When you are considering a career in travel nursing, it is important to know the length of the contracts that you can expect. As with many other professions, the arrangements can vary drastically in length, from a few weeks to several years.
Generally, the duration of these assignments can be up to 13 weeks for short-term length. However, it can stretch out to 26 weeks or more, depending on the healthcare provider’s needs and skills. Know more about travel nursing on this site here.
The travel nursing industry has been flourishing for decades and is one of the most exciting careers that can help with the supply and demand of US healthcare.
With these kinds of jobs, someone will always be available to cover shift shortages, emergencies, and holiday fluctuations.
Why Does it Last for 13 Weeks?
According to sources, the past three decades have found hospital settings to have a distinct model. The staffing model generally follows the way of matching occupied beds and nurses, and since the staffing can change regularly, this typically requires flexibility.
Most travel nurses generally add to this flexibility as they can get integrated with the right hospital ratio on a 13-week contract. Most hospitals notice that the onboarding and orientation phases can take around 4 to 13 weeks, giving more than enough time for newly hired staff to acclimate to the environment.
Aside from this, the Family and Medical Leave Act generally provides 12 weeks of leave for new mothers and fathers, so the 13 weeks will be more than enough to cover these leaves of absence and ensure that patients receive the care they need. Another reason for this period of time is housing. Many accommodations prefer longer leases and contracts, and many agencies can easily find temporary apartments for their nurses and keep them safe.
These 13 weeks are also what many healthcare workers prefer. The travel nurse contract length allows them to get to know the new place better, and they don’t have to drive to a new place each week. They can spend more time caring for their patients than on the road the whole day. This will enable them to visit new places, set out on an adventure, get a different experience, and enjoy their profession while getting paid at the same time.
Sometimes, these nurses might love their new experience too much and want to stick around. Conveniently, the hospital also needs staff, and an extended contract becomes possible. Other times, the renewal can be done several times if everyone agrees to the terms.
What About Shorter Lengths?
Changes can happen unexpectedly, and if there’s a sudden shift in the clinic or hospital’s needs, the contracts can become shorter as a result. This generally occurs when newer technologies are in place, or the healthcare worker has a different lifestyle preference. This results in a more flexible travel contract where individuals can arrange an Airbnb accommodation suitable for them.
Six weeks or shorter terms are also available. This is when the healthcare facility might need additional staff because someone has gotten into an accident and had a short-term disability. Those taking shorter assignments should talk to their administrators about other opportunities they can immediately go into once their term is up.
The shortest term is often called the rapid response contract. This will enable the clinic to fill a position quickly, which can be intense and stressful. These agreements can let someone do their duties almost immediately without a hospital oversight and only with little orientation. However, the pay is higher, and one can earn a lot of money whenever they get these opportunities. See more about nursing and stress in this url: https://work.chron.com/nursing-stressful-career-8152.html.
Since there’s pent-up demand in the industry, nurses might prefer assignments with high intensities in the short term. These are the ones who can grasp the concepts easier, start quickly, are knowledgeable, and have licenses that will enable them to travel across the state.
The response times are rapid, but the payoff is greater flexibility. Many healthcare providers realize they don’t have to get stuck in these stressful situations for the rest of their lives; it could be over in just 13 weeks. These are the people who are on-call for positions located in remote rural areas or who fulfill complex job requirements because of increased patients. This has happened during the pandemic and the flu seasons when everyone is expected to work intense shifts.
Contract extensions can also be longer than 13 weeks. One of the keys to securing this position is transparent communication with the hospital and the recruiter. If this assignment is an excellent fit for one’s professional goals and the area is ideal for their lifestyle, extending the contract for another 13 weeks can help one make wiser decisions. It’s best to notify the recruiters when one is considering an extension so they can get prioritized when the right time comes.
