There’s nothing quite like facing the open road with your car packed, windows down and music blaring. It’s a sense of absolute freedom. It’s excitement, joy, wonder and maybe a touch of anxiety. But that’s all normal when you begin a new chapter of your life.
Hitting the road for your first healthcare travel assignment is magical. You get to work a challenging, exciting job AND you get to travel wherever you want. It feels like the ultimate travel junkie life hack—almost like you’re getting away with something.
And as soon as you’re out on the road, you’re going to want to hit the ground running. Between shifts, you have beaches to explore, hikes to plan, tickets to buy, restaurants to try, museums to wander and friends to make. You’re here for new experiences—there’s no time to waste.
Being a first-year healthcare traveler is a thrilling time and we want to help you make the most of it as soon as possible. The best way to be a successful healthcare traveler right out of the gate? Preparation. Let us set you up to not just survive but thrive in your first year as a healthcare traveler.
Get organized. Stay organized. Thank us later.
Before you hit the road, make sure every document you’ll need to work is in order and in reach. Double-check your medical and vaccination records to make sure you are ready to travel. Get your relevant healthcare provider licenses up to date and keep a clear record of which states you can work in if you are in a compact license scenario. Don’t hesitate to consult with your Uniti recruiter for guidance on which additional state licenses you could pick up—most travel assignments require you to have license in hand before you apply. The Uniti team can advise you where they see the most opportunities so you can target which state licenses to spend your time and money on.
By keeping your documents organized, you can easily clear any hurdles and stay prepared for any situation. And don’t forget to keep other essential personal documents on hand too—your passport, Social Security card, digital copies of your license (healthcare provider and driver’s) and certifications. When you can confidently reach for a license or documentation whenever you need it, you make things just a little easier and keep all doors open. And always keep your resume up to date and readily available in case an interview for a future assignment pops up.
Do your research, but avoid overthinking it.
The Uniti team has decades of experience in pairing healthcare travelers with their dream destinations, so lean on us as much as you need to in your early travel days. We encourage you to do your own research about potential locations to pick for travel assignments. We recommend that you keep a log of places you want to work and look at the local hospitals, activities and amenities.
By familiarizing yourself with destinations before you book them, you save time because you won’t have to spend much of your new assignment discovering things to do or deciding what area of town to find housing. Prior research will let you hit the ground running. Keep a spark of spontaneity, however. When an exciting and unexpected opportunity comes your way, we say take it and figure out the rest later. You have the Uniti team to help you sort everything out.
Listen to yourself and care for yourself.
Life on the road is incredibly rewarding and so much fun. One of the best things about being a healthcare traveler is there is no one right way to travel. Some travelers go as fast as they can and bounce all around the country. Some take a slower pace—with lots of time to maximize their experience in each new community. It’s all up to your personal taste. In your first year as a healthcare traveler, it’s extremely important for you to find a travel style that excites you while preventing burnout.
Throughout each of your first assignments, check in with yourself and your recruiter to see how you’re adapting to the travel life. Ask questions, build relationships, give your all at work and evolve with each assignment. The more you stay in tune with yourself, the more you’ll be able to seize each day in your most fulfilling way. The healthcare travel life can mold to fit your needs, and the Uniti team is here to help you settle perfectly into this adventurous path.
We are so thrilled that you are embarking on this amazing healthcare travel journey. It’s an exciting endeavor to jump into and the Uniti team is here to guide you every step of the way. Reach out to our recruiting team today to start your adventures on the right foot!