner decided to break-down. We were traveling in the hottest part of the summer in the hot, humid swamps through southern Louisiana. We ended up in some tiny little town at the local ‘mechanics’. There was no office and my daughter and I threw down a blanket on the ground, grabbed the umbrella and had an impromptu picnic while sweltering in the heat and humidity. It was truly miserable at the time but one of my favorite memories with my daughter.
-Gypsy Nurse Member

Do you have a funny road trip story? We would love to read it and share it with the Gypsy Nurse Audience! Let us know!

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

15013 Views

Step #19 Arrival on Location

Posted on August 8, 2018July 24, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Travel Nurse Housing Safety, Security, and Condition

Assessing travel nurse housing safety, security, and condition on arrival is crucial. Regardless if you’ve allowed the agency to arrange your travel nurse housing or if you’ve arranged it yourself. Hopefully, you’ve researched your housing thoroughly ahead of time so you avoid any significant problems when you get there!

While we have broken down these short-term housing safety tips into multiple steps, many of them can be done quickly as you move in on your first day. The most important thing is to be aware and make note of any issues that need to be fixed immediately.

Assess the safety and security of the apartment location, complex and surrounding area.

Drive around the surrounding area first, then circle in towards the apartment. Assess the general location. Is the area clean? Landscaped? What type of vehicles are parked around? Do all of the security gates (if the complex has them) work? Are there security lights in the parking areas?

Talk with your neighbors.

A great way to feel safer in your new area is to get familiar with the people around you. Try to make small talk and say hello if you can, and if you notice anything disconcerting, ask neighbors about it! Most people will be upfront if there are any huge safety concerns at your new short-term housing.

Learn the area.

If amenities are included in the apartment complex, walk around and check them out. Part of feeling a sense of safety in short-term housing locations is simply feeling comfortable and confident. If there are front desk staff, it’s always nice to introduce yourself and get familiar with the faces you will see around the place.

Another good idea regarding travel nurse housing safety is to look up your address on crime statistic websites. This step is most helpful before you move in, but if it gets missed, knowing what crimes are more likely in the area can empower you to keep yourself as safe as possible!

The importance of researching the safety of your short-term housing

On occasion, it may seem that you are put between a rock and a hard place when it comes to choosing travel nurse housing. Some areas of the country are notoriously difficult to find short-term housing. In order to make sure that you have a safe place to live, it is imperative that you research your housing ahead of time! Do not simply book a spot and move in. No questions asked. Instead, make sure you do your diligence so you aren’t scrambling to find a new place days before your assignment starts. Safety should win out over cost every single time!

Moving In

After you take the time to do a once-over of the area and unit, it’s time to move in! If you book through a short-term housing site, one safety perk might be that you don’t have to meet with a stranger to gain access to the unit. If you rent directly from an apartment complex or leasing company, you may need to arrive during business hours to sign paperwork and get your keys. Be sure to make note of this during your road trip planning so you don’t arrive at a time when someone isn’t available.

During your first walk-through of your new place, write down anything damaged, broken, or in poor condition. If you can electronically contact your landlord, send a note with any safety concerns in your short-term housing unit. Otherwise, be sure to make a physical list and keep a copy for yourself and your landlord.

Here are a few reminders of things to check

Open all blinds and turn on all lights so you can see well.
Condition of walls, carpet, and tiles.
Door locks and windows functionality.
The toilet flushes well with no leaks around the base.
Cabinets in good condition. Don’t forget to check under the sinks for water damage or bugs.
The closet/room doors are in good working condition.
Fire Extinguishers and locations (current tag).
The thermostat for AC/Heat/Fan is working.
Refrigerator condition, temperature, smell.
Laundry room condition, number of washers/dryers, cost, distance from the apartment.
Do all of the provided appliances work?

A few items that you should also ask once you have decided to move in:

Location of mailboxes (does your key work)?
Location of trash.
Pet Policies (if applicable)
Ask about maintenance after-hours contact information.
Location of Parking, visitor parking (covered or not, important in areas such as AZ).
Hours of use for any community areas, laundry, pool, etc.

