By Kevin Devoto

June 26, 2022

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3 Reasons You Should Consider Becoming a Travel Nurse in 2022

The need for healthcare continues worldwide, making this a worrisome trend since there is a nurse shortage. Hospitals and medical facilities are having a difficult time retaining their staff. Many people who have had nursing careers decided to retire early due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and young people aren’t as interested in obtaining student loans for nursing degrees. Earning a nursing degree requires a lot of work, and not all universities offer this degree. Once in the workforce, a nursing career is incredibly demanding, both physically and mentally. For this reason, travel nursing positions are in high demand, as medical facilities may temporarily need a nurse to fill in while they are short-staffed or have a surge in patients. If you’ve been considering becoming a travel nurse, read on for a few reasons that will give you the inspiration to finally make the jump.

Travel Nurses Make A Difference

In many career fields, you can sometimes feel like what you’re doing is meaningless. You may feel like you’re replaceable in your company and that anyone else could do exactly what you’re doing. As a travel nurse, however, you can truly know that you’re making an impact every single day. There are less and less people choosing nursing for a career, but there is an increase in the need for medical care.

It will be rewarding for you knowing that what you do can’t be done by anyone and that you’re helping people receive the care they need. Your job means something to those people who are sick and suffering. They are grateful to have a caregiver who cares about their well-being and chooses to invest their time in helping them get the care they need for recovery.

Travel Nurses Have Freedom

Now more than ever, younger generations value their freedom more than anything. They want to travel and have flexibility in their careers, so they don’t experience burnout. One of the drawbacks of nursing careers is they have rigorous and tight schedules. If you work in a hospital, you may have to work night shifts along with long 12-hour shifts. If you work in a clinic, there are specific hours they are open, which means there are specific hours you have to be there.

The difference with travel nursing is that you can accept an assignment and then take a couple weeks off or longer after you complete it before you accept another. This makes it less likely to avoid burnout. You don’t have to request time off from your boss if you need a break; you simply don’t accept any assignments until you’re ready to.

Travel Nurses Have Job Security

As a travel nurse, you’ll have the opportunity to work in a variety of specialties. This will benefit you when looking for new assignments or if you’re ever interested in settling down and becoming part of the permanent staff. Your opportunities for employment will open up when employers see that you have experience in many different areas. While you’re travel nursing, you don’t have to worry about not finding work because you can move to whichever location is in need of nurses. Additionally, instead of hoping for a certain position to open up like most nurses have to do who are permanently employed by a hospital, you can search for different growth opportunities, such as functional medicine in Denver. All these things can be added to your resume and increase your chances of getting hired for future jobs.

Final Thoughts

A travel nursing career can have benefits like job security and flexibility, but there are many more. However, the greatest reward you can have as a travel nurse is knowing that you are truly making a positive impact in the world and in the lives of others.

We hope you found this article on 3 reasons you should consider becoming a travel nurse in 2022, are you a travel nurse and have advice for those considering becoming a travel nurse? Comment 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 Katie Fitts

April 8, 2022

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The Case for Travel Nursing: An Opinion

Travel nursing is one of THE MOST talked about professions in the last two years in light of the COVID pandemic. I had heard of travel nursing long ago and knew it was something I wanted to do even before I got into nursing school. I loved the idea of traveling the country and having more schedule flexibility and financial stability. When I started travel nursing back in 2014, travel nursing was fairly popular but still a bit under the radar. Boy, did that change in 2020!

Fast forward to 2022, travel nursing is a buzzword and essentially a household name. There are talks of capping travel nurse pay, continued volatility of pay rate changes and contract cancellations, some voracious travel nurse recruiting companies, and perhaps a bit of a stigma now attached to the travel nurse. 

So I’m here to talk about the case for travel nursing! For those unaware of what it is to be a travel nurse and perhaps those that may have a less than desirable opinion of travel nurses. 

