As a traveling healthcare professional, self-care can be as important as your commitment to caring for others. At Trustaff, we understand the demanding nature of your profession and the challenges that come with being on the move. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to provide exceptional healthcare staffing solutions and support our clinicians’ well-being through our unique ACT Program (Advocacy, Career, Tools).
If you’re a travel nurse, here are some valuable self-care tips to help you thrive during your assignments. Discover how our ACT Program can be your ultimate companion on this rewarding journey.
Self-Care Tips:
1. Prioritize Your Physical Health:
Long shifts and irregular schedules can take a toll on your body. Get enough rest, stay hydrated, and fuel your body with nutritious meals. Regular exercise, even if it’s just a short walk, can do wonders for your energy levels and overall well-being.
2. Create a Relaxing Routine:
Establish a routine that helps you unwind after a challenging day. Whether it’s reading a book, meditating, or simply enjoying a cup of tea, these small rituals can provide a sense of calm amidst the hectic schedule of a traveling nurse.
3. Connect with Colleagues:
Building a support system at each assignment can make a significant difference. Connect with your fellow nurses and healthcare professionals to share experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Trustaff fosters a collaborative environment, creating a gateway to form meaningful connections wherever you go.
4. Explore Your Surroundings:
Take advantage of your travel opportunities by exploring the new city or town you’re in. Embracing local culture, trying new foods, and visiting landmarks can help you decompress and add some excitement to your downtime.
5. Stay Organized:
At Trustaff, we provide you with valuable tools and resources to enhance your career. Take advantage of these offerings to stay organized and keep track of your assignments, certifications, and career goals. A well-organized approach can reduce stress and enable you to focus on what matters most – providing exceptional patient care.
6. Engage in Professional Development:
Our ACT Program goes beyond conventional support. We offer career advancement resources to help you achieve your professional goals as a healthcare professional. Whether it’s continuing education opportunities, mentorship programs, or resume-building assistance, Trustaff and ACT are committed to your growth.
7. Reach out for Support:
Our ACT Program is a testament to our commitment to your well-being and career growth. As you embark on new adventures, know that we have your back.
Here are some self-care resources we have to offer:
Veterans and first responders struggling with PTSD are qualified to apply to Warrior PATHH by the Boulder Crest Foundation.
We hope you found this article on self-care tips for travel nurses helpful. What do you do for self-care? Do you have any self-care tips to share? Comment them below.
Ready to take on this rewarding journey while being supported every step of the way? Trustaff is here for you. Click hereto discover the diverse range of exciting opportunities we have available across the nation. Your next adventure awaits!
Of the 423 national parks in the United States, 63 incorporate the words “national park” into their official name. The other locations are identified as national historic sites, seashores, recreation areas, forests, or monuments. Wherever your travel assignment takes you, chances are that you will be close enough to visit one of these sites!
Here are some tips for planning your national park visit and suggestions on which parks to put on your bucket list. The National Park Service website is a great place to start.
Your Visit
Before you lace up your hiking boots and hit a trail at a national park, spend a few minutes researching the area. You’ll need to learn about the park and the environment to ensure you’ve brought the right gear. Don’t forget to inquire about the fees and permits you’ll need for your trip.
Once you arrive at the park, obey all posted signs and check in with the ranger station for up-to-date information on weather and other local conditions. Stay away from the wildlife, and don’t deviate from the marked trails and paths.
Best National Parks to Visit
Now that you’re ready to visit a park, which ones should you choose? Check out this list of national parks, which provides state-by-state information. There are parks for everyone, from beaches to mountains or historic sites to popular monuments. Here are nine suggestions.
Denali, Alaska
Denali, Alaska, has North America’s highest peak, plus six million acres of wilderness accessible by a single road. But plan your trip in the summer because all the snow arrives in the late fall through early spring.
Yosemite, California
Yosemite, California, boasts one of the most well-known rock-climbing formations, El Capitan. But you don’t have to be a rock climber to enjoy the Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Falls, or Half-Dome.
