Are you feeling the burn of your “gypsy” lifestyle? Has all of that traveling finally taken its toll on you? If so, take a deep breath and get ready to relax your stresses and tensions away. Here are some tips and tricks for soothing your weary bones when the Traveling catches up to you.
The life of a traveling nurse is certainly rewarding. Helping others in need worldwide, traveling to new and exotic destinations, and seeing the amazing sights and attractions is very fulfilling; however, all of that traveling is bound to catch up with you sooner or later. When you’re tired and run down, you aren’t much good to yourself – or anyone else. To be the best nurse and caretaker that you can be, you need to be well-rested.
Take some time off.
One of the best ways to get the much-needed relaxation you need is to take some time off. Yes, there are so many people to help, and yes, you want to be able to do all that you can for them, but if you don’t take a few days off for yourself, you aren’t going to be able to help anyone effectively.
So, take a look at your schedule and arrange for a few days off. During your time of rest, kick back and relax. Spend some time at home and get reacquainted with yourself, your family, and your friends. Or, you can plan a trip to a relaxing destination. How do a few days laying out on a sandy beach while soaking up some rays and sipping some refreshing beverages sound? You deserve the time to rest your mind, your body, and your spirit.
If taking time off isn’t an option, but you feel the effects of your hectic lifestyle, give yoga a try. This age-old art form is known for its ability to relax the mind and the body. When you get back to wherever you are staying, spread a mat out on the floor and de-clog your mind with a few yoga positions. In addition to regaining your center, you’ll also experience a great workout for your body, which will do wonders for releasing all of that built-up tension.
Enjoy a spa day.
Everyone deserves a little pampering from time-to-time, especially a busy traveling nurse. What better way to pamper yourself than by spending a day at the spa? Get a massage, a manicure, a pedicure, a facial, and even some reflexology. You might even want to check out one of those body scrubs or super soothing soaks. As a nurse, you have dedicated your life to taking care of others; enjoy letting others take care of you now and again. You deserve it!
Being a traveling nurse is one of the most gratifying and meaningful occupations, but it can exhaust. Make sure you stay in tip-top shape by remembering to take care of yourself when all of that traveling and caretaking catches up to you.
About the Author: Tara Heath is a freelance writer in Southern California. Having traveled a great deal, she knows how exhausting it can be, and she always attempts to find ways to relax afterward. She often contributes to the Candy Concepts Inc. blog.
Many travel nurses have outstanding debt balances, underfunded retirement account, and short- term savings in place, but yet often have a solid regular income. Unfortunately, lifestyle and poor financial decisions often get in the way of building wealth.
Creating clarification around student loan options, understanding credit card payoff strategies, and simultaneously understanding how savings habits and retirement design implementation all are interconnected is very important.
Let’s look at some of the top questions that many travel nurses face in regards to their finances that will affect retirement and short term savings. These are all very important questions and addressing all 3 are of them should be done simultaneously but there are some natural steps and specific order of addressing the importance of each.
Top questions from travel nurses
How much should I save into my company-sponsored retirement plan?
If your company offers matching on their retirement plan a more detailed analysis should be made to see if retirement contributions should continue before short term savings are built up but in general, you should have money saved up outside of a retirement plan first so that emergencies and liquidity are taken care of. Once you have short term savings you have to make sure you put away enough so that you get the matching that the employer is providing within the retirement plan.
Should I accelerate the payments on my student loans, credit cards and other debts?
Make sure that any credit card debt or high-interest rate personal loans gets consolidated into a longer-term lower interest rate loan. By doing this you will create breathing room for yourself and you will start being able to build your emergency fund faster and then being able to save for retirement. So do not accelerate your loan payment until you have liquid short term savings in place.
Whenever a financial plan is set up the first action step should be to take care of things that could impact your life today. Build at least 6 months of living expenses in a liquid safe “portfolio”.
In summary the correct order should be to first protect against unforeseen events that could impact your life today (create at least 6 months of short term savings), consolidate your high interest credit cards into loans that are more affordable and then look at retirement savings. All of these decisions are really made simultaneously and cash flow could be going towards all 3 areas at the same time but it always makes sense to take care of your today before planning for the future.
There are other immediate actions that should be addressed up front (protection portfolio) but that topic will be saved for another article
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As a twenty-something Detroit native, I like to consider myself a typical Midwestern type. Though I love everything about where I grew up, I started to feel unsatisfied. After two years in Labor and Delivery (LD) and 4.5 years as an RN… I was ready to start traveling. I made the decision just like I make most decisions in my life, quickly and without too much forethought.
