One of the greatest benefits to taking on a travel nurse assignment is gaining valuable experience all over the country, though sometimes, those experiences are negative. If you’ve found yourself dreading your next shift, take a step back and assess what it is you don’t like about where you are. Once you’ve found your pain points, you can decide what to do. Here are some tips on how to navigate some of the most common circumstances travel nurses experience when they dislike their travel nursing assignment.

You and Your Coworkers Aren’t a Good Match 

Are the people you’re working with not the type of people you want to be around? Whether it’s unprofessionalism, cattiness, or misalignment on goals and values, at some point in your career, you may work with people who make each shift difficult. 

If this is what you’re up against, try to remember there’s more to this assignment than the work. You’ve landed a role in an entirely new city, so focus your energy on creating plans to explore where you are before or after your shift or even on your lunch break. 

Your Assignment Isn’t What You Expected

If, for example, you were expecting to work in a brand new unit and you found yourself working somewhere old and run down, then it’s completely fair for you to not be excited about heading into work. Your expectations weren’t met, which is why it’s so important to get all your questions answered at the interview stage before you accept your role.

If you can, power through the circumstances and make the best of it. Despite your situation not being up to par with what you envisioned, the experience can still be incredibly valuable if you see past the negatives. 

You Feel Homesick

Even if you add pieces of home to your current living space, such as photos and furniture, it still gets tough to be away from where you love, but try sticking it out. As time passes and you spend more time in your new city, you may be surprised by what elements of your new home will grow on you. 

If being homesick still outweighs wanting to experience a new city, restructure your schedule to plan a trip home. For example, if you’re on schedule to work three 12-hour shifts at the beginning of the week, you have four days to make the trek back home for a quick visit. 

You Don’t Feel Like You’re Set Up for Success 

Whether you’re handling more patients than you’re used to or you’re too overwhelmed to juggle all your responsibilities, you may feel like you aren’t prepared to make it through your shifts. If this is the case, talk to management and ask for support. You and your manager can work through your obstacles together so you can make the most of your time at your new assignment. However, if the circumstances make you feel like your license is on the line, then call your recruiter about backing out of your assignment. 

Your recruiter should support you as you take your next steps in your assignment. Be clear about what it is you’re experiencing so they can help you move forward. An honest conversation now can best set you up for your next placement down the road.

Land Your Ideal Travel Nurse Placement 

Wherever you are in your travel nurse journey, our recruiters will be there to help you move forward and find a role you love. HealthCare Support is a national staffing resource for the healthcare industry that helps talented, passionate healthcare professionals like you find an ideal career path and workplace. Our network is vast, and our highly responsive team will help you get to where you’ve always dreamed of working. 

To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

Packing for any trip can be a hassle because you never want to pack too little or too much. However, packing for your first travel nursing assignment can be very stressful because you’ll likely be gone and living out of your suitcase for an extended period of time. To figure out what you need to bring and avoid leaving essential items behind, here is a travel nurse packing checklist you can reference before hitting the road.

Items to Bring on Your Initial Travel Nursing Assignment

Personal documents

Official identification documentation is essential when traveling. Without them, you may risk a delay in your starting date. Before heading out to your first assignment, you should check with your travel nursing recruiter to find out what exact documents you need. For instance,  you will probably need to bring some or all of the following: 

• Driver’s license
• Certifications 
• Proof of vaccines
• Social security card
• Proof of your physical exam from the past year
• Front and back copies of all your active professional licenses as some states haven’t gone paperless
• Proof of car insurance and registration, if driving
• Contact information for the travel nurse company you work for

Electronic devices

In this day and age, fewer people forget their electronics at home. However, when you’re rushing out of your home to catch a plane or get on the road, you can easily overlook these essential items. Make sure you pack your cell phone, laptop, camera, or tablet and all their respective chargers in your bag.

Household items

Some temporary housing will provide you with a short supply of the household items you will need, such as cleaning supplies, silverware, pans, and bedsheets. However, these items will vary from location to location. It is important to ask what items your housing will provide so that you can bring or buy what you need for your temporary home.

Clothes

The scrubs you bring are just as important as your regular clothing items. Check with your recruiter to see if the facility you go to will require specific scrubs you need to purchase or if what you have is good to bring. Aside from scrubs, pack clothes appropriate for the climate of the state you are traveling to. Make sure you pack a good mix of casual and formal items, but not too much so that it weighs down your luggage.

