December 19, 2022

1862 Views

Questions to Ask Your Agency’s Housing Department (If They Have One)

Posted on December 19, 2022February 7, 2023 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

There are a few things that can make or break a travel nurse assignment, and housing is at the top of the list. Not having safe, comfortable, affordable housing is an assignment dealbreaker.

Travel nurse housing is an industry pain point for travelers and agencies, but some of these can be fixed by squashing a myth around travel nurse housing and explaining how it works.

Often, when a traveler hears an agency offers housing assistance, they think the agency will not pay a per diem. Because of that, travelers won’t reach out to an agency’s housing department at all. What should be understood is that there are multiple types of housing assistance, and some agencies do it better than others.

Housing Assistance With a Per Diem

Say you pay a mortgage in your home state and qualify for a per diem when you take a travel nurse assignment. When a traveler takes the per diem, sometimes their agency’s housing assistance ends there. However, other agencies will still help you find safe accommodations within your budget, whether you want to stay in an apartment, private rental, long-term hotel, or elsewhere.

Even if you take a per diem, talk with your agency to see what housing resources they offer. After all, your agency is supposed to be your support system on the road.

Housing Paid For by the Travel Nurse Agency

The next statement is a big point to understand: When you take housing that’s paid for by your agency, you won’t receive a housing per diem. This is because you’re not duplicating expenses by paying for your own accommodations. Instead, the agency is handling the bill.

In the industry, it’s becoming less frequent to take agency housing. Many travelers feel they can find accommodations at a better rate and pocket the rest of the per diem, or they aren’t happy with the ‘paid for’ options they’re provided.

Regardless of whether or not you take the per diem, you’ll want to work with an agency that can assist you in finding the right place to stay, especially in a tight housing market. To help you, here are the travel nurse housing questions you should ask when researching agencies.

Questions to Ask About Travel Nurse Housing

Do you have a housing department, and will I get a dedicated housing specialist?
If the agency pays for housing…
1. Will I be working with the housing department or an outsourced vendor to secure a place to stay?
2. Will I have multiple housing options presented to me?
3. How much input do I have in the option picked?
4. Are utilities put in the agency’s name or my name?
If taking the per diem…
1. Will the housing department assist me if I take the per diem?
2. Does the agency have a leads list I can use to find reliable private owners renting to travelers?
3. Will the agency help me find an extended-stay hotel and get the best rate?
4. Can the agency assist with some of the upfront costs of moving, like having to pay deposits or the first and last month’s rent?
5. Does the agency have discount codes I can use to get the best rate?
If traveling with others…
1. Will the agency assist me if I want to travel with my friends, family, or pets?
2. Does the agency consider whether the housing option is in a family-friendly location?
3. Does the agency consider whether the housing option is in a pet-friendly location?
Will the agency help me find another place to stay if I don’t feel comfortable or safe when I arrive?
Will the agency help me if I want to see the area before I make a final housing decision?

As a travel nurse, you have plenty of to-do’s with each assignment, and finding housing is one of them. With the current housing market, it can be easier to work with an agency with a housing department and specialists dedicated to finding a safe, affordable, and comfortable place for you to stay that accommodates you and any others you bring along for the ride.

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

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

START HERE

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

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

November 21, 2022

2696 Views

Want to Start 2023 as a Travel Nurse? Now Is the Time to Prepare

Posted on November 21, 2022November 16, 2022 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

2023 is weeks away, and a new year brings new opportunities. Many nurses use the fresh start of a new year as the perfect time to leap into a travel nursing career. If you’re considering starting 2023 as a travel nurse, the time to prepare is, well, now.

Before taking your first assignment, you’ll need to:

1. Find a Stand-out Travel Nurse Agency & Recruiter

There are hundreds of agencies and thousands of recruiters. What’s the best way to narrow down this pool of possibilities? Look for what makes an agency or recruiter stand out from the crowd.

Want to Start 2023 as a Travel Nurse? Now Is the Time to Prepare

Pick a Travel Nurse Agency

A quick way to make a top-five list is to consult reputable review sites, such as The Gypsy Nurse, to see which agencies travelers voted as the best of the best. Narrow that down to the agencies that have certification by The Joint Commission, which requires agencies to undergo an extensive evaluation process every few years and demonstrate the ability to offer high-quality and competent nursing services.

