October 21, 2017

71063 Views

A Travel Nurse on Assignment In An RV

Posted on October 21, 2017October 10, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

I recently published a 3-part Series on Travel Nurse Housing Options. The option that I am least familiar with is RV Travel.

Travel Nursing in an RV isn’t my specialty (actually, I know nothing at all about it and won’t pretend to).

I consulted with long-time RV traveler Karen B. Karen has provided the following article to help clear a few things up when taking an assignment as a Travel Nurse in your RV.

Karen is a solo female traveler and has been a Travel Nurse since 2000. She has worked on approximately 24 assignments in WA, OR, CA, NV, and NM. Karen has traveled exclusively via RV since 2005. Karen works in L&D and NICU II.
On Assignment In My RV
Karen B., RN

Travel Nursing in an RV

“The RV lifestyle is a fabulous way for me to make some extra $$$ and to live in the comfort of my own things. I am a solo female Travel Nurse (in her 60s) who has been traveling in her RV for the past 10 years. Before that, I took the housing my company provided and found that I had to haul half my house with me anyway. I like sharp knives, good pots and pans, coffee makers, towels, bedding, etc. Well, you get the picture. I had a Chevy Tahoe at the time, and it was always FULL of all the “must-haves” I needed. I had a perfect RV parked at home but hadn’t really thought about using it for travel. It just seemed so much easier to take the housing provided.

Well, after a couple of not-so-great housing mishaps, I decided to hit the road in my RV. It has been the perfect solution for me. There are advantages and disadvantages to this lifestyle. For me, the good outweighs the bad in a big way.

Let’s talk about some of the advantages first.

I keep my motor home packed with everything I need except my scrubs, electronics, and food. So, no more packing and unpacking. I travel with a small dog, so I never have to pay a pet deposit. I take the company stipend, which pays for my RV spot with money left for my motor-home expenses, monthly payment, insurance, gas fund, slush fund, etc. RV spaces are rented for different prices in different areas. Some spaces include everything, and others require you to pay for electricity. Where I am now, I pay $500.00 a month, which includes electricity, cable, and wifi. Of course, sewer and water are standard. Hooking up your RV when you get to your location is usually very easy. Plug in your electric, cable (if you have it), and water, and connect your sewer hose, and you are all set up. Sometimes, you need to level your rig, and that can be done either with jacks or special leveling blocks under the tires.

Independence is another huge advantage. IF my assignment is canceled by either the hospital, company or myself, there are no huge paybacks. Most housing is secured for 3 months by companies, and if your assignment ends for whatever reason, you are often liable for reimbursement to the company for the balance.

Disadvantages

RV Parks can be difficult to find, depending on where your assignment is located. In the bigger, busier cities, it seems the RV parks are further out of town and can be very expensive. Not impossible to find. Just depends on how far you are willing to commute. Some RV parks do not take monthly residents, although I haven’t really had a problem with that aspect. Some that do take monthly residents have a lot of undesirable people in them, in my opinion, so finding the right RV park can take some research. Most of it depends on how well-run the RV park is and if they have specific rules for monthly residents.

Another aspect is weather dependent. An RV is a “tin box,” so you must be prepared for very hot or very cold weather. Some RV’s are labeled “4 Season” and have Thermopane windows, heated bays where your water and connections are located, and extra insulation. I personally choose to remain in a milder climate during the winter and away from the desert in the summer.

During my time off, I have a “beach house, mountain cabin, or desert-dwelling.” I can also spend time visiting areas along the way to or from my assignment that interest me for a few days. I have a “sticks and bricks” house, so definitely have a tax home and am eligible for the tax-free perks.

The interest on an RV loan is also deductible on your income tax as a second home, which is another plus for me.

Gas prices tend to influence my choice of assignments. I am not going to drive across the USA for a 3-month assignment because the reimbursement doesn’t even begin to cover my costs. If the assignment is for 6 months, I might consider it. But who is going to take a 6-month assignment? Not me. I might stay somewhere for 6 months, but I wouldn’t know that until I was there for a while. So, for me, if I wanted to go on assignment a long distance away, I would probably take the company housing.

There is maintenance on an RV, just like on a home or automobile. I put some of my stipends away for those incidentals. And yes, I have had incidentals. The hot water heater and air conditioner needed repair, but I had the money in my slush fund for the repair (so it does happen).

There are many types and styles of RV’s. Class A, B, B+, C, trailers, fifth wheels, van conversions, and campers. There are lots of websites out there to help you decide what would work for you and what you can afford.”

I just want to take a minute to thank Karen for the informative article. Are you considering travel nursing in an RV? What questions do you have? Have you previously traveled via RV and would like to contribute to The Gypsy Nurse? Get in touch! The success of The Gypsy Nurse depends on contributions like the above from Karen. I don’t profess to ‘know everything,’ but I am determined to find the information and provide it to you here. Help me Help Others by contributing!

