January 14, 2022

5993 Views

10 Things to Do Before Leaving for a Vacation

Posted on January 14, 2022December 30, 2021 by Krishma Patel

Familiar with the feeling of ‘Am I forgetting something?’ before you pick up your bags and leave your home for a vacation? Luckily, you are not alone. Even as a seasoned travel nurse, you may feel like you are forgetting something while packing. While taking time off is a great way to relax, leaving your home, pets, and routine uncared for is not easy.

Fret not. We have got the ultimate checklist up our sleeve which consists of 10 things you need to take care of before leaving home to make sure you can rest easy while you are away.

1. Contact House and Pet Sitters

You don’t want to come back to a messy house or, even worse – a catastrophe! So, contact a trustworthy house watcher, whether it’s a professional house sitter, a neighbor, or a friend. Also, look for a caretaker for your furry pooch if you have one.

Make sure you give them a list of instructions like water the plants, feed the dog, stay alert for any suspicious activity, and a little bit of general maintenance.

2. Manage Your Period

It is not the most comfortable feeling for women to travel during their period. Fortunately, there are many ways to manage your periods for vacation.

For instance, if you want to delay your period for vacation, consider medication like norethisterone. It is usually prescribed to be taken thrice a day, starting 3 or 4 days before you expect your period to begin. Your period should arrive 2-3 days after you stop taking the medication.

For any concerns or queries, do not hesitate to consult your doctor.

3. Place ‘Stop’ Orders

Place ‘stop’ orders on regular deliveries or services, for example, milk, newspaper, postal mail, housecleaning, etc. And make alternate arrangements for things you want to continue, like landscaping.

4. Manage Your Cash Flow and Bill Payments

Hit the local ATM to withdraw sufficient cash if traveling within the country. Contact a foreign exchange company to obtain the country’s currency you are traveling to for international travel. Also, check how you can use cash or a card once you land overseas.

5. Plan The First and Last Day Logistics

Usually, the first and the last day involves a lot of travel, documentation, and checking in, so prepare well in advance for a seamless transition.

On the last day of your trip, ensure that you have packed everything back. Keep your travel tickets handy. Book a taxi in advance and make sure you have arrangements for house keys, car keys, cash, and food on arriving back home

6. Pack All Electronics Carefully

A mobile phone has become the most essential item to pack while traveling as everything can be stored on your smartphone.

You may need to consider other electronic items: your earphones, charger, smartwatch, and camera.

7. Take Your Medicines and Essential Cosmetics Along

Pack all your routine medication and a first aid box. For example, the medicine norethisterone tablet for delaying your period for vacation, painkiller, antacid, antiallergic, etc.

Carry all your essential cosmetics like sunscreen, face cleanser, lip balm, treatment creams prescribed by your dermatologist, etc.

8. Check The Weather Forecast

Weather changes may affect your travel plans greatly. So, keep a tab on the weather forecast through news or the internet and carry weather-proof items accordingly. For example, an umbrella if it’s going to be raining, wool clothes if you are going somewhere cold, and so on.

9. Amp Up Your Home Security System

Activate your security system to keep burglars away. Today, security systems are advanced enough to keep a tab on your house through your smartphone device even when you are traveling.

Lock up all the windows and doors to prevent your house from peepers.

10. Gather Important Travel Documents

While most things have gone digital today, some physical documents are always required. Keep an original as well as photocopy of your passport, visa, ID proof, permits, licenses, travel insurance, etc., safe and handy.

We hope you found these 10 things to do before leaving for vacation helpful. Is there anything you do before leaving for vacation that we didn’t list? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for your next assignment? 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 AB Staffing Solutions

January 13, 2022

3654 Views

New Year, New Travel Nurse Agency: When is it Time to Change Travel Nursing Agencies?

Posted on January 13, 2022January 3, 2022 by AB Staffing Solutions

AB Staffing Solutions provided this article.

New Year, new travel nurse agency?

It’s a new year—time to keep what is working in your life and an opportunity to change what isn’t working. If your travel nursing agency isn’t working the way you had hoped, it’s a great time to consider other options. Talking to your recruiter, exploring other agencies, and thinking about what is good or bad about your current agency will help you make the best decision.

When is it time to change travel nursing agencies?

Before jumping agencies, make a list of what you like and dislike about your current agency.

What was the onboarding process like?
What type of assistance do they offer for housing?
What do you need for yourself and your family and/or pets?
Is the agency meeting your needs in terms of career goals?
Are there options for different placements?

As you answer these questions, it will become clear whether it is time to change travel nursing agencies. Here are some ideas to help you decide when it’s time to change or even just add a new travel nurse agency to your mix of options.

Problems with your recruiter.

