By CareerStaff Unlimited

March 14, 2022

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Spring Cleaning: How to Update Your Nursing Resume to Become a Travel Nurse

CareerStaff Unlimited provided this article.

It’s that time of year again! Spring is in the air, and with it comes the urge to clean up and organize our homes. This same principle can be applied to your nursing resume. If you’re looking to become a travel nurse, now is the time to update your resume and make sure it’s as polished as possible. Whether you’re a new nurse or have been in the profession for a while, learn what should be included in your resume to become a travel nurse.

1. Update your nursing experience

Start by making sure that all of your nursing experience is up to date. It’s best to use a clean format with simple headers, no graphics, and an easy-to-read font.

Along with your education, be sure to list your experiences in reverse chronological order, so recruiters see your most recent experience at the top. This will show recruiters and hiring managers that you have recent and necessary skills and experience required for the travel assignment. Most facilities and organizations require you to have at least two years of nursing experience in your specialty before you qualify to become a travel nurse.

2. List your specialties, certifications and state licensures

Make sure that your name and any relevant certifications and degrees are listed at the top. You’ve worked hard to achieve them, so display them where they’re most visible. It’s important to include this information at the top of your nursing resume for recruiters and hiring managers to see your qualifications and the states you’re able to practice in, which will determine which travel assignments are the best match for you.

3. Include relevant training

Continuing to grow your skills and experience are also important. In addition to listing your nursing experience and certifications, you should also include any relevant training you have received. This can be anything from a basic life support course to more specialized training.

4. Highlight your skills

When updating your resume, it’s important to highlight both your soft skills and hard skills. Your soft skills, like adaptability and excellent communication skills, can indicate how you work as a professional, while your hard skills can distinguish you as a specialist. This can be done by using bullet points or short phrases to describe what you are good at and your relevant experience.

5. Update your computer skills

It’s also important in today’s world to have strong computer skills. This is especially true for nurses, as many hospitals and clinics use electronic medical records (EMRs). Be sure to list out the computer charting skills systems you’ve worked with on your resume. This will help you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers and show that you are able to use the latest technology.

6. List your honors and awards

If you have received any honors or awards, be sure to list them on your resume. It’s best to make sure these are relevant to the travel assignment you’re applying for, but this will also show recruiters and hiring managers that you are a high-achieving nurse.

7. Update your contact information

One final thing to update on your resume is your contact information. This includes aspects like your name, address, phone number, and email address.

Make sure that all of your contact information is up-to-date and accurate. This will ensure that recruiters and hiring managers can easily get in touch with you.

8. Proofread your nursing resume

Once you have updated your resume, be sure to proofread it carefully. This will ensure that there are no mistakes and that it looks professional. If possible, ask someone else to proofread it for you. This can help catch any errors that you may have missed.

Updating your nursing resume is a necessary task if you want to become a travel nurse. It provides the opportunity to showcase your achievements, successes, and skills. With these tips, you can make sure that your resume is up-to-date and ready for you to apply for your next travel nursing assignment.

If you’re looking for a travel nursing opportunity, consider CareerStaff Unlimited. We offer a wide variety of travel nursing assignments available in locations across the United States! Sodon’t’t wait; update your nursing resume and become a travel nurse today!

We hope you found this article on how to update your nursing resume to become a travel nurse helpful. Do you have any tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Titan Medical

March 8, 2022

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Lucky Tips For Starting as a Travel Nurse

Titan Medical Group provided this article.

Are you feeling nervous about taking on your first assignment as a Travel Nurse? Here are a few tips for setting you up for success!

Get and Stay Organized

If you are getting ready to take on your first assignment as a traveling nurse, you need to stay organized every step of the way. You need to make sure your paperwork and information are updated. Prepare for your phone interview and bring copies of any necessary documentation to your first day. Being organized will help you out tremendously in the long run!

Stay in contact with your recruiter

When you get a recruiter, they will be your best friend on your journey. They are on your side to make sure you are placed in the perfect fit for you. Once you start your assignment, be sure to check in with your recruiter to update them to help you with future assignments.

Keep an open-mind

Going to an unfamiliar place away from the people you love can be overwhelming and hard to adjust to. When going into your assignment, always have an open mind and a positive attitude. Getting to know people you will be working with will help you open up to new opportunities and growth in your career!

Ask questions

When taking on a new assignment, you will be encountered different situations and people. If you are unsure about a task, don’t be afraid to step up and ask questions. It is better to ask questions as soon as possible instead of being hesitant about a situation.