When it came to choosing my travel company, I hopped online and did a little research. I contacted two companies by days end and had spoken to one recruiter. I suppose you could say it was love at first chat. The recruiter that contacted me was polite, seemingly driven, and very organized. We talked for about 40 minutes and he answered all of my questions without hesitation. The next day I told the recruiter I was ready to move. Two weeks later I accepted my first travel assignment in Grand Junction, Colorado; I was to move in four weeks. How big of a deal could it be to pack my apartment, quit my job, and move across the country? (my naivety is almost laughable).
I would like to note that while everything was a bit busy, it was completely manageable. Now finishing out the extension of my first contract, I would like to give tips and tricks I have picked up on my first travel assignment that I feel have been useful.
I am terrible with maintaining a budget but I wanted to make sure I could put away some money before my move. I started to use “EveryDollar” to track my spending and maintain a budget of sorts. Easy to use and super helpful.
2. Hotel Tonight:
I used this during my drive across the country. I didn’t make a set plan of how far to drive each day I just did as much as I could. Using this app helps find last minute hotels in your area that are available.
3. CamScanner:
This is a lifesaver! Allows you to take a picture of your documents, convert them to PDF and mail them to your recruiter. I use this app religiously.
4. Airbnb/VRBO:
Since I had NO CLUE about anything regarding the Western Slope, and I am a little hesitant to use Craigslist as a single female, these apps made finding a living arrangement seamless.
5. REI National Parks:
I guess this is more for the explorers out there: this app is great for looking up hiking/biking/climbing trails and reading other explorer’s input on where to go/what to see. Being in Western Colorado, I have used this app a lot!
Starting at a new Hospital
Orientation:
Being a traveler, you don’t have the history you may have had as staff, and you only have 13 weeks to prove your competence. I asked a lot of questions about the charting system and their Fetal Heart monitoring program (LD specific). Familiarized myself with policies I felt would be important and made sure I followed up with my management. I familiarized myself with the OR and the scrub techs I would be working with. Have a good flow in the OR (especially in LD) is really important, especially in STAT situations.
Alone in a new town
I think the best thing I did was start to explore the town before I moved. I had seen that there was a climbing gym in the area (something I had really wanted to get into) and I signed up to join. It wasn’t too hard to meet people there. I also found it super helpful to go to the local REI and see if they had any outdoor group events coming up.
I have mastered the art of sitting and enjoying a meal alone, making small talk with strangers and trying new things without someone to join. To me, however, the best part of this job is the ways you meet new people and how quickly they become your family.
My first travel assignment has been one I’ll never forget! A lot of learning, a lot of laughing, and I have met some incredibly gifted and wonderful nurses. I am so excited to start my next contract, and share more knowledge with you guys: my gypsy family!
About The Author:
Author: Janelle Edwards, RN is a Labor and Delivery Nurse (LD).
Whether you feel established in the area you are temporarily working, or you’ve accepted a contract position in a place with no familiarity, this article will show you how to celebrate Arbor Day like a local. Arbor Day is the best day of the year to refocus your appreciation for trees and give back! Created by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, originally to promote planting trees, there are now a variety of accepted ways to share in the fun regardless of where you are living.
Learn About The Local Trees!
One of the easiest ways to celebrate on the go is to just take some time during a break and find out some of the trees around your new home. For example, you could Google “Native Trees In Northern California.” You will find a variety of trees you have probably seen around, but never knew what they were, like Redwoods, Sequoias, and the intricate Manzanita tree.
Join An Arbor Day Celebration!
There is no better way to familiarize yourself with the community than to attend a local Arbor Day event. Many events happen all over the world and involve small celebrations like a non-profit planting a tree or a municipality organizing a large festival attracting hundreds of people. Check the date, however, because Arbor Day is celebrated on different days across the world
Plant A Tree!
Even if you can’t find a local celebration to join, you can always do a small celebration yourself or with a few co-workers. Planting a tree on your own is extremely easy. You can purchase a tree from a local nursery but be sure to ask for a native one. There are many places that will allow you to plant your newly purchased native tree, just make sure to ask the property owner’s permission. Be cautious to plant the right tree in the right place taking notice of sunlight, power lines, and who will take care of the tree after you plant it. Almost all purchased trees come with information on which conditions it will do best in, so don’t let that scare you! When planting a tree, make sure you put mulch around the top of it in a bowl shape to allow water to funnel into the roots. You will feel much happier knowing that you directly helped clean the air around you, beautify your new community, and increase the value of the area.