How responsive is your recruiter? Are you being ghosted, or are they available to help you? If they’re stringing you along or, worse, not responding to you, it is time to ask for another recruiter. Most recruiters pride themselves on not only attracting new travelers but on retaining their existing travelers too. This means being available whenever you need them. Whether it’s a question about housing, a new contract, or listening to your concerns, our recruiters find answers and solutions for you.

Communication issues.

Is the agency disorganized or unclear when they communicate with you? This could be a sign of a larger organizational problem. You deserve a certain level of service, and if you’re not getting it, it might be time to look elsewhere. Some agencies have all departments under one roof, so you can easily work with your recruiter, credentialer, and even the payroll department to get questions answered quickly. Agencies that offer this tend to have an advantage when it comes to communication with their travelers.

Job Opportunities.

Many travelers have specific career goals in mind. Some want to expand their area of expertise, while others want to gain experience in a new area. Still, there are others who want to work in different geographic locations as they slow their career. If the agency doesn’t have the job opportunities that align with your goals, talk to them. If you’re still not satisfied, it might be time to explore other options.

Referral or Recommendation.

Changing travel nursing agencies may be as simple as being referred to another agency, like AB Staffing, by a relative or colleague. Make sure to do research to ensure that the recommended agency has what you desire, including job opportunities. There might not be anything particularly negative about your current agency. However, you might have a friend or family member who works for another agency that they highly recommend.

It’s okay to work with more than one agency.

Many of our travelers are in communication with two or three agencies at a time. This gives them, and you, more options in location, positions, and even pay. Recruiters are aware of this and don’t ever take it personally. They understand that if you can find your desired location, shift, or pay elsewhere, then you should take the contract that’s best for you.

General unhappiness with your current agency.

As when you work at a medical facility, working with an agency requires you to be professional and levelheaded, even when frustrated. Express your concerns, and let them try to change, but if that doesn’t happen, it’s time to find a new travel nurse agency.

Changing travel nursing agencies shouldn’t be a decision to make likely. Take time to communicate with your current agency. Think about your career goals and family needs. Talk to other travelers and see what their experiences have been with different agencies to make the decision that is best for you.

We hope you found this article helpful. Are you a travel nurse who has changed travel nursing agencies? Do you have any advice for your fellow travel nurses for changing travel nurse agencies? Comment any advice below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Need housing for an upcoming travel nurse assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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

START HERE

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

By Victoria Casto

January 12, 2022

8649 Views

How to Begin Travel Nursing

Posted on January 12, 2022May 31, 2022 by Victoria Casto

Step One: Get Ready!

Taking the leap and beginning travel nursing can be very intimidating at first and even seem overwhelming.

It definitely takes some time to figure out the logistics of how it works, but getting prepared is key. There are ample resources out there, so utilize them to avoid surprises!

My first recommendation before you even think about talking to travel agencies or recruiters is to get a thorough understanding of what the travel life entails and when the timing is best for you to start the journey.

Consider any big trips or celebrations you have ahead that you may want to plan around.

Travel nursing leads to amazing opportunities, and it can sound like a super glamorous way to live, but there are definitely compromises. It most importantly means leaving behind the comforts of home and getting to see your friends and family regularly.

Just make sure you’re mentally prepared and fully understand what it means to live like a nomad.

Step Two: Where to?

Figure out where you want to go. Are you going for the experience or chasing the money? I personally try to get the best of both worlds and go places where I’d actually want to live.

I’d recommend being flexible with a few top choices of where you want to work because while yes, almost anywhere is possible, timing is key. Rather than limiting your options to one single city, have a top three list or open your search up to the surrounding area if living right in the city isn’t as important to you.

Travel nursing is a hot field right now, but I’d never advise anyone to take the crisis contracts that are paying you $10,000 a week in random places like Bakersfield, CA, or probably anywhere in Kentucky, for example.

There’s a reason they are paying that well, and you will likely regret it. On top of a potentially dangerous situation at the hospital with unsafe ratios and very limited resources, your days off won’t compensate for it because there’s nothing to do in the area. Plus, those contracts are notorious for being canceled at the last minute.

Step Three: How’s the Pay?

Make sure that your dream locations are going to be financially beneficial. After all, that’s one of the biggest appeals of travel nursing!

Something I was very surprised to find out when I first started travel nursing is despite the most desirable locations having higher costs of living; the pay doesn’t always reflect that. Because hospitals know travel nurses want to go to the fun cities, they pay less than they should and know that they’ll still fill the jobs because of their high demand.

Fortunately, it’s easier to find very well-paying jobs in those locations right now due to COVID.

