Travel nursing can be a fulfilling and exciting experience, but it can also be overwhelming for first-timers. Here are some tips for travel nurses to make the transition easier:
- Know why you want to travel. Consider whether it is for money, travel, or experience. [2]
- Be comfortable working in different hospitals or healthcare settings. Consider becoming a float nurse at your current job or getting a Compact Nursing License. [3]
- Crisis contacts and pandemic nursing should be a consideration for travel nurses, as the demand for travel nurses has increased amid the pandemic. [4]
- Triple check your contract and verify the take-home pay. Find the right recruiter and switch recruiters or travel nursing agencies if the vibe is not right. [6]
- Be organized by keeping a folder with all necessary items, such as immunization records, previous addresses, certifications, and identification. [7]
- Breathe and take deep breaths. Remember that you have the experience and expertise to do the job, and your nursing skills do not change just because your job location does. [10]
- Tax home requirements for travel nurses is that you must prove that your tax home is farther away from your work location than a reasonable commute and requires rest and sleep. [9]
- Be prepared for difficult assignments and patients and families who may be rude or demanding. [5]
- Don't start driving to a contract site before signing the contract. If the situation around the assignment were to change, you have nothing to fall back on. [1]
Sources:
[1] "19 Tips for Travel Nurses - From a Travel Nurse 1. Dont start the drive before you sign the contract This may seem obvious, but never, EVER start to drive to the contract site before you actually sign the contract. If the situation around the assignment were to change for some reason, you have nothing to fall back on." URL: https://www.thegypsynurse.com/blog/20-tips-for-traveling-nurses/
[2] "9 Tips for First-Time Travel Nurses 1. Know why you want to travel Travel is not for everyone and some jump in without enough thought or planning, explains Mucurio. Ask yourself a lot of questions upfront: Why do you want to travel? Is it money, is it the travel, or is it the experience? Can I afford to travel?" URL: https://www.travelnursing.org/helpful-ideas-first-time-traveling-nurse/
[3] "Travel nurses must be comfortable working in different hospitals or healthcare settings while performing their job with high-quality skills and ease. One way to prepare for the diversity in assignments is to become a float nurse at your current job. 4. Consider getting a Compact Nursing License." URL: https://www.nursingprocess.org/travel-nursing-tips.html
[4] "Top 11 Tips For Travel Nurses (From a Travel Nurse Recruiter!) 1. Crisis Contacts and Pandemic Nursing Travel nurses are in demand now, amid the pandemic, more than ever. If youre looking to get paid your worth then considering a crisis contract in an area experiencing a COVID spike will definitely pay, a lot." URL: https://nurse.org/articles/how-to-make-the-most-money-as-a-travel-nurse/
[5] "As the new person on the unit, its not unusual for a travel nurse to get some assignments that no one else wants, Jewell pointed out, including dealing with patients and families who the staff may see as rude and demanding. People who are difficult to deal with only want to be heard and have their issues addressed, she explained." URL: https://www.travelnursing.com/news/career-development/six-tips-for-first-time-travel-nurses/
[6] "Here are the top tips for first-time travel nurses that will be sure to make the transition from staff nurse to your first travel assignment easier. Triple check your contract. Verify the take-home pay. Find the right recruiter. If the vibe isnt right, switch recruiters and/or travel nursing agencies." URL: https://www.travelnursing.org/tips-for-first-time-travel-nurses/
[7] "The Nurse whose advice youre taking. Advice for Travel Nurses: Be organized. I recommend keeping a folder with all the things you might need for each contract: immunization records, previous addresses, copies of your social security card and/or passport, drivers license number, BLS/ACLS certifications, and anything else you think you might need." URL: https://www.nursetonomad.com/advice-travel-nurses/
[8] "The Traveling Nurse covers the world travels of a pediatric nurse and mixes travel observations with advice for travel nurses. The Traveling NP blog is written by a nurse practitioner who discusses career issues such as relationships with recruiters, traveling during COVID-19 , and networking." URL: https://nursejournal.org/articles/ways-to-prepare-for-a-career-in-travel-nursing/
[9] "While many people commonly believe that you must have your tax home at least 50 miles away from where you work as a travel nurse, theres actually no specific distance requirement. The only real requirement is that you must prove that its farther away than a reasonable commute and requires rest and sleep before going back and forth." URL: https://www.travelnursing.org/travel-nurse-taxes-comprehensive-guide/
[10] "Breathe We know that sounds crazy but just breathe. You may feel overwhelmed at times during your first assignment, but you will get through it. Take deep breaths and just remember that you have the experience and expertise to do the job. Otherwise, you wouldnt be there. Your nursing skills dont change just because your job location does." URL: https://www.thegypsynurse.com/blog/advice-and-tips-for-travel-nurses/