In recent years, more and more nurses are opting to leave their traditional staff positions and take on travel nursing assignments. Travel nursing allows you to work in a variety of settings throughout the country while building up your professional network and boosting your earning potential.
If you’ve been considering going from traditional nursing to travel nursing, one of the potential concerns you may have is how to select your very first assignment. With all of the options available, you may not be certain what would make a good beginning job. Location, shifts, facility, pay scale, and benefits should all be taken into account.
Don’t worry–at Prolink, we’ve helped thousands of nurses through the exact same process. Read on for tips about finding that perfect first assignment to start your travel nursing journey.
What is travel nursing?
Travel nurses are registered nurses who take on temporary assignments throughout the country at all types of facilities. The typical job assignment length is 13 weeks, though that can vary based on the facility and the type of assignment.
Travel nurses rely on staffing agencies like Prolink to help them find appropriate assignments, and they get benefits from those agencies, including retirement planning, health insurance, housing and traveling stipends, and more. These nurses can work in numerous roles and specialize in everything from pediatrics to telemetry.
To become a travel nurse, you must first become a registered nurse (RN). This requires that you graduate from high school or get your GED and then pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Although you can become an RN with an associate degree, more employers are starting to look for four-year nursing degrees.
Once you have your degree, you will need to take your National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN). This allows you to begin working as a registered nurse, which you will need to do for at least a year before you can apply to become a travel nurse.
If you want to pursue travel nursing, it’s a good idea to apply for a compact license. A compact license allows you to work in numerous states without requiring that you get individual credentials for each one.
With some experience under your belt, you’re finally ready to start traveling. But that’s only half the battle. Your first assignment should be a positive experience that sets you up for success as a travel nurse. Here’s how you can ensure that happens.
How to pick your first travel nursing contract
There can be a learning curve to travel nursing, but the right first assignment can provide the experience and confidence you need. Here’s how you can get on the right track from day one.
Consider the location
The first thing you should think about is where you’d prefer to work. For example, if you live up north and don’t want to spend another winter in the snow, choosing a southern state might be one option.
A good place to start is to write down the destinations where you’d most like to work. This can provide your agency with an idea of what you’re looking for so that your recruiter can connect you with opportunities that match your preferences as closely as possible.
As you think about the location, do some research on the activities you may have available. If you’re outdoorsy and love to go hiking, you may prefer to go somewhere more rural or where there are opportunities to pursue your hobbies. On the other hand, if you’re more of a museum and art gallery person, going to a larger city might fit you best.
Keep in mind that you may not get your perfect location as your first assignment, so prepare to be flexible. If this happens to you, don’t worry–the beauty of travel nursing is that the next adventure is always around the corner.
Think about specialties and settings
If you have experience in particular specialties, like med-surg, finding a first assignment that allows you to put that experience to work can be a good way of building your resume and reputation.
At Prolink, we’ll always ask about your preferences when it comes to specialties so that we can start narrowing assignments down to what fits your goals. Let your recruiter know about where you feel most comfortable working, and they’ll work with you to find a job that can get you the experience you want on and off the clock.
Evaluate the contract
You should never choose an assignment without getting a clear idea of what the contract offers. Contracts can vary significantly from state to state, so go over every detail with your recruiter to get a sense of what you can expect.
Look for the work hours you’ll be expected to fulfill. Many of these assignments require 36 hours a week, while others ask for 48. In some instances, you might be able to negotiate on the exact number.
Your pay is, of course, essential. As you first start working, you can expect your hourly wages to be on the lower side of average, but that can also depend on numerous other factors. Some states also offer better rates than others, though that can come with a higher cost of living. Make sure you consider all the expenses you’ll have on assignment when evaluating your pay. Whether you’ll receive a housing stipend or have a roommate to stay with will make a huge difference in what you end up taking home.
Something else to watch for in the contract is the sick days you have. Prolink offers paid sick leave, but there may be stipulations in each individual assignment contract that you need to keep in mind.
Take note of the tech
A common concern that nurses have as they consider which assignment to take involves the charting system the facility uses. Your recruiter will likely be able to share what type of electronic medical records are in use.
Learning to use a new charting system can make the process of adjusting to your first assignment much more difficult, so you should opt for a location that relies on one you know. Once you gain confidence in your ability to adjust to new settings and people, you can break away from what you know and learn new systems.
Where can you crash?
No one wants to spend 13 weeks without comfortable or affordable housing, which can happen if you accept assignments in very popular destinations such as New York City or Miami. Working with your recruiter to find options within your budget is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Not taking this step can mean that your housing costs will eat too much of your salary, which might not be worthwhile. That can come down to personal preference, especially if you’d like to work at a prestigious facility to be able to add it to your resume.
Read the fine print
Although it doesn’t happen often, it can occur that the facility chooses to cancel a travel nurse contract. Many hospitals have cancellation policies that give you a better idea of what to expect if this occurs. Some even have limits on the number of times your contracts can be canceled throughout any pay period.
The majority of hospitals and other facilities don’t cancel travel nurse contracts, so it may not ever happen to you, but speaking with your recruiter about it can help you understand your options. They may even be able to point out any hospitals that have canceled on nurses before so that you can consider avoiding them.
Speak with your Prolink recruiter
One of the most important things you can do to find the best first travel nursing assignment is to let your recruiter know as much about your career goals as possible. If you would like to work at one particular facility at some point, for example, your recruiter can help you plan the right career steps to get you there.
Your recruiter is your personal consultant, so don’t hesitate to let them know what you’d like to accomplish.
Start your travel adventure with us
If you’d like to take the next step in your career, travel nursing could be the perfect option. Although it can seem daunting at first, finding the right travel nursing assignment can be exciting and fun, especially if you have a team of recruiters helping you.
At Prolink, we offer the assistance you need to find the right travel nursing job. We provide guidance so you go into every assignment prepared for the adventure that awaits you. You can depend on your recruiter to help you through any issues you may encounter, so you never feel alone when you’re on the road.
Let us match you with the perfect first travel role—connect with a recruiter today to get started.