Because at the end of the day, just as nursing is in general, this is a great and honorable profession. Travel nurses (along with permanent staff, of course) have been very instrumental in helping to get over this COVID pandemic. Without travel nurses, hospitals would have been even more overwhelmed and unable to provide the care needed in very dire circumstances. Travel nurses do the same work as staff nurses, but sometimes we get a bad rap because people think we are just in it for the money. But it’s more than that!

The COVID pandemic has changed everything and, most dramatically, the healthcare system. The COVID pandemic brought an acute and immediate need for nurses EVERYWHERE. As a result of the high demand and obvious occupational dangers, the pay rates skyrocketed. And nurses noticed.

Why stay at a staff job for meager pay not comparable to the cost of living? Why be worked to bone with unsafe patient ratios and overbearing administration? It’s a no-brainer why nurses have left staff jobs to take high-paying travel nurse contracts. They get paid good wages, have the flexibility they want, and stay out of the hospital’s oppressive and demoralizing politics. So we leave to travel to afford us a better opportunity. An opportunity to make good money and take the time for rest all of us healthcare workers so very dearly need. It’s an opportunity to take a vacation of a lifetime, finally, pay off that debt, be able to afford your only daughter’s wedding, and finally be able to buy a house. The list goes on! 

Isn’t that the American dream? I think any rational person given the choice between a staff job and a travel nurse would easily pick the latter, given the current circumstances. But not everyone can just pick up and do travel nursing! 

It takes a special person. A brave person. To go out into the unknown, where you may not know anybody or anything. To trust that you will make it across the country in your beat-up car because you couldn’t afford a new one on a staff nurse’s pay. To leave your comfort zone of the hospital, you know, akin to Cheers… where everybody knows your name. To leave your support system behind. Or to bring your support system with you and adjust to frequent moves and all that traveling life brings. To strive to meet new people and make new friends. To do things solo and be ok with it. To spend more time by yourself and fall in love with yourself. To do things you only dreamed of and things you thought for yourself were impossible!

If there is anything the COVID pandemic has taught us is that life is so very short. It is too short to be stuck in a job you hate, or that is draining your life away. Nurses aren’t the only ones changing things up, though. We are in what we call “The Great Resignation.” Thousands of people are leaving their current jobs to pursue better opportunities. Opportunities that we nurses are also pursuing: better pay, fair treatment, safe working conditions, and more schedule flexibility. It’s pretty simple, really. But the COVID pandemic has really brought this to light. 

People are tired, particularly healthcare workers. The healthcare system was broken long ago before the COVID pandemic. My father, a physician, tried to convince his children NOT to go into healthcare, and for good reason. But alas, 3 of us are now and now have an understanding of what he meant.

Nurses are tired of unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios, tired of meager pay, tired of always being expected to do more with less while the CEOs in business suits make decisions based on hospital profits. It’s a tough job. And what is even more concerning is that so many nurses are considering leaving nursing ALTOGETHER. And then where does that lead us?

So yes, we are making good money right now. And hopefully, this will continue but at sustainable rates. I don’t think anyone expects travel nurses to be always making $5000 a week. But keep in mind, we are having double expenses, keeping up residences at home, and now paying exorbitant housing rates. 

But wouldn’t you do the same if you had the same opportunity? It’s human nature to strive for success and want the best for you and your family. 

Maybe, for some of us, travel nursing is the only way to want to be able to stay in the nursing profession. Maybe, we can finally get a good work-life balance. Maybe, even though the job is still very hard and stressful and we fear for patient safety, we can at least be making good money. 

To those resentful of travel nurses, the enemy is not travel nurses. Travel nurses are there to help alleviate the short staffing and work alongside you for better patient care and working conditions. They also deserve your respect and consideration. Just because we are travel nurses does not mean we are somehow superhuman and can take on more patient loads and be treated poorly. Please treat travel nurses as your own. We all know too well the toxic behavior catchphrase of nurses “eating their young.” Seasoned nurses being demeaning and condescending to new nurses out of spite. The same behavior can be seen towards travel nurses at times. 

The problem is that healthcare is broken and has been for quite some time. Profits over patient safety, lining the hospital system CEOs’ pockets over staff pay raises, productivity over safe nurse-to-patient ratios. 