The main factor I look at is how much rent will cost. A good rule of thumb is to make at least the price of rent in one week’s pay. For example, if your rent is $2,000, you’d want to be taking home at least $2000 per week. But of course, most crisis contracts are paying well above that right now.

And you’ll absolutely want to look at housing before accepting a contract because sometimes it’s either super expensive or it can be extremely limited, and you can’t move if there’s nowhere to stay!

With pay being so variable right now, it’s beneficial to compare rates on job boards like Vivian Health or ask on travel nurse sites like the Gypsy Nurse to see what’s comparable. Nobody wants to find out another nurse is making $500 more a week to do the same job, and sadly, it happens a lot. Sometimes you can negotiate your rate, so knowing what similar jobs offer is useful.

Step Four: The Job Search

Find agencies and recruiters and start the job hunt!

There are hundreds of travel agencies to choose from, and each of those has just as many recruiters. Choosing which agency you want to use will depend on your personal style and what your goals are.

Smaller companies will have a more intimate experience and tend to have less fine print. However, larger companies will have access to more jobs and usually have more push when there are a dozen applications on the employer’s desk. And agencies that staff solely crisis contracts usually expect extreme flexibility with asap start dates and open availability on scheduling and shift.

I’ve found that while agencies do have different reputations on trustworthiness and fair pay, the most important factor is the right recruiter. Recruiters are the ones sorting through job listings for you and making sure you are the first to apply to fresh postings.

They can fight for higher pay and manipulate numbers in the contract breakdown to make sure you’re getting the best rate. And of course, they’re the ones you’re talking to when making huge decisions so liking them is important too!

I’d definitely recommend asking for referrals from travel nurses you trust for their recruiter’s info rather than getting assigned one randomly when you apply.

And it’s always a good idea to have a few agencies looking for you when you’re on the hunt because they don’t all get the same pool of jobs. That’s why I’ve used five different agencies over the last three years.

I’ve spoken to a variety of recruiters over my time as a travel nurse, and I’ve learned to appreciate the good ones. It’s possible to change recruiters within the same company later on, but it’s best to get a keeper from the beginning! I now have three amazing and trustworthy recruiters that I’d be happy to refer. 🙂

Step Five: Onboarding

Get yourself organized and get ready for the onboarding process.

Prior to leaving your home, get all of your files organized into handy folders for easy access while on the road.

For every new contract you take (especially if you switch companies), you will need access to all of your immunizations, licenses, certifications, etc. Having them ready to go in a PDF version to be sent over will be a huge lifesaver!

That way, you’re not constantly digging through old emails or folders in your computer trying to find your flu shot or ACLS card.

The onboarding process can seem super overwhelming when you get the long list of everything that needs to be done for compliance. But anything you can do to make your life easier is worth it!

However, if you stick with the same agency for every contract, you won’t have to resend everything, so that’s an incentive to stay loyal to your company.

Step Six: Moving Time!

Congratulations, you’ve landed your first travel nursing job! If you haven’t already, it’s time to cut down your belongings and get ready for the minimalist lifestyle.

Pack only the essentials and what you can’t live without or think you’d use regularly. This is easier said than done, but just because you can shove it into a corner of your trunk doesn’t mean you should bring it!

Trust me; you’ll want to leave extra space in your car because you’ll accumulate belongings every contract, and before you know it, you’ll be like me and buy a larger SUV after three years.

However, you get there, enjoy the ride, and welcome to the wonderful world of travel nursing 🙂 I wish you the best of luck and as always, message me with any questions!

We hope you found these tips on how to begin travel nursing helpful. Do you have any tips for anyone planning to begin travel nursing? Comment your tips on how to begin travel nursing below.

Are you looking for your first or next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for your assignment? 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 Lirika Hart

January 11, 2022

5695 Views

Banish a Bad Day: Fun and Lively Activities to Do When Feeling Down

Posted on January 11, 2022February 7, 2022 by Lirika Hart

If you feel upset or down or are just plain annoyed with life in general, you will need a pick-me-up to make your day. There are plenty of fun activities you can indulge in so as to enjoy your mood and banish your bad day. We will check out a few of them right here:

Banish a bad day:

Read a good book

When it’s cold and the days are short and depressing, few things can beat the blues, as well as reading a good book. You can always settle down in your most comfortable armchair and nourish your mind with the latest potboiler or a great action-packed western adventure. You can also spend your hours reading timeless classics with a cup of coffee close by. Before you know it, you would have gotten rid of the weekend blues.

Go to the movies

You don’t have to be a diehard movie buff to go to the movies every once in a while. Check the local listings, grab plenty of popcorn, and enter the movie world, where you will be able to forget all your worries for the next few hours at least. You can also go for a movie marathon. If you don’t want to leave your house, just get a streaming service subscription. Disney +, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. There are so many of those available. You can always select your favorite shows and enjoy yourself till you beat your mood.