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We hope you found these lucky tips for starting travel nursing helpful. Have you recently started travel nursing and have tips to share with those considering travel nursing? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel nurse assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are ready for your next travel assignment, give Titan Medical a call today at 866-332-9600, and we’d love to assist in finding your next adventure!

By Evan Kaden

March 6, 2022

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How Travel Nurses Find Balance

For a travel nurses, finding balance between work and exploration is a skill worth mastering.

Being a Travel Nurse starts with the art of self-care. Let’s face it, nurses are by nature the world’s nurturers. Your compassion for others is your ‘why’ for your chosen career. In order to be really good at what you do, however, you know you have to put your own metaphorical oxygen mask on before you help the passenger next to you. Adventuring can help you achieve the life balance you need.

Work from a Lifestyle of Self-Care

Adopting a philosophy of self-care first will give you the confidence to work the rest of the balancing act without compromising yourself in the process. Whether you’re home or on assignment, developing a lifestyle of self-care including a healthy diet, exercise, quiet time, and personal time to explore interests will make you a happier person and a better nurse. Self-care is the foundation of the life you create; everything springs from this single well. Only a healthy, rested, energized travel nurse can have satisfying adventures and a joy-filled career.

Travel Nurse, Know Thyself

This is where you give yourself permission to design your own life and own it. Exploring your likes and dislikes can help frame your work life. If you don’t like hot weather, then a job at a higher elevation in Panama would be a better fit than one on the coast. Maybe you can’t get enough of big city monuments and museums, or maybe off-roading the high desert revs your motor.

Does adventure mean the adrenaline surge of base jumping or dropping into a monster wave to you, or is your idea of adventure exploring a new culture or hiking through a deep forest? As a travel nurse, you have the flexibility to follow your bliss – so figure it out, own it; go there, do that.

Make a Bucket List, and Check It Twice

Let’s say you get a nursing assignment in New York City. (Who wouldn’t jump at the chance?) Sit down and make a list of all the things you dreamed of doing if you ever made it to The Big Apple. As Alicia Keys’ Empire State of Mind flows through your headphones, get busy on that list: the Apollo Theater in Harlem, Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square; your list of urban adventures continues to grow. Let it all out. Once you finish your list, circle your top ten choices. This is the must-do content for your upcoming adventure schedule.

You’ve developed a habit of self-care, figured out the kind of environment that suits you, and explored the kinds of adventure activities that give you the emotional response you crave, be it excitement, fearlessness, accomplishment, or something else. Now it’s time to turn ideas into reality.

Insist on a Predictable Work Schedule

There are few careers, especially in helping industries, where those you serve aren’t constantly pushing against your boundaries. Responsibilities scale up, downtime gets encroached upon, clients become more particular or demanding, and everyone has an opinion about your job description. Of course, you want to play nicely and be accommodating where you can (after all, that’s kind of who you are), but your schedule is the one place you need inviolable boundaries. Even if it isn’t the schedule of your dreams, predictability is the only sure way to strike a work/adventure balance as a travel nurse.

The rest of the plan hinges on your ability to say no when you need to, so you can protect the space you’ve created for self-renewal, also known as adventure!

Use Your Adventure Tools – Books, Maps, and Apps

Lonely Planet is one of the best travel guide books you can own for nearly any region of the world. You can get them as trade books or downloadable ebooks. They’re excellent for detailed maps, local attractions, lodging, restaurants, regional planning, and travel advice. They’re also updated often. You can become fairly well-informed about an area before you ever get to your next gig.

Schedule Your Upcoming Adventures

Planning helps you get the most from your free time. On your calendar, fill in your work hours and see where you can schedule a day trip to a nearby town, a three-hour snorkel tour, or even an hour-long stroll along a boardwalk. Even if it’s only a few hours a week or a weekend a month, there’s something about formalizing your adventures by writing them out that makes them stick. Well-laid adventure plans help you make the most of your downtime, and bring balance into your life.

Author:  Evan is a rare-breed of freelance writers who, believe it or not, doesn’t drink coffee! Currently serving as a content specialist for FreedomCare, an agency that helps with Medicaid’s CDPAP program, he’s grateful for the opportunities he’s had to share his thoughts and stories with people through this crazy place called the internet.


Find your Next

Travel Nurse Adventure


By Amber Pickler

February 28, 2022

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Gypsy’s Guide to Adventures in Portland, Oregon

So, you took an assignment in Portland, Oregon. What should you do on your days off? If it is the typical assignment, you will have 13 weeks to explore the town and those around it. Portland is a beautiful city. There is so much to do in the city and even outside of the city.  We have good news; we have a few fun things to do on your days off. 

