Graduate Nurses: Get Started with Travel Nursing
It’s best to start thinking about your job search while you're still in nursing school. While you're studying and doing your clinicals, you can develop the enthusiasm, professionalism that matter to future employers. But before you being sending out resumes, you may be able to take advantage of changes in the healthcare landscape.
As more and more healthcare providers focus on prevention, they are asking nurses to be savvy communicators, able to educate and counsel patients and their families. A work history that demonstrates strong communication skills may increase your eligibility for that first nursing job. Many new grads start out as med/surg RNs in an acute care setting, but now, there is a commensurate value to working in an alternative inpatient setting. Think long-term care, assisted living, psychiatric nursing, home care, public health and more.
A first step in getting this experience is to volunteer. It's a good idea have professional liability insurance before you do so. Scan campus message boards for opportunities, like helping to give free health screenings or participating in medical initiatives sponsored by your community. You can also get connected by seeking out memberships; for instance, if you’re studying to be an operating room or med/surg nurse, register with AORN and AMSN.
Specialty Certifications and Technical Exposure are Easy to Get in Travel Nursing Jobs
Many new nurses are excited about the idea of travel nursing, and we can't blame them! Whether you're building your C.V., looking to work in a variety of clinical settings, or just enjoying the freedom of seeing the country and meeting new people, travel nursing is an ideal choice. Most hiring facilities will require at least a year of experience in a hospital setting before they will take on a new traveler. This is because they need to be sure that travelers have their "sea legs" and can hit the ground running. However, once you start traveling, you'll find there is no better way to get more experience, faster. Wherever your career takes you, you travel nursing experience will be an invaluable asset.
Because they have traveled the country’s healthcare system extensively, travel nurses may have an edge in impressing potential employers with their knowledge of technologies, like EMR (Electronic Medical Record Systems) and familiarity with Nursing Informatics—an extremely high paying and highly skilled nursing career that has emerged with healthcare reform; however, before graduate nurses can get started on the travel nursing career path, there are criteria that must be met.
With this experience, your career opportunities will include the option of choosing travel nursing — considered one of the most lucrative, fulfilling, and professionally rewarding jobs in nursing.Other travel nursing specialties that have six-figure earning potential are in the CVICU, Emergency Room, NICU, Cath Lab jobs and more. Free and unlimited CEUs help travel nurses achieve certifications like these:
- American Heart Association Stroke Certification
- Gerontologica Nurse (GNC)
- ACLS
- Pediatrics (PALS)
From your home office, you can take your job search even further by creating membership status with these invaluable sites for both future and current registered nurses.
- American Nurses Association (ANA): Find your state chapter here; some chapters offer new graduates reduced membership dues. As a nurse, joining your state chapter helps you make connections, learn about opportunities and find mentors.
- Nurse.com: This is an excellent source for finding a career fair near you! Wear your most professional attire, bring an updated resume and prepare to talk with healthcare employers as well as recruiters from experienced nurse staffing agencies.
- LinkedIn and other Social Media: Set up an account, as well as check out the social media platforms of healthcare employers that interest you. !
- Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program: breaking free of debt lets future nurses concentrate on prospering on the nursing career path; this program pays up to 60% off of student loan debt within 2 years!
- National Student Nurse Association: join your school’s chapter and attend the National Convention where the networking opportunities are endless!
Get Started on Your Dream Nursing Job Now
The healthcare landscape is changing because of an aging populace, new technology in hospitals, and the Affordable Healthcare Act. If you think you'd like to try traveling when the time is right, feel free to register with us now. We'll keep you informed of the opportunities that await you in travel nursing, and you'll jump out of the start blocks! Call 1-800-996-2206 or apply online for a travel nursing job today for expert career guidance.