April 16, 2021

7748 Views

Travel Nurses Traveling with Family

Posted on April 16, 2021May 19, 2021 by Medical Staffing Options

This article was provided by Medical Staffing Options.

A travel nurse can travel all over the country, taking RN travel jobs wherever they go. They might travel to a sunny destination like California, Arizona, or Florida to escape winter’s cold. In the summer, maybe they’ll advantage of the season to enjoy outdoor adventures in the wilds of Alaska. The sky’s the limit, making this career an especially exciting one, but is it only for those who are single or have a travel nursing partner?

Many nurses automatically assume that travel nursing jobs are only for those who can easily pick up and go at any time without a family to worry about. But the reality is, this is a flexible career that allows a registered nurse to travel with their family if they choose to. While it may take some planning ahead, it’s an incredible opportunity to explore new places, create shared memories, and spend more quality time with the ones you love in between shifts.

Agencies That Allow Travel Nurses to Travel with Their Family

Nearly all agencies allow travel nurses to travel with their families, but as with anything, some are better at handling the challenges that can come with it. After checking out Medical Staffing Options RN jobs, for example, you’ll want to speak to a recruiter to find out their level of experience in working with a registered nurse who travels with family. Even if they have limited or no experience, as long as they’re willing to put in the extra effort, that can go a long way in ensuring a positive outcome. A good recruiter will take care of all the details, ensuring that a travel nurse and their family have all the resources needed for a successful assignment.

Housing Considerations

Of course, when traveling with family, there are other things to thinking about, like housing. Typically, a travel nurse is provided with a furnished one-bedroom apartment or another type of similar accommodation at no cost. Some agencies like Medical Staffing Options even have a dedicated travel and housing department that can help you find the job and accommodations that best fit your life. For those who need more space to bring a spouse and the kids, it’s usually possible to pay the additional cost for more bedrooms. Or you might choose to take the housing stipend and secure your own space.

Some nurses travel with their families in RVs, which allows them to take home even more money. Usually, the housing stipend is quite a bit more than the cost of parking the RV and paying for utilities, which means there’s quite a bit left over to save, use for enjoying the attractions and activities in the area, or something else. When the assignment is over, it’s easy to go to the next one as there’s no packing and unpacking. All you have to do is drive.

What About School?

If you have school-aged kids, you can still travel as many travel nurses do. In fact, the opportunity to visit multiple destinations, learn more about them and take part in experiences they wouldn’t necessarily get back home is an education in itself. There’s no one right way to do it – some travel nurses choose to home school their kids, while others take only summer travel assignments while school is out.

Childcare Considerations

There are other considerations for those with young children. Travel nurses who travel with a non-working spouse usually don’t have to worry about it but traveling on your own or with a partner who will be working means making the necessary childcare arrangements. While that may sound difficult, by getting in touch with nurses already working in the area, there’s a good possibility that you’ll get recommendations. Your recruiter might know someone you can talk to or at least lead you in the right direction. Another option is to search travel nursing forums to see if you can connect with someone working at the facility or in the destination. Either way, getting it set up before you arrive is essential to ensure you’re ready for your first day on the job.

By Next Travel Nursing

April 15, 2021

18722 Views

Best Health Insurance For Travel Nurses!

Posted on April 15, 2021May 19, 2021 by Next Travel Nursing

This article was provided by Next Travel Nursing.

Choosing to embark on a travel nursing career is one of the most exciting decisions you can make. It opens up a wealth of opportunities you probably wouldn’t have had otherwise, bringing the chance to experience new destinations, pick up new skills, earn great money, and much more. But it also brings up several questions, including what to do about health insurance.

Before signing that contract and heading out on the road, you’ll not only want to know the basics such as the pay, hours, and type of housing options you have but what to do about your own personal care. After all, travel nurses don’t just take care of others. They can become ill or get injured too. Fortunately, most RN travel jobs include insurance through the agency, but private policies are available.

Pros and Cons of each option:

To make the best decision, it’s important for any registered nurse to weigh the pros and cons of each.

