December 20, 2019

10442 Views

How to Maximize Your New Travel Career

Posted on December 20, 2019February 3, 2023 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

This article provided by: TNAA

With the holidays in full swing, it can be nearly impossible to think about how to prepare to start the new year off with a bang. And make no mistake, travel nursing requires a lot of preparation. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Walk into the new year on the right foot. Let’s reflect and refocus.

Take on 2020

Maybe you’re clocking in for your staff position and thinking that you want to do more, experience more, and try something new. You’ve been thinking about travel nursing and looking at different review sites. Now it’s time to decide if the gypsy life is for you in 2020. The autonomy of travel nursing is attractive to many and provides nearly endless options. Here are our top tips to make the most of your new career as a travel nurse.

Determine Your Motivations

It’s essential to understand what you want to get out of travel nursing before signing a contract and heading out on the open road. Determining your motivations will ensure you get the best experience. Do you want to travel for the experience? Maybe your goal is to work at a prestigious hospital or perhaps in a Level-I Trauma Center. Is your primary motivator for travel nursing to pay down debt or for financial freedom? If so, your research will focus on pay rates for your specialty. Maybe you want to embark on the gypsy life so you can travel, making assignment location a top priority. Ask yourself, why do I want to do this?

Find an Agency That Complements Your Motivations

After you’ve determined what you want to get out traveling and what you need from a potential schedule, you’re prepared to find an agency that complements your motivations. Meaning, your agency should pair perfectly with your goals and add little extras that make your travel experience exceptional. Let’s break down what that would look like:

Money: Going for the Green

A lot of nurses look to travel nursing for the financial opportunities it affords. Understand that the financial benefit doesn’t necessarily come from crazy-high hourly pay. Your hourly wage is only a part of the equation, and it’s crucial to look at your pay package as a whole. Some travelers will tell you that the tax-free stipend is the best way to profit from travel nursing, while others will focus on OT rates. Accept that everyone’s situation is a little different when it comes to taxes, debt, and dependents. So what do you do?

Look for agencies that place a premium on your financial wellness.

Ask if your agency and recruiter understand travel taxes. A good agency will keep you tax compliant. This article breaks down an organization called NATHO and what those “tax-free stipends” mean to the IRS.
Ask your agency how low census call-offs or missed shifts due to illness will impact your check. What happens if you need to call in sick? Look for an agency that protects your pay.
Ask your recruiter about pay frequency. A lot of agencies now offer weekly pay. Looking at review sites can be helpful, but may contain outdated information. Find out for yourself.
Ask your agency about premium rates. From OT to holiday, be sure you understand how these work if the pay is your primary motivator. Remember that phrase about assumptions? No one wants to be surprised on a paycheck. A great agency will have experienced payroll staff that will take the time to explain how it all works if you need them to.
Think about your financial future. What does retirement look like? 401(k) and retirement used to mean working 30+ years as perm staff, but it’s 2020, and agencies are recognizing that their travelers deserve the same benefits as full-time employees. Ask if they have 401(k), when you qualify, and how much they’ll match.

Experience: Chasing Career Goals

Many nurses look to travel nursing to get the experience they need to move forward in their careers. Bolstering your resume is a big perk of travel nursing. Understand that each assignment will teach you something new, whether that’s a skill that will move you closer to your goal or it’s something you now know isn’t for you in the future. Look for an agency that understands how to maximize your travel career so you can reach your goal.

Ask your recruiter about their expertise. Your recruiter isn’t just your front-line teammate; they should also function similar to an academic advisor. The best agency will have a roster of recruiters who can look at the big picture of your career and be able to guide you to assignments that will help you reach your goals, not just fill an immediate need.
Ask your agency about clinical support. A good agency will ensure you have RNs in your corner who will act as a liaison for you when needed, provide you with career coaching, and ensure you can ace any skills tests a facility may require. Maybe you’re an OR nurse but have only circulated but want to scrub. Your clinical team can help you develop a path and plan to get there.
Ask about licensure. California, compact states, fingerprinting, and fees — licensing can be a multi-step, time-sensitive, and costly process. Your agency should simplify it for you. Do they pay for it? Do they turn in necessary paperwork on your behalf? The best assignments get booked quickly. Overlooking this aspect can mean missing out on your dream assignment.
Think about your nursing future. What does your career look like after you hang up your gypsy scrubs? Just like perm staff, your employer should make it easy for you to get the CEUs you need to maintain licensing, but you want to expand your career and resume. Look for an agency that offers more. Do they provide RN-to-BSN tuition reimbursement? Will they help you get certifications that lead to higher pay?

