Gifted Healthcare provided this article.

Why not try a travel nurse contract in one of these travel nurse hidden gem locations across America? Summer is the best time to be a travel nurse. With a sense of adventure in the air, visiting new places is a top priority. You’ve heard all about opportunities in major big cities, but if you want a unique experience, check out these hidden gems across America.

Travel Nurse ‘Hidden Gem’ Locations

Gulf Shores, Alabama

If you’re looking for white sands and sea turtles, Gulf Shores has what you need. This beach community boasts the most beautiful, picturesque sights for your Alabama travel assignment. Opportunities to see bottlenose dolphins are closer than ever with wildlife kayak tours setting out daily or hop on board a boat tour to get the full sun and surf experience.

On land, there are hundreds of restaurant options that let you keep your toes in the sand. From specialty seafood to gluten-free options, beachside cafes will keep you satisfied. For the adventurous palate, try some oysters fresh from the Gulf of Mexico.

For the most unconventional beach fun, take a class at Sand Castle University, where you can learn to make extraordinary sand sculptures. If you’re starting a new assignment and want to bond with your co-workers, this can be your first group trip you’re sure to remember.

Taos, New Mexico

For travel nurses who don’t leave home without their animal companion, Taos, New Mexico, is regarded as one of the most pet-friendly cities in America. This city has a comprehensive guide of trails, restaurants, and hotels where dogs are welcomed as guests.

Whether you walk on two feet or four, Taos has a stunning variety of outdoor experiences for you to discover. You can float down the Rio Chama ending the day at the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa. This would be a great spot to visit if you’re traveling with your spouse. If you’re looking for more excitement, on your next day off, check out a white-water rafting trip down the Taos Box in the Rio Grande Gorge.

If the spirit of travel nursing inspires you, check out the native American nomadic culture of the southwest. Nomads bring a sense of community wherever they roam, much like travel nurses provide their patients in any new setting. For a more modern take on culture, head down to the Taos Plaza. Here you’ll find coffee shops, boutiques, and a farmer’s market complete with flowers, pastries, organic produce, herbs, and music. This is a perfect spot to recharge and find a souvenir from your assignment.

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City is full of hidden gems. If you want to bring out your wild west travel nurse side, check out the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Nurses traveling with younger kids will love the rodeo artifacts and Children’s Cowboy Corral. For more family fun, visit the OKC Zoo and go “behind the scenes” to get up close and personal with the wildlife (as if nursing wasn’t wild enough!).

If you’re traveling with your spouse, Oklahoma City has a whole host of couple’s night-out activities. If you are on the day shift, spend your evening in The Paseo, OKC’s arts district, full of dozens of galleries for you to explore. On the first Saturday of the month, you can check out the free gallery walk events featuring art receptions, discounts at restaurants and shops, and a fun street scene.

Manteca, CA

Manteca is the crossroads of California, located just over an hour east of San Francisco and Sacramento. Discover endless attractions, events, and entertainment – from golf courses to street fairs. Travel nurses with a creative side can enjoy a walking tour of beautiful city murals. If you’re missing your hometown team while on assignment, play like the pros at Big League Dreams.

Climb aboard historic railroads. Take a day trip that winds through the scenic valley and coast, through vineyards, mountains, lakes, and rivers. If you want to explore more out of town, drive to San Francisco. See the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in person. Snap a quick photo to post in the Gypsy Nurse Facebook group, and you’ll be the envy of all our travel friends with the click of a button.

No matter where your summer travels take you, there is always something unique to see/do. Additionally, if you’re looking for someone to explore with, join our Gypsy Nurse Network and schedule a group event!

Where are you heading this summer? Do you have tips for a specific location? We’re always seeking content contributors. Just get in touch!

Find your Next Great Travel Nurse

Adventure

Sponsored post from Gifted Healthcare:

Being on the road week after week takes So. Much. Energy. Staying organized and on top of things can easily fall to the wayside when you’re adjusting to an unfamiliar workplace with new co-workers and patients. Luckily, there are ways to make these transitions a little easier and with the right supplies, the ‘travel’ part of travel nursing can be so much easier! Here are the top ten items for travel nurses that will help your adventure be more about pursuing your passion, and less about dumping out your suitcase trying to find your phone charger and toothbrush.

Top 10 Items for Travel Nurses

Travel Cubes

If you check out one item on this list, go for these. Travel cubes come in sets with different sizes. You can keep your scrubs all in one accessible place, which is perfect if you’re juggling 8 to 12 hours shifts with exploring a new town. You can open and place into drawers, making it easy to access the contents and then easily repack. Using the cubes also helps prevent your clothes from being wrinkled (double win!). When not in use, the cubes can be folded compactly and stored. The largest one also makes a good laundry hamper in a pinch.

