Nursing is one of the fastest-growing career fields, and the outlook for travel nursing jobs is looking bright. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurse employment is expected to grow 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, considered faster than the rate for all occupations. Clearly, based on these numbers, now is a great time to consider a career in travel nursing.
As such, many new grads are excited about the possibility of permanent (full-time) employment as well as opportunities in travel nursing, according to V. Goodwin, the nursing student outreach director at Aureus Medical Group. In a recent interview, Goodwin talked about the job search for new grads and how to best prepare for a career as a travel nurse moving forward.
What new nursing grads need to know
According to Goodwin, full-time employment is available in a variety of settings for many nursing candidates following graduation, whether it be in a hospital, long-term care facility, clinic or hospice/home health position. However, the market is very competitive for new graduates. Regardless of the setting, new nurses will want to take advantage of nurse residency programs to gain expertise before starting a career in travel nursing.
"Registered nurse employment is expected to grow 19% from 2012 to 2022."
"These programs, which are often a requirement for new graduates, combine additional classroom training and mentorship along with clinical orientation," Goodwin explained.
Goodwin went on to say that to best prepare for these programs, new grads will want to make a list of places that they are most interested in, then outline the details and requirements for the RN position and setting. Goodwin used a hospital RN position as an example. While some hospitals might have an in-house residency program, new nurses need to determine what their "non-negotiables" to the application (such as location or time commitments) are. Each facility is going to have its own guidelines, so it is important that a new nurse matches the program to his or her lifestyle.
It's also important for new grads to have a backup plan.
"Always have a plan B. With the new grad nurse market being extremely competitive in most major parts of the country, not everyone can find work where they hope and dream," Goodwin said.
There is also a push from the Institute of Medicine to have 80 percent of the nursing workforce attaining a bachelor of science in nursing by 2020, so this degree might be a crucial prerequisite in the coming years, especially for new grads seeking hospital employment.
Staying competitive in the nursing field
When it comes to new hires, the No. 1 thing that hiring managers are looking for on resumes is customer service experience, and this makes sense given the direction of the U.S. health care system in general. According to Goodwin, the growing trends of patient satisfaction and value-based care definitely give nurses with this type of background an added boost.
Additionally, new nurses with a clinical background, such as CNA experience, could gain an edge in the hiring process. In general, listing clinical rotations completed during schooling on a resume is more valuable than including standard objective statements, according to Goodwin.
Need-to-know info for getting started in travel nursing
In order for a nurse to be considered for a travel nurse position, he or she will need two years of experience in a hospital setting. Once this requirement is reached and the nurse is ready to pursue travel nursing, it's a good idea to remain flexible with the first contract. Like the RN field, travel nursing is competitive, so being open with specifications could give new hires an advantage. Additionally, experience with Level I or II trauma will also look great on a resume for travel nursing positions.
Nurses will also want to stay grounded during their first couple of years in the nursing sector, as this can increase marketability once he or she is ready for a travel nursing assignment.
"This is the chance to really fine tune skills, get oriented into a unit, and show loyalty to a company, something both hospitals and agencies want to see," Goodwin explained.
However, if a nurse has a job in a facility, it's a good idea to "float" between various departments to gain more expertise in a wide variety of clinical settings. For instance, if a nurse started out in Med-Surg but really wants to branch out into an ER setting, he or she should take the opportunity to do so. Additionally, adding in as much detail as possible on a resume about the facilities he or she has worked at during those first two years will help hiring managers see which position is best suited for a new travel nurse. Items like case type, hospital bed size and patient ratios are all good items to point out during interviews.
There are several factors driving the travel nursing sector as a whole, and a lot of it has to do with recent health care reforms, a larger population suffering from complex illnesses and a heavily-populated generation heading into retirement age and needing assistance, according to Goodwin. As such, travel nurses need to demonstrate great communication skills, flexibility and compassion to make a smooth transition into the nursing sector.
The appeal of travel nursing
According to Goodwin, travel nursing is excellent for young nurses because they get an opportunity to see different places and explore new scenes, and get paid to do so. Travel nurse positions are excellent resume builders, as professionals get to work in many types of facilities and units. Not only does this look great on a resume, but it shows that a travel nurse is adaptable. This also gives young nurses an opportunity to see how units may operate differently depending on the size and location of the facility.
Aureus Medical's Student Outreach Program is an excellent way for nursing students to transition from an educational setting into the workforce. With career services such as resume critiquing, practice phone interviews and advice from former graduates and nursing students, the program could be just the thing to help new nurses get a foothold in a competitive job market.
"We know it can be a tough market out there, and we want to extend ourselves out to aid in that process," Goodwin concluded.