It can be difficult sometimes to make a decision. It can be scary. It can be nerve-wracking. It can take a lot of time to overpower your doubts and indecisiveness. Here are some things that could help you in the process of making that leap of faith and that you should take into account when weighing the pros and cons of making a career in travel nursing.
Being a frontline worker is tremendously hard but as a travel nurse, you are one of the privileged ones that can still enjoy traveling around the country and getting new experiences. Whether you choose to accept a job offer in America or an international offer, here are some things that you should be aware of when choosing a medical staffing agency.
Top 5 things you should expect from your travel nursing agency and things that you should ask about
Pay
A travel nurse is someone who does a highly demanding job and should be compensated accordingly. There is a high demand for medical staffing at the moment, so be sure to compare your potential salary among companies. There is a cornucopia of medical staffing agencies offering to be your recruiter, so choose the one that is transparent about the payment or/and any additional reimbursements.
You can choose from a variety of fields and keep in mind that if you are specialized in any field you are eligible for a higher pay rate.
Expenses
Bear in mind that some companies include the home allowance, transportation fees, and paid leave into their job package, and therefore it is always a good idea to ask the company about it, especially if it is not clearly specified in the job offer or contract who bears these expenses. Remember, you are investing in your future and you want everything to be as clear and transparent as possible and you should be familiar with all the details.
Health insurance
Just as any other worker you are entitled to health insurance which most likely includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401k. You may have some additional health insurance as a medical worker but that depends on your med staffing agency.
Support
Your travel nursing agency should not only be your source of income but also your support, source of information, and help. Any reputable agency can assist you and probably will offer help in obtaining state license(s) if you need them and guide you through the application process. The company’s team should be by your side every step of the way, navigating you through the paperwork by keeping you informed and keeping the administration process as easy as possible and up to date. With a responsible team, you won’t even feel the burden of taking care of your documents.
Education
Growing professionally and educating yourself continuously is the fastest way to advance your career. Becoming an expert in a certain field will benefit your personal and professional life. Depending on the medical staffing agency you could be offered to take part in seminars, webinars, and nursing associations which could give you a nudge in the right direction. Some of these memberships and expenses are covered by the company so make sure to inform yourself further on this through your company’s team.
What makes a difference between a good agency and a great medical staffing agency is their willingness to meet your needs. A great company will assist you in taking care of things that it doesn’t have to. So, feel free to assess your company’s competence as it assesses yours.
Any additional questions or concerns you may have like, for example, how to make room for your pet during your assignment you should be responded to or/and offered a solution. A lot of companies are pet friendly and they will gladly find accommodation for you and your best friend. Not only that, they may even meet you halfway if you’d like to bring your family along.
These are some basic things that you can expect a travel nursing company to help you with. During this adventure, you may encounter some problems you couldn’t even imagine having. So, in conclusion, it is immensely important that you find a medstaff agency that you can rely on and that will be your greatest ally.