Packable Daypack

My favorite part of exploring a new area is taking day trips to explore my new surroundings. When I go, I don’t want to haul ALL my luggage with me so with a smaller go-bag, you can take just the essentials and enjoy the sights and sounds of a new environment. Plus, this bag folds up into a small pouch and takes up very little room in your suitcase.

Electronics Organizer

Sometimes after a long day, you want to curl up with your tablet and read or scroll Facebook endlessly until you doze off. That’s hard to do without charged electronics. This organizer will help you remember to pack all the appropriate chargers and allows you to find them with ease.

Hanging Cosmetics Organizer

As it turns out, having things visible and easily accessible can reduce moments of frustration in your day. Much like the other organizer, this can streamline your day and save you time.

Quick Drying Towel

As satisfying as a long shower can be after a shift, going to dry off with a damp towel is not fun. With a Turkish towel, you’ll never have to worry about finding it still wet. Folded or rolled up, this item is also much more compact that the standard bath or beach towel. Outside the house, they can also be used for many purposes. Coming in an assortment of beautiful colors, many use them as a shawl, a neck pillow, swimsuit cover up, or even a blanket. They get softer with each wash, but remain durable, lightweight, and fast drying.

Packable Raincoat

For rainy climates, get obsessed with this incredibly lightweight raincoat. It fits stuffed up into one of the pockets and no bigger than the size of a fist. It’s the perfect go-to for outdoor adventuring.

Portable Phone Charger

“Oh I’m so glad my phone died while I was at work” said no one ever. This compact brick can hold up to seven full battery charges, just attach your phone’s USB charger and you’ll have no problem staying connected. With two USB ports, you can even look out for a coworker in need of a quick recharge.

Insulated Water Bottle

As someone who loses water bottles like it’s my day job, this is one I’ve held onto for years. It’s sleek design fits in most side backpack pockets or even some medium to large sized purses. It insulates hot drinks for up to 12 hours and cold ones up to 24. Plus, the designs are so trendy, they always get a lot of compliments on the road or in the breakroom.

Lightweight Shoes or Sandals

Having the right shoes makes every situation better. You can pay less attention to the blisters caused by those cute but uncomfortable flats, and more to the adventures of travel nursing. These shoes are lightweight and easy to slip in even a small suitcase or backpack. The sandals are great for long walks or even hiking that will make you forget about the last 12 hours you spent running around helping patients.

Mindful Travel Journal

Last but not least, it’s important to reflect on your amazing travel nurse experiences. This journal gives prompts on how to notice your surroundings better and promote de-stressing and gratitude.

Whether you’re packing for your next assignment or looking for a gift for your favorite travel nurse, these items for travel nurses can let you focus more on helping your patients while having fun on the road.

Guest post by Sandy Getzky:

Television is filled with shows about the medical profession. But more often than not, it focuses on the doctors. If you think about it, you’d be hard-pressed to identify any medical show centered on nurses. It’s not that there is none. It’s just that it’s extremely rare. Because nursing as a whole is a very underrated job.

It may just be fiction, but it plays a part in the recognition that nurses get for what they do. Although it’s hard to admit, nurses are generally underappreciated and nursing is an underrated job. They’re often looked down on because they’re not doctors. Just as overworked, although not as glorified.

Read on if you’re looking to learn more about nursing as a profession. You’ll realize that it goes beyond taking orders from doctors, checking blood pressure, or getting blood samples from your arm.

The job can be as flexible as you prefer.

As a nurse, you can work full-time or part-time, depending on your availability. You can work for as little as four hours to over twelve hours in a day. Your weekly schedule might consist of working only during weekdays, or you can choose to work also on weekends.

Not just that, but you can also work during the shift you prefer. You can work in the morning, or in the evening. Nurses are needed all day every day, so there isn’t just one set of work hours for nurses.

The job is highly flexible, giving you plenty of options if your working hours are unstable.

The pay is good.

The median pay for nurses is around $70,000. And that’s just for registered nurses in general practice. It varies depending on which state you’re in. The highest paying states are California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.

You can choose to specialize in a certain field. It’s even preferred. This gives you an edge over the others. And in turn, you can demand higher pay for your specialization. A certified registered nurse anesthetist can earn as much as $135,000 per year.

As a bonus, there’s always room for improvement. You can work your way up and get even better pay as a result.

You can work anywhere.

Nursing can be practiced anywhere. It’s a global profession. You can practice it in any state, in any country around the world. You can study in America, and practice in Asia. All you need to do is take and subsequently pass the necessary licensure exam in the region, and you’ll be allowed to practice.

There are even nurses who choose not to be tied up to a specific hospital. Others choose to become a freelance consultant. They don’t report to a single clinic or hospital. Instead, they go directly to their clients for appointments.