Fund The Forest!
Ok, so getting a little dirt on your shoes isn’t your thing and the end of your shift has left you mentally exhausted, again… You can still participate anywhere you are by donating some of your hard day’s pay to an organization that celebrates Arbor Day every day! There are many organizations across the world that work passionately to lessen the impact of deforestation and our loss of trees across the world. It is estimated that 70% of all plants and animals live in our forests but are at risk of going extinct from the loss of trees. Some of the most highly respected non-profits around tree conservation are Arbor Day Foundation, Trees For The Future, Amazon Conservation Association, and Pachamama Alliance. There may even be a local nonprofit near you that you can support. While donating to a national organization will not help you familiarize yourself in your new community, it will help definitely support it indirectly. It’s a quick and convenient way to take part in Arbor Day for those of us with even the busiest commitments and still want to do our part.
Just Do Something!
Whichever action you take, make sure to have fun doing it. Arbor Day is a CELEBRATION of trees! It’s an opportunity to reflect on your days learning how to climb a branch or realize that NOW is a great time if you’ve never tried that. Take a moment to read a book, watch “The Lorax,” or even just take your break outside and look at the trees. Trees do so much for us every day, Arbor day is the day to do something for them.
When I first thought of traveling as a single parent, I had to take into consideration my 14-year-old. How was I going to be able to school her? Where would we stay? What would she do when I was at work? I researched these questions for about 6 months. Went on the Travel Gypsy Facebook page and started asking questions. I read what other parents did. There were a lot of nuclear families and only a few single parents at first. Then, as time went by, I found more. I found other single parents doing exactly what I wanted to do. I reached out to them via messenger and made friends. They gave me a lot of advice, from schooling, to how they actually did it.
I could stay there and just go to and from work. Just to try it. In my second assignment, I was lucky again, and it was where my aunt and uncle lived. My third assignment was in Virginia and I was from Texas. I was so nervous! Made tons of phone calls and spoke to a few people on Airbnb for the perfect place. I got all the homeschool stuff ready and got her registered online through Khan academy and Google classroom. I figured I could have her write papers about what we saw and I could grade them.
Car Loaded
In August, my daughter and I loaded up the car with what we thought we needed. It was very full! I got her withdrawn from regular school(look at your state’s requirements) and started on her homeschool path. We got a Texas flag and decided to take pictures with it at all the states we saw. I thought that would be neat for a scrapbook later.
Housing
I looked at Airbnb and found us a basement apartment in a family home, I was so nervous and excited all at the same time.
We started our trek across many states. I made it a point to stop in every state for a cave tour, museum tour, or just a picnic. It was giving us quality time that I lost with the monotony of the grind back home. We were seeing a different side of each other. We were building a stronger bond, knowing we had to rely solely each other. It’s a different type of reliance. At home, we have the safety of family to help, but now it’s just us.
Once we arrived and got moved into our new home, we looked at where we were and what there was to do in the area. We started local at first and as time went, we expanded our horizons to other states. I don’t mind driving, so if I had a few days off we would travel up to 8 hours away. We wanted to see the leaves change colors. We wanted to see the mountains and valleys. Just see the beauty around us.
I have always had an open mind and a heart to explore. I wanted my daughter to have this also. We have seen 17 states so far! We decided to get her a bracelet from Brighton. The reason why we chose Brighton is that they have charms for every state. That became “our thing”. She would get a new charm for every state we visited together. It was a neat day trip to pick them out and we could talk about what we did in each state. She kept a list of all the states we visited and we would go every six weeks and buy them($12-20 apiece including the spacers).
It has been a blessing to us!
My daughter has learned more about geography and history than any book could ever give her. It has built a bond between us that is stronger than we could have ever hoped. She has been able to complete her Freshman year 3 months early!! She would do her schoolwork while I worked. Her schedule is synched with mine. She knows that on days I work, once I leave, it’s time to buckle down. I would FaceTime her on my lunches for math tutorials if she needed it. She was able to see that she can be an independent learner and thrive! It was actually better for her since she struggled with reading. Now, she knows she can do it at her own pace so that stress was lifted and she excelled!
