August 17, 2024

6039 Views

6 Safety Tips for a Traveling Nurse

Posted on August 17, 2024August 17, 2024 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

Your assignment is booked, your bags are packed, and you’re ready to embark on this grand adventure of being a travel nurse. It’s time to explore new places, try new things, and meet new people!

Many travel nurses choose to drive between their assignment destinations. It’s a great way to see more sights and discover hidden gems. Before you hit the road, take a few precautions to keep yourself safe on your travels.

Safety Tips to Remember as You’re Traveling to Your Assignment

1. Make well-lit pit stops.

Whether you’re stopping to fill your tank, take a bathroom break, or grab a quick bite to eat, you want to ensure your pit stops are in well-lit, busy places. This is especially important if you’re traveling solo. Looking ahead and planning where you’ll stop can help you ensure you’re stopping at safe places with plenty of people around.

2. Set realistic daily drive times.

Getting to your next destination as soon as possible can be tempting, but don’t plan to be on the road longer than is safe for driving. Make sure you plan realistic drive times between each place you will stop for the night. A bonus to taking a few extra days on the road means you can explore new places and not feel rushed to get to your next place. If you ever feel tired while driving, stop and rest – but do so in a safe place.

3. Look ahead at weather, construction, and road closures.

It’s essential you are prepared for anything on the road. Being caught in a bad winter storm or extended traffic in hot weather can get you in trouble quickly. Make sure you bring extra water, snacks, and weather-specific items you may need in case you are stranded or stuck in traffic. In cold weather, you will need a heat source, like a candle with matches, a sleeping bag or warm blanket, winter hats, mittens, and other things to keep you warm. In the summer, you’ll want sunscreen, a sun hat, a way to create shade, and extra water to keep yourself cool.

Also, look ahead for any construction or road closures that may impact your route or drive time. Apps like Weather on the Way allow you to enter your route and will give you real-time updates on weather conditions and road closures that could affect your trip.

4. Keep a loved one updated on your location.

Having an emergency contact is essential, but take it one more step and share your itinerary with them. Let them know your route, when you are leaving, and when you expect to arrive, and alert them whenever you stop or if you run into car troubles along the way. Utilize your phone to share your location for an easy way to share your exact location. Apps like Waze are a great way to do this and let your contact know precisely where you are and where you are going. You’ll also want to check in once you’ve arrived at your new assignment destination so they can rest easy that you are safe and sound.

5. Limit the information you share with strangers.

Meeting new people on your travels is part of the fun, but be cautious about what you share on your road trip. You can still be cordial while not giving away your life story, your location, or that you’re traveling alone.

6. Update your agency on your assignment address.

As your support system on the road, your agency will want to know that you’re okay in the event of an emergency. You might be going to a region with natural disasters – like earthquakes, hurricanes, or wildfires – that you’re not used to experiencing. Your agency’s first priority is making sure you’re safe, and they’re likely watching the emergencies that could threaten your area. Ensuring your agency has your updated address makes it that much easier for them to update and prepare you.

Learn More Safety Tips for Travel Nurses

If you want to learn more safety tips to keep you safe throughout your travel journey, join TNAA’s upcoming masterclass, Stay Safe on Your Travel Adventures. We’ve partnered with Brandy Pinkerton of Travel Nurse 101 to give you an in-depth look at how to stay safe on and off the job as a travel nurse. Brandy has been traveling for over 20 years. From encountering grizzlies on solo hikes to cross-country road trips, she’s ready to share her secrets for staying prepared and thriving on the go!

We hope you found this article on 6 safety tips for traveling nurses helpful. Are there any safety tips we missed? Comment some of your top safety tips for travel nurses below.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By The Gypsy Nurse

July 17, 2018

15885 Views

Top 10 Travel Safety Tips

Posted on July 17, 2018May 20, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

Safety is of great concern to travel nurses. Here are my Top 10 Travel Safety Tips.

Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. Most generally, if you exercise common sense and use your ‘gut’ feelings you will be fine. The biggest thing that I will stress is that if you feel unsafe, leave the unsafe location immediately. Always be aware of your travel safety.

Here are some tips that I try to follow to stay safe:

1. Check the new neighborhood:

http://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/ or http://www.crimemapping.com

2. Plan your stops in town vs rest areas.
Avoid places without vehicles or people around. I prefer truck stops as they are usually well-lit and active. I park close to the door and if after dark, in a well-lit area.

3. At your assignment location, drive around and orient yourself during the day.
Scout out grocery stores, the hospital and other things you need to visit while it is daylight, so you don’t have to be wandering around in the dark looking for them.

