Tis the season for annual resolutions and aspirations.
Both of which are useful— and heartily encouraged. However, instead of just laying down a list of goals to hit, why not include the breadcrumbs that lead you to them too? Development looks different to everyone, and so we’d like to discuss how the recruiters at Blu Med can help you follow through in your goal-making for the year.
How to organize your breadcrumbs
Think of your goals like landmarks on a map— they’re the notable bits. Like the stealthy footprints on a Hogwarts map, your breadcrumbs will be small, measurable, and time-bound— tangible and attainable steps toward the big picture. If you set ambiguous goals, you won’t get where you want to be because it can become overwhelming, leading you to fear making that first move.
Attainable goals help you:
- Stay focused
- Measure progress
- Provide motivation
- Combat procrastination
What are you looking for from travel nursing in 2023?
More adventure
It’s not uncommon for individuals to choose travel nursing as a career to fulfill their wanderlust. While it’s also necessary to go where the work is, take time to plan for the places you’d most like to live and work. Keep it visible. If you can see it, it will remain top of mind. Look for every opportunity to start checking off those destinations.
Keep your recruiter informed of your destination bucket list too. They can keep an eye out for you and help quickly evaluate positions in those places.
Earn more money
Travel nurses earn a higher salary than most other nurses because they:
- Fill short-term needs
- Are agile
- Work in hard-to-fill fields
However, travel nursing is a highly competitive field. It’s also one filled with a lot of student debt, so we understand why making more money also creates the opportunity to pay off loans sooner and/or quicker. There are a few different paths to get to this destination, but we’ll only go into two.
Gaining specific certifications or licenses
This might sound counterintuitive since we just brought up reducing debt, but one way to earn more as a traveler is through higher education, certifications, and licenses. Or— side-quest— let’s say that you’re no longer interested in the specialty you’re working in. You can start on new certifications to make that transition and potentially make more that way. Having advanced certifications in nursing is a powerful way to showcase your knowledge and open more job opportunities and better compensation packages. Talk to your Blu Med recruiter about what you’ll need to do for each certification and/or license in-depth since the processes can be complex and lengthy.
Working in higher-paying cities
You’ve seen the lists. There are tons of resources for finding the “best” cities for travel nurses, but make sure that those cities still allow you to keep disposable income. Yes, in theory, working in San Francisco, New York, or Maui means you get paid more, but if the cost of living outweighs the pay— is it worth it? Be willing to be flexible and find the highest-paying job with the lowest cost of living. Draft a plan with your recruiter about your best placement options throughout the year to get you that sweet cash.
Work at certain hospitals
You can work almost anywhere as a travel nurse, so don’t be afraid to look for assignments at the best institutions. The opportunity to work for some of the nation’s most prestigious hospitals is a great way further to diversify your skills, experiences, and prospects.
Whether you want to work for a national or world-renowned teaching hospital, magnet medical center, or facility, never count yourself out. Your recruiter may be able to find and negotiate contracts for you or provide other avenues (like the ones above) to make yourself more appealing to these places.
Have a crumby with Blu Med
Setting big goals is a wonderful practice but can be overwhelming without a clear path. Working together with your recruiter, you can create quite an impressive trail of breadcrumbs and accomplish amazing things. Added bonus: you’re a traveler, which means you’re already detail oriented, adaptable, and resilient. Trust yourself— you’re great.
And you work with Blu Med, a healthcare staffer that cares about its travelers more than their placements. We succeed when you succeed— so let’s get started.
Want to learn more about what Blu Med can do for you? Contact our team today.
