Mentorship and Support for New Grad Travel Therapists
Getting mentorship as a travel therapist is a common concern for new grad travelers. I certainly had this concern when I started traveling as a physical therapist after graduation. I wanted all of the great benefits that come along with being a travel PT (exploring the country, trying out different settings, and putting myself in a good financial position), but I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my growth and development as a clinician. Luckily, I didn’t have to. Over the years, I discovered a variety of ways to access mentorship and support as a new grad travel therapist.
Your New Grad Travel Therapy Support Team
One of the most important things for a new travel therapist to succeed is to get connected with a reliable recruiter from a great travel company to assist in your journey. That recruiter can give insights into potential contracts and whether or not they would be a good fit for you, especially as a newer clinician.
Your recruiter can also connect you with resources made for new grads, such as the AMN Healthcare New Grad Program. Whether you’re a newly licensed PT or OT, or SLP about to begin your Clinical Fellowship Year, AMN Healthcare offers specific new grad support for your discipline. Support for new grads is available in both medical settings and school settings for travel therapy contracts.
Connect With a New Grad Recruiter
Choosing the Right Travel Therapy Facility
In addition to getting connected with the right recruiter and company, choosing the right facilities for your first few travel therapy contracts can be a make or break experience for a new grad travel therapist. You’ll want to be thorough in your interview with the manager of the facility to ensure that there will be another therapist of your same discipline there who you can ask for help or guidance when needed.
You’ll also want to ask questions to ensure that the facility will foster a supportive environment. I was very fortunate as a new grad physical therapist, finding some wonderful facilities where I was able to learn from the other therapists and grow my skillset as a new clinician.
New Grad Mentorship Opportunities
Mentorship and clinical guidance don’t merely have to be onsite at your facility. Finding a current or former travel therapist of your same discipline who is willing to offer you help remotely when needed can go a long way. As part of AMN Healthcare’s New Grad Program, you will be connected virtually with a mentor of your same discipline and setting to provide support and guidance throughout your time as a new grad travel therapist.
Additionally, be sure to keep in touch with former connections from your internships who can offer you mentorship and guidance. Plus, social media can be another great place to connect with experienced clinicians who are available to be a sounding board and give their advice on both travel therapy related topics and clinical situations.
Additional Support Resources
Finally, as a new grad travel therapist, you may not only need clinical mentorship—at times, you may also need moral support and guidance to maintain your mental health and ensure you have the best experience possible. This is where maintaining your relationships with family and friends is key, between keeping in touch virtually and utilizing the flexibility of travel therapy to go home when needed.
You can also connect with a network of other travel therapists all over the country—both virtually and in person—who understand your lifestyle. AMN Healthcare’s Employee Assistance Program can also be a huge help, should you need to seek counseling or other support services during your career.
Fortunately, there are so many resources available to newly graduated clinicians interested in pursuing travel therapy. You are not alone in your journey as a travel therapist, as there are so many different ways to find mentorship and support. If you’re considering pursuing a career as a Travel PT, Travel OT, or Travel SLP, rest assured that you’ll have all the resources available to have a successful journey!
Learn About AMN New Grad Programs
About Whitney Eakin Casazza, PT, DPT, ATC
Whitney has been a traveling physical therapist since she was a new grad PT in 2015. She travels with her husband and fellow Travel PT, Jared Casazza. Together they mentor current and aspiring travel therapists via their website and social media network, Travel Therapy Mentor. They have mentored thousands of new grad travel therapists over the years, and they would love to be a resource for you as well! Find them on all the major social media platforms @TravelTherapyMentor and visit their website for more information and mentorship opportunities.
