Medical staffing professionals with a shared passion for medicine and travel may wish to consider taking assignments together. A travel nurse or travel therapist could strategize and find assignments in the same place or neighboring locations if they value their friendship and wish to remain close to each other.
Rebecca Cook, PT, and Daria Franjko, DPT, became fast friends and determined that traveling together would be a fun and functional opportunity for the both of them.
“I thought (travel work) was a great idea,” Darla told Healthcare Traveler. “Being a new graduate, I did not know what area of the country or in what setting I wanted to begin my career. With traveling, I knew I could get various hands-on experiences. Yet, I did not want to just dive in without knowing anyone. I chose a location close to home for my first assignment, but as soon as that was completed, I headed to Miami where Rebecca was already working.”
These two friends have spent a few years completing travel assignments, sometimes in the same facility and sometimes in different ones. According to Healthcare Traveler, they highly recommend the experience.
If a medical staffing professional wishes to venture into the world of travel therapy or travel nursing, she may wish to consider bringing a like-minded friend along. Sharing the experience could bring a sense of comfort to travelers. Cross country moving may be a little intimidating for a first timer, but inviting a friend along for the ride means that they may both find new strengths they never knew they possessed.
Traveling friends may find it hard to find assignments together at the same facility if they both offer the same speciality. A larger city will often be the only place where institutions can take multiple travel nurses. A worker should also be more open to compromise on a variety of other qualities such as location, job requirements and contract length if they are attempting to travel to a destination with a friend who is also seeking work.
A travel therapist or travel nurse does not need to go on every assignment with a friend. Once she is more comfortable, she can venture to contracts on her own and just plan a few that coincide with a friend’s own plans. Travel healthcare offers friends a unique opportunity and it is up to each individual to make the most of every contract.