7 Ways to Navigate Your First Travel Nursing Contract
By: Melissa Mills, RN, BSN, CCM, MHA
Making the decision to be a travel nurse is exciting and rewarding for yourself and your career goals. And one of the first steps to starting this adventure is signing your first travel nursing contract.
One of the top things to refer to is our FAQs section. We cover everything from requirements, reimbursements and bonuses and housing. And then from there we encourage you to go through these important seven areas and educate yourself even more.
CHECK OUT more reasons to start your next travel nursing assignment.
Navigate Your First Travel Nursing Contract
1. Assignment: Understand all aspects of your assignment before signing the travel nursing contract. Know your shift, unit, and weekend requirements. Ensure you are comfortable on the unit you are to work on and possess the right knowledge and experience for the population of patients.
2. Pay: Make sure you understand your pay per hours and expected pay per week, and how hours missed for sick time or other personal reasons are handled. Your travel nursing recruiter will be an excellent resource to turn to.
3. Housing: There are several different ways to proceed with housing. You may decide to take a stipend, or secure your own housing. Or you may allow your travel nursing agency to find and arrange your housing.
4. Transportation: Research the area you’ll be working in or ask your travel recruiter what transportation to your assignment will require. Knowing whether you need a car or can take public transportation is key to planning for your move.
READ MORE on extensions: Beyond 13 Weeks: Extending Your Assignment.
5. License/Certification Reimbursement: If you must obtain any new licenses or certifications in order to travel, you should know if the agency will reimburse your costs. Be sure to find out up front so that you are aware of all costs to you related to traveling.
6. Benefits: You may need health and/or dental insurance. Understand what benefits are available to you and what all the associated costs are so that can make the best decisions during the negotiation portion of your travel nurse contract.
7. Extensions: You may love your new facility so much that you want to stay. Review your travel nurse contract to understand the possibility of extensions and if there are any penalties for you or the facility if you receive one.
GET STARTED today and take the next step in your career with TravelNursing.com.