Everglades, Florida
Everglades, Florida, offers mangrove waterways and wilderness home to crocodiles, Florida panthers, and manatees. You can also fish for snook, snapper, and tarpon in the park.
Craters of the Moon, Idaho
Craters of the Moon, Idaho, originated several thousand years ago due to eight major volcanic eruptions that created craters, deep cracks, and lava fields. The landscape changes frequently since the area’s sub-surface still experiences high levels of volcanic and tectonic activity.
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, has more than 400 miles in its cave system—the longest known US cave. You can explore the surface or descend into the earth for a closer look at the cave’s twists and turns.
Acadia, Maine
Acadia, Maine, offers granite cliffs along with a rugged seashore. Hiking trails include the exposed Precipice Trail—with its metal rungs and wooden bridges—and paths to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.
Assateague, Maryland
Assateague, Maryland, is a barrier island inhabited by wild horses. You can camp on the waterfront with the horses nearby.
Gila Cliff Dwellings, New Mexico
Gila Cliff Dwellings, New Mexico, offers caves used for thousands of years by nomadic dwellers. Come for the dwelling tours, bird watching, and nature walks.
New River Gorge, West Virginia
New River Gorge, West Virginia,is the newest National Park, designated in 2020. You’ll have more than 1,400 established rock-climbing routes to enjoy, plus miles of trails to pique your interest.
Find the perfect opportunity to explore our country’s national parks with LeaderStat. With these possibilities to choose from, how will you spend your free time this year?
One thing we know about travel nurses is they’ve got hustle. It’s not like travel nurses are content staying home and taking a staff job—they’ve got some extra drive and grit that gives them the confidence to work in a new facility and explore a new city every three months.
We’re pretty sure that’s why so many travel nurses have their own side hustle. Looking for a new one? Check out our list of the best side hustles for travel nurses.
Deliver Take Out or Groceries With Delivery Apps
If you want to make some quick cash, delivery apps are one way to do it. You don’t need much to get started. As long as you have a vehicle, a driver’s license, and insurance, you’re good to go. Plus, you can truly choose when and how much you want to work, so you don’t have to worry about your side hustle interfering with your travel job. If you’re looking to do strictly pick-ups and deliveries, you can deliver for Door Dash, Uber Eats, Grub Hub, or even Walmart. If you want to earn a little more and have the time, you can actually shop for customers using Shipt or Instacart. In most cases, customers want you to drop the items off at the door, so there’s minimal contact with customers.
Use Your Agency’s Referral Program
Most travel agencies have a program where you refer your friends and can earn a kickback once your friend finishes up an assignment. When looking for a travel nurse referral program, you’ll want to check on the company’s reviews before referring your friends. Look for patterns in the reviews. If there are consistently the same types of reviews—good or bad—you can likely trust them over a one-off review. Also, ask how and when you’ll be paid, as well as how the referrals are tracked. If you’re able to track your referrals’ progress, you’ll know when you’ll get paid without relying on the agency to tell you.
Additionally, look for a program that doesn’t require you to be on assignment with the company, especially if you think you’ll eventually step back from traveling. Lastly, check how you’re paid, particularly if you’re not planning on traveling forever. If you’re currently on assignment, they can normally pay you through a regular payroll, but if you’re not a current traveler, you may receive a 1099, which means you’ll have to include it on your taxes when you file. Either way, it’s an easy side job for travel nurses.
Teach or Tutor Online
Looking for something you can do from your home and take with you on assignments? Sign up to teach or tutor online. You can specialize in a subject or two and tutor online, or you can even sign up to teach children overseas how to speak English. You can make anywhere from $10 to $40 an hour, but it definitely depends on what company you work with.
