If you’re new to the healthcare travel world, getting started can seem like the hardest part. Before you dive in, there’s a ton of research to be done before you ever sign a contract. But after that contract is signed, stuff gets real. Use these tips on travel nursing for beginners and everyone will think you’re an old pro at this travel thing.
How to Prepare for Travel Nursing
There are a few things you need to do before you can launch your travel career. Take advantage of these travel nursing tips and you’ll be ready to go when you decide to travel.
Fill Out Your Profile
Tips for new travel nurses must include filling out your profile quickly. Your profile is the key to getting hired. Everything is stored here, such as your license, references, skills checklists and more. When your profile is kept ready to go, getting a new contract can be faster. If you’re waiting to find a job and then go through the steps to complete your profile, chances are good that you’ll be too late. The early bird gets the job so have your profile complete before you find a job you want.
Also, since everything is stored electronically, you won’t need to lug around a paper file that can get lost or damaged. Win, win.
Understand Your License
This might be one of the most important tips for new travel nurses. You’ll need a license for each state you want to work in, no exceptions. If you’re from a state that’s a part of the nurse licensure compact, you’re in luck because your license will automatically transfer to other compact states. Currently there are a number of states with reciprocal licenses through the nurse licensure compact, plus many others have pending legislation that would have them join the compact.
If your primary nursing license isn’t issued by state that’s a part of the compact, or you want to work in a non-compact state, you will need to apply for a license. Some states require you to have the license issued before you can work there, while others will accept a pending license as long as you’ve applied and issue a temporary license. This is where your recruiter comes in—use them as a resource and ask for travel RN tips related to your license. Your recruiter usually has a little insight into how long a nursing license will take to come in. Also talk to them about reimbursement for any additional licenses. Triage will reimburse for any licenses required to travel to a new location.
Get Your Finances in Order
Before you launch into your first travel job, some of the best travel nursing tips for first time travelers is to make sure your finances are in order before you leave for your assignment. While you can plan for the best-case scenario, you should also anticipate the worst. Sometimes that can mean that your contract gets pushed back a week or two or worse, cancelled for low census. Also, if you decide to take any time off in-between assignments, you won’t be earning a paycheck. When you’re a travel nurse, you won’t get paid if you’re not working so you need to make sure you have a nest egg to cover those weeks.
Going along with finances, make sure that you’re smart about your housing stipend and your tax home. We recommend talking to a tax professional before you start to make sure you’re following all the rules. At Triage, we’re not tax professionals, so it’s up to you to make sure you’re following the IRS rules.
Be Flexible
Healthcare travelers need to be especially flexible. It is practically part of their job description! When you’re going to different locations throughout the country every 13 weeks, you definitely need to go with the flow. Start date changes, housing challenges and last-minute facility requests can all come through, which means you’ll need to be able to pivot at a moment’s notice.
This also means being open to how your new unit does things and not telling your new coworkers how much better things were in previous facilities. Take this travel nurse advice, no one likes to be told they’re doing things wrong, especially if it’s simply a preference. Of course, if there are real safety concerns, reach out to your recruiter and the clinical department at Triage. Our clinical department can raise concerns and provide travel nursing advice when needed.
Pack Smartly
When you move every 13 weeks, you need to pack strategically. Do you really need a giant TV or will a laptop or tablet be enough? What about silverware, dishes, pots and pans or other kitchen items? Do you need a full set of silverware and dishes or will a small set of 3-4 of each item work? Same with clothing—obviously, you want as many sets of scrubs or work clothes so you don’t have to do laundry every other day, especially if where you’re living doesn’t have easy access to a washer and dryer, but do you need much for your leisure time?
For your first travel nurse assignment, pack less than you think you need. It’s only 13 weeks so chances are good you can make it work and then pack better for your next job.
Be Careful About Housing
After you’ve signed a contract, it’s time to find a place to stay during your assignment. Some newbies are so excited to find a great place, they immediately book an Airbnb or other long-term rental for the entire 13 weeks. Hold up. Experienced healthcare travel pros know that it’s possible for assignments to get canceled and if you’ve signed a lease, you’re going to be stuck paying rent the entire time. A lease is a contract and unless you have a cancellation clause, you’re on the hook for that money.
Consider booking a hotel for the first week or two of your assignment. That way you’ll be able to view an Airbnb in person before signing a lease and you’ll have a better idea of how the facility’s unit works and whether there’s a cancellation risk.