Socializing
People ask me, what about dances and prom? I tell them that she never really wanted to do them, but, she also makes friends through local churches that have teen programs. So, options are still available. This next trip, she is joining a travel basketball club! So, she will make friends and get to play a sport.
Traveling as a single parent with a child may need some extra work, but I would not change this lifestyle for anything in this world! All the positive that was given to our family and watching my daughters’ self-esteem grow was worth all the sacrifices!!
As a travel nurse, you are always on the go. From traveling between assignments to the fast pace work responsibilities, your days can be jam-packed. One of the things that suffer during busy days is eating healthy meals. Lack of healthy meals could lead to fatigue, lack of concentration, and more serious conditions like obesity. That is why we created these 10 healthy meal planning tips for travel nurses.
Identify Healthy Meals.
The first step to eating healthy is knowing what to eat. Healthy meal planning tips for travel nurses start with knowing healthy foods to eat. There are plenty of websites or magazines you can read to find healthy recipes. In addition, ask your other nurses what healthy foods they eat.
Planning.
After you know what to eat, the next step has a meal plan. Having a plan of what you will eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks will help you from eating a bunch of junk food. If you need assistance, there are apps and calendars to help you plan your meals accordingly.
Cook At Home.
Being a travel nurse, you might not have every cooking tool you have at home. However, cooking at home is a great way to eat healthily. Cooking at home allows you to make sure the ingredients are healthy. In addition, you can control your portion sizes instead of eating a large plate of dinner out.
Pack Your Meals.
Bringing your meals to work will ensure you have healthy meals and snacks to eat during your shift. Packing your meals ensures you don’t eat something quick in the cafeteria that provides no nutritional value.
Take Your Time Eating.
Did you know it actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body it’s had enough food? Other benefits of eating healthy include better digestion and greater satisfaction with our meals.
Drink Plenty of Water.
While water isn’t a meal, drinking water is very important in planning and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Studies have shown that drinking water has a major effect on energy levels and brain function. So be sure to drink your eight 8-ounces glasses of water per day.
Have Plenty of Snacks.
This is the biggest thing that gets in the way of eating healthy—everyone snacks. As a travel nurse, you are running around throughout the day. Be sure you bring plenty of snacks to your shift. Great snack ideas include fruits, vegetables, almonds, baked sweet potato chips, or healthy bars.
Portion Control For Eating Out.
It’s unrealistic to think you will eat a home-cooked meal for every meal. It’s okay to eat out. But when you do, make smart choices. One of the easiest ways to eat healthily is to box half your entrée before getting to the table. This will help you not to eat large portions of food.
Know How Much You Should Eat.
Everyone’s body is different. The way we metabolize the food and beverages we consume is different. That’s why it’s a good idea to know how much to eat and track what you eat. Use a site like Super Tracker or Choose My Plate to understand how much you should be eating based on yourself.
Give Yourself A Cheat Day.
As a travel nurse, you aren’t expected to eat clean meals every day. Cut yourself some slack. If you’ve had a tough week or going out with friends, don’t feel like you must eat veggies while drinking water. You’ll be surprised when you give yourself one day that you end up eating well the other days of the week.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you have a good idea of healthy meal planning tips for travel nurses. These tips are not one size fits all. Be sure you tailor these suggestions to your dietary preferences, lifestyle, and schedule to have easy meal planning and a healthier diet.
Opening day of the major league baseball season just passed and that makes this an exciting time of year for baseball fans. If you’re a travel nurse who loves America’s pastime, the travel assignments you accept during the summer can put you in the same location as some of the nation’s most famous ballparks. So whether you want to support your favorite team out on the road or simply take in the famous locations that make baseball great, keep these five destinations in mind when considering your travel nursing options.
1. San Francisco
Home to the San Francisco Giants and AT&T Park, the Bay Area hosts several exciting places to visit. On the baseball front, AT&T Park has been host to plenty of recent baseball history and the park itself offers stunning views of the bay. Watch a game from the stands or grab a kayak and paddle out into McCovey Cove beyond right field. You may just catch your most unique home run ball ever.
2. Boston
Fenway Park and the Green Monster in left field are iconic Boston staples, but this stadium is chock-full of history. In fact, Fenway Park is 105 years old and it’s lost none of its ability to generate excitement over that time. Take a seat in the stands and feel the ghosts of past greats around you.
3. Baltimore
Oriole Park at Camden Yards first opened in 1992 and its sleek retro design revolutionized the way baseball stadiums were created while inspiring the look of parks like Comerica Park and Citi Field.
