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 Kevin Devoto

March 13, 2022

2988 Views

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Tips for a Traveling Nurse with Diabetes

Traveling nurses serve many healthcare needs. They travel to provide services at homes, businesses, schools, and other remote locations where people cannot travel for their medical care. When hospitals are short-staffed, traveling nurses can provide temporary services to meet the needs. Travel nurses are responsible for caring for other people and ensuring they, themselves, are in the best of health. Diabetic nurses face daily challenges, and here are three guidelines for nurses to follow to be proactive and successful in managing their diabetes and performing their jobs.

Traveling Nurses Need to Understand and Teach Diabetic Care

Diabetes affects many people of all ages. Type 1 diabetes affects a smaller percentage of overall diabetics but is unavoidable, more dangerous, and usually starts with younger children. Type 2 diabetes is a common form that develops later in life, is generally avoidable, and is based upon diet and lifestyle choices. As a person becomes obese or follows a poor diet, their blood sugars will start to fluctuate, leading to a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

When diabetes is diagnosed, it impacts many parts of the body, including the heart, eyesight, kidney function, and the overall nervous system. A continuous glucose monitor helps a person with diabetes to track their blood sugar highs and lows. A travel nurse tends to patients with diabetes and works to educate people on how they can prevent contracting Type 2 diabetes. A diabetic nurse or a patient must know what their blood sugar levels are to control and manage the health impacts of the disease.

Traveling Nurses Need to Perform Many Tasks

Nurses generally have acquired a Bachelor’s degree in nursing as part of their training, along with licensing or certifications. In addition to testing diabetic patients for glucose levels, traveling nurses perform many general patient tasks. These include bandaging wounds, performing blood pressure testing, managing medicine, coordinating reports, and handling patient communications. The nursing position demands organization, timeliness, strong written skills, empathy, politeness, and a person who enjoys working with people.

A travel nurse with diabetes can teach others how to care for their diabetes through diet and exercise based upon the nurse’s experience. The nurses understand what is needed to control the disease and make time to handle the demanding work responsibilities and balance life. The nurse’s diabetic expertise and personal experience can help them be more relatable to their patients. The sooner a person with diabetes takes the disease seriously, the better their overall health.

Traveling Nurses Need to Find a Daily Routine

Nursing is tough on the body and mind. When a nurse travels, there are extra demands with the impact of moving from one place to another and hauling the necessary equipment. Since travel nurses can work anywhere, it is hard for them to keep a regular daily routine. 

One area of diabetes that impacts nurses directly is foot care. Diabetes attacks the nerve endings, and the feet are most vulnerable. When a travel nurse is on their feet most of the day, it puts a strain on nerves in the foot that are already under pressure from diabetes. Nurses need to take planned breaks to alleviate the stress on their feet to prevent blood clots.

Diabetic nurses need to have healthy snacks and meals to keep blood sugars under control. The job demands will be draining for anyone, so this dietary approach is critical for nurses with diabetes. The lack of a daily routine can lead to poor eating habits since the nurses are always on the go. Many meals can be eaten in a car when driving between locations.

Traveling nurses will continue to perform a critical role as healthcare issues grow worldwide. Every day for a diabetic nurse or patient will bring new challenges, and traveling nurses need to continue to adapt to keep their daily routine intact. Educating people and themselves will be essential to help control the diabetes outbreak.

We hope you found this article with tips for travel nurses with diabetes helpful. Do you have any tips to share? 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 Triage Healthcare Staffing

March 11, 2022

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Breaking Up with Your Travel Nurse Recruiter

Triage Staffing provided this article.

We get it. Few relationships are as unique as a healthcare traveler and their recruiter. A good recruiter is there for you when you need a sounding board, understands what you want in a job, and actively searches to find you the one that best fits your needs.

But not every recruiter/traveler relationship will be a match, and not every recruiter will be your person. What happens if your previously great relationship turns sour, or you’re just not vibing with your recruiter? It might be time to have a tough conversation. While we can’t promise there won’t be tears involved, shaking up the dynamic with your recruiter doesn’t have to be painful. Here are a couple of ways for breaking up with your travel nurse recruiter.

Option 1: Ghost Them So Hard You’ll Leave Them Saying Boo

Sure, you can always ghost your recruiter. But like ghosting a boyfriend or girlfriend, they’ll be stuck wondering what happened. While that’s irritating for a recruiter, the real issue is that you’ll continue to get phone calls, texts, and emails from your recruiter wondering why you disappeared.

