Beat the Heat in Travel Nursing--Without Breaking a Sweat
By Aaron Moore, MSN, RN-BC, travel nurse expert
Do You Have a Question About Travel Nursing?
Send your questions
to Aaron. You can also find answers to
FAQs, or
apply today to get started with one of TravelNursing.com’s staffing partners.
As I rode my bike to work today in the 110 degree heat of Nebraska, I dreamed of cooler weather. The thought of dipping my feet in the cool blue water of the Pacific Ocean got me reminiscing about my travel assignments in sunny San Diego. What a great time; I’m so glad my recruiter convinced me to travel there and start my career off in such an amazing location.
The weather, the beaches and the food were amazing! Not all traveling nurse jobs are created equal, but each has their own appeal. And my first California job really fueled my love of adventure.
Back to my reality in Nebraska: I try to escape the heat at home, but my air conditioner and a cold adult beverage aren’t cutting it today. Those internet ads that follow my preferences are teasing me, as well, with pictures of “nurses” kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, supposedly during their time off from travel nursing jobs in California and other locales. The images entice me to travel far away.
Most pictures like this you see on the internet aren’t to be trusted, right? “That can’t be real,” you say to yourself.
But I’m here to tell you that you can escape the heat and get away to some incredible destinations--or make a job change for another reason--and you can do it pretty quickly with traveling nurse jobs. It all depends on how motivated you are.
Case in point: I planned and interviewed for a few months to find my first, perfect travel RN assignment in Santa Monica, only to have it fall through at the last minute--literally 14 days before I was supposed to leave. This kind of thing is pretty rare, but I mention it as an example of how quickly you can move in this career.
As soon as this happened, my recruiter swooped in and reassured me, “We’ve got this.” And he delivered on his promise. I had an interview the next day, down the coast in San Diego. After a quick 10-minute conversation with the manager of a small hospital in the suburb of Chula Vista, I was told they would make a call and couldn’t wait to meet me in two weeks.
Problem solved in 24 hours, and I was still on my way out West to start the adventure of my life.
Although my first experience was unusual, it does show that you can start your travel nurse adventure at any time--especially if you have a great recruiter in your corner.
If you are in one of the 25 nurse compact states, working in another compact state can be very quick and straightforward. In other states, your recruiter can help you figure out the timelines and processes for getting licensed where you want to travel. They’ll also help you find a travel nursing job to fit your personal goals.
So whether you’re hoping to beat the heat, find a new challenge or simply have an adventure, you can make a change and expand your career with travel nursing. Just talk to your recruiter and let him or her do the heavy lifting in your job search. You could be on your way in no time--while barely breaking a sweat.
RELATED: A Primer for Getting Your Nursing License in Another State
© 2016. AMN Healthcare, Inc. All Rights Reserved.