By The Gypsy Nurse

March 16, 2019

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Swift Action, Vital Care: Roles in Rapid Response Nursing and Travel Assignments

What is Rapid Response Travel Nursing?

Sponsored by: Fastaff

Rapid Response travel nursing

In order to understand what Rapid Response Travel Nursing is, let’s first look at the different types of Travel Nursing.

Types of Travel Nurses

  1. Traditional travel nurses – Generally able to start in 4-8 weeks, contracted for a typical time-frame of 13 weeks.
  2. Rapid response travel nurses – Able to start in 2 days to 2 weeks. Greater flexibility in assignment length, with shorter contracts available.
  3. Strike-nurses – Typically for only a few days or weeks. The sole purpose of providing temporary relief staffing in times of labor disputes.

Why do Hospitals NEED Rapid Response Nurse Staffing?

  • EMR (Electronic Medical Records) Conversions
  • Remote or “hard-to-fill” positions
  • Unexpected acute fluctuation in staffing or patient loads. (Flu season is a good example).

What are the Benefits for the Travel Nurse in doing Rapid Response Nurse Staffing?

  1. Work shorter assignments of 2-8 weeks This can be a great ‘filler’ if you are looking for a contract that is shorter than the average 13 week contract.  Perhaps you had a contract cancelled? Need something right away while you look for a longer contract?  Rapid Response travel nursing is a great way to fill in and make great pay for a shorter contract.
  2. Greater Flexibility in Contract Length Companies like Fastaff Travel Nursing provide the travel nurse with various possibilities. Contracts lengths ranging from short-term 2-4 week contracts to standard contract lengths of 13 weeks or longer.
  3. Earn top pay rates Depending on the severity of the need of the hospital, the Rapid Response Nurse can earn significantly more than the traditional travel nurse.  Furthermore, hospitals look to Rapid Response solutions when their needs are urgent. The increased bill rate hospitals pay is shared with the travel nurse in the form of above average pay. In addition, rapid response staffing agencies like Fastaff Travel Nursing, often negotiate for 48 guaranteed hour work weeks. Factoring in overtime, this can translate into a 50% to 70% increase in total pay over a traditional travel assignment.

What does the Staffing Agency need in a Rapid Response Nurse?

  1. Ready to start quickly
  2. Multiple state Licenses/Compact License
  3. Knowledgeable
  4. Experienced

Ready to start quickly

In order to be available for these Rapid Response needs, the Travel Nurse will need to be organized and make certain that all their paperwork is up to date and readily available.  It’s a good idea to have everything on hand with a Rapid Response Nurse Staffing agency well ahead of time. It’s also recommended to give the agency approval to submit prior to consulting with you.  (This is not recommended with Traditional Travel Nursing).

Multiple state Licenses/Compact License

Being licensed in multiple states or licensed in a Compact State will be a huge benefit to the travel nurse.  Multiple state licenses means quicker placement and more job availability.

It can be costly to maintain multiple licenses. I recommend that you do your research and find out where it’s best to be licensed. It’s also important to note that multiple state or compact licensure is not a requirement for Rapid Response travel nursing.

Another important aspect to remember is that the time needed to obtain licensure varies widely depending on the state. It’s important to think ahead and work to obtain licenses in states that you are interested in working in.  States like NY can take up to 10 weeks or longer for licensing and often have rapid response needs. Don’t miss out on some of these great opportunities. You may be a great fit for an assignment but, if you can’t process your license before the scheduled start date.

Some travel nurse companies will often cover your licensing costs and assist you in obtaining licensure for open positions.

Knowledgeable in multiple types of systems and platforms

Experience in multiple EMR systems is a huge benefit. This will yield you great flexibility as well as availability in obtaining a Rapid Response position.

Experienced Nurse

Rapid Response Travel Nursing is generally utilized to fill an emergency need.  It’s expected that the travel nurse will be able to hit the ground running.  These positions are even more demanding than traditional travel nursing.  Rapid Response Staffing agencies are looking for confident and experienced nurses to fill these needs.  Most agencies will require a minimum of 2 years of recent acute care experience in your specialty.

What to look for in a Rapid Response Staffing Company

  • Proven experience and history of Rapid Response Staffing
  • Joint Commission Certified
  • A company with good staff support in place.