IMPORTANT:

Travel Nurse Housing Safety, Security and Condition isn’t up to par: What to do?

Use your instincts and do not take residency in housing that obviously unacceptable other than problems that could be easily fixed. If there are issues that they are willing to fix, make an agreement for a time and date items will be fixed.

If you are taking company housing and there are any immediate red flags–do not take residency if you can wait. Reach out to your recruiter as quickly as possible and try to work out a solution. You always have the right to refuse the apartment prior to move-in. If you choose to refuse the apartment, you should notify the leasing agent and your recruiter as soon as possible. Most companies will assist you in finding an acceptable apartment but realize they also have money tied up in that short-term housing, so unless there are huge safety concerns, they will likely try to make the first option work.

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

13264 Views

Step # 20 Settling Into Your Travel Nurse Housing

Posted on August 8, 2018January 3, 2024 by The Gypsy Nurse

Your Travel Nurse Home

You now have the keys to your travel nurse home for the next 13 weeks. Now it is time to make it feel like home!

You should have completed the checklist and confirmed the housing is satisfactory.

Hopefully, you have a few days to get settled in before starting work. If you have taken our advice on packing, you won’t have a lot of unpacking to do. Everyone has their own process for settling into a new travel nurse home. Most nurses choose to do some combination of unpacking, purchasing groceries, and getting familiar with their surroundings. What order you choose to do these things is up to you!

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you settle into your new home as a travel nurse:

Take note of anything that might need maintenance. Although you have (hopefully) already completed a checklist inspection, some things might be found during the unpacking process.
If any of the furniture is in disrepair, note it and notify the appropriate person. Sometimes this is the leasing company and other times, furniture is arranged separately through your company.
Make sure that all locks and keys work. Check your mailbox, community areas, and the apartment door(s) and window(s).

A few more items to complete:

Organize a grocery list:

Condiments
Staples like flour, sugar, salt, pepper, spices
Coffee and filters
Paper products
Trash bags and food storage bags

Remember, as you are setting up your new home, as a travel nurse, you are only in the location for a short while. Some items may last longer than you’d think, so don’t buy large quantities of much up front!

Make your apartment a ‘home’

For cheap home items, try places like Goodwill or Dollar Tree. If your rental is from a site like Furnished Finder, you will probably have more decorations and homey touches. However, if you simply rent an apartment and furniture from a corporate company, you might not have many extras when you get there.

Here are a few cheap items you could grab to help make your travel nurse home feel more comfortable:

Candles or small decorative items
Seasonal Items
- Outdoor furniture/chairs (especially nice if you have a patio)
- Holiday decorations (Dollar Tree has surprisingly great options!)
Large items that you may not carry with you
- Broom and Dustpan
- Trash Containers
- Large bowls/storage containers
- Snow Shovel (depending on the location)

Is there something that you, as an experienced travel nurse, have on your ‘settling in’ list? Is there an item that you always forget? Mine is salt and pepper! I always need it, yet it’s the one thing that I consistently forget to pick up on my initial shopping trip. (or I did until I developed a Move-In shopping list!)

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

21249 Views

Step #21 Your First Day as a Travel Nurse

Posted on August 8, 2018July 24, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Today is the day! Your first day as a travel nurse. You have settled into the new apartment and done the shopping. The first-day nerves have probably got a hold of you…don’t worry. Check out our first-day tips below, and you’ll be ready to set yourself up for success.

A good thing to remember is every first day is the countdown to new adventures. Some contracts will be good and some not-so-good, and no matter how much you researched and questioned your recruiter about the position, you won’t know what any contract will hold until you get there.

Test Run Your First Day as a Travel Nurse

After the shopping and unpacking are finished, take a dry run through your first day of work. Time yourself from when you walk out the door to when you arrive at your parking location. While you might not be able to go inside the hospital depending on visitor restrictions, getting a feel for the drive-in will do wonders to help soothe your nerves.

