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Starting a new job is stressful and with travel nursing it may be more so — the hospital or facility more than likely needed you yesterday and your training is often condensed into a short time frame.
As a new traveler, adjusting to a new hospital every three months was challenging, but now it’s become my favorite part of the job. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks that ensure my first days on a new assignment run smoothly.
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In other words, come prepared. Bring hard copies of all of your important documents in a binder on your first day of orientation. The travel nurse agency you’re employed with and the hospital you’re contracted at both require specific documents like your nursing license, certifications, and health records. On occasion, travelers were prevented from starting because [insert important document] is missing and the nurse is unable to work until the document is received. Save yourself time and undo stress by having your documents readily available if needed. CamScanner is a free app that I use to upload all of my important documents to my phone — problem solved!
Also, bring a lock for your locker — most hospitals won’t provide one for you. And, bring a lunch. Don’t assume that you’ll have ample time to run down to the cafeteria to grab food.
Pro tip: Bring coffee and baked goods to break the ice with your new co-workers. Write a brief note on the box introducing yourself and expressing your excitement. Nurses appreciate the gesture!
Arrive early your first day and speak with the charge nurse (or whoever makes the assignments) and be assertive about who you want as your preceptor. As a traveler, your orientation is usually 1 to 3 days max, so it’s important that you maximize the time you have — securing a preceptor that’s the right fit for you is a good start.
For example, the charge nurse may assign you with nurse Betty who’s been working at the hospital for 30 years. Nurse Betty may be awesome at patient care, but as an experienced nurse who’s ready to hit the ground running, you’re not there to “learn to be a nurse.” You have a couple of days to learn the computer charting, so if nurse Betty isn’t comfortable using the computer, then you should speak up and request a “super user” on the unit.
Also, let the charge nurse know what you need to feel comfortable by yourself on the unit, so you’re able to have assistance from your preceptor the first-time around like for a full admission and/or discharge. As a labor and delivery nurse, I always ask to see at least one cesarean and one vaginal delivery during my orientation.
It’s impossible to learn every single thing in 1 to 3 days, so bring a notebook and write down all of the important things that you’ll need. Make sure you know how to call the charge nurse, nurse manager, and code team during an emergency. Also, make sure you know where the code button is in every room! Write down all of the codes to the locker room, bathroom, pyxis, storage room, etc. Print out important policies and procedures you may need to refer to in the future. And, don’t be afraid to ask questions — every hospital runs differently, so it’s not a good idea to assume anything. If you’re unsure, ASK. Don’t put patient safety at risk because you don’t want to ask too many questions.
Most importantly, always keep a positive attitude. No place is perfect and it’s not your job to point out everything you see wrong or try to “fix” anything either. Keep an open mind and remember that most things can be done more than one way.
Focus on your patients and concentrate on providing the best care for them. No matter where you’re working or what your experience is, it’s all about perspective. A difficult assignment can be a learning opportunity. Being floated can add new skills to your resume. If the hospital isn’t “traveler friendly,” that’s okay — you can do anything for three months.
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When my vacation was denied after my father passed away, that was the last straw. I was overworked, underpaid, and completely fed up when my manager refused to give me time away to grieve the most important person in my life. Less than 24 hours later, I accepted my first job as a travel nurse, signed my contract, and put in my two weeks notice. It’s safe to say that I did more than just take the leap into travel nursing — I dove in head first without looking back.
Becoming a travel nurse gave me the autonomy to quit the job I hated and choose the job I wanted. Now, I have the freedom to vacation as long as I want, and I’ve more than doubled my income while only working 9 months last year!
But, I have to be honest, starting off wasn’t so easy and I made a lot of rookie mistakes. Even though I struggled for a few years, I don’t regret becoming a travel nurse. Though, there are a few things that I would do differently.
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After some initial research, I found a reputable company that I liked and gave them a call. Once I connected with a company recruiter, I immediately began working with her to find a job placement. Seems simple, right? That was actually the first big mistake I made. As a travel nurse, it’s smarter to work with more than one company especially if you’re new to the industry. This will allow you to compare the benefits that each company offers to ensure you’re getting the right fit for you. It also allows you to compare recruiters — which leads me to the next mistake I made.
Unfortunately, not all recruiters are created equally. Any experienced travel nurse will tell you, your recruiter can make or break your entire experience as a travel nurse. When you’re looking for a recruiter make sure that they have great communication skills. Are they easy to get ahold of? Do they respond in an appropriate amount of time? You do not want a recruiter who’s MIA! This will make all the difference if you run into any problems during your assignment.
