November 13, 2020

7600 Views

The unSTUCK Method® – A New Power Tool

Posted on November 13, 2020May 19, 2021 by Leona Vandermeer

Have you ever been stuck? I don’t mean stuck in the mud with your car or stuck with something, like being poked with a needle. I mean, stuck in your head about a particular situation, an interaction with someone, or on your own limiting self-talk and beliefs. You have a story going on in your mind that you believe is absolutely true. You believe you are right, and everything and everyone else is wrong, yet you continue to struggle with your thoughts and feel emotional and often physical pain. Being stuck just plain hurts.

Feeling stuck as a travel nurse

As travel nurses or healthcare workers, it is easy to get stuck or feel stuck. Certain situations happen in your day to day life at work that can make you feel stuck. These could be; “did I do all I could for that patient, was my co-worker upset that I wasn’t able to help more, did I upset that patient’s family member, to name just a few.

We don’t even realize it

The truth is we all get stuck over and over again, often without realizing it. Getting stuck is easy and comes naturally to us. It’s the getting unstuck part that is difficult and takes deliberate effort. The sooner we recognize we are stuck, the better. The longer we stay stuck, the more pain, embarrassment, hurt, anger, or fear we will experience, creating unnecessary stress and suffering in our life.

Getting unSTUCK

In my search to better support myself and my clients, I came across a book called Getting unSTUCK: Five Simple Steps to Emotional Well-Being, written by Shira Taylor Gura.[i] Shira is a personal growth coach and the creator of the unSTUCK Method®. Her book won the 2017 International Book Award in self-help. After reading her book and listening to several of her podcasts, I connected with Shira. I began my quest to learn everything I could about the science and psychology of the unSTUCK Method®.

5 step method

The unSTUCK Method® is a 5 step technique that works like an investigation process. The progression through these steps helps with understanding where to begin the investigation, how to gather information and evidence, and ultimately discover the truth that will allow for alternate perspectives and new possibilities. It’s about managing our mind instead of our mind managing us. It’s about separating circumstances from the story. The Cambridge Dictionary defines a circumstance as a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is.[ii] Since a circumstance is a fact, it could be proven to be true in a court of law. A story is not a fact. Our stories happen when we attach all of our own emotions and thoughts to the circumstance. The story then becomes charged negatively or positively by the thinking we put on top of the circumstance. The story is ultimately the source of our stuck spot.

The unSTUCK Method® uses the acronym STUCK to stand for Stop, Tell, Uncover, Consider, and Kindness. Let me explain, step by step.

STUCK

S – Stop.

Realize that you are in control. Give yourself time and space to step out of your story and look at the situation as if you were a witness to it. Take a few conscious breaths. Mindful breathing allows your mind to settle. Thoughts will inevitably come to your mind. Just notice your thoughts without attaching emotions and feelings to them. After taking time to pause, bring yourself back to the moment in time where you first felt stuck, and your story began.

T – Tell.

Tell yourself which emotions you are stuck on. It is not always easy to identify how we are feeling. At this point, it is important to allow yourself to feel your emotions mentally and physically. However, though it is necessary to feel your emotions, it is unnecessary to react to them. Give your emotions a voice by saying, “I am stuck on _______.”

U – Uncover.

Identify your thoughts and investigate them. Thoughts create your emotions. In her book, The Willpower Instinct, Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. states, “Studies show that the more you try to suppress negative thoughts, the more likely you are to become depressed.”[iii] What are your beliefs about your stuck situation? Most of our beliefs come from past patterns and experiences, often introduced to us in childhood. Beliefs are not facts and so must be challenged. Give your beliefs a voice by saying, “I believe…” Investigate what is truth and what is the story? If your beliefs are not 100% true, then they are the story and not fact.

C – Consider.

As soon as you determine that one or more of your beliefs are not true, you are opening up a whole new process of possibility thinking. Consider another perspective. Begin by saying, “I can consider…” At this point, you become more rational and less emotional. You are more willing to accept a different viewpoint and are able to end your story and begin to focus on the truth. You become unstuck.

K – Kindness.

Forgiveness and self-compassion should be exercised after you find yourself unstuck. Treat yourself with kindness and know that getting stuck happens to everyone—end of story.

For the sake of a simple example of how I got unstuck this summer, let me share my personal story.

I got stuck with my neighbor or, more accurately, my former neighbor. Here is a little background. Bob and his family lived next door to us for almost 20 years but moved away to a nearby town a couple of years ago. Bob had a little shop in his backyard where he repaired cars. He was our neighbor and our mechanic. Bob’s family and our family weren’t necessarily close, but we were definitely neighborly. We would chat when we would see each other, but we didn’t necessarily visit each other’s homes. Bob would often fundraise for a particular cause he was passionate about, and we were happy to donate any time he would ask.

One Saturday, my husband and I were working in our front yard, and we saw Bob pull up, on his motorcycle, into our neighbor’s driveway across the street. They were also working outside. I noticed them talking and laughing for a good hour and expected Bob to stop by and say “hello” to us next. We carried on with our yard work and awaited his visit. But he didn’t come over. Instead, he just hopped back onto his motorcycle and drove off. Why didn’t he say hi? He must have seen us; we were in plain sight the whole time he was chatting up the neighbors.

