By The Gypsy Nurse

January 18, 2018

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Knowing the Nurse Within

The following is a Guest Post via Elizabeth

Hi there! My name’s Elizabeth Scala and I’m a Nurse Coach and Reiki Nurse. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to guest blog on the Gypsy Nurse site. I really enjoy writing… I find it healing, relaxing, and fun. I hope you enjoy my posts on well-being and healthy lifestyle and if you are looking for a certain topic- just let me know!

Candy gave me a bit of background on what it’s like to be a travel nurse. Now I’ve never been one, but I can share with you that I am quite shy, slow to ‘warm up’ to a group, and have been building self-confidence my entire life. That sort of personality, coupled with not having many close friends, makes for a greater risk of loneliness.

Through reading the posts on the Gypsy Nurse Blog, I’ve come to see some similarities between myself and y’all.

· Being a travel nurse can be lonely when you move to a new location (I’ve moved a bit and find it hard to make new friends)

· As a travel nurse certain personalities enhance our chances of homesickness (I shared my personality above and I am quite the home-body!)

· Boredom, loneliness, or disappointment can lead to increased chances of stress and job dissatisfaction (been there, done that!)

In my work, I approach our overall and total well-being through a sense of healthy balance. I believe it isn’t just physical, nutritional, or mental that goes into our feeling well and happy. Spiritual, emotional, environmental, career, educational, social, relational, etc. –all sorts of things play into our total well-being.

If we’re not feeling happy and healthy in our location, our career, or our current situation- then our health suffers.

Over the course of my posts here, I’ll share with you several ways we can enhance, uplift, and ultimately sustain our overall well-being. But first I want to touch on a fundamental piece: knowing, listening to, and being comfortable with ourselves.

Many times when we look to make lifestyle changes we check out what’s going on around us. What’s the latest research, fad, or trend with respect to nutrition? How have our friends lost weight? Where are the most up-and-coming places to exercise?

Don’t get me wrong; it’s really great to get support, guidance, and look for ways to be accountable. However, sometimes this is done to a fault.

We’re so busy looking externally for answers; we forget that the healing, happiness, and peace have been right within our reach. Health is within.

This is really awesome news for the travel nurse!

If you’re feeling lonely, getting homesick, or experiencing dissatisfaction with your current assignment- you have a phenomenal asset right at your fingertips. You!

What are several ways we can get to know ourselves- thus ultimately enhancing our health- a little bit more?

· Sit quietly. One sure-fire way to get to know and be able to hear your inner you is through tuning in and tuning out. There is a ton of ‘noise’ out there. We have such a high risk of getting distracted. When we are over inundated with information we run the risk of losing touch with ourselves. By sitting still, being quiet, and just observing we can come back to knowing ourselves in a much deeper way.

· Journal. I’ve committed to writing 3 pages of long-hand in my journal every day. It doesn’t have to be about anything or it can be about everything. I’ve found it has helped me to work through decisions, deal with struggles, and get answers that I can’t find anywhere else. When I write- I can hear my inner self so much more clearly!

· Observe nature. There is no more beautiful, humbling, and grounding way to get in touch with our inner self than going outside and just watching. Use all of your senses- smell the air, feel the breeze, hear the animals and vegetation. Being with nature taps us into our inner most wisdom.

· Enjoy yourself. Just have fun doing what YOU enjoy for a change! Make a list of all of the things you liked to do as a kid. What did your parents drag you away from? Find comfort in doing those things that make you smile!

If you’re interested in finding out more, come visit me at www.livingsublimewellness.com. Sign up for my newsletter and receive my special gift, a 3-Part Video Series, “Here’s Time for Your Health”.

About The Author:

Elizabeth “Coach” Scala, MSN/MBA, RN is passionate about helping healthcare professionals, nurses in particular, to embody holistic living and embrace self-care. Through her business, Living Sublime Wellness, she writes regularly on the topic of self-care, conducts wellness workshops, and offers both in-person and online seminars for busy nurses.

Elizabeth is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach and holds Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Master’s degrees in both Business and Nursing. Originally from Carmel, NY, she now lives in Baltimore, MD with her husband and two dogs. Visit www.livingsublimewellness.com for more information.