Pre-pack Your Nurse Bag

Being prepared is a sure sign of success. Although the hospital should have received all your paperwork from the agency, don’t take this for granted. A good rule of thumb is to bring copies of your certifications and nursing license (if your state still does hard copies). It is also good to bring a notebook to note things like your computer login, passcodes, and directions.

Pack as if you are going to work the floor. Hopefully, you got an idea of your orientation schedule from your manager ahead of time, but on rare occasions, you may have to jump into patient care on your first day. Bring what you usually pack for a shift, and you’ll be ready for anything.

Toss a snack and a bottle of water in your bag. As a travel nurse, you may not have access to a fridge or microwave on your first day of orientation, so plan accordingly. Finding the cafeteria might be more of a task than you’re up to (or have time for). Make sure to have something that will get you through the day.

Get a Good Nights Sleep

I can’t stress this enough. Sleep is important, and your past few days have most likely been hectic, exciting, and chaotic. Take some time to relax (after you have your bag packed for work), have a glass of wine, soak in the tub, curl up on the couch, or whatever it is you do to help you relax.

Arm yourself with optimism.

Optimism is the best thing you can take with you on the first day of the new travel nurse contract! Know that there will be bumps along the way and that you will struggle to find supplies, be confused with the computer system, get lost on campus, and a myriad of other problems along the way. Accept it. Know that you are armed with the ability to carry on and get through it.

Expect the Unexpected

What should I expect? The unexpected! The first day on the job is never the same from one facility to another. You could experience any of the following on your first day of travel nurse orientation:

Full-Day General Orientation
Part/Full Day Testing
Computer Training
Formal outlined orientation or full-blown chaos
A brief overview of the unit and a Patient Assignment (Rare, but it could happen)
Sitting in an office with no one knowing what to do with you

If you think that list seems all over the place–it is. And it is the reality of travel nursing first days! Each assignment will be its own beast, so just roll with the punches.

As an experienced travel nurse, is there something that you have on your first-day list? Is there an item that you always forget? We would love to hear your first-day suggestions below!

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

13609 Views

Step # 22 How to Make the Most of Your Travel Nurse Contract

Posted on August 8, 2018July 24, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

You have arrived at the contract location and have 13 weeks to explore your new area. Let’s look at things you can do to make this a great travel nurse contract.

How to Make This a Great Travel Nurse Contract.

You have 13 weeks! It sounds like a lot of time…beware, your travel nurse contract will go extremely quickly. Don’t put off exploring the new neighborhood.

Check out Local Events

The first thing to do is find out where the local events are posted or published. There are multiple places to look to find local events and activities. Most larger cities have a free entertainment magazine of some sort. These are generally found at convenience stores, grocery stores, local coffee shops, bars, or similar places. Look near the entrance or ask your co-workers. Another place to look for local events is the travel nurse community. A quick Facebook search for the visitors’ bureau or ‘city events’ should bring up several options of pages that you can ‘like’ and follow for up-to-date events. Having a great travel nurse contract can sometimes be simply because of some of the activities and experiences you took advantage of during the contract.

Connect with other Travel Nurses

If you’re looking for other travelers in the local area to hang out with, try connecting to other travelers via our Facebook group!

Plan Ahead

The travel contract will go by quicker than you think. Plan ahead (as the scheduling allows) for fun excursions, activities and events. Invite your co-workers to join you! Time will fly by, so don’t put it off and make this a great travel nurse contract.

Leave Town

Go outside the local area. Find out what’s around you. Perhaps there is a unique or interesting town within a day’s drive. A national park to explore or an opportunity for a weekend mini-vacation during your travel nurse contract. Ask your co-workers, the local coffee shop barista, or the hangout bar bartender. These people are full of information and are generally happy to share. Depending on your scheduling, you could potentially take several ‘weekend’ trips out of town. Schedule them.

