As an aspiring traveling nurse, you are probably aware of the increased pay, included accommodations and other perks of your new career. However, when there are so many different options for medical staffing agencies with whom you could be working, it's not always easy to be sure that you are choosing the most appropriate employer for your current skill set and needs. Therefore, it's best to be aware of the following tips when making the important and binding decision as to who you should work for:
Consider Your Own Specialization And How It Correlates To Other Traveling Nurses At The Agency
It is important to remember that you are more likely to find immediate opportunities for in-demand nursing jobs, as there is often less demand for a typical ward or floor than there might be for ER, ICU, or labor and delivery nurses. Therefore, if you have experience in a specific field of nursing and want to focus on that specialty, it only makes sense that you will benefit from working with an agency that frequently works with nurses that share your passion.
In addition, the additional experience that you gain from continuing to work in that specialty can make you even more attractive to future traveling nursing jobs. For instance, working with high-risk expectant mothers, end-stage dialysis patients or an emergency room in a less-than-ideal area will often provide you with unique experiences that you might not obtain otherwise...and you could easily find that you can benefit financially from that extra knowledge in the years to come.
Closely Research The Hospital And Area Where You Will Be Working
One regret often expressed by traveling nurses has been that they didn't check out the hospital enough when they asked to live near it. In theory, it sounds like a great idea to live near your work, especially when you are in a new city and the company that you work for is probably paying part or some of your rent.
However, as mentioned previously, many of the hospitals that need nurses so badly are in big cities and might be in questionable areas. In that instance, you should determine if the convenience of living near your work is enough to offset the possibility of living in a rough neighborhood. If you don't think it is, you'll need to discuss your options with the nursing recruiter before committing to the assignment or the rental property.
In conclusion, life as a traveling often presents with the opportunity for increased pay, comped housing, and being able to see a new place for a few weeks or months at a time. However, you're likely to find that when you decide to become a travel nurse, you'll receive many offers of employment and committing to the right medical staffing agency is essential. Therefore, the above advice will be quite useful.
Contact a company like Vitalis Consulting LLC for more information and assistance.
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