After a few travel nursing gigs under your belt, the packing process will be a breeze. To get started on your path to becoming a successful travel nurse, contact the professionals at HealthCare Support.

Prepare for Your First Travel Nursing Assignment With Us

If you are thinking of pursuing a career as a travel nurse, HealthCare Support is here to help you unlock your potential and place you in the ideal situation for your career. We are a premier national staffing resource for the healthcare industry, interested in supporting passionate healthcare professionals. Our professional network is vast, and our dedicated team of subject matter experts provide customized staffing solutions, dedicated advocacy, and compassionate guidance. 

To learn more about our open jobs and services, please call us at 888-219-6285.

Rotating schedules can have you wondering whether it’s time for your shift or time for bed. Within a week, you can be working 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. one shift and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. another. 

While rotating schedules give you the opportunity to learn what the job looks like at any time of the day and night, they can take a toll on you, especially if you’re a travel nurse living and working in a completely different location than you’re used to. Here are some tips for working a rotating schedule. 

Create a Pre- and Post-work Routine 

A solid routine can help you fall asleep or wake up. To keep your mind and body in good shape, we recommend incorporating the following into your day or night:

• Move your body – From full workout routines to simple stretches, regular movement is essential to your wellness.
• Be mindful of screen time – If you need to fall asleep at a good time and limit yourself from any distractions, use the do not disturb feature on your phone and unplug from the digital world by a certain time in the day or night. 
• Tune into a good show, movie, game, or book – Whatever it is that gets your mind out of work mode, enjoy it.
• Explore the city – Take a walk, try a cafe or restaurant, and enjoy the time you have as a travel nurse in a new city. 

Practice Your Non-Negotiables

As you figure out a solid routine for yourself, incorporate any necessary self-care and recovery activities. Whether it’s eating all your meals, working out a certain number of times a week, or carving out time to enjoy what you love to do, your non-negotiables are what you must do to take care of your body and mind. They’ll be what keeps you energized and ready to take on your upcoming shifts. 

Stick to a Sleeping Schedule That Works for You

To best take care of your patients, you need to take care of yourself. That includes getting enough sleep throughout the week, so set up hard rules around your sleep schedule. For example, if you operate best on seven hours of sleep, keep your body and mind used to those seven hours, even when you aren’t working or if you need to sleep during the day. 

As a travel nurse, you’ll likely have to go through your own adjustment period, whether it’s you getting used to a different time zone or home. To best help you get the hours of sleep you need wherever and whenever, invest in a good sleep mask, fan, and earbuds.

Take Breaks 

If you’re working consistent night shifts and getting ready to switch into day shifts, try to give yourself time in between to adjust. For instance, if you’re on schedule to work days after working nights, take time off between switching shifts to ease yourself into a sleeping schedule that works for you. 

Additionally, make sure you take your breaks at work. Working long shifts is tough as it is, and doing so when your routine has changed so much is even more challenging. Give yourself a mental break at work and take the time to eat a nutritious meal or go on a walk around the new city you’re in. 

Ask For Help 

Rotating shifts can get taxing on your mind and body. To avoid or minimize burnout, do the best you can to rest and recover, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help. You can ask other nurses or travel nurses for tips on working a rotating schedule. You can also reach out to your recruiter.

Lean on HealthCare Support for All Your Travel Nursing Needs 

From professional tips to support for your career growth, your recruiter can help you thrive in your travel nursing career. Our recruiters at HeathCare Support are dedicated to championing the professional, personal and financial goals of passionate healthcare professionals across the nation. Our network is vast and we’re ready to help you unlock your potential.

To connect with our compassionate and highly responsive team, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

Recruiters educate and mentor travel nurses before, during and after travel assignments, so reaching out to one is a great way to have support as you take on more assignments and grow in your career. To have a successful partnership, it’s important to learn if your recruiter and the agency they work with align with what you’re looking for. You can find out by doing your  research and asking your travel nurse recruiter specific questions that pertain to your  career.

Ask About Your Recruiter’s Experiences

You can get a general understanding of a recruitment agency through your own personal research, but what you learn online can be different from what you learn through a conversation. Asking your recruiter about the company culture, their experience and approach on placements, and any available opportunities are great questions to ask during your initial conversation. 