You can choose your own career path. There are options available depending on what fits you.

Demand is high.

Nursing, as part of healthcare, will always be needed hence the constant need for nurses. And with the ever-growing population, the number of nurses required is also increasing. Every day, more and more people are getting sick and requiring treatment. And the first line of interaction they get is through nurses.

There are a lot of countries in Europe that have a high demand for nurses. Even in North America, especially in Canada and several states in the USA, the need for more nurses just keeps growing.

Rest assured, you’ll find an opening somewhere if you choose to look.

It is never boring.

It’s a highly engaged profession–centered on delivering service to patients. Every single day, you encounter different people with different needs and different personalities. You won’t end up doing the same routine day in and day out.

Aside from the patients, you also get to interact with other professionals in healthcare, such as doctors, physical therapists, and radiologic technologists, among others. They are just as diverse as the patients nurses deal with.

In addition, patient ailments and symptoms greatly vary. You can treat two people with the same diagnosis and still have two different prescribed treatments.

It is highly rewarding.

Finally, nursing is one of those professions where the reward is almost instant. As is generally the case in healthcare. Nurses get to see their patients get better or get the results they need. Some take years to improve, but nurses get to see their journey through.

Nurses don’t just deal with abstract concepts or figures, but with something more concrete: lives of people are at stake.

This is also why, as rewarding as it usually is, the downside is equally traumatic. When you deal with people’s health and lives, the stakes are high. A single mistake can cause permanent damage to a patient. Or worse: permanent loss.

Nursing is not for the faint of heart. It demands great sacrifice and a lot of emotional strength. Tragedy can strike at any time, and nurses have to be strong enough to face them when it strikes.

There’s a lot to love about nursing.

Equally, there is also a lot that needs to be changed. It is a constantly demanding profession. You won’t always be at your best. But every day will require it from you. Anything less would cost someone their health, or worse, their life.

As Ariel Jacoby once said: “Becoming a nurse is one of the most selfless acts a person can undertake. In a society of so many different races, cultures, customs, and beliefs, nurses are a universal gift to all, and the dedicated work that they do and kindness they deliver on a daily basis should serve as a reminder of the fundamental humanity inside us all.”

That quote beautifully sums up what nursing is. Nursing transcends classifications. It doesn’t care about stereotypes. As long as you are someone that needs treatment and care, nurses are there to help you.

So if you’re thinking about getting into the profession or making a career out of it, just make sure it is something that you really want. Otherwise, you might just end up resenting it. Think about your decision thoroughly. It is a high risk, high reward industry after all.

Do you agree that travel nursing is an underrated job? Do you have more reasons why it is an underrated job? Comment your thoughts on why travel nursing is an underrated job below.

Sandy Getzky

Travel Nursing: 6 Reasons It’s The Most Underrated Job in Healthcare

is the executive coordinating editor at The Global Nail Fungus Organization, a group committed to helping the 100+ million people suffering from finger and toenail fungus. Sandy is also a registered Herbalist and member of the American Herbalist’s Guild.

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Traveling can get expensive, and when it’s your job, it’s important to cut these expenses whenever and wherever you can. One of our Network group members has some ‘insider’ tips and tricks for getting discounts on Hotel, Flight, and Car Rentals.

Hotels want to make money . . .

Provided by: Thelma Okere, BSN RN

It cost way more to have an unoccupied room than an occupied one. When you are negotiating a long-term stay at a hotel, this is the mentality you need to have when going in for *kill*. States such as California, Texas, Arizona are notorious for travel nurses, so guess what? Hotels in these States will automatically try to empty your account and give you a ridiculous rate. Let that all marinate in your minds for just a second.

Tip #1 Expand your search area to 10 Miles
States like CA, TX, and AZ, do not negotiate decent rates close by the hospital. 9 times out of 10, they already know how to get a higher rate (to use all of your housing stipends). If you want a super deep discount, negotiate hotels at least 10 miles away from any major medical facility.

Tip #2 Go UPSCALE
To negotiate rates at UPSCALE extended stays such as Staybridge, Candlewood, Residence Inn, Holiday Inn, Marriott, etc., you contact that hotel and say, “Hi, I need to speak with your sales or marketing director.” Do not negotiate rates with the front desk person. Only the sales and marketing person can give you *HUGE discounts* Be certain to let them know that you are staying for 90 days (or more). Be upfront about the fact that you are a travel nurse.

Tip #3 Be mindful of the city and cost of living
If the original room rate is $100 or more per night at any of these Upscale extended stays, be prepared to negotiate at least $1300 or more monthly. If the rate is below $100 per night, you can pretty much name your price. As a matter of fact, many times they will ask you how much you want to spend. This is no lie.

