Top tips for new travel physical therapists

If you have decided to pursue a career in travel physical therapy, this is exciting news. This is one of the most rewarding jobs you could have and it is a great profession for someone interested in taking their skill sets all over the country, caring for those in need and exploring new surroundings.

Helping patients recover from injuries and overcome disabling conditions, you are making a huge difference in your patients' lives as well as their families' lives. However, if you are new to the profession, there are a few things you'll want to consider as you begin your career as a travel professional. Take a look at this list below for the top tips for new travel physical therapists.

1. Know the requirements – Different facilities are going to require you to have certain prerequisites or experience. Most travel physical therapists have at least one year of experience working in a traditional hospital or clinic setting before they can become qualified to travel. Talk to your travel physical therapy agency to find out what the requirements are for where you would like to travel and work.

2. Be flexible – As you begin working on your first assignment, be prepared to be flexible. Remember, you're there to help the facility fill in gaps where they are short-staffed.  This means you may not be assigned an ideal shift or the schedule you are used to. Embrace the challenge and delight in fact that you are making a difference to those around you. 

3. Stay open minded – While you travel all over the country and visit new cities, you will undoubtedly experience a wide array of cultures and people. You would be surprised by how different a city is that is only a few hours' drive from another. Stay open minded and ready to soak up all you can from the diversity you will come in contact with. Give the regional cuisine, art and vernacular a chance and you will enrich your time as a travel physical therapist tenfold.

4. Remain calm – Sometimes it can be challenging to get acclimated to a new environment, not to mention a new job. It's completely understandable if you get overwhelmed, frustrated and tired at some points during your travel assignments. The key is to remain positive in every situation, looking for the good in everyone you encounter and in the experience.