February 10, 2019

14144 Views

4 Easy Ways Travel Nurses Can Pay Off Mortgages Early

Posted on February 10, 2019May 6, 2021 by Honza Hroch – CreativeNurse

As a travel nurse, your home will be one of your biggest acquisitions in life, making the monthly mortgage payment a major financial obligation for you.

If you had means of paying off the debt faster or how you can avoid paying a lot of interest on the mortgage, that would be really great.

Anyway, the good news is there are actually ways the loan could be paid off faster. And the payment plan can be accelerated. More good news is that interest charges are remarkably low nowadays. Thus, the cost of the loan isn’t very high and the entire accruable interest paid is lesser compared to the past when interest rates were a great deal higher. The whole reduced rate on interest situation is wonderful because it continues to keep the payment on monthly mortgage lower. In addition, more people are able to purchase houses. And the interest paid on the loan as a whole is not that high. However, what most people are not considering is if the reduced interest rate is creating more problems on the other hand. Has this reduced rate on interest changed how homeowners ought to see the payoff alternatives? That question will be addressed when we’re done highlighting faster ways by which mortgages can be paid.

Here are four ways that’ll ensure you are free from paying mortgages in no distant time. We’ll also discuss one way you shouldn’t fast-track your mortgage payments.

Bi-weekly payments

When you pay half monthly mortgage payment every two weeks. At the end of the year, you would have effectively made an additional full payment. Which automatically reduces the total number of years it would have taken you to pay off the mortgage.

Pay a bit extra every month

Adding a little extra to your monthly mortgage payments reduces the principal. And eventually leads to paying off your mortgage faster as opposed to only paying the least amount required.

Refinance

If possible, refinance to a lesser rate of interest and continue to pay the initial amount. By so doing, you’ll keep within the budget you made originally but you will pay off your mortgage faster.

Switch from a 30-year mortgage to a 15-year mortgage

Changing to a 15-year mortgage enables you to be free from paying mortgages in 15 years. Although your monthly payments will be significantly higher. It offers an interest rate that is lower compared to a 30-year mortgage.

Which method is best for you?

The above-listed instances are all easy and simple methods of paying off your mortgage faster and it is equally a simple means of saving some money as well. However, the question now is if paying off the mortgage is what’s best for you. Whether you choose to switch from a 30-year to a 15-year mortgage or you come to a decision to make extra payments on your monthly mortgage, what matters is that you are content investing your money at the interest rate of your mortgage.

Choose the best option for you

If you’ve got a 4% interest rate on your mortgage and you are also able to get some deductions on tax, think about it and choose if the best option is to pay it off faster. Let’s suppose you put an additional $500 monthly towards your mortgage for the next 10 years. Now, consider taking that $500 and asking yourself what you’d be pleased to get a rate of return over a 10-year period. Also, find out the flexibility, upside potential, and liquidity. If your opinion is that there are more potential benefits somewhere else and that you will be able to get something better than 4% in due course, you might consider other options instead of putting it in your house.

You could also decide to open an account on the side where you can invest your money and take out that money whenever you want. To pay your expenses rather than pay off the mortgage faster. Because interest rates are significantly low now more than ever, it may be smart to accelerate your payments.

Before tying up your funds where it will be hard to access when you need it, make sure you have a savings account with a reasonable amount of liquid money.

Want more information on travel nursing?

Check out our Travel Nurse Guide

By Katie McBeth

February 4, 2019

13038 Views

Handling Sexual Harassment at Work as a Travel Nurse

Posted on February 4, 2019May 20, 2021 by Katie McBeth

One of the biggest topics in the media today isn’t related to politics, natural disasters, or mass shootings. It is something far more common and pervasive and is finally getting the attention and serious response that it deserves. It’s the topic of sexual harassment.

For the past few months now, dozens of powerful men in the media, political sphere, and entertainment industry have been exposed for their past violent behaviors. This has led to many of these men being (rightfully) ousted from their industry thanks to the brave women and men who have shared their stories. As well as the talented journalists who were able to research the claims and put them into words.

Since sexual harassment is on everybody’s mind, it’s possibly the best time to discuss how sexual harassment can affect every field — including the medical and nursing industry. Unfortunately inappropriate behavior or comments are extremely prevalent, and nurses can be faced with this issue from multiple sources — anywhere from coworkers to patients.