Multnomah Falls

At 620 feet tall, Multnomah Falls is Portland’s tallest waterfall.  According to their website, the Falls is located just 30 miles east of downtown Portland along the Historic Columbia River Highway; the two-drop cascade attracts visitors of all types and ages, with wheelchair-accessible viewing platforms and steep hiking trails that lead to the top. Fed by rainwater and snowmelt, the falls’ steady stream runs year-round, making it a year-round attraction. The highest volume comes in winter and spring, and the waterfall sometimes freezes partially at the height of winter.

There is also a lodge on site that includes a gift shop, restaurant, espresso bar, and U.S. Forest Service interpretive center.

Portland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden was mentioned by a few people in our Facebook group as a place you need to visit when you take an assignment in Portland.  Looking at their website, we can see why this should be on this list.  The garden is breathtaking even from the site; we can only imagine what it looks like in person.  According to their website, “The Garden sits nestled in the hills of Portland, Oregon’s iconic Washington Park, overlooking the city and providing a tranquil, urban oasis for locals and travelers alike. Designed in 1963, it encompasses 12 acres with eight different garden styles and includes an authentic Japanese Tea House, meandering streams, intimate walkways, and a spectacular view of Mt. Hood. This is a place to discard worldly thoughts and concerns and see oneself as a small but integral part of the universe.”

International Rose Garden

The International Rose Garden is a test garden.  I am sure the pictures do the park no justice, but it looks like a beautiful place to visit.  According to their website, they serve as a testing ground for new varieties of roses.  They say that more than 10,000 individual rose bushes are in bloom from late May through October.  They have over 610 varieties, and the majority of the roses grown in the garden are commercially available.  About 10 to 20 varieties of roses are replaced each year with some of the best new roses released onto the market.  According to their website, Portland’s Rose Society was established in 1888.  They have information on their site about the Portland Rose Society if you are a resident of Portland or it is your hometown and are interested in becoming a member.

They offer guided group tours; however, these are unavailable due to COVID until further notice.

Screen Door Restaurant

The Screen Door Restaurant was mentioned by quite a few members of our Facebook group.  The restaurant was started in 2006 by Nicole and David Mouton; they had lived in Portland since 2001.  They were originally from Southern Louisiana.  According to their site, “Our concept is capturing and sharing all that is quintessential in our history and experience of southern foodways layered with what we like to think of as northwest food values. This means eating local, eating fresh from the garden, being passionate about food and where it comes from. To us, this is a perfect marriage of southern comfort food decadence and valuing and honoring the rich bounty of foods produced by our local farmers here in our region. This meeting place of fried and fresh helps describe our food, but to understand us is to consider the meaning of hospitality.”

They offer brunch, dinner, and dessert menus.  Each menu offers a variety of options, most incorporating southern and Cajun cuisine.  They have something for everything, with their dinner menu offering the most options.   

Washington Park

Washington Park has a lot to offer its visitors. It houses the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden we mentioned earlier, but it offers even more. Including Oregon Zoo, Archery Range, Hoyt Arboretum, Memorials and Statues, Rose Garden Children’s Playground, Tennis Courts, and while not currently open, it also is home to the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum. 

Oregon zoo looks like it would make a great place to visit on your day off.  There is timed entry, so you must pre-purchase your tickets.  According to their website, the zoo is “home to nearly 2,000 animals representing more than 200 species from around the world. Discover how you can help make a better future for wildlife. See for yourself why the zoo is the #1 paid attraction in the state and learn how easy it is to help create a better future for wildlife.”

The Hoyt Arboretum is another excellent option to visit on your day off; according to their website, “Hoyt Arboretum is Portland’s museum of living trees, featuring more than 2,300 species of trees from around the world, along 12 miles of trails. Trail maps are available. Managed in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation.”

If neither of these things piques your interest, there is sure to be something for you to do at Washington Park.  They also offer picnic areas, so you could take your lunch and have a nice quiet picnic outside and relax in the park.

We hope you found this list of things to do on your days off in Portland, Oregon, helpful.  We would love to hear if you have favorite places to visit when you take an assignment in Portland or from Portland and have suggestions. Comment them below.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Titan Medical

February 9, 2022

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Reasons You Will Love Travel Nursing

Titan Medical provided this article.