Hang out with friends

If you have a hobby such as collecting stamps or even combat weapons, reach out to those who share a similar hobby. In time, you will grow to love what you do, and hours of discussing your favorite topics will snap you out of your downtime easily enough. You can go to stamp collection shows, or if you enjoy combat shooting, you can hang out with your friends at the range. It doesn’t matter what your hobby is, as long as you have friends who enjoy the same, you won’t feel down. This is why if you don’t have a hobby, just make sure you get one.

Go Camping.

This is an ideal way of being at one with mother nature. With the passage of time, you will love the moments when you caught your first fish or pitched your very first tent. Besides that, communing with nature has a unique and rustic charm of its very own. You won’t feel bad at all. Just calm and relaxed.

Get into sports

Nothing gets the blood and adrenaline flowing as much as competitive sports. You can join a track team or a swimming camp or even run a marathon. All that extra exercise will release certain hormones that will boost your mood and make sure that you are too busy to mope.

Martial arts

If you are the thrill-seeking type, go for contact sports. Boxing, Karate, MMA, and other martial arts. They will eliminate your depression easily enough because of the sheer exertion required to win a tournament.

Ride a Bike

A bike ride might just be the panacea to all your problems if you are feeling down. There are few activities as much fun as a bike ride when you are down in the dumps. You can have a race with your friends, or just paddle all over the place, taking in the sun and the fresh air, or you can even go for a high cardio exercise ride at full speed. You’ll be able to tone your body and your muscles and look better and smarter.

You can get your friends to join you as well. If you are not sure, you can also start riding an electric bike instead of a normal one. Electric bikes are far more enjoyable and make for an easier biking experience. Now you can also turn your normal bike into an electric one with the help of a bicycle motor kit for a great biking experience

Conclusion

If you are feeling down and out, just read a good book, watch movies, hang out with friends, or go for a very comfortable bike ride courtesy of your electric bike.

We hope you enjoyed this article on ways to banish a bad day helpful. Have you found ways as a travel nurse to banish your bad days? Comment them below if you would like to share.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for your next travel nurse assignment? 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 Kevin Devoto

January 10, 2022

6518 Views

7 Tips to Succeed as a Travel Nurse

Posted on January 10, 2022December 20, 2021 by Kevin Devoto

Taking an assignment as a travel nurse can be exciting and rarely dull. You will probably always feel on the move. If your passion is for helping people, but you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to stay in one environment for long, being a travel nurse could be the career for you. If you have nursing experience but decided to try life as a travel nurse, here are several tips to get you going and help you succeed as a travel nurse.

Decide Where You Want to Live

Once you know where you’re going, do some research and decide in what part of town you would prefer to live. You may enjoy living downtown or opt for a place within walking distance of work. Maybe you would like to be in a more private residential area.

Be Flexible

If you are new to a travel nurse company, you may or may not have much freedom or flexibility to choose the area for the assignment. These companies are often good about working with their nurses when they can assist as part of revenue operations. However, the longer you are with a company, the more flexible it will usually become. Then, you can choose not only the location of your assignment but also the type of facility or a specific facility. However, it can be exciting to go places you wouldn’t normally consider.

Organize Your Life

As soon as you find out you have an assignment, you should begin preparing for your move. Ensure you have all the essential paperwork you’ll need, including health records, license information, etc.

Pack Efficiently

Most travel nurses work on 13-week assignments. Time goes by fast, so it’s probably not necessary to take everything you own with you only to have to move it again. There are some things it would likely be more cost-effective to buy when you get there rather than to carry with you.

Arrive Early

Take some extra time on your first day to get to work. You will probably be nervous, and if you’re feeling anxious from feeling rushed, it could set the mood for the whole day, especially if you end up being late. Try to arrive a bit early to make a good impression on your co-workers and have time to prepare for your workday.

Perform a Test Run

It can be helpful to perform a test run of your commute before your first day on the job. Do just as you would on a typical day of work, getting up and out the door when you predict you’ll need to to get to work in time. You may find that traffic is worse than you expected, and you need to head out 10 minutes earlier. You may find that there is a better route to take to avoid some of the heavier traffic. It helps to be as prepared as possible before your first day; because first days are already stressful without combining a totally new location to the mix. You may also want to check out the parking situation at the facility if you think there could be a problem finding an open spot.

Also, if you’re working in a larger facility, walk to your work area to figure how long it will take to walk to that destination. For example, if you’ll be working on the fifth floor of a hospital and you discover the hospital has slow elevators, you may need to take that into consideration when deciding what time to begin your commute.

