By Uniti Med

August 2, 2023

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Tips for Capturing Stunning Travel Photos

Uniti Med provided this article.

As a travel healthcare professional, you have the unique opportunity to explore various regions of the country and document your adventures through photography. While you may not be a professional photographer, there are simple techniques to ensure your travel photos are breathtaking and cherished keepsakes. Here are some tips for capturing the best travel photos during your assignments.

travel photos

Choose the Right Camera for Your Budget:

You don’t need an expensive camera to take captivating photos. Modern cell phones come equipped with impressive lenses that rival professional cameras. If you’re due for a new phone, research models with excellent camera capabilities. However, if you’re keen on improving your photography skills, consider investing in a dedicated camera from reputable brands like Canon, Nikon, Sony, or Fuji. There are pros and cons to each, but the important thing is to learn how to use them. Do some research on different lenses, shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and white balance. Don’t shoot in auto mode forever!

Focus on Exposure and Sharpness:

Exposure is the overall brightness or darkness of a photo. An overexposed photo will lose all the details of the shot, while an underexposed one will appear grainy and flat when brightened. An out-of-focus photo can ruin an otherwise beautiful shot. Take a moment to set the exposure and focus before capturing your subject.

Frame Your Subject Wisely:

Framing is a fundamental aspect of photography that directs the viewer’s attention to the subject. Whether it’s people, landscapes, or wildlife, frame your subject thoughtfully, ensuring they are the focal point of the image. Avoid cropping out important elements, such as hands and feet, when photographing people. Framing a photo is half of the job, so take your time framing your subject to get that perfect shot.

Lighting Is Your Friend:

travel photos

You may think that a photographer’s tool is their camera, but this isn’t entirely true. A photographer’s best tool is light. Bad or harsh lighting can ruin an otherwise beautiful photo. To capture stunning outdoor images, consider shooting during the “blue hour” (the hour after sunrise) or the “golden hour” (the hour before sunset). These times provide soft, warm lighting that enhances the beauty of your subjects. Although not always feasible, planning your shoots around these hours can yield some truly stunning photos.

Get Creative, Have Fun, and Keep Taking Pictures:

While there are some universal “rules” to good photography, art is subjective. If your photo is in focus and the lighting is right, then you can take a great photo! Have fun with it, and get creative. Try different angles to get a truly unique shot. Play around with your camera settings and try new techniques. Practice, practice, practice! The more you shoot, the better you’ll get.

Safeguard Your Photos with Backups:

Once you’ve taken your photos, you’ll want to make sure they are safely stored for the long term. For digital photos, you can invest in an external hard drive, or you can purchase digital storage. If you choose to print your photos, buy high-quality photo albums for storage and keep them in a cool, dry area so they don’t fade over time. Whatever you do, regularly back up your photos to avoid losing precious memories.

Conclusion:

By following these tips, your pictures will not only look better, but you’ll have beautiful keepsakes of your adventures forever. Remember, it’s not about having the most expensive gear but knowing how to make the most of the equipment you have. Frame your subjects carefully, pay attention to lighting, and never stop exploring your creativity through photography. Happy travels!

We hope you found these tips for capturing stunning travel photos helpful. Do you have any tips for fellow travel nurses who want to capture their travel adventures? Comment them below.

The Gypsy Nurse 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.

As a travel nurse, you go on many adventures and capturing stunning travel photos can be important. Here are tips to help you get those shots!

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 Titan Medical

August 1, 2023

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Hidden Gems in the United States That You May Want to Consider For Your Next Travel Assignment

Titan Medical Group provided this article.

Moab, Utah 

jobs

If you are looking for a desert adventure, Moab, Utah, is the perfect place to take your next travel assignment. Moab is home to numerous natural wonders, including the red rock arches at Arches National Park. Moab is also known for its amazing stargazing tours and water activities. Find jobs in Moab and other cities throughout Utah here


 Fredericksburg, Texas 

Hidden Gems in the United States That You May Want to Consider For Your Next Travel Assignment

Fredericksburg, Texas, is a hidden gem in Texas that provides amazing views. Fredericksburg is a German-rooted city near Austin and San Antonio. This city was built by German immigrants who settled here around the early 1800s. The German culture remains in Fredericksburg today with authentic food, beer, and fine wines. Find jobs in Fredericksburg and other cities throughout Texas here


Arcata, California  

jobs

California is the perfect state to take an assignment if you are looking for warm weather and beaches. However, California is also home to amazing scenery beyond the sandy beaches and cityscapes. Arcata, California, is home to beautiful redwoods that line the trails all the way to the Pacific Bay. Find jobs in Arcata and other cities throughout California here