How to get started as a Rapid Response Travel Nurse

Research agencies and sign up with an agency that specializes in Rapid Response Travel nursing like Fastaff Travel Nursing.  Fastaff is a subsidiary of Reliant Healthcare Professionals and has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval.  Fastaff pioneered the concept of Rapid Response travel nursing to the healthcare industry in 1989. Search the current rapid response jobs available via Fastaff.


Are you looking for your next travel nurse contract?

Check out these HOT Travel Nurse Jobs.


By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

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Step #7: Research Travel Nurse Agencies

How to Research Travel Nurse Agencies

There are several factors in determining what agencies to work with. As you learn how to research travel nurse agencies, keep in mind that you need an agency that you can trust, that has the benefits and services that you want and need and can accommodate your  deal breakers.

Get Travel Nurse Agency Referrals

Before you start Googling or calling random agencies, ask for recommendations from your travel nurse friends or on the Gypsy Nurse Facebook Network. Choosing a travel nurse agency is about more than what agency shows up on a search first, so be thoughtful about this step.

Read Travel Nurse Agency Reviews

When you are researching travel nurse agencies, start at our Review Page. If you have completed a contract, make sure to fill out an agency review to help the next travel nurse trying to research travel nurse agencies.

Check Our Yearly Rankings

Here at Gypsy Nurse, we have the most comprehensive agency review program in the industry.  We hired two top independent market research firms to create and conduct a yearly survey of our travel nurses to help with choosing a travel nurse agency. You can see all of our current and previous rankings here. 

Make Agency Contact

When you have a list of several companies that you want to pursue, then you can start making calls. If you have a specific recruiter that you want to contact make this clear on your initial contact with the agency. Make certain to note if someone directly referred you to the agency, because they might be eligible for a referral bonus.

It’s not recommend signing up with job boards when choosing a travel nurse agency as you will be bombarded with phone calls/emails from these sites. We recommend that you connect directly with the agencies that you are interested in after doing some individual research. The Gypsy Nurse Job Listings allow you to search and apply with ONLY the company that you are interested in!

Interviewing the Agency

When you interview travel nurse recruiters (yes, YOU will interview THEM), it’s important to address your questions in the order of importance to you. If a company isn’t able to meet your deal-breakers, it probably isn’t worth your time or theirs to continue. Make sure to find a recruiter who will be patient and in depth with explaining things like pay, especially for your first contract. Travel nurse pay can be very confusing. Make sure you understand your pay and then you can diagnose your pay package more effectively.

Keep in mind that not all recruiters have the same style or approach. If you have positive experiences with a company but are struggling to connect with your recruiter, don’t be afraid to ask for a different recruiter! Part of learning how to research travel nurse agencies is learning how to interview recruiters and find your best fit as well.

EXPERT TIP:

VET YOUR CHOSEN COMPANY/RECRUITER VIA THE GYPSY NURSE NETWORK BY ASKING FOR SPECIFIC FEEDBACK ON THE AGENCY OR USING THE SEARCH OPTION AT THE TOP OF THE GROUP.

How to Research Travel Nurse Agencies – Interview the Agency

Potential Questions for Choosing a Travel Nurse Agency

  • PAY
    • Ask the recruiter first and foremost to explain the company’s pay structure
    • What is the Average Pay? Low/high amount for specialty based on location.
    • Missed shift penalties and ability to make up shift
  • BENEFITS 
    • What benefits are offered? Health insurance, 401K, paid time off, holiday pay, overtime pay, bonus, sick time, travel reimbursement, license reimbursement, etc.
    • If they offer a 401k match, how long until the traveler is vested?
  • HOUSING
    • What options do you offer for Housing?
    • Does the agency offer furnished housing/stipend/both?
    • Here is where you will ask about any housing details or options that you want.
    • Do you pay for parking? This is especially important in a large city i.e. San Francisco
    • How early can I move into my housing? How long at end of contract do I have to move out?
    • Will you provide pet-friendly housing?
  • CONTRACTS
    • Do they contract in all states, one state or in a particular area of the country?
    • Do they have ‘exclusive’ contracts? Where?
    • Are there penalties for early termination of contract?  What are they?
    • What is the notice given if a hospital cancels a contract?
    • If you’re looking for a transitional contract that will turn into permanent, ask if there are penalties/or exclusion clauses for you or the hospital. Any non-compete clauses you should be aware of?
  • OTHER
    • What is the structure of the company? Does the recruiter do everything for you (housing, time sheets, contracts, etc) or are there separate people for these duties?
    • How often does the recruiter ‘check-in’ with you during contract?
    • Is there someone who will answer calls during off-hours if you find yourself in a bad situation at work during nights or weekends?
    • Last but not least….make sure to ask about your specific Deal-Breakers and anything that is on your want’s/needs list.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the questions to ask when choosing a travel nurse agency, but hopefully it will get you started!

