By Emma Joyce

April 14, 2025

310 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Comfort on the Go: Creative Ways to Feel at Home as a Travel Nurse

Discovering new places, embracing different cultures, and honing professional skills in a range of healthcare environments are all made possible by travel nursing. But living a nomadic lifestyle can make it difficult to feel at home and grounded, particularly if you’re constantly switching between assignments. Both professional and personal success depends on the ability to adapt to new situations while retaining a sense of stability. This article examines innovative ways to support travel nurses in establishing a sense of stability wherever they go, guaranteeing comfort, emotional equilibrium, and a smooth transition to each new setting.

Personalize Your Space

Customizing your living space is one of the first things you should do when you get to a new assignment to create a cozy atmosphere and a sense of stability. To turn temporary housing into a cozy haven, little details can have a big impact. Bring things that make you feel at home, like old pictures of your family, a blanket you love, or a candle that smells like home. Adding accent pieces to your room, such as plants, rugs, or throw pillows, can also make it cozier. These minor adjustments can give your space a more welcoming and distinctive feel, even in furnished accommodations.

When packing your essentials, choose lightweight, multipurpose items that are easy to transport if packing space is at a premium. For example, foldable storage bins or portable LED string lights add style and utility without taking up much space. No matter how often you move, you can maintain a sense of stability by putting personalization first.

Stay Connected to Loved Ones

For emotional health, it’s critical to keep up relationships with loved ones and friends while traveling. Using social media, video calls, and instant messaging to stay in touch with your support system is easier than ever thanks to technology. Setting up frequent get-togethers or online get-togethers can help you feel more connected and at home, reinforcing a sense of stability.

Additionally, think about sharing pictures, anecdotes, and experiences from your assignments with your loved ones to include them in your travels. In addition to strengthening your bonds, this gives them a sense of inclusion in your journey. No matter where your career takes you, maintaining emotional support requires striking a balance between your travel nursing duties and meaningful relationships, which further enhances your sense of stability.

Establish a Routine

For travel nurses adjusting to ever-changing schedules and locations, routines offer a sense of stability and normalcy. You can feel more centered and in charge of your day by forming daily routines like journaling, yoga in the morning, or preparing your favorite meal. Also, make sure you pick places with practical hot water systems that will allow you to take a hot and relaxing shower before or after your shift, as this will help you feel amazing. These routines give you a sense of stability in the middle of the chaos and let you take breaks from a demanding job.

To control stress and preserve your mental well-being, include self-care components in your daily routine. Making time for your well-being, whether it be through regular exercise, visits to a local park, or meditation, guarantees that you remain balanced and motivated while working on your assignments. The goal of a well-structured routine is to establish anchors that provide your day with direction and predictability, helping to maintain a sense of stability without being rigid.

Immerse Yourself in the Local Community

Connecting with your environment is often a key component of feeling at home. You have the exceptional chance to experience different cultures and immerse yourself in diverse communities as a travel nurse. Spend some time interacting with your neighborhood; go to farmers’ markets, sample local food, and go to events. In addition to offering chances for leisure and recreation, exploring your new city or town can help you feel more a part of your temporary residence and reinforce a sense of stability.

Developing connections with coworkers and residents helps you feel like you belong. Participating in social events, volunteering, or taking a fitness class are all ways to engage with people and build a network of friends and acquaintances. By creating a positive atmosphere, these relationships can improve your professional experience in addition to enriching your personal life, contributing to a sense of stability in your assignments.

Embrace Flexibility and Positivity

The secret to succeeding as a travel nurse is adaptability. By adopting flexibility, you can avoid burnout and approach every task with positivity and an open mind, which makes it simpler to overcome obstacles and take pleasure in novel experiences. Change your viewpoint to enjoy the opportunities and adventures that come with every move rather than dwelling on what you might miss about your previous location. A sense of stability does not come from staying in one place but from building habits and attitudes that ground you no matter where you go.

Having a positive outlook can change your experience by helping you see change as an exciting opportunity rather than a stressful situation. Honor little victories, like finding a favorite coffee shop, learning a new skill, or developing a deep connection. You can handle the highs and lows of travel nursing with poise and confidence if you practice gratitude and resilience, which ultimately contributes to your sense of stability.