Are you currently a healthcare traveler or considering traveling this year? Now is the time to jump aboard! With a high demand for travel healthcare professionals across the nation, you will be sure to find a contract that is the perfect fit for you.

Why you will love travel nursing

1. Flexible Schedule

As a traveler, you can likely find a contract that fits the schedule you are looking for. Whether you prefer working night shifts or working days, you can discuss with your recruiter and account manager what you are looking for this way; they can pair you with a contract that fits your desired schedule. You will also find that the length of the contract will allow you the perfect amount of time to get a feel of what you are looking for in future assignments. Traveling provides an excellent opportunity to find an assignment that works around your timeline and needs.

2. Change of Scenery and Locations

One of the exciting factors of healthcare traveling is you get the opportunity to change up your scenery and determine where you will go with each new assignment. Working at new facilities expands your network reach allows you to make new friends and grow professionally. On your days off, you can check out new local attractions, try new restaurants, and explore surrounding areas. It provides a sense of freedom that can make you feel refreshed and always looking forward to your next adventure.

3. Nursing Career Growth

As a traveling healthcare professional, you will get firsthand experience of what it is like to work at various facilities across the United States. This might include some of the nation’s most prestigious and well-known hospitals, or it might include more dire facilities in need in rural areas. Working with each facility type expands your knowledge and allows you to grow in various settings.

4. Financial Freedom

It’s no secret that working as a healthcare traveler may see slightly higher rates of travel nursing than you would be working as a full-time employee at a hospital or facility. This is because of hospital and facility demand and being that person to step in and fill the gaps where there is a need for healthcare workers. If you’re looking to make extra cash combined with a schedule that fits your needs, travel healthcare might be in your future if it isn’t already!

We hope you found this article on reasons you will love travel nursing helpful and informative. What reasons do you love travel nursing? Comment the reasons below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Go Healthcare Staffing

January 31, 2022

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5 Mistakes Travel Nurses Are Making During this Pandemic

Go Healthcare Staffing provided this article.

More than 2 years into the first “crisis” travel contracts that began in Washington State and then the COVID crisis contracts in the Northeast, RNs who have chosen to work as travel nurses are still in high demand throughout the country.   Hospitals are understaffed, and some are at their breaking points. Healthcare workers throughout all disciplines and specialties are burned out. As a Travel Nurse during this pandemic, you will not have a shortage of job opportunities presented to you. Be aware of these 5 mistakes travel nurses are making that are hurting their career prospects past the current shortage and crisis staffing. 

Canceling a Travel Assignment Contract without proper notice.   

As a Travel Healthcare Professional, this may be the most detrimental decision you can make.   We understand that some contracts are not the right match for you. As an RN Traveler, you have the flexibility to find the right travel job for you. Every contract you sign has a clause outlining what type of notice (usually a 14-day notice) is required to avoid financial or professional penalties. This notice allows the Agency and the Hospital a chance to find a replacement for you.   If you cancel a contract without notice or simply “no call/no show” on your assignment, your reputation and status as a traveler who cancels a contract will follow you from one travel opportunity to another. Most health systems are managed by larger Staffing Agencies called MSP (Managed Service Providers) that manage multiple health systems in the area. If you walk” from a travel contract and are deemed a “Do Not Return”/DNR with a particular agency, you may inadvertently find yourself “blacklisted” from multiple hospitals within a certain area and throughout the country. 

Not Keeping Up with Credentialing Requirements.  

Most experienced travelers know being ready and organized all of your “docs” can make or break your travel nursing experience. Currently, most travel contracts are looking for ASAP/immediate start dates. Taking the time to organize the necessary documents/certifications properly will not only make for a smooth experience but can get you the contract that you truly want or looking for. 

Not Accepting the “Extension Offer” immediately.   

Holding out on taking a travel extension “just in case” something better comes along has been a mistake a lot of travel nurses are currently doing. If you are currently on a decent travel contract offering “crisis pay,” take the extension if it’s offered to you. An extension will often guarantee that your current pay will remain. Waiting for higher pay somewhere else is a risk that has not worked out for the majority of travel nurses we have worked with. 

Disappearing.

Have the courtesy of when you get an offer not to ghost. You are hurting your future chances of working with agencies that are working hard for you to get you an offer. It is okay to decline. But to ghost? You are hurting the agency and the hospital that offered. They are focused on getting staff for care.

Working with expired licenses or certifications.   

So many opportunities are missed if we are unable to present you without the proper certifications or licenses. Be prepared, and ways take inventory of when renewals are coming up.   

