How to have the Best Travel Contract Experience
Being a traveling healthcare professional means having the incredible opportunity to explore new places, get to know new people, and enjoy things you haven’t experienced before. There are a lot of unknowns with traveling, but there are ways to embrace and improve the discomforts that come with this amazing experience.
Plan!
Figure out what your priorities for a contract are. Do you want to chase the highest pay, do you want to work in a specific setting, or do you want to live in a specific location in the US? Organizing your priorities will make the process of searching and applying for contracts much easier. When you have
assignments narrowed down, be sure to start searching for housing before applying to and accepting a job. Landing the job is only one piece of the puzzle - you need to have somewhere to live, too.
Get Comfortable with being Uncomfortable
No one loves the feeling of being the new person and starting a new job can be scary. Being a traveling professional means being the new person every few months, so you do have to accept & embrace the uncomfortable feeling. Seek comfort in knowing that this feeling will always pass and it always gets better quickly. Think to yourself, “will this feeling be the same in a week? 3 weeks? A month?” - the answer is always no.
Ask Questions
No matter how many contracts you take, every facility will have their own specific methods, preferences, and procedures. It’s important to always ask questions and don’t just assume that you know the right way to do things. In addition, you’ll have a new team every 3-4 months to learn from, pick their brains and lean on them as resources to better yourself as a professional.
Don’t Fall into a “Temporary” Mindset
When you’re a temporary contract worker, it can be easy to fall into a “temporary” mindset and not give each day 110%. Even though you will be moving on, treat the contract the same as you would a full time position and remember who you are really here for: the patients. In addition, don’t let the fact that you may be leaving the area soon stop you from making friends, being social, and putting yourself out there. It’s a unique gift to have friends in all different pockets of the United States.
Share your Experience
As a traveler, you bring a unique perspective from many different health systems and facilities. When possible, share your experiences, work flows, and other wisdom with your teams that they may find helpful.
Put Yourself Out There
Say yes to things you might not have before. Ask locals where the best places to eat, shop, and hike are & go try them out. Embrace one of the biggest perks of this job and immerse yourself in the culture of where you’re living. Make friends in and outside of work
Meet Other Travelers
There is a special bond and connection that forms with other traveling professionals who understand your experience. Meet them online and in your facilities, lean on them and share your experiences.
Stay in the Moment & Enjoy
Stay in the moment, embrace each new location, be grateful to have this unique experience.