Tip #4 Pay Attention to the Clues
If it seems like the sales or marketing person is in between yes or no, you can sense it. This is when you might say, “Hey, I will even recommend other travelers here.” Bingo!!!. Please don’t use this until you know they are about to give in.

Tip #5 Extended Stay of America Only!!!
Extended Stay of America is the only hotel chain with a separate number, not corporate, to use for negotiations. This is the number for what is called their “Plus Program” 1-800-398-7829. When you call, make sure you tell them that you are calling to get a rate for the Plus Program and that you are staying 90 days. This rate is pretty much half of half. You have to commit to at least 60 days and have to pay 1 month upfront. They don’t charge your credit card until you check-in.

*FLIGHTS*
The best time to look at and book your flight is Wednesday between 1 am and 2 am. Do not book online. Call the airline directly, and you will be blown away!!!

*First class flights* Always leave out on a Tuesday and upgrade at the gate for $25 to $50 bucks.

*CAR RENTAL* Rent a car for less than $9 A Day ~ THIS IS NOT A MISPRINT ~Go to priceline.com under “express deals,” book a really cheap hotel for whatever city you want a car in, and it will pop up car rental deals. Oh, and by the way, they send these car rental deals to your email daily once you book through express deals on every city you put in your search engine because due to this fabulous technology called the Internet, it has a way of tracking everything you search…

OTHER TIPS
*Vacations* always book at exactly 45 days to go

*Vegas luxury suite* or any nice room in Vegas. When you get to hotel registration, look for the youngest “guy” you can find standing at the counter. Place between your credit card and driver’s license a folded-up tip between $20 and $50 bucks and slide it to them all at once. When they see the money say, “yes, do you have any nice rooms for me?”

Additional TIPS for finding Travel Nurse Housing: 5 Tips to Save Money on Hotels & Housing. Please post to the comments if you have any ADDITIONAL tips, discount codes, or helpful advice!

The Gypsy Nurse has partnered with Hotel Engine to provide Travel Nurses with great discounts on top hotels across the USA. Join FREE through The Gypsy Nurse! Please note: to access, you will need to create a separate membership account with Hotel Engine to enjoy these benefits. Click here to sign up.

The following is a Guest Contribution by: Cynthia S. Kinnas, Special Projects Consultant, Randstad Healthcare

What Happens When a Traveler Breaks a Contract/Verbal Contract?

Demand for travelers remains at peak levels – there are many agencies and tons of enticing assignments available nationwide — hurray! However, with that, traveler cancellations are also on the rise. This is at least partly due to the fact that travelers are being bombarded with numerous opportunities and often hear about an “amazing assignment” shortly after accepting one, and also because there is less fear of burning a bridge since jobs and employers are in such a plentiful supply. Hospitals cancel assignments as well, and if it has happened to you, you know how dreadful the experience is. However, traveler-initiated cancellations outnumber hospital cancellations five to one and are something the traveler has control over, hence this will be the particular focus of this particular article.

When reading articles or blogs about “How to Break a Travel Contract”, most seem to revolve solely on how the traveler can break a contract without incurring financial penalties. Though this is a legitimate concern, the reality is that in most cases, travelers do not incur financial penalties after breaking a contract, nor are they sued by their agency; however, that does not mean there are no other unfavorable consequences. I would like to take you behind the scenes for an inside look at exactly happens once you accept a job offer and what happens if you later cancel it.

What Happens once you Verbally Accept a Contract

Because the traveling healthcare industry is based on mutual trust, and speed is always of the essence, the wheels quickly go into motion once a verbal offer is accepted, and for this reason, verbal agreements are legally binding. This means there is really no difference if you break a contract before or after you sign the written document because once you have verbally accepted an assignment, the following things occur:

The hospital is notified immediately of your acceptance, and as a result, they then decline any other pending candidates for the position. They also cease any and all recruiting efforts for it, including calling all agencies off the search.
Various departments at your agency get to work. A credentialing team reviews your file and matches it against the client contract to determine which required documents you may need in order to comply with your assignment. Calls are made, labs scheduled, criminal background checks initiated, etc.
Your contract is drafted by an Admin team, proofread by other departments, and then sent to you.
The Housing department makes note of your requests and then starts a search for your apartment (unless you are taking a stipend). After the search and reference calls, they execute the lease, set up all the utilities, rent your furniture and schedule its delivery. They also send off thousands of dollars in security deposits, rent, and other fees in order to lock down your housing.
After tracking all the documents, the credentialing team prepares a pre-employment packet, including your license, physical and lab work, and sends it to the hospital.
The hospital adds you to their schedule.
The benefits department at your agency registers your eligibility for any applicable benefits.
The payroll department at your agency sets you up in the computer system for payroll.

What Happens if You Break a Contract (even a Verbal One?)