Taking the Agency Health Insurance Plan

The travel nurse agency can make it easy for you to get coverage. You won’t have to worry about researching the countless options available, which can take a ton of time, something that a busy registered nurse usually doesn’t have to spare. All you have to do is sign on the dotted line and let the agency take care of the rest.

As many healthcare travel agencies pay a decent portion of your health insurance when selecting their coverage, it’s usually much less costly than obtaining it on your own. As the agencies are typically covering many nurses, it allows individuals to take advantage of the cheaper rates and benefits that are primarily available only to larger businesses and corporations. The plan itself often has better coverage than a private solution for this very reason. You may even have multiple options available from your travel nurse company. For example, Next Travel Nursing offers both a standard and premium plan that starts from day one, with different deductibles to choose from and preventative care covered at 100 percent, along with an excellent prescription coverage plan.

Just like anything else, there is a downside to taking the agency plan too. If you decide to take extended time off or frequently change agencies, just like a regular job, your coverage will end when your assignment ends. Of course, if you plan on working with the same company, this is unlikely to be an issue.

Taking Out a Private Health Insurance Plan

With a private health insurance plan, you’ll be covered throughout the year whether you’re on the job or not. It won’t matter if you change agencies with every assignment, which can save the stress and potential problems due to gaps in coverage. You’ll be able to register and work with multiple travel nurse companies, with coverage regardless of the assignment you’re on.

As mentioned, taking out your own individual plan is usually more costly, however, and you might be limited as to what can be covered. When there are larger groups of people on a plan, the insurance company can “pool the risk,” providing better benefits at discounted rates. Something else to think about is that not all insurance companies will cover you in every state. That means if you plan on taking assignments in a wide range of locations, you could struggle to find a good plan that will cover you wherever you are.

By The Gypsy Nurse

April 4, 2021

9253 Views

What Your Travel Nurse Recruiter Wants/Needs/Expects From You

Posted on April 4, 2021January 16, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Learning what your travel nurse recruiter wants/need/expect is an important aspect of building a mutually beneficial relationship. Just as it’s important for our recruiters to know what we are looking for in them or expect out of them, it’s important to know what is important to them as a recruiter.

Do you know what your recruiter wants from you? Do you know what qualities they feel they need in a travel nurse? Are the recruiter’s expectations known to you?

I recently consulted with several Travel Nurse Staffing Companies. I asked them to answer three simple questions to understand better how to help a recruiter build an effective working relationship.

I asked…

1. What do you WANT from a traveler?
2. What do you NEED from a traveler?
3. What do you Expect from a traveler?

I received some great responses from the recruitment side of things. Some were expected, and some were surprises. Here are the recruiters that responded and their answers.

Jason Sagehorn, Recruiter at Triage Staffing

I think it comes down to a few things. While experience and work history will always play a role, hospitals are placing a greater emphasis on flexibility. The traveling nursing pool is stocked with qualified candidates, and competition for jobs is fierce. The more flexible a candidate can be, the better chance they have of landing positions, regardless of experience.

Another thing is communication, understanding, and teamwork. I kind of group these all together. I want nurses to feel that they are a part of a team. As a Recruiter, my success is directly linked to the success of the RN. Sitting in Omaha, NE, I do not know what is happening on a day-to-day basis with my travelers unless they communicate and keep me in the loop. By communicating openly and often, we create “win-win” situations.

As a final thought, the traveling industry is changing and evolving as a whole. Vendor management companies, aka “Third Party Vendors,” are gaining a larger share of hospital contracts than in the past. The agencies are responsible for paying these “middle” vendors a fee, which affects how we can pay our travelers. While we are all motivated to maximize our earnings (staffing firms, recruiters, and RN’s), we have to keep the current market conditions in mind as we move forward.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in 10-years of Recruiting, it’s that the medical staffing world is cyclical. At the end of the day, there will always be a demand for flexible, dependable, and professional traveling RN’s.