I found myself pulling up weeds with a little more aggression. The bugs became more annoying, and though the outdoor temperature had not changed, I felt a little hot-headed. I was STUCK, S.T.U.C.K., Stuck!

So, the first thing I needed to do was Stop. I took a few deep breaths and brought myself to the present moment. I took the time to simply notice my thoughts. I felt more calm and ready to start investigating my story.

It was time to Tell.

I needed to figure out what emotions I was stuck on and began making my “I am stuck on” statements:

I am stuck on the hurt.
I am stuck on confusion.
I am stuck on insecurity.
I am stuck on anger.
I am stuck on judgment.
I am stuck on jealousy.

I allowed myself to really feel those emotions and noticed the tightness arising in my chest.

I needed to Uncover.

And investigate why I was feeling those emotions. What were my thoughts and beliefs:

I believe he should have stopped to say hi.
I believe he doesn’t value our friendship.
I believe he just used us for the benefit of getting work and donations from us.
I believe I am being hypocritical.

I looked at each of my belief statements and asked myself the question, “Is this true?” I realized that if I had to prove any one of these beliefs in a court of law, not a single one would hold up as 100% true. After listing my last belief, I realized that I needed to go back to the T and tell myself that I was also stuck on hypocrisy. To be very truthful, I was enjoying working in the yard and the progress I was making. I didn’t truly want Bob to stop by because I didn’t want the interruption.

I moved to Consider.

What is another perspective I could consider:

I can consider that Bob had a purpose in seeing our neighbors and a limited amount of time.
I can consider that he saw us working busily in the yard. However, in the past, when he had stopped by, he may have felt that he was intruding.
I can consider that we had not kept in touch with him over the last couple of years, and perhaps the neighbors across the street had.
I can consider that his relationship with our neighbors was closer than the relationship we had shared.
I can consider that I could have gone over to the neighbors to say, “hi.”

It was at this last consideration that I had gotten myself unstuck. Why hadn’t I just gone over to the neighbors and said hello? There was no reason for me to have waited for him to come over to see me. I was no longer stuck.

The kindness part is important

After getting unstuck, it felt so good to end my story with the last step of Kindness. I needed to treat myself with kindness and compassion and realize that getting stuck happens, and it’s OK. The kindness part is important because otherwise, the cycle can start all over again by getting stuck on a new set of emotions like embarrassment, shame, or guilt?

As a business coach, I’ve come to realize that the daily emotional issues my clients deal with are often the root cause of their professional struggles and stress. Insecurity, fear, anger, aversion, pride, gloom, and desire are just a few emotions that are most commonly expressed. I had been struggling with how to best work through these emotions with my clients. I feared crossing a line by asking the wrong questions or probing too deeply. The truth is I actually need to cross the line so that I can meet them on the other side of their pain. With this amazing 5 step process, I now have a powerfully empowering new tool in my coaching box.

In 2019, I had the honor of being accepted into Shira’s coaching program and became a certified unSTUCK Coach.

You can listen to my personal unSTUCK story as featured in podcast #110

https://shiragura.com/podcast/episode-110/

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

[i] Gura Taylor, Shira. Getting STUCK: Five Simple Steps to Emotional Well-Being (Silver Spring, MD: Three Gems Publishing 2016)

[ii] Cambridge Dictionary ‘Circumstance’

[iii] McGonigal ph.D., Kelly (2011-12-29). The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It (p.215). Penguin Publishing Group, Kindle Edition.

By Haleigh Gorrell

October 25, 2020

68734 Views

The Differences Between Travel Nursing in Canada vs. The United States

Posted on October 25, 2020May 11, 2023 by Haleigh Gorrell

Over the past few months, I’ve been in contact with a lot of other travel nurses via social media, and most of them are from the US! It’s been really cool comparing the differences between travel nursing in Canada vs. the United States, so I figured maybe other people would be interested in it too!

The Healthcare System

I guess one of the biggest differences is the healthcare system itself. Here in Canada, we have universal health care. We have a provincial health card and can go to any clinic or hospital, and by presenting this card, we are provided with all health care services. FOR FREE. We do not get billed for any hospital stay, necessary surgery, or products that are used while admitted. To have a baby, we don’t have to pay. If you have an elective surgery, such as most plastic surgeries, you do have to pay. We pay for prescriptions from pharmacies, dental and eye care, and things like that, but if you have insurance or a benefits package, most of these things are covered. So basically, I can go to any hospital in the country and get care for whatever I need, and the government funds it. Sure, we may pay more taxes than Americans, but I’m not going to get into all of that.

Nursing Aspect

Now let’s move on to the nursing aspect of it. Similar to US state-to-state licensing, Canadian nurses have to apply for licensing in each separate province. If you want to work in British Columbia, you have to pay for and apply for licensing with them, and you cannot work in any other province. I know this is similar to the US except for compact state licensing. Some states will let you work in them if you have a compact license from one of the other states.

