Thinking of travel nursing? Do this FIRST!

[Town & Country]

This is for any of you that are looking to start travel nursing.

IMPORTANT: make yourself a generic, all-purpose "application" and fill it out. Do the same with a Skills Checklist appropriate to your area of practice.

This has been the most annoying and time-consuming aspect of travel nursing: doing paperwork for the different companies!

I wish somebody had told me to do that before I started - it will save you TONS of time.

There are many times I have found a position I wanted to be submitted for, but before the company will submit you they want your paperwork. They will even take another company's paperwork most of the time; they just need your info.

Having your own generic application with everything filled out and a Skills Checklist ready to go, ready to email would surely save you alot of time!

While I'm on the subject, make sure you have two different bank accounts. One to use strictly for direct deposit, another to switch that money to so the company cannot touch it should anything go wrong.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

this is for any of you that are looking to start travel nursing.

important: make yourself a generic, all-purpose "application" and fill it out. do the same with a skills checklist appropriate to your area of practice.

this has been the most annoying and time-consuming aspect of travel nursing: doing paperwork for the different companies!

i wish somebody had told me to do that before i started - it will save you tons of time.

there are many times i have found a position i wanted to be submitted for, but before the company will submit you they want your paperwork. they will even take another company's paperwork most of the time; they just need your info.

having your own generic application with everything filled out and a skills checklist ready to go, ready to email would surely save you alot of time!

while i'm on the subject, make sure you have two different bank accounts. one to use strictly for direct deposit, another to switch that money to so the company cannot touch it should anything go wrong.

good advice! and make sure you're current on your tetorifice, tb skin test, etc. and have documentation of that! when we were ready to take our first travel assignment, that was a real pain for us! and have a permanent address from which your mail can be forwarded and a cellphone number with liberal roaming.

[rjflyn, ASN, RN]

im going to add also you now can get personal 800/866/ect ect numbers that you can have forwarded to your cell phone. cost is on a few cents a minute. it will make it easier for the hospital to contact you should they have over time to offer. i have worked someplaces that have no long distance on the phones in the department. just one word more keep who you give the number to at a minimum as you end up using both cell and 800 mins. also if you just use the 800 line for this purpose i beleive it it tax deductable as a business expence.

rj

good advice! and make sure you're current on your tetorifice, tb skin test, etc. and have documentation of that! when we were ready to take our first travel assignment, that was a real pain for us! and have a permanent address from which your mail can be forwarded and a cellphone number with liberal roaming.

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

Great advice on this thread! I'm not a travel nurse yet but am looking towards that and will keep these tips in mind.

[MaleRN2B]

Great advice on this thread! I'm not a travel nurse yet but am looking towards that and will keep these tips in mind.

I'm preparing to take some pre-requisite classes so I can begin a second degree program that will give me my BSN in 2 years. I work full time so it will take me a few semesters.

I'm glad to see this specialty forum because travel nursing has always appealed to me. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer and have considered several professions that might allow me to travel again and get paid to do it. I think I've settled on nursing since it is useful anywhere I want to go in the world.

Thanks for the insights and advice. I'll be visiting often.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Bring two stethoscopes with you. I'm on a travel assignment now. My steth broke and I didn't bring a spare. I had to go out and buy a new one, even though I have a bunch back home.