**Crystal Lovato, Manager of Recruitment, Freedom Healthcare Staffing**

My Top 10

1.     Honesty is the most important to me.
2.     Mutual respect.
3.     An understanding that this is a team effort and we each do our part.
4.     Realistic expectations
5.     Honoring a commitment – If a traveler backs out of an assignment after accepting, there should be a good cause.
6.     Honor the rate/package negotiated upon submission – As a recruiter, I never renegotiate after the offer.
7.     Good patient care
8.     Professionalism – Be a good representative of our agency
9.     Being cooperative with Quality Assurance
10. Communication – If there is a question, issue, concern, I need to know asap. I can’t fix what I’m not aware of.

Andy Wuebben, Senior Recruiter TotalMed Staffing

I want a traveler that is friendly, professional, and courteous. This is a working relationship, so trust and honesty are the most important things to make a successful long-term recruiter/nurse relationship work.

I need a traveler with at least 1 year’s experience in whatever specialty they want to travel and preferably past travel experience. I also need them to be flexible and be able to open to helping the facility in whatever way possible.

I expect a traveler to be upfront and honest with me about what they have going on. We are working very hard, spending a lot of time helping locate job opportunities, and an open line of communication and consistent updates if their situation changes are crucial to a successful relationship. The worst thing that can happen is for us to have someone submitted and push for a phone screen only to find out that our facility calls them they have accepted another position that we have no idea about.

Beth Ann Turner, Senior Recruiter TotalMed Staffing

I want a traveler:

That communicates well and will return a phone call/text promptly.
Who is open to getting to know their recruiter personally
Who isn’t afraid to try new places for a contract even if it isn’t their “perfect” location.

I need a traveler:

To put their best foot forward on a new contract.

I expect a traveler:

To commit to deadlines on paperwork.
Will show up to work on time and have reliable attendance.

Tom Horan, Recruiter TotalMed Staffing

I WANT a traveler that is open-minded and positive
I NEED a reliable traveler
I EXPECT a traveler to be honest about their needs/plans/etc.

Donald Kinsey, Recruiter TotalMed Staffing

I WANT a traveler that is motivated and energetic
I NEED a traveler that has experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm.
I EXPECT a traveler to be flexible.

Erin Penza, Recruiter TotalMed Staffing

I WANT a traveler that is hardworking
I NEED a traveler that has good communication skills
I EXPECT a traveler to be able to adapt to different situations at the hospital and be flexible

Jason Palleria, Senior Recruiter TotalMed Staffing

I WANT a traveler that is experienced and knows the ins and outs of travel.
I NEED a reliable traveler that does not need a lot of push to have items completed.

I EXPECT a traveler to use me as their main resource for ANYTHING!!!

Andrew Johnson, Recruiter TotalMed Staffing

I want a traveler that is energetic, motivated and enjoys their profession.
I need a traveler with at least 2 years of experience, past travel experience, and who worked within their specialty in a clinical setting within the past year.
I expect a traveler to keep an open communication line with me, always letting me know if they have any concerns.

I want to thank the companies and recruiters that contributed to this post. I feel that it’s important to have a mutually respectful relationship with your recruiter. Besides informing your recruiters what your wants/needs/expectations are, find out what your recruiter wants/needs/expects.

Recruiters reading this, feel free to post in the comments what your wants/needs/expectations are. Gypsy nurses everywhere need to know…

By AMN Healthcare

March 30, 2021

8232 Views

5 Things to Keep in Mind During Your Travel Nurse Housing Search

Posted on March 30, 2021January 16, 2023 by AMN Healthcare

This article was provided by AMN Healthcare.

Although most agencies can arrange housing for travel nurses on assignment, some RNs prefer to accept a stipend and find their own places to stay. If you’re searching for short-term travel nurse housing, here are five things to keep in mind.

1. How your stipend works and what that means for acquiring housing

Chances are, rental costs will be a primary consideration when it comes to housing, so before you begin your search, find out how much your stipend will be and when you’ll receive it. Most agencies add a percentage of the stipend to your weekly paycheck rather than paying it upfront, and amounts can vary substantially by location, so what you received on your last assignment may be different than what you’ll receive on your next assignment.

How your stipend is disbursed can impact your ability to pay for housing. Talk with your recruiter about any financial deposits needed before you secure your place. Other initial expenses include fees or deposits for utility hookups, such as electricity, water, and the internet. Your recruiter will be able to assist you with all of this, so don’t be hesitant to ask.