Also, make sure that your recruiter listens to your needs and makes them a priority. You should never be pressured into something you don’t want to do. For example, working night shift is a deal breaker for me, so I hate it when recruiters send me offers for night shift. It’s a waste of time and it shows me that the recruiter failed to listen to me and make my needs a priority when looking for jobs.
Lastly, your recruiter should be upfront and transparent about pay packages. You should never be submitted to any position without fully understanding every aspect of what you’re offered.
This mistake should cost you money, so pay attention. Signing your first contract can be really exciting, but it’s important you know what you’re signing yourself up for. This sounds like common sense, but many new travel nurses don’t bother to read the terms they’re agreeing to. Double check everything you and your recruiter discussed, so there’s no discrepancies that could lead to surprises later on.
Things to confirm before you sign your contract:
If you have any planned vacation, make sure that your vacation time is written in your contract AND confirmed by the hiring manager in your interview if possible. Shift and hours may seem like a small detail but it’s often overlooked — never assume you’re working three shifts per week (36 hours). Although, it’s common, shifts and hours will vary by facility. Many facilities require 8 hour shifts instead of 12.
Last but least, have fun! No matter where you end up, make the most of every experience.
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I’ve been a travel nurse for over 3 years with 14+ contracts under my belt. But, I learned some lessons the hard way on how best to land a travel nursing job. Below are five tips from building your resume to interviewing with the hiring manager that helped me get multiple travel nurse contracts.
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As I’m sure you know, 1-2 years experience is needed to become a travel nurse. But, there’s one more thing that’s much more important than experience. Once I discovered this, I was able to land a job over another travel nurse who had twice the experience as me. What is it? Your skill set.
Travel nurses are expected to start working on a new unit with minimal training (usually 1-3 days max), so the first thing hiring managers will want to see on your resume is what you can do, not just how long you’ve worked. For example, if you’re an ER nurse with 2 years experience in a Level I trauma center, you’ll likely get the job over another nurse with 4 years experience in a Level IV trauma center, because you’ve probably seen more patients and learned more skills in a shorter period of time.
Pro tip: Add your skill set to your resume, so the hiring manager can compare more than years of experience.
Now that you know how to build a better travel nurse resume, you’re more likely to get a call for an interview. But, don’t miss the call! This was a painful mistake I made as a new traveler and it ended up costing me a job. A hiring manager called once while I was driving. I decided to call her back when I reached home and had reviewed my prepped interview notes. When I called back an hour later, the manager said, “According to your resume you were the perfect fit for the job, but I called another traveler after I couldn’t reach you and she was offered the job.”
I was heartbroken — I lost a contract I really wanted due to a preventable mistake. The travel nurse industry moves really fast. If you’re submitted to a job, make sure your ringer is on ad you’re ready to interview at any time.
Pro tip: Be confident! If the hiring manager is calling you, then your resume fits what they’re looking for. All you have to do is reassure them that you’re the perfect fit for the position.
Once you receive a call from the hiring manager, remember to emphasize that you’re a team player, quick learner, and easy to work with. And most importantly, mention that you’re flexible. The mistake many travelers make when interviewing is bringing up their vacation requests too early in the interview. Yes, vacation time is something you want to confirm in your interview, but mentioning it first thing is the quickest way to bomb your interview. Travel nurses are hired to fill a staffing need — you don’t want the hiring manager to think you’re more worried about your vacation than the role.
Also, make sure to let the hiring manager know that you’ve done some research and know what you’re getting into if you accept the contract. As a labor and delivery nurse, I personally love high-risk units that are busy. For one interview, I told the hiring manager, “When I heard that there’s over 600 deliveries per month on your unit, it immediately put a smile on my face. As a travel nurse I look forward to working on busy units with high-risk patients, because I love a challenge.”
A little bit of research on the role or facility lets the hiring manager know that you’re not intimidated by the job and you’re ready to hit the ground running.
Last but not least, if you think you’re the right fit, then always ask for the job at the end of the interview. A hospital hiring travel nurses is most likely short staffed and needed you yesterday — there’s no sense delaying the process further. I personally ask for the job at the end of each interview and I’ve always heard yes!
Ready to start traveling? Get connected with a staffing agency now!
I’ve run into quite a few challenges since becoming a travel nurse, but many people are surprised to hear me say that dating isn’t one of them.
I’m definitely no expert when it comes to relationships, but after four years in a long-distance relationship (both before traveling and after), I’m happy to share some pros and cons of long-distance relationships as a travel nurse.
Con: We don’t live in the same city.
Pro: Every time we see each other, it’s a vacation.
Over the years we’ve met in various cities across the United States and even different countries. One of the first things I do at a new assignment is plan our first date in that city. It’s so much fun to be a “tourist” for a day and check some experiences off our bucket list. Travel nursing gives us the opportunity to explore new places together, and make new memories as a couple every few months.