Travel nursing is a fulfilling profession with countless chances for development, discovery, and excitement. These techniques not only improve your general well-being but also give you the tools you need to succeed both personally and professionally. By prioritizing strategies that foster a sense of stability, every new assignment can feel like a home away from home.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By Miles Oliver

April 6, 2025

528 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Essential Financial Tips for Travel Nurses: Managing Your Money on the Go

Travel nurses can have deeply fulfilling careers, but knowing the potential challenges associated with this career path is critical: examples include fluctuating income, moving to different cities, and adjusting to varying living expenses. Fortunately, a proactive budgeting and financial planning approach can manage your money and alleviate stress.

Any financial advisor will tell you this one thing — start out by building a solid budget.

Essential Financial Tips for Travel Nurses:

financial tips

Build a Solid Budget To Manage Your Finances

As a travel nurse, setting up a flexible budget is key to managing your finances. Since your expenses might vary by assignment, it’s essential to have a system to track them and make adjustments when necessary. Creating a budget maximizes your income while preventing unnecessary financial stress during transitions between assignments.

This doesn’t need to be complicated. Start by determining your total earnings and spending by week, month, and year; remember to include taxes, loan payments, and side hustles. Then, open an online banking account and schedule regular withdrawals like car payments.

To prioritize your spending, designate budget categories like housing, transportation, and entertainment. From there, you can work with different kinds of budget allocation models. One is the 50/30/20, which is basics/luxuries/savings. A reverse budget drops 10 to 20 percent of total earnings into a savings account before using the funds for other expenses.

Need more guidance? There are travel nurse apps for this! Three suggestions are YNAB (You Need A Budget) for budget management, Mint for tracking spending, and SoFi for stock trading.

Another component of managing your financing is designating an emergency fund.

Plan for the Unexpected With an Emergency Fund

Building an emergency fund is one of the most critical ways for travel nurses to protect their financial stability. With a fluctuating income and frequent moves, you must have a cushion to cover unexpected costs, like medical emergencies or unanticipated moving expenses.

Aim to save three to six months of living expenses to protect yourself from financial uncertainty. That safety net allows you to continue working confidently, knowing you can handle unexpected challenges without significant financial strain.

Explore Financial Aid for Education and Career Development

If you’re still in nursing school or considering additional certifications, many financial aid options are available to cover the costs of your education. Scholarships, grants, and low-interest loans can help reduce the monetary burden of nursing education; work-study programs are another option.

Some travel nurse agencies offer financial assistance programs to help you further your career. Review any available opportunities, as debt can be quite a burden.

Maximize Your Income and Minimize Expenses

Many travel nurses leverage tax deductions to maximize their salaries. You can claim business-related expenses like housing, transportation, and equipment on your taxes, potentially saving you a significant amount. A tax professional familiar with travel nursing taxes can help you take full advantage of these deductions.

In addition to tax savings, negotiating pay rates and housing stipends with your agency can help reduce your living expenses, allowing you to keep more of your income. Don’t accept an offer without due diligence; researching different contracts and understanding compensation packages can help you make the best financial decisions for your career.

Set Long-Term Financial Goals for Stability

Saving for retirement is an often overlooked aspect of travel nursing. Even though you may not have access to an employer-sponsored 401(k), you can still invest in an IRA or other investment vehicles.

Consider automating those contributions to consistently build wealth for the future, even as a traveling professional. Sticking to this routine early in your career will help you stay on track and create long-term stability.

Your Financial Independence is Within Reach

Managing your finances as a travel nurse can be part of your routine. You can prioritize financial stability throughout your career by setting up a flexible budget, building an emergency fund, exploring financial aid options, and choosing methods for maximizing your income.

Financial independence is within reach — sticking with these strategies will help you stay on track and thrive in the dynamic field of travel nursing.

By Brandy Pinkerton

March 29, 2025

2878 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Two Travel Nursing Destinations for the Mountain Lover

The Mountains are calling, and I must go! -John Muir

If you’re a mountain lover, adventure seeker, and love to travel to destinations that feed your passion, here are a couple of places worth considering. 

Colorado

There are few major cities in America where you can be a short drive to hiking trails, mountains, waterfalls, canyons, and urban amenities. Colorado has so much to offer with its majestic Rocky Mountains range in every direction. Colorado travel assignments might just be for you if you like a winter wonderland. Colorado offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the U.S., with Vail and Aspen as two of the most popular destinations.

Personally, Breckenridge is a favorite of mine. The moment you arrive, you feel a contagious energy, a laid-back mountain vibe, and a fun-loving sense of adventure that calls out the freedom-seeker in all of us! You will feel right at home, and honestly, you may not ever want to leave. For those who prefer to stay off the slopes but still want to experience all that winter has to offer, Colorado offers plenty of opportunities to snowshoe, snowmobile, or cross-country ski.