Hidden Gems in the United States That You May Want to Consider For Your Next Travel Assignment

Traverse City, Michigan  

Traverse City, Michigan, is another beautiful place to take your next assignment if you have an appreciation for nature. Traverse City is a bayside micropolitan area and the largest producer of tart cherries in the United States. Traverse City also holds a weeklong Chery Festival at the start of July each year. Find jobs in Traverse City and other cities throughout Michigan here


Chattanooga, Tennessee 

jobs

Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a great place to take your next assignment if you love history. Lookout Mountain Battlefield and the Chattanooga National Military Park are two historic Civil War locations in Chattanooga. This city also has numerous breweries and places to eat throughout the city. Find jobs in Chattanooga and other cities throughout Tennessee here

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.

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 Covelo Group

July 31, 2023

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Job Outlook: Why Do Hospitals Hire Travel Nurses?

Covelo Group provided this article.

Despite the U.S. healthcare industry making enormous strides since the pandemic, hospitals still struggle to stay fully staffed with nursing professionals. This problem isn’t new. The U.S. has had a persistent lack of healthcare workers for decades, and the shortage[i] of RNs is projected to continue to spread across the country through the year 2030.

As a result, healthcare systems still rely consistently on the travel nursing industry to fill both short-term and long-term staffing gaps. While root causes depend on the unique set of circumstances and challenges facing each medical center, here are some common reasons why hospitals hire travel nurses:

hire travel nurses

Nursing educator shortage

The healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing career fields in the U.S. and has been for years. Data tells us that the demand for nurses in the U.S. continues to grow faster than the supply of qualified nursing candidates. Check here[ii] to see the nurse-to-population numbers in your home state.

As the Baby Boomer population experiences greater longevity, the demand for healthcare professionals is increasing. Unfortunately, not enough nursing school graduates are entering the workforce to meet those growing needs, creating a nursing deficit.

A major contributing factor to this deficit is the need that nursing programs have for nursing educators. A lack of qualified educators means that nursing schools remain extremely competitive and can admit only a fraction of their applicants. Ultimately, fewer nursing students lead to fewer nursing professionals.

Seasonal hires

Flu season typically starts in October, with flu activity sometimes stretching into May. Although the peak of flu season[iii] varies from year to year, it frequently happens in or around February. Not only do hospitals experience an influx of patients during flu season, but their full-time staff may also need to take more sick days due to increased exposure to infection. Hospitals also see a higher volume of requests for personal time off during the holidays.

Hiring travel nurses for seasonal spikes in patient load allows hospitals to keep operations running smoothly without increasing their full-time staffing volume.

Underserved communities

Remote hospitals in rural communities face a chronic struggle to keep enough doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals employed on a full-time basis. Given the challenge of attracting permanent clinical staff from bigger cities, these small-town clinics rely on a constant rotation of travel nurses to care for their patients. The travel nursing industry will always be essential to the health and well-being of patients in these isolated communities.

Absences and retirement

Every hospital has to manage covering shifts for their full-time nursing staff during the occasional extended leave of absence, consistent with the Family Medical Leave Act[iv]. Travel nursing is a convenient way for hospitals to cover an employee’s temporary leave of absence, which can last up to 12 weeks.

It’s also true that thousands of American nurses are approaching retirement age. In fact, according to the 2023 National Nursing Workforce Survey,[v] 19 percent of the current RN workforce is 65 years of age or older. This is no small challenge for the hospitals charged with replacing these seasoned nursing professionals within a few short years.

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.


[i] https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-information/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage

[ii] https://nursejournal.org/articles/the-us-nursing-shortage-state-by-state-breakdown/

[iii] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm

[iv] https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla

[v] https://www.ncsbn.org/research/recent-research/workforce.page

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 Gifted Healthcare

July 30, 2023

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

Gifted Healthcare provided this article.

Summer is the time for adventure, so what’s more perfect than a summer bingo card to get you out and exploring on your travel RN assignment?

Gifted Healthcare has created the summer 2023 bingo card with travel RNs like you in mind. You have a brand-new city that is waiting for you to explore, and this card of adventures will ensure you have the summer of a lifetime! Download the bingo card below and mark off your card as you thrive through the summer.