Travel: Aiming for Adventure

If experiencing new things excites you, then you’re in good company as adventure comes with every new travel nurse assignment. Going to specific locations of your choice is a perk of the gypsy nurse lifestyle. Understand that working in popular areas comes with challenges. Look for an agency that supports you in your quest for flexibility and adventure.

Look for top-notch recruiters who understand the industry. Your recruiter should have extensive market knowledge and be able to leverage that to get you to the destinations that are on your bucket list. Everyone wants to go to Hawaii. Winter assignments in warm locations fill up quickly. Your recruiter should guide your career to get your profile on top in hard-to-book locations and know when to submit.
Ask your agency how they get jobs. Does your agency have exclusive access to jobs in desirable areas? Their internal teams should be working behind-the-scenes to offer a variety of locations. Their business relationships should benefit their travel nurses.
Ask about benefits. From hiking to shopping, it’s essential to consider if your agency’s benefits fit your lifestyle. What happens if you break your leg on a trail and can’t work? Are you insured if you take a vacation between assignments?

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!)

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By Keith Kolomichuk

December 18, 2019

5175 Views

Leave 2019 Feeling Good About Your Finances with Three Practical Steps

Posted on December 18, 2019January 16, 2023 by Keith Kolomichuk

When thinking about practical steps to take at the end of the year it is often helpful to pause for a moment and consider the big picture. How was 2019 for you?

What was most meaningful in your life this year? What are the moments you will cherish? What were the hardest moments this year? What are the moments that will push you forward?

It is important to think about life now, as it is. 2019, like many years before it, was full of moments of fear and pain as well as times full of hope and joy. We want to be able to look at where we are now and identify what we value so we can start to see where we hope to be in ten, twenty, or fifty years.

Framing these questions on our lives gives the resolution to make some harder financial decisions. Ultimately, we need to be sure that this nomadic lifestyle is helping us either experience the world as we want to now, or helping us get closer to where we see ourselves in the future.

Here are some practical steps to take before the close of 2019 that will start you on a path to achieving your financial dreams.

Contribute to a Traditional IRA or a ROTH IRA

It is important for your future to make sure that you are building the wealth needed to move you from where you are now to where you envision yourself down the road. The end of the year is a great time to look back at the money you have saved and allocate an amount to contribute to your retirement.

Two ways to do this are with a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA. Your unique circumstances will dictate the best way to make that contribution, and consulting a tax and financial professional can help you make that decision with confidence.

Start saving for a life-giving goal

Tackling how we handle our financial lives can be daunting. One of the ways to ease the anxiety surrounding this topic is to pick a savings goal that inspires you. Perhaps it is something for yourself, like that dream trip to Australia, or for your family, like contributing towards college tuition. The important part of this step is to pick something that resonates with you. In fact, it is more important for this goal to be something that moves you emotionally than it is for the goal to make sense to the people around you. Once you have a goal, automate the savings so that it doesn’t require any more action on your part. Maybe an automatic deposit into an account where you don’t see it every day. Once you remove the personal effort from the process, you will be surprised at what you can accumulate toward your dream goal over time without even realizing it.

Make a plan

More important than the prior two steps is putting together a plan. Especially while working as a travel nurse, there are many complex decisions that need to be made. Should one use a hospital’s 401k? Should one save in an IRA? What other steps should one take to ensure that life’s unexpected twists and turns don’t derail your finances? Consulting with a financial planner in this process is helpful to ensure that you and your family have accounted and planned even for unique situations. A plan combines hard facts like current situation and more abstract items like personal values and sets up a framework that guides you down life’s unexpected path, while also helping you understand why you are making each financial decision.