With that list, it’s time to explore each agency’s benefits, support, and perks. You’ll want an agency that steps forward to support you on the road with traveler-focused benefits, like day-one insurance and paid sick leave, mental wellness resources that meet you wherever you are, and a 401(k) plan to invest in your future.

Additionally, you’ll want to be able to rely on an agency’s well-structured, experienced support teams. Look for agencies with a QA team that ensures you’re meeting all compliance requirements, a housing team helping you find the best accommodations within your budget, and a clinical support team available to coach you when you need it.

Last but not least, you’ll want the agency you work with to have various travel nurse jobs available so it’s easier for you to get your first assignment to start your travel nursing career.

Pick a Travel Nurse Recruiter

Once your top few agencies are sorted out, you’ll want to connect with a great recruiter. Use social media networks, like The Gypsy Nurse’s Facebook group, to ask other experienced travelers which recruiters they recommend. Your recruiter should know what the agency offers and the current state of the travel nurse market, listen to your career goals and put you on a path to reaching them. You should feel like a priority to your recruiter, not just another traveler on their list.

2. Prep Your Travel Nurse File & Submit Your Application

Your recruiter is responsible for submitting your travel nurse profile to a job; you’ll work with them to get it prepped. Your travel nurse profile will consist of your resume, licenses & certifications, immunizations & titer records, references, and more. If you need to update specific certifications or obtain another state’s license, now is the time to get it done!

Meanwhile, your recruiter is hunting for a few contracts that match your requirements – whether you want to work specific shifts, go for a particular pay, or try for a certain state.

When you and your recruiter have found a few that meet your needs, and your profile is ready, it’s time to apply! You’ll begin applying to open jobs about three to four weeks before the start of the assignment. (Tip: One essential thing to consider before applying for any job is the housing market in the area. You don’t want to accept a job only to discover that you can’t find reasonable housing nearby.)

3. Interview and Land a Job

Once your application is submitted, this next step could move quickly. It takes approximately 72 hours to hear from hospitals about profile submissions. Suppose a hospital wants you for an assignment. You could have a phone interview with a nurse manager, a voice-automated interview, or an auto-offer without a formal interview. Once you agree to a contract, you can put in a two-week notice at your staff job.

4. Compliance and Housing

Congrats, you’ve secured your first travel nurse job! Now, you’ll have to think about assignment compliance and housing. If your agency has a QA department, they’ll contact you to ensure you get all assignment compliance items out of the way. Your agency might even be able to set up any appointments you need and pay for it all. At the same time, you’ll want to find accommodations near your assignment. If your agency has a housing department, they can relieve stress by finding a safe, affordable place for you to stay.

5. Now, The Fun Begins

You’re officially ready to take off for your first assignment! The good news is a lot of the hard part is over. You’ve picked a great agency, established a relationship with a recruiter who is getting to know you and your lifestyle needs, and you’ve got everything together for your travel nurse profile. With all this work behind you and one assignment on your resume, it will likely be much easier to apply for your next travel nurse position or to start your travel nursing career!

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

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

START HERE

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

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

September 20, 2022

1968 Views

Traveler Tips for Adjusting to New Environments on Assignment

Posted on September 20, 2022September 14, 2022 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

The prospect of picking your life up and moving from place to place can be both exhilarating and overwhelming for a new travel nurse. Beyond your agency and recruiter, there are many things to consider, like, “How will I adapt to a new environment when I’m moving every few months?”

For the best tips on dealing with culture shock, adjusting to new environments, and finding community on assignments, we’ve reached out to some of our experienced TNAA ambassadors who were once in your shoes. Here’s the advice they have to share.

Work Your Way Up

Are you used to working at a small-town hospital? Do yourself a favor, and take it easy on your first assignment. Take a job at a hospital that’s similar in size to the hospital where you worked as staff.

“Make sure to work your way up to a larger city hospital. I would never recommend a nurse at a Level 3 small hospital go directly to a Level 1 trauma center. That first assignment is stressful enough. Go somewhere comfortable.”