Legislature, the enemy, is not travel nurse pay. Fix the problem, and you will find your solution. Mandate safe nurse-to-patient ratios, give the nurses the needed breaks, give nurses the pay they deserve. Give back to the community that cares for the sick, downtrodden, and dying. The community bore the CRUSHING weight of the COVID pandemic. Otherwise, you won’t have any nurses left.

So let’s give more love and kindness to each other. Be kind to each other. Treat travel nurses as your own. We are in this together!

I rest my case.

Gypsy love,

Katie

P.S. If you are ready to start travel nursing, hit me up! 🤙 😃

We hope you enjoyed and found this article on making a case for travel nursing educational and helpful. Do you have anything to add? Comment 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.

Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gypsy Nurse and its staff.

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 Jennifer Traub

April 1, 2022

9376 Views

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Travel Nursing: The Good and Bad

I have been a travel nurse for five years, going on 6. It is pretty clear I love it and am addicted to the lifestyle. Like with any career there is the good and bad in travel nursing. Below are what I consider the good and bad of travel nursing.

The Good:

Some of the pros of travel nursing are experiencing a new city not just as a vacationer but as a local. You get to meet plenty of co-workers who obviously are from the location you are traveling to. This leads to new friendships and experiences, not just as someone who is visiting for five days.

You get to try the local food and hang out at the popular spots on your days off. Friendships are created, which gives you a base you can return to if you ever wish to visit again.

You acquire a whole new array of skills and work with patients of different demographics. You become very malleable and become able to be thrown into any situation and excel. Your resume becomes very impressive. Not to mention, your bank account bulks up with your new travel salary.

Along with anything good, however, comes the bad.

The cons of travel nursing are not having your hospital match your 401K, which is what plenty of companies offer. If you do not take your travel company’s health insurance, because you hop from company to company, chances are you have to find your own.

If you travel alone, you are thrown into an unfamiliar city and have to make all new friends. Depending on your personality, this may be difficult for some. You could be up to 3000 miles away from home, which could lead to homesickness.

As beneficial as being thrown into unfamiliar situations can be to the development of your skills, you have to accept that you will be thrown into the fire and be forced to learn as you go. When you do not know the staff as a traveler, some units may be reluctant to help you until they get to know you better. Often the hospitals you are assigned to work for are in crisis mode and are hurting for staff, so depending on the state you work in, you may be going out of ratio.

Travel nursing has been the greatest experience of my life. It has led me to be the nurse I am today. I have created countless friendships, seen the county, and feel as if there is not a single situation I can’t handle in the hospital.

We hope you found this article on the good and bad of travel nursing helpful. Is there any other good or bad things we missed? 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 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 Diane Wong

March 30, 2022

2958 Views

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Working as a Travel Nurse

See the Country and Earn a Living at Same Time

A travel nurse has the option to choose almost anywhere she desires to live – then has all employment, housing, and moving preparations made for her.

Many nurses and other healthcare professionals, with the freedom to travel, and the propensity to explore new sites and surroundings, enjoy travel positions. Moving without the daunting duties that accompany, is made simple and may even be an exciting experience.

Registered nurses are medical health professionals who have completed at least two years of training in the field of nursing at a school of nursing or community college. Graduates must then pass state licensing exams. Once a nurse has earned her state license, she can look for a job in the many varied fields of nursing. One of the most popular employment areas of nursing is known as travel nursing.

Travel Nurse Jobs

Traveling nurses work in many parts of the country. They help deal with the medical effects of short-term disasters such as hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, or earthquakes. Travel nurses also help hospitals and nursing homes fill staff shortages. A travel nurse may assist workers helping people dig after their homes have collapsed, fill in for a nurse on maternity leave, or help a busy urban hospital deal with an influx of patients for some time.

A travel nurse might spend a month in a hospital in a burn unit in Florida during December and then head to Texas for three months or California for six months.

