July 29, 2021

7667 Views

5 Things to do While on Assignment in Nashville, Tennessee

Posted on July 29, 2021July 19, 2021 by Lauren Festa

Nashville is Tennessee’s capital and home to some of the most incredible music and landmarks that the state holds. The opportunities and activities to do within Nashville are endless, ranging from beautiful venues to museums that just about anybody could enjoy.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

While in Nashville, one of the most visited and well-known locations in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. As Nashville and Tennessee as a whole are known for their popping scene in the country genre, this museum is a must-visit. Within the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, there are tons of exciting exhibits that capture the role country music has interpreted. This music hall also has tours that the highly well-informed workers guide at this location.

Grand Ole Opry

Another must-visit while in Nashville is the Grand Ole Opry, which is located in the Ryman Auditorium. The Ryman Auditorium seats well over two thousand people, perfect for the famous Grand Ole Opry tradition. The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly concert held in Nashville that displays not only country music but also dabbles in folk, gospel music, and comedy performances. This tradition started back in the 20s where they would host fantastic concerts for their audience to enjoy. And if you weren’t personally at each show, the performances were broadcasted weekly, and WSM solidified the tradition countrywide, with it being streamed every Saturday. The Grand Ole Opry had such an impact on the Ryman Auditorium that the auditorium was announced a national historic landmark because of its effect on popularizing country music.

Gaylord Opryland Resort

The Gaylord Opryland resort and convention center is a stunning hotel within Nashville. This hotel was previously known as the Opryland hotel. This resort is beautifully designed with dazzling lights and a central garden. During the holidays, the location offers lights and decorations that are put on display each year. The hotel is also ideally located with lots of shopping and restaurant opportunities surrounding the area. Not only is this hotel a beautiful location to visit, but it is also one of the 30 largest hotels in the world, with 2888 rooms for guests to stay in.

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

If you enjoy American history, there is a perfect landmark located within Nashville, Tennessee, for you to visit. This landmark is Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. A Hermitage is an estate, and in this case, it is transformed into a museum honoring the seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson. There are self-guided tours of the grounds along with a tour of the mansion. This historical site is exceptionally well preserved and has tons of outbuildings to visit. The estate is a must-see for those who enjoy learning about parts of American History.

The Parthenon

The Parthenon is a stunning landmark in Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee. The landmark is a replica of the original Parthenon located in Athens, Greece. The centerpiece in Centennial Park was built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee centennial exposition. Although, these days, it operates as an art museum. On the first floor, it is a half art museum and half history exhibit. The location holds the History of the ancient Greek temple, although it lies in Nashville. The art displayed in the museum is spectacular, ranging from artists local to art from the 1800s. This landmark is crucial while exploring the different sights Nashville has to offer.

Nashville, Tennessee, is home to some of the most beautiful landmarks and activities that the state encompasses. Ranging from American History to Greek History to the uprising of country music, Nashville is filled with tons of places that you can not only learn from but enjoy while soaking in all of this information. Nashville should be considered a landmark within itself with all of the fantastic opportunities it has to offer.

By Triage Healthcare Staffing

July 28, 2021

11050 Views

10 Questions to Answer Before Taking an Assignment

Posted on July 28, 2021July 16, 2021 by Triage Healthcare Staffing

This article was provided by Triage Staffing.

Are you thinking about packing your suitcase and taking your skills on the road to pursue this adventure-filled career of travel nursing? You absolutely should.

Being able to see the country while collecting a paycheck sounds like a sweet gig, and it is! But not every day is a day at the beach, and a good recruiter would never lead you to believe it’s “a paid vacation.” Unless your idea of a vacation includes working, in which case, we have tons of “vacations” available.

We’re not trying to burst any wanderlust bubbles—we like to be real with you so you can be ready. Ready to make informed decisions on what type of travel nurse assignment suits you best so you can make the most out of your career.

That said, you need to be real with yourself, too. This means asking yourself some questions to find out what’s most important to you. What do you really want to get out of your career as a travel nurse or allied health professional? Having an idea of your priorities and communicating them with your recruiter will serve you both well. This is your life. Plan accordingly.

Here are 10 questions we think are important to consider before taking an assignment:

1) What’s your biggest motivator?

Are you itching to stand on top of that mountain? Want to put a specific hospital on your resume? Going for the highest possible number on your paycheck? Think about those things and be honest with yourself about your answers. Know that your motivator might change in the future, which is totally cool. You’re allowed to evolve as a human.