Leah R.

“Don’t try to jump in and see everything at once. Get into a routine and get become familiar with the area, and then venture out from there!”

Matt L.

Be a Team Player

As a travel nurse, you are there to fill a gap in care for the hospital. That doesn’t mean you let yourself get run down with all the awful shifts and tasks, but you do offer to help and to learn.

“If my room is done, I look for the busier rooms and ask them if they need help. Keep your charge nurse aware of what you’re doing. Ask how you can help them. It helps to have a mindset that you were brought in to help.”

Joni C.

“Be nice, be quiet, and NEVER tell them, “That’s not how we did it at home.” Instead, say, “Can you show me your way of doing XYZ?” It won’t take long to find who is on your side. Never badmouth any of the staff you work with, make friends with the floor clerk (they will be the most helpful), and consider bringing in treat a time or two.”

Lynnette S.

Establish Your Community

As a traveler, you get the opportunity to make friends all across the country. From getting to know the hospital staff and meeting with other travelers to finding like-minded groups in the area, there are several ways to get conversations started and to create those bonds.

“I friend fellow nurses and ask them about the best places to eat or things to see in the city.”

Grace G.

“Know your other travelers, and create a text group so you can help each other out.”

Joni C.

“We are gamers, so I love stopping by local game stores. Most game stores have meet-up nights and open game days.”

Robb M.

“Continue a hobby while traveling, even if it takes a little extra work or packing, and find groups with a similar interest while on the road. It can be tricky, but the hobby will keep you grounded, and the connections will be easy to make… Find something that brings you joy, then link up with people who feel the same.”

ZD E.

“The MedVenture app is a great way to meet other travelers!”

Leah R.

In summary, take your time moving up to larger hospitals, have a helper’s mindset, and use resources both inside and outside the hospital to establish connections with people who will become lifelong friends.

We hope you found this article on tips for adjusting to new environments helpful. How do you adjust to new environments every 13 weeks? Comment below.

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

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

START HERE

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

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

August 16, 2022

1730 Views

What Healthcare Travelers Need to Know About Monkeypox

Posted on August 16, 2022August 15, 2022 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

The United States has officially declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency. The first domestic case attributed to this outbreak was confirmed on May 17, 2022. Since then, there have been over 7,000 additional cases.

What Is Monkeypox and How Is It Transmitted?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox is caused by an orthopox virus in the same family as the virus that leads to smallpox. However, monkeypox is often a milder illness. Its symptoms include fever, aches, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, malaise, and a severe rash.

Anyone can contract monkeypox as healthcare experts say the virus can be transmitted through direct contact with the rash or bodily fluids, respiratory secretions during prolonged periods of close contact, touching objects, such as linens and clothing, previously in contact with the rash or bodily fluids of an infected person, and being bitten or scratched by an infected animal.

There are a few ways to limit the disease. According to the CDC, “Smallpox and monkeypox vaccines are effective at protecting people against monkeypox when given before exposure to monkeypox. Experts also believe vaccination after a monkeypox exposure may help prevent or make the disease less severe.” However, monkeypox-specific vaccines are not readily available to the general public as of this posting.

What You Should Do As a Traveling Healthcare Professional

Know Your Facility’s Policies

Your first line of defense as a traveling healthcare professional is to know the facility’s policies and protocols. These are often sent through email before the assignment.

“Make sure to read your emails and not just skim through them,” says Misty Hood, Risk Management Director at TNAA and a nurse. “Take the time to read through them because that’s how the facility communicates with you before starting your assignment. That way, you know what you are willing to accept and are not willing to accept.”

If you need additional clarifications after reviewing the policies, your agency should be a helpful resource connecting you to the right people to answer your questions.

Take Safety Precautions

Exposure to illnesses happens all the time on the job, but there are still precautions that you can take.