Here we have to go through the entire process for each separate province which can be expensive if you have more than one. I currently have an Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia license, and the fees differ throughout the country. In Ontario, it’s only around $300 a year to renew. In Alberta and BC, it cost me about $800 to complete the licensing. That’s also not including the fees for criminal record checks etc.

NCLEX

Nurses in Canada write the NCLEX as well. This started in 2015, the year before I graduated, and now we can go to any province or state, and we don’t have to write any extra exams! We write the American-based exam, and they provide us with the Canadian lab values. There are a couple of things that are on the exam that are a bit foreign to us, but we just make sure we review this while studying!

Hierarchy of Nursing in Canada

For example, the hierarchy of nursing is a little different up here. We have Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered/Licensed Practical Nurses (RPNs/LPNs), and Personal Support Workers (PSWs)/ Health Care Aids (HCAs). The scope of practice for RNs is wide-we can do everything, and if we can’t, a doctor would be the next step up. We go to university for 4 years and get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. In some provinces, laws were recently passed so RNs can actually prescribe medications. RPNs or LPNs have a smaller scope of practice which differs from province to province. They go to a college or technical college for usually only two years.

In Ontario, where I’m from, they can do everything except have patients with central lines, epidurals, telemetry, or if they are a very unstable patient, but this does differ from facility to facility. In Alberta, where I recently worked, it was similar, but LPNs couldn’t spike bags of blood for transfusions or bladder scan patients, for example. It depends on each provinces’ governing body of nurses and their regulations. As a travel nurse, make sure you know the scope of practice for the province you’re working in! We have PSWs who mostly work in long-term care. In Alberta, there were HCAs who would help with washes, transfers, stocking carts, etc.

The hospital where I work back home in Ontario does not have health care aids to do this. We do everything- vitals, feeding, brief changes, answering call bells, mobilizing patients and transfers, blood sugars, processing orders, all medications, everything! I wish we had CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) to help us with the workload, but we are not given that opportunity. Some hospitals across Canada do have PSWs, so maybe it’s just where I live that we have to work harder! As I continue to work in other provinces, I am seeing how other provinces do things, and that is one of my favorite parts of travel nursing.

Contract Length

One big difference that I have noticed about travel nursing in Canada is that we do much shorter contracts. In the US, the standard is 13-week contracts. Here in Canada, we can do much shorter contracts. I’ve done 5, 6, and 8-week contracts so far. I know people who have even done 2-week contracts! I guess this is much easier for us to do because we do not have to find our own housing.

Housing is provided for us on each assignment, even if it means living in a hotel during our contract. All of our travel costs to and from the assignment location are covered as well! I’m sure you could request a housing stipend if you wanted to find your own housing, but I don’t really feel like that is necessary. I’ve stayed in a house with 6 other travel nurses and in a house with a couple that rents out rooms. My next contract, the hospital uses college dorm rooms to house their travel nurses! It’s whatever the hospital decides.

Recruiters

One other big difference that I have noticed is the abundance of agencies and recruiters in the States. We have two in Canada- Solutions Staffing and Select Medical Connections. If there are others, I have never heard of them (sorry)! I am employed by both agencies, and there are plenty of contracts with both, mostly critical care nursing. In the states, the amount of agencies is overwhelming. I have no idea where I would even start to choose one!

Wages

The wages for travel nurses average around $45-55 an hour. The more isolated the community, the more you make. It can also increase if you have a specialty and more experience. In Ontario, staff nurses start at around $31 an hour. And increase with years of experience, so the increase in pay is well worth it to become a travel nurse!

Have you ever thought of travel nursing in Canada!? If you have questions or comments, I would love to hear from you! Message me on Instagram @thetalesof.hales.

Want more information on Travel Nursing?

Check out our Travel Nurse Guide!

By Gifted Healthcare

October 20, 2020

8188 Views

5 Traits To Look For in Travel Nurse Recruiters

Posted on October 20, 2020May 19, 2021 by Gifted Healthcare

This article was provided by: Gifted Healthcare

Whether you’re a veteran travel RN or you’ve just begun searching for your first assignment, it’s essential to develop great relationships with your travel nurse recruiters. Is there such a thing as an ideal recruiter? We think so!

We spoke to Kate Twombly, one of GIFTED Healthcare’s top recruiters, to find out what to look for in a recruiter to ensure that you find the right assignment and receive the excellent support you deserve.

Read on to learn five traits to look for in travel nurse recruiters!

Trustworthiness

The ideal recruiter is trustworthy and transparent during the process of finding nurses their assignments.

It’s extremely important to make sure your recruiter has your best interests in mind. “The first thing I tell people to look for in a recruiter or an agency is one that you feel like you can trust,” Kate said. “You should feel like your recruiter has your back at all times.”

For those new to travel nursing, the process of finding an assignment can be tricky at first. But a great recruiter will make sure that everyone is on the same page, working together to find the assignment that aligns best with a nurse’s needs.