2) Are you okay with floating?

And we’re not talking about the trendy new spas around town. Are you willing to work on other units if you’re needed elsewhere? We recommend it.

As a traveler, you’re there because the facility is short-staffed. If you can work where you’re needed most, not only are you seen as a team player (maybe even MVP), but you could see that turn into monetary value as well. Float nurses often get a bump in their pay and generally don’t have to worry about an assignment being canceled.

The same goes for our allied travelers—if you’re flexible with shifts, you’ll have more assignments to choose from, which sounds like a plus to us.

This is definitely something to consider before taking an assignment.

3) What are the top three cities or states?

Have a general idea of some states you’d like to see so your recruiter isn’t throwing darts blindfolded—even if that’s what they do in their free time. Having an answer to question number one will help you out with question two.

Why have a why? Because you’re only there for 13 weeks, which may sound like a while, but it goes by fast. Especially if you’re having fun, know why you went there, so there are no regrets.

4) What type of facility would you consider to be ideal?

Do you want to gain experience in a large hospital? How about a teaching hospital where you could work with students? Maybe that’s what you’re trying to avoid—teaching students. Hey, no judgment; It’s just something you should think about ahead of time, so you get exactly (or close to) what you want out of the assignment.

5) What are your two most-desired shifts (in order of preference)?

Pretty self-explanatory.

6) Are there any clinical issues that may influence your decision on a specific facility?

Do you have a facility bed size range or patient ratios that you’re comfortable with? Are there software systems or approaches to care that you are uncomfortable with? These are questions to ask yourself, so you’re ready to discuss them with the hiring manager in an interview to ensure it’s a right fit.

7) What is your ideal weekly take-home pay after taxes?

Considering that pay rates vary throughout the US vary due to cost of living and other factors, what would you want to see on your weekly paycheck? Remember, many travelers also receive stipends for certain allowances to help with the doubled expenses you could incur traveling for work. You’ll want to factor that into your calculations of what seems like a reasonable amount to take home, based on your overall goals.

8) Housing Options

In a scenario where adequate housing is within a five-minute drive to the facility, but that cute rental near the lake is a 25-minute commute, which would you choose? Think about how important your temporary home’s location and aesthetics are. Will you be home on your days off relaxing? Maybe you want the upgrade. If you plan on only being there to sleep, finding a single room to rent might work just fine.

9) How important to you is the option of overtime or guaranteed hours?

If you’re here to get the money (dollar-dollar bills, y’all), it’ll probably be essential. If you’re in it for the day-off adventures…meh!

10) Do you like job hunting?

And interviewing and packing and all the things that go along with a new assignment? If not, you should ask your recruiter about possible extensions at the facility before you head out. Or, if you end up really liking a facility, why not see if you can take off your shoes and stay awhile? The sooner you ask your recruiter about an extension, the better. They’ll let you know how to handle it from there.

Whatever the answer, you can eliminate the multiple profile upkeep with multiple agencies (including Triage) using Kamana, an online universal profile that holds all the important info your recruiter needs to submit you to a job. With a tap of a finger, you can send several recruiters your profile and know that it’s up to date.

Setting goals and expectations from the get-go will help your recruiter work for you. Having these questions answered before taking an assignment will make it easier to get you to where you want to be now and in five years. Start thinking about your answers, and then contact a Triage recruiter today to get started.

Are you a travel nurse looking for your next or first assignment? Click here to view our job board. Already have an assignment but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.

We hope you found these tips to think about before taking an assignment helpful. Did we miss any? Comment them below.

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 Lianna Arakelyan

July 27, 2021

7080 Views

What Are the Best Health Care Tips a Travel Nurse Can Follow?

Posted on July 27, 2021March 22, 2022 by Lianna Arakelyan

As you may already know or have heard, travel nursing is one of the most exciting nursing career options you can choose. This nursing career path offers great benefits to the nurse, including the chance to grow a nursing career.

Whether you are planning your first nursing trip or are a seasoned traveling nurse, it becomes tempting to blow off some basic personal health activities while on the road. This can be due to a busy schedule and not being around a familiar environment over a prolonged period. However, your health should be a priority, especially when you are a travel nurse. You need to be in your best health to be of service to people in need.

Here are the best health care tips you can follow as a travel nurse.