2. The availability of short-term housing

Many nurses who opt for a stipend are shocked to learn how scarce short-term housing is in some regions. Travel nurse assignments average only 13 weeks, but rentals may require tenants to sign leases for longer than that. If there are short-term housing options in the area, travel nurses may find themselves on long waiting lists.

Realtors who specialize in rental units can be great resources for travel nurses, particularly in urban areas where businesses regularly host temporary staff, contractors, and visiting employees. Websites such as Furnished Finder can also help you find furnished, short-term housing.

3. The importance of location

If you’re traveling to an unfamiliar town or city, location should be a major consideration in your housing search, and you should never commit to a rental without knowing exactly where it’s located. Most importantly, make sure your temporary home is situated in a safe neighborhood and has convenient routes to work.

Websites such as AreaVibes let you see neighborhood crime statistics so you can choose your housing wisely, and a mapping app can show you all the available routes to your workplace. Many apps do account for traffic, so plot your route at the times of day you’ll likely be commuting for an accurate idea of commute times.

Because most travel nurses secure their housing before arrival, make sure you see current pictures of any property you’re considering. Reading reviews from current and former tenants before signing a lease is another great way to discover any housing complex highlights and lowlights.

4. Your personal housing needs

Consider your personal housing needs when searching for a place to stay. Most travel nurses require furnished housing, but you may have other needs that are unique to your situation. If you’re traveling with pets, for example, you’ll need a pet-friendly rental. If you’re traveling with school-aged children, the local school district can be a big consideration.

Personal preferences may also factor into your decision. Some RNs want a ground-floor unit for convenience, and others prefer the security and privacy of an upper-level apartment, especially if they’ll be living alone.

5. Alternatives to apartment rentals

When searching for housing, remember that there are alternatives to apartments. Some great prospects for temporary housing include:

Friends and relatives. By rooming with loved ones, you can enjoy an extended visit while saving money.
Extended-stay hotels. Some hotels offer extended stays for reasonable prices, and you can benefit from housekeeping services.
Vacation rentals. If your assignment takes you to a prime vacation destination such as the seashore, take advantage of vacation rentals, especially in the off-season when prices drop. You may find inexpensive housing with a relaxing vacation vibe.
Airbnb. Airbnb lets you find short-term housing that offers local flavor and hospitality.
RVs. In regions that have camping facilities, renting an RV can be a unique approach to short-term housing.

Talk to your recruiter.

If you’re feeling unsure about travel nurse housing, don’t hesitate to reach out to your agency. Staffing specialists often have experience with and knowledge about short-term housing options available near your assignment. They can also talk to you about the benefits and convenience of opting for company-arranged housing.

By AB Staffing Solutions

March 29, 2021

10087 Views

Floating During a Travel Assignment

Posted on March 29, 2021May 19, 2021 by AB Staffing Solutions

This article was provided by AB Staffing.

If you’re thinking about becoming a travel nurse, it is important to consider the good and the bad. You will have many perks, including higher pay, great experience, and traveling to new areas, but you may also be asked to float during your assignment. This is especially true in areas impacted by winter weather and the pandemic.

When you float, you’re asked to move from one department to another for coverage. A common one is from ICU to a stepdown unit, but it’s not always like that. You may be working in other areas of the hospital, making it important to stay in touch with your on-site manager and your AB Staffing recruiter. You will need to keep them in the loop so they understand what is happening and can address any concerns.

As a floater during a travel assignment, you may be sent to another unit to cover shifts, breaks, and shortages in other areas of the facility. The reason is that hospitals are required by federal and state requirements to have a certain number of nurses per patient. While it can be challenging, the work can also be rewarding, especially if you like a new experience regularly. For others, it can be a struggle. In this article, we offer tips for success when you have to float.

Floating During a Travel Assignment

As a travel nurse, it is common to be asked to be a floater. This will likely happen more if you are in a private or commercial hospital compared to a federal facility. Every hospital has a different policy, so make sure to ask your recruiter before taking the contract. They should be able to give you an idea of how often it will happen at that specific facility. If you accept a contract and are asked to float and don’t want to, there may be little we can do except move you to another facility at the end of your contract.