Learn if Your Recruiter Can Serve You

Remember, recruiters are here to support you and your career, so ask questions that will help you understand how they can serve you. When you first connect with a recruiter, consider asking these questions:

• How long have you been a recruiter with this agency? 
• What’s your experience been like?
• Do you have any testimonials from previous clients? 
• Why should I work with your agency? 
• What opportunities are available to me as a travel nurse? 
• Why are these facilities looking for travel nurses instead of permanent staff? 

Get to Know How You Will Be Supported as a Travel Nurse

If you feel you’re at a good place to move forward with your recruiter and next placement, learn what you should expect throughout your assignment. These questions for your recruiter can help you figure out what you need to know:

• How can I contact you while I’m on the job? 
• Should I expect any training before I start my assignment? 
• How will my housing and travel expenses be handled? 
• How will you work to support my goals and career success throughout the assignment? 

Discuss the Details of Your Opportunity

On top of covering the basic details of your placement, such as its assignment length, it’s important to find out additional details so you know exactly what you’re signing up for. This includes compensation, benefits, and hours you’re working. To learn more about your placement, ask your recruiter the following questions:

• What type of benefits do I have as a travel nurse? 
• What insurance is included?
• Should I anticipate any overtime pay, completion bonuses, or referral bonuses?
• Will I be earning my money through a direct deposit?
• Are there any opportunities for me to be reimbursed for my continuing education (CE) classes?

Bring Up Any Additional Concerns 

If this is your first travel assignment, don’t be afraid to share any hesitations or concerns with your recruiter. If this isn’t your first travel assignment, think back to any bumps in the road you’ve experienced in the past and ask your recruiter how they can support you if you run into any trouble. Some questions you can ask include:

• If I get sick, have an emergency, or for some other reason can’t complete my assignment, what happens? 
• What should I anticipate if I experience any problems with travel or housing arrangements?
• If another opportunity arises while I’m on this assignment, how will you support me?

Connect With a Supportive Recruiter Today

Your recruiter should champion you through your entire assignment so make sure you work with someone who’s ready to be your advocate as you grow in your travel nurse career. HealthCare Support is a national staffing resource that supports the professional, personal and financial goals of passionate healthcare professionals. With compassionate guidance and highly responsive support, our dedicated team can help you thrive in your new job and home. We’ll place you in a role and location you’ll love and be there for you every step of the way as you take on your assignment.

To connect with our team, please give us a call at 888-219-6285. 

When you’re working from place to place as a travel nurse, you may find it difficult to figure out where you’re living next. With temporary housing, you typically have two options: allow the agency you’ve worked with to provide housing or accept a stipend and find your own place to live. Stipend sizes vary, but they’re meant to help you pay for your temporary living arrangement, which can include rent in a fully furnished apartment. 

What Are the Benefits of a Stipend? 

Going with the agency-provided living arrangement certainly makes it easier to find housing. However, you can choose your own place with a stipend, which may be beneficial if you factor commute times to and from work or adventures you want to go on that are close to home.

Additionally, the amount of money you would get on your stipend will depend on many factors, including where you live and the time of year of your assignment, but 

you can gain some extra cash from your stipend. For example, if rent costs less than the stipend, you can take home the difference. 

What Should Travel Nurses Consider in Their Housing? 

You may have to factor in a few considerations if you’re leaning towards accepting a housing stipend on your next travel nurse assignment. As mentioned earlier, commute times to work and other lifestyle activities are worth thinking about. When deciding where to live with your stipend, you may also want to consider: 

• Means of transportation – Are you bringing a car or will you be depending on public transportation or a rental vehicle? Is everything you need within walking distance?
• Appliances and furniture – If you plan on cooking often, does your new home have the appliances you need? Do you need to bring your own entertainment, such as a TV? How homey are you willing to make your own space?
• Length of the lease – Will your new living arrangement align with the length of your assignment? Can you break your lease? How much will it cost you if you do? 

How Do You Know if a Housing Stipend Is Best for You? 

If you’re still unsure about your options, or if you’ve realized finding housing on your own is no small feat, we can help you figure out the best path forward. HealthCare Support is a national staffing resource that supports the professional, personal and financial goals of passionate healthcare professionals. With compassionate guidance and highly responsive support, our dedicated team can help you thrive in your new role and home. We’ll help you throughout the placement process and walk you through stipend living if that is best for you. 