Summer Bingo Card

Gifted’s Must-Do Items

Make a New Travel Nurse Bestie

This feels like a must for any travel assignment. Meeting other nurses just like you traveling the world is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to connect with someone you otherwise would have never met. One of the easiest ways to cross this off your bingo card is with Medventure, an app connecting the healthcare travel community! Make an account and plug in your assignment city to start meeting other healthcare professionals in your area. The app also hosts group meet-ups for a bigger social outings.

Take a City Tour

Every city across the country has a unique history and culture, and a lot of cities have tour opportunities that you would have never guessed available. San Francisco has an Infinite Mirror Maze, a psychedelic labyrinth in the Bay Area. Go back in time and have a true Blockbuster experience at the last shop to still exist in Bend, Oregon. Boston, Massachusetts, is home to an enormous, inside-out glass globe built in 1935 that you can tour. In New Mexico, you can take a tour of the White Sands National Park, the largest pure gypsum deposit in the world – people even go dune sledding! All this to say, you never know what unique and quirky tour your city offers. Do some research and see what catches your eye.

Take a Break at a Local Coffee Shop

What’s cool about coffee shops is there is never just one of them. Every local will have their favorite, so we suggest you ask around. Ask patients, ask co-workers, and ask anyone at the grocery store. “What is a coffee shop around here that I have to try before I travel back home?” You can make an entire list from the locals’ suggestions and see how many you can check out. After trying them all, you can even decide on a favorite in the town for yourself!

Send a postcard back home.

Share your adventures with loved ones back home by sending a little snail mail. You can find a postcard at a locally-owned boutique, a museum, a coffee shop, and more around your new city. You could even make a postcard with a picture from your hike, pizza outing, or concert in the area to share your own vantage point. Something as simple as a postcard like this helps hold a memory closer to both your heart and your loved ones.

Attend a Concert

Do you remember your first concert ever? It was probably your favorite band performing at the venue in your hometown, best known for hosting the most popular performers. Well, the cool thing about performers traveling from town to town is that you can experience their music and new venues! There are famous concert venues across the country, like Madison Square Garden in New York, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, Ryman Auditorium in Tennessee, and so many more that have their own charisma and history. It adds so much to the atmosphere to experience live music in a new place, so discover what venues are famous near your travel assignment and get lost in the music.

Find the Perfect Place to Watch the Sunset

Finding the perfect place to watch the sunset can be a magical and memorable experience. As you travel from town to town, each location may offer unique and picturesque spots to witness the beauty of nature’s evening spectacle. Some common ideal places include scenic overlooks, beaches, parks, rooftop bars, lakes and rivers, botanical gardens, observation decks, and even from the highway on a long drive. Hopefully, this list gives you a few ideas to start, but your best option is to ask locals! See where your co-workers and your patients like to watch the sunset and learn from their personal experiences.

Share Your Bingo with Gifted

Gifted Healthcare wants to see you get bingo this summer! Follow Gifted on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, and DM your Bingo card for a chance to be featured this summer.

Gifted wanted to help you make the most out of your next assignment. Connect with a recruiter to discuss your career goals or, better yet, share your experience with another RN and refer them to Gifted for an extra $500 cash to spend on all those coffee shop visits!

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 trustaff

July 28, 2023

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TravCon 2023: Tips For Making The Most Of It

Trustaff provided this article.

Are you planning to attend TravCon 2023? Taking place each September in the booming city of Las Vegas, this event is the largest traveling healthcare conference in the country. It offers attendees a fun atmosphere with networking opportunities, engaging speakers, exciting freebies, and more.

Below is a list of suggestions to make sure you get the most out of your trip to TravCon this year.

travcon 2023

Make a list.

In preparation for TravCon, many companies will publish their booth numbers well in advance. Creating a list of exhibitors you want to visit, as well as their booth numbers, will be helpful, especially if you’re eager to collect all the freebies and giveaways – a fan favorite for attendees.

Leave room in your luggage or pack an extra bag.

How do you plan to handle all the freebies you’ll bring home from TravCon? Make sure you leave some luggage space or bring an extra duffle bag or backpack with you so you can transport all of your new gifts home. Some companies may even give you a new backpack or bag.

Listen and learn.

TravCon has a long list of industry professionals who will be speaking at the conference. Check out the list of speakers online and again – make a list! Mark off who you’d like to hear speak at the conference, and plan to spend your week getting tons of new knowledge, insight, inspiration, and more from these wonderful people sharing their stories and expertise.

The parties!