Taking any of these practical steps will help you step into 2020 with a clearer vision of where you have been and where you could be in the future with the right path in place. Each year we choose to be financially proactive can impact our future in spades. Hopefully, when we reach 2050, we have arrived closer to that place we envisioned.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC
Address: 5285 E Williams Circle, Ste. 5500 Tucson, AZ 85711 Phone: 520-330-3652
This material is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected.

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By TaleMed

December 17, 2019

8195 Views

How Do Travel Nurses Travel with Family?

Posted on December 17, 2019January 26, 2023 by TaleMed

This article provided by: TaleMed

Can Travel Nurses Bring Their Families on Assignments?

Travel nurses are sometimes faced with a hard choice — work or family? Maybe you started traveling when you were single, but what happens when you marry and have children? Can you really “have it all”?

There are challenges and rewards to having a family while on the road. Travel nurses get to explore exciting new places and cultures, both on the job and during downtime. They also can share that experience with their significant others and children.

What Works Best for You?

Traveling alone takes much less coordination. A flexible schedule also increases the potential for you to earn more during your assignment by taking overtime or extensions. “Having a flexible schedule helps when you have a family as well,” says Jeremy Anderson, TaleMed Staffing Team Manager “You can plan your shifts as needed at the times that work best for your family’s needs.”

Some travel nurses try to have the best of both worlds and stay close to home. Maybe they want to support their child who has obligations they can’t easily leave, like school sports or band. As HealthLeaders magazine reports, “You can obtain assignments that are a comfortable drives away from home.”

Many travel nurses who don’t have children or have adult children bring their partners along on assignments. TaleMed works with several traveling pairs – two friends or couples early on in their relationship or married for 30+ years.

The Benefits of Traveling with Family

Being a traveling healthcare professional with children can seem daunting, but there are many benefits. Traveling with kids can be fun, rewarding and educational:

You’re there for important milestones and can create stronger bonds through shared experiences and memories.
Being on the job can also be a “Working Vacation,” as days off mean trips to new and different parks, beaches, cities and restaurants.
Travel can be a teaching opportunity for children to grow, learn and be flexible.

No matter where you are around the country, having your family with you provides a sense of home. “When you go to a new hospital, it’s like the first day of school,” says Jeremy. “At the end of the day, you have your family to come home to. You’re out of your comfort zone, but you still have some familiarity.”

Plan Before Traveling

If you’re bringing family along, it’s a good idea to talk with your recruiter and make a travel plan before you hit the road. The National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations notes that travel expenses and housing are often included in the pay package for an assignment. But there’s lots of flexibility in finding the right place. Don’t be afraid to ensure your temporary home has:

A comfortable amount of space, including the number of bedrooms
An easy way to do laundry
A number of nearby activities, such as parks and playgrounds

If you’re traveling with a family, be sure to think about all contingencies. For example, research the names of physicians and hospitals near your temporary home to save yourself the stress of finding a doctor if someone in your family is sick. Traveling families need to plan around schooling. You need enrollment information on local schools or a plan to homeschool your kids. Some travelers will schedule their assignment for their kids’ summer break to avoid school logistics.

“Finding a job for a spouse while you’re traveling isn’t as challenging as you think. A lot of jobs can be done remotely or as freelance work. A local part-time position can help to integrate into the community,” says Jeremy Anderson.

“In addition to travel logistics, it’s important to ensure that the assignment will be the best situation for you and your family,” says Jeremy. “Make sure to ask a lot of questions in your interview with the hiring manager so you have a complete understanding of shift requirements, responsibilities, call expectations, floating policy and more.”

Life on the Road

One way to avoid the logistical issues of a car and housing is using an RV or trailer. Travel nurse Larry Pitts and his family travel this way and love it.

Larry started his career as an ER nurse in North Carolina. “I met countless travel nurses,” he remembers. “They told me about traveling all over the U.S.”

Now he, his stay-at-home wife and 20-month-old daughter travel to assignments in a fifth-wheel camper and love seeing the country together.

“Live in a camper for two years, and you won’t be a hoarder,” he says. “You realize everything you take for granted, like running water, space and convenience.”