To connect with our team, please give us a call at 888-219-6285. 

You’ve turned your tassel right to left and now it’s time to trade in the cap and gown for some scrubs. While it isn’t impossible to go straight from new graduate to travel nurse, it’s much easier to pursue the competitive career path when you have specific experiences under your belt. To set yourself apart, take a look at our timeline for tips on how to go from new grad nurse to travel nurse.

First Month: Prepare for the Job Hunt

First thing’s first: Update your resume. You have a new, well-earned degree to add to your resume as well as notable in-school shadowing or volunteering experiences. As you refine your resume, consider adding the following specifics under your experiences: 

• Location, unit, and charting system of the facilities you’ve worked in
• Specifics on unit sizes and nurse-to-patient ratios
• Relevant certifications or licenses you have
• References of the charge nurses or management you’ve worked with 

First Year on the Job: Try Float Nursing

Some nurses know exactly what unit they want to work in right when they graduate. Other nurses like trying different units before committing to a specialty. If the latter sounds like you, consider floating as your first nursing role. Float nurses are nurses who move from one unit to the other. They have the opportunity to learn which units they thrive in, connect with a wide variety of patients and healthcare professionals, and gain invaluable experience by adapting to whatever units they’re assigned to work. Remember, as you float, start to land new roles, and gain more experience, update your resume.

One to Two years in the Field: Find Your Specialty  

Once you find a unit you enjoy, try to stick to it for at least two years. Travel nurses typically start their career by gaining acute care experience in units they want to work, such as the emergency room, intensive care, or cardiology units. More time in a specialty means you’re seen as an expert in that field and you’re more likely to stand out in a competitive talent pool. 

Beyond One to Two years: Make the Jump To Travel Nursing

You can typically pursue your travel nursing career once you’ve been working for at least a year.  However, many facilities prefer you to have more than a year of experience in specialty areas like the operating room, neonatal intensive care unit, or the labor and delivery unit. 

If you have the right amount of experience and you’re ready to pursue a role that lets you take care of diverse communities, work alongside healthcare professionals in a new facility, and explore a different city off the clock, we can help. HealthCare Support is a premiere, national staffing agency that helps passionate nurses like you make the transition to travel nursing. Our dedicated team will help place you in a role and location that aligns with your goals—personal, professional, and financial.

To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

If you’re a nurse, or are interested in becoming one, you likely already know you have to be licensed in the state in which you practice. But did you know you can get a multistate license? 

The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) allows nurses to practice in various states across the country where the license is accepted—making it a particularly helpful license for travel nurses to have. Here are a few benefits that nursing compact states and the NLC can offer to travel nurses.

Nursing Compact State License Benefits

• You Have More Opportunities – As of December 2021, 39 states have enacted the NLC or are pending implementation. Not only do you have the potential to practice across the majority of the United States, including some territories like Guam and the Virgin Islands, but you can also open the door to experiencing an adventure in a place you’ve always wanted to visit. The following states have NLC legislation:

• Nursing Compact States Save You Stress – One of the more stressful parts about travel nursing is ensuring you have work lined up after your current contract ends, which is typically after 13 weeks. Once you find an assignment you want to commit to, the process of getting there may take longer than is convenient. If you’re looking to move quickly from one assignment to another, an NLC license allows you to work seamlessly between the states the license is accepted. 
• Save Time and Money – Depending on where you claim residency as a nurse, you typically need to renew your license according to the requirements of your home state or apply for licensure in each state you work. However, with an NLC, you won’t have to worry about multiple renewal requirements, licensures, and fees. All you have to do is keep track of one license. 

How to Get Your Multistate Nursing License

Eligibility for a multistate license starts with residing in one of the 39 compact states noted above. However, since there are some exceptions on how to get your multistate license depending on where you live, having help can make the process much easier.

A national staffing resource for the healthcare industry, HealthCare Support helps talented, passionate healthcare professionals, like you, find a job or assignment they’ll love. Our dedicated team is ready to help you get what you need to make your role easier and succeed in your travel nursing career . 

To learn more about our open jobs or how we can help you obtain your multistate license, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.