Are you a nurse who is bored with working in the same area and wants to spice up your career? Then travel nursing is just the right option for you. With travel nursing, you can visit new places, explore new locations, and make more money while providing patient care. But let’s be real: Starting your journey as a travel nurse can be daunting as it requires paperwork, experience, and moving around, but worry no more, as SkillGigs is here to guide you through your travel nursing journey. In this blog, we will discuss top travel nursing tips for first-time travel nurses to succeed in their careers.
How to be a travel nurse? Basic requirements
Before diving into the tips of how to be a successful travel nurse, it is important to understand the requirements to become a travel nurse.
- Must hold an active registered nurse license.
- 1 to 2 years of experience.
- Sometimes, certifications are also required, such as ALS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) or BLS (Basic Life Support).
- A clean background check is also required to become a travel nurse.
- Drug screening.
- Physical examination.
- CPR certificate.
Flexibility and availability are two of the most important requirements for travel nurses as they have to visit places where there is an urgent need for nurses.
Travel nursing tips for new travel nurses
If you are a first-time travel nurse or thinking of becoming a travel nurse, then here are some tips and tricks on how to make your first travel nursing assignment successful.
Get your paperwork in order
The first tip for first-time travel nurses is to get their paperwork in order, and it should be up to date. This includes the following:
- Updated immunization records such as flu shots, TB, etc.
- Physicals.
- Make sure that licensing is also up to date.
- Certifications such as ALS or BLS.
- Immunizations.
- TIP: Make sure everything is up to date and that you have both soft and hard copies.
Researching the company
The next piece of advice for new travel nurses is to do thorough research on a travel nursing agency that has a strong support system and good reputation. If you are a first-time travel nurse, then become part of SkillGigs, which uses an AI-driven platform to match your skills and qualifications with suitable jobs. First, time travel nurses can create their 3D resumes and showcase their skills, qualifications, experiences, etc., in a visually attractive way to attract potential employers. The other advantages of working with SkillGigs are:
- Transparency in pay.
- Flexible job opportunities.
- SkillGigs helps first-time travel nurses gain exposure and helps in their professional development.
- Simplified application process.
- Skill Gigs also offers helpful resources for first-time travel nurses to make their travel nursing journey easy and smooth.
Interview and Contract
One of the other advice for first-time travel nurses is to ask questions during their interview such as patient nurse ratios, their policies, etc. This will help the first-time travel nurses to be prepared for the job. Once you get your first assignment, read and understand it thoroughly and ask questions if you have any. Understand the following details in your first contract before signing so that there is no confusion:
- Work hours.
- Contract length.
- Base pay.
- Specific days off.
What to do if the facility cancels the contract?
- Travel stipends.
- Benefits offered.
- Meals and other incentives.
Tips to Search for Housing
As we all know, travel nurses visit different states to work, and therefore, searching for the right housing is an important part of their job. Sometimes, the nursing agency provides housing for the travel nurses, while some give housing stipends. Some of the tips for first-time travel nurses to search for housing are:
- Housing should be near the facility.
- Read the reviews before renting an Airbnb or apartments to make sure it is safe.
- You can share a room with other travel nurses to save some money.
- Consider fully furnished housing so you don’t have to worry about basic things. The best options for travel nurse housing are furnished finders, Airbnb, hotels, etc.
Be Flexible
If you are a first-time travel nurse, flexibility is the key to success. Travel nursing is unpredictable, and you can face different challenges and turnarounds of events during your job. Use your experience and skills to provide the best patient care and handle all challenges smoothly. Adapt to the new environment quickly and be open to the new shifts. This flexibility can help first-time travel nurses find more assignments easily.
Test Drive Before the assignment
Another tip for first-time travel nurses is that once they reach their destination a few days before the contract, they should visit the facility. Whether they are taking public transportation or driving by themselves, they should visit the location. This helps them to understand how much time it takes to reach, find parking spots, etc. This tip will help first-time travel nurses to be on time during their first day of assignment.
Pack wisely
Another tip for travel nurses is to pack wisely. Make sure that they have all the documents, their passport, etc. Some of the tips for first-time travel nurses to consider while packing for their first assignment are:
- Assignment duration
- Location and climate
- Housing arrangements
- Workplace requirements
- Traveling by car or plane
- Personal preferences
If you want to know what to pack while going on your first assignment, then read our blog “Travel Nurse Packing Checklist (Guide for Travel Nurses).”
What are some other tips for new travel nurses to adjust easily to the new environment?
No doubt, it is challenging for first-time travel nurses to adjust to a new environment. The anxiety is real. But here are some tips and advice for new travel nurses to adjust easily in their work environment.
- Arrive early at the healthcare facility.
- Introduce yourself and get to know your team.
- Don’t be shy and ask questions so there is no confusion later.
- Don’t take things personally and be professional all the time.
- Make friends.
- Always have a positive attitude.
- Know your boundaries.
- Embrace adventure and explore.
- Stay mentally and physically healthy. Self-care should be your priority.
Conclusion
Becoming a traveler is a new experience that offers financial benefits, personal and professional growth, new experiences, and much more. However, if you are thinking of becoming a travel nurse, then it is important to know that it requires proper planning and preparation. New travel nurses should follow the top travel nursing tips to make their first travel nursing assignment successful. This includes up-to-date paperwork, experience, research location, finding the right travel nursing agency, being flexible, and much more. If you are thinking of stepping into the world of travel nursing, then download our app and join SkillGigs now. It will help you to match your skills and qualifications with the jobs that best suit you. Moreover, SkillGigs provides you with an opportunity to work in top healthcare facilities.