Health Care Tips Every Travel Nurse Should Follow

Eating Healthy

Taking time to ensure you eat healthily is an easy tip to live by as a travel nurse. If your schedule does not leave you with enough time to prepare healthy meals every day, you should consider meal prepping on your day off. This will ensure you avoid the fast-food joint on the corner as often as possible. Once you get to your assignment location, learn where the markets are to ensure you have what you need to make healthy meals at home.

There are numerous healthy food apps and recipes online that can make your healthy feeding journey easier to manage. Having a healthy meal will ensure you give your body what it needs to withstand the long shift hours without the possibility of underfeeding or getting malnourished.

Exercising Is One of the Most Important Aspects

Taking up exercise should be an important part of your nursing schedule. Apart from helping you to remain physically healthy, it also gives you an outlet to let off steam and stress, ensuring your mental health remains in check too.

Once you get to your new assignment, you need to check out available gyms in your locality and sign up. If this is not something you are up to, consider investing in portable gym equipment and recreate a small gym in your accommodation space. This way, you can ensure you get some exercise in your free time.

Depending on where you are posted, you can consider outdoor exercise activities like running, jogging, swimming, or even hiking. The idea is to ensure you have physical activity outside your work to promote fitness and health.

Sleep Well

Holding long shifts is normal for nurses, which can make it difficult to get enough sleep. As an adult, you rewire 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night for your body to recharge and recover. Whenever possible, try to keep a consistent sleep schedule to keep your body clock balanced. : The quality of sleep is an extremely important factor in our day-to-day lives. We spend about one-third of our lives asleep so it’s vital that we take care of this time by improving the quality of sleep.

One way to ensure you get enough sleep is to create a bedtime routine for your body. This helps your body and mind to wind down, which facilitates better sleep. This can include avoiding the use of electronics an hour before bed and reading a book instead. You can also use white noise to help with falling asleep, especially if you find it hard to sleep in new places.

Don’t Use Too Much Caffeine on the Road

As a travel nurse, you are constantly on the road moving from one assignment to the next. Taking coffee sometimes seems like the best way to remain alert while on the road. However, too much caffeine can affect your ability to sleep and rest once you get to your new location, which ultimately affects your performance. Therefore, ensure you moderate your coffee intake to ensure it does not tamper with your downtime and work performance. Too much caffeine intake will also affect teeth health, causing dry mouth or stress-related dental disorders, which cannot be treated as quickly as it takes while being on the road.

Remember to Have Fun

An easy way to ease work-related stress as a travel nurse is taking time to have fun and explore your new environment. The best way to make the most of your time there is to make new friends and explore as much of the town or city as possible. You can sample the nightlife, dine at different restaurants and visit some of the attractions to make memories of the place.

How Can Travel Nurses Sustain a Good Work-Life Balance

As a nurse, you deal with serious work-related emergencies and long working hours, which can place a lot of strain on your life. Having a work-life balance makes it easier for you to integrate your personal and professional life in a healthy way.

You can attain work-life balance by:

Investing in self-care, e.g., getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating well.
Setting priorities, e.g., making time for your family and friends, to study or travel.
Asking for help when you find your responsibilities overwhelming.
Developing healthy relationships in and out of your workplace.
Having a manageable schedule

How to Get Fitter at a Workplace

Staying fit while on assignment can sometimes seem impossible for travel nurses. To ensure you do not fall off the health and fitness wagon, you should consider:

Limiting take out and instead cook at home
Limit your use of alcohol to avoid piling up on the calories.
Getting enough sleep whenever you are off work to allow your body to recover.
Creating a workout schedule that favors your working schedule to ensure you have time to exercise.

Tips to Reduce Stress Level

Stress is a natural occurrence in the nursing career. However, it is important to ensure you keep it in check to avoid falling into depression or chronic stress patterns. Some ideal ways to handle stress as a travel nurse include:

Disconnecting from your electronics to enjoy uninterrupted downtime.
Listening to music
Meditation and breathing exercises can help to reduce tension and relieve stress.
Boost your potassium intake to regulate blood pressure and improve your energy levels

Following the health care tips highlighted in this article can help you feel your best and perform at your best in every travel nurse assignment. Taking time to take care of yourself will ensure you are always at your best to take care of your patients.

