3 Ways to Prepare for Your First Travel Nursing Job
Woohoo! You’ve made the decision to start travel nursing. Since this is your first travel nursing job you probably have lots of questions about the process. Good thing we’ve worked with tons of awesome nurses since 1995 and learned from the best. Below are three ways to prepare for your travel nursing job and some helpful travel nursing tips!
Be Flexible and Organized
When approaching your first nursing contract, it’s important to come into the process of being open-minded and flexible. While you should always let your recruiter know your expectations, sometimes there are even better opportunities in other parts of the country, with different shifts, or at new facilities. Don’t limit yourself!
Travel Nursing Tip: Stay organized! This may seem like an obvious one, but having copies of your certifications and documents ready when filling out your application makes the process easier and faster. We recommend taking a day to scan all your documents and storing them in a folder on your computer so it is all in one place and easy to upload. Some agencies, like PRN Healthcare, have a credentialing specialist whose job is to ensure all your documents are collected so you can focus on landing your contract and preparing for your first travel nursing job.
Find Travel Nurse Housing
Finding nurse housing can be stressful, especially for first-time travel nurses. Here at PRN Healthcare we have a housing coordinator who has established awesome relationships with rental properties, hotels, and extended-stay hotels across the nation. Just tell us what kind of accommodation you want, if you are bringing a pet, and your expectations for commute time. Remember to ask your housing coordinator what is all included with the rental so you can plan and pack accordingly.
Travel Nursing Tip: Refrain from overpacking – no, you probably don’t need that slow cooker. For more packing tips take a look at 5 tips to packing for a 13-week contract! Still want more travel nurse housing tips? Read about how to make your travel nurse housing feel like home!
Network and Do Your Research
The best way to seek out advice about travel nursing is to find someone who is a veteran traveler! Travel nursing is a community of all walks of life who come together to travel, care for others, make great money, and experience new adventures! Don’t know any travel nurses personally? No problem. Join some travel nursing groups on Facebook, or read blogs from experienced travelers on Pinterest. Don’t be afraid to ask your recruiter tips and tricks too, since they’ve dealt with handfuls of nurses throughout the years and have heard many good and bad stories!
Travel Nursing Tip: Find a nurse mentor. Have you found a travel nurse that you just click with? Ask if they would be willing to mentor you through your first travel nursing job. This is a great way to network and get great advice from someone who has been in your shoes.
Starting your first travel nursing job is SO exciting! Come into the process prepared for success with the tips and tricks listed above. Have more questions about how to get started travel nursing or want to chat with a recruiter? We are here for you 24/7! Happy traveling.