Please share your thoughts on travel nursing in an RV, questions, and comments 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

September 19, 2017

17540 Views

Travel Nurse Banking

Posted on September 19, 2017May 19, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

In Step #14 of the travel nurse guide, we discussed knowing in advance what your bank allows and doesn’t when it comes to traveling. This is an important and often overlooked step. Now let’s take a closer look at the banking aspect of Travel Nursing.

Travel nurse banking should be a non-issue, right? Wrong. There are multiple potential complications for the travel nurse when it comes to banking.

You should consult with you bank before you leave home and cover these basic questions:

Is there a local branch at my assignment location?
Does the bank offer online check deposit?
Will I incur ATM fees and are they refundable?
Are my withdraw limits something that I can live with?
How do I resolve Fraud Alerts/blocks on my account?
If my bank cards are lost or stolen, what information will I need to obtain a new card?
Does your bank offer free online bill pay?

It doesn’t happen often but what happens if your company didn’t get your direct deposit set up on time for your first paycheck and you are issued a paper check?
Receiving a paper check and having no local branch can be frustrating. This issue has been resolved in most cases by the mobile apps that are now available for check deposit. Find out if your bank offers this as an option.

There isn’t a local branch or ATM. How do you handle the ATM fees?
ATM fees can add up quickly. Some banks will refund these as a curtosey to customers on a monthly basis. If your bank doesn’t refund these fees, there are other options. Most department stores ie Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. will allow cash back with no ATM fee with a purchase. This option however depends on you making a purchase in order to avoid bank fees.

I recommend talking to your bank about their ATM policies and considering if the cost is avoidable. Your bank may have ‘partner’ banks in the area that you are unaware of. If your bank doesn’t offer a way to avoid these fees, figure out in advance how you will deal with withdraws. There are several options available:

– Budget and plan your weekly expenses so you only have one ATM withdraw weekly.
– Assess you need for additional cash EVERY time you make an ATM purchase and have an opportunity for a fee-free cash withdraw.
– Find a different bank option that will allow no ATM fees

Do you know what your daily withdraw and purchase limits are? If your wallet is lost or stolen you will want to minimize the potential amounts that would be available to a thief.
If your bank has automatically set your withdraw and purchase limits, they may be well above what you even need. Find out what the limits are and determine if they can be lowered. If you rarely make a purchase above $500, there is no need to have your purchase limit set at $1500. If your maximum cash withdraw is never above $200 then change this as well.

When I initially called my bank to have my limits lowered they were floored. They couldn’t understand why I wanted my limit lower and not higher. I live pretty frugally day to day and the limits were way over what I would ever need on a routine basis. I explained to the bank that if my wallet was stolen I would rather the thief only be able to hit my account for $500 instead of $1500 and they began to see my logic.

What happens if I lower my ATM/Withdraw limits and need to make a purchase or withdraw that is over my pre-set limit?

If you have analyzed your spending habits thouroughly and have set an appropriate limit, this should happen only rarely. This is very easy to adjust while on the road. Simply phone your bank and ask for a one-time withdraw or purchase. The bank should be able to set this up right away and you’ll be on your way to big spending.

In addition to minimizing your potential losses if your bank cards are stolen, having a lower limit will cause you to contemplate any large purchases. It’s a great way to curb any impulse spending.

Have you ever been standing at the check-out line with a full basket of groceries only to have the teller inform you that your card was denied?
As a service to it’s customers, banks will place automatic holds on your account for any suspicious activities. It can be frustrating if this happens but it’s important to remember that this is for your protection. Help the bank help you by communicating with them. How were they to know that you were going to be living in Seattle for 3 months? If you have never had transactions from the opposite coast and suddenly you have 10 of them, this will set off a fraud alert and lock you out of your account until it’s resolved.

This has happened to me and beyond the annoyance of having to figure out why, it was the pure embarassment of the situation that stands out in my memory. You can’t totally prevent this from ever happening but you can reduce the potential. All it takes is a simple call to your bank and inform them that you will be traveling. They will need the dates of travel as well as the locations. Don’t forget to include any surrounding states or areas that you think you might want to explore while on contract.

What do I need to know if my wallet is stolen while on contract?
I’ve had my wallet stolen only once while on contract. I happy that it was only once but it was a near nightmare to deal with. Along with the fear that goes with any theft, there was a myraid of things that were just difficult to deal with gettiing replaced while away from home.

Banks will NOT mail your new bank card to any address other than your primary address listed on your account. This is important to know especially if you only have one bank. My first recommendation is to always have two banks and have them linked together. If your ATM card is lost or stolen, you can easily transfer money to the alternate bank and at least be able to buy gas and groceries until you receive the new card.

Have a back-up credit card or savings account in case of emergency with enough available balance to cover anything unexpected.

NEVER keep all of your cards in the same place. Having two accounts will do you no good if they are both lost or stolen.