My first travel assignment was in Colorado Springs; it quickly stole my heart and is still one of my most favorite assignments. It is a gem of a city! Depending on your specialty and time of year, there are usually an abundance of travel nursing options in Colorado. If you are looking for a relaxing lifestyle in a town with natural beauty that offers awesome outdoor opportunities available year-round, you definitely need to add this town to your bucket list.

Staying fit and healthy is a priority of the locals, and it is a very pet-friendly town. Pikes Peak is the most famous natural attraction in the region, and you can enjoy hikes up to the 14,000-foot summit. In Colorado, you can be in the urban city but have the option to head to the mountains for a quick getaway in minutes!!

* Mentor Tip: If you are up for a big challenge, make sure to check out the extreme rated, heart-pounding Manitou Incline Hiking trail where you gain over 2,000 vertical feet in less than a mile climbing 2,744 stairs to reach the summit where there are stunning panoramic views. Trust me, the views at the top are well worth the effort!

Montana 

I saved the best for last. I must warn you, proceed with caution because Big Sky Country will likely steal your heart, and you may never want to leave. As soon as you cross state lines into Montana, you get this laid-back, easy pace way of life vibe. You can follow the Rockies all the way up through into western Montana into the northern region where the Canadian Rockies begin. There are jagged peaks, pristine water, and abundant wildlife in every direction.

Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks are all worth visiting while in this area. In my opinion, Glacier National Park steals the spotlight. It is land of mountain ranges carved by prehistoric ice rivers full of alpine meadows, deep forests, waterfalls, about 25 glistening glaciers, and 200 sparkling lakes. The vistas seen from Going-To-The-Sun Road are breathtaking, a photographer’s paradise.

Relatively few miles of road exist in the park’s 1,600 square miles of picturesque landscape, thus preserving its primitive and unspoiled beauty. It offers tons of hiking trails and backcountry camping and hiking. Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, and Kalispell, are all cities that often have travel nursing needs. I was able to spend 9 months in Kalispell as a traveler to help them open up a brand new Children’s Hospital. As a traveler, you get to enjoy the breathtaking views of vast forests, rugged mountains, and green meadows, which will make your assignment an unparalleled adventure. Montana is truly the Last Best Place.

*Mentor Tip: Montana is Grizzly Bear country and hiking in these areas requires some preparation and planning. Make sure to educate yourself on Bear Safety and understand the proper way to secure your food. Make sure to always carry bear spray and know how to use it; it could save your life. Also, this is NOT the place to hike alone, and if you do, that is a risk you assume. Try to hike with groups of 3 or more and make lots of noise when on the trails. 

Being able to have endless adventures in the mountains is one of the many perks of becoming a traveling nurse. The mountains are a place to go to feel fully truly alive.

This is just a glimpse of the incredible locations travel nurses can enjoy while on assignment. Want to learn more? Contact Brandy@travelnurse101.com today to schedule your complimentary 1:1 mentor session.

We hope you enjoyed this article on two travel nursing destinations for the mountain lover. Have you found any great mountain destinations for travel nursing assignments? Comment them below.

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:

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

By AB Staffing Solutions

March 26, 2025

1014 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Travel Nursing with Your Dog

We love our furry family members! We can’t say enough about the benefits of travel nursing with your dog. It’s also essential to communicate with your recruiter about your desire so you can find pet-friendly housing and a dog walker when you’re on a long shift. Taking Fido with you is exciting, strengthens your bond, increases physical activity with outdoor adventures, reduces separation anxiety, and encourages social interaction for your pet and yourself. It can be the adventure of a lifetime for both of you.

Travel Nursing with Your Dog:

Travel Nursing with Your Dog

Benefits of Traveling with Your Dog

Moving to a new place can be stressful, so having a familiar furry face by your side can ease the stress and loneliness during travel assignments. Petting your dog lowers blood pressure, eases your mind, and fights anxiety you may have about moving to a new place. We always recommend having personal essentials with you like music, photos, and favorite clothing items, but it’s also comforting to be traveling with your dog.

And it’s good for both of you to be together!

Getting out in nature for a walk or hike allows Fido to explore their new home; we call it a “sniff-ari,” a sniffing safari. Just 20 minutes of sniffing is equal to a one-hour walk, so it’s healthy to let your dog get used to their new neighborhood. Walking in the sunshine is also healthy for humans in terms of getting much-needed Vitamin D as well as clearing your mind.

