1) Build up your resume: What better way to jump into a New Year than with an abundance of career boosting opportunities? Between all the people you’ll work with and the wide variety of environments you’ll work in, you’ll accumulate valuable personal references and a much broader skill set than if you stayed in one place. You’ll also be exposed to a wider variety of organizations, management styles and medical services which will give you a distinct advantage over other nurses.

2) Compensation and more: As a travel nurse, not only will you receive great base pay, you can get additional compensation in the form of bonuses and housing options. Depending on your contract and assignment, you can receive an additional bonus just for taking a longer assignment or agreeing to take a hard-to-fill position. Many agencies, Onward Healthcare included, offer bonuses for successful referrals and that could mean an extra $500 in your pocket. There are also housing subsidies that you can take advantage of if you’re willing to secure your own living arrangements, which leaves you with extra spending money. The bottom line is there are plenty of opportunities to make more money in addition to your standard pay.

3) Flexibility: Not every career comes with the flexibility to choose where you want to work, what type of organization you want to work in and what your assignment will be like. Travel nurses enjoy all of these options making their careers one of the most flexible in the industry.

4) Excellent Benefits: Contrary to what you might hear, travel nurses receive above average coverage for medical, dental, vision and more! It’s important for travel nurses to feel supported and protected as they embark on each assignment across the country so agencies like Onward Healthcare ensure they’re taken care of. You may also enjoy options for continuing education and retirement planning when you begin your travel nursing career on top of all the other benefits.

5) Outstanding Support: As with any career, it’s important to be thoroughly supported and receive the right guidance when you start off; and within the travel nursing industry, superior support is the norm. From assistance with housing and travel to RN licensure support and reimbursement guidance, you’ll be surrounded by supportive professionals throughout your career who are committed to your professional growth.

We hope you’ll consider these perks as just a few reason why you should start your career in travel nursing this year. The benefits are many and there are outstanding medical organizations all across the country who are looking for a talented nurse like you. If you have any more questions about the process or a career in travel nursing, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to hear from you!

With this in mind, Onward Healthcare is proud to introduce a brand new Healthcare Traveler Resources Page on our main website. This is a one stop source for helpful information designed to ensure you have everything you need for each of your assignments. Here is a summary of all the valuable information and resources you’ll find:

• Links to the Onward Healthcare blog and Travel Nursing Insider podcast; the two best sources of news and info for your travel nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy careers.
• A list of all the compliance forms needed for each travel assignment with Onward Healthcare.
• Convenient links to download the Onward Healthcare timesheet and the traveler expense statement forms.
• A handy list of nursing licensure and rehab licensure timeframes for all 50 states including links to the all state boards for nurses and rehab professionals.
• Information about our free private traveler housing option as well as our new “Traveler Housing Concierge Plan” that allows you to increase your base pay through subsidy, while still utilizing the services of the Onward Healthcare housing department.
• A link to the Packing Checklist for Healthcare Travelers that offers a list a thourough list of items to take with you on your next travel assignment.
• Our collections of 101 Travel Nursing Links and 51 Physical Therapy Links that spotlight the best informational sites, blogs and social media networks to keep you informed and connected on every assignment.

We think you’ll find everything you need on our new Resources Page to ease the transition process from one new travel nursing job to the next. If you’d like to see additions to the page, please let us know; we’d love to hear your suggestions!

Having the appropriate nurse licensure can often be your edge in getting the travel nursing job you truly desire. Hospitals with immediate needs will often lean towards the RN who can start quicker when choosing between similar candidates.  Thus, you should begin the licensure process as soon as you have decided where you want to go on your next travel nursing assignment.

When starting the licensure process for a new state, your travel nurse recruiter can often walk you through the process and provide you with all of the needed documentation.  In addition, many travel nursing agencies such as Onward Healthcare will reimburse you for the cost of your new nursing license upon your acceptance of a travel nursing job.

For a list of nursing licensure timeframes by state, visit Onward Healthcare’s directory.