Join The Gypsy Nurse Nation

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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

By The Gypsy Nurse

January 15, 2018

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Ask A Travel Nurse: Roadside Assistance

Roadside Assistance

Gypsy,

I’m preparing for my first travel nursing contract and am curious to know if you find roadside assistance programs such as Goog Sam or AAA helpful or necessary?

Thanks!
Marrietta, RN

Thank you for reading The Gypsy Nurse. You have taken the first step on your journey to becoming A Gypsy Nurse.

Marrietta,
As a travel nurse, if you choose to drive to your contracts (which many do) you will be spending a significant amount of time on the road away from home.  Likely alone and without a local resource to ‘save’ you if you should happen to break down.  We all take precautions (or should) prior to hitting the road, but there is still a chance of a breakdown or other issue.

I have always carried a roadside assistance plan and I can assure you that it has come in handy on more than one occasion.

  • Have you ever locked your keys in your car?
  • Left the lights on and woke to a dead battery?
  • Ran over something and resulted in a flat tire?

In addition to the ‘break-down assistance, there are other benefits to these organizations such as discounts.

  • Roadside assistance
  • Travel Discounts
  • Trip Interruption Insurance
  • Towing
  • Theft Protection (wish I’d had this a time or two)
  • Emergency Medical Referral
  • …..and many more!

Travel ON…..

I hope that this has addressed your question.

I love hearing the opinions of my readers.  Your opinion could be the perfect solution for someone.  Please share your thoughts below in the comments.

Do you have tips for travel nurses regarding roadside assistance and traveling to your next assignment? Comment them below if you would like to share them with your fellow travel nurses.

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

By The Gypsy Nurse

January 11, 2018

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Ask a Travel Nurse: What Do I Do If I Am Called For Jury Duty While On Contract?

Gypsy,
What do I do if I am called for Jury Duty while on contract?

The best approach to jury duty, when you are unable to attend due to a contracted obligation is to contact the court with a copy of your contract and ask to be excused.

Here is a sample letter:
To:
Office of the Jury Commissioner
Address
City, State Zip Code
Telephone Number

From: John Doe, # (Jury ID)
5747 West Elm St.
City, State Zip Code

Subject: Permission to be excused from Jury Duty

Date:

I am writing this letter to respectfully request to be excused from jury duty with your courts due to current contractual obligations.

As evidenced by the attached contract with _______________ (name of Employing Agency). I am currently out of the state and contracted as a Travel Nurse at ___________ from ______ to ________.

I can be reached at (000) 000-0000 if you have any questions or require further documentation.

Thank you for your time and consideration with this matter.
Sincerely,
Your Name

We hope that this helps you with your jury duty question.

If you have travel nurse questions, you would like answered. Our mentors are a great resource. Click here to submit your question for them. Our network group is also a great place to reach out with questions.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

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!)

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

By Host Healthcare

January 11, 2018

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10 Resume Tips For A Travel Nurse

This article is sponsored by Host Healthcare ®

resume tips

There is no shortage of opportunities for a travel nurse. However, it is growing more competitive to land your perfect job. Being a travel nurse means you must be able to market yourself. One way to improve your marketability is to have a great resume. After all, your resume is one of the keys to having a successful travel nursing career. These 10 resume tips for a travel nurse will help you become seen by hiring managers and land that ideal job.

Clean, Relevant, Brief

  1. Keep it beautiful and brief. Hiring managers are sometimes sifting through hundreds of resumes. To make yours stand out, highlight the most important things. Use bullets to help make it easy to skim through.
  2. Keep it clean. Some might refer to this as less is more. Don’t oversell and feel like you have to get everything on your resume. Again, focus on what’s important and remember to leave some white space to make it easy to read.
  3. Keep it relevant. Understand the job description and highlight the things the nursing manager will care about. That isn’t to say remove things that aren’t relevant. Just make sure your experience for the assignment you are applying for is visible.

