Tips for Getting Started with a New Travel Assignment
Immense change is approaching. It might be somewhat intimidating, but allow us to provide you with advice to help you get ready for your assignment.
Congrats! Finally, you've secured your first travel assignment, and on Monday, the onboarding and orientation process will begin. Being a new employee in an unknown facility or clinic can be unnerving. If Megan and I told you otherwise, we'd be lying to you.
You're about to go through a lot of change quickly, including changes to your career, home, neighborhood, coworkers, etc. It might be somewhat intimidating, but allow us to provide you with some straightforward advice to help you get ready for your new travel assignment.
At a new assignment, give yourself a grace period of 2-4 weeks. You need enough time to adjust to the change. Megan and I agree that the first 2-4 weeks are the hardest because we are figuring out a new EMR system, creating a new "workflow," and getting used to living in a new location. If this is your first time traveling, give yourself a 4-week grace period. If you've been on the road for several assignments, something closer to the 2-week mark is typically acceptable. Last but not least, add 1 extra week for each of the following: new therapy setting, new graduate, and/or less than 1 week of onboarding or orientation. These are merely overarching guidelines to create a framework. Every circumstance is unique.
Each of us has begun a "new job" before. Utilize that knowledge. I'm referring to the several clinical rotations we all underwent while in school. You'll experience a similar "new job" vibe when beginning a new travel assignment. So consider what you did in the past to ensure that the transition time went as well as possible. If you haven't recently been in school, consider when you first started a new job or position.
Keep in mind that permanent therapy jobs are identical to travel jobs. The idea that permanent and travel jobs are distinct from one another is untrue. They are interchangeable. The majority of facilities, clinics, and hospitals would love to have a full-time therapist employed, but they are willing to pay a premium for the traveler while they search for a replacement. So, to get ready, I concentrate on having the mindset of starting a new job except for having an "exit strategy” after the 13-week assignment is complete.
During orientation, take notes. Everyone has a distinct preferred method of taking notes. It doesn't matter "how." Simply do it. Note down crucial references, instructions for navigating certain EMR system tasks, and resources to call if you have inquiries.
Ask for help early and often. Recognize that you don't need to be an expert in everything. The "workflow" or "work procedure" at the new facility will be very different from what you are used to. On day one, no one at the clinic expects you to be fully familiar with their EMR and operational procedures. So make sure to put your pride aside and ask lots of questions frequently and early. You'll learn more quickly as a result, and you'll establish contacts or mentorship points at the site that you can use if you have any further questions throughout the assignment.
Don't be hesitant to ask for structure if the orientation lacks it (the majority do). Examples:
As you enter some patient information into the EMR system via a therapy note or evaluation, have a fellow therapist accompany you through the process to suggest tips or tricks on documentation.
Shadow a coworker's "workflow".
Ask your supervisor to review your treatment note and comment on anything you might have missed when utilizing their EMR.
Ask whether there is a checklist of tasks at the clinic or hospital. This can be for a single job task or a list of tasks for the entire day.
If something seems "not normal," speak with your travel recruiter. If a facility is not giving you the tools you need to practice therapy ethically, a good recruiter will stand up for you and defend you. Find recommended recruiters that we personally use and trust below!
Schedule a mentorship call with us! Megan and I have been working as travel physical therapists for multiple years and have been onboarded numerous times for travel assignments. To ask questions that are unique to you, feel free to schedule a mentorship call before, during, and/or after your travel assignment. We enjoy supporting other travelers because we think it is one of the best ways to experience life, but it doesn't mean it is simple. There is nothing wrong with seeking some guidance.
What’s your greatest fear about your first travel assignment? Let us know below! 👇
- Written by Dr. Ryan J. O’Rear, PT, DPT
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