Will there be an orientation for your new unit?

Likely, there will not be an orientation, and you will be learning on the job. While some travel nurses love the challenge, others may find it frustrating. Either way, it will be important to ask questions, pay attention, and stay calm. Follow the lead of the other nurses and take advantage of the learning experience.

When will you be asked to float?

It’s likely you will be asked to float at the beginning of your shift to cover an area in need of help, whether due to a patient-to-nurse ratio or a nurse shortage. It is probable you will stay in that unit for your entire shift.

How does a hospital choose where to send a floater?

They will, or should, send you to a unit that is similar to your skills and experience. They are unlikely to send a labor and delivery nurse to ICU as those are opposite ends of the spectrum, but if you’re an ICU nurse, you may be sent to Med Surg or similar.

You should never be asked to work on a unit where you do not understand the basics. Once you arrive, observe all that you can. Our nurses tell us they often learn something they can bring to their unit or improve a process as they observe others. If you’re not comfortable where you are moved, speak to your supervisor and recruiter. Your patients and your license should never be at risk.

Is the pay different when you float?

In general, travel nurse pay is higher than staff nurses. When you are asked to float during your shift, your payment will be the same as your department. There are separate opportunities to be a float pool nurse, and they generally are paid higher rates receive an average of 15% more than their permanent counterparts. Work with your recruiter to negotiate a contract that makes sense for you, your family, and your skills and experience.

What to do if you feel floating is getting excessive?

Your recruiter is your advocate, so we always encourage you to speak to them. If something seems unfair about what you are doing on any travel assignment, communicate it so that we can offer guidance to resolve the issue. We never want you or your license to be at risk.

When you’re floating during a travel assignment, communication with your on-site team and AB Staffing recruiter is key to your success. The experience of floating can prove to be educational, expanding your skills and experience.

If you’re ready for your next travel assignment, contact AB Staffing today at 888.515.3900.

By CareerStaff Unlimited

March 25, 2021

6920 Views

Dreaming of a Spring Refresh? What to Consider When Changing Your Specialty

Posted on March 25, 2021May 19, 2021 by CareerStaff Unlimited

This article was provided by CareerStaff Unlimited.

Spring is a time of change and renewal. In any year, the warmer weather is a welcome change from the dark winter months that came before. And this year, spring is especially anticipated as we emerge from a tough winter.

Like many other nurses, you may wish to embrace this spirit of change by shifting your career to a new specialty or setting. After all, what better way to renew your love of nursing than by taking on a new challenge — one that’s better suited to your skills and preferences?

The fact is, nurses, make career adjustments all the time as they pursue new and better opportunities and attempt to improve their prospects. It could be a matter of moving from the intensity of a hospital ICU to delivering general patient care in a skilled nursing facility. Or, it could involve shifting to a different facility type — like from a clinic to an LTAC facility.

For travel nurses, there’s even more value in working in new settings. The pandemic has caused a huge rise in the use and recognition of full-time travel nurses. On the other hand, this higher profile is likely to inspire many new nurses to start traveling. As the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) continues to expand, the number of nurses traveling to other states for assignments will only continue to grow.

While that’s mostly good news, it could also mean more competition for existing travel nurses. And that’s all the more reason to consider expanding your specialty or facility experience. Before you consider making that kind of change, below are a few questions you should ask yourself.

4 questions to ask yourself before changing your nursing specialty

1. What’s your motivation?

First, it’s important to nail down what you’re looking for in a career change. Are you seeking a new experience or a chance to work with patients at different stages of the care continuum? Are you feeling burned out in your current role, dissatisfied with your environment, or have you reached a level you can’t advance beyond? Maybe you want to move from a big city to a small town?

There are a number of possibilities here. But if you feel like what you’re really looking for is an escape from your existing situation, then you may want to consider a short-term travel assignment (most are about 13 weeks). That way, you’ll have a chance to sample a new career path before committing to a huge life change that you may not necessarily be ready for.