Highlight Your Experiences

  1. Make all licenses and certifications visible. You worked hard to achieve your licenses and certifications. Show them off. Be proud. When you make licenses and certifications easily to find, it will improve your stock of being a qualified candidate.
  2. Include any honors and awards. Like you should be proud of your education, be proud of your achievements. If you have been recognized and received special awards, include that in your resume. It’s best to keep it relevant to the assignment you are applying but showcasing your excellence is always a good thing.
  3. Emphasize Bed Count and Facility Size. Not only does a hiring manager see your experience and education, but including logistics about places you have worked is important. How many beds were in the unit? How many beds were in the facility? They want to know if you are a good fit in their work environment.
  4. Computer experience. There are a lot of systems being used in the healthcare industry. Some are complex. If you have experience using the computer system in the facility you are applying for will make you stand out.
  5. Are you bilingual? This might sound silly to include in your resume but speaking multiple languages is always something you should include in your resume. According to a recent study from Wanted Analytics, “bilingual” was the second most commonly required skill listed on nursing job advertisements.

Include Specifics

  1. Include your availability. Being a nurse is a round-the-clock job. Are you able to work days, nights, mids? Are you open to working 8, 10, 12-hour shifts? Including this level of detail about the type of job you want can make you more marketable. Don’t leave this part out.
  2. Get a second opinion. You know your experience better than anyone else. But sometimes, having another person read will help make your resume an A+. Get a trusted friend, colleague, or recruiter to help give an extra set of eyes.

In conclusion, your resume is a vital piece of information to guide your travel nurse career. Think of your nursing resume as an advertisement that sells you. It can be your best friend if done correctly. Be mindful of the role you are applying for and tailor your resume accordingly. No one wants to read a resume that looks like it was identically copied and distributed to other facilities. You want every aspect of your resume to be a strong representation of what you have to offer an employer. Follow these tips, and you are well on your way to landing your next travel nursing assignment.

We hope you found these resume tips for travel nurses helpful. Do you have any resume tips to share for your fellow travel nurses. Comment them below.

10 Resume Tips For A Travel Nurse

About Host Healthcare:

Host Healthcare is an award-winning travel nurse staffing company. Host Healthcare was named the top travel nurse staffing company by Staffing Industry Analyst and ranked Inc. 460 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2017. At Host Healthcare, our mission is to provide you and every healthcare professional we encounter with the highest level of service. We believe in honesty, respect, and a commitment to quality with our clients, healthcare professionals, and corporate employees. Browse through our extensive list of travel nursing jobs or call one of our professional recruiters at (800) 585-1299 today.

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

By Andrew Ferguson

January 10, 2018

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Coming Home as a Travel Nurse

Home is where you hang your hat, or maybe where the heart is. Dorothy reminds us that there’s no place like it, and Thomas Wolfe was so sure you could never go back, that he wrote a whole book about it. The first dictum in this article is probably the most accurate for the nomadic nurse. As for Mr. Wolfe’s conclusion, he was an amazing writer, but as all Gypsy’s know, you can go wherever there’s a hospital with needs.

My wife has taken an eight-week assignment in her hometown.

Which is only two hours from my family. We haven’t been home, except for a two-week stint at our “tax home”, in over a year. Normally, we wouldn’t have been gone so long, but we extended a couple of her assignments and so didn’t get the time off. We’re all anxious to see if anything in town has changed, but even more than that, we’re curious to see if we’ve changed any.

Not much has changed

My guess is we’ll find that not much has changed in town. We expect to see a restaurant or two closed, and a couple of new ones opened, maybe a few buildings turned into parking lots, or vice versa. Whatever the changes, if any, we’ll be seeing everything a little differently than when we left. We’ve learned a lot on the road. Gained more certainty in what our little family can accomplish. We’ve had a lot of fun, but there have been some very meaningful moments too. There have been times when our patience has been tested, and times when we’ve questioned our decisions. But with every experience, we’ve gotten more confident, and more self-assured.

It will be nice to see family and friends.

I’m sure our 3-year-old will get plenty of attention from his grandparents. And his fair share of grief from his cousins. My wife is especially grateful that she’ll be able to spend some time with her sisters. She loves her boys, but a little “girl time” will do her heart good. I’m looking forward to getting some things done when we’re in town also. I have an old Jeep to work on, and an old truck to sell. Me finally getting rid of that old truck will probably do my wife’s heart some good too. The traveler nurse’s first rule-have the first month’s rent.

