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Dec 7, 2022 2:56:00 PM

Where to Next? Rural vs Urban Travel Assignments

 

With loads of travel healthcare assignments available nationwide and a long list of medical recruiting agencies to pick from, it can be challenging to know what’s your best bet as a traveling healthcare professional. When selecting an agency there are many things to consider to find one that suits your needs. However, that may feel like the easy part of the process if it’s your first time traveling. If you’re looking for a push in the right direction to decide whether to take a rural or urban travel assignment, you’ve come to the right place!

 

Weighing Your Options as a Traveler

Before you start packing your bags, you need to get to know yourself a little bit. When and where you would like to take an assignment is entirely up to you. To get started, you’ll want to first take a “self-survey” in order to reflect on your experience and comfort level.

It’s our hope that you are now able to better gauge your personal and professional preferences to make smarter traveling decisions moving forward! Now on to the fun stuff, picking a location for your next travel assignment! The opportunities are endless when it comes to available assignments, and due to fluctuating demands, you could have several excellent options to choose from.

Perhaps you would like to be closer to home, you favor warm weather, or there’s a city that you’ve been dying to explore. LRS Healthcare’s job search features our current available assignments. You can filter based on your profession, specialty, state, and city, making the process that much easier! Depending on your specialty, the availability we have for assignments and locations may vary. Be sure to chat with your recruiter about your preferences for pay, shift schedules, and more, to best pair you with your perfect assignment! They also have access to the newest jobs before they are published to any job board, taking the stress off the search.

 

Navigating Life with a Demanding Profession

At LRS Healthcare, our travelers’ success is our priority. Putting you in a position where you are unable to deliver the best care possible to patients would not be in either of our best interests. If you’re preparing to make a major life change such as having a baby, or navigating health concerns, know that we are here for you through every stage of your life. Travel assignments will be there for you when you’re ready.

With all the effort you have made in preparation for your assignment such as selecting a travel agency, leaving your current job, and getting settled into your new home away from home, we want to ensure your assignment meets your expectations. Our goal is to be as up-front as possible with you during the process. We want you to feel at ease before, during, and after your assignment, both personally and professionally. Ending an assignment early is never an ideal decision but by taking a few extra minutes to identify which setting suits you best, you will be well-equipped when it comes time to make a decision. And in return, we have happy travelers, ready to give it their all.

Something else to ask yourself is, does this city fulfill your basic needs? You may want to consider what you’re comfortable with regarding housing, transportation, weather, and city population. Now, we aren’t saying all of this to scare you away, but quite the opposite. The good news is that we have a Travel Experience team on staff to help take some of this load off your shoulders. That way you can focus on the important stuff, providing the best patient care possible.

 

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Rural vs Urban Travel Assignments

Based on how you answered some of the questions for your “self-survey” you may have a general idea of which assignment makes sense for you, but let’s dive into the benefits of each first!

 

Benefits of Taking a Rural Assignment

Not a fan of traffic, high bed counts, or expensive living? A rural assignment is in your favor! Rural assignments and the shortages that their facilities experience are critically and equally important to fill. Rural areas typically have a lower number of healthcare professionals and a great distance between facilities in nearby cities. This means that patients don’t have equal access to resources as one would in a larger city and need your help! Here are a few of the main benefits:

  • Slower-paced work environment and a lower patient count
  • Live in a quiet city with affordable housing
  • Ability to focus on providing more general care compared to specialized
  • You are helping a community with limited resources
  • Plenty of local businesses to support
  • Make a trip to nearby urban cities

For more information and benefits regarding rural assignments check out, Reasons to Take a Rural Travel Assignment.

 

Benefits of Taking an Urban Assignment

If you crave a fast-paced environment, whether that’s at work or simply city life, an urban assignment is calling your name! Perhaps the majority of your professional experience lies at larger facilities or your profession is less broad, our wonderful team of recruiters would recommend seeking an assignment in an urban location. Here are a few of the main benefits:

  • Access to modern medical technology
  • Fast-paced work and living environment
  • Higher bed and patient count
  • More assignment options for specialized healthcare travelers
  • Plenty to explore outside of work hours
  • Access to different housing options (apartments, hotels, Airbnb, etc.)
  • Various transportation methods

 

Every traveler’s personal and professional preferences are different and that’s why we offer thousands of assignments nationwide. Everyone deserves to find their perfect fit, whether that’s a rural or urban travel assignment. Both have their pros and cons, but in the end, it comes down to what’s best for you! Wherever your next adventure takes you, let LRS Healthcare be the one to get you there! Now that you’ve weighed out your options, you’re just one step closer to starting your next adventure. Apply now or give us a call at (800.811.0064) and we’ll get to work!

 

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