Popular companies include VIPKID, DaDa, and Magic Ears, which all work with kids learning English as a second language. If you’re looking for tutoring in specific subjects, consider Chegg, Skooli, Wyzant, and eTutorWorld. Some companies do require at least a six-month commitment, but since you can teach from anywhere, the job can follow you on assignment. You definitely need a healthy dose of patience to teach or tutor, but you’re a nurse—you’ve already got that.
Dog Walking or Pet Sitting
Love animals? Dog walking or pet sitting can be the perfect side gig if you have to leave a furry friend at home while traveling. You can find clients on care.com or the Rover or Wag app. Like other side hustles, you’ll be able to set your own hours. Unlike other apps, you can set your own pay rate for walks or pet sitting, so you have more freedom to earn what you want to earn and decide what your time is worth.
Take Advantage of a Social Media Following
Are you the one, your friends always turn to for advice on what to buy? If so, turn that into a social media following. While things like brand deals can take a while and are hard to come by when you’re starting out, anyone can become an affiliate. Basically, you share your favorite products via a special link, and you’ll receive a portion of the sales when one of your followers clicks the link. The best part? Your followers don’t even need to purchase the specific product you linked to in most cases—any purchase they make after clicking your link will count toward your sales. And if you have a large following that works in healthcare, you can even share your agency’s referral program, netting you a sweet referral bonus without much effort.
While these are just a few of the side gigs for travel nurses, they’re some of the easiest ones that you can take advantage of when you’re a travel nurse. Looking to get started with the Triage Referral Program? Sign up today, and once your friend completes their first assignment, we’ll send you a cool $750.
While being a travel nurse is a demanding profession, the benefits travel nursing can provide are wide-ranging, including expanding your clinical experience, deepening your professional development, networking with new colleagues, taking advantage of flexible schedules, as well as maximizing stipends and other travel compensation perks. But for almost every travel nurse, the key benefit is the adventure, exploration, and personal enrichment traveling provides.
So, for many intrepid souls, deciding on an exciting and challenging travel nurse career is the easy part. The harder part is choosing which assignment to accept and why. This search often begins by selecting a region, metro area, or city that fits your personality and lifestyle.
To help you in this important choice, we’ve compiled some recent data on travel nurse jobs in the U.S. Our data comes from search interest and job posts from June and July 2023 and should help point to what will be some of the most popular travel nurse locations throughout the rest of this year.
Finding Your Next Travel Assignment
Research and surveys tell us that as a travel nurse, you probably work with a few staffing agencies and have an app or tool that you prefer to leverage when finding new travel assignments. But did you realize that many of these tools and agencies are all posting the same jobs? Moreover, these travel jobs open and close so quickly that the exact job you initially applied for or were submitted to is often not the same as the placement you’ll end up taking.
That’s right, who you choose to work with is rarely because of an exclusive listing you find on a specific job marketplace. More often than not, your travel assignment comes down to your relationship with your recruiter and how you are treated by the staffing agency.
We say all this to let you know that it doesn’t matter what your favorite job board, agency, or app is. The trending info we explore in this article applies at a macro level to the industry as a whole. When looking for popular destinations, our data did reveal some of the most popular trending specialties, such as post-anesthesia, ICU, critical care, pediatrics, and even remote roles. For the purposes of this article, we’ll focus solely on possible locations for your next travel assignment.
Travel Nurse Job Data
To find out which destinations are the most popular for travel nurses, we researched travel nurse jobs via search interest tools such as Google Trends, AnswerThePublic, UberSuggest, SEM Rush, and Similar Web. We then combined that user data with top travel nurse job marketplaces like Indeed, Fusion Marketplace, Vivian, VettedHealth, and Wanderly.
What we found were some expected locations, along with some surprises. Additionally, after identifying the Top 10 RN travel nurse locations, we added additional data to help your decision-making process. We hope this helps!
