If you’re a nurse looking for a new and exciting opportunity, travel nursing may be the perfect choice for you. Travel nursing is a great way to see the country while working in your field. Hospitals are hiring employees more and more through travel nursing agencies, so it’s easier than ever to find a job. In this blog post, we’ll talk about how travel nursing is changing the landscape of hospital hiring and how you can enter into the field yourself!
To start with you will need to make sure that you have passed your NCLEX exam and have your license in hand. If you are struggling to pass your NCLEX exam there are many NCLEX Exam prep companies out there than can help.
Find an Agency
Once you have that squared away, the next step is to find a travel nursing agency. There are many different agencies out there, so it’s important to do your research before signing up with anyone. The best way to find an agency is by word of mouth. Ask your friends or family if they have any experience with a travel nursing agency and what their thoughts were.
You can also consider joining Facebook groups specifically for travel nurses. This is a great way to connect with other nurses who are in the same boat as you and to get advice from people who have been in the field for a while.
Find a Job
Once you’ve found an agency, it’s time to start looking for jobs. Hospitals are hiring employees more and more through travel nursing agencies, so you’re likely to find a job that fits your needs. It’s important to keep in mind that the landscape of travel nursing is always changing, so you may need to be flexible with your job search.
The best way to find a job is by submitting your resume and cover letter through the agency’s website. Be sure to tailor your resume and cover letter to each job that you apply for. This will show the hospital that you are interested in their specific position and that you have taken the time to learn about their hospital.
The rates that hospitals are willing to offer travel nurses have skyrocketed due to COVID-19. Many hospitals are now offering $50-$150 an hour for nurses, which is much more than the traditional rate of $30-$35 an hour. This is a great opportunity to make some extra money while you travel! But be sure to save this extra money as often your health care expenses will be higher and you will also need to save for your retirement on your own as most travel agencies do not offer a pension plan.
Why do Hospitals hire Traveling Nurses
Hospitals like travel contacts as they are seen as short-term. They do not want to pay their employees a higher rate because once they set that rate they are stuck with it for the duration of the employee’s time there. This is why they have resorted to travel contracts instead of increasing the rate for their current employees. You have most likely seen this and it is why you are considering traveling yourself. Why work beside someone making 4 times the pay that you are and doing the same job.
You don’t even have to leave the state in some cases. Only travel more than a pre-determined number of miles (regulations can vary state to state) from your “tax-home” and it will be considered a travel assignment. Health insurance can be obtained through many 3rd party providers but be sure to read the fine print on “short term” health insurance, espically if you have young children or plan to have children as pregnancy and some routine procedures such as tubes can be excluded from the coverage.
Once you’ve been offered a job, it’s important to prepare for your move. Make sure that you have all of your paperwork in order and that you have packed all of your belongings. It’s also a good idea to research the city that you will be moving to. This way, you can be sure that you are familiar with your new surroundings. Finding housing can also be a challenge in a new city, so start looking for housing as soon as possible. You can find fully furnished places to rent on websites such as Airbnb, or you can find a roommate to help split the cost of the rent.
The landscape of travel nursing is always changing, so be prepared to be flexible with your job search. If you are willing to put in the work, you will be sure to find a job that fits your needs. Good luck!
Review The Changing Landscape of Travel Nursing: How Hospitals are Hiring Employees.