The CDC recommends healthcare professionals who are caring for a monkeypox patient to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, a gown, eye protection, and a NIOSH-approved particulate respirator equipped with N95 filters or higher. As always, it is also essential to keep your hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Exposed? Here’s What to Do

If you were exposed to monkeypox while caring for an infected patient, be mindful of any symptoms you develop within the next 21 days. Additionally, notify:

Infection control, who will help the facility maintain the situation;
Occupational health, who can help travelers with their treatment;
The health department can advise on health monitoring and start contact tracing;
Your agency will bridge the gap between occupational health and your available benefits. As your employer, your agency will administer workers’ compensation benefits, should you need them. So, it is also imperative that you know your agency’s process for reporting workers comp.

The CDC says healthcare workers who have unprotected exposure to monkeypox patients don’t need to be excluded from work but should begin monitoring symptoms twice daily for 21 days following the last date of exposure.

So, before you go to work, ask yourself: Do I have a fever, did I take any medications that could mask a fever, or do I have a rash? If you report any of these symptoms, maintain communication with your facility supervisor and your agency. Your agency should be able to support you in multiple ways.

“Helping them navigate their benefits, navigate sick time – those are a few reasons we’re here,” Hood explained.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has renamed variants or clades of the monkeypox virus during the 2022 outbreak. However, at the time this article was published, no new name had been announced for the disease altogether, though the WHO plans to review potential suggestions in the future.

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

Resources

Monkeypox is an evolving disease, and this scale of an outbreak is a newer situation for the United States. Stay informed on current facts and guidelines provided by the CDC and review recent updates on its “What’s New and Updated” page. Additionally, you may find the below resources helpful as the outbreak continues.

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

July 18, 2022

2593 Views

Road Trip Planning Apps for Your Cross Country Travels

Posted on July 18, 2022January 16, 2023 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

You’re about to drive a hefty distance from assignment A to assignment B and could use some tools to make the time in the car a little more fun (or wallet-friendly). We get it. Here are a few road trip planning apps loved by travelers and ways your travel nurse agency can support you on your adventures.

5 Road Trip Planning Apps

1. Recreation.gov

On Recreation.gov, you can find cultural sites to explore, locate camping spots or unique lodging, and reserve your spot for different experiences. Thirteen federal partners, including the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Burea of Land Management, help provide the tools and tips on Recreation.gov and its app.

2. Waze

Want to avoid traffic? The navigation platform Waze can help with that. Waze relies on its community of drivers and partners to report highway nightmares like potholes, wrecks, and construction and get you on the best route at the moment.

3. GasBuddy

Those nationwide travels can cost a pretty penny, but there’s an app that might make the journey a little easier on your wallet. The GasBuddy app helps you find the cheapest gas stations, which you can filter by price, distance, amenities, and fuel type.

4. Roadside America

Quirky roadside attractions can make a long stretch of interstate more interesting. Roadside America helps you find hidden gems like the Lost Sea in Tennessee, the World’s Smallest Park in Oregon, or the Junk Art Park in Michigan. Roadside America is available as an app only for Apple users. It costs $2.99 to use, and there are in-app purchases to unlock maps of sites in all US/Canadian regions. However, you can browse the attractions on the RoadsideAmerica website and plan your stops from there.

5. AllTrails

AllTrails can help you find the right place to stretch your legs for a road trip break. Use it to find hiking, biking, and backpacking trails, read trail reviews, map out the route, and much more. It costs to access the full app but includes handy features like downloading offline maps and getting alerts for wrong turns.

Agency Support on the Road

Okay, we’ve talked about ways to make your trip more exciting. Now, how can your agency give you the best possible experience as a nationwide traveler? Here are a few ideas.

Travel Reimbursement

You’ve seen gas prices – a multi-state adventure can be costly. Does your agency help you with the bill? See if your agency has a travel reimbursement program that can offset some of the moving costs, whether you travel by car or plane. Just keep your receipts, document your mileage, and you should be good to go!

Housing Assistance

Being a traveler is fun, but the upfront costs of moving are not. See if your agency can help! Some agencies might have programs to help cover these expenses, like utility fees, pet deposits, and first and last month’s rent. Your agency can divide the total cost of the moving expenses over your first few checks once you start your assignment.