Explore and Enjoy

One of the most fun things about being a travel nurse is exploring new places and meeting new people. Cultivate friendships with your co-workers and ask about recommendations on places to go in and around your town. You are likely to experience many new adventures during your time as a travel nurse. Take these tips into consideration today and begin planning for your next exciting assignment.

We hope you found this article on 7 tips to succeed as a travel nurse helpful. Do you have any tips for your fellow travel nurses on how to succeed? Comment your tips to succeed as a travel nurse below.

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

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

START HERE

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

By Timothea Bradley

January 8, 2022

6851 Views

10 Tips For Keeping a Balance Between Life and Nursing Work

Posted on January 8, 2022January 16, 2023 by Timothea Bradley

It turns out that nurses are the most popular and wanted professionals in the whole healthcare industry. Nurses have a very important job that not every person can handle. Sometimes, nurses can’t even keep the balance between life and work. As a result, it burns them out.

But there is a way to distance yourself from your everyday work. The tips below will help you to balance your work and life so that you won’t burn out. You can get the needed rest while you finish work, and it won’t affect your life.

Tips for balancing life and nursing work.

Deal with Conflicts Immediately

It might surprise you, but dealing with conflicts right away is a great way to clear your mind when you are at work or home. For example, something happened at work, and instead of solving the conflict, you go home and keep thinking about how to solve it. The best idea is to deal with the conflict immediately. Whether it’s a conflict with a friend at home or a work conflict, it won’t let you relax or focus on work.

Accept Certain Things

Nursing is a difficult job since it requires some level of empathy. You need to accept the fact that certain things can’t be changed. You don’t have to think about certain things or situations all the time since it impacts your well-being. If you keep thinking about different situations that you can’t change, it will burn you out. Accept that you can’t change everything. It’s normal, and don’t let these thoughts bug you.

Define Your Life Goals

Yes, you are a nurse, and you want to help people. But is it the main life goal? You aren’t just a nurse; you are also someone else. For example, you can be a parent or a child, a wife or a husband; you could be someone’s friend, loved one, etc. Figure out what you want to achieve in life so you can find peace and move towards accomplishing your goals and finding your place in life.

Healthy Lifestyle

A lot of people underestimate the role of a healthy lifestyle on their mental health. There is even a saying – a sound mind in a sound body. It’s extremely important to lead a healthy lifestyle to make sure you feel good. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym or stick to a strict diet to achieve great results. Just make sure you have time to do some exercise, even walking in a park works. And eat healthy and nutritious food.

Make It Simple

When a habit is too complicated, we drop it. But when we can’t leave something, it annoys us and makes us feel bad. If your work life is too complicated, then you should simplify it. For example, download and install all the necessary apps that you need to communicate with your patients. It’s sometimes easier to message someone or reply than have a phone call. Same with everyday life, make it simpler, so it won’t make you feel exhausted.

Time Management

It could be difficult to manage time at work and your personal life partially because it requires some sort of a schedule. If you don’t have a schedule to which you stick, it could easily burn you out. For example, show sympathy to your patients, but don’t spend all of your work time with just that 1 patient when you have others. Otherwise, you will have to use your free time to take care of other patients. Time management is very important, so try working on a schedule.

Develop Bonds

Bonding with your family members, friends, or partner is a step towards healthy relationships. The nursing job might take away some time that you spend with your loved ones. Make sure to set time when you spend time with people you care about. No job or other things should take away from you these moments.

Exercise

When your body is stronger, your mental health is also stronger. When you have a break, you can go on a walk. You may even go to a cafe to have a meal rather than drive in there. If the hospital has a gym, then you could consider using it. It would be very beneficial for you.

Take Breaks

You can’t help someone if you won’t take care of your needs in the first place. Make sure to have breaks in between visiting your patients. They don’t have to be too long, they should be sufficient for you to take care of your needs and have rest. Taking breaks makes sure you are in shape to help other people.

Get Enough Rest and Sleep

Sleep and rest are two basic needs of every human being. Without satisfying them, you can’t help anyone. You will be the one needing help if lack of rest and sleep develops into depression, insomnia, or some other illnesses.

Also, try to stick to positive moments in your life. Even if you have a conflict with someone, or you had an argument, don’t let negativity bug you. Try calling positive moments of the day. For example, you saw a happy mother who just had her newborn.

There is always more positivity than negativity in life, but people choose to remember negative moments. Be one of those individuals who go through positive moments of the day rather than negative situations.

We hope you found these tips for keeping a balance between life and nursing work. Do you have any ways you find balance between your personal life and work life? 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 Anna Johnson

January 7, 2022

10383 Views

Becoming a Nurse at 40. Am I Too Old?