Another benefit of travel nursing with your dog is that you and your pet can meet new people. Check out the local dog parks and say hello to neighbors you see while walking. Visit municipal parks and learn more about your new home. Visit Bring Fido to find out where the dogs are meeting and where there are pet-friendly accommodations.

It’s also security to have your dog with you. Our providers tell us there is a sense of peace in having the familiar bark of their dog to notify them of people near their home or to have with them as they take a long drive.

Travel Nursing with Your Dog

Essential Considerations

As always, we recommend communicating with your recruiter about your intention to travel with your dog. Every assignment is different, and they need to know things upfront so they can plan accordingly. There may be limited housing options where you cannot take your pet; these can be easily eliminated if your recruiter knows you’re traveling with Fido.

Finding pet-friendly housing is essential. Even if you’re working in a big city with many options, remember that you and your dog will need dog-friendly spaces like parks and grassy areas. Learn about local pet laws, such as picking up after your dog and noise ordinances. If you’re renting directly from a landlord, be sure to ask about pets, pet deposits, and pet rent so no one is surprised when you show up with your dog.

When you’re preparing your resume, certifications, and referrals, don’t forget to pack your pet’s documentation. This includes a travel certificate that verifies the health of the dog as well as their vaccination record. If microchipped, don’t forget to change your address.

Preparing for Travel Nursing with Your Dog

It is essential to keep your dog as close to their routine as possible. If you wake up, have coffee, and walk, keep the same routine even while on the road. It will alleviate stress for both of you. Dogs love a routine, so keep it when you arrive at your destination, too.

In the car, take essential pet supplies like crates, seat covers, or hammocks. For long drives, it may be good to use a hammock rather than a crate so your dog can move around more. The seat cover will help keep your car clean and your dog safe. Water, food, treats, and collapsible dog bowls will make it easy for your dog to stop, stretch, and hydrate. Some dogs are too stressed to eat their meals while on the road because they don’t like change, but snacks might work. They’re good as long as they’re drinking water and going to the bathroom

Plan ahead so you’re not stopping in remote areas. We want you and your dog to arrive safely. Try to plan your stops or stop in areas where there are people like restaurants or rest stops.

When you arrive, maintain their routine with consistent feeding and exercise. You may consider hiring a dog walker from Rover or Wag or nearby doggy daycare, especially when you work long shifts. This will help your dog stay on their routine, and you won’t have an excited dog or accidents in the house. Find a veterinarian near you just in case your pup needs attention or vaccinations.

Lastly, find the dog people at work! It’s a great way to network, make friends, and find dog-friendly places to visit.

We’re excited you’re travel nursing with your dog and wish you both all the best on your new adventure!

We hope you found this article on tips for travel nursing with your dog helpful. Have you ever traveled with your dog? Share your tips for travel nursing with your dog below.

Find Your Next Travel Healthcare Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel healthcare gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities. We have opportunities for all travel healthcare professionals.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel healthcare assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By CoreMedical Group

March 25, 2025

1119 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Avoiding Burnout With An Annual Vacation

As a travel healthcare professional, you spend your days (or nights!) tirelessly caring for patients across the country, supporting facilities in need. This important work can often be exhausting and thankless, leading to potential burnout.

One way that you can avoid burnout is to take time away from work to relax and recharge, focusing on yourself and your relationships. If you can pair your vacation with a chance to get to know other healthcare professionals, you can build friendships and spend time with other people who understand exactly what you’re going through.

Burnout

Club CoreMed is an annual all-inclusive trip for healthcare professionals that combines networking and friendships with rest, relaxation, and fun. Here are ways you can combat burnout while on vacation, whether it’s Club CoreMed or another trip.

Self-Care At The Spa

Many all-inclusive resorts have a spa on site, giving you an opportunity to take advantage of services like massages, facials, and more. Some resorts even offer the chance to get these services outside, on the beach! It’s important to take time for self-care, and a spa day is the perfect opportunity for that.

Delicious, Fresh Food

When you think of an all-inclusive resort, one of the first things that comes to mind is the unlimited alcohol. But what you may not realize is that all-inclusive resorts can have an amazing unlimited array of healthy, fresh food too! While everyone wants to enjoy a decadent meal on vacation, you can also find locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables that taste good and are good for you. Fresh mangoes on the beach, anyone?

burnout

Bonding With Friends

Building strong relationships with friends and family is an important tool in your toolkit when it comes to conquering burnout. Having people who care about you and support you can make life as a traveling healthcare professional easier, giving you a strong foundation back home. But meeting new people on vacation is also a great chance to make new friends! At Club CoreMed, those new friends will be other healthcare professionals, but any vacation offers you a chance to meet new people!