Benefits & Bonuses

Travel nurses are paid by their staffing agency – not the facility or hospital. She may receive direct deposit payments and benefits provided by the agency. Bonuses are another perk that is dependent upon the agency – and may include referral bonuses and completion bonuses (paid upon completion of the employment term). Considering the many advantages such as paid travel expenses, furnished and fully paid apartment living, and free standard utilities – those employed by such agencies may fare better (financially) than those employed directly by the hospitals and facilities.

Disadvantages

Individuals with family ties and tight-knit friendships may find it difficult to travel. Relationships may be strained when communication is stretched. For those who seek permanence and stability – a transitory lifestyle may be intimidating and unsettling. In addition, those who have forged friendships with co-workers may find it disheartening to leave upon completion of the temporary employment assignment. A definite resilience to new situations and settings should be a prerequisite to travel nursing. Those inquiring about a position should be sure to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages and not make a hasty decision.

Travel Nurse Agencies

A travel nurse agency is a company that specializes in the employment of traveling nurses. Agencies vet candidates for employment, create contracts, set up assignments, and act as a middleman between the travel nurse and her assignments.

Most traveling nurse agencies require candidates to have completed their education and training. Nursing agencies also require most registered nurses to have at least two years of full-time employment in a hospital setting. A potential travel nurse may also be required to have specific training and certifications such as neonatal resuscitation to work in a NICU or experience with kidney patients to work on a dialysis unit.

Many travel nursing agencies have contracts in different states. A traveling nurse must have a valid state license for each state where she wants to work. A travel nursing agency owner will work with her to earn any additional state licenses so that she has as many working opportunities as possible.

Benefits of Travel Nursing

Working as a traveling nurse can have many benefits. Travel nurses often earn a higher hourly wage than their on-staff counterparts. A travel nurse can decide to work for six months and then take the next month off. Many travel nursing agencies provide travel nurses with additional benefits such as health insurance, a housing allowance, and a completion bonus if they full all the requirements of their contracts.

Travel nurses are expected to be quick learners. Some hospitals will provide the nurse with a few hours of onsite orientation. Many expect the nurse to be fully ready to work in a position within a short period of her arrival.

A job as a travel nurse can be fun and exciting. For a registered nurse with the right credentials, travel nursing can be the perfect way to see many parts of the country and advance their careers.

We hope you found this article on working as a travel nurse helpful. Do you have any advice or tips to share with those considering this career? Comment them below.

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

About the author:

Diane H. Wong is a content writer at essaywriter.nyc and a family coach. So she prefers to spend her spare time working out family issues solutions. In this case, she has an opportunity to share her experience with others and keep up with advancing technologies.    

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 Brandy Pinkerton

February 12, 2022

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TGN and Travel Nurse 101: Let’s Talk the Travel Nurse Industry

The Gypsy Nurse’s own Online Community Manager, Rachel, and Travel Nurse 101’s Brandy went live recently to discuss the travel nurse industry. Brandy also answered travel nurse questions during the live event. Watch the video above video to hear Brandy’s perspective on the travel nurse industry.

About Brandy:

I’m Brandy; I have over 18 years of varied nursing experience, including neonatal and pediatric ICU, critical care float pool, flight nursing, and travel nursing. Since pursuing a career as a travel nurse, I’ve had adventures in Florida, Colorado, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, and Montana. I’m an avid traveler, hiker, and outdoor enthusiast. Visit travelnurse101.com to learn more about Brandy!

About Travel Nurse 101:

Travel Nurse 101 is education, tips, and mentorship for new travel nurses that I hope is perceived as very genuine and heartfelt, not just your normal Q&A. It has a “personable” feel and is something I want to always try to maintain, so nurses feel like they have a safe place to get help and ask for advice from a real nurse who’s been where they have and personally knows what it feels like to go through these experiences. This mentorship program aims to give you the tools you need to be successful and let you know that you are not alone in your pursuits. Instead of letting you learn the hard way, I’ll tell you all there is to know about travel nursing so that you can feel prepared to leap into this exciting, rewarding profession with full confidence! I am here to cheer you on; let’s do this!! 