We hope you found these health care tips for travel nurses helpful. Are you a travel nurse with tips for your fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

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

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 Dan Matthews

July 26, 2021

9266 Views

What You Need to Consider Before Choosing a Nursing Specialty

Posted on July 26, 2021July 12, 2021 by Dan Matthews

There are more than 100 nursing specialties to choose from, whether you’re still a nursing student or years into your travel nursing career. If you’re passionate about a certain area, it’s never too late to make a change.

But, the overwhelming nature of choosing a specialty might be holding you back.

Some specialties focus directly on dealing with patients. Others are more “behind the scenes” or managerial. Which one is right for you? How can you be sure you’re going down the right path? What if you want to travel and use your skills and knowledge to help others across the world?

Let’s dive into a few things you should consider before choosing a travel nursing specialty and how your choice will impact your travel nurse career.

What is Your Passion?

Before you factor in anything else, consider what you’re most passionate about when it comes to travel nursing. Where do you find the most joy in helping others? If you love helping people but consider yourself somewhat of an introvert, you might want to think about the following specialties:

Nurse educator
Private duty nursing
Forensic nursing
Informatics
Legal nurse consultant

You don’t need to see patients face-to-face to help them and be an outstanding travel nurse. Technology has made it possible to do a lot of behind-the-scenes work that is just as crucial for patient care.

On the other hand, if you love being amid real patient interaction each day, your specialty should involve something more hands-on. You might even feel most passionate about a certain area of the body, like the heart, or gastrointestinal system. Honing your skills and learning about specific conditions like Transposition of the Great Arteries or reflux and GERD will allow you to help patients experiencing specific types of pain and discomfort.

Ask yourself what aspects of your job you like the best, and what makes you feel most fulfilled. No matter what you choose, you should feel content and happy at the end of each shift.

How Do You Want to Work?

Doing something you love isn’t always enough to be fully satisfied with a specialty. You also have to consider how you want to work (and where). Do you feel more comfortable in a fast-paced hospital setting, or would you prefer working from home? If you want t o work remotely, you could become a:

Clinical appeals nurse
Health informatics specialist
Nurse abstractor
Nurse auditor
Nursing instructor

Working remotely as a nurse will also allow you to travel. But, doing so can require licensing agreements to work in multiple states or even countries. So, consider the time and effort you want to put into traveling the world and helping others. It can take 2-4 years to officially become a travel nurse, but working from home throughout that time can help you to get your feet wet.

Alternatively, you could jump on the telehealth train. It has become increasingly popular thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, telehealth is very clearly here to stay, making healthcare more accessible for almost everyone.

The future of telehealth is mobile, which can allow you to check up on patients right from your phone with nothing more than a strong Internet connection. You can work with patients hundreds of miles away and provide them with the care and attention they need.

When you combine the aspects of travel nursing that you love, the type of environment you’re interested in, and consider the time and effort it can take for various certifications, you can narrow down your nursing specialty relatively quickly. Keep these considerations in mind if you’re thinking about a specialty, and know that no matter what you do, you’ll be making a difference.

By Host Healthcare

July 22, 2021

9952 Views

Pros and Cons of Being a Nurse

Posted on July 22, 2021July 20, 2021 by Host Healthcare

This article was provided by Host Healthcare.

Every job has its pros and cons. While office jobs are known for their steady paycheck and a high likelihood of carpal tunnel, nursing comes with its own physical and emotional effects.

While some individuals prefer a case of computer neck to the hustle and bustle of nursing, others can look past the challenges because of the many benefits that come along with the job.

From physical labor to steady pay, we’ll cover everything that you will need to know when working in the healthcare industry. If you’re considering a career in this rewarding field, read on for the biggest pros and cons of nursing!

Pros of Nursing

To start this article on the right foot, let’s take a look at the positive side of the profession. Below are some of the most substantial benefits of nursing, as told by professional health care workers:

The feeling that comes with helping others – Most people would agree that caring for others simply feels good. As a nurse, you’ll spend a majority of your time helping those in need and reaping the benefits that come with this selfless line of work.

Forming relationships – In a similar vein, nursing is the perfect job for a people person. As a nurse, you’ll form a wide variety of relationships on a continuous, daily basis. From your patients to your fellow staff, working in a community as tightly knit as a healthcare facility is one of the easiest ways to form lasting relationships with others. As a nurse, you’ll rarely find yourself feeling lonely or isolated.

Job opportunities – Nursing is currently one of the most high-demand positions in the country. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 7% increase in the job outlook for registered nurses throughout 2029—and that’s not including the many other advanced positions within the nursing field. If you want a career path with ample job opportunities, nursing is a great option.

