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If you’re a first time travel nurse, you may think that once you actually get a travel nurse job, the hard part is over. And it is! For the most part. You’ve picked a company, got a recruiter, interviewed with a hospital, and signed a contract! But what’s next? Here’s everything that you can expect once you get a job as a travel nurse.
What to Expect Once You Get a Job As a Travel Nurse
Once you actually get your assignment, there’s a lot that needs to be done before you start work. It’s important to make sure that you’re doing everything in a timely manner, as if you don’t complete your “pre-work duties”, you won’t be able to start on time.
If you’re reading this before you land a travel nurse job, the most important thing to know is that you need to pick a recruiter that will aid you in landing your dream travel nurse assignment. For information on companies and recruiters, don’t miss:
Why it’s Important to Work With More than 1 Travel Nurse Recruiter
Travel Nurse Agencies Ranked by Travel Nurses
Why Picking a Travel Nurse Recruiter is More Important Than Picking a Company
How to Pick the Right Travel Nurse Recruiter For You
Completing Your Paperwork
Once you’ve signed your travel nurse contract, your company should send you a plethora of emails regarding all of the paperwork you need to complete before your assignment starts. This includes, but is not limited to…
- I-9 form
- Background screening consent
- RN license information
- Certifications (PALS, BLS, ACLS, NRP, etc)
- Immunization records
- New hire paperwork
- Paperwork required by the hospital
As I mentioned earlier, it’s imperative to make sure you’re sending all of these things in in a timely manner. For starters, your recruiter/compliance officer doesn’t want to chase you around; and secondly, this will determine whether or not you will be able to start on time at the facility.
Seeing the Doctor
Another thing you’re required to do before you being your travel nurse assignment, is you’ll be required to see a doctor to make sure that everything checks out and you’re in good health before you start work. What is usually required, but not limited to is the following…
- A physical checking your vitals, height, weight, eye sight, balance, hearing, etc
- Any vaccines you’re missing (COVID, flu, etc)
- FIT testing
- TB test
- Drug screen
After you’ve become a travel nurse, some of these things like you’re physical and FIT test only need to occur once per year. I recommend making copies of everything so that if you change companies during the year, you can send your previous paperwork to your new company and you won’t have to repeat the same requirements.
For every assignment, with the exception of an extension, you will need to provide a drug screen. I’ve also worked at a facility where I was drug tested at my regular appointment, and then was given a drug test on my first day of work.
Your company should be paying for your doctors visit! If it’s your first time as a travel nurse, make sure that this is covered by the company before starting your assignment.
Taking Tests
The third thing that you can expect to happen is that you’ll need to pass a variety of tests before starting work. This will all depend on which hospital you’re at and what unit you’re working in, but here are some tests you can expect to take…
- HIPAA/OSHA testing
- Medication calculation
- Heart arrhythmia/Interpreting EKGs
- Core exams for your unit
Some facilities require testing before arriving, while some facilities also require additional testing during travel nurse orientation. If the facility requires testing upon arrival, make sure to clarify whether or not you will be eligible to work at the facility if you fail your test and if you can get study material before arriving.
If you’re looking for more guidance on taking the leap from staff nurse to travel nurse, purchase The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle where I walk you through exactly what will happen and give you actionable tips each step of the way!
When you think about the amount of things that you have to do before starting your travel nurse assignment, it can seem overwhelming at times. As long as you’re working with a good company, you should be able to reach out for help or anything else that you might need. Just stay organized, get your stuff done in a timely manner, and make sure to keep all receipts for reimbursem*nt.
Travel Nurse Essentials
FOR HOUSING
- VRBO
- Extended Stay America
- Hello Landing – Use code “PassportsandPreemies” for $250 off your first standard Landing stay
FOR RECRUITERS
- Fill out this form to be matched with a senior level recruiter at Host Healthcare
- DM me on Instagram for my go-to recruiter at Fusion
FOR TRAVELING TO/DURING YOUR ASSIGNMENT
- To book a flight, I recommend Expedia or Skyscanner to compare options
- If you need to rent a car, I recommend Discover Cars
FOR WORK
- Reusable water bottle
- Liquid IV for when you need extra hydration during a long shift
- Lunch box
- Badge Reels
- Backpack
TO EXPLORE YOUR NEW “HOME”
- For tours I recommend Viator, Take Walks, & Devour Tours (available in select cities)
For next steps, don’t miss:
- 10 Tips for First Time Travel Nurses
- Travel Nurse Health Insurance – What’s the Best Choice For You?
- How to Acclimate to Your New City As a Travel Nurse
- The Best Housing Options for Travel Nurses
- Tips for How to Make Friends As a Travel Nurse
- How to Deal With the Anxiety of Starting a New Travel Nurse Assignment
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you. Passports and Preemiesis also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.
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Kylee is a NICU nurse passionate about making travel affordable and accessible to nurses. Inspiring nurses to travel both near and far, Kylee began Passports and Preemies in 2017 while volunteering in Skopje, North Macedonia as a way to reach nurses and advocate for the prevention of nurse burnout by traveling. Kylee has been a NICU nurse for 9 years and a travel nurse for 7 years. Since starting her career in travel nursing, she’s worked in six different states, 10 different hospitals, volunteered as a nurse in North Macedonia, worked as a nurse in Saudi Arabia, and has traveled to 45+ countries. Her favorite travel nurse assignment was in Seattle and her favorite destination is Georgia (the country). Kylee is the original creator of the “8 Day Vacay” – a vacation geared towards nurses who aim to take advantage of the potentially 8 days off between work weeks with no need to use PTO.
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Negotiating with a Travel Nurse Recruiter
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