By trustaff

March 30, 2020

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4 Tips for Healthcare Professionals During COVID-19

This article provided by Trustaff Healthcare

Stay up-to-date with the latest recommendations

Read and share the latest information from reliable sources like the CDC and WHO. Since things are changing so fast, info even a few days old may no longer be accurate. With this very fluid situation, we need to do our best to stay on top of what’s going on.

Being on the front-line of it all, you are seeing these recommendations go into place first-hand and having experiences that others may not understand. You can be a great source of knowledge and comfort, but it’s important to be sure what you’re sharing is accurate.

If you’re unclear about something that’s happening at your facility, call your agency and speak to your recruiter. If your agency has clinical liaisons on staff, they can be a huge asset when it comes to procedural rules and guidance.

You’re needed now more than ever

You went into the healthcare industry because you care about people. You are able to ease a worried parent’s mind or comfort a patient going through an uncomfortable procedure. Your patients need your guidance and your facility needs your help. Use your knowledge and skills to spread positivity through these tough times.

We are all in this together, but as healthcare professionals, you are the ones leading the way forward. One of the most inspiring parts of this crisis has been seeing people come together to help each other. Whether it be taking that crisis assignment, helping boost your department with additional knowledge, or calming someone down with a comforting approach. Let your caring spirit shine!

Take care of yourself and your family

healthcare professionals

Close your social media and put down the news. Take some time to find balance and take care of yourself both mentally and physically. Between shifts, do your best to rest and recuperate.

Though things may feel anything but normal, try to keep some sort of normality in your life outside of work. Go for a walk, do some yoga, relax with a glass of wine, do a rejuvenating at-home facial, or read a book to relieve some of that built-up stress. Whatever your preferred outlet, do anything you can to keep your mind off work while you’re at home. Your own mental and physical health has never been more important than they are right now.

Keep the communication flowing

Talk to your recruiter frequently and check in with family members; they’re your biggest supporters right now and appreciate everything you do! Communicate constantly with your coworkers. Ask questions and start conversations.

Set up a daily or weekly call with a loved one or friend. A simple call or video chat can not only help them but also yourself! As everyone is self-isolating, we are all craving the social settings we are so used to and a quick call or video chat can do wonders. Technology can be a huge help!

Each person will react to the pandemic differently. It’s important that we be patient with each other during this time of increased stress.

MOST IMPORTANTLY

Keep doing what you do best – and that’s being a healthcare professional! The whole world is giving you endless amounts of support for stepping up to finish this fight. We are all so thankful for you and everything you do and are cheering you on ‘til the end. Stay safe out there and take care of yourselves.

We hope you found these tips for healthcare professionals helpful. Do you have any tips for healthcare professionals you would like to share? Comment them below.

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

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By Priscilla Redding

March 25, 2020

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A Travel Nurse’s Experience with COVID-19

COVID-19 Experience as a Travel Nurse

Travel nurse Priscilla Redding shares her direct experience as a nurse dealing with COVID-19 patients first-hand at her current assignment. In this video, she shares what is happening within the ICU that she works at. Including the loss of patients as well as how the hospital is handling the current situation.

It is a difficult time to work in the medical field. Travel nurses and nurses are on the front line of COVID-19. We hope that hearing fellow travel nurses’ experience with COVID-19 will help make our community of travel nurses feel connected.

Resources and Information

If you are looking for COVID-19 jobs, try our COVID-19 pre-application form or try our COVID-19 job board.

If you would like more information on COVID-19 or would like to read other articles on COVID-19 click here. These include articles and videos by fellow travel nurses including the article A Travel Nurse’s Guide to Crisis Assignments.

Are you a travel nurse working with patients with COVID-19, would you like to share your story? If you have content on COVID-19 that you would like to submit for consideration, please contact us.

If you are a nurse working with patients with COVID-19, but don’t want to submit an article and have tips to share, please comment them below.

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By Paula Rouse

March 20, 2020

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A Travel Nurse’s Guide to Crisis Assignments

Tips for Crisis Assignments:

1. Review your contract: 

Thoroughly review your pay rate, overtime rate, and housing stipend. These contracts are going to be more than 36 hours. They will be at least 48 hours, some are 60 hours a week. Also, keep in mind your filing status and ask for your take-home pay after taxes. Not gross pay but net pay this is a definite need to know!! Make sure your housing stipend is enough to cover you during and after the assignment if you have a difficult time leaving the city. Lastly, check with your company’s policy on what is in place in case you are exposed and have to be quarantined. Are you going to have to go without pay for these two weeks? Are they going to cover your medical expenses if you end up needing care? Always make sure you are covered. 

2. Contract Location: 

Decide on how you are getting to the contract flying or driving? If you plan to fly think about how much you need to pack. I also recommend packing for an extra two to three weeks in case that city goes on travel restriction and you have to stay longer. 

3. Secure Housing: 

This is getting difficult as many people are not wanting to rent to health care workers. If you’re returning to a city that you’ve been to reach out to old landlords. Connect with family or friends in the area if you have the option. If traveling somewhere new I recommend a hotel or extended stay close to the facility. 

