I understand that this post may be met with some criticism, so let’s address this right away.  I’m not saying that mentorship programs aren’t helpful, or that there aren’t amazing mentors out there, because there are. I’m also not saying that with the right mentorship you can’t grow as a clinician because you can.  That is, when you have the right situation. That being said, mentor/mentorship is a hot word right, I’d bet you’ll see some form of mentorship in every job posting you find.  Every new grad therapist or 3rd year PT student that I have talked to expresses the importance of having some form of mentorship when they…

In light of traveling by car for 2,734 miles across the country to start my 6th traveling assignment, I figured I should continue to update everyone about where I have been.  I also want to apologize about the day late post, 14 hours in the car pretty much wiped me out from all thinking abilities.  The extent of my brain power was enough to watch game of thrones and pass out.   Anyways, I had finally made it to…BOSTON! My gap assignment ended, it served it’s purpose, and I finally made it to Boston. I know, I know, I know, no one is suppose to be able to get a traveling…

Since I have been traveling the last year or so, I have been in a few different places around the country and have started to see a trend in new grad salaries…They suck.   As I mentioned, I started out of school making $71,000 and this felt like I wasn’t getting compensated nearly enough for my level of education or my contribution to the company.  Any healthcare provider knows how much money they are making the clinic for every service they provide.  They also know how much they are receiving in return for their skill to provide said service.  The difference between those numbers gives me chills. Anyways, $71,000 is…

There are partial truths to this common con.  Yes, you won’t be building a patient population, creating relationships with referrals, or getting your name out there in a community.  But to say that you aren’t developing as a clinician, therapist, nurse, etc. isn’t true.  I feel that every assignment that I have taken, I have significantly developed in my communication skills and adaptability. Think about it, you are working with brand new patients, colleagues, and staff every 13 weeks. You are forced to quickly adapt to any situation and build relationships very quickly.  I have felt like I have improved my overall care with my patients as a direct result of traveling. …

This common con about travelers not having benefits is just plain untrue.  All traveling companies offer benefits.  Each company is slightly different, but that is why it is important to screen every company you are interested in before signing on.  Insurance:  Contrary to what you may have heard or assumed, every company offers access to Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.  They also offer life insurance, professional liability, short-term disability, 529 plans, pet insurance and many more. It’s a normal job, just like any other full time job you would get elsewhere.  Just make sure to ask questions just like you would any other job interview.  Many of these companies offer insurance…