How to Professionally Cancel a Travel Healthcare Assignment (Without Burning Bridges)

Hey traveler friends 👋—Let’s have a quick heart-to-heart.
We know not every travel assignment is going to be a perfect match. Sometimes the facility isn’t what you expected. Sometimes life throws you a curveball. And sometimes… you just need out. It happens! But here’s the thing—how you cancel your travel assignment matters just as much as why you cancel it.
As a recruiter who genuinely wants the best for you and your career, I’m here to walk you through the right (and wrong) way to cancel a travel contract, especially if you’re working through Go Healthcare or any reputable travel nurse agency.

🚫 Canceling Without Proper Notice: What’s the Big Deal?
Let’s cut to it—canceling a travel assignment without proper notice is more than just unprofessional. It has real consequences for your career, your reputation, and for the patients counting on you.
When you ghost a contract or give little-to-no warning, a few not-so-great things can happen:
• ✅ You’re placed on a Do Not Return list for the hospital and potentially the entire health system. Yes, one misstep can limit your options throughout a whole region.
• ✅ Your profile goes under “review” with your travel company, which means you likely won’t get cleared to be submitted for future jobs.
• ✅ Your agency (yep, us!) gets fined. We’re talking serious money—sometimes as high as your weekly bill rate or up to 36 hours’ worth of pay.
• ✅ Worst-case scenario: a no call/no show could be seen as patient abandonment, especially in high-acuity units. That’s not just bad vibes—it could threaten your license.

📝 Every Contract Has an Out Clause (Use It!)
Here’s some good news: You’re not trapped. Every travel contract has a termination or “out” clause written into it. At Go Healthcare, we include this clause in all of our contracts for a reason—we know life happens.
The standard notice period is usually 14, 21, or 30 days, depending on the facility. This gives your agency and the hospital time to prepare, find coverage, and ensure that patients are still receiving the care they need.

👣 The Right Way to Cancel a Travel Assignment
If you’re thinking about canceling your assignment, do it the professional way. Here’s how:

1. Communicate Early – As soon as you start feeling that a contract may not be the right fit, talk to your recruiter. We can help you navigate it.
2. Give Proper Written Notice – Follow the notice period stated in your contract. If it says 21 days, give 21 days. Simple.
3. Be Honest but Respectful – Explain your reasons clearly, but professionally. It’s okay to not like an assignment—just keep it classy.
4. Avoid No Call/No Shows – Seriously, this is the worst move you can make. Even if it’s a rough situation, show up and communicate.

✨ Protect Your Career. Protect Your Reputation.
Look, your travel career is a journey. There will be ups, downs, dream assignments, and ones that miss the mark. But your professionalism in how you handle cancellations will shape your future opportunities.
At Go Healthcare, we’ve got your back. We want you to succeed, land great assignments, and build a solid reputation as a rockstar travel healthcare professional. But we can only help you if we’re working together—with honesty, transparency, and mutual respect.
So if you ever feel the need to exit a contract early, just do it the right way. Your future self (and recruiter!) will thank you.

Need help navigating a tough assignment? Thinking about making a move?

Let’s chat. We’re always here to support you. Call us at 844-916-8773 or email hello@gohealthcarestaffing.com