Having Fun

Vacation should be all about fun! And Club CoreMed delivers on that with parties, activities, games, and more. Whether you want to play volleyball in the pool, read a book in a lounge chair, or dance the night away to live music, there’s an opportunity to find whatever fun looks like to you. Don’t spend your time off worrying about projects and work back home – make sure to take time to enjoy yourself and let loose!

Ready For A Vacation?

If you’re ready to combat burnout with a tropical vacation, Club CoreMed is the perfect chance to do that. It’s a free trip for healthcare professionals who work with CoreMedical Group held every March.

Find Your Next Travel Healthcare Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel healthcare gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities. We have opportunities for all travel healthcare professionals.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel healthcare assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By Titan Medical

March 24, 2025

1518 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

The Future of Travel Healthcare:  What’s on the Horizon?

As healthcare needs continue to evolve, the role of travel healthcare professionals is becoming increasingly vital. From the growing demand for healthcare services to the advancements in telehealth, the travel healthcare landscape is in the midst of significant transformation. Whether you’re a nurse, physical therapist, medical technologist, or any other healthcare worker on the move, the future looks promising, with a host of new opportunities, trends, and changes on the horizon.

travel healthcare

1. Telehealth and Virtual Healthcare: A Game-Changer for Travel Healthcare Professionals

One of the most significant trends shaping the future of healthcare is the rise of telehealth. With the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the adoption of virtual consultations, telehealth has now become a cornerstone of modern healthcare delivery. Travel healthcare professionals, especially those in nursing and allied health roles, will increasingly be needed to support telehealth services.

What does this mean for travel healthcare workers?

For starters, travel healthcare workers will have opportunities to work remotely, offering healthcare services via video calls, phone consultations, and digital platforms. This opens up new ways for travel professionals to broaden their career scope, enabling them to work across various regions without the need for physical relocation.

Additionally, specialized telehealth positions in areas like tele-nursing, remote patient monitoring, and teletherapy are expected to grow. This trend could give travel professionals more flexibility, allowing them to work from the comfort of their own homes or from any location that suits their lifestyle.

2. Increasing Demand for Travel Nurses and Allied Health Workers

The need for travel healthcare professionals has been steadily rising, driven by several factors, including staffing shortages, seasonal fluctuations in demand, and the growing aging population. The pandemic highlighted the critical role travel nurses and healthcare workers play in keeping healthcare systems operational, and this demand is unlikely to decrease anytime soon.

What does this mean for travel healthcare workers?

Increased demand translates into more job opportunities, competitive pay, and a higher level of job security for travel healthcare professionals. Many healthcare facilities, especially in rural or underserved areas, are turning to travel nurses and other healthcare workers to fill the gaps caused by permanent staffing shortages.

The trend of travel nurses in high-demand specialties—like ICU, emergency room, labor and delivery, and respiratory therapy—will likely continue to rise as healthcare systems seek highly skilled professionals for short-term assignments. Furthermore, the ability to work in diverse settings, from urban hospitals to rural clinics, will give healthcare professionals the chance to gain a wide range of experience.

3. The Growth of Short-Term and Flexible Healthcare Staffing Solutions

Healthcare staffing agencies are evolving to meet the growing demand for short-term, flexible staffing solutions. While travel nurses have traditionally been the most prominent part of this workforce, other healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, radiologists, respiratory therapists, and even mental health providers, are also becoming more common in the travel healthcare market.

What does this mean for travel healthcare workers?

For travel healthcare professionals, this trend opens the door to more varied career paths. Travel professionals will have the opportunity to work in non-traditional healthcare settings, including clinics, rehabilitation centers, and mental health facilities, gaining a broader skill set and more career versatility.

Additionally, the flexibility in assignment length (from weeks to months) will allow workers to better manage their work-life balance. Healthcare facilities will increasingly turn to travel staffing agencies for solutions to fill short-term gaps, making it a dynamic time for those looking to take their career on the road.

4. The Impact of Healthcare Technology and Automation

Technology is rapidly changing the healthcare landscape, with innovations like AI-driven diagnostics, automated administrative tasks, and electronic health records (EHR) becoming standard practice. While automation will reduce the administrative burden for healthcare workers, it will also impact certain job functions in the future.

What does this mean for travel healthcare workers?

For travel healthcare professionals, technology will enhance their ability to provide more efficient and effective care. AI and automation can streamline processes, such as patient triage, diagnostics, and documentation, allowing travel healthcare workers to focus more on direct patient care.