One lengthy study from 1994 looked at how sexual harassment can affect the work of nurses across all fields, and exposed how prevalent the issue is for all nurses. The study noted that nurses experienced sexual harassment mostly in the form of sexual remarks, but could also experience inappropriate touching and assault. Female nurses were commonly the most targeted, but male nurses also experienced unwanted comments or assault from patients.

Additionally, this study stated: “Sexual harassment of nurses seriously affects nursing performance and productivity.” Overall, being the target of harassment or assault could cause nurses to experience severe burnout, as well as a host of other emotional trauma that could affect their work.

However, nurses (or victims of any sort) don’t have to live in shame for experiencing assault or harassment. Here are some general guidelines to help you navigate harassment while on the job as a travel nurse. If you have additional questions, you should consult with your onsite manager for any specific recommendations on how to handle complaints at your current location.

Harassment From Patients

Sexual harassment from patients happens often, and it doesn’t take much searching online to find stories of nursing students and professionals who have had to sidestep a groping hand or ask to avoid a patient’s room altogether. Hopefully you’re working with a manager who will work with your needs as well as act as an advocate for you. Successful nursing managers should be able to create the safest environment possible for both you and for patients, which means harassment claims should be taken seriously.

If you find that a patient is being predatory or making unwelcome comments at you, notify your manager immediately. They have the ability to assign new nurses to that patient, or can even set up a buddy system so you never have to be alone with the offender in their room. Most importantly, your manager should be aware of all cases of harassment so they can document and track the issues to avoid any backlash or lawsuits.

Additionally, you should set boundaries early on if a patient is making unwanted comments or jokes. You can inform the patient that the behavior cannot continue, and can explain to them that you will notify your manager and will have another nurse (perhaps a nurse of the opposite sex) tend to them.

If harassment persists, or other nurses come forward with complaints, the nursing manager can decide what the best course of action should be for the safety of her staff and the patient — whether that is seeking out police involvement or suggesting another hospital or health clinic.

Harassment From Superiors or Coworkers

Unfortunately, harassment can also come from inside the office. Nurses not only have to worry about harassment from patients, but also have to be wary of harassment from their superiors and coworkers. Unlike patients — which come and go, and you might never have to see again — coworkers are people you have to see almost every day at work.

In many cases of sexual harassment (and as could be seen in the exposure of powerful men in Hollywood such as Harvey Weinstein), there is always an underlying power structure that is used to both entrap and silence victims of abuse. This is why sexual harassment in any workplace can be so tricky to confront. Often times, victims of harassment fear they will lose their job if they speak up. The same goes for nurses. There is an underlying fear that if they report the abuse, they will face harsh backlash from their superiors and could potentially lose their jobs.

However, harassment in any form should not be tolerated in a safe working environment. If you ever experience inappropriate behavior or language at your office. It should immediately be reported to either your supervisor, the human resources manager on site, or your travel nurse recruiter. Leaders with your hospital should be consistent in how they address sexual harassment, and should handle all concerns promptly and seriously.

Unfortunately, not all offices will take complaints as seriously as they deserve. But bringing light to the issue can be the first step in raising awareness. If you find the hospital staff will not listen to you, it’s possible that you travel nursing recruiter can reassign you to a new location.

Additionally, document in writing all cases of inappropriate behavior for your own records. This way (if legal action does occur) you can have a record of everything the perpetrator did or said to you. And all you did or said in response to prevent it from continuing.

If the harassment continues, or you do experience backlash, know that there are laws that can protect you. You can read more about your rights on the US Department of State’s website.

Finally, seek out support from those you trust to help you through this difficult time. And remember that none of it is your fault.

Building a Safer Future Through Awareness

As powerful men continue to be unmasked as predators in the media, it is very possible that we will begin to see a change in American culture on how sexual harassment is treated. One can only hope that victims will continue to be believed over their abusers. And that society will slowly phase out harmful behavior and rhetoric.

It might take some time before that cultural shift makes its way into the office, but it will happen someday. For now, bringing awareness to inappropriate situations and addressing harassment directly and unapologetically will help create a safer space for everyone: nurses and patients alike.

Want more information on travel nursing?