4. Have some sort of Emergency Assistance
AAA is a great resource. If the car breaks down or gets a flat, stay in the car until the tow truck (well-marked with AAA) arrives. AAA will generally ask if you feel safe, if you do not feel safe tell them and they will usually send a police officer to you.

5. Give A Friend or Family Member your Itinerary and check in.
I give a basic itinerary (route) as well as calling to check in when leaving and arriving.

6. Select your Hotel with Safety in mind.
I suggest using a hotel with rooms on the inside, i.e. no door straight out to the parking lot

7. Choose the 2nd Floor
Always ask for a hotel room on an upper floor (2nd or higher), as ground floor rooms are the most vandalized. This is a good tip for any temporary housing as well.

8. Never travel without at least two sources of money available.
In addition to whatever cash you have on hand. Periodically you might find that your bank thinks your debit or credit card is being used suspiciously (has happened to me) and freeze it on you without warning. Don’t store these all in one place.

9. Secure any belongings that stay in your vehicle overnight.
Don’t leave anything obviously open to be viewed from the windows.

10. Always park in a well-lit area.
If I am able to park in a location that can be viewed from the front desk all the better.

Do you have additional tips to add to this Top 10 Travel Safety Tips? Please post them in the comments.

By The Gypsy Nurse

February 3, 2018

6400 Views

10 Safety Tips at ATMs

Posted on February 3, 2018May 11, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

Take precautions and reduce risk

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) have provided convenience to bankers for decades. Now you can easily conduct almost every banking transaction 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a walk or drive up the computerized machine. Just as popularity has grown among bank customers, it has also risen among criminals. There are people with bad intentions looking to prey on ATM users. Here are 10 tips to help keep you safer:

1. Use in well-lit and busy areas

Only use ATMs situated in well-lit and busy areas. If possible, use an ATM located indoors at an establishment that is actively open for business.

2. Be aware

Be aware of your surroundings, look around when you walk up to the ATM or exit the ATM. Make sure you close the entry door completely when you use an enclosed ATM, do not open locked doors for others while you are making your transaction. Authorized customers should have their own access. Be aware of anyone sitting in a parked car nearby.

3. Keep doors locked at drive-up ATMS

At drive-up ATMs, be sure passenger windows are closed and doors are locked. Keep the engine running and leave enough room to between your car and the one ahead of you in the event that you have to depart. When leaving, check that you are not being followed, if you suspect you are please drive immediately to a police or fire station, or to a crowded, well-lighted location or business.

4. Never accept help from strangers

Be careful of people trying to help you with ATM transactions and never accept help from strangers. Regardless how friendly someone may appear you should never reveal your PIN. And don’t let people to look over your shoulder as you enter your PIN. Shield your PIN as much as possible.

5. Check for false fronts

Check the machine for false fronts over the card slot and for anything that looks unusual. Criminals try to copy, or skim, your details and sometimes use a small camera inside the hole in the wall or above the keypad to capture you entering your PIN. *

6. Memorize your PIN

Memorize your PIN and never write it on your card.

7. Avoid wearing expensive accessories

Avoid wearing expensive jewelry, watches, sunglasses, or clothing like furs when you go to the ATM. This makes you a more attractive target for an assailant.

8. Don’t count your cash in public

Do not count cash at the machine or in public. Wait until you are in your car or another secure place.

9. Do not linger

Expedite your transaction and do not linger. Avoid using the ATM for multiple transactions that will lengthen your stay, especially at night. Prepare all transactions and endorse checks prior to your arrival at the ATM.

10. Watch your bank statements

Watch your bank statements carefully, including balances and withdrawals, and immediately report any problems to your bank.

Lastly, the general consensus from law enforcement encourages that if you are involved in a confrontation with an assailant, comply, do not resist or risk your life over money.

*A look at fraud

And a recent FICO study reports that the number of compromised ATMs in the U.S. increased dramatically at 546% from 2014 to 2015. This was due in large part to nonbank-owned ATMs, which accounted for 60% of ATM fraud in 2015, compared to 39% in 2014. The New York Times report, “Most ATM fraud occurs through “skimming,” a process in which criminals install an illegal card-reading device inside of ATMs to steal card numbers and record keypad entries to get PIN numbers, and then duplicate cards for sale and use.”

By The Gypsy Nurse

February 1, 2018

29880 Views

The Travel Nurse’s Do’s and Don’ts Checklist

Posted on February 1, 2018May 20, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

Travel nurses are met with unique challenges as well as many benefits that a traditional nurse might not encounter. Here a few do’s and don’ts designed to help your journey as a travel nurse.