Ibn Battuta said, “Traveling-it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” This is especially true for me. My wife is the catalyst for our adventures, and I’m the mouthpiece for them. Our lives have a new narrative now. We have a different way of looking at things, a whole new set of stories to tell. However the story turns out, you can be sure I’ll be back at the Gypsy Nurse to tell you all about it.

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

By Katie McBeth

January 7, 2018

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Gender and Nursing

Guest Post By: Katie McBeth

Why We Need More Men but Still Need More Women

Nursing has come a long way in the past century. The evolution of modern medicine, the comings and goings of war, and the constant fluctuations in healthcare: we’ve been there for all of it.

However, through all this time, the image of the nurse has rarely changed. Throughout the century, the stereotypical nurse has always been female. Ladies have always been at the elbow of the head doctor, or helping patients in assisted care, or rushing in rooms to check on patients. This could be due to the female association for caregiving – we do have a history as midwives and Florence Nightingale often preached about our “natural” talents – or due to the classic story of the female nurse in times of war; helping the nation through our god-given talent for helping others. Hemingway sure enjoyed that trope.

Nurses are not strictly female in reality, but the majority of nursing still tends to lean ‘pink.’ However, there has been a call to male nurses on the rise, and an interesting discussion has been brought up around the issue. Here’s a look into the gender of nursing today.

Why We Need More Male Nurses

How many male nurses are currently serving patients in the United States? The most recent numbers were collected in 2011 by the US Census Bureau. Of the 3.5 million employed nursed in 2011, only 330,000 of them were male. That’s quite a gender divide. Some estimate the divide is due to a serious stigma around the image of the “male nurse,” since nursing is often female-depicted.

However, of those male nurses, the majority are still making 10% more than their female counterparts.

Yes: the wage gap exists in nursing too. Even despite the prevalence of female nurses.

Yet, don’t discourage them. Male nurses are important to the field and are needed to help fill the growing demand for medical professionals. With the rise in aging populations and the growing epidemic of chronic illnesses, there’s no way that female nurses alone can fill the demand. Adding men to nursing will not only help but will give us a chance to discuss the issues with the gender wage gap more openly.

Plus, good news for the guys out there; men are in high demand from hospitals around the country. According to TravelNursing.com, most male nurses are in California, Texas, and Florida – places with typically dense elderly populations – but are lacking in most other states. Male nurses are not only sought after but have a stable and promising future in the field.

Why We (Still) Need Female Nurses

But hold your horses! Female nurses may be the majority in the field right now, but patients need their expertise. Specifically, female patients – or 51% of the population – need the knowledge and help of female nurses.

Regis College’s nursing program highlights the important role female nurses have for their female patients, especially in impoverished areas: “One of the most important areas of study is the intersection of socio-economic factors and women’s health [3]. Researchers attributed the risk to a number of factors, including lack of access to preventive care, incomplete education about health issues, and high-stress levels. Without access to necessary preventive treatment and prenatal care, these low-income women suffer significantly higher mortality rates than the rest of the population. Through public pressure and education, the government and the private sector will continue to expand access to women’s health services throughout the country. [Female NPs] will help address the need.”

Women’s health needs may even be in danger with the recent turnout of the presidential election – with special emphasis put on closing free or low-income health clinics such as Planned Parenthood –  making women’s health practitioners even more important. They can fill the gap in understanding the body and can provide knowledgeable care to those in need.

Additionally, a recent study in France found that male doctors tend to overlook signs of heart failure in female patients. They simply believed females were at less of a risk for heart disease than male patients and didn’t screen for increased risk factors. Although it is true that men are more susceptible, one of the leading medical concerns among women is still heart disease, and overlooking risk factors is extremely dangerous. Luckily, female nurses know what to look for and can help save lives where doctors are being negligent.

The Concerns

Obviously, the wage gap is a concern for many nurses, but solutions are difficult to discuss and would most likely require a whole other article devoted to the topic. However, wages aren’t the only issue that may arise with the co-ed nursing staff.

Just as with any diverse staff, certain problems may arise because of intermixing identities. Most of these problems are easy to navigate once everyone is onboard, and the end result can be a stronger, more supportive, and mindful team.