The pros, however, far outweigh the cons. “My best assignment was in Arizona,” says Larry. “It’s close to everything, including the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and Las Vegas. It’s like being on vacation 365 days a year!”

Travel nurses don’t have to choose between a career or family. You can travel and live all over the country with your family by your side.

We hope this article has given you some tips on traveling with family! If you would like more tips or advice on traveling with family these articles are great resources: It is Possible to Take a Travel Nurse Assignment with a Family and Frequently Asked Friday: Tips for Traveling with Children.

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By Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

December 16, 2019

17103 Views

Another Tax Year Upon Us 2020: Tax Tips for Travel Nurses

Posted on December 16, 2019January 16, 2023 by Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

As I write this piece, it is a few weeks from Christmas and I’m thinking about the Holidays. Lurking on the other side of the festivities is another tax season. This is the life a tax professional. Not much different from the mass exodus of patients during the holidays only to face the caravan of returning patients afterwards.

Are there new rules to consider?

This is the second year after tax reform and surprisingly, refreshingly, and incredibly, there are no big surprises barring any efforts of congress to pass something last minute which is unlikely to happen.

There are a few things to watch as we go into a new year.

End of year planning:

If you are a serious retirement saver, plan your employer-based retirement contributions to reach your goals before the end of the year OR set aside the amount you want to contribute to your individual IRA by 4/15/20
Set aside enough to contribute to any 529 plans you participate in to reach your annual target
If you have significant itemized deductions, consider making that end of year donation to take advantage of any addition tax savings
If you know you owe the IRS, state or municipality, make your payment before 1/15/20 to help reduce or avoid any underpayment penalties
Make sure all your employers and financial institutions have your current mailing or electronic address. You do not want to file your return only to discover that you missed an important document

New Items

New W4s – W4s are the forms that you complete when you start a job or wish to change the amount of tax payments that are withheld from your paycheck. For many years, It has asked for your marital status and the number allowances you are claiming. These forms have changed and the next one you fill out will look very different – like one of those new documents you have to learn with you start a new assignment, only this is the IRS, mind you. The new forms will be hard to understand as they will ask a LOT of questions about all your jobs and deductions. The shortcut? Just fill out your filing status and check the like box just above the midline that says, “multiple jobs”. Ignore the rest 😊
Smaller refunds – The goal of the new W4s is to reduce the amount of refunds and amounts due. Basically, to make filing a tax return something closer to an end of the year statement than a bonus check.
More aggressive states – States have taken audits and reviews into their own hands and not waiting for the IRS to start the process. We fielded more state inquiries than ever during the 2019 filing season.
Politicians pontificating about taxes. An election year would not be the same without wide eyed promises to put more money in your pocket or socking it to the rich. Look for more practical proposals instead of the impossible.

*Edit

Last minute tax bills buried in appropriations bill

In my last article I had waited till the last-minute hoping Congress would not pull another end of the year change to the tax law, but ……… despite my confidence, it happened after I sent the article

Changes to note

1) Mortgage Insurance Premiums treated as interest. This provision ended with the 2017 tax year but has been renewed RETROACTIVE to the 2018 tax year through the 2020 tax year. Lots of amended returns!
2) Discharge of Principal Residence Indebtedness: This ended in 2017 and is now retroactive and extended through 2020 as well
3) Medical expense itemized deduction: Has now reverted to the 7.5% threshold of AGI through 2020. This is also retroactive
4) Tuition and Fees Deduction: This ended in 2017 as well but is back until 2020. When you cannot use the American Opportunity Tax Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit, you can possibly use this deduction. It allows up to 4K of tuition and fees to be deducted. The income limitation is higher than the previous credits mentioned.
These items were not originally deductible on the 2018 tax return and now are with amended returns. Some taxpayers can amend now, BUT each state will now have to decided whether to follow these changes. So, it may be best to wait a few months before amending to see if your home state is agreeable.