We hope you enjoyed this live event. Do you have any topics you would like to see covered during a live event? Comment them below. If you are interested in going live and giving advice or tips to fellow travel nurses, comment below, and someone from our team will be in contact.

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 Lirika Hart

February 3, 2022

2398 Views

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Baby Steps To Wellness: How To Get Motivated When You Struggle With Anxiety

It is okay to be anxious sometimes, and it is, in fact, a normal part of life. However, when you have this frequently with intense, excessive, and continuous worry, then it is no longer normal. Anxiety disorders at times could bring feelings of fear and terror that reach a peak within a few minutes, causing panic attacks. All these will definitely interfere with daily activities, and it is the reason why it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Symptoms of anxiety could start from childhood, and it is necessary to keep special watch over kids who have that problem. Here are some tips for wellness when you find yourself struggling with anxiety.

Engage in new activities

Sometimes, what an overly anxious person needs in his or her life is a start at something new and interesting to sway the mood and anxiety. You can try this today and see how things improve for you. There are so many activities to indulge in. These days a number of people in this bracket are taking Iboga retreats, and there are so many such retreats around the world. The Iboga retreat program is a psycho-spiritual healing thing and is best known in the West as an addiction-interrupting medicine. The origin lies in the Bwiti tradition in Gabon, where ibogaine is extracted from the Tabernanthe iboga shrub’s bark and used as part of an initiation ceremony. It is used to address physical and emotional problems and is known to be an effective treatment program for those struggling with anxiety.

Embrace a physical exercise routine

Regular physical exercise is known to solve a lot of health issues in the body, and anxiety isn’t left out on that list. The numerous benefits of exercising can help alleviate the symptoms associated with panic attacks that could result from terrible anxiety problems. Depending on how rigorous the exercise routine is, your sleep could be improved. Usually, anxiety distorts one’s sleeping habits, and being able to get enough sleep can help reduce the anxiety symptoms. If you keep up with a daily exercise routine, it will build your self-confidence, improve your mood, and help you relax. All these positives can help ward off feelings of anxiety or panic attacks.

Avoid negativity

You can’t allow yourself to be jumping from frying pans to fire when you have anxiety problems. As much as possible, you need to stay away from anything at all that could worsen your situation. If you know that reading some particular types of news over the internet gets you worse, then stop reading them. Don’t even read the captions. Sometimes, talking to some people who love to revisit sad events may leave you drained and deposit some negativity into your head. You need to avoid these people as much as possible, and even if you manage to bump into them, you can start up a conversation with them real quick that will make them forget their usual paths of discussion. Focus on being positive and feelings of gratitude. Edify yourself with uplifting content online and surround yourself with positive people.

Take regular walks with friends

I earlier mentioned that exercising helps reduce the symptoms of anxiety, and walking is a type of exercise. However, when you walk with friends, it wouldn’t be about just exercising anymore but with an extra advantage of chatting with your friends and having laughs while at it. This activity helps your body release endorphins which are feel-good hormones. These endorphins can deal with anxiety issues to a relieving level. The whole experience plays in your head from time to time instead of thoughts of anxiety and panic attacks. You should choose lively friends to do this experience with and make sure it is regular.

Have a backup support network

It is possible that on some days, all your efforts to feel better from anxiety don’t work. At that time, how do you deal with the situation? Well, first of all, you have to make sure that you are not alone. Being by yourself when you are greatly overwhelmed could harm your psyche. It is good to have a support network that will be on standby to help you out of your situation whenever you can’t help yourself. Choosing the right person or people is very important also. You have to make sure it is someone you are comfortable talking to, and that can provide satisfying encouragement.

Final word

Struggling with anxiety without getting help can be very dangerous. Some people who find themselves in this situation could cause themselves harm. As you have seen, there are some activities you can indulge in to help you get better. Even if you are still not motivated to start, you can talk to someone who can get you started on fun activities that will make you feel better. No matter how gradual, just keep punching and you will get better.