Check out our Travel Nurse Guide

By Janelle

February 3, 2019

13956 Views

Addressing Dynamics: Insights into Lateral Violence in Nursing

Posted on February 3, 2019December 19, 2023 by Janelle

I was a rookie nurse with about a year under my belt when I had a patient who gave me that first “gut feeling”. Stable vital signs, normal sinus rhythm, QT ratio within normal limits; a febrile, A & O x3… but something was different. Slowly I went through a checklist in my head: “Suction? Check. Good IV? Check. Crash cart nearby? Check”. Later that night, my patient coded not only once, but four times.

“Hey! You did really well in there, I was pretty surprised? Even impressed… You smile a lot and laugh a lot and I don’t know… I guess I never really placed you as someone that knew what was going on around here but you proved me wrong tonight!”

I didn’t know if I had just been patted on the back or slapped in the face. That was my first encounter with lateral violence, and it has stuck with me throughout my entire career. Lateral violence continues to be pervasive in hospitals though seemingly unrecognized and underreported. Nurse to Nurse, Nurse to CNA, CNA to Nurse, Nurse to Students, Nurse to Recruiter (ah-hem). So Why does this happen? How can we deal with it, or even stop it? How have YOU recognized lateral violence on your unit and what have you done about it?

What

Lateral violence can be verbal or nonverbal. My heart goes out to the Gypsies, who have both recently posted about lateral violence at their current assignments. Harsh body language, racial slurs, Emails, gossip … any form of displaced aggression that causes you to feel insecure, bullied, or upset is inappropriate and should be deemed lateral violence.

WHY

This may seem like this is a redundant question; it has yet to be discovered why people displace aggression or insecurities onto their peers. Little is known about the origin of entitlement at what point grandiose delusion is passed off as a personality trait. If I had to give my most professional opinion my conclusion has been that some people are just not nice people. As one of my (most favorite) Attendings once told me: “You cannot speak logic to illogical people”.

HOW to deal

Listen, if your mother never told you this I am telling you now: Not everyone is going to like you. It is OK. I have a bold personality and a German attitude, I am not everyone’s cup of tea and I totally understand that. However, I am a professional. I am considerate, empathetic, and polite; I expect the same from my coworkers. If you encounter conflict go to your source: approach the person in a calm manner, discuss how your feelings have been affected and seek out answers. If this doesn’t work, initiate your ladder! Management, supervisors, educators… get someone involved. This may or may not solve your issues, but with fingers crossed it will.

Finally, work on yourself. Do not react to a situation when your emotions are at a high. Take a step back… take an extended bathroom break if you need to. One of the best books I have recently read is “Presence” by Amy Cuddy. If you don’t have time to read it you should at least watch her Ted Talk. She is FANTASTIC. Recognizing your weaknesses, learning to put yourself in each moment as it is happening, dealing with conflict; she touches it all and she has been like a guru to me.

We cannot solve every conflict we will never save the world. What we can do, is bring our best face forward. Be confident in ourselves, our skills. We learn a hospital in three days, where others are given 6-12 weeks. Speak with kindness, work diligently, ensure you are part of the answer and not part of the problem. Place your entitlement in check, work with your peers and every day do your best. Most importantly “keep on keepin’ on”.

By Andrew Ferguson

February 2, 2019

6088 Views

Staying Healthy on the Road as a Travel Nurses

Posted on February 2, 2019May 20, 2021 by Andrew Ferguson

There’s been a lot in the news, and on the web about nursing and the nursing lifestyle. Most of the information has been helpful, enlightening, or entertaining, and overall positive. But I’ve ran across several articles this week on a subject that I think effects those in the travel nurse community even more than conventional nurses, and it’s not so positive.

Staying Healthy as a Travel Nurse

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses have the fourth highest rate of injuries or sickness on the job of all listed professions. If this isn’t bad enough, nurses scored below the average American in almost every category associated with good health. While this is bad news, it’s unfortunately not all that surprising.

Every nurse, or anyone with a nurse in their life, knows how little water nurses drink while working, how few times they get to use restroom, how much stress their under, and how hard it is to get a good meal while on duty. There are almost as many incidents of workplace assaults on nurses as there are in all other occupations combined. Keep in mind that healthcare workers make up less than 10% of the nation’s total workforce. Nurses must deal with administrators, doctors, irate patients, upset family members, and lack of resources, all while trying to save lives.

