Deciding to apply to be a travel nurse is an exhilarating career move. You’re choosing to set off into the unknown, hoping for a new adventure with new patients. But before you can start your new and exciting role, as a new employee, you have to complete the onboarding process.
If you’ve applied to be a traveler or been in contact with a travel nurse recruiter with Host Healthcare, you’re in luck.
We’ve designed our effective onboarding process to be as easy and straightforward as possible for a new employee. Our travel nurse onboarding checklist will walk you through everything you need to know about beginning your traveler career.
What Does the Onboarding Process for Host Travelers Entail?
Employee onboarding is the process by which all of your paperwork, transcripts, and other documentation are collected and approved. Travel nurses who are accepted with Host Healthcare can expect an onboarding program that prioritizes compliance. This ensures that everything is in place before you begin your first travel nursing job as a new hire.
Once a traveler gets booked for an assignment, we have designated Credentialing Specialists who will assist them in becoming compliant before they start their assignment. During the compliance process, we must ensure that our travelers meet Host, facility, and state-specific patient care requirements.
Common credentialing items that we assist our travelers with include:
- Licensing and certification
- Vaccination records
- Physical exams
- Drug screening
- Background checks
- State required fingerprints
You must have all of the required documentation on file before you begin your assignment. Fortunately, working with Host ensures you have everything you need as a member of the faculty and staff.
Does Credentialing Play a Role in Travel Nurse Onboarding?
Yes—nurse faculty onboarding does require confirmation of your nursing credentials. Credentialing also includes all of the other aforementioned paperwork that you need to demonstrate that you meet the level of competency in your specialty in order to deliver exceptional patient care while at your new facility.1
How Does Host Simplify the Onboarding Process?
In some situations, the orientation and employee onboarding process can be long and frustrating. Host strives to simplify new employee orientation and onboarding with our quality assurance team. Our QA Team is structured into 4 different tiers—Credentialing Specialist I, II, III, IV. Each tier plays a role in the onboarding process to ensure credentialing is started right away and that there are no delays.
How Do Nurses Benefit from Host’s Onboarding Process?
As a traveler, you have a lot on your plate. You’re leaving your home behind to live and work in an unfamiliar setting. You’re figuring out how to find housing as a travel nurse. The last thing you need is stress about your documentation. This is where Host’s effective onboarding program offers big benefits, such as:
- Credentialing Specialists that guide you through the entire credentialing process
- Frequent reminders to keep you on track before you start your assignment
- Credentialing Specialists assigned to certain areas, meaning they’re experts at what your specific facility and state requires
Our process takes the extra worry off of your plate and ensures you check all of the necessary boxes before setting off on your adventure, so you can focus on the practice and patients. In doing so, you can feel confident about starting your first assignment off on the right foot.
What Should be Included on Your Travel Nurse Onboarding Checklist?
If you’re a self-starter who wants to be a step ahead of the process, you can begin gathering your documents now before you apply. A typical travel nurse onboarding checklist requires the following pieces of information:
- Licensing requirements – If there are specific opportunities you’re interested in, take the time to research the licensing requirements for that state ahead of time. Some states have more stringent licensing needs than others, so you’ll need to be prepared to meet those requirements.
- Proof of other credentials – You’ll also need proof of any other nursing credentials you possess. This includes any specializations, established roles, or extra training you’ve completed.
- Transcripts – You’ll likely need official copies of your student transcripts for any degrees you’ve received. Furthermore, some states dictate that nurses complete a specific amount of continuing education every two years. You may need to demonstrate that you meet these requirements as well.
- Medical records – You’ll also likely need copies of your vaccination records to show that you comply with the facility’s requirements.
- Other screenings – Lastly, you can expect to be required to complete a drug screening, background check, and fingerprinting closer to the time you’re scheduled to begin your assignment.
Having these documents ready to go before you apply to be a travel nurse can help make the process run even more smoothly.
Navigate the Onboarding Process Easily with Host Healthcare
Don’t let hesitation over the onboarding process keep you from pursuing your travel nursing dreams. When you know what to expect and what documentation you’ll need, the process isn’t all that frightening.
Plus, when you apply to be a traveler with Host Healthcare, in particular, you can relax knowing that we’re with you every step of the way. We’re always looking for highly qualified, experienced, and adventurous nurses to join our network. If you think you have what it takes and want to work with a supportive team, apply today, and get started on your new adventure.
Sources:
- Gaines, Kathleen. “How to Become a Travel Nurse.” Nurse.org, https://nurse.org/resources/travel-nurse-career-guide/
