Once the official contract was signed, I did a mental high five to myself and then got to work on the HUGE check-list of things I needed to get done that was sent to me by my QM specialist with Company P. The QM specialist’s job is to ensure you have all the correct documentation and have completed all paperwork required to work at the hiring facility. Most people have roughly 2 weeks or more to complete this check-list, but I (because of a poorly planned trip to Arkansas) have 6 days! I will be pushing myself to the limit to complete everything on time! The scariest part for me is I have 7 pass/fail (if you fail, your contract is void) tests I must complete and I HATE tests!!! Now, I will be able to do some things while on my vacation like study but other things I can not due until I get home.
Yesterday, I got all required lab work, drug screens, and vaccines completed. Considering I have to drive an hour to get to a city that offers these services, it was a very long day! I will be getting, at some point, my N95 respirator fit test while on vacation in Arkansas at a location semi-close to where I will be camping. Once that is complete, tests are the only thing standing in the way of me and my first Travel Nurse job!
Here are some things you may want to have done ahead of time if you are considering Travel Nursing: Make sure you have an E-Scanned Copy of Your Drivers License, Social Security Card, diploma or college transcripts, Nurses License, BLS, ACLS, any other Certifications you hold, PPD test no older than 1 year, N95 respirator fit test results no older than 1 year, a TDap vaccine that is no older than 10 yrs, and records of your Hep B series with booster and titer dates. Having these already in electronic format with get you through phase one.
Phase 2 for me- TESTING! Wish me luck!