We hope you found these tips for getting motivated when you struggle with anxiety helpful. Do you struggle with anxiety? What are some ways you are able to get motivated? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you have an assignment lined up but need housing? 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

January 27, 2022

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5 Factors to Consider for Travel Assignments

Krucial Staffing provided this article.

Written by: Maria Blong

We all want the best for ourselves. The best home, best shoes, best kitchenware – the list goes on and on. There are articles published everywhere stating thoughts and opinions in dedication to helping us find it. These are editorials providing the top reasons why this certain running shoe will reduce the likely hood of shin splints or why this brand’s stainless-steel cookware is better quality than other cookware, even if the second option is more affordable.

All this to say – we are a very research-oriented society. If we are going to travel, buy an item, or eat at a new restaurant, we like putting in the research to make an informed decision. When it comes to job hunting, it is not any different. We find a job opening we want and then spend hours learning as much valuable information as we can before applying.

The decision to embark on a medical travel assignment asks the same for any interested party – perhaps it requires even more research and contemplation than a staff job. With medical travel assignments, there are multiple variables included in the equation, ultimately leading you to choose one position over another. These are the top five factors we recommend one to consider before locking in on a travel assignment: wage, location, duration, schedule, and benefits.

Wage

The hourly wage is often the top priority for many, and most of the time, it is the deciding factor for their final choice. And we understand why – you want to accept a wage that reflects all the time, effort, and money you have invested in your career. However, there are many reasons why income in the travel nursing field varies from position to position, and it is important to analyze the reasons why it fluctuates.

First, what kind of travel assignment is it? The type of work assignment will determine the wage you will receive per hour. Many staffing agencies pay their medical staff higher for emergency response than contract positions due to the intensity of the working environment and client needs. With an emergency response, you are likely to work more hours per week, while contracts depend entirely on the facility.

Another question to ask yourself is this: Are you there for the increased pay that comes with travel assignments or the experience of traveling to new locations and helping communities? For many, it comes down to a ratio, or balance, on pay versus experience. However, if you are committing to the opportunity to live in a certain city/state and enjoy your days off – you may be okay with accepting less per hour.

Location

When it comes to your work location for medical travel assignments, you need to be cognizant of what options are available for a travel assignment and an emergency response. For most emergency responses, there’s little control around when or where clients will need your specialty to come in and support an understaffed unit. If you do have the opportunity to choose your location, there are a couple of things you should think about.

How far away do you want to travel? If you are hired for a contract position, there is more wiggle room for you to venture out on your days off. Staying close to home might give your family and friends the opportunity to come visit. However, the contract location might inspire you to travel farther away to a city you have never been before, granting you the chance to explore a different part of the United States.

Emergency response, on the other hand, does not provide you with as much freedom due to the demanding nature of the deployment, plus the health and safety protocols restricting travel. So, working close to home may be a bad idea for a couple of reasons. Say you commit to an emergency response 30 minutes from where you live, but you are in lockdown at a lodging facility. Now, imagine staying that close to loved ones, yet unable to enjoy their company and your usual past times. This situation may stir up a lot of negative emotions for you. It may be in your best interest to travel a little further from home and avoid conjuring up any feelings of exile.

Duration

The length of an assignment can also be a question mark for some people. While some assignments last as short as a few weeks, others can last multiple months. The duration of time you are willing to stay for a medical travel assignment greatly depends on your personality and goals. Some individuals find it difficult to stay away from friends and family that long, while others do not mind being gone. You just need to ask yourself what you are willing or not willing to miss back home. What do you want to gain from a longer or shorter assignment? Do you want to form stronger connections with patients and staff, or do you want to come work, make money, and go back “home”?

Another key factor to bear in mind regarding the duration of an assignment is the mental toll it will take on you. Take inventory of the type of situations you tend to thrive in. Do you like the unknown or working in a busy environment? Do you enjoy a consistent schedule where you can predict your day? How would either affect you mentally? Supporting yourself financially is important but taking care of your mental health is also essential. If you are not taking care of yourself in this way, it will impact the way you care for patients. So, ask yourself these questions and answer honestly about what you can handle.

