Insights

1. Take Control of Your Career

Your RapidStaff recruiter is here to help you meet your desired salary and achieve your professional goals, so make sure you are clear about your assignment needs. One of the benefits of travel healthcare assignments is that you are ultimately in control of your life. You can scope out the pay, location, as well as the length of the assignment and apply to the assignment that is right for you. Whether you decide to take time off between assignments or apply to back-to-back assignments, that is up to you!

Making sure your recruiter is aware of your goals will help ensure that you are contacted about the right opportunity for you when you need it.

2. Be Prepared

Traveling for an assignment can be exciting and rewarding, allowing you to explore new places while building your resume. However, if you’re not prepared, you may run into a few problems.

Have your licenses, credentials, vaccination records, and certificates up-to-date and ready to go. RapidStaff recruiter, Shelly Bochynski, says “It is important to carry a copy of all documents with you, and make sure you are aware of any documents that might be expiring while on assignment so those can be taken care of immediately.”

Shelly adds, “Know your Point of Contact’s phone number at the facility in case there is a need to call/emergency/cannot make their shift/late to work. Also, leave your recruiter the same message if you are not able to report to work so everyone is on the same page.”

3. Ask Questions

“No question is a dumb question!” advises RapidStaff recruiter, Heather Cortez. Making that you are as prepared as you can be when you set out on your travel assignment requires asking a few questions.

RapidStaff recruiter, Shelly Bochynski, says, “Find out about the hotel and what amenities it has, the city and its surrounding stores/restaurants etc. This is important so you can bring additional items if the hotel/housing does not provide them.” Also, “research and plan transportation to and from work daily as well as from the airport if flying in advance.”

4. Build Your Community

Networking with current travelers is an excellent way to get an inside look into the travel healthcare world. Talking with nurses who are currently traveling will allow you to build a community of likeminded people who have similar career goals as you.

“Follow traveling Facebook groups,” advises Heather. Becoming familiar with traveling groups will help introduce you to more people in your industry and it will also bring you the most current and hot jobs that are available. Coordinating assignments with the contacts you have made would be an additional benefit so you can see a familiar face in an otherwise unfamiliar location.

5. Take Time to Explore

Showing up to a new city can be scary, especially if you are traveling alone, but one of the best perks to traveling is experiencing a new city. Before arriving at your new location, make a list of things that you love. This could be food, activities, wine, coffee, you name it, and research the best spots to experience these things. That way, when you arrive, you’ll already know the restaurant or bar that you will be visiting or the best spots to site see or go hiking.