6 Benefits of Extending Your Travel Nursing Assignment

Especially during a lingering pandemic, it can be overwhelming to think about moving again so soon. Standard travel nursing contracts are 13 weeks long, so repeating the application and licensing processes, moving, and settling again in such a short amount of time can all be exhausting.   

It’s important to keep your own physical and mental wellbeing on the top of your care list and make the right choice for you. If you like the location of your current travel nursing contract, have you considered extending the assignment?  

Let’s talk about six benefits of asking for a contract extension, when possible.  

6 Benefits of Extending Your Travel Nursing Contract 

1. You’re in the system. 

   When you extend your contract, you won’t run into any of those pre-employment roadblocks that can come up when you pursue a new assignment. From the initial application to the skills checklist to licensing and credentialing, everything is in order and properly filed. And this creates a seamless experience for you.
   

2. You get to skip the interview

   With every new assignment, of course, there’s an interview. If you extend at your current location, your department leads and managers are already familiar with you and your skills. Not only will you save time by not having to interview again, but you’ll also save them time as well.
   

3. You're already in a place that feels like home

   Ok, “feels like home” might be a stretch. But it’s more like home than starting over in a totally new location. If you extend your housing contract, you’ll be in a place that already feels like yours. And you won’t have to spend time and energy packing and unpacking. If you’re feeling worn down, this can be a huge win for your mental health!
   

4. You're familiar with the facility

   After at least 13 weeks working in the same location, you’re becoming a part of their healthcare family. If you stay with this crew for the length of another contract, you can continue working with confidence and efficiency, rather than having to learn the ins and outs of a new facility team.
   

5. Your insurance benefits won't lapse

   As a travel nurse with CoreMedical, you and your family receive benefits from the first day of the job. However, gaps in between contracts can create complications with your medical benefits. If you extend a contract, you won’t risk having a gap in coverage, giving you peace of mind.

6. You can request time off

   If you’re already a travel nurse, you know requesting time off can be a challenge, especially when you’re committed to such a short-term contract. But the longer you’re with the same healthcare provider, the more likely you can garner some time off. As a familiar face, you will have shown your work ethic and proven yourself to them.
   

Next Steps For Extending Your Travel Nurse Assignment 

First, you need to talk to your recruiter. Tell them how long you’d like to extend. 

Next, speak with your on-site manager to see if an extension is needed. This will help streamline the process and open lines of communication between you, your recruiter, and the facility you’re currently serving. 

If everyone agrees that an extension is possible, ask your recruiter to draft a new contract with the new extension dates so that you can fill the employment need before someone else does. 

Questions About Travel Nursing? 

 Do you have more questions about travel nursing? We have answers! We created an Ultimate Guide to Travel Nursing just for you!