Depending on how you have set up your mail, it could take a week or two to receive your new bank card in the mail. What would you do if you couldn’t access your account?

You should always have important banking phone numbers available. It’s a good idea to make a paper or digital copy of the front/back of all of your credit cards and save in a secure location in case of theft/loss.

Is online bill pay an option?
The advantages of online bill pay for the traveler are tremdous. I have utilized online bill pay for several years now and can’t imagine going back to paper bills. As travelers, receiving mail can be timely. By the time you have received a bill it may be just days to a due date. If your like me and don’t read your mail quickly, you could easily be facing paying something late.

There are many options available for online bill pay. From fully automated scheduling to single payments. Once you have set up the online bill pay schedule that you are comfortable with, it can nearly eliminate not only the paper piles but also the monthly headaches.

Are there other questions that you have regarding banking while on contract? Do you have tips to add to the list above?

By The Gypsy Nurse

September 6, 2017

7028 Views

The Patient ADVOCATE – The Nurse (Nurse Wubbles)

Posted on September 6, 2017November 2, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

The recent news regarding the situation with nurse Alex Wubbles in Salt Lake City, is a grim reminder of the bullying that nurses deal with everyday. Being a patient advocate isn’t easy, yet it’s the premise of why nursing is considered to be “The Most Trusted Profession” for 15 years straight.

I’ve watched this video at least a dozen times, trying to find something that would indicate that Nurse Wubbles had been misguided, or obtrusive to the law in any way. I’ve not been able to find anything but pure professionalism and respect in how she handled this situation. I personally can’t say that I would have been able to maintain my calm demeanor as well as she did. She deserves every ounce of respect that I could ever give her. I hate to even speculate on how I may have reacted to the situation.

How many of these types of situations occur where the nurse isn’t confident enough to stand up for the patients’ rights while being bullied and strong-armed by someone? These situations can result in direct patient harm, legal issues, etc. if not dealt with properly.

The bullying and strong-arm tactics aren’t just coming from the police. In fact most times, it’s coming from direct supervisors, physicians, upper management, families or other entities. Believe it or not, this happens in nursing all too frequently. I bet if you ask any nurse (or healthcare worker) that you know, they can give you specific examples of times when they were bullied in some way that would have compromised patient care or demanded a strong patient advocate.

I recall an incident of a nurse standing up to the administration of the hospital in regards to the care of a patient – and facing repercussions because she was simply doing her job as a nurse and patient advocate.

Scene: It’s the beginning of a 12-hour nightshift in a small community hospital. The unit is both adult and pediatric medical/surgical patients. There is a Charge Nurse, 3 RN’s (including myself, a travel nurse), and 2 CNA’s staffing our unit.

Situation: Charge nurse is informed that the ER has a 9 y/o child that they need to send to our unit. Since we don’t have any pediatric patients on the floor, there isn’t a pediatric nurse on staff for the night. As a traveler, I’m asked to take the patient. I refuse the assignment due to the fact that I do not have pediatric experience. The charge nurse (all the while consulting with the house supervisor) asks another nurse on the unit, This 2^nd nurse has undergone initial preceptorship for pediatrics but has not yet completed this preceptorship and not been released to care for these patients on her own, so she also refuses care of said pediatric patient. The third nurse on our unit, like me; has no pediatric experience.

The charge nurse consults with the house supervisor and then later, to the hospital nursing officer (CNO). I’m observing this situation unfold, as I’m receiving report from the previous shift on my assigned patients.

It’s obvious, even with my divided attention that the house supervisor (or CNO) on the other end of the phone is strong-arming the charge nurse on my unit to come up with a solution. It’s apparent from the conversation, that the house supervisor is insisting that the charge nurse or the precepting nurse accept the care of this child and both are refusing due to lack of clinical skills. (The charge nurse in this situation has less than 2 years of nursing experience. This in itself is another issue that deserves attention at another time.)

From my limited involvement in the situation, it’s my understanding that the charge nurse is being given an ultimatum to either take the patient or risk suspension. She continues to refuse. This conversation goes on over a period of at least a half an hour.

Outcome: Another pediatric qualified nurse is called in from home to take the pediatric patient from the ED. At the end of the shift (night shift), administration arrives and the charge nurse is called into the office. I find out on my next shift that the charge nurse was suspended without pay for “insubordination”. Three days later, the charge nurse was re-instated without any further retribution.

On hearing of the initial outcome and suspension of this nurse, I was disheartened and yet highly proud of the charge nurse for standing up for what she felt was in the best interest of her patients. I would never want to be forced to care for a patient that I didn’t feel I could provide safe patient care for…nor would I ever want someone to care for me that didn’t feel qualified.

This nurse took patient advocacy to the point that her own livelihood was threatened. Her pay was in jeopardy. Her job was at risk. This is what we DO as a nurse. This is what it means to be a patient advocate! Sometimes, this is what it means to be able to provide safe patient care.