Posted on January 7, 2022January 7, 2022 by Anna Johnson

Nursing is a lucrative career. Whether it’s your first job or you are looking to switch, it’s the most emotionally rewarding and physically devastating career you can come across. There’s a constant demand for nurses everywhere and not enough applications to fulfill the shortage. Your age shouldn’t be a causality to reject your application, but if you are not emotionally or physically fit – especially if you’ve never had any healthcare jobs – your age could be the deciding factor.

Anna is an educational freelance writer who has been helping women of age to secure their dream education and job. Anna specializes in writing about health, education, and Assignment Geek.

In this article, I’m going to educate you about the healthcare sector and whether you are still fit to take on nursing as a very demanding day job.

Why be a Nurse at 40?

Nursing is a career that, while being prospective, can soon become a nightmare for some. If you already have decided on taking nursing as your career at age 40, read on to know more about the benefits nursing delivers.

1. Diverse Backgrounds:

Nursing applicants come from diverse backgrounds and professions. While you don’t need a lot of specialized training to become a nurse, there are several nursing categories that need expertise and educational background to get into, like surgeries and trauma care, which pay well too.

No worries, being a nurse is not only about the first one to tackle the blood and bone. Taking care of recovering patients, keeping the families informed, managing others around your block all come under nursing. And being 40 means you are mature enough to empathize with the patients and take good care.

2. Looking After the Overlooked:

Nursing is a great opportunity for those who thrive by helping others—the givers.

Working as a nurse means to experience it all; all the blood and the beauty of the world. You’ll see birth, you’ll see death, but you wouldn’t ever be able to look at the clock again. If caring is your second nature, no matter the age, nursing is for you. Being able to take care of someone(or multiple ones), feeding them, cleaning them, is only going to make you regret your decision, but feed your feelings and, of course, bank account.

3. Life Experience at 40:

One of the thousands of reasons why you should be a nurse at 40. Your life experience is going to throw all others out of the park. Healthcare is all about experience and knowledge. As no one trusts a doctor who doesn’t have much experience, institutions would trust you more than a teenage girl for the most critical work around a healthcare facility – nursing.

4. Getting in Nursing is Fast:

You can get your complete nursing training with 58 hours of study and 800 hours of clinical experience through ABSN – an accredited nursing bachelor program that helps you get licensed. If you have any previous healthcare certifications, credits can even be transferred from those graduation certificates onto nursing courses to complete the certification within 18 months or less.

5. Better Management of Time:

When you are taking a certification course for nursing, you ought to find yourself more engaged in studies and organizing your time. More elder nursing students often find more work-life balance when starting out professionally than the younger ones. You, being 40, are going to approach the nursing career with more maturity than anyone else.

How to Be a Nurse at 40?

Just after you’ve decided to pursue nursing, the next question comes automatically. Am I ready to be a nurse at 40? Here’s how you would know if you are ready or not.

1. Physical Condition:

You should never consider nursing as a career if you are physically unwell. Nursing, being a physically demanding job, is enough to make you unwell. If you are not in your prime condition of health, think well ahead and consider a less physically demanding job.

2. Emotional Wellness:

You would be expected to keep your head high even if the world around you trembles while being a nurse. If you are mentally not very strong, it’s going to cause a lot of trouble. Do have a very good idea of how strong you are emotionally before applying.

3. Socialize:

While in nursing school, try socializing with other students to get a good idea of what is expected of you. Discuss with your college about the transferability of previous degrees and what additional training you can do while being in college for a better opportunity in the field of nursing.

The Bottom Line:

It’s never too late to become a nurse. There always exists ample vacancies and opportunities to explore. Your length of career doesn’t limit your chance to do good for the community with the opportunity to make use of the wisdom you’ve garnered throughout your whole life.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need to find housing for your travel nurse assignment? 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 The Gypsy Nurse

January 6, 2022

5721 Views

Top 6 Affirmations That Boost Your Self-Worth

Posted on January 6, 2022May 27, 2025 by The Gypsy Nurse

Article Written By: Sherry Kimball.

Self-worth’s something that we’re all born with, but it doesn’t always stay there. It impacts how you feel, what you do, and how others perceive you. There are many affirmations that help boost our self-worth, but we’ll explore the top 6 in this post.

Self-worth and self-esteem start to drop when we get older, and life throws us lemons. After a while, it can be hard to feel good about yourself or your abilities. Positive affirmations are a great way to improve your self-worth by reminding you of the things that make you awesome. In many psychology studies, self-worth and self-esteem have been shown to improve with positive affirmations.