Create Your Profile

It’s time now to narrow down your choices to about three companies that you want to fill out paperwork for and potentially work with. It is common in the travel nurse industry to have your profile with several companies. Once you have your choice of companies narrowed down, it’s time to submit your profile to them. If you find other companies you want to work with later on, you can always add more. Working with too many companies can get confusing and overwhelming, so it’s usually easier to pick a few recruiters and companies that you really like.

Make sure that you take notes on what each company offers (or have them email the information to you) to refer back to.  Choosing a travel nurse agency is a lot of work up front, but once you are set with your favorites, it gets much easier.


Are there other questions that are on your list when you research travel nurse agencies? Is there something that you want to ask but are not sure if it’s appropriate? Post your thoughts or questions in the comments below, and I will try to address them.


You can return to the the introduction or move forward or back using the article links below.

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 8, 2018

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Step #9: Working With Your Recruiter (s)

The Travel Nurse Recruiter

Building and maintaining a solid relationship with your travel nursing recruiter is an important aspect of your professional career. Whether searching for a job or happily employed, maintaining a good relationship with your travel nurse recruiter keeps your options open. One important fact to remember is that your relationship with your recruiter is a professional one. It is okay to have a fun and friendly relationship, but make sure that your decisions aren’t made out of concern for offending your recruiter.

Communication

Communication is key to building a good relationship with your travel nursing recruiter. Keep your lines of communication open, and be especially responsive when you are actively looking for jobs. Make sure they know the easiest way to get in touch with you.  Travel nursing is a competitive market, and when a job becomes available, it is beneficial to you and your recruiter to act quickly, and knowing the quickest and easiest way to contact you eliminates any potential communication barriers.

If you’re actively looking for a position, check in every few days to update your status and see if they have anything new.  Recruiters generally work with dozens of travel nurses, and if they don’t get back right away, they aren’t ignoring you. They just have a busy schedule.  Take initiative and contact your recruiter instead of waiting around for them to call you. Make it a point to keep up with your recruiter at least once a week, whether you stay in contact via e-mail or telephone.

Honesty

Being honest with your recruiter is crucial. First, be upfront with your recruiter before they start looking for a position for you.  Refer back to your deal-breakers and make certain that your recruiter knows and understands what they are.

During your contract, if there are issues (no matter how small), make certain to touch base with your travel nursing recruiter and inform them.  Let them know that you are/are not able to handle the situation at the present but want them to be aware.

Your recruiter’s job is to help you find a position that suits you. They cannot ease worries of which they are unaware, and they cannot fix something that they don’t know is broken. Open and honest communication with your recruiter will help you find the right job more efficiently.

Keep your travel nursing recruiter up-to-date.

Your recruiter is your ally in helping you find a suitable job.  Notify them of any changes or updates made to your resume as soon as you make them. Have your skills and experiences changed? Keep your recruiter informed and ensure you stay on top of their list of desirable candidates.

When you become unavailable for a job, inform the recruiter.  Don’t hide your unavailability in fear of hurting your recruiter’s feelings.  Remember, this is a business relationship.  Be pleasant and inform them that you look forward to connecting with them when the current contract is finished.

Maintain the Relationship

Once you land a new job, keep your best travel nursing recruiters in the loop. Check in with them once in a while. A good recruiter should touch base with you a few weeks before the end of your assignment, even if you took an assignment with a different company. It’s important to maintain a good relationship once established.  You never know when you or a close friend will need their assistance. Keeping that bond will make the recruiter want to spend the time and effort to help you down the road. For some additional tips on travel nurse recruiter relationships, check out this article.

Referrals, not gifts

It is a kind thought to want to get a thank you gift for your recruiter. Referrals are the best way to thank your travel nurse recruiter for helping you get where you want to go. Don’t worry about gift baskets or thank you cards. Good referrals equal better business for your recruiter, and many companies offer referral bonuses for referring a qualified candidate.