Additionally, the rise of wearable health technology and remote patient monitoring could create new roles for travel nurses and healthcare professionals. These innovations will allow for ongoing care management even when healthcare workers are miles away, offering more flexibility and diverse job opportunities in the future.

5. Changes in Healthcare Policies and Regulations

Healthcare policies and regulations are always evolving, and as healthcare systems continue to expand and adapt, travel healthcare professionals will need to stay informed about changes in state licensure laws, certification requirements, and practice regulations.

What does this mean for travel healthcare workers?

Travel healthcare workers can expect more streamlined processes for licensure across multiple states due to initiatives like the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows nurses to practice across participating states with a single multistate license. This could significantly reduce the time and effort it takes to get licensed in new locations, opening up even more opportunities for travel nurses and other healthcare workers to work across the country.

Additionally, as telehealth becomes more prevalent, regulatory bodies will likely introduce new telehealth-specific guidelines, which could shape how travel healthcare professionals work remotely. This will be an important area for workers to watch, as changes in regulation will directly affect the scope of practice and how professionals interact with patients across state lines.

6. Rising Focus on Mental Health and Burnout Prevention

The pandemic has brought mental health to the forefront, and the healthcare industry is placing more focus on the well-being of its workers. Travel healthcare professionals, who may face challenges such as loneliness, stress, and burnout due to their frequent relocation and demanding schedules, will see increasing support structures aimed at addressing these issues.

What does this mean for travel healthcare workers?

Expect to see more agencies offering resources for mental health support, such as counseling services, peer support groups, and burnout prevention programs. As the industry acknowledges the importance of a healthy workforce, travel healthcare professionals will have better tools to maintain their emotional and mental well-being while on assignment.

The Future is Bright for Travel Healthcare Professionals

The future of travel healthcare is undeniably exciting. From the growing demand for healthcare professionals in various specialties to the rise of telehealth and technological advancements, there has never been a better time to be a part of this dynamic field. Travel healthcare workers can expect a wealth of opportunities, flexible work arrangements, and a chance to be at the forefront of healthcare innovation.

As healthcare continues to evolve, travel healthcare professionals will remain an integral part of the workforce, providing vital services in diverse and changing environments. For those willing to embrace these shifts, the future is filled with endless possibilities. -Titan Medical Group

travel heathcare

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

March 23, 2025

1132 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Healthy Eating Tips for Travel Nurses

Between long shifts, adjusting to new locations, and constantly being on the move, eating healthy can feel like a challenge for travel nurses. A busy schedule can lead to quick, convenient food choices that aren’t always the healthiest. With a little planning and a few simple strategies, you can fuel your body with nutritious meals and snacks that will keep you healthy and energized for every shift!

Meal Planning

One of the best ways to ensure you eat well while on assignment is to plan ahead. This doesn’t mean spending hours meal-prepping—just a little bit of organization can go a long way.

  • Pack your shift meals: Bringing your own food helps you avoid vending machines and cafeteria fare. Healthy options like wraps, hummus with veggies, or a protein bar can keep you satisfied during a busy shift.
  • Keep it simple: Pre-pack easy grab-and-go meals like overnight or protein-packed salads and wraps.
  • Batch-cook basics: At the start of the week, make a large batch of grilled chicken, roasted veggies, or quinoa to mix and match for quick meals.

Snack Smart

Having healthy snacks on hand keeps you energized and prevents last-minute unhealthy choices.

  • Choose protein-packed options like Greek yogurt, or hard-boiled eggs.
  • Stock grab-and-go snacks like nuts, trail mix, and string cheese.
  • Prep fresh choices in advance, such as cut-up veggies with hummus or fruit.
  • Watch for hidden sugars in granola bars and processed snacks—opt for whole-food alternatives.

Stock Up

Planning your grocery trips and keeping your pantry stocked with healthy, whole foods makes it easier to maintain nutritious eating habits, even on busy days.

  • Use grocery delivery or pickup: Save time and energy by ordering your groceries online for delivery or curbside pickup on your way home.
  • Visit local farmers’ markets: This is a great way to stock up on fresh produce while exploring your new location.
  • Choose portable staples: Stock your fridge and pantry with foods you need for snacking and meal prep.

Choose Balanced, Energizing Meals

Whether you’re eating at home, grabbing takeout, or having a meal at work, aim for a balance of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs to keep you fueled.