“A recruiter should take time to understand what is important to you as a nurse, what you’re looking for, as well as if you will succeed in a given clinical environment.”

Organization

The ideal recruiter plans ahead and stays organized, making sure that everything is taken care of in an orderly manner.

Little details matter, big time.

Kate says, “Organization is really important. Travel nurse recruiters’ to-do lists are made of a lot of little tasks rather than a few big tasks, and they need to stay on top of everything. That way, they can be fully informed and transparent when they speak with a nurse about their assignment options and pay packages. Every detail counts.”

Initiative

The ideal recruiter develops relationships with their nurses, showing that they are invested in every nurse’s success.

“A great recruiter will work hard to develop a rapport with a nurse to understand their needs, expectations, and the kind of clinical environment where they will succeed,” says Kate. “If there’s an unexpected problem, is your recruiter going to work extra hours to find you more options? If you’re having a really bad day on a Saturday, do they give you their number and say that you can call them any time? What are they doing to make sure you feel supported?”

For new travel nurses, Kate goes the extra mile.

“For a brand new travel nurse, I make sure that we get on the phone for a 30-minute to the hour-long conversation,” Kate said. “I’ll explain the whole process and let them know what to expect, making sure they’re completely informed. Travel nursing is different than staff nursing, and it’s a recruiter’s responsibility to set expectations and make sure a nurse is prepared to succeed.”

Compassion

The ideal recruiter shows understanding and appreciation for the work of the nurse.

2020 is the Year of the Nurse, and the world is finally beginning to recognize nurses as the heroes they are. Your recruiter should also have respect for the great work that you do.

“Compassion and empathy are really important,” Kate said. “This year has been very taxing on healthcare workers, and they deserve to be appreciated. A great recruiter needs to understand that for many RNs, nursing is more than their job, and the decisions a nurse makes significantly impacts their livelihood and family.”

An ideal recruiter provides nurses with real feedback on facilities, pay packages, and clinical environments, with an appreciation for the impact that any given assignment will have on their lives.

Resiliency

The ideal recruiter is resilient, willing to adapt to the nurse’s needs, or the job market while maintaining a positive attitude.

“If you encounter adversity when supporting a nurse, stay the course,” said Kate. “Recruiters should be able to creatively solve problems while seeing the glass half full at all times.”

In the “new normal,” uncertainty and unexpected changes have become more common. A fantastic recruiter should make you feel safe and prepared, mitigate the potential for unwanted surprises, and be willing to “roll with the punches” to do everything they can to help you have a great experience.

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 Maddie Torres-Gypsy Nurse Correspondent

October 12, 2020

12969 Views

Ambulatory Nursing: Why Travel Nurses Should Consider Outpatient Centers

Posted on October 12, 2020May 19, 2021 by Maddie Torres-Gypsy Nurse Correspondent

This article sponsored by TNAA.

It is no surprise that there is an ongoing shift from inpatient to outpatient medical care. Many patients prefer to have their knee replacement surgeries, colonoscopies, and mammograms performed in an outpatient setting due to the associated ease, convenience, and price point. This increased demand by patients presents a perfect opportunity for travel nurses who are interested in ambulatory care.

What is ambulatory nursing?

Ambulatory nursing refers to registered nurses who work with patients outside of a hospital setting and tends to exclude overnight care. Although no further training is necessary, nurses can specialize to become an ambulatory care nurse (ACN). These facilities range from physicians’ offices to clinics, and even outpatient surgery centers. The work of an ambulatory nurse differs in that nurses care for patients in a more controlled environment with the potential for a higher volume of patients in one day. Although many of the facilities do not see patients in an emergency setting, nurses will tap into their clinical knowledge and apply it to a variety of health problems. Despite these differences, the work is still patient-focused and can provide an opportunity for nurses to develop specialized skills, particularly in surgical centers.

One of the fastest-growing nursing opportunities

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) are one of the fastest-growing healthcare opportunities for nurses. These facilities provide a unique experience for travel nurses who want authentic operating room experience while also preserving their flexibility to travel around the country. According to IBISWorld as of 2019, the ambulatory surgery industry employment was 168,702 and growing about 6% per year. In addition, a report done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics not only said that outpatient care centers are one of the fastest-growing industries but also projected growth around 49% from 2014-2024. With such high demand, more facilities are being opened across the country spanning Alaska all the way to California. Although there are currently over 100,00 ambulatory surgery centers, more growth is expected. This increase in job availability means that people have the opportunity to work in a desired location without having to sacrifice experience in a range of surgeries.

Growth in the ASC sector

Given the exponential growth in the ASC sector, more and more procedures are performed outside of a traditional hospital setting. These surgeries range in complexity and severity, and today, it is more likely that surgical procedures like joint replacements will be performed within the walls of an ambulatory surgery center. In 2017, 15% of all joint replacements were performed in an outpatient setting. This is predicted to increase to 32% by the end of 2020 and by the year 2026, more than half of all joint replacement surgeries will take place in an ASC. (Becker’s ASC Review). With such a substantial shift to outpatient facilities, travel nurses have an unprecedented opportunity to gain valuable surgical experience outside the hospital setting.