If you cancel an assignment, especially with little notice, you will leave a “wake” that you probably did not intend. Broken contracts impact agencies, as you might expect, but they also impact our nation’s hospitals, patient care delivery, your traveling colleagues, and even your own career. Once you consider everything at stake, and all the people affected, you will see why canceling a contract should only occur if you have a true and unavoidable emergency or if the actual assignment differs greatly from the terms you agreed to in the contract and significant issues you cannot live with cannot be resolved by your agency and/or the hospital.

Impact on Your Agency

Immediately after you accept an offer, your agency typically secures housing for you and pays a large deposit and the first month’s rent, as well as furniture rental and utility deposits. The Agency usually occurs housing-related losses of $1000 to $3000 for each canceled (or early termination) contract. This is because most landlords required a 30 to 60-day notice, yet job offers and certainly cancellations typically occur much closer to the move-in date.
Because cancellation rates have been increasing, many clients have instituted a cancellation penalty which they will charge the agency if their travelers cancel without a certain period of notice (usually at least 2 weeks). These can be several thousand dollars per canceled contract.
Because the agency cannot bill the client for a canceled assignment, this means the agency is not paid for the labor they invested in finding your housing, assisting with tracking and collecting your required documents or state licensure, or marketing costs associated with finding your jobs and new client hospitals.
Most recruiters work on commission, which is not “gravy” or a “bonus”—it’s typically an integral and routine part of their compensation and can make up 40% or more of their wages. Without commission, many would not be at a livable wage. The commission is paid to the recruiter when you are actively working, and the agency is billing the hospital. This means when you cancel an assignment, the recruiter is not paid (or not paid in full) for the time they spent securing the assignment for you.

It is possible the first 2 items (housing costs, client penalties) may be passed onto you, which is understandably a frightening thought. However, if they are not, this means the agency must absorb these financial losses. Because cancellations are on the rise, most agencies have had to set aside funds for “canceled assignment losses” as a budgeted overhead item.

Impact on Your Traveling Colleagues

Other travelers working at the hospital where you canceled are often asked to change shifts or days off in order to accommodate your absence.
The ability of the agency to offer future travelers the most competitive pay packages is directly affected by the financial losses the agency absorbs when an assignment is canceled. Essentially a portion of the billing to hospitals has to be allocated toward the “overhead” of canceled assignment losses. It would certainly be ideal if this money could be redirected toward traveler paychecks instead.
Financial losses aside, broken contracts are simply not good for the travel industry. Travelers are professionals who are contracted to provide relief as a reliable solution to the chronic staffing shortage. Canceling a booked assignment, especially at the last minute, goes against this promise and discredits the traveling profession. Hospitals that have experienced multiple cancellations may look poorly for travelers overall as they may feel they cannot count on them. Some have even stopped using travelers altogether as a result. This affects the reception and experience all travelers have and also means fewer assignment choices when hospitals shy away from using travelers.

Impact on Hospitals and Patient Care Delivery

If you cancel your contract, especially at the last minute, the hospital typically has no other option to fill your position. The other “runner-up” candidates they had are likely now booked elsewhere, and because they have not been recruiting; they will likely not have anyone else waiting in the wings to backfill your position. They have to do things like scramble to fill the position and/or ask their staff to do mandatory overtime until relief arrives.
Broken contracts absolutely negatively impact patient care delivery. A staffing crisis is never good for the patients. It can even lead to closed units for a period of time. The worst case I observed due to a cancellation was a small hospital actually having to divert its patients to a different facility as they did not have the required number of nurses.

Impact on Your Career

It is likely you will not be eligible for rehire at the facility where you canceled an assignment. By confirming the assignment initially, you selected that facility and location for a reason, so it’s a shame to limit your ability to work there in the future.
Largely due to healthcare reform, mergers and acquisitions of hospitals are on the rise and are projected to continue at unprecedented rates. This means you risk not only be marked as not eligible for rehire at the specific facility where you canceled but at every facility in their network.
MSPs and VMSs continue to penetrate travel staffing. Most MSPs and VMSs represent numerous facilities across the country and have centralized oversight. This means you could end up not eligible for rehire by an MSP or VMS at a large number of their client facilities.

Tips to Avoid Breaking the Contract

Do all your “shopping” before you commit (even verbally) to an assignment. Once you have accepted, do not continue to entertain other job opportunities that would conflict with the timeline to which you committed.

Ask for time to think it over if you need it before officially confirming an assignment job offer. Most facilities will give you 24 – 48 hours before you have to give an answer. You may need this time, especially if you have to make arrangements in order to take the assignment (such as school or childcare for children, a leave of absence from a perm job, the care of a sick relative, etc.).