  • Easy meal ideas: Try grilled chicken with brown rice and veggies, a quinoa and chickpea salad, or a whole grain wrap with turkey and avocado.
  • Smarter takeout choices: Look for options like salads with lean protein, grain bowls, or grilled proteins with vegetables.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is just as important as eating well—especially during long shifts.

  • Carry a reusable water bottle and sip throughout the day to prevent dehydration and fatigue.
  • Limit sugary drinks and excess caffeine, which can cause energy crashes.
  • Infuse water with fruit or herbs for a refreshing twist if plain water gets boring.

Keep It Realistic

Eating healthy doesn’t mean being perfect—and occasionally treating yourself is necessary! The key is making consistent choices that support your energy and well-being while allowing flexibility for your busy lifestyle.

By incorporating these small but effective habits into your routine, you can stay nourished and energized—wherever your next assignment takes you!

We hope you found this article on healthy eating tips helpful. Do you have any healthy eating tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

March 20, 2025

834 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Welcome to Tax Filing Season

Just as the wonder of Christmas and the New Year dawns, the annual song and dance begins with plethora of ads targeting the stress of taxes and tax filing. Even the Super Bowl during time outs is tainted with plead for your loyalty to a particular tax software or chain.

Travelers present a different drama to a tax professional. “You do what?” askes the tax representative often sounding like your relatives at your Christmas gathering becoming concerned that therapy is your next destination. We know…. We are just unique right?

So comes tax filing. How many states? How many W2s? We are different yet again

One of the greatest challenges travelers need to be aware of when tackling their taxes is how to properly file those state returns.

taxes

State Filing Basics

The one big difference in the tax returns that travelers file is the number of states. In our tax practice we can occasionally see a traveler with up to 6 states and since we also serve professional sports players, that number can rise to 16 or more thanks to their road games. Some travelers make the mistake of thinking they are only required to file taxes in one state.

This is not the case. We are required to file in all the work states as well as our home state unless a reciprocity rule overrides the normal arrangement. Being a non-resident doesn’t exempt you from tax. Your earning income within the state borders on assignment and therefore are subject to that states tax structure on that income. As a resident of your home state, you are subject to tax on ALL your income by that state. Fortunately, your home state will credit you for taxes paid to the non-resident states, so you are not double taxed.

This attention to your home state is very important in protecting your practice license especially if you hold a multistate compact license in your profession. When professional practice boards validate these licenses at renewal, they look for the normal signs that the applicant is truly a resident of that state. A resident tax return is one critical verification tool that the boards use.

This is why having your taxes done professionally by a chain requires some extra oversight on your part. Most chain tax preparation companies teach their preparers to follow a cookie cutter days of presence approach to determining residency and often we correct clients returns when the preparer filed the traveler as a part year resident of each state they worked in. This goes beyond tax returns as well. Getting a drivers license in another state will often cause friction with a compact license as a driver’s license is another one of the tools licensing boards will use in validating residency.

Some of the statements from clients that are new to traveling that we frequently hear are

  • “I didn’t work at home, why are you filing a return there?”
  • “I don’t live there, why are they taking taxes out for that state”
  • “Since I don’t live there I am exempt for taxes there” (especially those from states without an income tax 😊 )
  • “None of my travel friends so that”  assuming that loosing yourself in the herd of non-compliance provides immunity

Staffing Agency Blunders in Reporting Income

Allow me to vent a bit please? I have been doing multistate tax work for 25 years and was a traveling respiratory therapist for several years as well. It amazes me that our industry as mature as it still manages to foul up payroll when it comes to reporting the income to the proper state. Just in the last year, we saw the following examples of airheaded payroll management

  • Reporting Hawaii earnings to California
  • Reporting state earnings to the location of the agency’s headquarters
  • Reporting earnings in Wisconsin to the traveler’s home state
  • Not reporting to any state at all

And my apologies to all the wonderful Canadian travelers for the practice of established agencies not being able to incorporate a foreign address in their payroll and insisting that you pick some fictitious US state to pretend you live in. And then having the audacity to report your earnings in both the state you worked and the state you pretend to live to help the payroll software work. Canada Revenue Agency will not accommodate those doubled foreign credits

And then when the agency blunders, it takes an act of congress to get someone to write a simple letter on the agency letterhead explaining the actual location of earnings so you can properly file your return with the state you neither lived in or worked in and get the withholding back.

taxes
taxes

Thank you, I feel better now …..

The takeaway is this- ALWAYS look at your first paystub with each new contract and make sure the agency has got the reporting and tax withholding correct. Don’t ignore it. You will save a lot of problems down the road if you do.