As a travel nurse, there are even more challenges that can put one’s health in jeopardy. Finding healthy meals while traveling, or nailing down a good grocer with organic choices in a town you’re not yet familiar with can be difficult. Getting a good night’s sleep at your new digs can take some time, not to mention the havoc wreaked on snooze time caused by jumping time zones. And any kind of exercise routine can be hard to keep up with when your life’s routine is changing so often.

The opportunity that my wife has provided for us through travel nursing has been life changing. We could not be more thrilled with our trajectory. But nothing is all corn flakes and sunshine all the time. Keeping up with your health is more than just important, it’s necessary. Luckily, a few small changes, and a little tweaking of the familiar, can have a big impact.

Living a healthier lifestyle

One of the best ways to get started towards a healthier lifestyle is to make small changes often. This method also works well when traveling. If you use three packets of sugar in your coffee, try cutting it down to two and a half, a week later try two, a couple of days after that try one packet of sugar, and one of stevia. Buy organic when you can, and eat more of the healthy stuff that you like. Variety may be the spice of life, but spices can give you heartburn. Keep it simple. If you try a diet and it doesn’t work for you, or you get bored with it, don’t give up and go back to your bad habits, give up and try another diet.

You can apply this practice to exercise also. The Spartacus Workout is a good example of this. There are ten exercises that you perform for one minute each, with fifteen seconds of rest in between each one. You run through the whole routine twice, with a one minute rest period before starting the second round. Start out by performing fifteen seconds of exercise, with fifteen seconds of rest in between, and just do the routine once. Every other time you do the workout, increase your performance time by five seconds. It’s also a good one for the road, because all you need is two dumbbells of appropriate weight.

We want our nurses to stick around for a while, and we want the members of our travel nurse family healthy enough for all those adventures that lie ahead. Small changes often, and a little sticktoitiveness, can help to reverse a negative trend in the nursing community.

Want more information on travel nursing?

Check out our Travel Nurse Guide

By Janelle

January 29, 2019

10025 Views

Living a Balanced Life in a Chaotic Surrounding

Posted on January 29, 2019November 10, 2023 by Janelle

For twelve hours a day, three days a week, I talk. I talk to co-workers, Physicians, patients, patient’s families, pharmacists, lab technicians, Volunteers, and whoever else would like to present themself in the Labor and Delivery unit. I discuss the process of labor, the reason you are having tests, the reason you are pregnant, the technology we are using, pros and cons of certain therapies versus others. Some days I come home to the faint cries of newborns, screams of mothers, and beeping of machines still inside my head. So how do we turn this off? How do we silence those alarms in our minds? How do we debrief? How do you live a balanced life?

For most nurses, the constant ring of alarms is considered normal for coming home from a long shift, but is it? As Travel Nurses, we add the stress of being in new hospitals, new towns, new states, new policies… every thirteen weeks; that has to make us clinically nuts… right? Though I am not an experienced traveler yet, I would like to place some input on maintaining a balanced life in our crazy, gypsy lifestyle.

1. Get Outside.

I have read various studies that suggest hiking and being outside (disconnecting from technology) can make even the most depressed person happy. (I will include a link to a Huffington Post article here, but if you have an interest in more articles, please feel free to reach out)

2. Eat a Balanced Diet.

Friends, it’s true, you have to take care of your body! Even when traveling. Some of my favorite snacks, especially for flights or road trips, are:

Olive snack bags: they are sold at many grocery stores and don’t contain water, so they are perfect for flights.
Mama Chia snack packs: a yummy and fruity quick snack.
String Cheese
Kombucha: Not really flight acceptable unless you spend the $12 at the airport, but I love having it on the road.

3. Take a Moment of Silence.

This is a little different than pouring libations for your homies. Before my shift, I give myself a little time to wake up. I put on some soft jams in the morning and make my coffee. I am not a huge breakfast person, but sometimes I will snack on fruit. In any event, I give myself the time to wake up and SIT. No phone, no computer… nothing but me, my French press and some music. It lets me prepare mentally for whatever my shift will bring.

4. Make a Decision.

Your day is your choice. Every day. Every time. Choose to have a good day or a bad day. Choose to be affected or not to be.

5. Have a Hobby.

In this assignment, I really started to get into climbing. It’s a good way to feel 8 years old and not judged by it. You get to climb and play on stuff, and it’s totally NORMAL. But find something you can dive into. Yoga, pottery, drawing, painting… have an outlet where your mind can release, and you are not bothered by the chaos of work.