Flexibility – Depending on your position and place of employment, the nursing field as a whole offers quite a bit of flexibility. Registered nurses can often choose to work on a full-time or part-time basis, be on-call, or request night shifts based on their availability.

Opportunity to travel – One way to take advantage of a flexible schedule? Become a travel nurse. Travel nurses have the flexibility of changing assignments every few months, which is great for healthcare professionals who crave variety and adventure. Host Healthcare is named one of the top travel healthcare companies and has endless opportunities for travel if you are an adventure seeking nurse.

Steady pay – The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average RN salary at $75,330 per year. This can be broken down to approximately $36.22 per hour—nearly five times the federal minimum wage. Salaries for nurses only get higher as you move past entry-level positions, making this an exceptional field for individuals who need a steady income.

Cons of Nursing

Of course, every line of work also has disadvantages that are unique to the field. Prospective nurses should be aware of the following cons when it comes to this position and consider these factors before deciding on a career path:

Physically demanding – Most clinical nursing jobs require a certain level of physical endurance. From standing on your feet for most of the day, to physically moving patients from place to place, BSN nurses can expect quite a bit of manual labor when working in this field.

Emotional labor – In addition to being physically demanding, working as a nurse also requires emotional fortitude. Being in close contact with chronically ill, severely injured, or elderly patients can evoke feelings of sadness, stress, and even depression. This is why it’s crucial for nurses to prioritize self-care during their personal time.

Exposure to disease and viruses – As we’ve seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing can become a risky job in the face of viral infections and diseases. While this can be scary for many people, it’s also important to note that healthcare facilities take the utmost precautions to protect their staff. That being said, prospective nurses will need to face any fears of disease exposure prior to pursuing this position.

Working holidays – Unlike a traditional work environment, hospitals and many other healthcare facilities remain open on major holidays. This means that nurses may find themselves working on these days and missing out on time with their families. Of course, some nurses have more flexible schedules—for example, travel nurses. But before beginning a new position, discuss holiday policies with your potential employer.

Is Nursing the Right Career For Me?

If you resonate with any of the following statements, a career in nursing may be a good choice for your future career:

I enjoy a fast-paced, exciting work environment.
I would prefer a physical job that has me on my feet to sitting at a computer all day.
I am an empathetic person who enjoys helping others.
I work better with a team by my side as opposed to being alone.
I would rather choose my own hours than work a standard 9-5 job.
I am a people person.
I am interested in seeing the world while taking different job assignments.

Find Your Perfect Nursing Job

Are you intrigued by the many benefits of being a nurse? Now, it’s time to continue your education and prepare for a career in healthcare. Once you’ve completed your certification, you’ll be able to enjoy benefits like stable pay, flexibility, and the opportunity to travel if you decide to go the travel nursing path.

Sources:

ABSN.Luc. The Top Pros and Cons of a Nursing Career.
- https://absn.luc.edu/blog/the-top-pros-and-cons-of-a-nursing-career/
BLS. Registered Nurses.
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
Fortis. Nursing Hours: How Long Do Nurses Work?
- https://www.fortis.edu/blog/nursing/nursing-hours-how-long-do-nurses-work.html

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

July 21, 2021

6995 Views

Decompressing After a Hard Shift as a Travel Nurse

Posted on July 21, 2021November 28, 2023 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

This article was provided by Travel Nurse Across America.

The pandemic is slowing in some areas, but the stress that accumulated for travel nurses remains. Now is the time to tackle it. Travel nurses know life in the healthcare industry is stressful by nature, but it can be mentally and emotionally exhausting if you can’t find a way to relax when your shift is over. So, here are five things you can do to decompress after a hard shift.

5 Ways to Decompress

1. Break up your routine of going straight home after work.

Instead, go somewhere to help your mind shift its train of thought from work to “you” time. Participate in group trivia at a bar, spend a few minutes at a park, or grab a snack from the new shop down the street — add anything to your day that will break up the monotony of your routine.

2. Get together with friends and laugh.

Laughter actually is good medicine. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter activates endorphins, increases your intake of oxygen-rich air, and can help relax your muscles. Laughter also comes with potential long-term health effects, like helping your immunity.

What better way is there to induce laughter than getting together with friends? After all, it’s likely not often you get a night with your friends as an adult. The Mayo Clinic says having a sound support system can help you cope with stress and increase your self-worth. You don’t have to be in the same town to enjoy your friends’ company. Schedule a video chat, catch up with one another, and let the laughs begin.