Instead, if you no longer click with your recruiter, send a quick text or email letting them know you’re moving on. They may reach out and ask questions, but at least they can remove you from their call list, saving your phone from a barrage of calls, emails, and texts.

Option 2: Have a Conversation About Your Needs

While this isn’t as easy as ghosting someone, it definitely is a more professional choice for breaking up with your travel nurse recruiter.

A good travel nurse recruiter wants to help you reach your goals. If your plans change or your agency’s jobs no longer meet your needs, talk to your recruiter. You never know if there’s something going on behind the scenes that might change your perspective.

Maybe your agency is working on a new contract with higher bill rates, and it hasn’t been announced yet. Or perhaps there’s a longevity bonus coming your way that you forgot about (yeah, some agencies do offer a bonus after you’ve worked a certain number of hours). If you don’t have a conversation, you might be leaving money on the table without knowing it.

We know it’s sometimes stressful having this type of phone call, especially if you and your recruiter have been close in the past. But, if you can ask for what you want in a mature and respectful manner, chances are that your recruiter will try to do what it takes to keep you on their roster.

Option 3: Chat with Your Recruiter’s Manager

What if you’re really not comfortable having a conversation with your recruiter? Maybe you can’t get ahold of them, or you’ve had an issue that you can’t get past. There’s nothing Karen-like about calling and having a chat with their manager. Don’t know who the manager is? No problem.

Call into the agency’s main number and tell whoever answers the phone that you want to talk to a manager about switching recruiters. They’ll be able to transfer you to someone within your recruiter’s chain. A good agency understands that sometimes personalities don’t mesh, even if they did in the past. The manager will have a quick conversation with you about what you’re looking for and then put you in touch with a recruiter that meets your needs now.

Don’t worry about getting your old recruiter “in trouble.” Most agencies understand that personalities can be the most important part of a recruiter/traveler relationship and won’t penalize a recruiter if you switch. You’ll get a new recruiter, and the manager will have the conversation for you, which is perfect if you’re nervous about having an uncomfortable conversation.

If you decide it really is time to make a change, look for one with a proven record of taking care of its travelers. Triage Staffing was named The Gypsy Nurse’s Best Overall Travel Nurse Agency for both 2020 and 2021. Connect with Triage Staffing here.

We hope you found this article on breaking up with your travel nurse recruiter helpful. Have you ever had to break up with a travel nurse recruiter? Share your experience with breaking up with your recruiter 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 Angela Hosking

March 9, 2022

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Your Most Important Patient—You

I remember my first patient that died.

She was young. Younger than me. A mom, a daughter, a sister, and a passionate elementary school teacher. She was living her life in a happy and fulfilling way when ovarian cancer knocked on her door. When I cared for her the first time, she was recovering from a dramatic abdominal surgery and coming to grips with the diagnosis. Stage 4 ovarian cancer. We focused on her post-operative recovery for the first few days, but as the diagnosis began to sink in, I found our conversations turned to how to be a survivor and have hope. I became her cheerleader, her confidant, and when her family went home, her advocate as a nursing professional.

I saw her when she was the most vulnerable.

In pain. Frightened. As a night-shift nurse, I was used to the “what-if” thoughts that plagued my patients in the night when the comfort of the family departed. That is when they usually allowed their nurse to see what they were really feeling. When faces of feigned bravery for their families could relax.

Over the next eighteen months, I was lucky enough to care for her many times.

Even if she wasn’t my patient for that shift, I made sure to check on her every time she was admitted for symptom management or pain control. I learned what worked and what didn’t when she was having a bad night. I knew the right mix of bland food she could tolerate when the nausea was bad. I helped her make a list of all the things she wanted to remember to tell her daughter when her mind was fuzzy. Sometimes I even made her laugh with my corny jokes and just forget for a moment that she was dying.

When she lost her battle, I was there. I made sure she wasn’t in any pain, that her favorite blanket was tucked around her just so, and that her family was supported. But what I didn’t realize was that I would need support, too. I was grieving a loss that had a monumental impact on how I viewed my role as a nursing caregiver. I was now acutely aware that many of the patients I bonded with would die on my watch.

Over and over again.

And to give in such an extraordinary way, I would have to make sure I was being cared for as well. I had to allow others to calm my fears, dry my tears, and give space for the emotions I had at work. I was not, thankfully, a machine instead of a human that just went about her night shift as if nothing had happened.

When was the last time you did a complete head-to-toe on yourself? A mental, physical, and emotional check-up to see what systems and areas are NOT within normal limits? It is easy to deny that nagging inner-nurse voice when it comes to ourselves. But if you were your patient, what would you tell the provider you were concerned about? What recommendations would you make for your own care? What consults would you immediately advocate for?

