Grow Your Skills as a Medical Traveler
Have you ever thought about traveling? What if we told you that you could travel while also having a career you love?
Author | Megan Bebout
Here’s all the good stuff about medical travel...
Intro
Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life... as a med traveler!
As it turns out, the answer you’ve been looking for has been right here all along—medical travel. Becoming a med traveler isn’t as difficult as you might think, although it does require a specific skillset. Once you take the plunge, you’ll realize it’s the most rewarding decision you could’ve made.
I mean, think about it…
A career in med travel gives you the freedom to work where you want and do your favorite hobbies, or even go someplace new you’ve never seen before.
So, are you still wondering, “Should I travel?”
Part 1
Why med travel?
Have you ever thought about being your own boss? We’re no mind-reader, but chances are you have. In fact, a Gallup poll shows that 61 percent of Americans would rather be their own boss and that’s because of the benefits you get when you choose your own career adventure.
As a professional medical traveler, you gain full control over how, where, and when you work. No strings. No pressure. A traveler lifestyle allows you to do something not many people get the opportunity to do—to get paid to do what you love the most.
But that’s not even the best part about being a med traveler. It’s hard to narrow it down to just one perk, so here’s a list of reasons why you should take the leap into med travel:
- Offers unique professional growth opportunities
- Gives you the chance to earn top dollar pay
- Provides more job variety in high-demand locations
- Fosters a healthy work-life balance
- Allows for freedom and flexibility
- Empowers you to discover new places
Understanding per diem and bill rates
You may have heard the rumor that med travelers typically make more than their perm staff counterparts. And we’re here to tell you that it’s not a rumor, it’s a fact. But how do you know what a fair pay rate is? There are so many different components that go into your contract like your pay rate, per diem, housing stipend, and more. Let’s take a look at each to get a better understanding of what you can expect.
What's a pay rate?
While your bill rate is the hourly amount the staffing agency charges the medical facility for your work, the pay rate is what you pocket out of the deal per hour. This part of your pay package is taxed, so you’ll see your payroll taxes and benefits deducted, plus any overtime added.
It can seem like med travelers have a lower hourly pay, but that’s because you also get more take-home cash from tax-free stipends, like per diems and a housing stipend.
What's per diem?
You’re away from home for weeks at a time, and that adds up quickly. I mean, you need to be able to make a living! And that’s where per diems come in handy.
Per diems are tax-free payments meant to help travelers cover the cost of meals and incidental expenditures (M&IE) while on assignment. The specific rate is set by the federal government, an agency called the General Services Administration (GSA) and the amount you receive depends on your location of work.
What's a housing stipend?
When it comes to temporary housing, you have options. However, you must have a tax home in order to reap these benefits. What’s a tax home, you ask? As defined by the Internal Revenue Services (IRS), a tax home is “the entire city or general area where your main place of business or work is located, regardless of where you maintain your family home.” In other words, a tax home is the geographical area where you work, not to be confused with your permanent home, which is where you get your mail and register your driver’s license.
To receive a tax-free housing stipend, you must prove to the IRS that you have a tax home. Here’s how:
- Maintain a current driver’s license from your tax home state
- Register to vote in your tax home state
- Register your car in your tax home state
- Maintain a bank account in your tax home state
- Keep documents that prove you stay at your perm home in your tax home state at least once a year
- Keep records that maintain your perm home year-round like mortgage or rent payments, utility bills, home maintenance expenses, or house-sitter payments
- File your resident tax return in your tax home state
Once you’ve established your tax home, you can decide what housing option works best for you:
- A higher take-home rate, but you’ll have to find your own housing (research the area, pay the deposit, be responsible for utilities, etc.)
- A lower take-home rate, but your company will find housing for you and take care of all the nitty gritty to set it up.
Housing is a personal choice, and some travelers prefer one over the other. Find what suits you best.
The 4-1-1 on travel assignments
Okay, okay. So, med travel sounds pretty intriguing, but what’s up with these assignments? Let’s break it down.
The majority of travel jobs are right around 13-weeks long and sometimes the facility may love you so much, they want to keep you a little longer and extend your contract. Of course, both parties—you and the facility—will have to agree on new contract terms. If you see eye-to-eye, you get to stay! And if not, then it’s time to find your next great adventure.