3. Lose yourself in a hobby.

Spending a few minutes of your day with a hobby can leave you feeling refreshed and fulfilled. Your hobby doesn’t have to be expensive or come with a lot of gear (we know you need the space in your car for cross-country road trips). Just find a hobby that brings you joy and captures your focus, such as calligraphy, reading, hiking, music, or even listening to podcasts.

4. Find stillness.

Sometimes, the best way to get through stress is to face what is bothering you. Journaling can help you reflect on and express your feelings, which allows you to determine your triggers and identify what brings you happiness. Practicing meditation gives you space to acknowledge your emotions and let them pass as you focus your attention on your stillness. Using these methods to decompress might take practice and an open mind, but your future self will thank you for adding them to your life.

5. Take advantage of your agency’s benefits.

Some travel nurse agencies have free resources you can use even without agency-provided insurance. Ask your agency if it has an Employee Assistance Program or Chaplain Program, offers clinical support, or has other free benefits. There’s zero judgment and no backlash when you ask for help to take care of yourself.

Sometimes, stress relief comes by taking simple actions that you may disregard in your busy life. However, comfort can come when you take even a few minutes to prioritize your needs. Watch The Gypsy Nurse’s recent Facebook Live about Mental Health Resources for more ideas on ways to decompress, and join the conversation to let us know what has helped your mental well-being the most.

By Kevin Devoto

July 20, 2021

7075 Views

Why it’s Important for Travel Nurses to Continue Dating

Posted on July 20, 2021July 15, 2021 by Kevin Devoto

Often, healthcare travelers forgo many social activities during assignments because they know their time in any one location could be limited to just a few months. Many younger nurse travelers decide that the traveling lifestyle is best suited for gaining experience, choosing a career path, and saving money. Dating, for example, is easily sacrificed in favor of those other pursuits.

Social activities, however, are an integral part of maintaining both a balanced life and positive mental health. For this reason alone, nurse travelers should reprioritize dating while in the field, regardless of how long their contract lasts. But mental health isn’t the only reason. Here are five more:

1. Discover Who You Are

Healthcare travelers have the opportunity to explore unique areas of the country, enjoy varied cultural experiences and experience different healthcare systems. Dating provides a similar opportunity. It is every person’s chance to see how they connect with someone new and experience that person’s unique point of view.

Also, by engaging in new relationships, people become more well-rounded and empathetic – two traits vital in the healthcare field. Learning how someone experiences day-to-day life can change world views, inform career decisions and open up new opportunities to grow. Relationships tell us more about who you are than they tell you about the person you are dating.

2. Discover Your Type

Regardless of whether you live in Seattle for three months before taking a six-month contract with a healthcare system in Tampa Bay, dating during those short sprints gives you the opportunity to figure out the type of person you like to date. Do you like someone who plans every aspect of the date or someone who is more into going with the flow?

Approaching dating similar to how you approach travel assignments – brief opportunities to learn about new people and places – will help you down the road when dating becomes a more serious proposition. You can even use a service like Matchmaker DC to help you find a date.

3. Explore New Cultures

If you are new to healthcare traveling, you may only know the people and culture from the city and state where you grew up. Traveling to new cities, big and small – and in some cases all around the globe – means absorbing all-new cultural traits. There’s no better way to understand a new location and all its quirks than by dating someone who lives and breathes the city.

Approaching dating this way allows you to focus on who you date and what you want from each day or night out. You can direct your date to take you to their favorite restaurant, best museum, and off-the-beaten-path hotspot. Plus, you have a fun tour guide who is sure to make each experience extra special.

4. Make New Friends

Even saying the word dating makes every encounter with someone in your new city sound too serious. So don’t call it dating. Instead, focus on finding a friend who will help stave off boredom and loneliness during your days off. They may also help you avoid burnout, which many nurse travelers encounter sometime during their careers.

Romance doesn’t have to come part and parcel with dating. As long as you set the rules, you can find a good friend who is happy to spend time talking about your crazy co-worker or share a pizza and a movie.

5. Put Down Roots

Just as healthcare travelers often find their forever job during their time as nomadic professionals, dating could net you a future spouse. Often travelers who choose not to date do so out of a fear of commitment or worry that they will fall for someone and then have to move just as things get serious.

