5 Steps You Should Follow After Signing Your First Travel Healthcare Contract

Becoming a traveling healthcare professional can be fun, exciting and present just a few challenges. Traveling offers you the opportunity to grow your career and explore the country in a way you would not have if you were a tourist. Once you have signed your first healthcare contract and accepted your assignment, there are few steps you can take to make the transition smooth.

Let’s Get Organized — Once the terms of your contract have been negotiated, it’s important you get a paper copy for the terms and conditions of the assignment. You’ll likely have a digital copy, but you should have one that’s been signed by yourself and your recruiter that you can keep available for future reference. Experienced travelers use a binder to keep these important documents in date order. In addition to having a copy of your contract, it’s also necessary to have your professional licenses and certifications, the results of any testing required (such as TB testing or certification testing), and any tax forms you may need to bring with you as you work out of state. Between signing your first contract and starting your first day, there likely will be paperwork that needs to be completed. A simple way to keep everything organized is to create a binder.

Your Recruiter is Your Friend — The relationship you have with your recruiter may be one of the more important relationships you have to achieve a successful travel career. They are there to answer questions, put you in touch with others and help you navigate the paperwork for your facility before your start date.

Look For Housing, Know What is Important — Your recruiter will help you line up a home away from home for your travel assignment, which is arguably one of the more important decisions you’ll have to make. This is the shelter you will call home for the next 13 to 26 weeks. The housing process may seem a little scary for your first assignment, but your recruiter is there to help you. Do some research on the area where you’ll be assigned so you can help your recruiter determine where you would like to find housing. Cost, traveling with children or pets and whether or not you want to use the travel stipend are factors to consider. It may be extremely helpful to reach out to others who have traveled before to get their perspective.

Pack and Then Purge — As the time to leave draws near, you’ll have to tackle the question of what to bring with you and what to leave at home. The difference in what you bring and what you don’t is what you “need” versus what you “want” to have with you. As you gain more experience in taking travel assignments, you’ll learn the less you bring the easier the whole process becomes. Consider your personal situation and what works best for you. Some housing assignments will have linens and towels and some will not. The climate you’re traveling to, necessary toiletries and minimum kitchen items are all things to be considered. Remember to pack your digital devices with their chargers, any prescription medications you need and your travel binder.

Arrive a Little Early — Moving to a strange city can be a little unnerving. Arriving a few days early will give you a chance to see the area, plan your route to your facility and get settled in to your housing

situation. Grocery shopping, finding the local gym and scoping out a place of worship can all be done without stress when you arrive early. This also gives you the opportunity to relax just a bit before beginning work.

Find Your Next Career Adventure Today!

After you accept your first assignment with Prime Healthcare Staffing, our expert recruiters will help you through the process of moving from one state to another. Call us today to start your next adventure!

|

All Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.