5 Tips for a Great Start to Your Travel Assignment

Prior to starting your travel assignment, we have a few suggestions to help you prepare.

Now that you’ve secured a travel nurse job, you might be wondering what’s next. Here are our suggestions!

#1: Complete your documentation.

Whether you’re just starting to look into travel nursing or you’ve been traveling for years, you’ve probably heard about the travel nurse documentation process.

It is true that the paperwork can be daunting, particularly for your first assignment. The single biggest way to minimize the headache of compliance is to start early. As soon as you begin considering a travel nurse job:

Start collecting the documentation your assignment is likely to require, including medicals, certifications, and diplomas.
Schedule appointments to obtain the paperwork you don’t yet have.
Upload legible PDFs of the documents you do have to your computer.

Getting a jumpstart on your compliance process means that once you secure a travel nurse job, you can focus on assignment-specific paperwork rather than wasting time on general documentation. As soon as you receive the list of documents required for your assignment, get to work! Finishing your documentation early will make it less likely that you have to find a photocopier while on the road to your assignment, pay extra for a last-minute medical, or have your start date pushed. It also means that if your facility employer asks for something unexpected during your paperwork review, you’ll have time to adapt.

Don’t forget, with American Traveler, you’re not alone! We strive to make the process as painless as possible by providing you with a personalized documentation portal that helps keep you on track and a Traveler Onboarding Specialist who is skilled in compliance and can answers any questions that arise. Furthermore, we keep your paperwork on file to save you time with successive assignments, and remind you of impending expirations dates so that you have plenty of time for necessary renewals.

#2: Decide on a method of travel.

While you’re working on your documentation, you should be considering how you’ll get to your assignment. If you’re going somewhere like Hawaii or the hospital down the street, the answer might be obvious. In other cases, deciding whether to travel by plane, train, or car might take a little more thought and planning. Important considerations include the cost of transportation, length of the trip, how much you want to pack, if family, friends, or pets are coming with you, and how you plan to get to work - and explore once you arrive at your destination.

#3: Pack.

After you’ve decided on how you’ll get to your travel nurse job, it’s time to pack! We’ve compiled a , but here are a few more:

Bring your IDs (Driver's license, SSN, Passport) and hardcopies of your documentation, especially of your nursing licenses and certifications. Some facilities ask to see paperwork during your first week of work.
Bring items that will make your travel nurse housing feel like home, whether these are pictures of friends and family or your favorite slippers.
Bring a charger for your phone so that you don’t run out of battery while in transit. If you’re driving, bring an atlas or paper map as well, so that if you don’t have service, you have a backup plan!
Travel light. If you’re debating about whether or not to bring something, you probably don’t need it.

(Traveling with your pet? Here's our advice...)

#4: Plan your route in advance.

Whether you’re flying into a new city and trying to find your way to your housing or driving across the country, it’s important to have a plan beforehand.

If you’re flying, arrange transportation from home to the airport and from the airport to your travel housing, whether it’s a car rental, public transit, or a ride from a friend. Make sure to let your recruiter know of your plans - that way they know when you will be unavailable to take calls and will know when to check in with you.

If you’re driving, make sure to plan your route from home to your travel assignment. Find accommodations for each night of your journey before you leave, and let family and your recruiter know of your plans so that they can be looking out for you. If anything changes when you’re on the road, let them know! You should also enroll in an auto club like AAA, as they offer roadside assistance and other traveler support. American Traveler offers a AAA membership discount; contact your recruiter for details.

#5: Get settled in your housing.

It’s important to be settled in to your new surroundings before starting work. Unload your car right away, particularly of any valuables. If you’re in company-provided travel nurse housing, do a housing walk-through and inform your recruiter and the Housing Department of any concerns. Then explore the neighborhood! Hit the grocery store, check out your community amenities, and find your nearest park - whatever will make your housing feel like home.

Prior to your first workday, we recommend you perform a test drive to the hospital so that you feel comfortable with the route and time. At every step, don’t forget that your recruiter is waiting to assist you and answer any questions you might have.