No one knows when they will meet the right person, though. Deciding not to date, however, ensures that you do not even have the chance. And healthcare travelers are known for taking chances on new cities and new opportunities. When the right person comes along, take the chance.

While focusing on your career and building a nest egg are excellent goals for any healthcare traveler, those goals shouldn’t come at the expense of your social life. Dating can help you balance life and work while exploring your new location in a unique and adventurous way.

Are you looking for your next travel assignment? Click here to view our job board. If you need to find housing for your next travel nurse assignment, click here to view our housing page.

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 Annie Rueb

July 19, 2021

11400 Views

RV Living as a Family and How it Relates to Travel Nursing

Posted on July 19, 2021January 16, 2023 by Annie Rueb

There are a lot of housing choices when it comes to travel nursing. Do you take housing from your company? Do you find your housing? Is it an entire house or a room in a shared home? Do you travel in an RV? Do you have pets? Kids? Or are you like us and have both? As a traveling family, we feel like RV living is the best choice. We love having a consistent home, not having to pack/unpack our things every 3 months, and financially it saves us a ton of money. However, it does come with its challenges, and we’ve had to learn ways to navigate those as it comes.

It is always a really exciting time when we are ready to sign our next contract. Because we travel as a family in an RV, we have to take some extra steps before we can do that. As soon as we apply for a position, our search for an RV resort begins. Most of our research is preliminary, so we know if we can accept a position if we get an offer.

When we contact an RV resort, this is how it goes (and yes, they want all of this information):

“Dear, excellent RV resort of our choice,

We are a traveling nurse family in a 39ft Class A Motorhome that I have photos of attached to this email. We tow a 16ft flatbed trailer with one vehicle on it. We travel with our 2 kids (ages 7 and 9) and our 2 dogs (very friendly Vizslas). We are looking to take a nursing contract at (hospital name) from (date to date). We are writing to inquire about your availability and monthly rates.

Thank you so much for your time….”

This can get exhausting, especially if you are trying to go to a destination city anywhere near their peak season. For example, when traveling to Maine for the summer, almost every single RV resort was fully booked for the entire summer. Luckily the management team at the hospital had a place they highly recommended, and everything worked out well. Likely, you are not the first travel nurse to come to the area in an RV, and the hospital will most often have great ideas for you. But if there isn’t an available place, you have to let those offers go.

Not all RV parks are created equally.

Some parks are full of incredibly kind people that are very welcoming to travel nurses, and some are not. Most parks understand that nurses are thoroughly vetted and love having you there; some make you pay for and complete very lengthy background checks. Some parks fully welcome children and dogs, and some do not and might even have extra fees associated with them. Some parks have incredible amenities like big, working laundry facilities, recreational facilities like game rooms, gyms, playgrounds, pools, lakes, dog parks, nice open spaces, high-speed internet, security, and needed utilities included in your rate. Some parks don’t have any or many of these types of amenities. We have learned to ask a lot of questions, read reviews, and get a feel for the park before committing to it.

Aside from one, every RV park we have chosen has been very safe, fun, and welcoming. But this is an extremely important factor that plays a role in whether or not we can even accept a travel contract. We have to have a safe home for the family.

Living in the RV itself is not for everyone.

We have adapted well to our tiny living space. We gave our children the back bedroom. This may feel like a big sacrifice, but it is so nice to give them their own space for their own things and have a place where they can go to bed at night that isn’t in the middle of the living room. When anyone gets up early to work, the kids aren’t disturbed. When it’s bedtime, they can go to bed, and we don’t feel like we have to as well. We transform the living room every night into our bedroom suite, and it works for us. But that is the point; if you chose to live in an RV, you have to be open to tiny living and open to adapting it to what works best for you and your travel companions.

Let’s quickly talk about finances.

We bought a used motorhome (20 years used to be exact). We did this so we could have a modest car payment instead of a small mortgage. As travel nurses, we were able to pay this off quickly. Since we purchased an already depreciated vehicle, we will not lose much money on its value annually. So, we have a paid-off vehicle that will be worth something when we are finished. We have paid anywhere from $600-$1000 a month, including utilities, for a spot at an RV resort. This is a fraction of what we would pay for a furnished home/apartment that is large enough for the family and accepts pets. We’ve looked into this from time to time and are always blown away by the monthly rates. So overall, this makes sense for us on a financial level as well.

The best part about it though is that it is home.

