|
The steps to take to become
a travel nurse
If you go to a website that belongs to a
nurse recruitment company, they will have a similar article
to this one. But one of the first things they will tell you
is to choose a company to work with.
WRONG!
Step 1. Decide where you want to
travel. This will dictate which company you go with.
Are you looking to live in a large city
or small town? East or west coast? Maybe even Hawaii or Alaska?
Your location plays a large role in your next decisions.
Step 2. Decide what you want from
your travel company.
What benefits do you want? Do you require private housing
or is a roommate ok? Do you want your housing paid or 100%
or will you pay for part of it? Do you want your insurance
to start the day you start with the company or is it ok to
wait one month after you start working?
All these are benefits the travel companies
play with and manipulate to get the best package for themselves.
If the travel company can get you to pay for something, it
will. If you say no, they will pay for it rather then lose
you as a client.
Step 3. Research travel companies
online
View the Company Directory on this website. Some companies
like American Mobile are very large and have lots of assignments
all around the country. So do their sister companies: Medical
Express, Preferred Healthcare, Nurses RX, O'Grady Peyton,
and NurseChoice. Other smaller travel companies specialize
in one geographic area: like California, or Hawaii.
Step 4 Get these companies to contact
you.
You can send you application to several companies all at one
through the application on this site. Filling out this application
will mean getting calls and emails from several of the companies.
They are almost desperate to have you as a client.
Or you can just contact one or two that
you really like, but remember, if one company can do something,
the others can as well. Except when it comes to assignments.
The larger companies typically have more contracts with more
hospitals which means more assignments to choose from.
Step 5. Talk to the recruiters.
You want a recruiter that you get along with, is knowledgeable,
and that you can trust. This person will be your lifeline
while you are traveling. If this person is not responsive
now, while they are still trying to get you as a client, they
will not be responsive when they have to work for you.
Since you already have your destination
choose, hare this with all the recruiters and make them give
you a list of all available assignments that they have.
If you like the company but not the recruiter
ask for another one. I once called a company I heard good
things about from other travels. But for the life of me, I
could not understand anything the recruiter said. It was all
mumbled up. This poor woman called me like 10 times and left
messages but I couldn't even understand her name. Eventually
someone else called and I got all the info I needed, and I
might end up working with them. I should have just asked for
a different recruiter from the beginning.
Step 6. Compare all the assignment
including pay and scheduling. Also compare the recruiters
and company benefits. Choose the company that best offers
what you want. We have articles on this site that will help
you in this area.
Step 7. Fill out all the forms for
the travel company (there are a lot). You also need to apply
for a license in the state you are traveling to. Check out
our Resources section for
a list of all the license requirments for different states.
Step 8. Once you are ready to go,
you must interview with the hospital you have chosen to work
at. They will decide if they want you and you decide if you
want them. If it is a yes from both sides, you are ready to
go.
Step 9, Get your housing assignment
from your travel company, and get all your affairs in order
and go!
|