You can return to the the introduction or move forward or back using the article links below.

Need help finding a reliable travel nursing recruiter? Our Facebook group can help with that!


Find a GREAT Travel Nurse Agency


By Focus Staff

May 22, 2018

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Fear of Becoming a Travel Nurse? Here’s What You Should Know

This article is provided by: Focus Staff.

By 2022, more than 1.1 million new nursing positions are expected to be created [1]. For travel nurses, this presents even more opportunities in a field that is already in high demand.

fear of becoming a travel nurse

Have you considered working as a travel nurse, but have fears that are holding you back? It’s definitely the time to put them to rest. To help you, here is a quick look at the most common fears associated with travel nursing and what you should really know about them.

Adapting to a new work environment:

When you are working as a travel nurse, you are essentially starting a new job with each move. Fortunately, the basics of nursing care are the same all over the country. This means your biggest challenge will be learning where everything is and the protocols of each hospital. Go into each job with a plan to fit in by being friendly, working hard, and making it clear that you are there to help. When you do this, others are more likely to embrace your presence and help you adapt to your new environment.

Adapting to a new unit:

It’s not unusual for travel nurses to be floated to a variety of different floors while on assignment. Thus it is worth mentioning again that the basics of nursing care are universal. If you are considering becoming a travel nurse, it’s a good idea to join the float pool at your current facility. This will increase your comfort level in areas that you may be somewhat unfamiliar with, such as pediatrics, oncology, or postoperative care. When you are working, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Remember, you are there to help, and most other nurses will appreciate that and be glad to assist.

Feeling lonely:

Travel nursing does have the potential to be lonely, especially when you first arrive at a new assignment. Fortunately, once you start working, you’ll start to develop new friendships. Until then, keep busy by exploring the area, working out, reading, and doing other things that you may not have the time to do at home. Another way to beat potential loneliness is by traveling with a buddy nurse.  You’d be surprised, there are many traveling groups and forums online specifically for traveling nurses to the network which helps tremendously in this area.

Missing family and friends:

There is no doubt that you’ll miss your friends and family while traveling. Thanks to technology, it is easy to stay in touch, whether via phone, text, email, Skype, or social media. You can also invite them to visit your new city. After all, you won’t be working every day, and you’ll have time to explore the city with them.

Finding a place to live:

In some cases, the agency you work with may already have a plan in place. In other cases, you may be given a housing allowance and the opportunity to choose your own home base. Plan ahead, making certain your home is close to your assignment, as well as in a safe neighborhood. Again, many traveling forums give insight into housing options at any given facility or area so you aren’t alone in finding a good place to rest!

The “what-ifs”:

Considering the possible what-ifs can make you crazy. What if you don’t like an assignment? What if you get sick? What if a family member gets sick and you need to go home? In many situations, your agency will have policies in place concerning most of your possible what-if situations. Reviewing those policies may put your mind at ease. In most cases, these potential fears never materialize. Don’t let something that will probably never happen to prevent you from a great opportunity.

[1] According to American Nurses Association.

By The Gypsy Nurse

December 27, 2017

9905 Views

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Ask A Travel Nurse: Verbal Contract?

Gypsy,

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

Thanks!
Anonymous, RN

Thank you for reading The Gypsy Nurse.

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

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

Travel ON…..

I hope that this has addressed your question.

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

By The Gypsy Nurse

November 29, 2017

15907 Views

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Ask A Travel Nurse: Working with Multiple Staffing Agencies

Gypsy,

“Is it a bargaining tool when you tell your Travel Nurse Staffing Agency that you are working with multiple travel nurse staffing agencies?”

 LaTonya

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

I personally believe that working with more than one agency can be a bargaining tool. If a company knows that you are working with other companies, they may be more likely to work a bit harder or offer you a better package than you can get with another company. Another advantage would be that you can compare pay/benefits between companies for a given area.

I would caution you not to divulge too much info about one company to another…I give ‘generalities’ not specifics. Also, it is VERY important when working with more than one company to make sure that they KNOW not to submit you without your specific Authorization!!

Here are a couple of articles I would recommend you read over:

Working with your recruiter.

Is My Travel Nurse Recruiter Looking Out for My Best Interest?

Step #7: Research Travel Nurse Staffing Agencies

If you are looking for an agency to work with, you can start here: Travel Nurse Staffing Agency Directory for your Agency research.

