Extending Your Contract

Travel nurses by nature are gypsies and adventurers. Whether it's visiting off-the-beaten path locations or visiting national parks, travel nursing is all about experiencing something new. However what happens when 13 weeks in one location just isn't enough. You can extend your contract.

While travel nursing enables you to discover and enjoy various new destinations, you might find yourself attached to a certain location based on how much you love your nursing assignment. If this occurs, you may consider a travel contract extension.

There are many reasons a travel nurse extends his or her contract: They love the facility and their coworkers, the location is amazing, or they want to avoid the stress of job searching. Extending your contract is convenient. There's no phone interview, no physical, and no orientation. You're already acclimated. While it's easy on you and the hospital, it also uses less of your agency's manpower to send in all your documents, so it seems like a no brainer if you like where you are, to try to extend. There's also plenty of opportunities to make some additional money. Some agencies offer a bonus for extending your contract. It never hurts to ask, and you don't want to leave money on the table.

Always keep your options open, no matter how the conversation goes. Perhaps there's no way to extend your current contract at your current facility, but there's an opportunity at a hospital nearby. If your heart is really set on staying put for longer than your contract entails, don't be afraid to ask!