Schedule

Schedule preferences are straightforward in terms of forethought for assignments. It is a simple set of questions: How many hours do you want to work each week? Do you want to work a regular 36–48-hour schedule? Perhaps you want to work closer to 60 hours a week? In some cases, you might even work 72 hours a week. The final decision also coincides with what kind of pay and deployment type you want as well. All three factors influence each other.

The number of days off you would like also needs to be taken into consideration. Emergency deployments typically only provide one or two days off, while others may give you three to four days. This is also impacted by whether you work 12 hours, four days a week, or eight hours, five days a week.

Benefits

The option for added benefits or insurance is also something to consider while researching medical deployments. Staffing agencies offer different benefits based on the type of assignment you are working on. Emergency deployment benefits can vary depending on the staffing agency you choose to work with.

For most contract assignments, clients typically decide which benefits they want to include. Fortunately, many of them provide housing for the medical staff coming in to assist their hospital or facility. The client may also cover the cost of staying in the area or supply a stipend for groceries.


Overall, travel assignments should be selected with careful attention to detail. Many horror stories regarding bad contracts or assignments stemmed from a lack of understanding of what the requirements or compensation were for the position. By slowing down the rush to get an assignment and diligently addressing all five of the listed factors, you can assure yourself a better, more thoughtful selection for your next travel position.

Interested in looking more about emergency response and/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, then check out their Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter page for more information.

We hope you found this article on 5 factors to consider for travel assignments helpful. Are there any other factors you consider before taking travel assignments? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel assignment? Click here to view 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 AB Staffing Solutions

January 13, 2022

3298 Views

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New Year, New Travel Nurse Agency: When is it Time to Change Travel Nursing Agencies?

AB Staffing Solutions provided this article.

New Year, new travel nurse agency?

It’s a new year—time to keep what is working in your life and an opportunity to change what isn’t working. If your travel nursing agency isn’t working the way you had hoped, it’s a great time to consider other options. Talking to your recruiter, exploring other agencies, and thinking about what is good or bad about your current agency will help you make the best decision.

When is it time to change travel nursing agencies?

Before jumping agencies, make a list of what you like and dislike about your current agency.

  • What was the onboarding process like?
  • What type of assistance do they offer for housing?
  • What do you need for yourself and your family and/or pets?
  • Is the agency meeting your needs in terms of career goals?
  • Are there options for different placements?

As you answer these questions, it will become clear whether it is time to change travel nursing agencies. Here are some ideas to help you decide when it’s time to change or even just add a new travel nurse agency to your mix of options.

Problems with your recruiter.

How responsive is your recruiter? Are you being ghosted, or are they available to help you? If they’re stringing you along or, worse, not responding to you, it is time to ask for another recruiter. Most recruiters pride themselves on not only attracting new travelers but on retaining their existing travelers too. This means being available whenever you need them. Whether it’s a question about housing, a new contract, or listening to your concerns, our recruiters find answers and solutions for you.

Communication issues.

Is the agency disorganized or unclear when they communicate with you? This could be a sign of a larger organizational problem. You deserve a certain level of service, and if you’re not getting it, it might be time to look elsewhere. Some agencies have all departments under one roof, so you can easily work with your recruiter, credentialer, and even the payroll department to get questions answered quickly. Agencies that offer this tend to have an advantage when it comes to communication with their travelers.

Job Opportunities.

Many travelers have specific career goals in mind. Some want to expand their area of expertise, while others want to gain experience in a new area. Still, there are others who want to work in different geographic locations as they slow their career. If the agency doesn’t have the job opportunities that align with your goals, talk to them. If you’re still not satisfied, it might be time to explore other options.

Referral or Recommendation.

Changing travel nursing agencies may be as simple as being referred to another agency, like AB Staffing, by a relative or colleague. Make sure to do research to ensure that the recommended agency has what you desire, including job opportunities. There might not be anything particularly negative about your current agency. However, you might have a friend or family member who works for another agency that they highly recommend.

It’s okay to work with more than one agency.