If you get a call about an amazing opportunity after you have accepted something else, ask the interviewer or agency how frequently this assignment opens up and the likelihood of you being able to do it for your next contract. Reputable facilities and recruiters will respect the professional commitment you have already made, and they may try to work with your timeline.

If you receive your written contract (or arrive at the facility) and key details (i.e.: shift, hourly rate, assignment start date) are quite different than what you verbally agreed to, take the following steps. Contact the agency to determine if there was an error in drafting the contract. If not, itemize the issue(s) in question that you cannot live with. Allow the agency time to communicate with the client hospital if needed. If the issue(s) are not resolved, ask to speak to a manager (and work up the chain of command as needed) in order to rectify the situation. If it cannot be rectified, or some satisfactory compromise is reached (i.e.: higher pay for working a different shift), ask that you be “released from the contract without penalty” and that this release be put in writing (or email). You may also want to consider calling the hiring manager at the hospital to explain the circumstances around your cancellation as well.

Always maintain a good professional relationship with your agency. This is important as it will build your credibility in case there is ever a trouble and you have a legitimate problem with following through on a confirmed contract.

What if you Really Have to Break a Contract?

Of course, aside from contract discrepancies/disputes, there are legitimate, unforeseen, and unavoidable personal reasons you may need to break a contract. This would include major health issues or family emergencies. If something like this happens, take the following steps to ensure the best possible outcome for yourself, your agency, as well as the hospital, and its patients.

Communicate early and openly with your agency. The more notice the agency has on a pending problem before the assignment starts, the better. The most drastic consequences listed above occur when very little notice is given.
Ask your agency if there are any alternatives to canceling the contract. For example, could you delay the start date or work a different shift, etc.?)
If canceling is the only option, follow the protocol your agency outlines. (i.e., who is to notify the hospital – you or your agency, etc.)
Offer referrals of other professionals who might be able to replace you if you can.
As a professional courtesy, when you are able to work on an assignment again, do your best to accept one with the agency (and even the client) where you had to cancel.

The good news is, not only will the process be smoother if you follow these steps, but it is also extremely rare that a fee will be assessed by the hospital or your agency in cases of a true and legitimate emergency.

Summary

Everyone involved plays a role in upholding the highest standards in the travel industry. Most travelers are highly skilled, flexible, and dedicated professionals who are very committed to great patient care, even in tough circumstances. With more awareness about all the factors involved, ideally, you can see that it is possible to operate in a way that maximizes your options and takes advantage of all the super opportunities while being able to follow through with all your professional commitments at the same time.

Written By:
Cynthia S. Kinnas
Special Projects Consultant, Randstad Healthcare
TEG Committee Member

Building the road trip can be an exciting part of travel nursing. The pieces and parts of the trip all combine to make up the anatomy of the road trip. But what goes into it isn’t always how it works out in the end.

My most recent road-trip was a long one. Traveling from the Louisville KY area to Eureka California it was nearly 2500 miles. I had two routes that I could contemplate; the northern route via I 80 which would allow me to stop in and visit with my recruiter and the more southern route via I40 which would take me through the middle of the country.

Due to the nature of our business, we rarely get to meet with our recruiter or our company in person.

Knowing this I choose to take the Northern route…knowing that it would take me through some pretty remote parts of the US. If you have ever driven through Nebraska, Wyoming or Northern Nevada, you’ll understand what I mean when I say remote!

Don’t get me wrong; all of these states have their unique charms and if you have never driven this part of the US, I highly recommend it at least once. Take a friend along, it will lessen the boredom when you have no cell service and the radio is only 3 stations…all country music.

Making Connections along the way was a mission for this trip.

I had planned an overnight stop in Omaha Nebraska where my current company Triage Staffing is located. I met up with my recruiter Jason Sagehorn at a local place called Jimmy’s Egg for breakfast. I’ve met Jason previously and we had a great time catching up on personal stuff and finishing up some last minute paperwork for the upcoming job.

After meeting with Jason, I set up a meeting with Atlas MedStaff. Atlas is one of the sponsors for the 2013 Gypsy Nurse Brunch/Luncheon happening in Las Vegas in October. When I realized that they were in Omaha, I couldn’t resist meeting with them in person. The crew at Atlas met (and treated) me for lunch at Joe’s Crab Shack. We discussed the business of travel nursing, some of the ups and downs and of course the upcoming events in Vegas. I wish that I’d had more time with this group as they were a ton of fun to visit.

We also scheduled a Meet & Greet at the Cheesecake Factory after our business lunch. Joe Smith from Travel Tax was in the area and came out to meet with us.

From Omaha, I traveled on to Cheyenne WY. It was late when I finally arrived and I can’t tell you if there is anything fun or interesting to see/do in Cheyenne because I basically ended up sleeping then hitting the road again…onto Salt Lake City. In SLC, I met up with a fellow Gypsy Nurse Andrea. We chatted for a bit but I had arrived a day earlier than expected and she was at work…

The final leg of the trip ended up much longer than I’d expected.