Gypsy

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. If you like what you’ve read here, don’t forget to SHARE.

By The Gypsy Nurse

October 23, 2017

12192 Views

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Ask A Travel Nurse: Travel Recruiter Looking out for My Best Interest?

Gypsy,

I am currently on my first travel assignment. For the most part, my experiences have been good. My co-workers are helpful; management has been very supportive, my housing (although small) is adequate and safe.

However, I am experiencing growing pains in adjusting to traveling nursing…

For example, before starting this assignment, I suggested to my recruiter that I get my TNCC. I wanted to get all of my certifications out of the way; this way, I would be ready for any travel assignment.

My travel recruiters responded that in her experience, it was better to wait. No need to get certifications too early. That is was just important to get the first assignment out of the way. During this assignment, I’ve spoken with her about things I should be doing to prepare, and she still cautioned me to wait. As another example, about a month into my current assignment, I told my travel nurse recuriter that I wanted to go to another state that had a long-timed process for obtaining licensure. She didn’t tell me not to get the license but made it seem like I was thinking too prematurely about the process. Well, now I’m in the last four weeks of my assignment. I just put in for my license for one state that says it could take 4-8 weeks to obtain. There is another position that I’m really excited about, in another state, that, of course, wants the TNCC.

Ashley

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

Ashley,
It sounds like you have a good first contract experience!  You’ve brought up several issues:

– Relationship with your travel nurse recruiter
– Certifications
– Licensure

I’ll address each of this individually.

Travel Recruiter:  Many travel nurse recruiters aren’t nurses and don’t quite understand what certs you may or may not need. Nor do they generally care.  As long as you have what you need to do the ‘current’ job…this is their focus.  A relationship with a recruiter is very important.  You should be able to trust your recruiter, depend on them to resolve any issues.  Do not rely on them for career advice!

Certifications:  It’s my recommendation that you should obtain any/all certifications that are appropriate for your specialty and keep them updated.  This will only make you more marketable.  As you have seen, not having the appropriate cert can cost you a contract.

Licensing:  There are two trains of thought on licensing.  Licenses are expensive and there is no sense spending the money on a license that you ‘might’ use. I personally do not license until I know I am looking into a particular area; I have gotten licenses that I’ve never used (wasted money in my opinion).  I also do not keep my licenses all renewed.  Only those that I think I may return to.

On the flip side of this…there are a few licenses that are very time-consuming to get: NJ, NY are two of these. If you think you want to work in those areas, licenses are difficult/time-consuming to gI would recommend going ahead and proceeding with the license applications.  In addition, if you need/want to be in a certain area go ahead and get that license.

A couple of articles I would recommend you read over:

Working with your travel nurse recruiter.
Certification Renewals 
Where Should I License?

I would also recommend you check some of the Travel Nurse Resources via PanTravelers  It’s free for basic membership. You can also check out the Travel Nurse Staffing Agency Directory for your Agency research.

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.  Do you have a question for me?  Fill out the Ask A Travel Nurse form and submit your questions.  In addition, if you like what you’ve read here don’t forget to SHARE.

By The Gypsy Nurse

July 20, 2017

7374 Views

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Ask A Travel Nurse: Choosing a Travel Nurse Company?

Gypsy,
What travel companies have you had the most success with … and the least? Any recommendations?

Thank you, CardiacRN



CardiacRN,

Thank you for reading GypsyNurse and contacting me.  Choosing a travel nurse company can be so frustrating. However, when you find the company(s) that you love, the search will be worth it!

I have worked for a variety of companies from the large nationally known ones to the smaller family/nurse owned ones.  I will not give a specific company recommendation on this site.

Choosing a travel nurse company (and recruiter) is a very personal thing. A lot of the success between traveler and recruiter/agency relies on common ground. Does the agency provide the benefits that are important to you? Are they available? Do they have contracts where you want to go? These are all questions that are specific to each individual travel nurse.

My general preference has been for a smaller company.  I like the personal attention, the fact that I only deal with one person for everything and I get to develop a more deep relationship with the recruiter.

If your struggling with finding a company, you might want to read Step #7  (Research Travel Nurse Companies) in my Travel Nurse Guide. Additionally, once you’ve narrowed down your choices, you can ask for feedback on our Travel Nurse Network group on Facebook.

Additional Resources


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