It may be easy for the uninitiated to think that starting a travel nurse contract is just as easy as pointing on a map to a recruiter and saying ‘get me a posting there’. And while that might be possible in some cases, the reality is that there is a lot more to consider before you can actually start a contract.
One of the most important things you need to consider is whether the trip you’re planning is a good opportunity for you. What that means to you specifically is probably only known to you, but generally, here are some ideas from Ventura MedStaff recruiters. After years and years of experience, this is how we approach each new, and even seasoned, traveler.
Will the Job Posting Be a Valuable Experience Professionally?
Here is the biggest thing you need to keep in mind when applying to a travel nurse program – it is still a job. Sure, you are going to explore new places, to enrich your life with new experiences. But, in essence, you’re still applying for a job.
Make sure that the posting you take is something that can benefit you. For instance, if you are looking to specialize in a particular niche nursing profession, find a short-term contract in a hospital that offers a position you’re interested in. Not only will you be well compensated to learn things you are interested in, but you will also gain valuable experience that you can use to advance your career.
Will the Job Posting Be Well Paid?
Many people are a bit apprehensive when it comes to discussing pay and asking for payment. However, traveling nurse contracts are typically the outliers. Not only are they significantly better paid than regular nursing jobs (at the same hospital), but you get to know your salary and everything else well before you sign any contract.
This means that you can put pen to paper, as it were, and work out whether the compensation is worth the difficulty of the job, as well as the distance from your family and friends. Just make sure to calculate the cost of living in the area where you are going. If your posting is in New York or some other major city, you need to be aware of the cost differences.
Is the Job Posting Coming from a Reputable Medical Facility?
Sadly, not all medical facilities are the same. Chances are that facilities in wealthier cities and states have much more advanced technology and deal with state-of-the-art procedures that might not be available elsewhere.
If you have the chance to work at a cutting-edge facility, by all means, take it. It’s not only about the bragging rights that you have experienced at that particular facility. It’s more about being at the center of progress, learning more about the latest trends that might soon become ubiquitous. If you’re ahead of the curve, your career will certainly take off.
Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and a few other facilities come to mind first when discussing reputable medical facilities, but there are countless other hospitals and medical centers that offer niche and highly specialized medical services – like the Texas Children’s Hospital specializing in childhood cancer, or Cleveland Clinic’s work on cardiovascular disease.
Will the Job Posting Be a Valuable Experience Personally?
Finally, we need to address the reason why people mostly opt for travel nurse contracts – traveling for fun. An important item on your list when choosing your travel destination should be what places you want to visit and things you want to do. If you’re really interested in swimming or surfing, finding a posting in Wyoming might not be the most satisfying experience for you.
Ideally, the perfect travel nurse contract would blend your personal and professional goals. Finding a great facility that ticks all your major professional boxes in the location that offers activities you want to engage in your free time may take a bit of time and a bit of compromise, but with a good travel nurse agency, you should be able to pull it off.
Reach out to our recruiters at Ventura MedStaff, and we will help you find a posting you will enjoy, learn something new, and earn some money doing so.