I had planned on taking 2-3 days for the remainder of the trip and ended up instead traveling the rest of the route in one fail swoop. I just kept thinking… ‘I can make it to Reno…it’s only x miles’ then it was ‘gosh…I’m just not tired, let’s see how far I can get tonight’.

So, I’ve arrived in Eureka California and have had a couple of days to relax and settle in before I start work on Monday. It’s not the road-trip that I planned and I wouldn’t recommend traveling from SLC to Eureka in one ‘fail swoop’ but it was the trip that it was….

Sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry…

**My camera decided to stop working on this trip which deterred me from doing much sightseeing along the way. There were several spots that I normally would have stopped and gotten out to explore and take a few photo’s but it all seemed futile without my camera.

This article is provided by: Focus Staff.

By 2022, more than 1.1 million new nursing positions are expected to be created [1]. For travel nurses, this presents even more opportunities in a field that is already in high demand.

Have you considered working as a travel nurse, but have fears that are holding you back? It’s definitely the time to put them to rest. To help you, here is a quick look at the most common fears associated with travel nursing and what you should really know about them.

Adapting to a new work environment:

When you are working as a travel nurse, you are essentially starting a new job with each move. Fortunately, the basics of nursing care are the same all over the country. This means your biggest challenge will be learning where everything is and the protocols of each hospital. Go into each job with a plan to fit in by being friendly, working hard, and making it clear that you are there to help. When you do this, others are more likely to embrace your presence and help you adapt to your new environment.

Adapting to a new unit:

It’s not unusual for travel nurses to be floated to a variety of different floors while on assignment. Thus it is worth mentioning again that the basics of nursing care are universal. If you are considering becoming a travel nurse, it’s a good idea to join the float pool at your current facility. This will increase your comfort level in areas that you may be somewhat unfamiliar with, such as pediatrics, oncology, or postoperative care. When you are working, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Remember, you are there to help, and most other nurses will appreciate that and be glad to assist.

Feeling lonely:

Travel nursing does have the potential to be lonely, especially when you first arrive at a new assignment. Fortunately, once you start working, you’ll start to develop new friendships. Until then, keep busy by exploring the area, working out, reading, and doing other things that you may not have the time to do at home. Another way to beat potential loneliness is by traveling with a buddy nurse. You’d be surprised, there are many traveling groups and forums online specifically for traveling nurses to the network which helps tremendously in this area.

Missing family and friends:

There is no doubt that you’ll miss your friends and family while traveling. Thanks to technology, it is easy to stay in touch, whether via phone, text, email, Skype, or social media. You can also invite them to visit your new city. After all, you won’t be working every day, and you’ll have time to explore the city with them.

Finding a place to live:

In some cases, the agency you work with may already have a plan in place. In other cases, you may be given a housing allowance and the opportunity to choose your own home base. Plan ahead, making certain your home is close to your assignment, as well as in a safe neighborhood. Again, many traveling forums give insight into housing options at any given facility or area so you aren’t alone in finding a good place to rest!

The “what-ifs”:

Considering the possible what-ifs can make you crazy. What if you don’t like an assignment? What if you get sick? What if a family member gets sick and you need to go home? In many situations, your agency will have policies in place concerning most of your possible what-if situations. Reviewing those policies may put your mind at ease. In most cases, these potential fears never materialize. Don’t let something that will probably never happen to prevent you from a great opportunity.

[1] According to American Nurses Association.

Long trips can really mess up our body’s natural rhythm. This is especially true when we travel into a different time zone. The bigger the change, the more under the weather feel.

Not only will our day-night rhythm be out of sync, keeping us awake at night, a jet lag can cause headaches, nausea, and indigestion. Sometimes we can’t relieve ourselves for days.

But not only occurs this phenomenon when traveling into a different time zone but also when simply traveling to a new place. Sleeping in a different bed, eating unfamiliar food – A change in the environment is often enough to put our digestive system completely on hold.

You will be happy to hear though, that there are some tricks that can help you get your bowel movements back on track within a short period of time.

Next to eating a nutrient-dense diet, rich in fiber, there are many yoga poses that are known to activate your digestive function and get you some release.

Another good news is: You don’t have to be an experienced yogi performing crazy bends to get the benefits. The 5 yoga poses listed below are very straightforward, so no matter if this is your first attempt at yoga, or you’re a regular practitioner, enjoy them and keep breathing regularly throughout the practice, as I cannot stress enough the effect deep belly breaths have on our digestion.