4. Chicago
The Windy City is the first location on our list to feature two major league ball clubs, but when people think of iconic stadiums, the Cubs’ Wrigley Field takes center stage. Nearly as old as Fenway Park, Wrigley is known for its famous ivy-covered outfield walls. Don’t forget to throw the opposing team’s home run ball back if you have the nerve. Wrigley is also famous for its weekday games, a great opportunity depending on your assignment schedule.
5. New York
Don’t worry, New Yorkers, we haven’t forgotten you or Yankee Stadium. Perhaps the most well-known franchise in all of the American sports, the New York Yankees call this Bronx citadel home. Stroll through Monument Park and soak up the history of all the greats that have worn this uniform. Much of baseball’s lore is steeped in pinstripes.
That’s our list. Now we want to hear from you. Which stadiums are on your bucket list and where would you like to travel to watch a game?
This article is sponsored by Travel Nurse Across America®
Guest Post By: Brittany Bennett
Over the years, EMR conversions have become a very popular reason to hire travel nurses. Facilities across the country are changing or upgrading their EMR systems and require an increase in staffing to perform these changes and get everyone trained on the new system. One of my very first travel assignments was an EMR conversion. I had no idea what to expect and was nervous enough being a newbie to travel nursing. Little did I know, it would be one of my better contracts and the knowledge learned would assist me in many other assignments and areas of my life. While working EMR conversions can come with challenges, here are five reasons why they just may be one of your greatest travel assignments.
Strengthening your resume
It’s no surprise that being able to operate more than one EMR system comes in handy as a nurse. We are already some of the best multi-taskers in the business, and being able to go from job to job while easily adapting to a different computer program makes you even more marketable for future jobs. With the market becoming more and more competitive for desirable locations and pay, being able to list a knowledge base of several EMR systems and completion of conversion assignments may give you a boost above another applicant.
Learning a new skill
Travel nurses are regularly referred to as adventure seekers. We like challenges and welcome new information. If you are already familiar with an EMR system, then life will just be all the easier for you. While permanent staff are stressed out and possibly struggling with changes, your presence will be doubly valued and you may be asked to be a resource or even placed in a position of supervision during the conversion. If the system is new to you, classes are required during your contract and often take the place of bedside hours worked during that time. During my first EMR conversion, I had two and a half weeks of classes and limited bedside hours. Getting paid to learn a new skill and taking a break from patient care can be very nice!
Opportunity for better pay
EMR conversions can be demanding. You are balancing patient care along with the system conversion and it is no doubt a high-stress environment for everyone working, especially during a “go-live” shift. Because of the extra strain on the staff, hospitals will sometimes offer incentives for their permanent staff and pay their travelers a higher rate than a non-conversion assignment. Conversions are also more popular in higher-paying states like California or Massachusetts. While the pay may not be a deciding factor when considering an EMR conversion, a little extra cash for off-day adventuring never hurts.
Make more travel buddies
During my first EMR conversion assignment, I was one of 10-12 travel nurses in the emergency department where I was working. This made for instant new friends and travel partners. Hospitals going through EMR conversions need lots of additional staff and you have a better chance at not being the only traveler in your department (been there, done that) by working a conversion. Permanent staff members are also fun friends (I’ve made some great ones!), but fellow travel nurses tend to understand the lifestyle a little better and are almost always up for exploring the temporary surroundings.
Great food!
Let’s be honest here. I don’t know a single nurse who would turn down free food. Funny yes, but what’s better than the sudden appearance of a delicious pizza, sub sandwich, or chocolate during a crazy shift? The hospital and management know the staff is under pressure, and they are typically good at showing up with or sending in food during those times. Sometimes even the physicians and/or staff purchase food for the shift or organize a pot luck meal. It’s a nice perk, even if it isn’t the first or last thing you think of when deciding on an assignment.
As mentioned, EMR conversions are not without challenges or issues. Travel nurses must be ready to take on the demands of such an assignment. Showing up with a positive attitude and readiness to learn or help teach is a necessity in these types of jobs. If you have ever considered or are considering working an EMR conversion, I urge you to try it at least once. The advantages far outweigh the bad stuff and you won’t be disappointed.
