The travel nursing industry was developed as an offshoot of the nursing shortage. Travel nurses go to different areas to work temporary short-term nursing positions and then move to another area where their services may be needed. Travel nursing companies usually offer higher pay and a lot of incentives including relocation assistance, housing, and bonuses.
Applying with any of the hundreds of travel nurses agencies requires a substantial paperwork such as completing an employment application form, educational and work history, verification of licenses and certifications. The applicant also needs to submit skill assessment for a particular nursing specialty, verification of immunization and titers for several communicable diseases, current TB test, physician’s certification of the applicant’s fitness to work and a lot more of documents that an agency may require.
The applicant for a travel nurse position must comply with all the requirements of the agency he is applying for. But this is only one side of the coin.
The applicant for a travel nurse position must also find a lot of information about the agency before he signs the contract. This will safeguard his interests and avoid any problems that may arise in the course of his employment with the agency.
One major area of concern for a would-be travel nurse is health insurance. The applicant must get an assurance from the agency that a health insurance coverage will be provided before he is sent to work to an assigned destination. There will always be the risk of getting sick if the nurse will be assigned to work in an area with extreme climate conditions so a health insurance coverage could come in handy. All other related questions about health insurance must be cleared first prior to the contract signing.
Another area to be cleared first is housing. The agency must clearly spell out its housing policy for travel nurses and no area must be left vague. While the agency will clearly provide housing accommodation, the applicant must ask who will shoulder the utilities and other house-related expenses like furnishing. This will prevent any problem that could be discovered only once the travel nurse is already deployed and it will be too late to back out.
The applicant and the agency must have an understanding on who will shoulder travel expenses to and from the assigned work place. Also, the nature of travel accommodations need to be discussed and clarified such as air travel versus travel by land.
If the agency promised bonuses and other incentives to applicants, the applicant must inquire about the exact amount of the bonus and the nature and extent of the incentives that will be provided. Also, it must be made clear when and how those bonuses and incentives are to be given by the agency.
And finally, before signing above the dotted lines, the applicant for the position of travel nurse must ask the agency for any provision that will allow the applicant to get out of the employment contract in case he found out that the work conditions are different from what had been presented to him. There must be a clear way out.
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Tags: before, company, contract, interviewing, nursing, sign, travel