Life as a travel healthcare professional is full of adventure, but success on the road takes more than a packed suitcase and a sense of wanderlust. Explorers need a smart strategy. From setting financial goals and choosing good housing to packing efficiently and building connections at new facilities, a little planning goes a long way. Check out these travel hacks to get the most out of your assignment.
Get Goal Focused and Financial Savvy
You can’t get there if you don’t know where you’re going. Before accepting your next assignment, figure out your goals. Do you want to maximize your income? Explore new destinations? Save for early retirement? Maybe you want to gain experience in specific clinical settings. Or do you simply want to enjoy a flexible lifestyle? Talk to your ERM. They can become your strongest ally rather than a missed opportunity. After setting your goals, focus on your finances. Create a monthly budget that accounts for key expenses like housing, licensing fees, and transportation. Use budgeting apps like CoPilot, Upside, and PocketGuard to track your spending and spot areas where you can reduce spending or splurge a little. Don’t forget to register for MedPro’s financial webinars to sharpen your money management skills. With clear goals and wise financial habits, you’ll maximize every assignment and stay on track toward your long-term success.
Pack Like a Pro
Whether by car, plane, or train, getting organized before you go will make your journey much smoother. Obviously, if you’re driving, you can bring more bags and gear, but if you’re flying, you’ll need to be strategic about what you pack. A good rule of thumb? Follow the 4 Cs of travel packing: Contact Information, Clinical Essentials, Copies of Documents, and Chargers. Keep a list of emergency contacts and key professional connections handy. Don’t forget daily-use clinical tools like your stethoscope, masks, or sanitizer, items that are hard to replace on the fly. Bring copies (not originals) of your licenses, certifications, insurance info, and other important documents, and snap photos for digital backup. Vacuum bags are great for large, bulky items such as sweaters, bedding, or towels.
No Place Like Home
Finding the right place to call home during your travel assignment is key to performing well at work and enjoying your time off.
While Airbnb has been a popular option, many Explorers are finding success with alternatives specifically designed for traveling professionals. Furnished Finder and HelloLanding.com offer fully furnished short-term accommodations ranging from private rooms to full apartments geared toward travel nurses and medical professionals. They’re often more affordable than Airbnb and include essential amenities like a well-equipped kitchen, reliable Wi-Fi, in-unit laundry, and comfortable furniture.
Look for a place close to your worksite as well as grocery stores, parks, restaurants, and public transportation, if you don’t have a car. Safety, quiet surroundings, pet-friendliness, flexible lease terms, and responsive management are also important factors to consider. If you’re craving connection, co-living spaces are a popular option in many cities, offering private bedrooms with common areas in shared homes with other professionals.
Remember, as a travel healthcare professional, you’re typically eligible for a housing stipend, usually based on the local rates of your assignment city. You can verify your stipend amount by visiting GSA.gov and selecting your assignment’s location and year under the Per Diem Rates. Keep in mind that to qualify for the stipend, your assignment generally needs to be at least 50 to 100 miles away from your permanent residence.
Be a Social Butterfly
When you’re constantly on the move as a travel healthcare professional, building strong relationships at each new assignment can make a huge difference, not only for short-term enjoyment but also for long-term career success.
Start by making the effort to get to know your coworkers early on. Permanent staff can be valuable allies, giving you insight into the facility, coworkers, management, resources, as well as the best restaurants, gyms, etc., at your new home away from home. Likewise, you can share your insights on travel nursing and the various cities and facilities you have worked in. Networking can lead to unexpected opportunities, like referrals for future assignments or even being considered for a permanent position if that’s something you’re exploring.
If you’re nervous about making a good first impression, something as simple as bringing in a box of Crumbl with a friendly note on your first day can help break the ice. It shows thoughtfulness and initiative, and it can spark conversation with people you might not otherwise meet. Traveling doesn’t have to be a solo adventure. Some Explorers form strong friendships with fellow clinicians at the same facility and end up renting housing together, saving money and gaining a built-in support system. Socializing can also help with homesickness, improve your mental health, and make your assignment a whole lot more fun.
Tap Into Your MedPro Resources
One of the smartest travel hacks for any MedPro Explorer is knowing how to leverage the resources at your fingertips. Explorers have access to a full support system designed to help you succeed both professionally and personally. Whether it’s connecting with your Employee Relations Manager for guidance, reaching out to the Clinical Nurse Liaison Team for clinical support, or attending a Personal Sage financial webinar to get your money goals on track, these tools are there for you.
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