Self-worth is an essential aspect of one’s well-being. If we lack a high opinion of ourselves, it can be hard to take risks and do what makes us happy such as visiting one of the best dating sites to find a perfect partner. You can overcome self-worth issues over time by doing several things to make the process faster. In this blog post, we’ll discuss six positive affirmations to help boost your self-worth and make you feel better about yourself.

1. I’m Always Doing My Best

Sometimes, it’s hard to feel like you’re doing your best, and you might always be thinking about how you could have done better. It can lead to low self-worth and feelings of inadequacy. But this is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken in order to improve your self-worth. The power of thinking you’re doing your best is the key – when we believe in ourselves, it becomes easy for others to believe in us too. So if you’re looking for an effective tactic on how to self-worth yourself, start by thinking you’re doing your best.

2. I Love Myself Unconditionally

The affirmation that you love yourself for who you are is the most potent part of improving your self-worth. When you talk to yourself, what do you say? Do you tell yourself that you’re worthless or perfect? The truth is, your thoughts have power over you, and if they’re positive, they can make you feel good about yourself. Simply saying “I love myself” is a powerful statement that can make a difference in your life, boost your self-worth, and help you to start feeling better about yourself.

3. I’m Thankful for Every Day of My Life

It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind of life that we forget to be grateful for all the good things happening. Living an extraordinary life means being thankful for every day in our lives, no matter how they start or end. When you wake up feeling grateful, your self-worth will increase, and it’ll have a positive effect on absolutely everything you do.

4. I’m the Author of My Own Happiness

Do you feel like your life is a constant struggle? Do you often find yourself angry, sad, and frustrated with the world around you? If so, it’s time to take charge of your own happiness. You might not know this, but your joy is in your hands. You can’t expect anyone else to do it for you. Improving your self-worth starts by taking responsibility for your own emotions and satisfaction. So do you engage in anything good that makes you happy to boost your self-worth?

5. I Strongly Believe in My Dreams and Visions

Many people have dreams and visions that they never take the time to pursue because they don’t believe in themselves. One of the best ways to boost your self-worth from work is believing in your dreams and visions. The truth is that you don’t need to be perfect or know everything about your objective before you start pursuing it. All you need is a little faith and determination, and then all of the steps will unfold in front of you. Believing in your dreams will boost your self-worth and provide a sense of purpose to life.

6. I Love My Body

Gratefulness is a powerful force that can help us boost our self-worth and live happier, healthier life. And if you’re going to be happy and obtain self-worthiness, why not start with loving your body? You might be surprised how much loving your body does for you all day and every day. Being grateful for your body is a great way to relieve yourself from insecurity and improve your self-worth and self-esteem in the process. This may seem counterintuitive at first, but by focusing on all the great things about your body, you’ll start feeling better about who you’re inside and out.

Conclusion

Positive affirmations are a powerful way to boost your self-worth, change your mindset, and shift your focus on what you want in life. When it comes to affirmations, you can’t just say one sentence or think about it for a few minutes, forget it, and expect a change in your self-worth and -esteem. Affirmations must be repeated over time until they become your self-worth foundation and a part of who you are.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse adventure? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for your next assignment? 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 AMN Healthcare

January 5, 2022

9369 Views

Ways to Make More Money as a Nurse

Posted on January 5, 2022December 8, 2021 by AMN Healthcare

This article was provided by AMN Healthcare.

Nursing is a rewarding career that provides more than 3 million registered nurses (RNs) in the United States with various workplace choices and good salaries.

According to the 2016 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the median nursing salary for R.N.s is $68,450 per year. The job growth rate between 2014 and 2024 is expected to rise by 16 percent, higher than the average for other occupations.

Although compensation is not the primary driving factor for most nurses who enter the profession, there are several options for R.N.s who want to make extra money as nurses.

Nurses can choose immediate or long-term options, ranging from taking nursing side jobs or travel nursing assignments to advancing their education for future opportunities.

Where Do the Majority of Nurses Work?

The country’s 5,564 hospitals employ the majority of R.N.s. However, changes in healthcare delivery in recent years have resulted in earlier patient discharges and a growing number of nursing jobs outside the hospital setting. For instance, more chronic illnesses are now handled in outpatient clinics.

In addition to acute care, nurses can work in outpatient ambulatory care, community health agencies, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities, home health, and other environments.

Nurse salaries can vary widely because of location, working environment, specific job responsibilities, and individual nurses’ qualifications.

How To Make More Money As A Nurse

1. Complete your BSN degree.

Research by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing found that 79 percent of R.N. employers prefer to hire nurses with a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) degree as entry-level employees. There also appear to be greater advancement opportunities for BSN-prepared nurses.

Magnet hospitals and those pursuing Magnet status must demonstrate that most of their nurses have BSN degrees or are on the educational path to earn this degree.