2. How does the change line up with your personal situation?

If you do have your heart set on an entirely new type of specialty, there are some serious personal factors to consider. For example, how will the salary of the new specialty affect your personal finances — both today and in terms of future goals like retirement or homeownership?

Will you need new certifications for your new job? Will you need to go back to school? In most instances, this probably won’t be necessary. However, if you’re looking to shift to an advanced practice position like a nurse practitioner or certified nurse anesthetist, then you’ll want to factor in the time and cost of heading back to school.

3. Are you up for the challenge?

Some of the nursing specialties that have become in demand due to the pandemic (especially post-acute care) are, by their very nature, intense and stressful. In addition to the physical endurance required, do you have the personality type to manage that type of lifestyle? Will you need to take a step backward in your career path to get the basic entry-level experience you need to land a job — and if so, are you prepared to do that?

Do your research — ask other nurses you work with, or do some networking on social media. (Or browse the huge, highly informative archive at the Gypsy Nurse Blog.) Other nurses will be happy to tell you what it takes to succeed in a given specialty. At that point, it’s up to you to be honest with yourself as to whether you’re really ready for that kind of change.

4. Do you know how to find a job in your new specialty?

The chances are that if you have your sights set on a new specialty, you have a pretty good idea of where you’d like that job to be. If not, it’s easy to check — nursing job companies offer regularly updated job listings that can show you what’s available at any given time and in any given location.

If you’re seeking to refresh your nursing career, CareerStaff Unlimited has various opportunities across the United States. Visit CareerStaff.com to learn more or to see what nursing jobs we have available right now.

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

START HERE

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

By Mira Adora

March 10, 2021

6333 Views

4 Effective Tips for Travel Nurses to Stay Fit While on Assignment

Posted on March 10, 2021January 16, 2023 by Mira Adora

It’s challenging to stay fit when you’re traveling around all the time. You can never fully know where you’re going to end up or if you’ll be able to properly exercise in your apartment.

1. Limit eating out

Sometimes, it’s hard to stay fit and healthy because preparing personal meals just takes too much time. However, if you plan and prepare in advance, you can get your healthy eating back on track.

Plan ahead. Once you have your schedule, it’s time to sit down with your meal plan. Figure out what you probably want to eat day by day. Think of simpler meals for shorter breaks, but pre-plan a treat on heavier days so you won’t be tempted to break your diet.

Shop only for what you need. Don’t go to the grocery without an exact list of what you want to buy. If you go ready to “wing it,” you will probably grab whatever you feel like eating at the moment and what you need to be eating throughout the week. A good technique is to treat yourself to a good meal before going to the grocery. Cravings satisfied, you’ll be less likely to buy what you see.

Pack meals and snacks. Make your food into easy-to-heat and easy-to-carry packages that are stacked in your fridge. Add healthy snacks to the mix. That way, every day, you can just grab your meals and head for work without breaking the streak.

2. Watch the alcohol intake

Alcohol, as you probably know, is just a whole lot of calories but no or very little nutrition. As a result, they add to your body mass with a vengeance. However, there are ways to manage both your fitness and alcohol intake.

Plan your drinking sessions. Since you are already planning your meals, take the drinking sessions into account. If you know you’re going out after work or on the weekend, manage your calories during the day. Stick with healthy meals, light, healthy snacks, and just water. If you’re having a quick midday drink, make your lunch fibrous and low-fat.

Early morning workouts. A great way to manage your calories is to burn them in anticipation. Waking up early for a quick workout will set the mood, wake up your metabolism and endorphins, and prepare you for a long day. It also helps you manage your mood, so you won’t try to drink more than you’ve planned to.

3. Get your sleep

Being on the job all day is indeed tiring, and your mind might seek “mindless” activities such as social media or watching a movie at the end of the day. While that does help get your mind off work and your day, it certainly cuts into your sleeping time.

Sleep speeds up the metabolism. As you know, our bodies convert carbohydrates to fat when our metabolism isn’t running well. When we don’t sleep well, our metabolism slows down painfully. Even if our eating habits are healthy, we still retain more of the food in the form of fat.