In the case of Nurse Wubbles, it meant that she might have gone to jail. Fortunately, she was let go without any formal charges. But, she stood there through all of the bullying and was the BEST patient advocate that she could be! She maintained her professionalism and demeanor through it all. Even now in an exclusive interview with KUTV, she maintains extreme professionalism as she stated, “I would like to see the right thing done” when others in the field are calling for the officers immediate termination (or worse). She further calls for the police to participate in “civil discord” stating that, “This is an issue that’s bigger than just me”.

Nurse Alex Wubbles should be commended for being brave and maintaining patient advocacy in the face of such an intense situation with unknown outcomes. She is an excellent Role Model for the Nurse Advocate.

How do you support your fellow nurses and healthcare workers in regards to Patient Advocacy? What can we do as a profession to decrease the bullying and strong-arm measures from superiors in situations like this? What can be done within our profession so that situations like this are not a day-to-day occurrence?

By The Gypsy Nurse

July 8, 2017

19158 Views

Travel Nurse Housing: How to Choose the Right RV

Posted on July 8, 2017April 29, 2024 by The Gypsy Nurse

Karen Bell has provided the following information.

Karen is a solo female traveler and has been a Travel Nurse since 2000. She has worked approximately 24 assignments in WA, OR, CA, NV, and NM. Karen has traveled exclusively via RV since 2005. Karen works in L&D and NICU II.

Travel Nurse Housing: Choosing the right RV for your travels can be a daunting undertaking. I, fortunately, had been “camping” for many years, so I was aware of many of the positives and negatives of each type of RV.

Some of your choices will be dictated by finances, family, security, personal preferences, and many other variables unique to each of us. I will attempt to explain some of the differences, but I have not had the pleasure of having every type of RV.

Choosing the Right RV: My routine

I have a 35 ft Class A Motorhome.

I chose this specifically because of the ease of setup, safety, and enough room so I don’t feel confined. I have it set up to tow my AWD SUV. I did not want to drive a large truck as my only vehicle. Once on assignment, I love to go exploring and take many side trips, so a vehicle with a little better fuel economy was my choice. My Motorhome is not easy on gas, but at least once I get where I am going, I can remain parked and drive my SUV. My travel money helps defray the cost of travel. I don’t usually take assignments across the country as the cost would be astronomical for just a 3-month assignment.

Safety was another concern for me. People are unable to tell if I have a house full of people with me or if I am alone. When I stop somewhere for lunch or a restroom break, I don’t have to get out of my rig. And if I do, they don’t know who is left behind.

Once I arrive at the RV park, setting up is easy.

Level, plug in the electricity, hook up the water and cable, and attach the sewer hoses. I am done!! Class C Motorhomes are the same for setting up. I think the dreaded sewer hoses are the thing most of my friends think is SO hard. In reality, it is very simple. Attach to the outlet (usually just swivels and locks into place) of the Motorhome, and place the other end in the campgrounds septic outlet (I have a sandbag I put on top just so there are no issues of it coming out of the outlet). Open the valve on the Motorhome.

Choosing the Right RV: Types of RVs

Travel Trailers

Travel Trailer towing I know very little about but have watched many a person set them up. Seems the basics are the same for setting up. However, towing seems a little daunting to me as they talk about weight distribution hitches, sway bars, brake controllers, and jacks. You need the right-sized truck designed to be able to tow the chosen trailer. Salesmen will sell you anything and tell you, “Your truck can do it,” but that is not true in many instances. Do your research.

Fifth Wheels

Fifth wheels seem to me to be the biggest “bang for your buck”. They tow very well, are very roomy, and come in all sizes and prices. Again, you need the right size truck for the RV. I have watched people set these up, and they seem very labor-intensive. If I did not travel alone and had a spouse, this would probably be my preferred choice. I just don’t have some of the physical strength required to deal with the hitch and jacks, etc. Although I understand many of them to have electric jacks, which makes that easier.

My best suggestion is to go to RV shows, Sales lots, internet, and look at all the different types of RV’s. When you think you have found “the one”, then research the manufacturer, reviews, complaints, and customer service.

No one manufacturer is perfect. Some are just better than others. Hope to see you on the road.

Do you use an RV for your travel nurse housing? Have you found any tips for choosing the right RV? Comment them and any other RV travel nurse tips below.

More Travel Nurse RV Resources:
Katy Blythe is another Travel Nurse traveling full-time in an RV. Katy writes at Blogspot about her experiences: http://rnrvfulltime.blogspot.com/

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

June 19, 2017

15005 Views

Diagnosis: Burnout

Posted on June 19, 2017March 21, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

Burnout:

burn·out/ˈbərnˌout/

The reduction of a fuel or substance to nothing through use or combustion.

Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors of burnout
There have been no studies on the rate of incidence of burnout, however, it is observed quite frequently among long-term staff nurses.