6. Have a Hiding Place.

Sometimes at work, I just need TWO MINUTES to step away. My go-to is usually a bathroom, to be honest. It’s SO quiet in there. I lock the door, place my index and thumb over my earlobes and rub my earlobes. This is weird, BUT I learned this once at a holistic medical conference. It is supposed to help you relax. I tried to GOOGLE some research on this, and it appears it is very little… so maybe it’s a fable, but it helps me, so Why Not?

7. Drop Your Day at the Door.

I find it funny, our profession. Even on the WORST DAYS, we get out of work, and all we can do is talk about work. We obsess. Either has a rule where you can vent to a friend for about 15 minutes max, or drop your day at the door. You did the best you could. The shift is over, and you can’t fix or change it.

I hope these pointers are helpful! Let me know if you have any fun tips on living a balanced life. And most importantly, “Keep on keeping on” fellow Gypsies!

Want more information on travel nursing?

Check out our Travel Nurse Guide

By Alexandra Close

January 19, 2019

7747 Views

A Nursing Student’s Perspective on Travel Nursing Options

Posted on January 19, 2019November 10, 2023 by Alexandra Close

Guest Post By: Alex Close

A nursing student’s window of exposure to different jobs, roles, and positions thus far has been through our clinical experiences, stories from our peers, and conversations with professionals in a career of interest. This could be true for any career, but in nursing, there are so many sub-specialties within the profession that talking to one nurse about their job could be completely different from talking to another nurse about their job.

A Nursing Student’s Perspective

For instance, this morning, I was at an outpatient clinic in a homeless shelter. Performing foot care, assessing vital signs and blood sugar. One of the nurses in the clinic described her typical day as working with walk-in patients. Dressing wounds, helping with medication administration. Also, dealing with the psycho-social and physical needs of people living in homeless shelters in Boston. The next day I find myself in a labor and delivery unit chatting with a nurse about her role. Her days vary as well but consist of helping a woman through labor; before, during, and after birth.

Both of these women are considered nurses and have their RN. Yet both spend their days dealing with a very different patient population. Their daily jobs are very different. I was lucky to have the experience during my clinical placements of observing these nurses in their different roles and what they do on a typical day.

Understanding the Role of a Travel Nurse

But how do we go about understanding the role of a travel nurse? Is it the same as the nurses I’ve been talking with but comes with a different title and employer? While brainstorming ideas for this article, I ran into a nurse who a travel nurse agency employed. She spoke to me about the similarities and differences of her job compared to the other nurses on the floor, what she liked and didn’t like, and so on. If I didn’t recognize that her identification card was a little different and contained a travel nurse sticker, I wouldn’t have been able to form this connection and form a better understanding of the roles of a travel nurse.

Many of the nursing students in my program have not had the opportunity to detect which nurse on the unit is a travel nurse. Several of my student peers told me that they are interested in becoming a travel nurse. But have not yet spoken with someone in that career. These nursing students are interested in the travel nurse experience but can only rely on the internet to fulfill their curiosity.

Reaching Out Online

Communities like The Gypsy Nurse share information with their readers. About personal experiences, the pros and cons. And other related material for nursing students to get a better understanding of the job. Some of my peers mentioned they would really like to speak with a travel nurse directly, hear about their experiences and see if the role is right for them. There isn’t exactly a way for us to shadow, intern, or try out travel nursing for a day. Their experience comes with time and travel, not from the day-to-day tasks they do.

So, travel nurses, any tips for student nurses and future travel nurses to get a better understanding of your role?

Please note: Before becoming a travel nurse, you should have at least a minimum of 2 years of experience; click here to find out why.

By Nina Mosely

January 18, 2019

8001 Views

How Being Aware of Social, Physical and Environmental Factors Can Improve Your Nursing Services

Posted on January 18, 2019May 20, 2021 by Nina Mosely

Guest Post By: Nina Mosely

Social, Physical and Environmental Factors

Travel nursing is a career that continually allows you to learn new things, move to new places and advance your position. That is why so many nurses with bachelor-level degrees choose to pursue an advanced master’s degree from a school like the University of Southern California and its USC nursing program. Beyond that, however, nurses could also learn how to become increasingly aware of social, physical, and environmental factors that patients are dealing with. In doing so, these medical professionals could improve the services that they offer their patients. Check out the information below to learn more.

