Do Your Research
Each travel nurse job is an adventure. But it still makes sense to be as prepared as possible.
Find out the local cost of living
How far are housing, shopping, food and entertainment from the location of your travel nurse job? How safe is the neighborhood around the hospital? Is there public transportation? Will you need to rent a car?
Factor this information into your salary and work hour requirements
For example, you don’t want to be walking in a dangerous neighborhood, late at night, in poor weather. It is only fair to expect to be compensated for extra expenses, such as transportation costs.
Discover if this location can keep you entertained
There’s more to life than work, and part of the fun of travel is learning about each city you visit. Make sure the location of your travel nurse job has enough to do outside work hours to keep you occupied once work is over. After all, you’re not going home to your regular home at the end of each day. You’ll have more time on your hands than you’re used to having to fill.
Make sure there are affordable flights back home, available when you want to travel
There’s nothing worse than feeling trapped in one place when you really want to be in another. A travel nurse job will be very stressful if there’s no easy way to get home for a weekend or for an emergency.
Use the Internet to research your next travel nurse job
The Web is a tremendous resource for places to live, things to do, great food and interesting entertainment. Learn how to use Google Local, Windows Live Local and similar resources to learn what’s hot (and what’s not) with any new city you are considering for your next travel nurse job.
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