Risk Factors for burnout may include:

Working in the nursing field longer than 2 years.
Frequent Mandatory Overtime.
Conflicts with co-workers or Managers.
Job Dissatisfaction.
Limited time off work.
Working in a high-stress environment (Nursing)

Symptoms

Slacking off. If you’re coming in late, leaving early, taking long lunch breaks, cruising the Internet and “shopping” on-line, taking lots of sick days and/or personal days—face it, your heart is clearly not in the work.

Disinterest. You could be suffering from burnout when you no longer care about the work. You do it, but it’s boring. Disinterest in the workplace is dangerous because it leads to ignoring the details—and the devil really is in the details. Don’t ignore the next time you find yourself saying, “Oops!” That’s a symptom that your mind wasn’t on task. Why not?

Emotional storm clouds. Your feelings have an uncanny way of telling you when the situation is not working. Don’t ignore them. Pay attention to them. Frustration, anger, depression, stress, sadness, hopelessness—classic symptoms of burnout. Tragically, many people deny or override their negative feelings by engaging in destructive behaviors that temporarily make them feel better: drinking, drug use, online porn, chat sites, even snacking, and overeating. If you’re compulsively doing stuff like that, what is it about your job that is not engaging your best energy?

Physical troubles. You may ignore all the signals that your supervisor, your coworkers, your gut, and your work itself are screaming at you. But your body will have the final word. Sleep problems (too much, too little), headaches, tight shoulders and neck, ulcers, weight gain/loss, hypertension—why, I once worked with a woman who felt nauseous as she arrived at work every day. I’ll tell you what I told her: your physical ailments are your final warning that you could be suffering from burnout. You need to make a change in employment—not in years, months, or weeks, but in days. Forget whose “fault” that is. Get a new job—now!

Signs and tests
There are currently no definitive tests available for diagnosis of Burnout.

Treatment
There is currently no known cure for burnout. It’s a progressive condition which only worsens with time. The best treatment is to manage symptoms by feeding the condition by changing careers and becoming a Travel Nurse.

Support Groups
There are multiple support groups for people suffering from burnout.

I would encourage you to post comments. Tell me what you want to hear about, what you enjoyed, or how you combat some of the issues discussed. You may also connect with me via Twitter or Facebook and together we can work on decreasing the symptoms together.

By The Gypsy Nurse

May 22, 2017

15257 Views

Yeah, This is why I’m in nursing school – So I can pass trays

Posted on May 22, 2017April 20, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

Yesterday I overheard a nursing student snark, “Yeah, this is why I’m in nursing school – so I can pass trays.”

The following was posted by an Anonymous Facebook User… Her words resonated with me intensely. Her thoughts echoed the same words that I’ve whispered in my thoughts many times, and not simply in response to the Nursing Student but also to the many CNA’s, RN’s, LPN’s and other Healthcare professionals who have forgotten what it means to be a caretaker.

….and if I hadn’t been up to my eyeballs in other things to do for my patients, I would have stopped and said: “You’ve already missed the point entirely. I’m not sure why you DO think you’re here.”

If you hope to be a good nurse (or coworker, or person with a heart), you’re going to spend the majority of your working life doing things you SO mistakenly think are beneath you. You are going to pass trays with a smile – excitement even, when your patient finally gets to try clear liquids. You will even open the milk and butter the toast and cut the meat. You will feed full-grown adults from those trays, bite by tedious, hard-to-swallow bite.

You are going to pass trays with a smile – excitement even, when your patient finally gets to try clear liquids.

You will, at times, get your own vital signs or glucoscans, empty Foley bags and bedside commodes without thinking twice. You will reposition the same person, move the same three pillows, 27 times in one shift because they can’t get comfortable. You will not only help bathe patients, but wash and dry between the toes they can’t reach. Lotion and apply deodorant. Scratch backs. Nystatin powder skin folds. Comb hair. Carefully brush teeth and dentures. Shave an old man’s wrinkled face. Because these things make them feel more human again.

You will NOT delegate every “code brown,” and you will handle them with a mix of grace and humor so as not to humiliate someone who already feels quite small. You will change ostomy appliances and redress infected and necrotic wounds and smell odors that stay with you, and you will work hard not to show how disgusted you may feel because you will remember that this person can’t walk away from what you have only to face for a few moments.

You will fetch ice and tissues and an extra blanket and hunt down an applesauce when you know you don’t have time to.

You will listen sincerely to your patient vent when you know you don’t have time to. You will hug a family member, hear them out, encourage them, bring them coffee the way they like it, answer what you may feel are “stupid” questions – twice even – when you don’t have time to.

“. . . you will try your best to stay mindful of the fact that while this is your everyday, it’s this patient or family’s high-stress situation, a potential tragedy in the making.”

You won’t always eat when you’re hungry or pee when you need to because there’s usually something more important to do. You’ll be aggravated by Q2 narcotic pushes, but keenly aware that the person who requires them is far more put upon.