Top 10 RN travel nurse locations
Miami, FL
Houston, TX
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Brooklyn, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Las Vegas, NV
Jacksonville, FL
Orlando, FL
Los Angeles, CA
#1 – Miami, FL
Miami is known for its vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and diverse culinary scene. As a travel nurse, you might be attracted to the city’s warm weather and lively atmosphere. The city offers a mix of Latin American and Caribbean influences, making it a melting pot of cultures. In your free time, you can enjoy exploring the Art Deco Historic District, lounging on South Beach, and trying out various water sports. Dining options range from upscale restaurants to food trucks, offering a variety of international cuisines.
Job Competition: 33/100
Cost of Living Index: 83.8 (rank #77)
Crime Index: 53.2 (rank #35)
NOTE: For each Index, ranking is from 1-100, and lower is better.
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
29
154
Avg Weekly Pay
$2,357
$2,254
Top Weekly Pay
$3,245
$2,517
#2 – Houston, TX
Houston is a major city with a booming healthcare industry. Travel nurses are drawn to the city’s renowned medical facilities and diverse patient populations. When not working, you can explore the Space Center Houston, Museum District and enjoy outdoor activities in the city’s many parks. Houston’s dining scene is known for its Tex-Mex cuisine and Southern comfort food, as well as a growing number of international restaurants.
Job Competition: 39/100
Cost of Living Index: 73.8 (rank #48)
Crime Index: 63.6 (rank #54)
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
78
363
Avg Weekly Pay
$2,150
$2,786
Top Weekly Pay
$3,060
$4,425
#3 – San Antonio, TX
San Antonio offers a blend of history, culture, and a strong healthcare sector. The city’s historic sites, such as The Alamo and the River Walk, attract visitors from all over. As a travel nurse, you’ll appreciate the city’s affordable cost of living and family-friendly atmosphere. In terms of dining, San Antonio is famous for its Tex-Mex fare and barbecue joints, providing a true taste of Texas.
Job Competition: 90/100
Cost of Living Index: 68.1 (rank #26)
Crime Index: 48.7 (rank #26)
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
62
568
Avg Weekly Pay
$1,971
$2,441
Top Weekly Pay
$3,192
$3,796
#4 – Chicago, IL
Chicago boasts world-class healthcare facilities and a rich cultural scene. Travel nurses tend to love the city’s cutting-edge medical institutions and the opportunity to experience life in a bustling urban environment. Chicago offers iconic attractions like Millennium Park, Navy Pier, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The city’s dining scene is diverse, ranging from deep-dish pizza to gourmet cuisine, and it’s known for its vibrant music and theater scene.
Job Competition: 89/100
Cost of Living Index: 81.9 (rank #75)
Crime Index: 66.0 (rank #58)
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
370
556
Avg Weekly Pay
$2,331
$2,992
Top Weekly Pay
$3,500
$2,575
#5 – Brooklyn, NY
As a borough of New York City, Brooklyn offers travel nurses access to some of the nation’s top medical institutions and an unmatched cultural experience. Nurses can explore neighborhoods like Williamsburg, DUMBO, and Brooklyn Heights, each with its own unique character. Brooklyn provides a mix of dining options, from trendy cafes to classic pizzerias, and it’s a hub for arts, music, and entertainment and is easily and affordably accessible to many other unique neighborhoods.
Job Competition: 79/100
Cost of Living Index: 100.0 (rank #90)
Crime Index: 49.7 (rank #29)
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
585
295
Avg Weekly Pay
$2,767
$3,367
Top Weekly Pay
$3,564
$4,080
#6 – Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia is a historic city with a thriving medical community. Travel nurses are attracted to its top hospitals and research centers. Nurses can explore historical sites like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, as well as enjoy the vibrant food scene, which includes Philly cheesesteaks and diverse international eateries.
Job Competition: 77/100
Cost of Living Index: 78.9 (rank #68)
Crime Index: 65.8 (rank #57)
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
240
278
Avg Weekly Pay
$2,365
$3,550
Top Weekly Pay
$3,558
$4,115
#7 – Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas is known for its world-famous entertainment and hospitality industries. Travel nurses will find leading hospitals and medical centers. During your time off, experience the excitement of the Las Vegas Strip, catch live shows, and explore nearby natural attractions like Red Rock Canyon. The city offers a wide range of dining options, from celebrity chef restaurants to buffets.