Other items to note

1) You can now withdraw 5K from your IRA penalty free for the birth or adoption of a child
2) Starting in 2020, If you inherit an IRA, you now must withdraw all the amounts and pay the taxes within 10 years vs the life expectancy of the beneficiary.
3) The age limit for IRA contributions has been repealed
4) You can now use 10K of 529 Plan balances to pay off student loans and pay for the cost of apprentice programs. The student loan provision is a per child, per lifetime. In other words, the student can only use 10K in their entire lifetime and it only applies to loan principal, not interest
5) You are no longer required to withdraw from IRAs will age 72

We hope you have a great 2020!

Do you have questions regarding your tax home? Travel Nursing: What is a Tax Home? is a great resource for travel nurses.

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By Cross Country Nurses

December 12, 2019

7879 Views

Are Travel Nurses Required to Have Special Certifications or Degrees?

Posted on December 12, 2019February 3, 2023 by Cross Country Nurses

This article provided by: Cross Country Nurses

Are you considering becoming a travel nurse?

If so, you are probably wondering what some of the educational and certification requirements might be, and if they differ from those required of non-travel nurses. In fact, the requirements are actually very similar.

Travel nurses are usually required to be licensed as a registered nurse

Which entails the completion of an accredited registered nurse program. This is often an Associate Degree or, preferably, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN. Occasionally, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) will be accepted for a travel position. In any case, most healthcare facilities require a minimum of one year of experience, while positions in high acuity units may require two years of recent experience in a similar role.

In addition to educational and degree requirements

Travel nurses are also expected to have any necessary certifications relevant to the travel nurse position they will be filling. For example, Basic Life Support (BLS) is required for most assignments. Travel nurses working in the ER, ICU or other critical care areas are often required to have Advanced Cardia Support (ACLS) certification. Labor, Delivery, Post-Partum and NICU travel nurses may be required to have Neo Natal Resuscitation (NRP) certification. Finally, you will need a current license in the state in which your assignment is located, or a compact license if applicable.

Certification requirements can vary by state and facility

As a travel nurse, you will see that certification requirements can vary by state and facility. Your recruiter will make sure that you understand all the necessary documentation for each individual assignment and will help you obtain any paperwork you may need. If you haven’t already, you should consider obtaining any national certifications you can acquire, as they will set you apart from your competition. Be sure to let your recruiter know if you have any.

There are a number of qualities every travel nurse should possess in addition to the aforementioned certifications and degrees. These include excellent communication skills, analytical ability and a confidence in the knowledge of your individual specialty. Travel nurses must also be able to adapt to a new clinical environment and workplace culture as quickly and seamlessly as possible.

As you can see, the certifications and degrees required of travel nurses are quite similar to those required of non-travel nurses. If you are considering a career as a travel nurse, the first step would be to find a recruiter you trust and discuss the requirements specific to any assignment for which you wish to be considered. Your recruiter will walk you through every step of the process.

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!)

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“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

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By Jennifer Traub

December 9, 2019

6417 Views

Tips for Planning a Month-Long Vacation as a Travel Nurse

Posted on December 9, 2019May 25, 2021 by Jennifer Traub

For the past three years working as a travel nurse, I have had the same routine. Work a contract for six months, and then take a month off for either a stay-cation or go somewhere exotic.

More times than not, your hospital will extend you to 6 months. Within those 6 months, enjoy yourself, but nickel and dime your every move while you’re working so you can indulge on your month off.

Planning a Month-Long Vacation

How to save

For example, instead of eating out all the time, I would buy $80 worth of groceries that would last me one to two weeks. Whether through Airbnb or a friend, I would rent rooms instead of getting an expensive studio to save extra cash.

I lived way below my means, still enjoying myself but putting plenty aside from that I could utilize in the future. When you make a lot of money traveling, it is easy to blow through. I encourage you to save just a little bit, and I promise you it will go a long way.

In the process of saving

I would be mapping out a rough sketch of where I wanted to go during my time off. For example, several trips I took included gallivanting throughout Europe and Southeast Asia for 2-3 weeks at a time. My friend and I would have somewhat of an idea where we wanted to go, book tickets to a country, and hop from place to place. If you’re not as adventurous as we are, contact a travel agent or a friend who has gone to the places you want to, and ask for recommendations.

We work hard as travel nurses, and there is no reason why we cannot treat ourselves to a month’s vacation away from it all! Work hard but then go ahead and play a little harder!