You will navigate unbelievably messy family dramas, and you will be griped at for things you have no control over, and be talked down to, and you will remain calm and respectful (even though you’ll surely say what you really felt to your coworkers later), because you will try your best to stay mindful of the fact that while this is your everyday, it’s this patient or family’s high-stress situation, a potential tragedy in the making.

Many days you won’t feel like doing any of these things, but you’ll shelve your own feelings and do them the best you can anyway. HIPAA will prevent you from telling friends, family, and Facebook what your work is really like. They’ll guess based off what ridiculousness Gray’s Anatomy and the like make of it, and you’ll just have to haha at the poop and puke jokes. But your coworkers will get it, the way this work of nursing fills and breaks your heart.

“The “little” stuff is rarely small. It’s heavy and you can’t carry it by yourself. So yes, little nursling, you are here to pass trays.”

Fellow nurses, doctors, NPs and PAs, PCAs, unit clerks, phlebotomists, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, transport, radiology, telemetry, pharmacy techs, lab, even dietary and housekeeping — it’s a team sport. And you’re not set above the rest as captain. You will see that you need each other, not just to complete the obvious tasks but to laugh and cry and laugh again about these things only someone else who’s really been there can understand. You will see clearly that critical thinking about and careful delivery of medications are only part of the very necessary care you must provide. Blood gushing adrenaline-pumping code blue ribs breaking beneath your CPR hands moments are also part, but they’re not what it’s all about. The “little” stuff is rarely small. It’s heavy and you can’t carry it by yourself. So yes, little nursling, you are here to pass trays.

By The Gypsy Nurse

May 9, 2017

14431 Views

This is. . . being a NURSE

Posted on May 9, 2017March 21, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

Written by: Rachel Baldwyn
Edited by: Candy Treft

Let me start by saying that “I LOVE BEING A NURSE.”

I graduated with my ADN almost 17 years ago. I have had the opportunity to hold hands with and give comfort to the dying and to cry with families left behind. I have been able to help bring people back from the brinks of death and give them the opportunity to go on to live longer lives. I have brought babies into the world and witnessed big burley men reduced to sobbing tears at the sight of their newborn baby and I have cried with them. I have had the privilege of being a part of human lives that without being a nurse I would have never had the opportunity. I have even had the opportunity to assist in saving my own husband’s life because of my knowledge and skills. Nursing is not just a job, it is an integral part of who I am.

Now, the other side of the story is not so glamorous.

Nurses work long hours away from family. We miss out on weekend bar-b-ques, weddings, holidays, our children’s ballgames and dance recitals. We work when the rest of the world sleeps, we try to sleep when the rest of the world is awake. If we work nights, we have to do without sleep just to take care of normal things the rest of the population never even thinks about. When is the last time you were able to take care of banking business at 2am? Have you ever had a parent teacher meeting at midnight? Even our family sleeps while we work, meaning we have to sleep when our family is awake and enjoying normal life activities, or we do without sleep in order to spend time with them during their waking hours. – This is being a nurse.

In the hospital, nurses are expected to do tasks that most of the world would never want to do.

We wipe butts, we clean up vomit, we sometimes wear masks with alcohol wipes under our noses when we are expected to take care of a patient with rotting flesh and the smells can be so overpowering that we don’t know if we can get through it without gagging or vomiting. – This is being a nurse.

We clean up the deceased patients after we have been unsuccessful in saving their lives, so that the family doesn’t have to see them in such a sad state, when what we really want to do is go somewhere alone and cry. We take a deceased baby into another room and clean them and dress them and take pictures of them so that the young mother will have pleasant memories of the baby she will never get to raise. We cry with and try to offer some measure of comfort to the parents of teenagers who we were unable to save, then we are expected to dry our tears, wash our faces and go on to the next patient. – This is being a nurse.

Those patients are never able to know that we just lost a young life, they still expect us to make their back pain a priority. Many times we are in tears throughout the entire process while wishing we could just go home and hug our own children. We are not able to go home and talk about our day, the laws prevent us from discussing patients with our families and besides most of us would never want to expose our families to the horrors that we see. – This is being a nurse.

“Nobody ever sees this side of nursing.”
“Have we made a difference?”
“I think so.”

Changes in technology and politics have changed the way we take care of our patients.

We are expected to do more with less staff and resources. We spend more time with the computer than we are able to spend with the patients, yet we are held hostage to the patient’s satisfaction during the hospital stay. Our raises are determined by the patient perception of our care. – This is being a nurse.