13-Week Contract Flow

Figuring out how to fit some fun into your travel contract can be a little difficult at first. The first two weeks on a travel nurse contract are generally pretty chaotic and sometimes a little stressful as you begin to acclimate to the new facility and co-workers. Many travel nurses have found that their contracts generally break down as follows:

Week by Week

#1 Excitement/Fear/Introductions.
#2-4 Learning curve.
# 4-6 weeks 4-6 are when many travel nurses begin to fall into a good groove on the job.
#6-10 This is prime time to take in the sights.
#10-13 This is where things can become monotonous. The great thing is that this is also when you will probably be working with recruiters and seeking out your next adventure.

You will fall into your own 13-week flow and figure out where you’re most likely to be able to get out and enjoy the area that you’re in. One final word of caution….Don’t put it off for ‘tomorrow.’ 13 Weeks can pass by incredibly quickly. Make sure to make the most of your Travel Nurse Contract.

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

17241 Views

Step #23 Travel Nurse Contract – 8 Weeks to go…

Posted on August 8, 2018July 24, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

When you are on week 8 of a travel nurse contract, you are getting ready to look for your next job! It can be wild to realize that, less than halfway through one assignment, you are starting to think about your next adventure.

There is a certain process and timing you flow through when on contract. Your first contract might feel slightly chaotic, but you will fall into a routine as you go along. Everyone acclimates differently and in a different time frame.

Generally speaking, by week 6 (with 8 weeks left on the contract), most travelers have acclimated to the hospital environment and are beginning to explore and have some fun outside of work. If you’re not….GET OUT of the apartment and explore!!

But what about planning the next travel nurse contract?

Do you want to stay where you are? Are there openings? Hate the location or facility and want to search out something new? Perhaps you have realized that Travel Nursing isn’t for you, and you are ready to go back to a staff position. Now is the time for you to start asking yourself these questions.

There is no one right answer to the above questions. Some travel nurses take a new contract every 13 weeks, while others typically like to extend. You do not have to make a solid decision by week 8 of a travel nurse contract, but it’s a good time to start weighing your options.

Here are a few questions to keep in mind:

Are there opportunities to extend where I am currently?
Do I like the job/location well enough to extend?
Do I want to continue Travel Nursing?
Are there any upcoming life events that would occur during the next contract? Anything that might require you to be in a certain area of the country or perhaps off-contract?
Are there enough local activities to keep you entertained if you extended?
Where do you want to go next?

During the next few weeks, you should have given these questions some thought and have a general idea of which direction you want to go for your next travel nurse contract. We recommend that you touch base with your recruiter as well and give them some ‘vague’ updates, i.e., “I really like it here and MIGHT consider an extension” or “I’m really looking forward to working with you on the next contract, and I am ready to look at new locations.” You might also start looking through the job postings and investigating hospitals on our Travel Nurse Network Group.

Start obtaining References

Obtain a reference (or two). By week 8 of a travel nurse contract, your manager and co-workers should have a good feel for the type of work you perform. It is best if you can get a reference from a manager or supervisor because some jobs require manager references to apply.

Ask if your company has a basic reference form you can give to a manager, or you can usually Google a reference form with a basic 1-5 rating scale and room for comments. These references are a valuable addition to your travel nurse portfolio. Hold onto them and keep them up to date.

The job market for travel nursing fluctuates, but jobs are usually listed between 4 and 6 weeks from the preferred start dates. Needs will fluctuate with the season and market, so ask your recruiter what trends they are seeing and when it’s time to start seriously looking for your next job!

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

13692 Views

Step #24 Travel Nurse Contract – Four Weeks Left!

Posted on August 8, 2018December 28, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

You are almost at the point of finishing your Travel Nurse Contract.

It goes by FAST! You’ve made it through nine weeks and have just four weeks left of your travel nurse contract!

In Step #23, we discussed some questions for you to ponder. Hopefully, you have taken the time to think about what you want next in your travel nurse journey so you can take the next steps.