Sleep makes working out safer. If we want to continuously work out, we need enough sleep. Otherwise, we run the risk of pulling muscles and straining joints. Any injury would affect our work and limit our workouts. Without sleep, working out is more of a risk than an investment.

Sleep keeps your reactions normal. As a nurse, there are many delicate operations you need to do. While they might be as easy to do, like breathing, you would probably rather not risk letting anything go wrong with your patient. Enough sleep helps your work, your workouts, and your fitness schedule all at once.

4. Join a local gym as soon as you arrive at your assignment

Why a local gym and not a national gym chain? The main reason is that some assignments won’t be near enough to a gym chain franchise to be of any use to you. Local gyms usually have dependable equipment and are less rigid in their rules and policies, which large gym chains tend to be. What should you remember?

Bring your own gear. While local gyms are usually well-equipped, they will probably have less rental equipment. They are also likely to be rather far from basic stores that help you choose the right kind of sports bra, for example. So make sure even your athletic wear is already with you.

Research ahead. You will be exhausted and getting into your new job rhythm when you arrive. If you research beforehand, you can call the local gyms and check how far they are from your home and workplace, so you know where to sign up when you arrive. You also want to know if they will give you a limited membership that accommodates the length of time you are at that assignment.

We hope you found these tips to help you stay fit helpful. As a travel nurse you are always changing locations, jobs and sometimes lifestyles. Staying fit can be difficult. Have you found ways to stay fit while travel nursing that we didn’t list here? Comment them below.

By Egbert Feron

March 9, 2021

7123 Views

How to Continue Acquiring New Nursing Skills While Working

Posted on March 9, 2021January 16, 2023 by Egbert Feron

Being a nurse is such a joy; there is so much fulfillment you get when you are helping people who really need it. When you are a nurse, there are always new nursing skills that you must add to your toolbox; it is a job that requires evolution and frequently. Through this article, you will discover the skills that all nurses need to be reliable and successful nurses anywhere in the world.

What Skills Are Needed?

One of the most important nursing skills one must acquire is to be able to think on the spot, critical thinking. When you are able to think under pressure and think quickly, this is a great advantage. As a nurse, you may be required to work with a new team at a new location, so being flexible with your ideas is a great asset. As a nurse, all the patients you will be serving are different. They all require different needs. So it is vital to have a fast mind that can deal with different scenarios that may be presented to them.

Another huge part of being a nurse is the amount of technology required to do the job. So it is very important to keep up to date with the various technologies that come onto the market. There are now apps that nurses can use which will tell them how much of a dose is needed for each patient. Nowadays, you need to understand websites to collect patient data and health records. So to keep reviewing technology as a nurse will certainly keep you up to date with everything you may face when you work on the job.

Communication is another skill that is super important as a nurse. To be able to communicate well with your patients and also your work colleagues. As a nurse, you are working on getting a certain outcome with your patients. So this requires lots of communication with each patient plus explaining to your fellow nurse when you hand over after your shift. This part of nursing is crucial and determines a good outcome or a negative outcome.

How to Keep Learning While on The Job?

This is always the challenge that every nurse faces. To learn new nursing skills is a difficult task on its own, but while you are working dealing with patients, it can really be a challenge. The best way to approach learning on the job is to incorporate it with what you are doing from day to day. So, in fact learning new nursing skills can work out better while you are doing your everyday shifts. The thing to remember is that we are always learning whatever we are doing in life, so it is important to keep an open mind while working and pick up new nursing skills as you go.

As long as you are someone that asks questions and is not afraid of getting something wrong, learning on the job will be no problem for you. It is a good idea to make sure you are looking at new technology in the hospital. It is always a good thing to practice your communication skills with other colleagues and patients whenever you can. The best nurses work with a notebook and are always taking notes as they work. You will also find that the best nurses when they are on their lunch breaks, are looking through books and notes to learn more.

Make the best of your time

The most important part of learning while you are on the job is to make the best out of your time. You must be organized. This is the number one thing to remember. As long as you can organize your time, you will be able to learn new nursing skills on the job. So a tip that is good to use is to stay a little later after your shift to see how other nurses start off their shift. This will help you see how other nurses deal with things. The more ways you see something done, the more methods you will have to solve problems in the future.