Nursing alternatives

Due to COVID-19, nurses are spending long, grueling hours working a hectic schedule and caring for very acute patients. Healthcare workers on the frontline have spent the last six months working in an utterly unpredictable and rather traumatizing environment. Given that reality, many nurses are looking for alternatives to a traditional hospital setting that would provide them with a bit more stability. As an ambulatory nurse at an outpatient surgery center, travel nurses would be able to fulfill their love of traveling while gaining experience in an outpatient operating room. With ambulatory care, nurses can work a more traditional “9 to 5” / Monday – Friday workweek. An assignment in one of these facilities could provide travel nurses with the consistency and stable schedule they have been lacking while working with COVID-19 patients in a hospital. In addition, travel nurses would be able to gain a sense of autonomy despite so much uncertainty. As a result, they may find that they are able to maintain a much better work-life balance and therefore feel less stressed.

Other advantages of working as an ambulatory nurse in an outpatient surgery center include:

• Very little “on call” hours
• Weekends are free
• Patients are less acute
• Patients have same-day surgeries
o Procedures include: biopsies, simple joint procedures, ACL reconstruction, carpal tunnel release, and rotator cuff repairs
• Most of the nurses working in this setting are Pre-op, OR, PACU, and OR Techs
o Other specialties exist as well (ex: endoscopy nurses and GI nurses)

If travel nurses are looking to hone their skills in various surgical operations, or just looking for something new, ambulatory nursing is a great alternative to a traditional hospital setting. There are jobs posted almost daily on resources like The Gypsy Nurse, Indeed, and Glassdoor. It is a common misconception that travel nurses are unable to work in these outpatient facilities as in reality there are assignments available all over the country. Travel nurses can continue to pursue their love of traveling while also gaining a more stable and reliable work schedule in Ambulatory Nursing.

Sources:

https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/projections-industry.htm

https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/ambulatory-surgery-centers-industry/

https://www.beckersasc.com/orthopedics-tjr/14-things-to-know-about-total-joint-replacements-and-ascs-for-2020.html

https://www.registerednursing.org/specialty/ambulatory-care-nurse/

https://www.travelnursing.com/news/features-and-profiles/all-about-ambulatory-surgery-centers/#:~:text=Variety%20is%20another%20reason%20why,to%20assignments%20in%20this%20setting.&text=Due%20to%20their%20cost%2Defficiency,to%20traditional%20in%2Dhospital%20surgery.

https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20170317.059235/full/

By The Gypsy Nurse

October 9, 2020

7130 Views

Benefits of Being a TGN Member

Posted on October 9, 2020May 19, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

There are many benefits to being a member of the Gypsy Nurse website. In this article, we will go over these benefits to help you understand these benefits and how to use them better.

Find nursing colleagues, connect, and privately message nurses.

Find fellow nurses in your new assignment area, nurses in the same specialty, or even nurses you have worked with in the past. Add them as a friend to keep in contact by messages or by using our 1-1 private video calling, explained below.

Connect with nursing friends with 1-1 private video calling.

This feature allows you to video chat with nurses you have connected or friended on our website. This is an easy way to connect in a more personal way than chat, text, or email. This is a secure video chat room that only you and the person you invite or invited can enter. A password is required to enter. Making this a secure chat.

You can use this feature to personalize the alerts you get. When creating your job alerts, you can decide what specialties or job types, locations, or keywords you want to be alerted to when they are posted.

Save and “favorite” multiple jobs for future applications.

With this feature, you can save jobs that may be a job you would be interested in applying to in the future. This feature is excellent if you are not quite ready to commit but want to have it available and not have to search out the job again.

Rate and review travel nurse agencies.

On TheGypsyNurse.com, you can easily find, rate, and review travel nurse agencies. Agencies are easy to search on our Agencies and Facilities page. Just use the search bar on the right side. Results will appear as soon as you start typing. Click on the agency or healthcare facility you are looking for. Once on their page, you will find their reviews, or you can leave a review.

Rate and review healthcare facilities.

Much like rating agencies, rating and reviewing healthcare facilities is very simple. You go to our List of Hospital page and search for the hospital you are looking for. Once there, you can read the reviews (if there are any) and leave a review.

Access our Travel Nurse Events Calendar to be notified of industry or agency-sponsored events in your area.

Our event calendar is a great place to find industry events. These are in-person or virtual. There are a wide variety of events posted. Keep checking back as events are added frequently.

Privately direct message with other nurse connections on our platform.

By connecting with other nurses on our website, you can privately message them. Because you must be connected to private messages on TGN.com, you won’t get unwanted messages from strangers.

Easily find convenient and affordable housing near jobs of interest through Furnished Finder.

Finding housing has never been easier! Use our housing page to search for housing in the location of your next assignment. All the listings in that area from Furnished Finder will appear in your search.