These are the 5 Common Mistakes that we are seeing/experiencing with travel nurses. What else should be on this list? Please feel free t share.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Kevin Devoto

January 10, 2022

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7 Tips to Succeed as a Travel Nurse

Taking an assignment as a travel nurse can be exciting and rarely dull. You will probably always feel on the move. If your passion is for helping people, but you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to stay in one environment for long, being a travel nurse could be the career for you. If you have nursing experience but decided to try life as a travel nurse, here are several tips to get you going and help you succeed as a travel nurse.

Decide Where You Want to Live

Once you know where you’re going, do some research and decide in what part of town you would prefer to live. You may enjoy living downtown or opt for a place within walking distance of work. Maybe you would like to be in a more private residential area. 

Be Flexible

If you are new to a travel nurse company, you may or may not have much freedom or flexibility to choose the area for the assignment. These companies are often good about working with their nurses when they can assist as part of revenue operations. However, the longer you are with a company, the more flexible it will usually become. Then, you can choose not only the location of your assignment but also the type of facility or a specific facility. However, it can be exciting to go places you wouldn’t normally consider. 

Organize Your Life

As soon as you find out you have an assignment, you should begin preparing for your move. Ensure you have all the essential paperwork you’ll need, including health records, license information, etc. 

Pack Efficiently

Most travel nurses work on 13-week assignments. Time goes by fast, so it’s probably not necessary to take everything you own with you only to have to move it again. There are some things it would likely be more cost-effective to buy when you get there rather than to carry with you. 

Arrive Early

Take some extra time on your first day to get to work. You will probably be nervous, and if you’re feeling anxious from feeling rushed, it could set the mood for the whole day, especially if you end up being late. Try to arrive a bit early to make a good impression on your co-workers and have time to prepare for your workday. 

Perform a Test Run

It can be helpful to perform a test run of your commute before your first day on the job. Do just as you would on a typical day of work, getting up and out the door when you predict you’ll need to to get to work in time. You may find that traffic is worse than you expected, and you need to head out 10 minutes earlier. You may find that there is a better route to take to avoid some of the heavier traffic. It helps to be as prepared as possible before your first day; because first days are already stressful without combining a totally new location to the mix. You may also want to check out the parking situation at the facility if you think there could be a problem finding an open spot.

Also, if you’re working in a larger facility, walk to your work area to figure how long it will take to walk to that destination. For example, if you’ll be working on the fifth floor of a hospital and you discover the hospital has slow elevators, you may need to take that into consideration when deciding what time to begin your commute.

Explore and Enjoy

One of the most fun things about being a travel nurse is exploring new places and meeting new people. Cultivate friendships with your co-workers and ask about recommendations on places to go in and around your town. You are likely to experience many new adventures during your time as a travel nurse. Take these tips into consideration today and begin planning for your next exciting assignment.

We hope you found this article on 7 tips to succeed as a travel nurse helpful. Do you have any tips for your fellow travel nurses on how to succeed? Comment your tips to succeed as a travel nurse below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By trustaff

December 17, 2021

5678 Views

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California Adventures! Why California Should Be Your Next Assignment

This article was provided by trustaff.

Have you locked in where you’ll be spending your first assignment of 2022? Here’s a shortlist of the top 3 reasons you should be thinking west coast and especially California for your New Years’ assignment.

First and foremost, many set their sights on California at this time of year for the weather. Want balmy and breezy? Head to southern CA. Or maybe you prefer more diverse weather where you experience a few chilly days? Northern CA is where you need to be. The climate is one of the biggest all-around perks for working in the state and opens a ton of options for recreation. Southern California is notorious for year-round average highs in the 70s–sounds pretty glorious to us! Even Northern California is still fairly mild, with the added benefit of easy access to wintery activities like skiing, snowboarding, or a snowy hike through one of their many state or national parks!

While the weather might not swing everyone, a big selling point for nurses and healthcare providers are their state-mandated patient ratios. In 2003, California enacted legislation where RNs have specific nurse-to-patient ratios mandated per shift that are protected by law. The ratio varies by specialty where the numbers were established based on needs, severity, and care needed, but the ratio for many specialties will never go above 1:6. This not only protects your license but also provides a more comfortable workload. Knowing your ratios and breaks will be mandated can be a particularly appealing offer, especially for travel nurses.

