Travel nurse practitioners, or locum tenens, take on temporary or long-term assignments in a variety of healthcare settings. Although some travel to different states, overall the term locum really just means that they are independent contractors as opposed to full-time employees. Aside from the fact that locum tenens nurse practitioners are contract employees, what else do you need to know about becoming a travel nurse practitioner? We have broken down the 5 things you need to know to become a travel nurse practitioner!
5 Things to Know About Becoming a Travel Nurse Practitioner
You Need to Have Experience
Most facilities want to hire a locum tenens practitioner who has at least two years of experience working in their specialty. Although a travel position seems ideal for someone who is just out of graduate school and is dipping their feet in the water, that’s not the intention of facilities. Their intention is that locum tenens come into a hospital that is short staffed. Travel nurse practitioners need to be able to help out right away with minimal training. This is only possible when the person already has hands-on experience.
Certain Specialties are More Popular than Others
Different facilities require different specialty nurse practitioners. Some popular contracts for nurse practitioners are in specialties such as women’s health, mental health, primary care, and urgent care. Keep in mind that there are sometimes different requirements in each state. Depending on the type of facility you are working in (especially with government positions), you may need certain certifications. Make sure you know what certifications you need before you start a new position.
Contract Lengths Vary
Locum tenens contracts can vary in length. Some can last as little as three months. Others can stretch to six-month, eight-month terms or longer. The length really depends on the needs of the healthcare facility and the amount of time a nurse practitioner is willing to work.
Flexibility/Recruiter Relationship
You will have the most success as a locum tenens if you are flexible and open to new things. Don’t limit your job criteria to a certain area, specialty, or type of facility, if you can help it. Doing so will reduce the number of opportunities available to you. Try to embrace what your recruiter finds for you. This will benefit both you and the facilities that are short-staffed. The key thing is to find a really good recruiter. You want a recruiter who can balance your wants and needs while also placing you where you’ll have the most impact on patients.
“Find a recruiter who listens to you and supports you in your efforts. You want someone who will be there for you throughout your entire assignment and will continue to present you with options for your next assignment,” Cara Griffin, regional director of recruiting for Medestar Locum Tenens explains. Also, remember that actions speak louder than words. A lot of recruiters and agencies make promises that they can’t meet. If the pay and details of the assignment seem too good to be true, I would certainly do my due diligence in making sure there are no loopholes or bait and switch tactics going on.
Job outlook and salary is promising
The best news is that if you are considering becoming a travel nurse practitioner, the job and salary outlook are both promising. According to the most recent statistics, nurse practitioners are making around $100,000 per year.
There is even more information to know if you are interested in becoming a travel nurse practitioner. Watch our video below to go more in-depth about being a travel nurse practitioner!
