Are You Missing Out? 5 Travel Nursing Opportunities You May Overlook
Make sure you take advantage of all the benefits of travel nursing
By the TravelNursing.com staff
Travel nurses seem to have it all, as they travel the country to experience dream locations and gain experience in top facilities. They can take advantage of free housing, free continuing education and travel reimbursements, among other perks. But travelers could be missing out on some benefits of travel nursing without even realizing it.
Here are five travel nursing opportunities that you shouldn’t overlook:
Building your professional network
Have fun and build your social network, by all means, but don’t neglect opportunities to support your career, as well. By simply working at more facilities as a travel nurse, you have the potential to build a larger professional network than most nurses. So, on each assignment, make the effort to get to know your colleagues, nurse managers and other health care professionals in the area. Ask about opportunities, find a mentor, share your career aspirations, volunteer your skills for a worthy cause and see where it leads. Then keep in touch with people and their careers through LinkedIn, Facebook or other social and professional networking sites.
Working a “travel” job in your own backyard
Who said travel nursing means you have to go somewhere else? It’s not always required. If you are looking for temporary employment in your hometown or in a city nearby, talk to a recruiter about the possibilities. Recruiters can also help you find temporary positions in a new hometown when your spouse or significant other needs to relocate for work or school.
Taking an assignment that isn’t at the top of your list
Unexpected opportunities can lead to the best of results. Even if you have your heart set on a certain location or job, don’t overlook other great opportunities along the way. Some travel nurses have found new favorite places, met future spouses, discovered a new career path or birthed a lifelong passion by taking a job they hadn’t originally sought out. Be willing to listen to your recruiter’s suggestions, take an educated risk and try something new. Then invest yourself in each location to experience the greatest benefits of travel nursing.
Turning your travel adventure into a family reunion
Your new job might offer the perfect opportunity to reconnect with family or friends. Surprise that great aunt with a visit on your days off, or invite your closest sibling to help explore your new city from the comfort of your agency-provided private apartment. And with just a little planning, you can start to cross some great experiences off your travel bucket list.
Earning bonuses from referrals and more
Know someone else who would make a great travel nurse? Whether you are currently traveling or not, you could help connect a deserving colleague with a great assignment while earning yourself a healthy cash bonus. TravelNursing.com’s staffing partners offer referral bonus programs that can pay up to $2,000 for referring a travel nurse (depending on specialty), once he or she successfully completes an assignment. Working overtime can lead to bonuses, as well. American Mobile is among the agencies currently offering the My Time Bonus program, which will pay a $100 bonus for every additional 10 hours you work above your monthly regularly scheduled shifts--and the bonus is in addition to overtime pay.
Learn more about the requirements and benefits of travel nursing with TravelNursing.com.
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