Providence Health Care Staffing provided this article.
Travel Nursing has certainly hit a spike in the last 15 years, and for good reason! One of the greatest things that nurses say about traveling for their job is the ability to add a checkmark on their bucket list. The expansion of travel nursing over time has come with the abundance of new locations and destinations to explore and the ability to do so every few months. However, with great adventure comes great consideration to ensure the best and most rewarding experience. Below are just a few things that are important to consider when you’re planning your next adventure, aka your travel nursing assignment!
Factors to consider when choosing a location for a travel nursing assignment:
Job market demand
The travel nursing industry is known to ebb and flow, with high highs and low lows at times. This makes it important to research the job market and demand in the area that you wish to go. You want to make sure that you are looking for locations with good healthcare systems, different kinds of facilities in place, and a need for temporary staffing. Keep in mind that the higher demanding areas tend to pay higher as well.
Licensing and certification
In order to travel to certain places, you will need specific licensure and certifications. Before you commit, make sure that you are licensed in that state, as some states require a compact nursing license, and others require a single state. You will also need to look into the procedures for obtaining these licenses and certifications, you’ll need to allow time to receive these as they vary in timeliness. The more licenses you are able to receive, the more flexibility you’ll have to travel!
Cost of living and compensation
When considering your next location, you will need to look at the cost of living in that area and compare that cost to the pay package you are being offered. Take time to look at things like housing costs, gas prices, groceries, medical expenses, and so on. You want to make sure that you aren’t losing money on your assignment due to the high living costs in that area, so comparing those factors will help you live more comfortably during the duration of your travel nursing assignment.
Safety and Security
Safety and health are some of the top things to consider when prioritizing your needs for travel. Try to talk with people and law enforcement in that area prior to moving and do your own research on what the crime and safety rates are in the location. Likewise, ensure that the facility you will be working with has a good reputation for following safe protocols in the workplace so that your license won’t be in jeopardy at any point.
Lifestyle and recreation
Take a moment to think about what your ideal lifestyle is! Is it in a mountainous region? Do you prefer it cold? Or is it in a large city with a big skyline? Research the local activities before deciding, like hiking trails, shopping malls, museums, restaurants, and so on. Make sure these things pique your interest and align with your personal preferences.
Support and resources
Research travel nursing resources by ensuring that the area you are traveling to gives support to travelers and has experience with working with traveling nurses. You will want to look for possible housing assistance, orientation, license protection, and ongoing support for the duration of the assignment. Having support from the facility that you work at and the agency that you work for can enhance your entire experience as you travel.
To conclude, choosing a destination is much deeper than just finding a facility that has a need for your specialty. Your own personal needs play a huge part in your experience and should be weighed out accordingly. Considering every aspect of your assignment will help you in your professional and personal goals as a travel hero!
We hope you found this article on factors to consider when choosing your travel nursing assignment location. If you have any tips to share with fellow travel healthcare workers, please comment them below.
Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.