Decorated and designed to our liking. When it’s time to go, we throw a few things in some cabinets, and we hit the road. When we get there, we pick up right where we left off. It keeps us warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and plenty comfortable on a day-to-day basis. We love the time we get to spend outdoors and immerse ourselves in the nature around us. We meet wonderful people in RV parks. Quite often, there are other traveling families moving their way through the country for a variety of reasons, and the kids get to socialize a lot. One time, we even got lucky enough to meet another traveling nurse family, and we were all instant friends.

Overall, RV living was the best choice for us. We couldn’t recommend it more, especially to any of you out there traveling as a family. Safe travels!

To follow Annie and her family’s travel nurse adventures click here to check out our travel nursing with family articles.

Are you looking for your next great adventure as a travel nurse? Click here to view our job board.

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 Gifted Healthcare

July 16, 2021

8323 Views

5 Ways To Improve Your Communication Skills as a Travel Nurse

Posted on July 16, 2021July 15, 2021 by Gifted Healthcare

This article was provided by Gifted Healthcare.

Communication is an important part of both travel nursing and personal life. Communicating effectively will help you excel at work and in travel nursing interviews and may improve the existing bonds you have with friends and family.

We’ve created a list of tips for improving your communication skills to help you thrive as a travel nurse and beyond.

Read on to learn more on ways to improve your communication skills!

What Is Effective Communication?

First, we need to define what effective communication looks like. While it may sound simple, effective communication is a process that involves far more than the exchange of information.

An effective communicator understands the emotional content of the message and the intentions of the person they are communicating with while maintaining self-awareness and respect for the speaker.

1. Focus on Listening

Listening is probably the most important part of communicating effectively. “Active listening” is the process of fully concentrating on the message being communicated rather than simply “hearing” what is said.

Active Listening is a way of engaging in conversation that requires effort and concentration; it shows the speaker you are invested in what they are saying. To actively listen, the listener pays attention to the speaker’s verbal and nonverbal language, acknowledging the speaker’s opinion without expressing judgment.

These strategies lead to more successful and mutually beneficial interactions. Here are a few tips for active listening:

Focus closely on the message being communicated, without distraction.
Encourage the speaker to communicate fully, openly and honestly.
Monitor non-verbal language/cues.
Ask questions, paraphrase, and summarize to enhance your understanding of the message and show your concern.
Avoid judgment or jumping to conclusions.
Don’t interrupt or start thinking of a response before the speaker is finished.

Active listening takes practice to do well, but awareness is the first step! To learn more about active listening, check out this article by Heart Matters.

2. Read Nonverbal Signals

Did you know that a significant portion of communication is nonverbal? Reading nonverbal cues is an essential part of effective communication, so it’s important to maintain sensitivity to this part of the process.

According to Verywell Mind, nonverbal communication includes:

Facial expressions
Gestures and movements
“Paralinguistics” – tone of voice, volume, pitch, inflection
Eye contact
Body language and posture
Haptics, or communicating through touch

3. Manage Your Emotions

Nursing can be a fast-paced, stressful job. When we are under stress, it is more difficult to maintain self-awareness and manage our emotions. However, this is a key element of effective communication.

When our emotions are unmanaged, we can misunderstand what people are saying or misread their body language. We also tend to display confusing body language ourselves or jump to conclusions that are untrue.

When you must communicate in a stressful situation, focus on remaining calm and avoiding knee-jerk reactions to what is being said.

4. Be Confident and Assertive

While it’s important to manage emotions and be an engaged listener, remaining confident and assertive while communicating will improve the clarity of your message. According to HelpGuide.org, “being assertive means expressing your thoughts, feelings, and needs in an open and honest way, while standing up for yourself and respecting others.”

Remember, being assertive does not mean being hostile or aggressive toward other people.

In addition, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you are confused about the message. Asking for more information to clarify certain points is a good thing – it will help you understand the speaker and show them you care about what they are saying.

5. Be Willing to Compromise

Compromise is an agreement in a dispute that is reached by both sides making concessions.

If you are involved in a conflict or disagreement, try to reach a conclusion that reduces the chance of future conflict. Compromise is not always pleasant, but it is the best way to ensure successful communication in the future.

We hope you found this article on ways to improve your communication skills helpful. Do you have any tips to help fellow travel nurses with their communication skills? Comment them below.

Are you a travel nurse looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to visit our job board. Have you found your assignment but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.

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

START HERE

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