Some hospitals will offer nurses tuition assistance or student loan repayment, based on their commitment to continue their employment for a certain amount of time.

Today’s traditional and online BSN programs are designed to meet working adults’ professional and personal needs.

2. Pursue experience in a nursing specialty.

Decide on a nursing specialty that will meet your professional and personal goals, then complete certification courses to increase your knowledge and skills. Certified nurses have a better chance to earn the top pay in their field.

Some nurse specialties also offer better compensation than others, so doing some research early in your career may help you decide which path to pursue.

3. Volunteer to work overtime on occasion.

Working some overtime not only provides more money-making opportunities but can show management you’re a team member who’ll pitch in when needed. However, too much overtime can lead to fatigue or burnout, so set reasonable limits to guard yourself and your patients.

4. Get an advanced nursing degree.

Earning your graduate degree is one of the surest ways to make more money as a nurse, either as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), nurse manager, or other professional.

APRNs require a master’s degree and lead to more independent practice as either a nurse practitioner (NP), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse-midwife (CNM), or clinical nursing specialist (CNS). CRNAs make the highest average salaries among all APRNs, averaging close to $160,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Other career choices with master’s or doctoral degrees include working as a nurse educator or nurse researcher or climbing the healthcare administration ladder.

5. Get creative with nursing side jobs.

When deciding how to make extra money as a nurse, some savvy R.N.s find that nursing side jobs can help them achieve their goals. Such extra opportunities might include:

Working per diem shifts on one of your days off
Teaching patients how to use medical equipment at home
Providing care for homebound patients
Tutoring nursing students online
Working as a camp nurse during weekends or vacation breaks
Writing blogs or other content for nursing publications
Giving flu injections at doctor’s offices or special clinics
Teaching patient education classes

6. Become a travel nurse.

Experienced nurses with recent experience in their specialties can earn excellent compensation as travel nurses. Travelers work temporary contracts in their choice of locations around the country, and their travel nursing agency covers most of their expenses.

The shorter-term, critical staffing assignments offered by NurseChoice are some of the highest-paying jobs in the travel nursing industry. Employment benefits include a contracted nurse salary, free housing, bonuses, travel reimbursements, health insurance, 401K, and other standard employment benefits.

If making more money as a nurse is one of your top priorities, ask your nursing recruiter to connect you to the best-paying assignments.

Are you looking for your next or first travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Need to find housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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

START HERE

1. Contact House and Pet Sitters

2. Manage Your Period

3. Place ‘Stop’ Orders

4. Manage Your Cash Flow and Bill Payments

5. Plan The First and Last Day Logistics

6. Pack All Electronics Carefully

7. Take Your Medicines and Essential Cosmetics Along

8. Check The Weather Forecast

9. Amp Up Your Home Security System

10. Gather Important Travel Documents

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

6 Reason Why It’s Important to Take a Vacation as a Travel Nurse

7 Unique Places to Visit While on Assignment

Your 2023 Summer Bingo Card: Brought to You by Gifted Healthcare.

Categories

Travel Healthcare Jobs

Recent Articles

When is it time to change travel nursing agencies?

Problems with your recruiter.

Communication issues.

Referral or Recommendation.

It’s okay to work with more than one agency.

General unhappiness with your current agency.

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

What is AIDET? (And, why does it matter to Travel Nurses?)

How to Cope with Compassion Fatigue

Finding Success in Working From Home

Categories

Travel Healthcare Jobs

Recent Articles

Step One: Get Ready!

Step Two: Where to?

Step Three: How’s the Pay?

Step Four: The Job Search

Step Five: Onboarding

Step Six: Moving Time!

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

On the Road Again: Attending Nurse Conferences in a Post-Pandemic World

Advice to the Nursing Student from a Seasoned Travel Nurse

Travel Nursing as a Travel Nurse Pair: Tips for Making it Work

Categories

Travel Healthcare Jobs

Recent Articles

Banish a bad day:

Read a good book

Go to the movies

Hang out with friends

Go Camping.

Get into sports

Martial arts

Ride a Bike

Conclusion

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 Perform Your Best During Long Workdays

Better Sleep Health: Tips for Travel Nurses

5 Simple Tips for Staying Healthy as a Travel Nurse

Categories

Travel Healthcare Jobs

Recent Articles

Decide Where You Want to Live

Be Flexible

Organize Your Life

Pack Efficiently

Arrive Early

Perform a Test Run

Explore and Enjoy

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

A Midwesterner’s Guide to Travel Nursing in Cold Assignment Locations

Travel Nursing as a Family: All About Consistency, Homeschooling, and Exploring

4 Tips For Coping With Travel Nursing Stress