What’s a trip to TravCon without all the after-parties? Most companies will advertise free events (many with free food and drinks) to anyone who attends the conference. Some of these are open to all travelers regardless of which company you are currently working for, but chances are, your company is also hosting an extra party specifically for their current travelers (Trustaff is!) These after-parties are always the highlight of the trip, as you will meet many new faces while having fun and connecting with other travelers and healthcare professionals. Be sure to join any Facebook groups so you can know when these parties are happening – as many require an RSVP.

Make sure to purchase a ticket.

Tickets to the event are available now and often sell out each year – so don’t wait! You can also add on things to your ticket, such as hikes, golf outings, and more, to get extra time to connect with the TravCon crew and other healthcare travelers and professionals. In addition, the conference also hosts certification courses. Being a traveler, finding the time or place to do these mandatory certifications can be challenging, but TravCon makes it easy, and you can tackle those while you’re there. They’ve truly thought of it all!

TravCon 2023 will be the place to be September 17th-20th. We hope this list helps you get the most out of your experience in Vegas.  Will you be there? We can’t wait!

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.

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 Amare Medical Network

July 27, 2023

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The Ultimate Summer Playlist for Travel Nurses

Amare Medical Network provided this article.

Summer is a time for fun, relaxation, and spending time with loved ones. But for nurses, it can also be a time of high stress. Long hours, short staffing, and the constant demands of the job can take a toll on your mental and emotional health.

That’s why finding ways to de-stress and relax during the summer is so important. And what better way to do that than with music?

A well-chosen playlist can help you unwind, relieve stress, and boost your mood. And with so many different genres of music to choose from, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

summer playlist

Here are a few ideas for creating the ultimate summer playlist for nurses:

  • Pop music: With its upbeat and catchy beats, pop is great music to listen to while working out, running errands, or even relaxing on the beach.
  • Country music: Relax and de-stress with country that is often about simple pleasures, like spending time outdoors, enjoying nature, and being with loved ones.
  • Rock music: Rock can get you pumped up for working out, driving, or just getting ready for a night out.
  • R&B music: Relax and groove to the perfect music to listen to while you’re taking a bath, reading a book, or just spending time with friends.

In addition to choosing the right genre of music, it’s also important to consider the lyrics of the songs on your playlist. Songs with positive lyrics can help boost your mood, while songs with negative lyrics can have the opposite effect.

Be sure to take some time to create a summer playlist that’s perfect for you. Choose songs that you love and that make you feel good. And when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, put on your playlist and let the music work its magic.

Besides making you feel good, music can also have a positive effect on your well-being. Research has shown that listening to music can:

  • Boost immunity by helping produce antibodies and cells that fight against bacteria.
  • Stimulate the release of endorphins, which encourage the production of oxytocin, which helps boost your mood.
  • Assist with treatments for conditions ranging from depression to premature birth.

With a little planning, you can create a playlist that will help you to relax, de-stress, and boost your mood and well-being all summer long. Don’t have time to create your own playlist or don’t know where to start? No problem! Check out this Spotify playlist to get you started.

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.

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

July 26, 2023

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10 Things You Need to Know if You Date a Travel Nurse

It’s a romantic notion to date a travel nurse.

You know, one of those free-spirited people who roam after the wind and return home with twigs in their hair and dust upon their cheeks. But it’s also really hard. And annoying. And painful.

date a travel nurse

10 Things You Need to Know if You Date a Travel Nurse:

  1. Expect them to do their own thing
  2. Don’t expect them to stay in one place
  3. Have your own adventures
  4. Let them go
  5. Make time to meet up in their New City
  6. Send snail mail
  7. Expect them to change plans
  8. Be open to trying new things
  9. Give some space
  10. Listen

Expect them to do their own thing

Travel nurses will do this often and without letting you know, at least at first. It’s not that you don’t matter; it’s just that they’ve learned to love doing what they want when they want and without asking permission or informing anyone.

date a travel nurse

Don’t expect them to stay in one place

When you date a travel nurse, you have to expect them to travel. One reader reports, “Just this week, I had to break off date nights with someone that I’ve known for years because he is not open to living elsewhere because of his job, and I am not interested in living where his quarters are. We were really starting to like each other’s company, so I broke it off now rather than later.”

Have your own adventures

You tell people you don’t mind that your boyfriend/girlfriend is traveling, that it’s all going so well, that you’re so happy they’re having the journey of a lifetime on the adventure they’ve always wanted to take. Deep down, you’re a bit jealous. Don’t be! Get out there and have your own adventure. The traveler you’re dating will love that you are independent and willing to think outside the box. The next time you’re together, they will want to hear all about your adventures.