Communication is one of the biggest issues, as people with different mindsets or perspectives will feel threatened when a new idea comes along to challenge theirs. Often times communication will turn hostile and incivility will arise among coworkers; a dangerous thing to happen in nursing as it can also affect our quality of care for patients.

This struggle can be seen in the business world, as co-ed groups are often less happy in their day-to-day working lives. However, those groups are also more innovative, productive, engaged, and profitable. Adding diverse ideas to the group allows them to think critically and make bolder decisions that are, at times, seen as unconventional.

So the tradeoffs are manageable, and the results are rewarding; despite any potential headaches you may get along the way. My only suggestion is to embrace the addition of men to the field, and to continue the discussion of wage and gender divide.

Adding men to nursing could really help our nursing numbers catch up with the rising demand in healthcare. Plus, their new perspective could really open up the doors to a more innovative future in nursing. Let’s look toward the future, and keep doing the good work for the people who need it. Maybe someday soon men will be working alongside us to better the health of the nation.

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

By The Gypsy Nurse

January 6, 2018

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Online Safety Tips

The Internet is a powerful tool for many day-to-day tasks. From checking email, staying in touch with friends to shopping and managing your finances. Most of us use the Internet for at least some of these tasks.

When using the Internet, it’s important to remember that there are certain safety tools to consider and utilize. No different than riding a bike and wearing a helmet or buckling your seatbelt when riding in a car, it’s important to maintain your safety.

SPAM & PHISHING

Cybercriminals have become quite savvy in their attempts to obtain your personal information and access to your accounts. Most of the time, these email messages will come with an ‘URGENT’ action that needs to be taken by you. Be very cautious of these emails.

Avoid being a victim by taking the following steps if you receive suspicious email messages:

• Never click on a suspicious link!
• Contact the company directly.
• Contact the company using the information provided on an account statement or back of a credit card.
• Search for the company online – but not with the information provided in the email.

SHOPPING

Many of us use online shopping for gift-giving, home needs, uniforms, etc. When shopping make sure to check that the site is security enabled. Look for web addresses with https:// which indicates extra measures have been taken to secure your information.

Read reviews if using a vendor that you are not familiar with. I like to utilize http://www.consumerreports.org to conduct research on products that I’m preparing to purchase.

For companies both online and ‘brick and morter’ check them out here. Remember to only give information that is relevant to the purchase.

BANKING AND BILLS

• Use a secure connection when accessing banking or billing accounts.
• Always log-out when you are finished.
• Avoid clicking on email links asking for personal or login information. Go directly to the source. (See phishing above).
• Secure your computer. At a minimum make sure that your security/antivirus software is up to date and you have a firewall turned on.

MANAGING PASSWORDS

Passwords can be quite bothersome. Most of us have to learn and possibly change work passwords on a frequent basis and trying to remember all of them can be daunting.

• Use two-step verification whenever possible. This provides a second layer of security to the accounts.

• Separate accounts = Separate passwords. At a minimum, keep you personal vs work passwords distinctly different. Having multiple passwords helps keep cyber-criminals from accessing all of your accounts if they are able to hack one password.

• If you have to keep a record of your passwords, make sure that you put them in a secure place away from your computer or digital device.

• Make your password a sentence! For something easy to remember try using an inspirational short sentence or a unique goal “Smelltheflowers.” “Livingthedream!” “#2milesAday” “Itsonly13Weeks!” are great examples of this. I love this process for passwords that are memorable yet secure. The upside is that you are constantly reminded of something that is important to you every time you login!

ID THEFT

Knowing what to do in the case of ID theft or cyber crimes is imperative!

• Local law enforcement. Your local law enforcement agency (either police department or sheriff’s office) has an obligation to assist you, take a formal report, and make referrals to other agencies, when appropriate. Report your situation as soon as you find out about it. Some local agencies have detectives or departments that focus specifically on cybercrime.

• IC3. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) will thoroughly review and evaluate your complaint and refer it to the appropriate federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over the matter. Complaints may be filed online at ic3.gov/default.aspx.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC does not resolve individual consumer complaints but does operate the Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database that is used by civil and criminal law enforcement authorities worldwide to detect patterns of wrong-doing, leading to investigations and prosecutions. File your complaint here. Victims of identity crime may receive additional help through the FTC hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4388); the FTC website at identitytheft.gov provides resources for victims, businesses, and law enforcement.