Many of our travelers are in communication with two or three agencies at a time. This gives them, and you, more options in location, positions, and even pay. Recruiters are aware of this and don’t ever take it personally. They understand that if you can find your desired location, shift, or pay elsewhere, then you should take the contract that’s best for you.

General unhappiness with your current agency.

As when you work at a medical facility, working with an agency requires you to be professional and levelheaded, even when frustrated. Express your concerns, and let them try to change, but if that doesn’t happen, it’s time to find a new travel nurse agency.

Changing travel nursing agencies shouldn’t be a decision to make likely. Take time to communicate with your current agency. Think about your career goals and family needs. Talk to other travelers and see what their experiences have been with different agencies to make the decision that is best for you.

We hope you found this article helpful. Are you a travel nurse who has changed travel nursing agencies? Do you have any advice for your fellow travel nurses for changing travel nurse agencies? Comment any advice below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Need housing for an upcoming travel nurse 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 Lirika Hart

January 11, 2022

5091 Views

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Banish a Bad Day: Fun and Lively Activities to Do When Feeling Down

If you feel upset or down or are just plain annoyed with life in general, you will need a pick-me-up to make your day. There are plenty of fun activities you can indulge in so as to enjoy your mood and banish your bad day. We will check out a few of them right here:

Banish a bad day:

Read a good book

When it’s cold and the days are short and depressing, few things can beat the blues, as well as reading a good book. You can always settle down in your most comfortable armchair and nourish your mind with the latest potboiler or a great action-packed western adventure. You can also spend your hours reading timeless classics with a cup of coffee close by. Before you know it, you would have gotten rid of the weekend blues.

Go to the movies

You don’t have to be a diehard movie buff to go to the movies every once in a while. Check the local listings, grab plenty of popcorn, and enter the movie world, where you will be able to forget all your worries for the next few hours at least. You can also go for a movie marathon. If you don’t want to leave your house, just get a streaming service subscription. Disney +, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. There are so many of those available. You can always select your favorite shows and enjoy yourself till you beat your mood.

Hang out with friends

If you have a hobby such as collecting stamps or even combat weapons, reach out to those who share a similar hobby. In time, you will grow to love what you do, and hours of discussing your favorite topics will snap you out of your downtime easily enough. You can go to stamp collection shows, or if you enjoy combat shooting, you can hang out with your friends at the range. It doesn’t matter what your hobby is, as long as you have friends who enjoy the same, you won’t feel down. This is why if you don’t have a hobby, just make sure you get one.

Go Camping.

This is an ideal way of being at one with mother nature. With the passage of time, you will love the moments when you caught your first fish or pitched your very first tent. Besides that, communing with nature has a unique and rustic charm of its very own. You won’t feel bad at all. Just calm and relaxed.

Get into sports

Nothing gets the blood and adrenaline flowing as much as competitive sports. You can join a track team or a swimming camp or even run a marathon. All that extra exercise will release certain hormones that will boost your mood and make sure that you are too busy to mope.

Martial arts

 If you are the thrill-seeking type, go for contact sports. Boxing, Karate, MMA, and other martial arts. They will eliminate your depression easily enough because of the sheer exertion required to win a tournament.

Ride a Bike

A bike ride might just be the panacea to all your problems if you are feeling down. There are few activities as much fun as a bike ride when you are down in the dumps. You can have a race with your friends, or just paddle all over the place, taking in the sun and the fresh air, or you can even go for a high cardio exercise ride at full speed. You’ll be able to tone your body and your muscles and look better and smarter.

You can get your friends to join you as well. If you are not sure, you can also start riding an electric bike instead of a normal one. Electric bikes are far more enjoyable and make for an easier biking experience. Now you can also turn your normal bike into an electric one with the help of a bicycle motor kit for a great biking experience

Conclusion

If you are feeling down and out, just read a good book, watch movies, hang out with friends, or go for a very comfortable bike ride courtesy of your electric bike.

We hope you enjoyed this article on ways to banish a bad day helpful. Have you found ways as a travel nurse to banish your bad days? Comment them below if you would like to share.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for your next travel nurse 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!)