How Should You Choose A Travel Nurse Agency?
Nursing is a noble profession. Nurses take care of the nitty-gritty patient care that can mean a patient?s successful recovery. They are highly trained and tend to be empathetic, strong individuals.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many medical facilities are struggling to find and retain qualified nurses. Many became sick or died as a direct result of their work during the early stages of the pandemic before the highly-transmissible disease had a vaccine.
Now the market had changed. Because nurses are in such high demand, there are many more opportunities than ever before. If you are already a nurse or you are about to complete your education in the field and are curious about what your option is, you should look into travel nursing. Click here for more information about the nursing shortage.
On The Go
So what is travel nursing? Would you be stuck putting on bandages at the airport, like a glorified school nurse? Not quite.
A travel nurse is someone who takes short-term assignments at hospitals or other medical facilities that are too far away from their home base for them to commute. These positions typically last for several weeks but can be extended longer on a case-by-case basis.
This can be especially attractive for a nurse just starting out his or her career. In this way, a nurse can gain experience working with a wide variety of different doctors and nurses. Seeing how many different staffs operate gives them a chance to see what methods and atmosphere works best for them.
When it comes time to select a permanent facility, if you so choose, you?ll be better equipped to make the decision.
It also offers the opportunity to travel and see the country.
You could select to go to impoverished neighborhoods where you believe your talents would be able to do the most good. Or you could choose to relocate somewhere with a different climate to help you decide if it might be the right place for you.
Your reasons for choosing any particular assignment are yours alone. There?s no need to explain ? just make a choice, pack your bag, and go!
Benefits
There are several benefits to this type of work. If you sign up with a travel nurse agency you can set your own course. While the agency will do its best to match you with positions that you will be a good fit for, you ultimately get to decide which ones you will take.
Many agencies offer insurance as a part of their benefits packages. Medical, dental, and vision are all being offered, so you know that you will have access to healthcare wherever you are.
Other agencies offer additional financial perks. These perks include paid association memberships, tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, and housing assistance.
It is also a common benefit to have a 401k. This is a specialized retirement account that allows you to store a certain amount of money away each year, tax-free. If they offer an employer match benefit, you would be wise to take it. This means that your company will match dollar for dollar whatever you contribute to your fund.
This means that you can save money and make money at the same time. Not too bad!
Make sure that you?re familiar with the benefits offered by the agency you are considering. Some of these are quite substantial and can make a difference in your day-to-day life.
What Is The Process?
The first step to becoming a traveling nurse is to get in touch with a recruiter.
There are several different agencies available to help connect nurses with medical facilities. You?ll want to check out which offers the benefits that seem most attractive to you.
One thing you can do is to check with websites like GlassDoor to see real reviews from current and former employees. Click the link: https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm for more information. These reviews can help you make an informed decision about the company culture before you sign up.
Once you?ve settled on the right agency for you, you?ll apply online. In a short time, you?ll be contacted by a recruiter. This recruiter is going to do his or her very best to find out what kinds of assignments would give you a chance to shine.
One thing your recruiter will help you with is finding accommodations. It is possible for you to travel with your spouse, family, and even pets if you are so inclined. Although it can be more difficult to find housing for everyone, it is an option for you.
Travel nursing is a great way to see the world, gain experience, and get compensated well while doing it. If you?re interested, there are many agencies that are just waiting for your call.
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