Congratulations! You’ve decided to enter the exciting world of travel nursing. If you’re asking yourself, “Now what?” you’re not alone. Don’t miss these six tips designed to help get you off to a promising start.
1. Accept Your Emotions
First-time travel nurses experience a broad range of emotions, from excitement to anxiety to fear. Accept that all of these emotions are valid, and it’s perfectly natural to feel how you’re feeling.
Some first-time travelers choose to stick close to home to help minimize the unfamiliar, while others travel with a buddy to prevent isolation. But even if you go it alone to a far-off location, there are plenty of ways to acclimate and thrive.
2. Use Your Recruiter
Your recruiter’s responsibilities don’t end when you sign on with an agency. He/she becomes a valuable point of contact in everything from choosing assignments to negotiating your pay rate. Be forthcoming about your expectations, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more open the lines of communication are between you and your recruiter, the more likely you are to find assignments which meet all of your needs.
3. Get Up Close and Personal With Your Contract
Determine what you want in advance, and be up front regarding your expectations. Contracts vary from assignment to assignment, and many details — from housing to pay — are negotiable. Failure to understand your contract, meanwhile, can lead to unnecessary oversights and misunderstandings.
4. Only Connect
If your anxiety pertains to leaving loved ones behind, make an active plan to keep in touch. Whether you agree to Skype your best friend every Sunday night or email your parents nightly, these connections can get you through lonely times. Also, be sure to bring along a few creature comforts from home for an extra touch of the familiar.
But don’t plan to rely exclusively on your home network. Reaching out to new coworkers and neighbors significantly eases the transition while minimizing feelings of isolation.
5. Timing Is Everything
If you show up the day before you’re due to report to the hospital, you’re setting yourself up for a hectic 24 hours. Instead, plan to arrive several days before your start date. This can help you get the “lay of the land,” while figuring out logistical details, such as transportation, grocery shopping, and other day-to-day essentials.
It also pays to do as much advance research as possible. The internet puts a wealth of helpful information at your fingertips: use it!
6. Show Your Skills
Just as you would in a permanent job, you’ll encounter all types of personalities in your travel assignments. At times, you may feel like you’re being handed the least desirable tasks and/or being challenged in your abilities. Don’t take these interactions personally; instead, use them as an opportunity to show your skill, flexibility and enthusiasm. Doing so can help break down any barriers while demonstrating your strengths as a team player.
Deciding to enter the world of travel nursing is a momentous decision, and one which comes with many rewards. Let these six tips serve as a valuable resource as you venture into your fulfilling new career.
Do you have any helpful takeaways from your first travel nurse assignment? Please share in the “Comments” section below!
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