We hope these tips for planning a month-long vacation have helped. Here are a few more articles with tips for your vacations and extended vacations: How to Plan for a Month-Long Vacation, Canadian Vacation Travel Tips for Travel Nurses: Great Places to Visit, and The 7 Best European Countries for Travel Nurses to Seek Jobs in and Travel Around.

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By Amber Pickler

December 6, 2019

6192 Views

Frequently Asked Friday: Tips for Surviving Nurse Burnout

Posted on December 6, 2019January 26, 2023 by Amber Pickler

Nurse burnout is on the rise. According to a national nursing engagement survey released in April 2019, 15.6% of nurses reported feelings of burnout. Emergency room nurses were identified as being at a higher risk for burnout, and 20% of ER nurses reported feeling unengaged. Interestingly, 50% of nurses who reported feeling burnout in their current position also reported no immediate plans to leave their organization. Another 41% of nurses reported being “unengaged.”

Tips for surviving nurse burnout

So, with the number going up, many of the members of our Facebook group have reached out and asked for tips on handling or surviving nurse burnout. We have taken some of the top tips and put them into this article to help you with nurse burnout.

Switch Specialties or Floors

If you are getting burned out, you may want to consider changing your specialty or the floor you are on. You may even want to try something other than bedside or floor nursing. It may be that you need a change in “scenery.”

Take a Break

We all need breaks at some point. It doesn’t have to be a vacation; you could take some time off between your travel nurse assignments. You could take the opportunity to go back home and visit family and friends. This option does require having some money saved up, but if you can take a short break, or however long you can afford, it may be just what you need.

Find a Hobby or Do Something for Yourself

Try to occupy your off time with things you enjoy doing. You need to make sure you take time for yourself to do something you enjoy. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive; it just needs to be something you enjoy doing. Selfcare can be something you do for yourself. Get a massage or a pedicure if that is something you are into. As our member said, if you feel burned out, don’t pick up an extra shift; money isn’t worth making the situation worse.

There are many other options to help survive nurse burnout, not every option will work for every person, but if you feel burned out, we hope this list at least gives you a start. These articles have great information and tips if you would like more information on surviving nurse burnout or self-care.

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By Lirika Hart

December 3, 2019

5588 Views

How Social Media Affects Mental Health

Posted on December 3, 2019January 26, 2023 by Lirika Hart

There is no denying that social media has grown to become an integral part of everyone’s life today. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, for example, are now immensely popular among both the millennials and the older generation. Coincidentally or otherwise, cases of mental disorders among young adults appear to increase with the increase of social media popularity. Well, we cannot authoritatively say that the two stats are correlated, but we cannot turn a blind eye either of them. That is why we are focusing on 6 possible relationships between social media and mental health, 3 being positive and 3 negative.

Social media helps us to find answers to problems that affect us, share our stories with people who are or who have been in the same situation as we are in, and to make new contacts. Of course, it is filled with people who understand and share our struggles, who are willing to be part of our support system. This is both inspiring and empowering and has a spiral effect on an individual’s improved mental health. Here is the evidence:

1. Fostering a sense of belonging

Social media is one large and welcoming community that gives every user some strong sense of belonging. Groups, for example, are formed by individuals who share a common belief, profession, or life challenge. That makes each member feel like they are an important part of a community.

How does this benefit your mental health? Well, according to a 1999 scientific study by the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan, a strong psychological sense of belonging can help you overcome depression and other mental health problems.

2. A repository of your fond memories

Social media has grown to become the repository of most people’s fondest memories. As a matter of fact, it is the main motivation behind most photos nowadays. Answer this as truthfully as possible: Would you be taking as many pictures as you do now if you weren’t on social media? Most likely, no!

The Instagram pictures you posted after a happy event, for example, will always be a constant reminder of your exciting past. If you are stressed or anxious prior to an interview, going through photos of your graduation on Facebook, for example, can help you relax and regain your lost self-belief. According to study findings published in nature.com on January 2019, positive memory reduces your chances of suffering depression and significantly boosts your mental health.