• Your Local Victim Service Provider. Most communities in the United States have victim advocates ready to help following a crime. They can provide information, emotional support, and advocacy as needed. Find local victims’ service providers here.

Do you have tips for keeping yourself safe online? Please share them in the comments below!

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

By The Gypsy Nurse

January 4, 2018

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Ask A Travel Nurse: Cold Calling?

Gypsy,

I’m a brand new traveler and seeking my first contract.  My recruiter has asked me to contact the nurse manager to request an interview.  I thought that this was something that is set up via the Travel Nurse recruiter?  Am I crazy?  I don’t feel comfortable ‘cold-calling’ the hospital.  What should I do?

Kathy

Here is the skinny on this new practice of some Companies having you, the potential employee, call the Nurse Manager for an ‘On The Spot interview!!! I currently work in a very Traveler Friendly Hospital. I decided to talk to a few Managers that I have had a previous connection about this practice. I spoke with 6 Managers that manage Units of various sizes, Critical care to Low risk, Trauma Centers & Community Hospitals. Managers were from 1 Magnet Hospital NYC, 1 Trauma Center in GA, 1 L&D unit in GA, 1 NICU in TX. 2 ER in MA. Keep in mind these are Managers I have worked with or have met before. I got one common response when I took them off guard with the question… “How do you feel about a traveler calling you for an interview?”

‘What??’ All 6 said it was a No-No !! 4 of the 6 said they don’t return any Travelers calls unless they are currently working on their unit.

All communication should be between the hospital Account Manager & the Agency. Some Agencies have encouraged me to get ahead of others agencies submitting nurses for the same position or get a foot in the door of that facility. But is not their Hospital’s policy to bypass the Account Manager.

IN ATL, the NICU manager said only this morning she had a call from a NICU RN that was told to call her Company to call her to set up an interview. She said she didn’t like to be caught off guard, she didn’t know who she was talking to, She had not reviewed any potential nurses’ files & when she called HR to get more info, the Agency which she named did not even have an affiliation the hospital. Now some Excellent NICU nurse will never get interviewed because her file may never get to the manager’s desk.

This was an eye-opener for me. I have never been asked to set up my own interview. I have been asked to provide available dates & times for a phone interview with the manager. Maybe some of the Recruiters here can shed some light on this new practice. We should not be placed in a situation to hear ‘Who are You? & why are you calling? We need to be assertive with our Recruiters & let them be Recruiters!

Do you have advice for cold calling?  Comment your advice or tips for cold calling below.

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

By The Gypsy Nurse

December 27, 2017

10819 Views

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Ask A Travel Nurse: Verbal Contract?

Gypsy,

I’m a new Travel nurse and have a verbal contract with Company A for a position that is to start in two weeks. I have not signed a contract as of yet. In the meantime, two great opportunities have come my way and both of these will also start at the same time as the first one. Since I haven’t signed the contract for Company A, am I still obligated to take it based on the verbal contract?

Thanks!
Anonymous, RN

Thank you for reading The Gypsy Nurse.

I am assuming that you have already given a verbal agreement and possibly even have the contract in hand pending your signature. If you are entertaining taking another assignment after already giving your recruiter a verbal acceptance, you should notify your recruiter immediately.

I have dealt with this problem myself, as it always seems like the ‘perfect’ contract or the contract you were holding out for comes through after giving verbal consent. I assure you that this will not be the last time this will happen in your Travel Nurse career.
I believe this is a question of integrity. As a professional, it’s important to maintain a certain level of integrity. If you expect others you deal with in the Travel Industry to have integrity in their dealings with you, it is your obligation to set the tone of that relationship.
Your verbal acceptance is no different than a written acceptance. When you verbally accept an obligation of any kind, you are communicating to the other party “intent.”
If getting a written contract or some other issue (variations between the verbal and the written) is what is causing you cognitive dissonance, tell your recruiter that you are not willing to accept until you have an acceptable contract in writing.

Travel ON…..

I hope that this has addressed your question.

I love hearing the opinions of my readers. Your opinion could be the perfect solution for someone. Please share your thoughts below in the comments.

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