Best Skills to Learn on The Job

Effective communication
Organization skills
Keep up to date with all technology.
Critical thinking skills
Meet a mentor and watch them work
Always ask questions

These are effective tools that will help you become better at doing your job as a nurse.

Summary

With your new nursing skills, you will be able to deal with patients better, and it will also help you deal with fellow colleagues in a better way. You never stop learning when you are a nurse, so keep an open mind and be like a sponge, absorb all you can.

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

START HERE

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

By Theresa Cofield

March 4, 2021

15185 Views

5 Unusual Mistakes Travel Nurses Make On Their First Contract

Posted on March 4, 2021May 19, 2021 by Theresa Cofield

As a travel nurse, there are many benefits, such as you get to travel to various locations and learn from differently trained professionals. It is a job that can give you so much, especially in terms of achievement. A travel nurse is always on the move and stays in various housing, which is paid for by the company. Because of this, there is a sense of freedom and aliveness with every contract you get.

There is a lot to remember when you get assigned to your first location on your very first contract. It is important to always keep notes, so a diary is a good idea. This will allow you to revert to your notes when you are not sure of your daily tasks. There are more tips that you will read through here to help you succeed.

5 Mistakes To Avoid as a Nurse on Your Contract

There are some mistakes that can be made when nurses work on their first contract. This article will help those thinking of becoming a travel nurse to not make these mistakes.

The Contract

It is vital that you read through the nurse contract and understand your duties. This may seem a simple thing, but you will be surprised at how many nurses do not understand their contract and what is expected of them. By reading the contract, you will understand the hours you must work, any bonuses you are entitled to, and the important one, pay grade. By doing your homework on your contract, you will know what to do and how you are expected to work. If there are any issues in your contract, you can bring them up with your company before starting the job.

Errors in Your Records

This is something that can be difficult because, as a travel nurse, you are working in different locations from month to month. So it can be tricky to learn how certain hospitals keep their records. Each hospital does things differently, so it is important to make sure you understand how each location wants you to charter the records. This is a common mistake and is something that can be solved very simply by writing notes and asking your supervisor questions.

Do Not Take Your Work Home With You

When you are a travel nurse, you can be in stressful situations; this is all part of the job that you signed up for. Many travel nurses do not know when to turn their work off. After your 10-12 hour shift, make a point of turning your work brain off. As soon as you leave the hospital, you are free of work and can start living your normal life once again. This means you can do the things you enjoy, like meeting singles at http://datingjet.com/, doing yoga, or watching stuff on Netflix. If you keep taking your work home with you, you will find that your social and private life will be affected. This will then also have an effect on your work life.

Do Not Overpack

This is something that is easily done. Lots of travel nurses tend to pack too many items of clothes. This will only cause problems when you need to pack and move onto another location. It is a good idea to think about exactly what you will need to wear when you are working and what type of climate you will be in. Once you have done the relevant research on your location, you will have a good idea of what you will need to pack. A minimalist approach to packing will certainly help you in the long run, as you will not be weighed down with a heavy bag every time you are on the move.

Curiosity

This is something that is always very important, and many travel nurses are afraid of it. Never be afraid of asking questions and being curious about your work. There is a saying, and it goes, “there is no such thing as a stupid question.” How true those words are. Always be willing to ask questions to your supervisor and work colleagues. By holding your tongue and not asking questions because you fear you will look stupid, you may not complete your work in the correct way. Something as simple as a question about lunch breaks will not only educate you but it will show your supervisor that you want to learn.

Conclusion

So as you can see, there are several things to remember when it comes to working as a travel nurse. By following these steps and being open to learning, you can avoid making these mistakes. A travel nurse is a sought-after job with high responsibilities and great rewards. The perks of the job, which is travel and being able to work at various locations and even countries, is amazing. The amount of new people you meet and can learn from. As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to help so many people, but it is important to help yourself first.

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

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**Crystal Lovato, Manager of Recruitment, Freedom Healthcare Staffing**