Two of the most important things a travel nurse considers before accepting an assignment are the pay and the location. And while many flock to the destination of their dreams, the reality can sometimes fall short of expectations. The hospital, community, and even the actual job conditions may leave any travel nurse feeling frustrated. The first step is to resolve as much of the issue or situation as possible while still fulfilling your duties. This is especially true even if the actual assignment differs greatly from the terms you agreed to in the contract. Try to get everyone on the same page calmly. It’s also important to draw on your support system during difficult times, which can be challenging since family and friends are likely a distance away. If these measures don’t prove successful and you are still contemplating quitting a difficult assignment, be sure you try to anticipate the ramifications before making a final decision. Read on for five things to consider before you quit a difficult assignment.
1.) Are the location rewards worth the work worry? If you find yourself in an assignment that isn’t quite living up to what you had hoped, step back for a minute and remember why you are there. Chances have you selected the assignment based on the climate and lifestyle that the location could afford you. Maybe you are close to the ocean, the mountains, or a lake. You can now swim, or ski, or surf in your free time. There are significant benefits to such emotional health that are tough to measure and sometimes even tougher to appreciate until they are gone. Also, remember that there are very few, if any, perfect jobs out there. Every assignment will have its ups and downs. All facilities have their share of management challenges or personnel issues. Try to weigh your current frustrations against the benefits of your total environment. The friends you may have made, the short commute, or even a few patients which whom you have really connected. And in most cases, the travel nurse jobs are short-term, which means the end is always in sight.
2.) What will happen to the trust factor and your career? Chances are, even if a particular assignment is not going well, you are not necessarily ready to throw in the towel on the entire travel nurse industry. That means that your reputation remains very important. Recruiters tend to spend a significant amount of time getting to know travel nurses to help match them with compatible assignments. This time and effort can seem like a total loss if you walk away from something they matched up with. This can quickly erode trust. In fact, if you cancel, you may not be eligible for rehire at that specific facility as well as at every facility in their network. You may fall further down the call list when a good assignment comes up, and worse yet, you could get totally blacklisted. If you cancel an assignment, especially with little notice, the impact reaches far beyond the agency. The void impacts hospitals, patient care delivery, your traveling colleagues, and of course, your own career. Travelers must understand that their performance follows them everywhere; agencies want to feel they have a trusted partnership.
3.) Is patient care your top priority? As a healthcare professional, the well-being of patients should be job one every day. Broken contracts hurt the delivery of patient care, period. When shifts are not filled as planned, facilities often have very little time or resources to back-fill, which could lead to closed units for a period of time. It also leads administrators to ask their staff to do mandatory overtime until relief arrives. As you debate whether to leave an assignment prematurely, try to understand why you came to the job in the first place. Be proud of the service you are doing and the impact that spreads beyond the hospital walls. Your role is significant—your efforts and knowledge change life. Keep this perspective as you weigh the pros and cons of quitting, and be sure to talk to your recruiter and express your concerns. Most companies involved with travelers are familiar with a wide range of difficult situations and will try to help.
4.)What about your colleagues? As a traveler, you have gained a great deal of respect and appreciation for other caregivers. You must realize that canceling a shift or quitting an assignment is very disruptive to your colleagues. They are often asked to change shifts or days off to accommodate your absence. It also causes the agency to lose money. When a travel assignment is canceled, the agency absorbs financial losses; this, in turn, affects the ability of the agency to offer the most competitive pay packages to you and other travelers.
Put the financial losses aside, and any broken contract is not good for the travel industry. Hospitals tackle the chronic staffing shortage by looking to travelers who are contracted to provide relief and serve as a reliable, professional solution. By canceling a booked assignment, you are essentially discrediting the travel industry and can cause hospitals to distrust travelers. This can quickly mean fewer assignment choices for you and your fellow travelers. Think of these broader repercussions, especially if you want to remain a traveler.
6.) What are the financial implications? Very often, problems that arise on a travel assignment can be worked out without having to cancel the contract. It’s important that you at least try to resolve issues before walking away because there could be penalties passed along to you if an assignment is vacated without acceptable cause. For example, if the reason is not justified, you might be out of money for housing and travel. There are countless reasons—including your ability to find future work—to make sure that you, as a traveling nurse, represent your agency, colleagues, and most importantly, yourself professionally.
Have you ever had to quit a difficult assignment? What made your mind up? If you would like to share your tips for deciding to quit a difficult assignment comment them below.
Happy Nurses Week 2025! We’re so grateful for all that nurses do—every single day. This week is all about you, and we’re excited to celebrate with a giveaway! Need more details? Visit our Facebook page.
