When you're new to the field of travel nursing, it can sometimes be more challenging to land assignments if you have minimal clinical experience or if you don't have consistent experience in a hospital setting. However, as you continue to work more travel assignments, you will increase your experience and the number of assignments you are qualified for. In fact, some travel healthcare professionals come to a point where they get offers from several facilities and are forced to choose which might be best for them.
If you have recently found yourself in a similar situation, don't worry. There are a variety of things to consider about the assignment to help you decide if you should accept the travel nursing job. The first step is to ask your travel nursing recruiter if he or she thinks you would be well suited for the assignment and facility. A travel nursing agency is well versed in the facility and the setting and should be able to provide you with the pros and cons of the position. They will also be able to help you prepare for your interview with the facility. Furthermore, if you have been offered a job by more than one facility at a time, he or she can offer insight to help you determine which one you might prefer.
In addition to talking to your travel nursing recruiter, you should also research the facility on your own via the Internet and online discussion groups. You will want to have a list of questions ready for your phone interview so that you can determine the culture of the hospital and the department you would be working in. For instance, what is its current staff member-to-patient ratio? Does it have Magnet certification? What percentage of the nurses are travel professionals? Are they undergoing an expansion or any change in leadership? The more you learn about the hospital or clinic, the better informed your decision will be.
Furthermore, what will you be gaining from the experience? Ask questions about the setting, equipment and software to determine what new skills you may be able to learn while on assignment. Of course, the location is another aspect of the assignment you should always take into consideration before accepting a travel position. Ask yourself if you will be comfortable in the particular city and the distance from home. Is it a location that you’ve always wanted to visit? Or a location that would allow you to explore a part of the country you’ve never been to before? Is it close to family or friends you could visit?
Last but not least, don't feel pressured to accept a travel nurse job if you haven't taken time off in awhile. This career allows you to take breaks between assignments as you see fit – take advantage of the opportunity to set aside time for yourself if needed.