Have a travel nursing question? Directly and privately ask a Gypsy Nurse Mentor

If you question travel nursing, you can directly and privately reach out to a Gypsy Nurse Mentor. These can be questions about contracts, experience, advice, or any travel nursing-related question. Go to our Ask a Travel Nurse page, enter your information, and submit. Your message will be answered as soon as possible.

Submit your guest articles via your profile and it may be published

Always wanted to write for The Gypsy Nurse but now sure how to reach out? Use our Submit an Article page to write an article. We will review it and let you know if and/or when we will publish it. This is a great way to get more involved with TGN.

We are constantly working to add resources and member benefits to TGN.com to help travel nurses on their journey. Keep checking the site as new features are being added. Are there any features or benefits you would like to see on TGN.com? Comment them below.

By Professional Nursing Services

October 8, 2020

7389 Views

Why Do Travel Nurses Travel?

Posted on October 8, 2020May 19, 2021 by Professional Nursing Services

This article was provided by Professional Nursing Services.

As a recruiter, I often get asked by new nurses. Why do people even consider travel nursing?

Everyone has their own reason, but these are the ones I hear most frequently.

Adventure

Traveling is a great opportunity to see more the world. Travel Nursing gives you the opportunity to see more without hurting your bottom line. The average vacation is four days and that not much time to take in a location.

The average travel nursing contract lasts 13 weeks and there is a lot more opportunity to seen an area when you can explore it for weeks on end. Whether it is hiking the Rocky Mountains or visiting the Met in NY, the extended-stay allows you to really take in the whole area.

Pay

Travel Nurses can make a lot more money than staff nurses. Some nurses aren’t worried about where they go or what they see but are there for the money and more money. There are a couple of different ways to effectively maximize your pay.

Picking the right location, everyone wants to go to Cali and the pay seems great but the cost of living takes a lot of the extra money you make. Picking a less desirable location usually has good pay with a very low cost of living.

Taking the maximum subsidies allows you to get paid without pesky taxes and it is completely legal. You will want to consult with an accountant to make sure that you are doing it right.

Pay can be a great motivator for people who aren’t picky on their location.

Experience

When wanting to move up the ranks having experience in different locations with different methods looks great on a resume. While travel nursing is not for everyone, there are a lot of great opportunities for those who want to try it out.

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

By Kevin Devoto

October 7, 2020

7673 Views

6 Essential Health Products to Bring While Traveling

Posted on October 7, 2020January 16, 2023 by Kevin Devoto

Hitting the road and taking a trip is an extremely exciting venture. However, it can turn disastrous if you don’t have the right tools with you. Your body doesn’t have a “vacation mode”, so you need to be sure it stays fit and functional. Figuring out what to bring for your wellness can be difficult. So, here are 6 essential health products to bring while traveling.

1. Medication and Supplements

First and foremost, it’s essential to bring any wanted medications or supplements on your trip. Double-check before you leave to make sure each is packed. Your medications will keep you able to function correctly. A vacation or trip can’t be fully enjoyed without this. If you tend to get allergies from a change in climate, bring along tissues, cough drops, and nasal spray. You may want to consider looking at supplements and formulas to bring. Companies like LCR Health make supplements that increase your overall health and energy. If the price worries you, look into getting an LCR Health coupon.

2. Sanitizers

Now more than ever, bringing sanitizers with you on a trip is vital. This is especially true if you’re using public transportation or communal living space. Have wipes with you to clean any seats others have used. Buy a mini reusable hand sanitizer bottle. You’ll be able to pull it out at any time after touching a potentially hazardous surface. If you’re checking into a hotel, be sure you wipe down any surfaces you’re planning on touching. The last thing you want is to get sick while traveling, so be vigilant with your sanitizing.

3. Layered Clothes

Clothing may not seem like a standard health product, but bringing layers will greatly affect your well-being. If you’re traveling to a cold climate, be sure you have warm apparel. Bring scarves, hats, and gloves. Scarves are particularly vital as covering your throat will prevent sickness. A vacation to a hotter area requires lighter clothing. However, a cold front could necessitate a jacket to be available. Consider your health while choosing clothing for a trip.

4. Healthy Snacks

Everyone has a particular group of favorite foods, and chances are the places you’re going to won’t have them. This also applies to healthy foods. If you’re stuck eating pizza and burgers during the trip, you won’t have enough energy or strength to fully engage. If you bring healthy snacks, you’ll be able to stay satisfied and efficient. Try to find ones that provide protein and energy boosts. These will be especially helpful when you need sustenance in a hurry.

5. Water Bottles

Unless you’re planning on buying armfuls of water bottles at every stop, bring a few reusable ones with you. These are excellent products for a few reasons. One is that they are earth-friendly. Another is that a single bottle will save you money – constantly buying water gets expensive. Lastly, you’ll have water on you at all times. Dehydration can be a huge deterrent on a trip, so try to avoid it at all costs.

6. Exercise Gear

If you’re taking a long trip, you’ll want to be able to continue some regular routines. This includes keeping in shape. Unless your vacation involves some form of athletics, you won’t be maintaining your physical health. Bringing along large equipment is clearly not going to happen, but you should consider investing in smaller exercise products. Bring small weights to aid in your workouts. Resistance bands are also helpful in this regard. If you’re having difficulty finding workouts that will fit in a small room, consider getting a jump rope. Despite what is probably an ever-changing schedule, try to stick with a time for exercising each day.

