The Travel Nurse’s Guide to Richmond
Why Richmond?
One of America’s oldest major cities, Richmond offers a combination of rich history and modern-day amenities. Travel nurses can go back in time and enjoy sightseeing at prominent historical locations while working at a state-of-the-art medical center. Richmond is an idyllic city that offers travel nurses a dynamic lifestyle with plenty of rewards.
Lifestyle Benefits
U.S. News & World Report ranked Richmond the #3 best city to visit in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and we have a few ideas as to why. Richmond offers something for everyone—nature enthusiasts will love the city’s open spaces and bike trails while history buffs will be enthralled by the endless opportunities to reconnect with America’s history.
At American Mobile, the housing team is readily available to find every travel
nurse a safe and comfortable home. Take advantage of the company-paid
housing or utilize the generous housing stipend to find your own housing
through any of the short-term rental sites.
Richmond’s Healthcare Scene
Travel nursing is a great way for nurses to expand their skills, experience, and clinical knowledge by working in some of the nation’s top healthcare facilities and learning from talented nursing clinicians, physicians, and peers.
If you’re a nurse who has been working in smaller regional or rural healthcare facilities, you may want to consider expanding your practice scope by taking a travel nurse assignment at a large academic hospital or magnet facility. The amazing thing about traveling is you can choose the type of facility you want to work in, which opens the doors to tremendous learning and growth opportunities.
n addition to selecting assignments based on the type of facility, travel nurses can also search for assignments by specialty, and Richmond features a wide variety of options including L&D, ER, ICU, Pediatrics, Oncology, and Med-Surg just to name a few. Nurses who have experience in multiple specialties can also choose assignments where they “float” to several different units throughout the course of the contract.
Top Things to See, Do & Eat
Since you’ll be saving money on living expenses and enjoying competitive compensation, travel nurses can enjoy an elevated lifestyle. Richmond is also a great place for those who like to save a few bucks as many of the city's top places to visit are free to the public or cost less than $10 to enter. Spend your day playing tourist and exploring one of the many activities and attractions we’ve rounded up on this list of suggestions:
1. Belle Isle
Get ready to be blown away by some beauty. Belle Isle is an island right in the middle of the James river in downtown Richmond. Accessible by a pedestrian footbridge, there’s lots to see and do here. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, and sunbathing on the large flat rocks.
2. Maymont
The 100-acre historic estate and park really has something for everyone with its stunning gardens, ample wildlife, and gorgeous mansion. Construction on the Maymont Estate was finished in 1893, and the 12,000 square-foot, 33-room home is now a historic house museum. In addition to touring the gorgeous Gilded Age mansion, you can take in the lush surroundings that include an Italian Garden, Japanese Garden, Arboretum, and other specialty gardens. Don't forget to visit the Robins Nature Center, Maymont Farm, and other wildlife habitats.
3. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, or VMFA, opened in 1936 and features an
impressive collection of art including unique African and Fabergé pieces. It’s also considered among the largest art museums in North America. Admission is free (with the exception of specialty exhibits) and the museum is also home to the Leslie Cheek Theater, a performing arts venue.
4. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
If you’re feeling stressed out or overwhelmed, there’s nothing like a visit to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to melt away your worries with a good dose of nature. From its diverse collection of flora and fauna to its enchanting butterfly garden, this spot is consistently ranked as a “can’t miss destination.”
5. Carytown
This district has it all: art, shopping, music, food—you name it! Take a stroll
down Cary Street and you’ll find colorful buildings, eclectic shops, and street
vendors. All that walking is sure to stir up an appetite, but not to worry,
there’s no shortage of charming cafes and restaurants to pop into for a
quick bite or leisurely meal.
6. Virginia State Capitol Building
The Virginia Capitol Building is the seat of the oldest continuous legislative body in the Western Hemisphere and was famously designed by Thomas Jefferson. In addition to the stunning architecture, the Capitol also houses an extensive collection of historical items spanning from colonial times to present day.
7. St. John’s Episcopal Church
Founding Father Patrick Henry gave his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech at this noteworthy church that also holds the title as the oldest church in Richmond. The original building was completed in 1741 and it served important roles throughout history including the American Revolutionary War and the Second Virginia Convention.
8. Edgar Allan Poe Museum
Did you ever have to memorize the famous poem “The Raven” at some
point during your schooling? If so, this one's for you. The famous American
author Edgar Allan Poe spent a good portion of his life in Virginia and this
unique museum is dedicated to his legacy. Check out illustrations, original
works, and other exhibits from his prolific career.
9. Hollywood Cemetery
We wouldn’t normally put a graveyard on a list of places to visit when
on your next travel nurse assignment, but this one plays an important
role in our country’s history. Located on the banks of the James River,
the Hollywood Cemetery is an outdoor museum that spans hundreds
of acres and features many notable burial sites, including U.S.
presidents, Virginia governors, two Supreme Court Justices,
prominent authors, and suffragists.
Get on the Road
Your Next Assignment Awaits
From the award-winning healthcare facilities to the celebrated historical points found throughout the city, Richmond is an ideal destination for travel nurses of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds. It’s a place where you can boost your income and skills while having fun at the same time!
Ready to get started on a travel nurse assignment in Richmond? Lucky for you, we have the largest database of travel nursing jobs in the industry. Head over to our job search page to find jobs in Richmond (and in other cool locations, too)!
We know you have a lot of options when it comes to selecting your travel nursing agency, and it’s our goal to make American Mobile your #1 choice. In addition to the competitive pay and free housing, our travel nurses also enjoy countless other benefits when they work with the industry leader. In fact, our travel nurses and their families gain access to premium PPO and HMO optioned health benefits. Moreover, we provide health insurance, life insurance, vision insurance and disability insurance for our nurses as well as their families.
American Mobile travel nurses also enjoy access to the largest clinical support team of all staffing agencies. Customer service and support is taken extremely seriously here, and we provide 24/7 clinical support to each one of our healthcare professionals. That means if you are on assignment in Richmond and you have an issue—support is just an email, text or call away—regardless of what time or day it is.
Even if you aren’t yet licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia, we can help you there too. Our recruiters and licensure staff will ensure you have the necessary documents needed to accept your next nursing assignment. The state is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact which allows registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) to have one multi-state license, with the ability to practice in person or via telehealth, in both the primary state of residence and other NLC jurisdictions.
Interested in working in Richmond?
Contact an American Mobile recruiter to start the application process or
visit our job search page to find an assignment that’s a great fit for you!