Job Competition: 26/100
Cost of Living Index: 72.2 (rank #43)
Crime Index: 56.0 (rank #44)
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
20
30
Avg Weekly Pay
$2,537
$2,546
Top Weekly Pay
$3,913
$3,979
#8 – Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville offers a mix of coastal living and medical opportunities. Travel nurses will love its beautiful beaches and outdoor recreational activities. In your free time, explore the Jacksonville Zoo, take boat tours, relax on Amelia Island, and visit the historic Riverside and Avondale neighborhoods. The dining scene features fresh seafood and Southern cuisine.
Job Competition: 82/100
Cost of Living Index: 70.8 (rank #34)
Crime Index: 51.5 (rank #31)
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
21
57
Avg Weekly Pay
$1,964
$1,635
Top Weekly Pay
$2,800
$2,856
#9 – Orlando, FL
Orlando is home to a variety of medical facilities and is known for its family-friendly attractions. Travel nurses go for both top healthcare opportunities and close proximity to major theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. In your leisure time, check out the local dining scene, which includes diverse options ranging from international cuisine to Florida-inspired dishes.
Job Competition: 37/100
Cost of Living Index: 74.2 (rank #50)
Crime Index: 530.2 (rank #30)
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
86
39
Avg Weekly Pay
$2,047
$2,519
Top Weekly Pay
$2,412
$3,000
#10 – Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles offers a mix of top-tier medical institutions and the glamour of Hollywood. Travel nurses will find top healthcare opportunities and the chance to experience the iconic sights of LA, such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, and the beaches of Santa Monica. The city’s dining scene is incredibly diverse, featuring cuisine from around the world, and it’s a hub for entertainment, arts, and culture.
Job Competition: 87/100
Cost of Living Index: 85.7(rank #81)
Crime Index: 52.7 (rank #34)
DATA
INDEED
VIVIAN
# Jobs
450
267
Avg Weekly Pay
$2,583
$3,480
Top Weekly Pay
$3,087
$5,854
Each of these cities has its own unique appeal for travel nurses, ranging from cultural experiences to career opportunities, and they all offer a variety of dining, entertainment, and attraction options to explore during your time off. We hope this article on top travel nurse locations with added data helps you in your decision-making when choosing where to take your next travel assignment. Do you have your picks for the top travel nurse locations? Comment them below.
Travel nursing offers many advantages for both your professional journey and personal experiences. You grow your professional network and gain valuable clinical experiences, all while exploring new destinations and embarking on exciting adventures.
However, there may be a point when you’re ready for a challenge through a change in your nursing specialty. Changing your specialty while continuing to take travel assignments can be challenging, but it’s not impossible.
Here are a few tips for changing your nursing specialty as a travel nurse.
Choose Your New Nursing Specialty
Changing your nurse specialty is a career-changing decision. You want to make sure you choose a new specialty that will give you a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in your career. It’s essential to thoroughly research the specialties you are interested in transitioning to determine if they will help you reach your personal and career goals.
You’ll also want to take some time exploring your strengths, both professionally and personally, to find a new specialty that plays to those strengths.
Similar specialties
Choosing a specialty closely aligned with your current one can make transitioning to a new specialty easier for travel nurses. Some of these include:
Med-Surg to Tele
Tele to PCU
PCU to ICU
PICU to ICU
NICU to PICU
Know Your Motivation for Changing Specialties
Deciding why you want to change nurse specialties is as crucial as choosing your new career path. Take some time to reflect on what’s driving your desire to change specialties. You may want a different schedule or feel burned out during your recent travel assignments. You may want a new challenge to expand your skills. Whatever drives your decision, you want to make sure you change specialties for the right reason.
