Is LPN Travel Nursing For You?

Have you wanted to be a travel nurse and were told that only an RN could do this? Nothing could be further from the truth! LPN travel nursing is very much alive and looking for you and other LPN’s who like to travel, meet new people, want to learn new things, and have a genuine concern for the well being of patients, where ever they might be.

There are several steps that you need to consider if you desire to enter LPN travel nursing. Firstly, as mentioned above, be certain in your own mind that the reason you want to be a travel nurse pretty much coincides with those listed, and that you have the personality and credentials to fit the job.

The next step, and this is a very important one, is to list all of your current job skills, and especially those that you are really proficient in. List those positions where you have worked, such as a long term care facility, hospitals, clinics, etc. After you have done this, get your resume prepared so that it looks professional and is well organized. You also need to consider the fact that you will often be away on assignment, often times for three (3) months, and may not be able to see them for that time. If you have a home or apartment, you will also need to be certain that all of those associated bills are paid while you are gone. There may be other arrangements that are required to be made, so list them carefully on paper, and take care of them.

Learn anatomy quickly and pass!

Now that you have that phase taken care of, prepare a short list of references of individuals that will speak highly of your work habits and ethics. You should also obtain a couple letters of recommendation from previous employers. You are now ready to begin looking for a position in LPN travel nursing. Generally, the easiest way is to select a good travel nursing agency, and let them do your looking for you. If you know other LPNs, talk to them for a recommendation of a good travel nurse agency. A few that we have been made aware are Medical Staffing Solutions, Right Solutions, and Qshift. These three also are LPN friendly which is very important.

You can also go on your own to look for a position, but it is a lot more work. There are a couple of recommended online sites for LPN travel nursing…Medical Mingle and All Nurses. You can check them out and see what they have to offer. One of the primary reasons of going through a travel nursing agency is that they generally make all travel arrangements for you, housing, sometimes paid medical insurance and other perks such as a completion bonus. Also, before you sign any contract, have it reviewed by a professional.

We’ll assume that you have reached this plateau and have an LPN travel nursing assignment lined up. Get organized with your packing, and make sure that you arrive in plenty of time to be ready for your first day of work. Be open, cheerful, honest, and whatever you do, do not get involved with any politics or other job problems with the other employees. You are there to do the job that you were hired for, and to the very best of your ability. It doesn’t hurt to give 110% to that job either, their feedback to your travel nurse agency will go a long way, and could open many more doors for you in the future.

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