Maintaining your body’s well being is always a major priority, even when you’re on vacation. Carve out some time to take care of yourself each day. Be sure that you’re ingesting nutritious items. If you bring these products along, your body will stay happy and healthy on your trip.

We hope this list of 6 essential health products to bring while traveling helps you while you are travel nursing or just traveling for leisure. Do you have any health products you would include on this list? 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 Lirika Hart

October 2, 2020

8311 Views

7 Benefits of Regular And Daily Physical Activity

Posted on October 2, 2020May 19, 2021 by Lirika Hart

Do you want to feel good, increase your energy, and even improve the quality of your life? Just engage in regular and daily physical activity. The different physical activities that you can do include power walking, jogging, running, swimming, dancing, and bike riding, just to name a few. Being physically active allows you to enjoy a variety of benefits. It may even add a couple of years to your quality life.

Here are 7 benefits you can reap from engaging in consistent and daily physical activity.

1. Keeps Body Weight in Check

Being active enables you to be in great shape. It helps you keep excess fats away or maintain weight loss by burning calories. To burn more calories, consider increasing the intensity of the activity. Despite going to the gym, you can start doing some exercise while going to work. Let’s say, if you work in a co-working space that offers a place to leave your bike, you can definitely ride to the office. This will enable you to have some physical activity twice per day while going to and coming back from work. On the other hand, going to the gym regularly is an excellent way to stay physically active. But if you can’t squeeze time into your schedule due to work obligations or other personal reasons, just strive to remain active throughout the day. Use the stairs rather than the elevator and take a brisk walk during coffee and lunch breaks. Above all, remember consistency is the key to reaping the maximum benefits of physical activity.

2. Builds and Maintains Healthy Bones and Muscles

Consistent and daily exercise helps you build and maintain strong bones and muscles. Lifting weights and riding a bike coupled with sufficient protein intake can encourage muscle building. If you’re considering cycling as your go-to activity for maintaining your musculoskeletal health, you might be interested in investing in electric bike kits to integrate on your normal bike, which will give you a new cycling experience while you at the same time build your muscle mass and stamina.

With age, people experience loss of muscle mass and function, putting them at high risk of injuries and physical impairments. Consistent physical activity plays an important role in lowering muscle loss and improving your strength even as you age. It also helps you strengthen your bones and maintain bone density.

3. Boosts Mood

A host of studies show that regular physical activity can be a great mood booster. It can combat feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression by stimulating changes in the sections of the brain responsible for controlling anxiety and stress. It can also stimulate numerous brain chemicals, which may make you happier, calmer, and less anxious.

4. Brings Back the Spark in Your Sex Life

Are you struggling to enjoy physical intimacy? In addition to increasing your energy levels, continuous and daily physical activity can improve how you feel regarding your physical appearance, which may add the much-needed spark to your sex life. On top of that, it may improve arousal for women and reduce the risk of developing erectile dysfunction for men.

5. Fights Off Life-threatening Health Conditions and Diseases

Are you looking for ways to prevent or manage serious health problems? Being physically active increases the level of “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) and reduces unhealthy triglycerides. This leads to a smooth flow of blood throughout the body, which lowers your risk of heart diseases. Regular physical activity does an excellent job of preventing or managing a wide range of other health problems like stroke, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, various forms of cancer, and high blood pressure. More importantly, it can boost cognitive function and bring down the odds of death from nearly all causes.

6. Source of Fun and Social Life Improvement

Regular exercise adds fun to your life. It offers you an opportunity to relax in a style, explore the outdoors, or just participate in fun-filled activities. It can help you build a strong bond with your friends or family members, especially when you’re exercising together in a fun social environment. So start cooking lessons, sign up for a dance class, or get some electric bike kits for an enjoyable ride. Look for an enjoyable physical activity and have fun.

7. Relax and Enjoy Quality Sleep

Are you always tired? Do you struggle to fall asleep? Physical activity can help you unwind and get sufficient, restful sleep. The energy depletion that happens when you exercise accelerates the recuperative process as you sleep. People with sleep disorders can benefit from being active all the time.

Key Takeaways

Regular and daily physical activity provides amazing benefits that can enhance your overall health. It increases the levels of brain hormones, which can guarantee you a happy feeling and better sleep. It can help you combat serious health conditions, achieve your dream body, and make your sex life better.

By Cross Country Nurses

September 30, 2020

5928 Views

Will COVID-19 and the Pandemic Affect the 2020-2021 Flu Season for Travel Nurses?

Posted on September 30, 2020May 19, 2021 by Cross Country Nurses

This article provided by Cross Country Nurses.