Take time to do your assessment carefully.

To be a nurse means to first care for ourselves so that we can care for others. You are your most vulnerable patient.

This article is an excerpt from Angela’s journal “From Burnout to Balance: A Nursing Resilience Journal” click here to purchase the journal.

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 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 Kevin Devoto

March 7, 2022

3398 Views

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6 Ways To Take Care of Yourself as A Busy Professional

When you spend your days in a coffee-fueled haze while rushing to be effective and productive in your work and home life, burnout is inevitable. You may make it to the weekend, but how much of your personal time do you spend just trying to recover from the chaos of the previous week? If you feel physically and mentally drained all the time, you may not be taking adequate care of your mind and body. Here are some ways to care for yourself when you’re extremely busy.

1. Nourish Your Body

As a busy professional, your daily habits matter. It can be easy to fall into a routine that seemingly makes your life easier but ultimately impacts your health and wellness. Replacing a balanced breakfast with an extra-large sugary drive-thru coffee may save you a few minutes of your morning, but you’ll likely feel anxious and unsatiated throughout the day. Taking care of yourself means being intentional with the types of sustenance you consume. If you simply don’t have time to prepare meals, consider nourishing meal replacement shakes as a healthier option.

2. Prioritize Your Sleep

One of your most basic human needs is sleep, and chances are, you don’t get enough. Sleep is often the first thing you sacrifice when your work/life balance becomes unbalanced. You think you can make enough time to get everything done, but the truth is you lose your ability to concentrate and make good judgment calls when you’re sleep-deprived. By setting a clear and defined bedtime routine and sticking to it, you can make sure you wake up each day feeling refreshed and motivated to take on the world.

3. Get Your Workout In

According to experts, you only need 20 minutes of physical activity each day to maintain a healthy fitness level, and it doesn’t have to be cardio-centric. When you spend most of your day caring for others, it can be extremely hard to shift your mindset to self-care, but it is necessary to maintain your strength and sanity. By making your exercise routine a priority, you can ensure you maintain optimal physical and mental health while also setting and achieving important personal fitness goals.

4. Pause and Breathe

When you feel overwhelmed, there’s no shame in taking a timeout. Pausing to take deep long breaths and adopting a meditation practice gives you the opportunity to calm your mind and body at the moment. When you’re stressed, you hold tension in your head, neck, and back, which can leave you feeling terrible and lead to chronic pain and fatigue. Giving yourself the opportunity to release this pressure allows you to release this pressure and resume your busy life.

5. Reduce the Noise Around You

In your life as a busy professional, you’re surrounded by stimuli and stress triggers. While you may not always be able to ignore your responsibilities and quiet your brain, you can take measures to quiet the space around you. Reducing the noise includes removing yourself from a social space, disconnecting from your devices, and finding a relaxing place to just be for a while. Your quiet time may manifest as a hot bath, a long walk, or even a 30-minute nap in your car between meetings.

6. Compliment Yourself on a Job Well Done

Maybe you’re not a validation-seeker at work or at home, but you can’t deny that it feels good to hear someone say you do a good job. Because everyone gets busy, you may not hear those words as often as you’d like to. When you feel like you could use a pick-me-up, feel free to give yourself the compliment you deserve. What is something you know you did well today? Take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments, even if you’re the only one who recognizes them.

All the big-name healthcare professionals and gurus tout the importance of self-care, but not everyone realizes the time commitment that’s required. Luckily, with a bit of planning and self-awareness, you can give yourself the care you need to get on with your busy schedule and maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

We hope you found these tips for taking care of yourself as a busy professional helpful. Do you have any tips to share with your 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 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 The Gypsy Nurse

March 5, 2022

3365 Views

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Leveraging Your Career as a Travel Nurse to Live Your Life by Design


Leveraging Your Career as a Travel Nurse to Live Your Life by Design

How many careers do you know allow you to work as little as three days a week while still being able to travel essentially WHERE EVER you decide you want to live? Moving without the total commitment (or hassle) of relocating permanently. The ultimate dream. Nurses have worked EXTREMELY hard in recent years, posing some of the most challenging times our generation has seen. We will discuss the pros & cons of working as a travel nurse and why travel nursing can be used as the perfect segway to live your life by design.   Watch the video to learn about leveraging your career as a travel nurse.

About Mynoucka | mynoucka@vintagetravelingnurse.com

Ever been in a space where you felt stuck in your career? That was me in 2018. I was in my third year as a registered nurse and felt stagnant. While I loved my career, the monotony of working long hours in a hospital every day made me feel some type of way. I wanted the flexibility of traveling and making my schedule while doing what I loved. So, I decided to give travel nursing a shot.