Talk to Your Recruiter and Clinical Team
Your nurse travel agency recruiter and clinical teams are some of the best resources to help you transition to a new nursing specialty. They can guide you through the process and any options you may have for changing specialties while continuing to travel and could provide insights into different specialties and the current demand for them in the field. Contact them to explore your options for changing your nurse specialty.
Transitioning to a new nurse specialty can be a great way to expand your clinical skills and take on new challenges, but it can be difficult to do it while continuing to take travel nurse assignments. Researching your new specialty and exploring your motivations for changing specialties will help you know if you are making the right decision. Be sure to talk to your travel nurse agency team to help guide your new career change.
One of the most challenging aspects of being a travel nurse is leaving behind your friends and social support network in your hometown. However, if you are just starting out as a travel nurse or have been at it for a while, you do not have to sacrifice friendships. Making friends can be simple, and you can create deep, long-lasting relationships within a short period of time. In this article, we will provide you with tips and strategies on how to build meaningful relationships with your fellow travel nurses while on assignment.
1. Join Social Media Groups of Travel Nurses
Social media platforms make networking and making acquaintances easy, even before you meet in real life. Do a quick search on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn for travel nursing groups using the relevant hashtags and keywords. You will come across groups where you can share your experiences and connect with others online. Participating in such groups allows you to explore new places and share experiences with nurses from all over the world. You can post and ask about a new place you are about to visit or reach out to individuals who have recently been there. You might even meet someone who is in the same town you’re in.
2. Attend Work Events and Meet-Ups
Take advantage of any work-related events, whether it’s a healthcare symposium or an orientation meeting, to talk to people and make new connections. You can start conversations by introducing yourself, sharing a bit about your town or background, or asking what they enjoy most about their job.
3. Join Volunteer Groups
Volunteering is a fulfilling way to meet new people and forge a deeper connection with them. Find volunteer opportunities through community centers, non-profit organizations, and churches, or join your fellow travel nurses in community outreach service. Not only will you get to give back to society, but you may also meet people who share your values, interests, and passions.
4. Sign up for Fitness Classes
As a healthcare professional, you recognize the importance of exercise and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Often, gyms and fitness studios offer group classes for yoga, cycling, and aerobics. These classes provide a fantastic opportunity to meet people who share your love for exercise. Sign up for the classes that interest you, and you are more likely to connect with people who are on the same path as you.
5. Organize Social Events
Lastly, take the initiative to organize social events on your own. Plan dinner parties with other travel nurses, invite coworkers over for brunch, or suggest a nighttime outing to explore a new city’s nightlife. You may find that other people feel the same way you do about making social connections and appreciate your effort in getting people together.
Loneliness as a travel nurse does not have to be an inevitability. Take an active role in seeking out new friendships, which can serve as a crucial support system for you. Start with the tips outlined above to meet new people, conquer new places, and gain friends that last a lifetime. Remember, making new friends as a travel nurse can be remarkably rewarding on both professional and personal levels.
We hope you found this article on creating long-lasting friendships as a travel nurse. Do you have any tips to share for creating long-lasting friendships? Comment them below.
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:
Embarking on a career as a travel nurse is an exciting journey, but many aspiring nurses wonder about the experience required to venture into this thrilling field. Whether you’re a seasoned RN or a fresh graduate, understanding the experience requirements can help you chart your course and step confidently into the world of travel nursing.
What Is the Requirement to be a Travel Nurse?
While there’s no industry-wide time requirement, the current industry standard is that travel nurses should have at least 1-2 years of experience in a hospital or healthcare facility to be hired as travel nurses. However, it really comes down to the travel agency, specialty, and facilities and/or units, as they may require more experience, but such enhanced experience requirements are usually specified on a job posting. Your recruiter would also share this information with you before you apply for a travel healthcare job.
Why Do I Need Prior Experience to be a Travel Nurse?