When it comes to the nitty gritty assignment details, your recruiter will provide you with several different options. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which job is right for you.
Want to get an idea of what travel jobs are out there? Take a gander at some Fusion jobs.
Part 2
How to start your career in med travel
Now that we know the basics to med travel, you’re ready to jump in. First thing’s first, you need to do some research. No, we don’t mean research on which locations you’d like to visit, although you should also think about that. But you first need to research medical staffing agencies.
Before you jump into it and sign with the first company who says they can get you a job wherever you want with however much you want to get paid, you’ll want to make sure they’re the right agency for you.
Med travel qualifications
So, here you are! You're ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Before you pack your bags and hit the road, there are a few I’s to dot and T’s to cross. Each medical division and specialty have their own set of experience requirements to complete before travel is an option, so here’s what you need to know about each division:
Licensing requirements
Which division you work will depend on your medical licensing. But on the plus side, most agencies will reimburse you for the license cost after you receive it!
Pro tip: Apply for state licenses as early as possible because some states have a lengthy approval process.
Travel nursing licenses
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The NLC is a license that allows nurses to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in any of those states. But here’s the catch: Only 39 U.S. states are included in this compact license, plus you have to have a permanent residency in at least one of those states. If you’re not currently living in one of those states or want to travel outside the NLC states, you’ll need to apply for individual state licenses.
Jurisprudence (JP) exam. Required by more than half of the states for initial licensure, the JP exam tests your knowledge of your state’s laws and rules to make sure you’re familiar with the practice act and regulations.
Walkthrough license. A walkthrough nursing license can be helpful because it gives registered nurses (RNs) the ability to work while they wait for their permanent state license. Walkthrough licenses are ideal for professionals whose primary state of residence isn’t included as a compact state.
Travel therapy licenses
Physical Therapy Compact (PTLC). Similar to the NLC, the PTLC is an agreement between states that improves access to PT services by allowing PTs and PTAs to practice in multiple states under one license. Again, not all U.S. states have enacted the PTLC. In fact, only 24 states have adopted the PTLC, eight of which have proposed legislation but are not yet accepting or actively issuing compact privileges.
Occupational Therapy Compact. The OT compact license is an OT or COTA’s golden ticket to practice. Currently, only 10 states have put the OT compact into effect, so it’s likely you’ll also need to apply for state-specific OT licenses.
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC). With an ASLP-IC, SLPs are able to work in 15 different states under one compact license, like the NLC or PTLC.
Travel laboratory licenses
Personnel licensure. Currently, 11 U.S. states require lab personnel (i.e. a Medical Lab Technician or Medical Lab Scientist) licensure, and they are: California, Hawaii, Florida, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee, Louisiana, Nevada, West Virginia, Montana, and Georgia. The components of the licenses vary state-to-state.
Histology certification. If you’re pursuing a career in histology, then you’ll want to complete the histology certification. Although it’s not a nationwide requirement, this certification helps advance your career and achieve the best pay benefits.
Phlebotomy certification. Being a phlebotomist is hard but rewarding work. To reach the ultimate level of success, get certified! Don’t think certification makes a difference? Well, 93 percent of employers require or encourage certification. So what are you waiting for?
Part 3
Skills needed to be a successful med traveler
It’s no secret that med travel requires a very specific set of skills. But here’s the thing: You already have the tools, passion, and drive to be successful! So, what other qualities are helpful to take you to the top of your med travel game?
- Flexibility. The more flexible you are, the easier it is for a med recruiter to place you with the right travel job.
- Adaptability. Like Japanese scholar and author, Okakura Kakuzo, once said, “The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surrounds,” and that’s especially true in medical travel.
- Communication and language skills. A large part of patient care is communication and the ability to share information with other med workers. And did you know 20 percent of the U.S. population speaks a language other than English? Bi-and multilingual medical professionals are wildly in-demand and have the chance to earn even more!
- Critical thinking. You’re required to make tough decisions quickly, on-the-spot, in high-pressure situations, so you must be able to analyze the situation, solve unique medical problems, think outside the box, and understand the reasons behind your decision.