Let them go

You’ve heard the saying, ‘If you love something, let them go…” In the case of a traveler, it couldn’t be MORE true. Let them run off to their next adventure. Use Skype often. Text and plan ‘virtual’ dates.

Make time to meet up in their New City

Plan a short weekend trip or vacation and visit them in their new location. They will likely be excited to have the company and enjoy sharing the sights/adventures of a new place with you.

Send snail mail

date a travel nurse

A small goody box with his or her favorite homemade treat or pair of fuzzy socks shows that you’re willing to do what it takes to keep your relationship strong despite distance, which is comforting for the traveler to know. And a handwritten letter is a touchable, holdable, kissable token of love that a text or voicemail will never be.

Expect them to change plans

As a traveler, plans can and do change quickly. Thought that they were going to Seattle? Well…that got canceled, and now they are heading to NYC!!  When you date a travel nurse, it’s important to be able to go with the flow. Don’t let it create discord between you. Support the serendipity of the situation.

Be open to trying new things

As a traveler, he/she likely relishes the experiences available. Places, Culture, Food, Adventure. Please encourage them to try new things and be quick to join in. Someone who is just as adventurous as they are will excite them.

Give some space

The traveler is accustomed to being alone a lot of the time. Take things slow, and don’t smother them. Respect that they need and often thrive on being alone some or even most of the time. Adjusting to having someone around constantly can be difficult.

Listen

Even if you don’t understand the difficult day that they had, listen. Let them vent to you about the workplace, that crazy patient they had to deal with, or even the struggle to find the next position. Having someone who will listen can be comforting.


Are you a traveler or dating a traveler? What challenges have you encountered? What do you look for in a partner?

Are there additional tips that you would like to share? Please post them 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

By Nadine Westwood

July 25, 2023

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Creative Ways to Preserve Precious Memories From Travel Nurse Assignments

As a travel nurse, you know better than anyone else the joys and challenges that come with the job. You get to explore new places, meet people from all over the world, and have unforgettable experiences that you want to cherish forever. However, as time passes by and you move on to different travel nurse assignments, it can be difficult to hold on to those memories. 

travel nurse assignments

This guide can help you preserve your precious memories from travel nurse assignments. From scrapbooking and journaling to creating custom photo albums and souvenirs, these tips will ensure that your adventures will stay with you for years to come.

Create a Travel Scrapbook or Journal

One of the best ways to preserve your travel memories is to keep a travel scrapbook or journal. You can jot down your itinerary, paste ticket stubs, add memorable photographs, and even draw sketches of the places you visited. Not only does it help record your experiences, but it also gives you space to reflect on them – which is great for your mental health!

Print Physical Copies of Photos

One of the simplest ways to preserve precious memories from your travel assignments is to print physical copies of your favorite photos. Photos stored on digital devices may be lost due to technology failures, accidentally deleted, or overwritten without warning. 

On the other hand, old printed photographs can be easily ruined by external elements. You can keep the originals safe by depositing them in a secure location such as a safety deposit box or fireproof safe.

travel nurse assignments

Create a Photo Album To Bring With You

Collecting photos and/or postcards from each place you visit and bringing them together in a photo album will allow you to create a visual diary of your travels that you can revisit whenever you want. 

What’s more, having a physical album with you during your travels will also allow you to share your experiences with new friends or patients, sparking conversations and connections. If you are unsure how to create a memorable photo album, take advantage of specialized services like Mixbook.

Keep Your Dearest Memories in a Safe Place

One important step in preserving your travel memories is to ensure they are kept in a secure place. Whether it’s physical keepsakes like ticket stubs or digital files like photos and videos, these memories hold a special value that deserves protection. 

Consider investing in a fireproof safe or cloud storage service to avoid the risk of loss due to unforeseen circumstances, or consider using the services made available by banks and other security deposits. While this may seem like an investment, your efforts will pay off when these preserved memories will turn your next house into a welcoming home!

Leave Photos and Mementos With Someone You Trust

If you are worried about taking your memories with you on your next assignment, one creative way to preserve precious mementos is to leave them with someone you trust. This ensures that your memories are safe even when you’re far away. You could entrust a family member, friend, or colleague who has your best interest at heart with the task of safeguarding your belongings until you return.

Frame Special Items and Take Them With You

Bringing special items with you on your travel assignment is essential to keeping cherished memories. A few examples of these items are postcards, souvenirs, and trinkets. To take it a step further, frame these items and hang them up in your temporary housing to make you feel more at home.