Yoga Poses

1. Marjaryasana – Bitilasana (Cat – Cow Pose)

Cat and Cow are usually practiced together in a flow. Come onto all fours into tabletop position. Make sure your knees are right above your ankles and your shoulders are above your wrists.Spread your fingers wide and press your hands firmly into the mat. On your next inhale, drop your belly and arch your spine, roll your shoulders back and look up to the sky (Cow). On the exhale press into your hands, drop your tailbone, pull your belly button towards the spine, gaze to the navel (Cat). Repeat this movement for 10 more rounds. When in Cat, really suck in your belly, which helps massaging your organs and your digestive tract.

2. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Lord of the Fishes)

Twists are a great way to get our digestion moving. For Half Lord of the Fishes pose, sit on the mat with legs extended to the front, keep a straight spine. Then bend your right leg and cross it over the left leg, sole of the feet on the floor. The right knee is pointing up towards the sky. Bend your left leg and bring your left foot next to your buttock. If this stretch is not available to you, keep your left leg extended to the front. The effect will be the same, so don’t worry about it.

On your next inhale straighten your spine, lift your left arm and place it to the outside of your right thigh. Plant your right hand right behind your buttocks, twisting to the right side. Make sure you keep your chest open. Use your in-breath to lengthen the spine, and the out-breath to twist a bit further by sucking in the belly, then twisting the upper back, then the shoulders. Move gently and with your breath, and after about 10 breaths, turn back to center and twist gently to the left as a counterpose for one breath.

Repeat on the other side.

3. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

Let’s warm up our spine by coming into Locust Pose first: Lie down flat on your belly, extend your arms to the front alongside your ears, your legs are extended to the back. On the inhale lift your arms and legs off the mat. Gaze is towards the mat. Take 4 – 6 deep breaths into the belly, feel it pressing into the mat, massaging your organs. Release arms and legs back onto the mat. Bring your arms alongside your body and turn one cheek onto the mat, relax here. Repeat Locust Pose one more time.

Moving on to Bow Pose: Still on your belly, bend your knees, reach back with both arms and grab the outer edges of your feet. On the next inhale, press your feet into your hands. You will feel your torso lifting slightly off the mat. Maybe your thighs are coming off the mat, but if they don’t – no problem. Breath deeply into the belly and let your breath rock your body gently to the forwards and backwards. This is where the magic happens, activating your bowels.

Hold for 4 – 6 breaths, then release the grip on your feet and slowly lower your torso down onto the mat. Place the other cheek on the mat and relax. Repeat Bow Pose one more time.

Counterpose: When you feel your spine has reset – push gently back into Child’s Pose.

4. Ardha Pavanamuktasana (Wind-Relieving Pose )

Come to lie flat on your back with both legs extended. Bend your right knee and bring it into your chest. Hug the knee with your arms. Now with every exhale, bring your knee closer to your chest. Take about 10 deep, conscious breaths here, then repeat on the left side. We start this pose with the right leg, as our movement follows the direction our food travels in our digestive tract.

When you’ve done both sides, bring both knees into the chest, and feel the belly pressing against your thighs. Then release your legs back onto the mat.

5.Supta Matsyendrasana (Supine Spinal Twist)

Stay on your back. Bring your right knee back into the chest as described in the Wind-Relieving Pose, then lead your knee over the left leg, with the right hip lifting off the mat. If the right knee doesn’t come all the way down to the floor, place a folded blanket or rolled-up towel underneath it for support.

Arms are spread to the sides, both shoulder blades are glued to the mat. Gaze goes either towards the sky or over your right shoulder. Take 10 deep breaths into your abdomen here, and with every exhale relax a little bit more into the twist. When done, bring your knee back up into the chest, give it a little squeeze and extend it alongside the left leg.

Repeat with the left leg.

The great thing is, you can do all the above yoga poses on the floor of your hotel room, or even on the beach. If you really can’t find any space, you can always do them on your bed.

Keep your body well hydrated and trust the effect that these yoga poses have on your digestive system. They have helped people already for thousands of years.

Many travel nurses have outstanding debt balances, underfunded retirement account, and short- term savings in place, but yet often have a solid regular income. Unfortunately, lifestyle and poor financial decisions often get in the way of building wealth.

Creating clarification around student loan options, understanding credit card payoff strategies, and simultaneously understanding how savings habits and retirement design implementation all are interconnected is very important.

Let’s look at some of the top questions that many travel nurses face in regards to their finances that will affect retirement and short term savings. These are all very important questions and addressing all 3 are of them should be done simultaneously but there are some natural steps and specific order of addressing the importance of each.

Travel Nurse ‘Hidden Gem’ Locations

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Taos, New Mexico

Oklahoma City, OK

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Adapting to a new work environment:

Adapting to a new unit:

Feeling lonely:

Missing family and friends:

Finding a place to live:

The “what-ifs”:

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