California is unfortunately not a part of the Nurse Licensure Compact yet, (awaiting legislation!) though they are allowing many nurses to practice in the state under a temporary license while your official CA RN license is pending. The California licensing process can be a tedious and sometimes long process, but many travel nursing agencies offer their travelers licensing assistance, such as help with the application process, reimbursements for your filing costs, or even an extra perk just for getting licensed in such a high-needs state.

Finally, California is one of the largest states in the US, and their need for travel nurses is equally as large. This means you’ll have lots of options when it comes to finding a job that appeals to you. Whether you want to be jet-setting in Los Angeles or nestled in the quiet vineyards, there are many assignments available for specialties of all kinds at a huge variety of facilities. Think of all the possibilities you could explore in the great state of California on your days off!

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Need housing for your next assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Krucial Staffing

December 7, 2021

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Mental Health Resources: Combatting Stress Brought on by the Pandemic

This article was provided by Krucial Staffing.

This article was written by: Courtney Holmes.

The strain and stress this pandemic has put on healthcare workers is indescribable. COVID-19 created challenges healthcare workers had never faced before. At the same time, simultaneously overwhelming hospitals with patients who needed isolation at a speed many were not ready for. According to a poll done by the Washington Post in April 2021, six in 10 healthcare workers say the stress from the pandemic has harmed their mental health. If you feel like your mental health has been affected over the past two years, you are not alone. 

“Healthcare is, at its core, about improving the odds of life in its struggle against death. Of extending that game which we will all lose, each one of us unto eternity, extending it another year, month or second,” said Keith Olbermann, author, and commentator, during a special broadcast on MSNBC.  

Dealing with death has always been part of being a healthcare worker. All healthcare workers train on how to handle the post-modem process, but COVID-19 has redefined the death process. Healthcare workers have had to navigate the challenges that came with the pandemic, but the amount of death seen in such a short amount of time has greatly affected those who have been in the medical field for years, especially those who recently joined the field. 

As this pandemic has continued, images of patients in distress, dreams of perpetual alarms, goodbyes through an iPad, and repeated trauma have come home with many in the healthcare community. 

While the pandemic is not over, we wanted to build a list of resources to help with the stress many are facing and remind everyone; you are not alone. 

If you need to talk to someone immediately: 

If you are struggling with Seasonal Affective Depression:  

The Cleveland Clinic, known for its world-renowned research, has resources for working through the winter months: “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is depression that gets triggered by a change in seasons, usually when fall starts. This seasonal depression gets worse in the winter before ending in the spring. 

Some people may get a mild version of SAD known as the ‘winter blues.’ It’s normal to feel a little down during colder months. You may be stuck inside, and it gets dark early.” 

An organization called Better Help also offers counseling at a low cost, no matter your location. Better Help was started in 2013 to offer counseling over the phone anywhere at any time in any part of the country. According to Better Help, it has more than 24,000 licensed therapists with over 20,000 reviews. We recommend checking them out, no matter what type of mental health issue you are facing. 

If you are struggling with depression/burnout: 

The American Medical Association offers many resources to help healthcare workers, specifically with burnout and recovery from injuries while practicing physical and psychological medicine. AMA is directed towards healthcare professionals and examples they may experience working on the floor with patients.   

The American Psychiatry Association also breaks down how to handle stress and anxiety. They have produced information on how to combat depression on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, there is a page with commonly asked questions about depression if you are unsure where to begin your healing journey. 

If you are struggling with PTSD:  

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has excellent resources for working through PTSD.  

According to the NIMH, “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary or dangerous event.  

It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This fight-or-flight response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened, even when they are not in danger.”  

Additionally, Healthline has fantastic resources for working through PTSD, including resources such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is an interactive psychotherapy technique used to relieve psychological stress.  

There is not just one way to begin processing the effects of this pandemic. It is recommended to find what works for you and your situation. We at Krucial feel it is essential to encourage everyone who has worked tirelessly in this pandemic to take a moment to evaluate their mental health and reach out if needed.  

We recognize all the sacrifices that everyone in healthcare has made to help patients during this pandemic. It has taken an unimaginable toll on mental health for many healthcare workers. People left their families and lives to serve others and came home with battle scars. Your pain is noticed, your heroism is honored, and we encourage you to reach out for support. 

Interested in looking more about an emergency response or contract travel options? Check out emergency response and healthcare staffing company, Krucial Staffing.  Krucial Staffing specializes in high volume, rapid response staffing, driven by a mission to serve others at their greatest time of need. To learn more about what positions they currently have open, check out their Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter page. 

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Need housing for your assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)