Travel nursing is an exciting profession where you get a choice to explore different cities around the USA.
It also allows you to experience novel healthcare facilities and work with co-workers of diverse origins and backgrounds.
But if you’re a beginner travel nurse who just got their hands on the first assignment, it’s vital to understand the differences between big and small city assignments. Sure, a hospital is a hospital, but there are nuances between small and big city gigs.
This article tells you whether big cities or small ones are ideal for travel nursing and better, ideal for you.
1. Nature Seeker vs. Urbanite
Before choosing your assignment, assess whether you like to live in a small town or a big city.
If you’re someone who seeks nature, go to a small town for a travel nursing assignment. Small cities offer adventurous outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, or surfing. Additionally, small cities are generally located in the countryside and provide many recreational places that might suit your lifestyle.
In case you’re an urbanite, someone who relish exotic foods at big restaurants and enjoys city nightlife. You’ll be more comfortable working in a big city.
In particular, before selecting an area for your travel nursing assignment, do proper research about the location in advance. Also, chat with a nurse who has already worked in that city. Pick a city where you can keep up your nursing skills besides feeling at home.
2. Look Out for Professional Growth
Dig deep to find out whether the city you’re picking is offering you professional growth or not.
For instance, the big cities of the USA are always searching for travel nurses due to a large-scale healthcare system. Moreover, these hospitals have a huge variety of contracts and specialties to accommodate a wide variety of travel nurses. Getting recruited to New York, Los Angeles, or Houston will excel your travel nursing career in ways you probably may not imagine at first glance.
In big-city hospitals, highly skilled nursing professionals may be more readily accessible. So sure, there may not be a hyper specialty as readily available on a first travel gig.
On the contrary, the number of travel nursing job vacancies in small cities is irregular and likely less specialized. But just keep in mind a smaller town has it’s upsides besides specialties and specific units. Thus, small cities give you more room for professional growth, and generally at a more relaxed and constant pace.
In addition to professional development, also look at how travel nursing in a big or small city might impact you as a person…as a human. And not just as an RN.
3. Workflow and Supervision
The management and leadership also vary in big and small cities and big and small(er) facilities.
In a big city, you’ll find more bureaucracy. More rules to follow and likely less control or ability to shape change. Workflows are often more set in big cities, with little room for innovation.
This can be good or bad depending on your personality type. Some like the stability, while others enjoy being a change agent and being part of a more nimble, smaller organization.
In small cities, you may have more direct access to the people in charge. You may find it easier to get your questions answered or get clarification on an issue.
The workflow may be less set in stone, allowing for some creativity and innovation. For example, in a small town, you might be more likely to develop a new program or process that meets the needs of the community you’re serving.
The Final Word
Small towns and big cities both have their own unique benefits for travel nurses.
It’s important to consider what you value most in a work assignment before making your decision. If you’re looking for professional growth, big cities are the way to go. However, if you want more direct access to supervisors and less bureaucracy, small towns may be better suited for you. Ultimately, the best way to decide is to do your research and chat with other nurses who have worked in the city or town you’re considering.
With the right information, you can make an informed decision that will set you up for success as a travel nurse.
To learn more about the travel nursing opportunity and cities across the country, visit Bestica Healthcare and start planning your next assignment today.
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