Your Way is Paid

As a travel nurse, you’ll likely need multiple licenses, certifications, vaccinations, and more as you go from facility to facility and state to state. While many agencies pay for some of these expenses, others don’t pay for anything. Ask your agency if they help you cover these costs (and if they ensure you’re following all compliance requirements before you drive off to your new assignment).

Being a travel nurse allows you to make great moves in your life. Pick an agency that supports you in the venture.

We hope you found this article on road trip planning apps for your cross-country travels helpful. Are there any other apps you think should be included in this list? Comment them below.

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

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

START HERE

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

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

June 22, 2022

2610 Views

Agency Support During Mid-Contract Pay Changes

Posted on June 22, 2022June 21, 2022 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

Your recruiter calls to inform you about a mid-contract pay change. Last year, these were exciting calls to get because it likely meant your pay rate was about to rise. In the current market, it’s not a call you look forward to receiving.

Every agency has to deal with mid-contract pay changes, but how they handle them can be a game-changer for a travel nurse. Before diving into the specifics, let’s talk about bill rates, who sets them, and why changes might occur mid-contract.

Who Sets the Bill Rate?

Who sets the bill rate, and what factors go into a travel nurse’s pay? The bill rate is not set by travel nurse agencies or recruiters. Instead, healthcare facilities set travel nurse bill rates based on market demand and budgets. A healthcare facility works with its managed service provider (MSP) and/or vendor management system (VMS), which help track the facility’s workforce spending. Consulting with the MSP or VMS, the healthcare facility determines the bill rate it wants to set for a particular position. Once that is set, the bill rate for that position goes to hundreds of agencies.

Each agency has different ways it splits that bill rate. The bill rate will include the traveler’s pay, per diems, benefits coverage, agency support and expenses, and more. The agency determines what will be paid hourly and uses the U.S. General Services Administration’s guidelines to establish what will be paid through per diems if the traveler qualifies for them. Your agency and recruiter should help you understand your complete compensation package.

Who Makes Mid-Contract Changes?

Changes start with the healthcare facility’s bill rate and trickle down. The bill rate drop affects all sections of the traveler’s package, from hourly pay to per diems. These have to be adjusted to work with the new bill rate and follow IRS rules.

An important thing to note is the nurse manager on the unit isn’t involved in determining the bill rate, and likely doesn’t know when changes occur.

How Your Agency Should Support You

When a facility drops rates and notifies agencies, your recruiter should contact you promptly to let you know. An action-oriented recruiter will specifically explain what has happened, provide details of the new package, educate you on the market, tell you about other opportunities in the area, and let you make the best choice for yourself.

You can either accept the new rate or decide to end the contract (after hopefully giving a professional notice). Unfortunately, this decision must occur as soon as possible so the agency can redo the contract with the correct rates and avoid any pay or tax discrepancies.

If you opt to end the contract, each agency is different in how it responds. Ideally, you’ll want an agency that doesn’t penalize travelers for leaving due to a mid-contract bill rate decrease. However, some agencies may charge the nurse for terminating the contract or blacklist them. To understand your agency’s response in these situations, read your contract and contact your recruiter for any questions. It’s your career and your right to know!

Decisions, Decisions

There are several decisions to make when becoming a travel nurse. They likely start with putting your trust in an agency and a recruiter to guide your career.

You’re a healthcare traveler who has uprooted life to help patients in areas where your expertise and care are most needed. When life presents you with a difficult situation, is your agency there to support you and navigate you through it? Hopefully, your answer is a resounding, “Yes!”

We hope you found this article on agency support during mid-contract pay changes helpful. Have you had any pay changes mid-contract? If you would like to share your experience please comment below.

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

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

May 25, 2022

2356 Views

Re-Center Yourself During Mental Health Awareness Month

Posted on May 25, 2022January 16, 2023 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, but your mental well-being should be a priority all year. As a travel nurse, you’re making huge life adjustments and often find yourself in unfamiliar environments without your support system close. Yes, diving into this new adventure is exciting, but it can be stressful at times. Here are agency resources you might have available to you that can help you re-center when life feels overwhelming.

Agency Resources for Your Mental Well-being

As a travel nurse, you’re filling a need in each hospital where you take an assignment. You’re sharing your skills and resources to care for patients selflessly. Ensure your agency is caring for you, too, because when one part of you is off – whether it be your physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental state – it can affect the others.