Con: We don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like.
Pro: Our time together is special.
We’ve all heard it — absence makes the heart grow fonder. However, I never appreciated that statement until it became my reality. Since my significant other and I don’t see each other every day, it’s a special occasion every time we meet. It also gives me something to look forward to during my assignments. I usually schedule a weekend off in the middle of my contract to make plans with loved ones. Spending time with my significant other is always the highlight of my assignments.
Con: Living without your significant other can get lonely.
Pro: You’re not dependent on each other, which is healthy.
When we’re apart, it can get lonely. As a travel nurse, though, I’ve learned to be more outgoing, meet new friends, and not be afraid to explore on my own. I’m independent in many ways, which is something my significant other loves about me. Many people get so intertwined in their relationships that they lose themselves. That’s definitely not been the case for my relationship. Being a travel nurse gives our relationship a healthy balance of independence for the both of us.
Con: Long distance is the ultimate test of any relationship.
Pro: If your relationship can survive the distance, it can survive anything.
I’ve noticed over the years that maintaining a genuine relationship with anyone (friendship or partner) is more difficult when you’re thousands of miles away. However, your true friendships and relationships will pass this test and grow stronger. Over the years, being apart from my significant other has built trust and communication on many different levels. We’ve learned to make each other a priority. I believe, if we can survive the distance, our relationship can survive anything.
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I mourned my father at his funeral on Sunday — then attempted to pull myself together for work on Monday.
I thought I had everything under control.
But, as a labor and delivery nurse, I had no idea how difficult it would be to care for others when I wasn’t given the time to take care of myself first. After my patient delivered a beautiful baby boy and then called her father to the bedside to welcome his first grandchild, my emotions overtook me. The painful realization that my dad would never see his grandchildren was too much to bear at the time.
My manager quickly pulled me aside and said, “I know you’re upset, but you need to pull it together. You’re making a scene.”
I stood there in shock at her response. I wiped my tears, apologized, and went back to work at the job I now resented.
I know what you’re thinking.
“You deserve time off after losing your father.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I would have QUIT?!”
Believe me, I had every single one of those thoughts too. But, despite the fact that I was burnt out, mistreated, and unappreciated — I had no way out. This job was necessary to make ends meet.
Later that day, I sat in the break room with a million emotions running through my head. I felt completely defeated. And, I honestly wondered how much longer I could last. All I could say to myself was, “I’m too tired to function. I hate my job. I just want to be with my family. I don’t even know if I want to be a nurse anymore.”
Then the phone rang. Serendipitously, it was a travel nurse recruiter I had spoken to in the past. Before he passed, my father and I had discussed travel nursing, but I never thought it was something that I would actually do. Every time this recruiter called, it was always the same conversation full of excuses and what-ifs.
“I don’t want to move to a new city by myself.”
“What if my contract gets canceled?”
“What if the next hospital is worse than here?”
“What if I don’t have enough experience?”
But that day, I was fed up. I had finally reached my tipping point.
All those fears suddenly vanished when I realized that my biggest fear was actually staying stuck. Staying stuck at a job that refused to give me time off to grieve my father. Staying stuck working in a hospital that enforced mandatory overtime, but didn’t enforce lunch breaks. Staying stuck with a manager that
told me to “pull it together and get back to work” without recognizing my agony after burying my father just hours before my shift started.
So, I made the decision that changed my life — becoming a travel nurse. By far, the best decision I’ve ever made. It gave me the opportunity to double my income, help support my newly widowed mother, move closer to my parent’s home, and take the time off I needed to deal with a life that no longer included my father.
But, I’m not going to pretend like I was brave enough to take the leap without feeling anxious about the unknown. Packing up, driving across the country, and moving to an unfamiliar city is terrifying. Adjusting to a new unit, meeting new people, and learning new things is intimidating. Flying solo after a few days of orientation is nothing short of challenging. Anyone who tells you differently is lying to you.
What I will tell you is that I was so busy worrying about all the things that could go wrong, I didn’t take time to think about how incredible my life would be if all of those things went right.
As a travel nurse, I’ve lived in other countries and learned a new language. I’ve spent a month traveling across Europe with my closest friends. I’ve played with penguins on the beach in the southern tip of Africa. I even managed to finish my master’s degree while living in paradise (Costa Rica!). But, all of those experiences are just the icing on the cake. The truth is, I became a travel nurse because I was desperate to leave a job I hated, overwhelmed with grief that turned to depression, and more financially stressed than I’d ever been before.
Travel nursing allowed me to escape all of those things. I’ve been able to travel the world, make more money, and choose when and where I want to work. And, most importantly, I found happiness.