- Emotional intelligence. Sure, you need extensive knowledge on patient care and have the medical skills to back it up, but you also need to be in tune with yourself and your emotions.
- Teamwork. We’ve all heard that teamwork makes the dream work, but that’s especially true in med travel. You can’t do it all alone and you don’t have to! With each assignment comes the chance to work with a wide variety of medical professionals who can help elevate your knowledge and skills.
- Willingness to learn. With each day comes something new to learn. Maybe it’s a new policy, procedure, safety regulation, or something else, but the medical world is constantly changing, leaving you with something new to learn from each job.
- Positive attitude. Your positive attitude matters, not just for your own sake, but for your patient’s. Equipped with a positive attitude, you can reduce medical accidents, work harder, and better cope with daily life.
- Technology proficient. We live in a modern world full of technology and med tech is constantly evolving. It’s up to you to stay hip and down with the cool, technological kids.
Grow your med travel skills with Fusion
Regardless of if you’re a first-time traveler or an experienced explorer, Fusion Medical Staffing has your back. Wherever you want to go, Fusion can help you get there. With med travel jobs in sought-after medical facilities across the country and the high demand for med workers, Fusion puts adventure and opportunity right into your hands.
When you travel with Fusion, you get to be your own boss, but with back-up. That means that you gain your own team of experts who are there for you however you need them. No matter if you need help submitting compliance docs, need a refresher on state licensing laws, or have a general question about travel life, we’ve got you! That way, you feel supported while you call your own shots.
We’re on a mission to improve the lives of everyone we touch, and that means you, traveler! We offer the support you need so you can take charge of your career and reap all the benefits. With Fusion, you get to choose the traveling medical jobs you’ve always dreamed of, in the cities on your bucket list, and create a lifestyle even the most avid voyager would be jealous of.
Part 4
Make the most of Fusion traveler benefits
While you’re off living your best life, ensuring your patients are taken care of, let us take care of you. We know that life is less stressful when you’re covered. So that’s why Fusion offers one of the best benefit packages in the med travel industry.
But don’t just take our word for it! See for yourself.
- Transparency into competitive pay packages so you always know what you’re getting into
- Weekly, tax-free per diem to help with meals and incidental expenses
- Weekly direct deposit because we know you don’t have time to cash a check
- Matching 401k investment because your future is equally as important to us
- Certification reimbursement to encourage you to continue your education
- Professional liability to keep you covered in the event of an accident
- Workman’s comp insurance in case something happens to you on the job
- Short-term disability to keep you afloat if for some reason you can’t work
- Health, dental, and vision insurance to make sure you’re as healthy as you can be
- Access to 24/7 phone counseling because your mental health matters
Why travelers choose Fusion
Out of all the medical staffing agencies in the country, it’s no coincidence you’ve made your way to the best. We’re not usually ones to toot our own horn... but toot toot!
Not only do we think we’re the bee’s knees, but so do our 5,000+ med travelers. These are the top five reasons to choose to work with Fusion Med Staffing, straight from current Fusion travelers:
- Reliable reputation. Since 2009, Fusion has been accomplishing milestone after milestone. Not to brag, but most recently, Fusion was listed as one of Staffing Industry Analysts’ (SIA) Best Staffing Firms to work for.
- Rockstar recruiters. Unlike other staffing companies that rotate you through recruiters like they’re going out of style, at Fusion, you work with the same recruiter throughout your travel journey. And they’re your biggest cheerleader, unofficial therapist, and closet confidant.
- Total transparency. Just like you wouldn’t buy a car without test-driving it first, you shouldn’t accept a travel job without knowing exactly what you’re signing up for. That’s why Fusion provides total transparency into pay package, weekly hours, assignment location, and more.
- Bangin’ benefits. What’s better than getting paid to do what you love? Answer: Getting paid to do what you love while you know you’re covered professionally, financially, and emotionally. Plus, Fusion offers even more ways to make money through referral bonuses and by becoming a social media influencer!
- The family feel. We’re all in this together, like a sing along in “High School Musical,” but better. The people who make up Fusion aren’t just coworkers or travelers, they’re family and they’re there through thick and thin, hell or high water, in sickness and in health.