Do get active–

join a Zumba class, yoga, cycling or enter a road race. Staying active is important for a healthy lifestyle and a great way to meet people in the area.

Do visit a park–

take advantage of your new location by taking in the sights. Find a few parks, nature centers, or animal parks and enjoy the local attractions.

Do learn something new–

hospitals and healthcare facilities have different ways of doing things. Learn how the units are run, ask questions, and try to gain new knowledge around a procedure or process that can benefit your career.

Do make new friends–

with all the technology today it’s tempting to stay close to your inner circle through facetime, email, and texting. However, nothing compares to personal interaction, a hug when you need it, or a friendly face across a cup of coffee. Be sure to connect with people in your area so you have a few friends to count on in person.

Do eat healthy–

your energy level and ability to perform is directly related to your nutritional intake. While it may seem obvious to a medical professional, everyone falls into the trap of rushing, grabbing junk food, or skipping meals altogether from time to time. This is especially true when you are in a new area, unfamiliar with restaurants, or alone and feel food prep is just too time-consuming for one person. Stay strong by planning ahead, eating right, and taking care of you as the number one priority.

Do rest–

nursing is a demanding job, any day and every day. There are physical and emotional aspects, stress, and enormous responsibility at every turn. Adequate rest is key to good decision-making, stamina, and mood.

Don’t be afraid to ask–

a new area, a new job, and a new home can add up to a lot of uncertainly and unknowns. Ask questions of those you respect and trust, research reliable sources online, and never be embarrassed to inquire about something.

Don’t fail to review your contract–

read carefully to understand the assignment, location, hours, benefits, pay, and housing parameters.

Don’t get into a rut–

avoid eating and shopping at the same place every time. You can still have favorites, but be open to new experiences. Try new restaurants and stores every week.

Don’t argue the rules–

there will always be minor differences in procedures and processes between hospitals. As long as there are no safety concerns, don’t assume a different style is wrong. Adhere to the policies in place.

Don’t forget to stay streetwise–

vary your routine, avoid leaving valuables visible in your car, walk and park in well-lit areas, and stay alert of your surroundings.

We hope these Do’s and Don’ts help you on your travel nurse journey!

By The Gypsy Nurse

January 6, 2018

8422 Views

Online Safety Tips

Posted on January 6, 2018January 26, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

The Internet is a powerful tool for many day-to-day tasks. From checking email, staying in touch with friends to shopping and managing your finances. Most of us use the Internet for at least some of these tasks.

When using the Internet, it’s important to remember that there are certain safety tools to consider and utilize. No different than riding a bike and wearing a helmet or buckling your seatbelt when riding in a car, it’s important to maintain your safety.

SPAM & PHISHING

Cybercriminals have become quite savvy in their attempts to obtain your personal information and access to your accounts. Most of the time, these email messages will come with an ‘URGENT’ action that needs to be taken by you. Be very cautious of these emails.

Avoid being a victim by taking the following steps if you receive suspicious email messages:

• Never click on a suspicious link!
• Contact the company directly.
• Contact the company using the information provided on an account statement or back of a credit card.
• Search for the company online – but not with the information provided in the email.

SHOPPING

Many of us use online shopping for gift-giving, home needs, uniforms, etc. When shopping make sure to check that the site is security enabled. Look for web addresses with https:// which indicates extra measures have been taken to secure your information.

Read reviews if using a vendor that you are not familiar with. I like to utilize http://www.consumerreports.org to conduct research on products that I’m preparing to purchase.

For companies both online and ‘brick and morter’ check them out here. Remember to only give information that is relevant to the purchase.

BANKING AND BILLS

• Use a secure connection when accessing banking or billing accounts.
• Always log-out when you are finished.
• Avoid clicking on email links asking for personal or login information. Go directly to the source. (See phishing above).
• Secure your computer. At a minimum make sure that your security/antivirus software is up to date and you have a firewall turned on.

MANAGING PASSWORDS

Passwords can be quite bothersome. Most of us have to learn and possibly change work passwords on a frequent basis and trying to remember all of them can be daunting.

• Use two-step verification whenever possible. This provides a second layer of security to the accounts.

• Separate accounts = Separate passwords. At a minimum, keep you personal vs work passwords distinctly different. Having multiple passwords helps keep cyber-criminals from accessing all of your accounts if they are able to hack one password.

• If you have to keep a record of your passwords, make sure that you put them in a secure place away from your computer or digital device.