We are living in an age of entitlement, our patients have become more and more demanding. They, many times, expect to have zero pain instead of a realistic expectation that we can control pain but not eradicate it. We are expected to cater to those who are addicted to meds instead of refusing to give drugs to an already addicted population because we are afraid of negative patient satisfaction scores. We can even be held responsible if someone doesn’t like the food served in the hospital. I have even seen many hospitals change to having room service where they can order from an extensive menu and dictate what time they would like their meal to be served. Not that I think patients should have no control of their care but many years ago, nobody expected to be treated like they were paying for a 5 star hotel while in the hospital.

It is no longer enough to use our skills to care for the patient’s physical and emotional problems. We now have to care for their unrealistic wants as well as try to make sure the wants don’t interfere with the needs. – This is being a nurse.

“We are the largest single profession and we can make a difference if we set aside the mentality of

– if I make someone else look bad I will make myself look better.”

Hospitals will hire brand new BSN nurses over experienced associate degree nurses.

Another issue we as nurses face daily is that we are the most caring profession to our patients but the most condescending and critical of each other. I have seen new nurses who graduate with a BSN come in to the hospital straight off the assembly line acting like they are superior to experienced nurses who only have an associate’s degree, Associate degree nurses act like they are superior to experienced LPN’s.

Last year my husband was in a hospital in a critical state, the floor he was on had no backbone. The most experienced nurse had only 2 years of experience. The “baby nurses” were teaching the even newer nurses. Experience is the only thing that will give nurses the knowledge needed to be successful and to recognize many problems our patients have. Experience is more important than I can ever express.

Many experienced nurses are leaving the field and either retiring or moving on to other less demanding professions, or they are moving up the ladder into management. New nurses are having to learn without the help or guidance of the backbone. They need experienced nurses to pave their way and take them under their wings to show them how to actually be not only nurses who can do the skills but will excel and become great nurses with not only the knowledge but the hands on experience to know when a patient is not as it seems, so that they will be able to recognize subtle changes that need to be addressed that is not in the chart or given in morning report. However because of the critical environment, many nurses with experience don’t want to teach the younger new nurses and the new younger nurses sometimes think they don’t need to be taught.

It is a constant cycle of abuse from both sides of the fence.

Because of the animosity and accepted culture of this pecking order in nursing, we cannot stand together to make the needed changes in healthcare. As long as this mentality continues we will never be able to demand fair salaries or safe nurse to patient ratios. People in the general community will never understand what we as nurses do on a daily basis, they can’t know. It is not something that the normal lay person can truly comprehend. We will never have the respect that we deserve for doing the job that we do. The only people who will ever truly understand are other people within the healthcare field. Yet those people as a whole are the very ones who keep our profession from becoming one we could and should be proud to do. This is also what is going to affect our population and put our patients in jeopardy.

We need to stand together.

We need to educate our communities on what is safe and how they can stand behind nurses to make sure that when their family member is hospitalized they can be comforted in knowing that their nurse has the knowledge and skills and judgment to be able to safely take care of them. Let our families and friends know that we are being expected to care for more than is physically possible to safely care for. We need to stand together for safety and set aside the pecking order for the betterment of our entire profession.

We are the largest single profession and we can make a difference if we set aside the mentality that if I make someone else look bad I will make myself look better. Patient safety and fair wages should be important to each of us.

My name is Rachel Laird Baldwyn, I went back to school to become a nurse with 2 very little boys underfoot and a very supportive husband who pushed me and encouraged me at every step of the way. I have been a nurse since 1999. I worked Med/Surg for about a year and a half, then went on to become an ER nurse for the next 8 years and most recently I am a labor and delivery nurse. I have been a travel nurse for a total of about 6 and a half years, 3.5 years from 2002-2006 and started travelling again in Feb. 2013. Travelling has allowed me to not only support my family but to give them opportunities that I never had. It has allowed me to meet some amazing and wonderful people from all across the country. I have seen more of our amazing country than I ever imagined I would see. At every assignment I try to not only take away new friendships, but also new skills that I can take with me and bring on to my next assignment. I am not sure where my career will ultimately take me but I do hope to be able to continue to use my vast knowledge and experience for the betterment of this amazing profession.

This was originally posted to our Gypsy Nurse Network Group on 10/20/15. I was so moved by the context that I asked Rachel if I could reprint her thoughts here (which she agreed to). Rachel makes so many valid points. I would ask that you share this with your family, friends, co-workers and help bring awareness to our plight.

By The Gypsy Nurse

April 9, 2017

7148 Views

Texting Trends in Travel Nursing

Posted on April 9, 2017January 26, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

There has been some recent controversy on the newly developing trend of travel nurse staffing agencies texting potential jobs to travel nurse candidates. What is the point of the new texting trends in Travel Nursing?

Texting trends in travel nursing

With an ever-changing workforce and a new generation of Travel Nurses (and nurses in general) joining the career, it’s only inevitable that staffing trends begin to change. The new generation of nurses entering the field is much more ‘plugged-in’ than ever before. Life revolves around tech and social media. I know many people that utilize text and email as their primary communications resources. Phone calls and in-person meetings seem to be becoming a thing of the past.