Understanding the social environment from which a patient comes is a great way to personalize your care to their needs. This sociological knowledge could help a nurse improve the quality of the care provided because this information could offer an important insight into what a patient has gone through and how they actually experience society and the world around them. Plus, an individual’s social environment could have also played a role in the type of care that they received in the past. Ultimately, seeing things from the patient’s perspective could help a nurse boost the level of care provided to people from a wide range of social backgrounds.

Physical Factors

The physical factors of illness are certainly front and center when it comes to treating patients. But, if nurses went a step further and took a more holistic approach to health and healing, they could improve their services. Most nurses will not think to apply a holistic method to their treatment of patients, so if you are a nurse who wants to improve the way you work, consider learning about this approach. You may be surprised by what you can discover about a patient and their needs when you take a step back and view the whole body as a complete system.

Environmental Factors

Medical professionals should not discount the effects that the environment could have when it comes to illnesses and injuries. From poor water quality to pollution, a dirty environment could cause a patient to become ill, and it could even prevent them from getting the care they need to get better. But the unfortunate truth is that the various environmental factors that could contribute to illness are ignored or overlooked when nurses and doctors evaluate patients. On the other hand, with an understanding of the many environmental factors that could adversely affect health, a nurse could dramatically improve the quality of care that a patient receives.

As you can see, there are several ways nurses could improve the quality of care they provide. By understanding every patient’s social, physical, and environmental factors, you could help them in new ways that are more personalized and filled with understanding and empathy. So, if you are a nurse who wishes to improve their services and boost their ability to help others, this is a good place to start.

By Lori Boggan

January 11, 2019

14652 Views

Gypsy Yoga for First Day Nerves

Posted on January 11, 2019April 20, 2022 by Lori Boggan

Are you trying to find a way to relax before your First Day? Check out this sample of Gypsy Yoga to ease your First Day Nerves.

Hi Gypsies! I’m writing this on a flight from London to Gothenburg. I am in near panic mode post take off. I have a bit of flying anxiety (take off) and rely on my breath (among other things) to keep me calm. It is a similar feeling to the healthy stress one feels on the first day of a new assignment. Each time we start a new assignment, we walk into the unknown. Will it be a good fit? Will the staff be friendly, helpful? What will the docs be like? What will the policies be like?

I was drawn to yoga over 15 years ago while in the trenches of nursing school. I am by nature a fairly hyper person. Yoga keeps me grounded. It has helped me stay balanced and it begins with the breath. I hope some of you can benefit as well.

The breath has a profound effect on our well being. Every time we inhale we fill the lungs with oxygen rich air that circulates throughout the body. With every exhale we rid the body of carbon dioxide. A deep, even breath washes the autonomic nervous system with calm. Most of us don’t even use close to our potential long capacity. Have you ever noticed the changes that occur in your breath when you are stressed versus calm and relaxed?

What is Yoga and Who Can Practice?

Yoga is an ancient Indian philosophical practice of breath and postures dating back to as early as 5000 B.C. to 300 A.D. In whatever form it is found, yoga has at it’s center the breath as the guide. Yoga is for everyone. There are no prerequisites to practice. It is not a religious practice. According to BKS Iyengar (Guruji), yoga is “a deliverance from contact with pain and sorrow.” It’s a moving meditation that’s goal is to relieve the mind of it’s internal chatter and thus suffering.

We will practice one pose in our first ever Gypsy Yoga practice. It is a pose enjoyed by those new to yoga and those with years of practice under their belt. It is typically practiced at the end of any traditional hatha yoga class, although I sometimes start and end my classes with it when I teach. While this pose is safe, if you have any medical condition that you are unsure could be affected by practicing, talk with your physician before practicing. I will give modifications as we delve deeper into future posts.

What you Need

All you need is a small space to practice. I have unrolled my mat in many a hotel room. As you can see from the photos, I practice in my living room 🙂 You will need a yoga mat, beach towel, or blanket, and a small, rolled hand towel. Wear loose fitting pants and a tshirt. Pajamas work too. Dim the lights or use natural light from a window.