Additionally, first-time travel nursing pros sometimes don’t know that you don’t have to use your entire housing allowance to pay for housing. If you’re able to find a place to stay that is under your allowance, you can pocket the difference. Depending on your location, this may or may not be possible, but it’s something to look into before you sign a contract.
Pay Attention to Your Contract
One of the most important travel nurse tips is pay attention to your contract. Your contract is your guidebook to your assignment. Pay close attention to everything in there and don’t forget to read it thoroughly. Need some time off? Make sure it’s in writing. Want block scheduling or only day shifts? If it’s not in your contract, it may not happen.
Respond Quickly on Compliance
After you sign a contract, the work starts and no list of tips for travel nursing can be complete without talking about the compliance process. Compliance means all the background information related to the facility’s requirements, such as drug tests, gathering vaccination records, licensing and more. If you have everything in one spot in your profile, compliance will run more smoothly because you can share your file with your onboarding specialist.
Make sure to respond quickly, especially to a drug test request. Drug tests, when required, are often required to be done within a specific time frame, which means if you miss your window, you could be jeopardizing your assignment.
Watch for First Day Instructions
Most new travel nurses don’t realize that their first day instructions may come very late from the facility. Since your first day instructions don’t come from Triage, we have to rely on the facility. Stay in contact with your recruiter the week before your assignment and they can check with the facility to make sure everything is ready to go.
While On Assignment: First-Time Travel Nurse Advice
Be Friendly
Some travelers come in with the attitude that they’re not at their assignment to make friends. And that’s fine! You’re moving every few months, so you don’t need to worry about making a bestie in every location. However, there’s a difference between being friendly and trying to become BFFs with everyone you meet. Go into each assignment with an open mind and treat your new coworkers with a friendly attitude.
Of course, if you do love becoming buddies with your new coworkers, do! Our hearts are warmed when we hear of a facility throwing their travelers a goodbye party.
Keep in Contact with Your Recruiter
Your relationship with your recruiter doesn’t need to end just because you’re working at a facility. Good recruiters will check in with you and make sure everything is going well throughout your assignment, not sure just when it’s time to sign a new contract. Be honest with your recruiter about facility feedback—if the location has a few bumps, they’re going to want to know. Triage also has a clinical team that can help travelers navigate difficult situations. If you ever feel unsafe at a facility, your recruiter and the clinical team should be your first phone call.
Newbies, make sure that you take full advantage of your recruiter’s expertise, but also don’t forget about these tips for first-time travel nurses from experienced healthcare travelers. These pros have the experience and knowledge to help you understand how to navigate the sometimes-confusing world of healthcare travel.
Enjoy Yourself
Traveling means checking out new parts of the country, even if your main motivation is a higher paycheck (nothin’ wrong with that). If you’re in a new place, make sure to explore and enjoy yourself. Try local foods and restaurants, hit some local attractions and enjoy yourself when you’re not working.
Stay Connected with Friends and Family
Staying connected when you’re far from home is easier than ever now. FaceTime and Zoom, as well as texting can make you feel like you’re still in the same city as your friends and family. If you can swing it and are in a great location, see if you can have a buddy join you for a couple days if you have a block of days off work. Everything is more fun with a friend.
Some travelers are even lucky enough to bring a partner or spouse with them as they travel. If your partner has a work from home job and a little bit of flexibility, see if they can come along. They can work from your temporary home and the two of you can have some fun on your days off.
Ask Questions when Necessary
While travelers are expected to hit the floor running, sometimes you have to ask questions. Every unit stores supplies in a different way or may have a preferred way of handling certain tasks or jobs. Make sure to ask questions if you need to so you can best take care of your patients.
Secure New References Before Your Assignment Ends
It might seem like overkill to get a reference while you’re still on assignment, but you’ll need references from each assignment to make sure they stay current. Travel nurse references are only valid for a relatively short time and travelers can find it difficult to go back to a facility and ask for a reference once they’re gone. So get that reference before your assignment ends.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Find Your Next Assignment
Lastly, don’t wait too long to find a new assignment! If you know you want to go somewhere new immediately without a break in between, you should start your search about six weeks before you want to start. This will give you the chance to decide where you want to go, have your recruiter look for a good assignment and then go through the interview and compliance process. You may need to take care of some compliance tasks like a drug test or health screening during your days off, but your compliance person should be able to find facilities in your local area so you don’t have to drive or fly home to your permanent address.
Experienced pros, is there anything else you’d add? If you’re a current Triage traveler, join our exclusive Facebook group and share your travel nursing tips and tricks with brand new Triage travelers. Looking for a new job? Our allied and travel nurse jobs board lists current openings.