Travel nurses are used to having more available opportunities during flu season, as most hospitals face a rise in patient census during this time. This year, however, hospitals will be facing a new challenge that will only exacerbate their nursing shortages: COVID-19. With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continuing to rise nationwide, there are several variables that hospitals need to be prepared for, including the possibility that patients could be infected with both viruses simultaneously and be hospitalized more than once if they contract both viruses separately. Both scenarios have the potential to increase nurse demand this flu season. Hospitals are moving quickly to address these possibilities by securing the additional nursing staff they expect to require now.

Will COVID-19 Cause Hospitalizations to Increase During the 2020-2021 Flu Season?

Scientists and healthcare professionals are learning more about COVID-19 and how it affects patients by the day. As more information is gained, treatments for COVID-19 patients have improved and hospitalizations appear to have decreased and often been of shorter duration. That said, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has warned that flu viruses and COVID-19 are likely to be circulating at the same time this fall and winter. While no one can predict exactly how many people will be infected by any of these viruses, the logical conclusion based on this fact is that hospitalizations will increase this flu season compared to last, which according to the CDC, included tens of millions of cases and tens of thousands of deaths.

Will COVID-19 Restrictions Help Stop the Spread of Flu During the 2020-2021 Season?

Travel restrictions, social distancing, and the wearing of masks have all been shown to stop the spread of COVID-19 in numerous countries worldwide as well as communities here in the United States. According to some reports, countries in the Southern Hemisphere, who are already in the height of their flu season, are experiencing a lower number of flu cases compared to last year. Local health officials there point to widespread adoption of COVID-19 restrictions as the reason.

While this might give health officials here hope if people largely continue to embrace the restrictions, there is an important variable to consider in the change of weather that occurs during our flu season. Colder temperatures will likely lead to more people crowding together in indoor spaces without masks. Additionally, the symptoms of common winter colds, including coughing and sneezing, are likely to spread COVID-19 virus particles from infected persons, whether or not they know they are infected.

Why Travel Nurses Should Secure Their Flu Season Assignments Now.

With so many unknown variables this flu season, and with all they have learned about the resources necessary to treat COVID-19 patients, many hospitals are being proactive in seeking out the additional healthcare staff they expect to need in the coming months. Nurses, especially those with ICU, Med/Surg, Tele, and ED specialties, are currently in the highest demand and already being sought to fill anticipated openings. This is why we suggest travel nurses start searching for the assignments they want most now before those openings are filled. The sooner you act to lock down an assignment, the more likely it will be in the city and clinical setting that most appeals to you.

Ready to secure your travel nurse assignment for the 2020-2021 flu season? Search our Job Board for your next assignment!

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Feeling stuck as a travel nurse

We don’t even realize it

Getting unSTUCK

5 step method

STUCK

S – Stop.

T – Tell.

U – Uncover.

C – Consider.

K – Kindness.

It was time to Tell.

I needed to Uncover.

I moved to Consider.

The kindness part is important

Related Posts

How Travel Nursing Benefits Your Mental Health

Take Control of Your Life: Physical Activities That Improve Your Health

Journaling with Purpose: Journaling Tips for Travel Nurses

Categories

Travel Healthcare Jobs

Recent Articles

The Healthcare System

Nursing Aspect

NCLEX

Hierarchy of Nursing in Canada

Contract Length

Recruiters

Wages

Want more information on Travel Nursing?

Check out our Travel Nurse Guide!

Related Posts

7 Signs of a Great Travel Nurse

Ask A Travel Nurse: Can I expect Compensation for Pre-Employment Testing

Top 10 Details to Include on Your Nursing Resume This Year!

Categories

Travel Healthcare Jobs

Recent Articles

Trustworthiness

Organization

Initiative

Compassion

Resiliency

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!)

Related Posts

How to Fast-Track Your Career Development with Travel Nursing Jobs

Jet-Setting & Staying Well: 9 Meal Planning Tips for Travel Nurses

High-Paying Travel Nurse Positions: Unlock Your Earning Potential

Categories

Travel Healthcare Jobs

Recent Articles

What is ambulatory nursing?

One of the fastest-growing nursing opportunities

Growth in the ASC sector

Nursing alternatives

Other advantages of working as an ambulatory nurse in an outpatient surgery center include:

Related Posts

5 Ways to Succeed as a Travel Nurse

The Altruistic Nurse vs The Career Nurse

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

Categories

Travel Healthcare Jobs

Recent Articles

Find nursing colleagues, connect, and privately message nurses.

Connect with nursing friends with 1-1 private video calling.

Create and subscribe to customized job alerts you create.

Save and “favorite” multiple jobs for future applications.

Rate and review travel nurse agencies.

Rate and review healthcare facilities.

Access our Travel Nurse Events Calendar to be notified of industry or agency-sponsored events in your area.

Privately direct message with other nurse connections on our platform.

Easily find convenient and affordable housing near jobs of interest through Furnished Finder.

Have a travel nursing question? Directly and privately ask a Gypsy Nurse Mentor

Submit your guest articles via your profile and it may be published

Related Posts

The Gypsy Nurse Network Reaches 40,000 Members!

A message from our Founder & CEO

February Gypsy Nurse Travel Spotify Playlist

Categories

Travel Healthcare Jobs