4. What to pack: 

Essentials!! We are seeing how crazy it’s getting keep in mind you have no idea what type of state that the city is in. They may not have what you need. Pack it all. Have everything you need to survive for the length of the contract and at least two weeks after. Just be prepared. 

5. Protect yourself!! 

At the facility, their guidelines may differ from where you have previously worked in terms of precautions and PPE. Stay compliant but above everything else protect yourself go with your gut and what you think you need to be protected. Days off make sure you rest and keep your immunity up stay in and stay healthy. 

We hope you find these tips for crisis assignments helpful. We have made it easier for you to find these crisis assignments on our site. Click here to view COVID-19 jobs now!

COVID-19

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By Fastaff Travel Nursing

March 19, 2020

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Travel Nurse Coronavirus Resources

The Coronavirus, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, is a growing concern across the globe. As a nurse or travel nurse, we encourage you to stay updated on the latest in order to protect yourself and provide quality care to your patients. Here’s the latest information on the outbreak, including how it’s spread, how to protect yourself, and other nurse-specific resources.

What is the Coronavirus and how is it different from other coronaviruses?

There are four types of coronaviruses which cause common colds in humans. This coronavirus, named COVID-19, is different because it originated in animals and evolved to infect humans. Because of this change in the virus, it is called novel coronavirus. The outbreak is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, with links to a large seafood and live animal market.  Other examples of a novel coronavirus is SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus) and MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus).

What are the symptoms of 2019 novel coronavirus?

  • The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other respiratory virus infections, like influenza. It includes fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
  • Symptoms can range from mild to severe, even causing death.
  • The CDC believes at this time that symptoms appear as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. 

Coronavirus in the United States

Tips to protect yourself against the coronavirus

Looking for additional tips to stay healthy? Read these prevention tips from the CDC and LiveScience:

  • As with normal flu season precautions, practice good hygiene and healthy habits.
    • Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
    • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer regularly.
    • Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, as you can pick up the virus that way.
    • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects, like doorknobs and countertops. Other coronaviruses are effectively inactivated within a minute with disinfectants with 62% to 71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite. It is not yet known if the new coronavirus will react the same way.
    • Get a flu shot if you have not already. Though the seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you from the COVID-19 strain, it does have some benefits. You will be less likely to develop severe pneumonia if you contact both at the same time. You will also avoid making a trip to the doctor’s office in the middle of a COVID-19 epidemic, which could put you at additional risk.
  • Prepare to stay home, if possible. If a large outbreak does occur, anticipate staying indoors away from public areas.
    • If you or someone in your household regularly takes prescription drugs, consider procuring an emergency supply from your health care and insurance providers to avoid exposure in doctors’ offices and pharmacies.
    • Make sure you have a reasonable amount of groceries and basic household items. No need to prepare for the apocalypse, but consider keeping essentials around. Having items like extra laundry detergent and frozen or dry goods around will reduce possible exposure at the grocery store.

Nurse coronavirus resources

As a nurse, you are heroically putting yourself at risk to serve others. We hope these below facts and tips provided by the CDC will assist you.

When is someone infectious?

The onset and duration of viral shedding and period of infectiousness is not yet known. Looking at similar viruses, like SARS-CoV-2 RNS, it may be detectable in the upper or lower respiratory tract for weeks after illness onset. Existing literature regarding SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses suggests the incubation period may range from 2-14 days.

Can people who recover from COVID-19 be infected again?

The immune response is currently not understood. Patients with MERS-CoV infection were unlikely to be re-infected, but it is not yet known if a similar immune response will exist with COVID-19.

How should healthcare personnel protect themselves when evaluating a patient who may have COVID-19?

Here is what the CDC recommends – Although the transmission dynamics have yet to be determined, a cautious approach to persons under investigation for the coronavirus is recommended. Healthcare professionals should use Standard Precautions, Contact Precautions, Airborne Precautions, and use eye protection when providing care for patients with confirmed COVID-19.

How should COVID-19 be treated?

There are currently no antiviral drugs licensed by the FDA to treat COVID-19. Clinical management for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is focused on supportive care of complications, including advanced organ support for respiratory failure, septic shock, and multi-organ failure. It should also be noted that not all patients with COVID-19 will require medical supportive care.

Should travel nurses anticipate coronavirus screenings for new job placements?

Most likely, yes. If you are matched with a hospital that requires a coronavirus screening, your recruiter or our credentialing office will provide you an additional screening form. If you have additional questions, please contact your Fastaff recruiter.

Fastaff’s Dedication to our Nurses

In a constant effort to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our nurses, we have implemented guidelines and procedures in the event one of our nurses should be exposed and require quarantine during their travel assignment. Please be reassured that if this should happen, you’ll be taken care of. Fastaff will continue to pay your weekly guarantee and housing expenses during this time.

The health and safety of our nurses and their patients is our number one priority. If you have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Clinical Service division at 1-800-736-8773.

Additional coronavirus resources for travel nurses: