July 4, 2021

5107 Views

Top Fourth of July Spots

Posted on July 4, 2021July 4, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

I don’t know about you, but coming together with family or taking a trip in the summer around the Fourth of July is something I wait for all year. It could be the cool summer breeze off your favorite lake while boating with friends and family or the sights, sounds, and new memories you’re creating in this chapter of your nursing career. We asked you, adventurous souls, where your top Fourth of July spots to celebrate the week and/or weekend of the 4th are and here are our top choices:

Lake Tahoe, California

People come from all around to take in the experience that is Lake Tahoe. Rated nationally as one of the “top 5 Fourth of July” vacation spots. There is no lack of activities for you and yours to enjoy. Take your pick from a plethora of community activities. Relaxing on the beach, cruising around the lake, enjoying the local food and drink specials, and so much more. No matter what you choose to do during the day, the real magic is the choreographed fireworks and music at night. With upwards of 100,000 onlookers, it’s not to be missed.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston hits the top of the list for being the largest gathering for the Independence Day celebration. It brings in around 3 million people. The cities Revolutionary War history alone draws in guests. The war reenactments, speeches, live bands, and historic heritage keep the visitors coming for more. Most importantly, most events around are free. It’s a great way to indulge in the exciting atmosphere without breaking the bank. Find some great tips for what to do here.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Of course, we would not forget where the Declaration of Independence itself was signed. Philadelphia has an array of fun things to do, and again most of these are free. Between concerts, museums, kids’ activities, an obstacle course, and even a zip line, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy at this celebration of our country. Even your beloved pets are allowed to join in on the fun.

Everything comes together after the concert (which is said to be one of the largest free concerts in America with guests Mary J. Blige and Boyz II Men) at around 9:30 pm to start the grande finale firework at Ben Franklin Parkway. I could honestly go on for days with the number of amazing activities this city has to offer. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself!

New Orleans, Louisiana

It’s hard to talk about celebrating America without mentioning the culture-rich city of New Orleans. Aside from being one of the best places in the US to eat, it’s one of the best at throwing a good party. With unique performances like dueling river barges, synchronized to lights and music, and the amazing Essence Music Fest paying tribute to African-American music and culture. This is sure to celebration you don’t want to miss. Fireworks kick off at 9 pm after the sounds of celebrities like John Legend and Diana Ross.

Chicago, Illinois

It’s hard not to fall in love with a city like Chicago. Seeing the skyline lit up behind the river is truly a sight everyone should see at least once. The Windy City has wonderful spots for every kind of attraction. One of their most captivating would definitely have to be Navy Pier. Whether it be from atop the Centennial Wheel, or rooftop at a beautifully lit building, it’s a must for your Fourth of July bucket list.

Lisle Park District will be hosting the “Eyes to the Skies” event. Food, music, a carnival, and even hot air balloons. During this same time, there will also be a great way to fill your bellies. Head uptown to enjoy the Windy City Rib Fest June 30th-July 2nd. At Wrigley Field, all you need to cheer on the World Series-winning Chicago Cubs is a great hotdog.

Whatever you choose to do during this holiday, we hope you stay safe, and most of all enjoy yourself and your family!! Let us know where you like to celebrate and why you think we need to add it to our list!

Want to see more suggestions? Click here to see what our Travel Nurse Network members said are the best places to be for the 4th of July!

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

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

By The Gypsy Nurse

May 29, 2021

8553 Views

5 Ways Travel Nurses can make Traveling with Family a more Beautiful, less Hectic Experience

Posted on May 29, 2021May 18, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

Being a travel nurse can make very difficult decisions in many ways. Some travel nurses are brave enough to add their families to the mix. Travel nursing with the family has its unique challenges.

Tips for Travel Nursing with Family

Between figuring out a school schedule, finding a doctor, to simply making sure that everyone stays as comfortable as possible throughout your assignment, here are several ways to make your decision a positive impact on your near and dear.

Location, location, location.

One of the main reasons we become travel nurses is for the adventure. The best part is that you can choose your next adventure with every assignment. With that being said, your family can usually pick a location that will keep *most* everyone in the family happy (as if they are all ever happy at once.)

Maybe it’s an ocean view you crave, or you’d all be happy to live near a beautiful park that keeps everyone busy. Searching for housing with short-term leasing options can make heading out on to your next adventure a lot more manageable and stress-free. You can also make life a little easier by narrowing down your search to things as specific as the agency you’d like to stick with, per our new job search tool found here.

Be productive, not busy.

In between saving lives and kissing boo-boos, you can make the best of your free time by prepping for your future endeavors. Whether it’s meal prepping in advance for the family that helps melts your stress away after a long day or knowing that the tablets are charged and snacks are packed for a long car ride, it’s almost essential to have all your ducks in a row when travel nursing with family.

Some tips to stay ahead of the game:

searching for top-rated family physicians in the area
making sure your housing has laundry services on-site or a laundromat nearby
searching for reasonably priced furniture to sell at the end of your assignment

Think of the children.

So what if Mom and Dad both have to work in this whirlwind fairy tale journey? With the help of the internet, word of mouth, or maybe family in the area, you may be in luck. If you are doing this on your own or are entirely new to the area, There are childcare services like Care.com. You can specify what you’re looking for, whether they need to watch one or multiple children, if they need to be CPR/First Aid certified, non-smoking, have their own car, etc.

It is also nice that you can use this site to find help with tutoring. For older children in the household, having someone to come by that has great reviews and is able to do lessons and/or tutoring for specific subjects can be a lifesaver and can make a significant impact on your child’s education.

Technology is ever-changing nowadays and is also very helpful in these situations too. Some travel parents find it worthwhile to travel with a nanny-cam. This makes checking-in effortless in a pinch. Stay-at-home parents can be a beneficial influence. Parents that actively participate in a child’s learning experience and home experience combined to offer a smooth transition.

Explore your mind; and your own backyard.

You can use your child’s homeschooling to your advantage quite a bit when you are traveling. Most cities have an array of amazing museums, art exhibits, nature trails, and even hands-on historic sites. Examples include:

the Aztec ruins in New Mexico
the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

These experiences can really help children explore and better understand what they are studying. No matter what your child is interested in, there is usually some way to travel and keep those interests close to “home.”

Another great idea if you have an animal lover at home? Make a list of the best zoos in the country and check out their favorite animals. You can research how they live, where they are from, and how they can help to make the future bright for them too. (There are quite a few free zoos across the US, too, if you’re in a pinch for funds!) To find the best housing in your ideal location, you can explore: http://bit.ly/2FQrYbe

A lesson lived is a lesson learned.

A lot of life’s hardest lessons are perhaps those that don’t necessarily get taught in school. Finding or making new friends, keeping in touch with others long-distance, adapting and appreciating new cultures, locations, and even religions are a big plus to travel nursing with family. There is never a bad time to learn a new language either. Being fluent in another language is very rewarding while traveling and meeting new people and very helpful for your child later in life when applying for jobs themselves.

Life on the road sometimes seems like a problematic choice for travel nurses to make. When you know you are making great choices educationally, and with true life experience at hand, it often leads to the best experiences. Here’s to your family’s best adventure.

Contact us at content@thegypsynurse.com

By The Gypsy Nurse

July 19, 2020

11159 Views

Guest Article: Preparing our family for travel – Sarah Owens, RN

Posted on July 19, 2020March 21, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

With so many travel nurses posting questions about how you travel with your family, kids, pets, etc., we thought this would be a great guest article to post and give you some insight on how one travel family is getting ready to do just that.

Hi, my name is Sarah; my husband Chad and I travel with our three kids. They were 9,6, and 3 when we started in April and 7,4, and 1 when we first started considering and planning for life as a traveling family. We often talked with the kids about living in different apartments in different towns and moving every three months. We made lists of what we wanted to see and got the kids involved in making that list. We made a list of our fears and made a plan of action that we would take to actualize any of those fears. This let the thought of it soak in. It got them excited and calmed their fears.

Next was the biggest job of all, scaling down on all our stuff. We did this several times and continue to do it as we discover how little we truly need. We drive a 4 Runner and have three kids and a large dog, so space is limited.

Then we needed to consider our education plan. As homeschoolers, we knew we wanted to continue homeschooling the kids, but unlike when we stayed in one place, we would not have the weekly support of our homeschool group. Also, we wanted to integrate our current assignment and all its historical and scientific offerings into the kid’s education. After all, that is why we are traveling, beginning with.
To keep in touch, the kids have the addresses and phone numbers of their friends, and we FaceTime family frequently, which has made a big difference, and so far, we have heard very little about the kids being homesick.

There have been many benefits of traveling with the kids already—bonding as a family, a well-rounded education, and an expanded world view. We are traveling for our kids, not just with them.

NOTE: Want to learn more about the travel adventures of this travel nurse? Sarah and her family have a blog all about their experiences! Owens Endeavors

By The Gypsy Nurse

January 10, 2019

11904 Views

Travel Nurses with Unsupportive Friends and Family: How to Deal with It

Posted on January 10, 2019January 16, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

When I first started to travel for a living, people asked me what I was running away from, wondered why I didn’t get a real job, and would mostly tell me I was crazy or weird. As a travel nurse, it seems there are a lot of unsupportive friends and family.

Suffice it to say, I didn’t get a lot of encouragement and support in the beginning.

Sometimes your friends and family, the people you want most to be supportive of your new career, aren’t as enthusiastic as you’d like them to be, they are actually unsupportive. They don’t understand and try to talk you out of going. It can be deflating and saddening. You’re so excited about this adventure and here they are, raining on your parade.

Readers reach out to me about this topic frequently. I can feel the angst in their emails and the confusion at not knowing to how deal with the situation.

“How do I not let them get me down? What did you do? What do I say?” These are the questions I hear from Travel Nurses that I meet. It’s apparent that I’m not the only who has faced such negativity, and, luckily, I’m also not the only who ignored it.

So what do you do or say when your support system is so unsupportive. Below are some common criticisms future travelers hear and examples of how I’ve turned similar criticism around when I’ve been faced with it myself:

“It’s so unsafe there! You shouldn’t go.”

I hear this one a lot, not only from people via email, but also from people in my own life. News organizations paint the world to be a scary, scary place with criminals lurking around every corner. News shows love to highlight the dangers of life. Crime happens everywhere. It occurs in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and every small town and medium city in between. You can walk out of your house and be mugged or hit by a bus. Just like you can travel the world and never have anything happen to you. There is no place in the world that is 100% safe. Once you put it into this perspective for people, it usually ends the subject.

“You are just running away.”

People seem to assume that if you are traveling long-term, you must be running away from something. When people say this to me, I tell them that yes, I am running away. I’m running away from their version of life and to my version of life. Remind people that what they do in their life may make them happy, but that you have different goals. This experience is what makes you happy right now. Most people will admit you have a point and drop the subject because, at the end of the day, we all want our friends to realize their dreams and be happy. True friends will let you go after yours and be supportive along the way.

“Why don’t you get a real job?”

When people tell me that I should get a ‘real’ job, I respond that if I’m going to be working well into my old age, I’d rather spend my healthy years exploring the world instead of stuck in one place. Life as a travel nurse is a working vacation.

“I wish I could do that. You’re so lucky. It must be nice to not have any responsibility.”

This statement is one that nearly angers me. This is jealousy, pure and simple. I tell people, “You can travel too.” There’s nothing special about me and my decision. I’m not ‘lucky’, I’ve worked very hard to be able to live a life as a Travel Nurse and there is a lot that I give up to be able to do so. While there are always circumstances that really keep people from traveling, for the most part the only things holding anyone back are the restrictions they put on themselves. People of all ages and circumstances can find a way to turn travel into a reality.

“It’s unsafe to travel alone.”

I typically respond to anyone who offers this argument by asking them why they believe this, and they will usually begin to spout stories they “learned” from the news about people who traveled alone and ended up in a bad situation. They might rattle off worst-case scenarios: “you could get sick, injured, robbed, or worse, and no one would be around to help.” That may be true, but if I went hiking in the woods by myself, the same thing could happen. Hell, I could fall in my apartment and no one might notice for days. As a solo traveler, you have to be a little more vigilant. Besides, I’m really rarely alone for long due to the variety of people I meet and friends I make along the way.

“Don’t you care about settling down and finding someone?”

The undertone of this question is that you won’t be happy if you don’t have someone. My response is typically that I will settle down when I find the right person to settle down with, and that person could be found anywhere in the world. I do want to find someone I’m crazy about, but I won’t settle for just anyone. Besides, perhaps my ‘someone’ will be found while traveling.

“Why would you want to go there?”

People ask this question with the undertone that by wanting to go to some remote small town in Nebraska, you’re weird, as if certain places in the world are inconsequential and not worthy of exploration. My answer to this question is “because it exists.” I’ve found that some of the least desirable places have some of my best memories. There is something good about everywhere that I’ve been. Why should I limit myself? Why should you, either?

There will always be haters. And while we can always tell ourselves “I don’t care what people think,” the truth is we do care what our friends and family have to say because we value their opinions.

If a stranger tells me I am running away, I don’t care. But when all my friends do, I become discouraged that they don’t support my decision. And I get enough emails from readers to know that all that negativity does make would-be travelers question their decision to travel and wonder if they are making a mistake.

(You’re not!)

Use these responses to deflect their criticism and help them understand why you want to travel. And if they still remain unsupportive, there is a wonderful network of travelers all over the web who can act as your support system and source of encouragement.

Use us to lean on.

Keep dreaming. Don’t let people get you down. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take the alternative path and travel for a living. Let them try to dissuade you. Let them call you crazy.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” -Mark Twain

We hope you found this article on how to deal with unsupportive family and friends helpful. We hope these tips help you. Did you encounter unsupportive family and/or friends? How did you handle those that were unsupportive? Did you find ways other than those mentioned in this article? If you would like to share those tips comment them below.

By The Gypsy Nurse

December 23, 2018

17090 Views

Ask A Travel Nurse: Friends Travel Together?

Posted on December 23, 2018February 24, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

We encourage readers of The Gypsy Nurse to ask us your Travel Nurse questions.

Gypsy,

I have a best friend that is a Nurse.

Is it possible for travel nurse friends to travel together?

Thank you,

Sonji RN

ANSWER:

Sure! Obviously, the needs of the hospital and the skill set of yourself and your friend dictate whether this will work. I’ve seen travel nurse friends traveling together in a variety of ways:

working with the same company at the same hospital on the same/different units (dependent on individual specialties).
traveling with Different companies at the same hospital.
different companies at different hospitals.
Traveling and working at hospitals in nearby cities and living together.

Additionally, I have seen lots of cases where husband and wife teams take assignments together. This provides an opportunity to travel to new and interesting places they may have never dreamed of living and working.

There are many ways to manage traveling together. Some things to consider when traveling with a friend (or travel nurse spouse):

It can sometimes mean taking a contract in a location that wasn’t your first choice.
Finding a hospital that needs two travelers with the specific skills/specialties that you and your friend have can be a challenge. Be Flexible!
Communicate your needs to your recruiter.
Housing and tax issues can be complicated when traveling with another traveler. Make sure to educate yourself on the tax implication.

Most importantly, flexibility and patience are key!

Ultimately, travel nurse friends traveling together can be a wonderful way to see the country and explore your new city.

Looking for Jobs where you and a travel nurse friend can travel together? Try searching our job listings to find your next contract!

By The Gypsy Nurse

December 22, 2018

17610 Views

Travel Nursing With a Spouse

Posted on December 22, 2018May 20, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

Many new travel nurses are looking for someone to travel with.

The fear of loneliness is a large factor in this mindset. Travel nursing with a spouse, a friend, or another family member certainly has its benefits. You will have someone to share the experience with. Someone to explore with on your days off. Someone to have dinner with at that great restaurant you read about.

Housing and Tax Implications

Other than the personal benefits of traveling with someone else, the only other ‘real’ benefit is the housing. This can be confusing as there are multiple ways to handle housing from a tax standpoint.

Joe Smith at Travel Tax addresses some of the different means of traveling with a spouse who is also a travel nurse. According to Joe, there are basically three options available to co-travelers. If you consider travel nursing with a spouse, friend, or other family members, the options are similar.

Both travelings with the same company, with one taking the stipend and the other taking the housing, would result in the stipend being taxed.
If both travelers are working with the same company and both taking the stipend, neither would be taxed.
The last option is if they are traveling with different companies and one takes the stipend, and one takes the housing, again neither one of these is taxable.

Joe further states that the rationale behind these statements is difficult to explain and suggests you contact him for additional information. I would also recommend that if you seek answers to questions about housing and/or taxes that you contact a specialist in traveler taxes.

Finding Contracts

Finding a contract as a couple could be a challenge, but there are multiple options available. I would recommend that you inform your recruiter upfront that you would like to find contracts for both of you. This may result in contracts in the same hospital, on the same unit, or in different hospitals in a metro area. Knowing how you work together as a couple is imperative. Can you work and live day to day with your friend/spouse/travel partner? Do you want to work in the same unit? Same hospital? Knowing in advance what you are looking for will assist your recruiter in finding positions that will meet all of your needs.

Do you travel with a spouse, friend or other family member? How do you handle housing issues?

Looking for Jobs where you and a travel nurse spouse can travel together? Try searching our job listings to find your next contract!

By The Gypsy Nurse

December 12, 2018

7812 Views

Ask A Travel Nurse: Travel With a Pet?

Posted on December 12, 2018April 20, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

Gypsy,

As a travel nurse can I bring my pet?

Thank you,
Maricella RN

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

Maricella,
YES! I personally traveled with my little Jack Russel Terrier for nearly 8 years, even taking her all the way to Germany to work for a year.

There are added expenses that come with traveling with a pet. Not the least of those is pet-deposits.

Ensure your recruiter understands that you are traveling with a pet and provides pet-friendly housing for you. You might want to check out my article “Can I bring ‘fluffy’ or ‘fido’ with me?” for additional information.

I hope that this helps to answer your questions.

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.

We hope you found these tips for travel with a pet helpful. Do you have any tips for travel with pets? Comment them below.

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

START HERE

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

By The Gypsy Nurse

December 2, 2018

11703 Views

Ask A Travel Nurse: Home Schooling vs Public School

Posted on December 2, 2018January 16, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Gypsy,

Hi! I’m considering going into travel nursing but have a couple of things I’m figuring out to see if this would be the best fit.

I am traveling with my family – I wonder how common or workable it is to do traditional school vs. homeschooling? We want to plan on assignments based on the school year and in locations where multiple hospitals are within driving/public transit commutes so the kids can have the majority of their schooling in one place, and I can be flexible with assignments.

Thanks for reading this whole message, and I can’t wait to hear back!! -Sherrie

Many of the travelers I know that travel with children do home-schooling. I don’t know if any of them enroll their children in the public school system or not. I would caution you on enrolling a child in school due to your tax-home status.

According to Joseph Smith at TravelTax

The travel nurse would still be “governed under the one-year rule that affects the tax residence. Additionally, some conflicts arise with the school district if you are not officially a resident of the jurisdiction. This is why homeschooling is more common with travelers.”

I hope that this helps at least a little bit. I would encourage you to the Travel Nurse Network – The Gypsy Nurse. Lots of travel nurses there to help answer your questions and lend guidance along the way!!

We hope you found this information on Public vs. Home Schooling helpful. Do you have experience with home schooling or public school while travel nursing? Comment any tips you have.

By The Gypsy Nurse

November 10, 2018

16691 Views

Ask A Travel Nurse: Missing Family

Posted on November 10, 2018February 25, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

Gypsy,

I’m currently in Oregon. Home is Florida. I’m missing my family and would like to see them but I love being a travel nurse. ANYYY ideas??! Please help!!

Amber

Feeling lonely is one of the biggest complaints that I hear from Travel Nurses. For anyone feeling this way, the first question I would ask is ‘Do you want to continue traveling?’ It sounds like you have already decided that you do want to continue Travel Nursing.

There are several things that you can do to elevate the homesickness and missing family. Think about taking a contract next to airport, or contract close to home. You can also take time off between contracts and go home for a visit or better yet…have the family come to you!! Offer them a ‘cheap’ vacation spot! My Mother loves that I travel…her and my Dad have drove out to visit me on nearly every contract…it’s cheap vacation for them (gas and some food) and I get to enjoy their company on my off days.

I recently wrote about Homesickness and would suggest that you read over the treatment and see if you can fit some of these suggestions into your travel life-style.

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

Lake Tahoe, California

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Tips for Travel Nursing with Family

Location, location, location.

Be productive, not busy.

Think of the children.

Explore your mind; and your own backyard.

A lesson lived is a lesson learned.

Would you like to share your experience traveling with a Family? We want to hear from you!

Contact us at content@thegypsynurse.com

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“It’s so unsafe there! You shouldn’t go.”

“You are just running away.”

“Why don’t you get a real job?”

“I wish I could do that. You’re so lucky. It must be nice to not have any responsibility.”

“It’s unsafe to travel alone.”

“Don’t you care about settling down and finding someone?”

“Why would you want to go there?”

(You’re not!)

Use us to lean on.

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ANSWER:

Looking for Jobs where you and a travel nurse friend can travel together? Try searching our job listings to find your next contract!

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Finding Contracts

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