Long story short, I loved it, lol.

I worked in two hospitals in Southern California for nine months before transferring to a hospital in the Bay Area for eight months. My time in Cali gave me the autonomy and flexibility to lean more into my nursing career. Since I wore skirts to work every day, my colleagues would always refer to me as the “classy” or “classic” nurse. This inspired the name for my blog, Vintage Traveling Nurse, which I launched in 2019 to start documenting my travel nursing journey. Being in this field has helped me gain fulfillment in my career and other areas of my life like fitness, finance, and, most importantly, self-care. While I am now in my hometown continuing my work as a bedside nurse, my time as a travel nurse has changed my life FOREVER!

Check out Mynoucka on Instagram at  vintagetravelingnurse or visit her website at vintagetravelingnurse.com

We hope you enjoyed this live event. Watch for more live events happening soon.

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 Miles Oliver

March 4, 2022

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Keys to Making a Good First Impression at a New Hospital

As a traveling nurse, one of the things you have to get used to is meeting new people all the time. Forming new work relationships and following different procedures are part of the job.

While that can be exciting and motivating, it can also be a little nerve-racking. It’s normal to feel a bit anxious when stepping into a new workplace and trying to connect with co-workers, especially in a medical setting.

First impressions count. They can make or break how a fellow nurse, doctor, or other staff member sees you from the very beginning. So, when you’re working in a new hospital, making a good first impression is key.

Thankfully, it’s easier than you might think. Let’s cover a few key strategies that will start you off on the right foot, whether you’re a first-time travel nurse or you need some help fitting in at new locations.

Basic First Impression Etiquette

From your very first day on the job, your co-workers will form an impression of you. Before you speak a word, people can judge things like punctuality, the way you’re dressed, your ability to listen, and your attitude. Carrying yourself professionally and showing up with the desire to be a team player are great ways to say a lot about yourself before your first introduction.

When you finally do get to talk to a co-worker, there are a few tips that can make it easier for your first impression to be positive, including:

  • Making eye contact
  • Preparing talking pieces
  • Being mindful of body language
  • Offering a genuine smile

Those tips might seem like common knowledge, but they’re easy to forget or overlook when you’re nervous about starting a new job or meeting people. Practice them in front of a mirror, so you’re prepared and confident when it comes time to put them to use. No matter who you’re talking to or meeting, these actions matter. If someone establishes a negative first impression of you, they could mention it to someone else and “taint” another person’s view before they even get a chance to meet you.

Utilize Your Soft Skills

As a travel nurse, it’s just as important for people to develop a positive impression of your skills as it is for them to like your personality. That includes your hard skills and medical abilities, of course. But, soft skills are just as important for making the first impression. Many soft skills in the healthcare field across various positions. The best skills for medical billers and coders, for example, are very similar to the best traits a traveling nurse should have, including:

  • Strong communication
  • Active listening
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Conflict management
  • Organizational skills

You’ll stand out even more if you adopt an attitude of growth and display a willingness to learn. You can use your skills and experience to help and support other members of your staff. But, be open to learning new things, too. Not only can that openness improve your career, but it will make you more approachable and give you more knowledge to pass on to others as needed.

Finally, one of the most important skills to have is flexibility.

Traveling nurses find themselves in a variety of environments and situations every day. You have to be willing to adapt to your location and the needs of the staff and patients almost immediately. If you’re standoffish or “stubborn” about doing things a certain way, that’s going to negatively impact your work and the way others in the field perceive you.

At the end of the day, your skills as a nurse are what matter most. But, you’ll have an easier time at any hospital when you’re able to establish positive relationships with other team members. Keep these suggestions in mind to make a good first impression wherever you are, and you’ll be more likely to enjoy every minute spent in each location.

We hope you found these tips for making a good first impression at a new hospital helpful. Do you have any tips for making a good first impression to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job. 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 Gifted Healthcare

March 3, 2022

2342 Views

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5 Renter-Friendly Tips to Spruce Up Your Travel Nursing Home

Gifted Healthcare provided this article.

With all the amazing perks that come with travel nursing, there are a few things that can make the jump a bit harder to take. One difficult task is to find housing that fits your needs, but once you do, an even more challenging task might be making your travel nursing home feel like home.  