Next Steps: 4 Weeks Left of Your Travel Nurse Contract

This is always an exciting time for me. Many travelers love the hunt, the excitement of exploring their options, and the thought of going someplace new. Hopefully, you share some of these same feelings.

We are excited for you. You have a whole myriad of job options ahead of you. You’re almost at the finishing point. Finishing your travel nurse contract is nearly behind you, and you survived! Whether it was a great contract or a horrible one….the next will be a totally new adventure for you.

Tips to Finishing Your Travel Nurse Contract Successfully

Some guidelines for the next two weeks to help your last four weeks go smoothly:

Contact your Recruiter(s)

Determine if you would like to continue to work with the same company. Did you have any issues? Were they receptive to your needs? Was the contract fulfilled (from the company end) as you expected?

If you haven’t notified your recruiter (s) of your decision for your next travel nurse contract, now is the time!

Extending or Looking

Check out the jobs available in the area you want to go on our Job Listings if you want to continue with your same agency. Just sort by the agency.

Hopefully, you have an idea of what you want from your next contract or where you would like to go. This is the time to seriously determine your preferences for your next contract.

If you have decided to extend your contract, it’s prime time to set pen to paper and finalize this.

When do you plan to start?

Look at a calendar! Map out the time frame that the next contract would cover and make certain that there aren’t any dates/activities that would conflict. (i.e., best friend’s wedding, the birth of a child in the family). I suggest using Google Calendar to keep track of all of your events and important dates.

If there are conflicting dates, make certain to inform your recruiter (and whom-ever you interview with) of these dates and make sure that the time off is detailed in your final contract.

Depending on when you want to start your next contract (are you taking time off in between), you should start submitting for open positions.

Finishing your Travel Nurse Contract: To Do

As your travel nurse contract comes to a close, there are several things that you should be doing. Over the next two weeks, you should be confirming a contract. Making final decisions and beginning to make travel plans.

Make certain that all of your certifications are up to date, and update anything in your travel nurse portfolio that has expired.

References:

If you haven’t obtained personal references yet (as discussed in Step #23)…do it now! These are invaluable for your portfolio. Even if you have decided to extend your contract…get these references NOW.

Interviews:

You may have several of these in the next two weeks. Be available and prepared for an on-the-fly interview.

Licensing:

If you are going to a location where you are not licensed, you need to begin the licensing process. Check out this great cheat sheet on licensing timelines for tips on how long the licensing will take.

Personal:

Fit in the last few ‘experiences’ or local haunts that you have been putting off…you are almost out of time!

If there are people that you have connected with and would like to keep in touch with, make sure you have their contact info. Phone, email, FB, etc.

Living as a travel nurse, there is rarely time to put the job search totally out of mind. It’s a busy lifestyle. In time, you will develop your own flow and timing. In the meantime…enjoy and travel on!

Travel Nurse Road Trip Planning

Pre-trip Inspection

Roadside Emergency Kit

Basic items for your Emergency Kit should include:

Travel Nursing Road Trip Necessities:

Travel Nurse Road Trip Planning with Pets

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Step #1 Determine How Long You Have for Your Road Trip

Step #2 Plan The Route

Step #3 Enjoy the Experience

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Travel Nurse Housing Safety, Security, and Condition

Assess the safety and security of the apartment location, complex and surrounding area.

Talk with your neighbors.

Learn the area.

The importance of researching the safety of your short-term housing

Moving In

Here are a few reminders of things to check

A few items that you should also ask once you have decided to move in:

IMPORTANT:

Travel Nurse Housing Safety, Security and Condition isn’t up to par: What to do?

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Your Travel Nurse Home

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you settle into your new home as a travel nurse:

A few more items to complete:

Organize a grocery list:

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Test Run Your First Day as a Travel Nurse

Pre-pack Your Nurse Bag

Get a Good Nights Sleep

Arm yourself with optimism.

Expect the Unexpected

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How to Make This a Great Travel Nurse Contract.

Check out Local Events

Connect with other Travel Nurses

Plan Ahead

Leave Town

13-Week Contract Flow

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