When travel nurses start an assignment, they’re expected to hit the ground running. Orientations are often short, and there’s a lot to learn to get adjusted, like learning hospital protocol, navigating a new charting system, and simply finding your way around in a new space. In order to provide great patient care while navigating a new place, your clinical skills must be solid.
Plus, prior experience requirements help protect a travel nurse’s license, strengthen their resume, and facilitate a successful travel nursing experience. For hospitals, experience helps reassure them that their travelers will provide care from day one of an assignment and are reliable.
Where Do I Start to Become a Travel Nurse?
If you’re starting out on your nursing/travel nursing journey, you may still be thinking, “How do I become a travel nurse?” It might be helpful to look at the whole picture when you’re starting out, and we’ve outlined the basic steps to becoming a travel nurse:
Earn your nursing degree, either an Associate of Science degree in Nursing (ASN/AND) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Once you’ve earned your degree, you need to get your RN or LPN license by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
While the healthcare profession is invaluable to our society, in many cases, healthcare workers, and especially nurses, have a thankless job with a fair share of hazards. In the face of these hazards, it’s easy to sink into the negativity, which may affect your mental health and, indirectly, your productivity at work. As a travel nurse, you must not fall into this trap. Create a positive work culture instead and bring it on the road, so you can remain productive as you help those in need.
Why It’s Important To Have A Positive Culture
As a nurse, it’s essential that you foster a positive workplace culture during any assignment where you travel and work with others. Getting along with your coworkers is necessary because you count on them to work with you to help patients and, sometimes, to save their lives. In addition to the fact that you’ll all get along better, your positive culture could also affect your overall productivity.
When you’re unhappy at work, you’re likely to just go through the motions and not have the same passion for your job that you once had, and that can impact the patients. Even worse, if you’re sick of your job and don’t think you’re appreciated, then it’s more likely that you or your team could call out from work, which also does a disservice to the patients.
In addition to keeping you and your team content at work, a positive work culture can boost productivity because there will be mutual respect and support. You’ll want to go above and beyond to help those on your staff. Happiness at work can also make you healthier physically and mentally.
Lead By Example and Recognize Others
So, how can you encourage a positive work culture even when you’re on temporary assignments? Start with effective communication. Suggest hosting an open meeting every morning where everyone can air their concerns. Then, you can try to work through those conflicts together and start and go forward throughout the day without any negative feelings.
You can also participate in team-building activities that can make your unit even stronger. The activity could be a gratitude circle, where you go around the room and have each nurse express gratitude to someone else. Another team-building exercise is an office trivia game where you ask questions specific to nursing and have the other nurses play individually or as a team to try to guess the answers. It’s a fun way to create a little competition and remember the best tactics to help your patients.
Take Care of Yourself
You can’t build a positive culture if you’re running on an empty mental gas tank. Instead, the key to spreading positivity is to care for yourself first. This may be something as simple as packing healthy lunches or prioritizing daily movement outside of work. However, energy is a complex subject. If you find yourself lacking motivation on a chronic basis, it may point toward something bigger such as a mental health condition or a chronic illness. The best way you can address that is by prioritizing your health every day and visiting your primary care provider regularly.
Know Your Rights
Finally, it’s important that you know your rights on the job site because if you’re unable to create a positive work culture and it’s negatively impacting your productivity, you need to fight for your rights. People outside the profession don’t always realize it, but you might easily see nursing as a high-risk job, and you may have federal protections. This could be especially true if you’re working in a dangerous part of the world or around patients who may be contagious.
If you’re ever working in a situation where you believe that your safety is threatened or you aren’t being heard by your employer, then take action. Reach out to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Report what’s occurring, and you’ll be protected from employer retaliation. Take advantage of this option if necessary, and you’ll set up yourself and your fellow nurses to be safer and more productive while at work.
These are just a handful of ways to create a positive work culture as a traveling nurse and make a difference in your organization. Set the right tone at work, and your productivity will increase.