• Make your password a sentence! For something easy to remember try using an inspirational short sentence or a unique goal “Smelltheflowers.” “Livingthedream!” “#2milesAday” “Itsonly13Weeks!” are great examples of this. I love this process for passwords that are memorable yet secure. The upside is that you are constantly reminded of something that is important to you every time you login!

ID THEFT

Knowing what to do in the case of ID theft or cyber crimes is imperative!

• Local law enforcement. Your local law enforcement agency (either police department or sheriff’s office) has an obligation to assist you, take a formal report, and make referrals to other agencies, when appropriate. Report your situation as soon as you find out about it. Some local agencies have detectives or departments that focus specifically on cybercrime.

• IC3. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) will thoroughly review and evaluate your complaint and refer it to the appropriate federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over the matter. Complaints may be filed online at ic3.gov/default.aspx.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC does not resolve individual consumer complaints but does operate the Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database that is used by civil and criminal law enforcement authorities worldwide to detect patterns of wrong-doing, leading to investigations and prosecutions. File your complaint here. Victims of identity crime may receive additional help through the FTC hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4388); the FTC website at identitytheft.gov provides resources for victims, businesses, and law enforcement.

• Your Local Victim Service Provider. Most communities in the United States have victim advocates ready to help following a crime. They can provide information, emotional support, and advocacy as needed. Find local victims’ service providers here.

Do you have tips for keeping yourself safe online? Please share them in the comments below!

By The Gypsy Nurse

September 3, 2017

7630 Views

5 Tips for Online Safety for the Travel Nurse: Social Networks

Posted on September 3, 2017May 12, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

Managing your Online Safety requires just a bit of awareness.

Many of us travel alone and online social networks (like our Gypsy Nurse Network) have become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. Although these social networks are a great way to find support and stay connected with both family and friends across the nation, you should be wary about what and how much personal information that you post. Online safety is of utmost importance. Here are 5 tips to help you!

Privacy, and Security Settings

Check your privacy and security settings on your social networks. Make sure that you know who is seeing what you post.

Facebook Privacy Settings:

Click at the top right of any Facebook page and select Settings. In the left-hand column, click Timeline and Tagging. Look for the setting Who can see posts you’ve been tagged in on your Timeline? and click Edit to the far right. Choose an audience from the dropdown menu.

Twitter Privacy Settings

Scroll down to the privacy section, then check the “Protect my Tweets” box to make your account private. Scroll down to the bottom of the settings page, and click on “Save changes”. Going forward, all of the tweets you publish will be protected, and will only be seen by your current Twitter followers.

Personal Information

Be cautious of what personal information you share. Hackers, stalkers, and the like can use the personal information that you post to gain access to your accounts, steal your identity, or find out where you are

Your Online Reputation

Don’t post anything that you wouldn’t say to someone in person. Once you post something, the possibility of it coming back is real. It’s easy for someone to take a screen-shot of your posts and re-post (sometimes out of the context of the original conversation).

Think twice before you post a photo that you wouldn’t want your parents or employer to see. According to 2014 study by CareerBuilder,

“…51 percent of employers who research job candidates on social media said they’ve found content that caused them to not hire the candidate.”

Know and Manage your Friends

Social networks can be used for a variety of purposes. Much of the fun of social networks for the traveler is meeting with other travelers and maintaining friendships that you’ve made along the way. This doesn’t mean that all friends should be created equal. There are social settings that you can use to determine who sees what. Use them! I would also recommend that you avoid simply adding someone as a friend just because another friend is connected to them. Do your own due diligence and check out any potential ‘friends’ before adding them.

Know what and how to Report

If someone is harassing, bullying, or just annoying you there are multiple ways to deal with it. If it’s harassing or bullying behavior, remove them as a friend, block them and report. If someone is just being annoying you can block and remove them on most social media outlets.

FACEBOOK:

To report someone on Facebook for bullying, spam or harassing behaviors: https://www.facebook.com/help/181495968648557

Facebook Groups

For Facebook Groups, I always recommend reporting to the Administrators of the group before reporting directly to Facebook. Give the admin an opportunity to quell the issues. See how to report to Admin Here.

TWITTER:

To Report someone on Twitter https://support.twitter.com/forms/abusiveuser

By The Gypsy Nurse

July 4, 2017

13861 Views

What is ICE? Travel Nurses get informed!

Posted on July 4, 2017March 21, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

What is ICE?

ICE is a concept that was originally conceived by British paramedic Bob Brotchie in may 2005. ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. ICE is a cell phone contact listing that is searched for via paramedics and more frequently by police or emergency room personnel when caring for a non-responsive patient.