The easiest thing you can do from the start is to bring a few of your favorite smaller, packable items with you. Pack your favorite photos of friends and family, books, and décor to add little bits of your life and personality throughout your place right away. Since you cannot pack up everything, being selective with the smaller items you love is key. Try to pick items that you would enjoy while considering space: would you rather see pictures of your friends and family throughout your home or large art?  

After setting up the décor you packed, look around your new home and decide what room and/or areas of the house could use a little sprucing up and utilize these tips and tricks.  

Lighting

The lighting of your apartment or home can dictate the entire ambiance. A place with big windows will bring natural light into your space, but if that isn’t the case for your temporary home, try adding light where you can.

Start by decorating your windows with curtains. Opening your curtains during the day allows natural light to soak in but also provides privacy when necessary. There are some temporary options for curtain rods and hooks that will not damage your rental, including adhesive Command Strips.

String lights, lamps, and pendant lights are all options to add light to your temporary space. A pendant light with a cord can easily be hung with an adhesive hook, so it hangs from your ceiling, adding style and overhead light. This will look especially chic in a corner spot. String lights also hang well with adhesive hooks and can frame a wall to brighten up your space. Try them along the wall your bed is perpendicular to for some cozy nighttime light.

Lighting can elevate the ambiance as well as the overall look of your newfound space. Try LED motion-sensor lights under your cabinets to make your kitchen feel more upscale. The motion sensors will come in handy for your early mornings or late nights when you are coming and going from shifts too.  

Organization

The organization of your home might be the easiest way to feel at ease in the new spot. When everything has a place, your space will feel put together and ready for your busy schedule. The bonus perk of this is that you can add style while organizing each room. Try to find a variety of storage items that will match your décor to create a cohesive vibe. Long narrow fabric bins for under your bed are a great option to increase your storage while hiding your clothes. Storage bins in your bathroom are perfect for products and toiletries.

When it comes to storage, shelving can be a bit trickier for a rental space, but it is definitely doable with adhesive stick options. Try to find floating shelves that come with adhesive strips or shelves that hang from strings you can hook to the wall. Shelves create storage and organization that your place might lack and could be a focal point for your décor as well. The best part is that you can pack your shelves up and bring them with you to the next place.

Color

Most rental locations tend to have white walls and neutral tones, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t add a little color to your spot. There are so many ways to add a pop throughout your place that can travel with you to each assignment.

Peel and stick wallpaper makes for a fun accent wall and a great way to add some life to your home. You can choose your color and/or pattern and placement, giving you all of the power to make your new home unique. Measure the length of your wall, cut your pieces, and carefully place the paper on your wall until you are ready to pack up and head to your next travel nursing assignment. Most peel and stick wallpapers are reusable so do a little research before you purchase to ensure you get extra use.  

If you want to spice up an entire room, try looking for an accent rug that immediately brings you joy. Rugs are a powerful way to completely change the way a room looks and feels. You can find any size, so whether it is a large rug for the living space or a smaller rug to just add a touch of color to your closet, try this out and see what you like best.

For some subtle color, pick up flowers for your kitchen table. This is a convenient way to add color, texture, and life to your home without adding any new items to your suitcase. This is also interchangeable décor that you can replace with new colors as your old flowers begin to wilt without ever having to bring them along for your next move.

Secret Renovations

When renting a place or living somewhere temporarily, you don’t have the same freedom to make long-lasting renovations you might want to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it look like you renovated the place. If you don’t love the kitchen counters, find an adhesive paper of what you would want them to look like. You can transform your counter space to look like a slab of marble without any construction at all. The paper is easily removable with no damage, just like the peel and stick wallpaper.    

The best part about this is that you can use this hack on almost anything. Purchase peel and stick tile backsplash or floor tiles to upgrade your kitchen and bathroom. No one would know that it was only a façade, not even you. 

Clean

Sometimes just having a clean space can make all the difference. Simple things like dusting your baseboards and deep cleaning the shower can make you feel more comfortable in the new space. There are useful products for locked-in dirt like grout pens to cover any stain, spackle to fill any holes in the walls, and more.

Make it You

Although this new housing might not be forever, it is your space for your 13-week contract, and you want to feel good after a long shift walking into your home. But before trying any of these little hacks, take pictures of your new spot so that when it comes time to pack up, you know how to leave the place just as you found it. It is also important to read over your lease and see what is allowed and strictly not allowed as it is different everywhere you go. Most importantly, have fun and decorate your space to feel like you!

We hope you found these 5 Renter Friendly Tips to Spruce Up Your Travel Nursing Home helpful. Have you found ways to spruce your travel nursing home up? Comment any tips for sprucing up travel nursing homes below.

Are you looking for your next travel nursing 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!)