Clinical Support

Ever explained a work situation to your friends, but they can’t relate or keep up with the industry jargon? It’s nice to talk to someone who can relate to what you are experiencing. See if your agency has a clinical services team you can speak to when you’re having a hard time on an assignment. Some team members might also take hospital shifts, which means they likely know exactly what you’ve been through during the pandemic.

Chaplain Assistance Programs

Maybe you had a relationship with your hospital chaplain as a staff nurse. But as a travel nurse, do you know who the hospital chaplain is from assignment to assignment? Select agencies have a corporate chaplain as a source of non-denominational care that offers spiritual and emotional comfort when you need it most.

Mental Well-being Programs

At TNAA, we reevaluate our benefits every year to see what we can implement to serve our travelers better. During the pandemic, it became prevalent that we needed to expand our mental wellness resources to meet our travelers where they were – all over the country, working shifts at all hours of the day and night. We’ve since partnered with First Stop Health, a free, unlimited, confidential resource that connects our travelers, internal employees, and their loved ones with a licensed counselor by phone or video call.

Ask your agency what free resources they might have available to you that focus just on your mental health. Some might have Employee Assistance Programs that offer free therapy sessions. While there might be limits on the number of sessions or events per year, the EAP can get you started and likely recommend you to a professional in your health network afterward.

Other Benefits

When was the last time you took an actual vacation, and do you feel comfortable taking time off with your agency? Talk to your agency’s benefits team to learn about any PTO options available to you and the bridging policy for benefits when you’re between assignments. Knowing this information can bring you comfort when you want to plan an extended break just to relax. Want other ideas to focus on your mental well-being? Here are five ways you can decompress after a hard shift. Or check out the American Nurses Association Resources list that includes apps, factsheets, gratitude practices, podcasts, quizzes, and more related to mental wellness.

We hope you found this article on ways to re-center yourself during Mental Health Awareness Month helpful. Do you have any tips to help re-center yourself? Comment any ways you have found to re-center.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our travel nurse jobs page. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our travel nurse housing page.

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 TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

February 25, 2022

2490 Views

Have a Successful Travel Nurse Career in a Changing Industry

Posted on February 25, 2022February 20, 2022 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

The travel nurse industry is booming as pandemic burnout has pushed RNs to look for ways to enhance their careers and lives. Nursing school students have aspirations of traveling, no longer envisioning their career spent in one spot. Staff nurses have learned traveling is viable for many lifestyles and situations, and hospitals are advised to better fit travelers in their units, treating them as partners instead of seeing them as temporary staff.

How can you set yourself up for a successful travel nurse career if you’re interested in traveling? It comes down to three things: your agency, your recruiter, and you.

How Travel Nurse Agencies Can Help You Navigate the Industry

Some travel nurse agencies have been overwhelmed with the amount of nurses wanting to travel and don’t have the resources available to keep up with the growth. That’s one reason why you’ll want to be picky about the agency you partner with on your travel nurse journey.

Picking a Travel Nurse Agency With Industry Knowledge

There are dozens of travel nurse agencies out there, but you want an agency and recruiter that can serve as your trusted advisors to help you navigate the growing and changing industry. Your agency should have high credibility in the industry, and your recruiter should be highly knowledgeable about the healthcare facility you are interested in and the facility’s requirements.

Picking a Travel Nurse Agency That Values Relationships

Along with industry knowledge, you’ll want an agency and recruiter that focus on building their relationship with you. That starts with having a recruiter who is available to talk to you instead of leaving you abandoned with your questions. Your recruiter should listen to your personal and career goals, ask important questions to understand your goals better, and seek out the assignments that align with those goals. Your recruiter should also be transparent and honest about situations in the industry or at a certain facility. They should always be looking out for your best interests.

Picking a Travel Nurse Agency With Benefits That Matter

This one is really important. Not all agencies offer the same level of benefits and support that you had while you were a staff nurse or that you want when adapting to your new life as a traveler. We’re talking housing assistance, licensing assistance, mental health resources, insurance options, and more. Take the agencies you are interested in working with and research their benefits. Make sure they have the benefits that you want to fall back on when you take your life on the road.