Record Voice Memos or Video Diaries

While traveling as a nurse, it can be hard to keep a physical journal or scrapbook. However, technology has made it easier to record your travel experience using your smartphone or an audio recorder. Recording voice memos or video diaries can be a great way to capture the sights and sounds of your destination while also reflecting on your personal experiences.

travel nurse assignments

Use Memory-Keeping Apps and Websites

Travel nursing can be challenging when it comes to staying connected with loved ones and preserving precious memories. However, technology can be a game-changer. There are many memory-keeping apps and websites out there that can help you capture your travels, stay connected with family and friends, and make the most out of your assignments.

Use Social Media To Document Your Experiences

Social media is a powerful tool for documenting your travel experiences to share with friends and family. Engage with your followers by posting stories and photos of your adventures during off-duty hours. Use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience and connect with other travel nurses who may have similar experiences or advice.

Learn About What Other Nurses Do

As a final thought, take the time to learn about what other travel nurses do to preserve their precious memories from assignments. There are bound to be some unique ideas out there that you could incorporate into your own personal memory-keeping routine. Don’t hesitate to experiment and find the method that works best for you!

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 Jogan Health

July 22, 2023

7520 Views

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The History of Travel Nursing

Jogan Health provided this article.

When examining the history of travel nursing, one thing becomes glaringly obvious: it runs side by side with the history of nursing in general! Both professions were born at the same time – due to a high demand for professional and approachable assistance for patients – and both remain crucial today. During the COVID pandemic, for example, travel nurses became irreplaceable as a temporary solution measure against a virus that was ravaging healthcare providers almost as often as it was affecting patients.

But how did all this start? What are the major events that led to the modern version of our industry? How has it changed over the years? Read on below to answer these questions and more!

history of travel nursing

The History of Travel Nursing: A Timeline

Florence Nightingale and 37 other nurses are considered the first nurses in history. If you are a student of history, you will know that they were also the first travel nurses! When they sprang into action, they did so by traveling to Turkey to assist wounded English soldiers who were victims of the Crimean War. However, these women were not technically “travel nurses,” according to the mainstream definition of the phrase.

The emergence of the modern definition of travel nursing stems from New Orleans, Louisiana. During 1978 Mardi Gras Week, a time that is usually associated with festivities and community in the Pelican State, there was an unprecedented number of injuries. Due to local hospitals being overwhelmed by the massive number of patients, they began to contract nurses from all around the country to provide extra support for a few weeks.

Though this was the birth of the concept, it did not really kick off until a decade later. In the 1980s, the nursing industry was under threat for much the same reason as it is today: a nationwide nursing shortage. By the end of the decade, open travel nursing positions were widely available. They were recognized by the wider healthcare community as a cost-effective way for organizations to fill gaps in their roster and keep the ship afloat.

Travel Nursing in the Digital Age

We’ve come a long way since the ’80s. Nowadays, travel nurses are almost as common as traditional nurses. One of the major changes that facilitated this ubiquity is the advent of the internet. This digital age has empowered nurses to take control of their own careers. Many social forums and platforms now exist that offer placement and travel assistance, which makes the position more appealing than ever before. Jogan Health knows a thing or two about this and has made a traveling career possible for countless nurses all over the nation.

Key Takeaways

As we previously mentioned, the healthcare community had to deal with staffing shortages in the 80s and continues to do so today. While this might seem like a reason to leave nursing by the wayside as a career choice, it’s indicative of quite the opposite. Our industry has been through this before and will overcome this hurdle again. Nursing is here to stay, and regardless of how many times a shortage has threatened to end it, it has remained a viable source of work for people looking to care for others.

At its heart, the job is about spreading compassion and care as far and wide as possible. What better way to do that than to hop on a plane, see a new city, and help save the lives of those you have never met? Empathy is a cornerstone of human experience, and few professions exemplify it to such a degree. So long as we remain human, so long as the health of others continues to concern us, and so long as we are willing to help our fellow man, nursing will not go away.

It might change, as it did when the digital age began, and it might adapt to shifting circumstances, such as patient influxes, but the truth is that, so long as people need care, nurses will be a part of our communities. With a world where traveling has become more and more common, this is also true for travel nursing specifically. So, if you are a nurse or travel nurse, we encourage you to stay on course. You will always be one of the most important parts of any community. And to think this all started with a wild Mardi Gras party!

We hope you found this article on the history of travel nursing helpful. Did we miss anything of importance? Comment below.

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