The State “Discovery Unit”

Want to join an exciting covert operation where your job description includes finding taxpayer ghosts that pretend to live elsewhere but are really in your back yard? Welcome to the Discovery Unit or as one southwest state calls it, the Project Assessment Unit.

What is this department? It’s a group of sleuths that scour drivers’ licenses, car registrations, addresses on Federal tax returns / W2s compliments of data feeds from the IRS, and professional practice licenses to find taxpayers that should be filing as a resident of a state that are trying to be invisible. New York sends scouts at night through neighborhoods in neighboring states to find New York license plates as well as New York neighborhoods to find out of state plates that are parked one too many times in a neighborhood.

California has trolls that wander through apartment complexes logging out of state license plates looking for cars that have become frequent visitors to determine whether they are really living there. Some apartment managers join the hunt as well. That suspicious dude in a hoodie looking at the cars in your parking lot may very well be on a different kind of theft as an agent of a state tax department

It happens though not as sinister as I might be presenting it, but it reminds us that are in the mobile lifestyle to guard our tax homes and legal ties with all the energy we can give it. As the old song laments being “torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool”, carelessly leaving breadcrumbs all over the nation can lead to a lot of hungry state revenue agencies hiding in the shadows of your life.

I have represented clients in some pretty wild state residence cases that prove my point

Ohio taxpayer and their spouse resided in a midwestern state, but both worked insane hours in the energy industry. Wife becomes pregnant and goes to Maine to be near family during her delivery. Two years later they get a letter from Maine revenue assessing them for tax on all their income that year. When talking to one of the attorneys with the Maine tax department to resolve the issue she pointed out that the taxpayer had their baby in Maine hence she was a resident of Maine. If she wasn’t a resident, why did she deliver in Maine? And this was a female attorney that said this mind you. Probably had never been pregnant 😊

This happens a lot: recently divorced, moving to another state but has mail delivered to parents for safety. State revenue agency sees this and assesses the taxpayer for resident taxes on all the income earned in the calendar year.

More frequently, taxpayers move to another state and fail to change their drivers’ licenses and other legal ties. The assumption that state tax departments make is that if you take off and go elsewhere you need to prove that you landed there and severed ties to the former state.

What to do?

I hope my effort at humor helps you understand the importance of your state tax returns. Compared to the states, the IRS is in many ways a harmless fuzzball. Filing right and living consistently with your legal ties will 99% of the time help avoid problems with the states.

We hope you found these tips for travel taxes helpful. Do you have any travel taxes nightmares to share/ Comment them below.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By Amber Pickler

March 18, 2025

6994 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Tips for Surviving Travel Nurse Anxiety

Travel nursing means starting a new job every 13 weeks, give or take.  This can cause travel nurse anxiety to rise. We see many posts in our Facebook group about nerves before the first assignment.  And many veteran travel nurses say that they still have those same first-day jitters after many assignments.  So, how do you handle the jitters and travel nurse anxiety?  Below, you will find some of the tips fellow travel nurses had in our Facebook group

Surviving Travel Nurse Anxiety:

travel nurse anxiety

Think Positive

Keeping a positive mindset will help you get through.  Going into the assignment with a positive outlook will affect your assignment.  Many people believe that your thoughts genuinely affect your actions, and it is true.  So keeping a positive mindset will help to ease some of your anxiety even if the positive mindset is that it is only 13 weeks, and then you are on to your next location.

Be Positive in Your Skillset

Most travel nurses have at least 2 years of experience.  You have developed a great skill set and learned many things in that time.  Your skillset won’t change just because you are going to different facilities.  Things may not be done exactly like you are used to, but hey, you may just learn something new with each new facility you work at.

Become familiar with the facility, unit, and parking prior to your first day

Members mentioned taking time prior to your first day to get accustomed to the area, the facility, your home unit in the facility, and the parking situation.  Some assignments charge for parking. Knowing that before your first day will help with your anxiety. One member said she asks for an orientation of the unit before her first day.  This would give you time to ask questions about where things are, codes for doors, and just any questions you may have.  Getting to know the facility prior is a great idea too.  It gives you a chance to get to know where things are in the facility.

Remember, you are the same nurse at any facility

The biggest takeaway from the comments on the post was that at the end of the day, you care for patients and nurse the same regardless of the location.  So, just because your hospital is changing, you are still the same nurse and will give the same care.

We hope you found these tips for coping with travel nurse anxiety helpful. Do you suffer from travel nurse anxiety? How do you cope? Do you have any tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

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

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

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