If you’re like a lot of travelers, you likely took some time to yourself during the winter holidays. After all, what’s the point of hustlin’ all year if you can’t choose when and how to take some time off to treat yo’self. But now that we’re kicking off the new year and getting back into the swing of things, here are a few tips to make getting back to work easier.
Keep electronic copies of your important documents
A few years ago, Triage started using Kamana to make our travelers’ lives easier. Kamana is a secure digital wallet that allows you to create one profile and then share it with any agency, recruiter or facility. We know that creating multiple profiles is a huge hassle so we wanted to do our part to reduce that stress. If you fill out your Kamana profile and then end up not taking a job with Triage, you can use your profile for another agency or job. That’s what we call our Kamana profile-back guarantee. Either way, it’s a great place to store all your documents electronically and lets you ditch that bulky paper folder.
Here are the documents we recommend having in your Kamana profile:
- Medical documents, vaccine records, etc.
- Resume
- Certifications
- Credentialing documents
Being able to access and send documents in a timely manner will help you tremendously. And since jobs can come and go rather quickly in this market, you’ll be able to be one of the first in line, allowing you to snap up a position, especially if it’s in a desirable location.
Make sure your car is up-to-date on maintenance
Get your oil changed, check the air in your tires, get them rotated, etc. We know some folks prefer to fly and either Uber or rent a car, but if you want your own vehicle during an assignment, make sure it’s in good shape beforehand. This is especially true if you’re driving through snowy areas. Some areas out west can be treacherous if you get hit with a snow storm. Car maintenance can be easy to forget about, but it’s important and keeps you safe while you’re on the road.
Take care of administrative tasks before you depart
Administrative tasks can be daunting in general, but these following tasks can be done quickly and will be so important for your peace of mind.
If you aren’t working with your medical staffing agency to secure housing, be sure to visit the new city’s website and find the list of their providers for cable, internet, phone, gas, water and electricity. Do this ahead of time, and spend the first week of your assignment enjoying the new scene, not on the phone with the cable company.
Be familiar with how to change your address every three months. The USPS has methods of forwarding your mail, too! You can easily do this online at https://moversguide.usps.com/.
Make your travel wishlist for the next three months
Being a traveling healthcare professional has many benefits, and one of them is getting to experience new things in new places. To make sure you don’t miss out, make a “wishlist” of things you want to do in your next city. You’ve got a limited time in your chosen location, so planning these activities in advance will help you make the most of your time.
Looking for your next opportunity? Triage has many available jobs for traveling healthcare pros nationwide. View our open allied and travel nurse jobs or call us at 800-259-9897 to learn more about our opportunities.