By Karina Conti, Social Media Recruiter, Aureus Medical
2020 is finally over. It was quite the year, especially for everyone involved in the healthcare field — with many ups and downs, much of it being outside of our control. As we head into 2021, we can hope for a brighter future. The transition to 2021 is also a great time to prepare for the new year as a travel nurse.
Here are some great ways to get prepped for a new year of success and adventure:
Write Down Your 2021 Goals
Think about what goals you’d like to accomplish this year on both professional and personal levels. For example, jot down a list of cities and/or facilities where you’d like to take an assignment and keep track to see where the year takes you! When you look back at this list at the end of 2021, it’s a good way to reflect on how much you’ve accomplished for yourself.
Update Your Certifications
Just like staff nurses, travel nurses are required to maintain certifications to be considered for assignments. For examples, ACLS, BLS, and PALS — although it will vary depending on your specialty. It’s always good to double check when applying for healthcare travel positions what certifications are required for you to be considered. Keep track of expiration dates as well, so that you don’t risk your certifications expiring in the middle of your assignment.
Update Your Resume
An updated resume is essential to have as a travel nurse or travel allied health professional. Compile all the new skills you learned over the year, new nursing licenses, and facilities you worked at — this will make you even more impressive when applying for travel nurse jobs. Resumes are a great chance for you to brag about your experience and to show how you’re the best fit for an opening!
Take Time for Self-care
2020 was a tough year for travel nurses and healthcare professionals everywhere. The nursing market completely dropped at one point for certain specialties, there were some canceled contracts, and many hard COVID assignments. With everything that’s happened, it can cause you to feel almost burnt out. Make sure to take some time for yourself and relax. Vacations may not look the same this year, but you could spend a day catching up on a TV show, watch movies, take a hot bath, do some yoga, or even get a massage. Whatever it may be that helps you feel better, make time for it!
Discuss Your Hopes for 2021 Healthcare Travel Jobs with Your Recruiter
There’s great demand for travel nurses and travel allied health professionals all throughout the country. Be sure to connect with your Aureus Medical recruiter — or contact our team to get connected to a recruiter — to figure out a plan for your 2021 assignments!