Considering the travel nurse life? What’s not to love about it!?
Hopping from hospital to hospital, traveling from city to city, state to state, sea to shining sea? Live for the adventure in life? You came to the right place. Here at SkillGigs, Think Freedom is part of the entire gig-finding experience. If anything’s stopping you, it probably comes down to one thing: the money.
As our first article geared specifically to the interests of our healthcare professionals, we thought we’d answer one of your most popular questions: What can I do to earn more as a travel nurse? Whether you’re new to the idea of travel nursing, or you’ve been seeking placement through SkillGigs for years, learning how to make the most out of your travel nurse career can lead to better gigs, longevity, and (best of all) higher pay. Your skills are highly sought-after, and hospitals nationwide are competing every day for talent just like you. So what exactly can you control when it comes to your salary? We have a few ideas.
Here are 7 of our top tips to earn more as a travel nurse.
1. Be Flexible
This may go without saying, but flexibility can open many high-paying doors. While they might not seem as glamorous, sometimes the highest-paying gigs are for positions in unlikely locations, inconvenient times, or night shifts. Staying flexible for less-than-desirable positions makes you a hot commodity. While it’s not guaranteed, nights, variables, and weekends could mean more money in your pocket on the flight home so stay open-minded if money is really the motive.
2. Transparency is Key
No two agencies are alike, so if you’re considering a transition to travel nursing it’s important to do your research before working with a company. It’s important to consider especially if the company plays a part in your paycheck. Don’t leave the cash up to chance. Make sure whoever you choose to work with is both trustworthy and dependable in order to make the most out of your travel nursing experience.
SkillGigs Healthcare should not be confused with a travel agency. We believe that transparency is essential to travel nursing – it’s the full Think Freedom experience. On SkillGigs, you have the freedom to name your price, message healthcare facilities directly (no middleman), and choose your own gigs. If you’re ready to ditch your agency, check out how transparency can lead to earning more here.
3. Stay Organized
Keep any and all paperwork up-to-date to speed up your placement process. Of all professions in the world, nurses understand the idea of urgency the most. Don’t let an amazing opportunity pass up just because you couldn’t get your paperwork together quickly enough. Treating every high-paying job with a sense of urgency is a fast-track method for earning more dough as a travel nurse.
SkillGigs offers a great way to display your specialties so employers and hospitals can search for you directly through Skill Listings. You can easily upload your resume, highlight your top skills, and list your licenses – the all-in-one organization that gets you hired faster. Learn more here.
4. Maintain Multiple State Licenses
If you only have one license for one state, your travel options could be very limited – limiting your pay potential. In fact, most hospitals won’t even consider your application if you don’t have their state’s license. Maintaining multiple licenses opens you to a wider scale of availability – which could result in more, higher paying opportunities.
5. Pick Up Per Diem
Per diem shifts offer the flexibility and freedom of travel nurse jobs without the commitment of a longer contract. If you’re new to travel nursing, per diem is a great way to try out the lifestyle to see if it’s a good fit for you.
SkillGigs Healthcare offers a variety of per diem positions posted daily. You have the flexibility to decide how many shifts you work and when you want to work them – with no pressure from us! Whether it’s 1 or 2 days a week, it’s all up to you.
Already a travel nurse and want to boost your paycheck even more? Per diem is also a great option for travel nurses in between gigs who are looking for extra cash. Contact us about per diem at SkillGigs here.
6. Communicate
It’s important that you have the ability to communicate your expectations and compensation needs to your recruiters so they know how to best represent you. Our talent advocates work hard to get our travel nurses the best possible gigs at top hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. Having an open dialogue about your desires only makes your travel nursing experience more tailored to you and your needs.
7. Refer Friends
Like SkillGigs Healthcare? Refer us to a friend and it could mean cash money in your pocket. Nurses, just like any other profession, are more likely to trust the recommendations of their professional community when it comes to their careers. So if this article made you think of someone who would love SkillGigs, refer them to us! One email could make you up to $500. Contact us today to learn more about our referral program.
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