3. Enhancing better self-expression

When youths engage with one another on social media, they gain basic social and technical skills that help them to express themselves better and with more clarity. A guy who is attracted to a girl, for example, will have an easier time expressing his interest in the girl via social media chats than in face-to-face interaction. This form of self-expression wasn’t available before.

Cases of cyberbullying and social media trolls have been cited before as a cause of depression and a feeling of self-worthlessness amongst young people. There are also psychologists who argue that chronic sleep deprivation that social media users have can be detrimental to their health. Here are 3 more destructive aspects of social media in regards to your mental health:

1. Toxic comparison can lead to depression

A recent study that was published in a popular medical journal revealed that comparing your life with other people online can lead to depression, regardless of whether you are doing better than them or not. And with millions of photos being posted on a daily basis, you cannot help but compare your life to your friends as you scroll through your social media feeds. There have been numerous cases reporting to these issues, however, if you are struggling with depression, approaching an experienced life coach would help you find clarity and solve the problem.

2. Isolation

Brian Primack and other researchers at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine recently found out that overusing it can leave you feeling socially-disconnected from the real world. This form of social isolation leads to depression and when unattended for long, encourages suicidal thoughts. That is according to a separate study by the Association for Psychological Science.

3. It is addictive

Internet and particularly social media addiction is real. ‘Facebook Addiction Disorder’ is very common nowadays; it causes mental preoccupation that can promote feelings of anxiety when the addicted individual stops using Facebook.

Are you wondering when online posts cross the HIPAA line? “Patient Gossip” When Do Social Media Posts Violate HIPAA has great tips to avoid HIPAA violations online.

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By Gifted Healthcare

December 2, 2019

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Great Holiday Gift Ideas for Travel Nurses

Posted on December 2, 2019January 26, 2023 by Gifted Healthcare

This article provided by: Gifted Healthcare

After spending the entire year caring for others, travel nurses deserve to be recognized. The holiday season is the perfect time to show love and appreciation for the travel nurse in your life.

Gift shopping for a Travel RN this holiday season? Read on for 5 great ideas for gifts for nurses!

1. Monogrammed Stethoscope

A monogrammed stethoscope is a fantastic gift for the registered nurse in your life. Companies like allheart offer head or tube engraving and some of the best stethoscope brands on the market.

Engrave your nurse’s name or include a special message, turning a common medical tool into a one-of-a-kind memento.

2. An Awesome Book on Nursing

Whether they’re used while settling into a new home or en route to a new assignment, books are great gifts for travel nurses. There are many fantastic reads on nursing that are both fun and educational.

Nurses of all kinds are sure to love Notes on Nursing: What It Is, and What It Is Not by Florence Nightingale, one of the most important nurses in history.

How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Your Life as a Nurse by Kelli S. Dunham is a great resource for new nurses.

Inspired Nurse by Rich Bluni is a beautiful tribute to nurses that explores the great joys and sorrows of the nursing experience.

3. High-Quality Drinkware

Travel nurses are always on the go, and having a portable water or coffee container is a must. They will love and appreciate high-quality drinkware that preserves the temperature of their favorite beverages.

YETI is always a great choice for bottles, tumblers, and mugs. Their containers provide fantastic insulation and are made of stainless steel.

4. Nurse’s Gift Box from Nightingale Express

Nightingale Express was founded by travel RN Aishleen O’Brien. They offer custom gift boxes and accessories specifically for nurses.

Let your favorite travel nurse know you’re thinking of them by mailing a gift box. Packages like The Florence, The DayShifter, and The NightShifter provide premium-quality nursing essentials that are perfect for your favorite nurse.

5. Compression Socks

Compression socks might not seem exciting, but they are an extremely useful gift for travel nurses.

Nurses are on their feet all day, which can cause aches and pains. High-quality compression socks improve circulation and prevent blisters, allowing your favorite nurse to remain comfortable through their entire shift. That’s quite a gift.

Don’t be afraid to get creative! There are plenty of fun styles to choose from.

The holidays are right around the corner. Give the travel nurse in your life a gift that makes their long days and nights a little brighter!

Join The Gypsy Nurse Nation

Discover new travel nurse jobs, subscribe to customized job alerts and unlock unlimited resources for FREE.

“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

Join Now

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