One Pose: Savasana (Corpse Pose)

We begin with one simple, but powerful pose. This pose is sometimes considered even more challenging than a more advanced pose like standing on one’s head (Sirsasana) because it insists the student be still and relax. Let’s give it a try. Lie down on your mat, beach towel, or blanket. You can place a small rolled hand towel under your neck (optional) to maintain the natural curve in your neck. If you have any discomfort in your low back, place a rolled blanket or a pillow under your knees. Draw your shoulder blades in and down your back. Soften your shoulders down and away from your ears. Broaden across your collar bones. Soften your jaw, soften the muscles in your neck. Stretch your arms out alongside your body, palms facing up. The upper arms should rotate externally. Stretch your legs long along your mat and allow your ankles to fall naturally to the side.

Close your eyes. Begin to bring your awareness to your breath. Observe your breath. Is it short and choppy or is it even and smooth? Smooth, even breath is the goal. Begin inhaling and exhaling deeply through your nose. Inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of four, and exhale for a count of four. Repeat this 10-20 times. As you focus all your awareness on the breath, allow those first day jitters to just pass you by. Can you let go of any expectations of your new assignment, let go of any negative reviews you may have read, let go of expectations of yourself? All will be exactly as it should. Can you be present in this very moment with only your breath as a guide? Continue breathing in and out of the nose now, trying to lengthen each inhale and exhale.

Try to stay at least 2-3 minutes in this pose, ideally longer. Practice just before heading out the door on your first day. It is a simple pose, but when done with commitment and intention can have a profound effect on your day. This pose can relieve headache, insomnia, depression, and helps lower the blood pressure.

From Savasana, draw your knees into your chest, rolling to your right side in a fetal position. Take a few more deep breaths From here, press yourself slowly up to a comfortable seat. Bring your hands together to your forehead in honor of right thoughts, to your lips in honor of right speech, and to your heart in honor of right intention.

Stay tuned for future Gypsy Yoga posts! Best of luck on your first day!!! Namaste!!

By Marnie Miller

January 9, 2019

21380 Views

Travel Nursing in a Correctional Facility

Posted on January 9, 2019May 6, 2021 by Marnie Miller

You asked, we listened. Below is a guest post from one of our gypsies, Marnie Miller, who is a travel nurse that is sharing her experiences as not only a travel nurse but a correctional nurse, in hopes to help answer some questions we’ve seen from other gypsies who may want to make the same career change in the future.

It was time to pursue a new way of nursing. Bad, crappy assignments, are why I now rotate between hospitals and corrections. When I couldn’t take the assignment I was on, and quit my first contract, a friend of mine suggested I try corrections. Best job change yet. It’s like taking a mental and back break. Never thought about working in a prison before. Or that it was even a job in nursing. All I knew was about working in a hospital, nursing home or doctors office. Little nervous at first. But that feeling didn’t last long.

Once you walk behind those gates, it’s just like any other job. Working to help your ‘patient’. Except these patients are not free to leave AMA. Typical day usually includes medication administration, vitals, sick calls, BS.., glucose checks, MD visits, inmate faking a seizure, fight that nobody saw, paperwork, intake of new people, lab draw, making rounds in segregated area, avoiding looking at what an inmate is trying to ‘flash‘ at you and listening to ‘why I need a medication, that I had before I got here that I have no record of taking’. Correctional facilities. Jails. Detention centers. Prisons. All house people, who also need medical care and treatments. No matter what crime they may have or may have not committed.

We nurses and other medical professionals, walk in and work, just like we do at hospitals and other medical facilities. Just have to be mindful that we have to be a little more cautious, where safety is concerned, don’t fall for some con games, and be consistent. Then go home.

Do you have different tips or POV you want to share with us on travel nursing in a correctional facility that you’d like to share? Comment below or email us at content@thegypsynurse.com!

Bi-weekly payments

Pay a bit extra every month

Refinance

Switch from a 30-year mortgage to a 15-year mortgage

Which method is best for you?

Choose the best option for you

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Harassment From Patients

Harassment From Superiors or Coworkers

Building a Safer Future Through Awareness

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What

WHY

HOW to deal

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Living a healthier lifestyle

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1. Get Outside.

2. Eat a Balanced Diet.

3. Take a Moment of Silence.

4. Make a Decision.

5. Have a Hobby.

6. Have a Hiding Place.

7. Drop Your Day at the Door.

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Social, Physical and Environmental Factors:

Social Factors

Physical Factors

Environmental Factors

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