As a travel nurse, we are most often away from home while traveling long distances (generally alone). If something were to happen and we became unresponsive, it would be nice to know that emergency personnel would have a contact person to inform. Many times, my company wouldn’t even know who to contact in case of an emergency and who would even know to contact my company?

It’s recommended that you add an ICE contact to your cell phone contact and add the name and relationship of the person to the ‘company’ section. In addition, it’s recommended that you also place any pertinent medical information in this contact as well. This would include: Allergies, Medical Conditions or any other information that would be pertinent in an emergency situation.

From my point of view, the concept is wonderful. I added an ICE1 and an ICE2 contact to my phone several years ago when I first heard of the concept. I figured if it works…great. If not…it was only a few minutes of my time to add the information.

Who is trained to look for an ICE contact in your cell phone?
– Emergency responders in St Paul MN
– Police Department Fergus Falls, MN
– Ready.gov Recommends that you:

Program “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) contacts into your cell phone so emergency personnel can contact those people for you if you are unable to use your phone. Let your ICE contacts know that they are programmed into your phone and inform them of any medical issues or other special needs you may have.

– The LAFD encourages the following:

We tell people: Add ICE contact information in your cell phone only after you’ve affixed similar information to (or near) the official photo identification you routinely carry in your wallet.

Please encourage your interested friends and colleagues to make a free ICE entry in their cell phone, especially if it will give them peace of mind – but never at the expense of written emergency contact and medical information.

These are just a few of the organizations that I found that have ICE training for their emergency medical responders or that recommend that you include an ICE contact. It’s something that we all hope never to need but I recommend that you add your ICE contact today and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

I’m unsure how frequently the ICE contact information is attempted to be accessed. I would love to hear feedback from those that work as paramedics, police or ER. Do you have an ICE contact in your phone? Have you ever accessed an ICE contact as a first responder?

An important reminder: This information would not be accessible if you have a lock on your phone. iPhone4s (and probably 5) have an easy work-around for this. If you have an iPhone check out the following information on how this information can be accessed.

1. Go into your contacts and create a new contact. The FIRST Name must only be the word “ICE”
2. DO NOT ENTER any words in the Surname field or the iPhone will automatically put it alphabetical order according to that word and not under “I” for ICE
3. Put the name and relationship of contact into the COMPANY FIELD. For example “Jon Doe (Partner)”. By putting your contact’s name and relationship in the Company Field, you eliminate the alphabetical order problem of surnames and keep ICE where it belongs
4. As we state in our instructions, enter all of the information and contacts you have for that person in the body of the contact so emergency personnel will be able to track down your contact person ASAP. Remember that you may be unconscious and unable to communicate that information for yourself. In fact if you do tend to pass code lock your phone, you should also put any vital medical information like allergies or chronic illnesses into that contact as well, just in case the ICE contact is the only one that medical personnel can access.
5. To access this information even when the iPhone is pass code locked, press and hold down the main key to access Siri. Then ask Siri ‘Contacts ICE’. Siri will then display all the information you have saved as ICE…
6. If you are in the medical or emergency field yourself, don’t forget this trick the next time you encounter an unconscious patient who has a locked iPhone4. Press and hold down the main key to access Siri and ask her “Contacts ICE” You might just save a life!

These instructions were obtained from: Get Your Stuff Together

Safety Tips to Remember as You’re Traveling to Your Assignment

1. Make well-lit pit stops.

2. Set realistic daily drive times.

3. Look ahead at weather, construction, and road closures.

4. Keep a loved one updated on your location.

5. Limit the information you share with strangers.

6. Update your agency on your assignment address.

Learn More Safety Tips for Travel Nurses

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

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Take precautions and reduce risk

1. Use in well-lit and busy areas

2. Be aware

3. Keep doors locked at drive-up ATMS

4. Never accept help from strangers

5. Check for false fronts

6. Memorize your PIN

7. Avoid wearing expensive accessories

8. Don’t count your cash in public

9. Do not linger

10. Watch your bank statements

*A look at fraud

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Do get active–

Do visit a park–

Do learn something new–

Do make new friends–

Do eat healthy–

Do rest–

Don’t be afraid to ask–

Don’t fail to review your contract–

Don’t get into a rut–

Don’t argue the rules–

Don’t forget to stay streetwise–

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SPAM & PHISHING

Avoid being a victim by taking the following steps if you receive suspicious email messages:

SHOPPING

BANKING AND BILLS

MANAGING PASSWORDS

ID THEFT

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Managing your Online Safety requires just a bit of awareness.

Privacy, and Security Settings

Facebook Privacy Settings:

Twitter Privacy Settings

Personal Information

Your Online Reputation