How to Set Yourself Apart and Have the Best Travel Experience

If you’re a new travel nurse or even a seasoned traveler among the influx, here’s how you can set yourself apart from the crowd.

Engage With a Facility’s Core Staff

You may be at one hospital for a limited time, but you can still leave a lasting impression. Don’t settle for just being ‘the traveler’ on your unit – make yourself known to the director. Let them know you are here to be a partner in promoting excellent patient care and best practices. While getting to know people, find your core staff buddy and invite them out or over for dinner. It will make the travel life a little less lonely for you and give you friends across the nation.

Be the Best Guest

Be the best guest on the unit. You are there to fill a hospital’s needs. That doesn’t mean you should allow yourself to be disrespected, but it means you might be tasked with doing the less-than-glamorous duties from time to time. Being willing to help in this manner is actually to your benefit. In the event of a low census, you will have proven your worth and desire to be a teammate on the unit, meaning you’ll likely be the traveler they want to keep.

You’ve learned several techniques while supporting facilities across the nation. It makes sense that you would want to share your expertise, but do so tactfully. Avoid telling a staff nurse how they could do their job better. Instead, write a letter to the nurse manager or director about what you saw that worked best for you in a previous assignment. As you share your expertise, remember always to be willing to learn and try new techniques yourself.

Before the pandemic, travel nurses were hired when staff nurses took leave during busy seasons and to fill gaps as hospital managers worked to build their core staff. Now, it seems like a chapter as a travel nurse is almost expected in your career as an RN. So, if you see travel fitting in your life, follow these tips to give yourself a successful career as a travel nurse.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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 TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

January 20, 2022

2906 Views

A New Traveler’s Guide to Understanding Travel Nurse Pay

Posted on January 20, 2022January 17, 2022 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

Lots of RNs use the fresh start of the new year as motivation to jump into a travel nurse career. Life as a travel nurse is exciting, but it also requires a lot of research to make sure you understand everything that goes with the profession. How do you move from place to place every three months? What is a tax home? What factors go into travel nurse pay? Whether you’ve already done your research or you’re just beginning, here’s some information about travel nurse pay that you might not have already known.

Who Sets Travel Nurse Bill Rates?

Travel nurse bill rates are set by healthcare facilities based on market demand, and that is constantly fluctuating. You’ll see fluctuations in travel nurse pay based on which areas of the country are being hardest hit with illness or nurse shortages, which specialties are in highest demand at a particular time, and so much more. Right now, pay rates for several specialties are up, but at some point, they’ll level off. For instance, once elective surgeries were back on hospital agendas, more OR nurses were needed. As COVID-19 cases ramp up again, ICU and ER nurses top the list of facility needs.

What Factors Go Into a Travel Nurse’s Pay Rate?

We’ve already talked about how market demand affects travel nurse bill rates. Market demand also impacts travel nurse pay rates. You might also see some pay differences for the same assignment from agency to agency based on other factors. Your pay rate depends on the benefits your agency offers and that you use (like housing per diems, paid sick leave, health insurance, etc.), the support your agency gives (like guaranteeing your pay if a hospital calls off your shift or help finding housing), and much more. The important thing to do is to identify what your needs are and find the contracts that fit your lifestyle the best. To understand the full compensation package and the help available for each assignment, your best bet is to talk with an experienced recruiter who can explain the details.

Where Do I Go For Issues With My Pay?

If you have any issues with your travel nurse pay, you’ll want to go straight to your agency. Your nurse manager likely doesn’t know or have a say in your compensation package. However, as your advocate, your travel nurse agency can review your timecard, discuss discrepancies with the hospital, and work out any issues.

When it comes to travel nurse pay, there are many factors to consider beyond the number listed with an assignment. There are benefits, taxes, and the list keeps going. Take the time to do your homework to understand what is going into your full compensation package and what you are actually bringing home.

We hope you found this article on understanding travel nurse pay helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to comment below.

Are you considering travel nursing and need to find a travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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

START HERE

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