A new generation of travel nurses

As the generations evolve, it’s expected that the means of communication for travel staffing agencies will evolve. There are pros and cons to this new trend in staffing alerts. For me, the pros would be simply quick notification. If I’m looking for a position, texting me of availability is the fastest way to contact me. By quickly knowing of an opening, I can choose if I want to be submitted. And perhaps be one of the first profiles on the manager’s desk. The other advantage for me would be any changes. If I’m contracted and the hospital needs something last minute, a quick text is a good notification system.

On the flip side.

I wouldn’t want to be bombarded by companies that I am not already registered with. Nor would I want to be constantly notified if I am not currently seeking a contract position. Email is more than effective for these situations.

I would caution the travel nurse staffing agencies not to be Annoyance. Agencies may want to consider an ‘opt-in’ for text in order not to alienate the generation of non-tech nurses, as well as those that are currently not registered with your company. Consider it like spam…if I didn’t ask for notification, please don’t send it. The other item to remember with texting is that some have to pay additional fees for text messages. The last thing that an agency ‘should’ want is to alienate potential travelers by costing them money for their advertising.

If you are a travel nurse, I would love to hear your thoughts about being text messaged by the travel staffing companies. Alternately, if you are an agency representative. I’m interested in finding out if your agency utilizes text messaging and, if so, in what regard.

By The Gypsy Nurse

September 30, 2016

8275 Views

Life of a Traveler – Leaving New Friends

Posted on September 30, 2016March 21, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

The following is a guest article written by: Michelle Lane, CNA

I love to meet new people! Perhaps for me, that is the best part of being a traveler. Well, that, and the fact that I get to go to a new place every 13 weeks! I love the adventure of getting on the airplane- the final destination, somewhere I have never been!

I am a new traveler, fresh off my first contract, and not even 8 days into my new one. I spent 16 weeks in Seward, AK and I made some really great friends and I think that made it even more difficult when it came time to leave! Everyone, from my onsite manager, all the way down to the maintenance guy in my apartment building were the nicest people, so helpful and genuinely wanting to help and make my time in Seward the most enjoyable. They not only succeeded, it made it very difficult when it came time to leave.

Text, Twitter®, Facebook® and Email! Oh My!

In our modern age of technology we are afforded so many options to keep in touch with people! It is like “Instant Gratification”. We may be thousands of miles away from our new found friends by the 14^th week of meeting them, but we are able to stay in contact instantly, when we choose to.

Through the invention of Facebook ® we can follow along in the lives of new and old friends, alike. You can send a text on their birthday by using wireless phones, or send and receive emails with pictures that you took of them while on assignment, and even follow them on Twitter® if you choose to. No longer do we have to wait weeks for a letter, or schedule a phone call when the rates are the lowest. Do you remember those days? (Or, did I just date myself? LOL) No way, we are of the technology age, baby! We can instantly keep in touch and maintain those new found friendships through so many options now!

It may not completely eliminate those feelings of sadness when it does come time to leave your new friends, but it is now easier than ever to keep in touch and maintain those friendships for years to come! So go out there and meet people, Gypsies! The friendships do not end when the assignment does!

Happy Traveling, my friends!

Michelle

Relationships while on the road can be a huge joy and a source of camaraderie. They can also blow up and cause drama and pain. Relationships are a part of life. The good ones, we want to hold onto forever and the bad…generally teach us something about ourselves if we are willing to take a minute to reflect on them. “Scrubbing In” a recent MTV reality series reflects both the good and bad in some of these relationships.

Would you like to share with The Gypsy Nurse readers your experiences with relationships on the road? Do you have a good or bad experience that left you reflecting on yourself or life? How have the relationships you’ve experienced impacted your life, attitude or outlook? If you would like to share your Travel Nursing experiences, please submit HERE.

——————

Provided by: Aya Healthcare

Our mission at Aya Healthcare is simple. When you’re happy, we’re happy. We put our heart and soul into creating the best possible travel nursing experience. With over 10,000 open assignments spanning all 50 states we can place you where you want to go, like sunny San Diego or near your favorite aunt in her small, quaint town in Ohio. We have an expert team to guide you and help you accomplish your travel nursing goals. You need help with licensure, we do that. Want assistance relocating? We’re on it. Dream of showing up to a beautiful, fully furnished apartment in your new city without lifting a finger? Done.

Let’s be honest- for all of the wonderful things traveling brings, it can also come with a bump or two. We leverage our thoughtfulness, experience, and skills to not only smooth over these bumps but anticipate and prevent them so you can spend more time focusing on what you care about. We even want to help you make friends and celebrate your birthday, so we send a pizza because co-workers workers quickly become friends over a hot slice of pizza! Rather than continue to tell you how great we are, we’d like to hear about what’s important to you. Feel free to give us a call and let us know!

Travel Nursing in an RV

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Happy Traveling, my friends!

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