Are you an empty-nester now? Feeling the itch to get back on the road and revamp your travel nursing career? Whatever the reason, it’s never too late to get back into this exciting and rewarding field. Here’s how to set yourself up for success when entering the travel nursing field later in your career:
Play to your strengths.
It will serve you well to play to your strengths as a nurse, not work against them. If you have specialized skills or experience in one area, try to use it to your advantage. If you’ve been a nurse for many years, you have a breadth of experience that others don’t — it’s important that you don’t forget that.
Research your options.
Now it’s time to see what’s out there. If you’ve never worked as a travel nurse before, your options might be a bit more limited. But getting your foot in the door is the first step toward getting the career you really want. If you’ve already been a travel nurse and are getting back into it after some time away, you may have a little more freedom.
Get your licensing in order.
You’ll want to make sure you have all the necessary certifications and licensing taken care of before embarking on your travel nursing career. You’ll need a license to practice in the state you plan on working in. Or, you can obtain a compact license, which will allow you to travel to multiple states without having to get a license for each one. Note that the licensing process may also include a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and fees.
Brush up on your interview skills.
Has it been a while since you’ve been in a job interview? It’s worth brushing up on your interview skills before meeting with the HR manager or hiring liaison—practice in front of a mirror at home or with a friend or family member. You don’t want to come to the interview unprepared and blow your chance!
Partner with a recruiter.
One way to make things far easier on yourself when embarking on a new travel nursing career is by partnering with a staffing firm. This relationship will allow you to find placements that suit you, and you can work together to shape your travel nursing career the way you want.
ARMstaffing can help you get your travel nursing career started, whether you’re a brand-new nurse or a seasoned professional. Contact us today, or visit our job board to view available openings.
