January 31, 2022

2350 Views

5 Mistakes Travel Nurses Are Making During this Pandemic

Posted on January 31, 2022February 9, 2022 by Go Healthcare Staffing

Go Healthcare Staffing provided this article.

More than 2 years into the first “crisis” travel contracts that began in Washington State and then the COVID crisis contracts in the Northeast, RNs who have chosen to work as travel nurses are still in high demand throughout the country. Hospitals are understaffed, and some are at their breaking points. Healthcare workers throughout all disciplines and specialties are burned out. As a Travel Nurse during this pandemic, you will not have a shortage of job opportunities presented to you. Be aware of these 5 mistakes travel nurses are making that are hurting their career prospects past the current shortage and crisis staffing.

Canceling a Travel Assignment Contract without proper notice.

As a Travel Healthcare Professional, this may be the most detrimental decision you can make. We understand that some contracts are not the right match for you. As an RN Traveler, you have the flexibility to find the right travel job for you. Every contract you sign has a clause outlining what type of notice (usually a 14-day notice) is required to avoid financial or professional penalties. This notice allows the Agency and the Hospital a chance to find a replacement for you. If you cancel a contract without notice or simply “no call/no show” on your assignment, your reputation and status as a traveler who cancels a contract will follow you from one travel opportunity to another. Most health systems are managed by larger Staffing Agencies called MSP (Managed Service Providers) that manage multiple health systems in the area. If you walk” from a travel contract and are deemed a “Do Not Return”/DNR with a particular agency, you may inadvertently find yourself “blacklisted” from multiple hospitals within a certain area and throughout the country.

Not Keeping Up with Credentialing Requirements.

Most experienced travelers know being ready and organized all of your “docs” can make or break your travel nursing experience. Currently, most travel contracts are looking for ASAP/immediate start dates. Taking the time to organize the necessary documents/certifications properly will not only make for a smooth experience but can get you the contract that you truly want or looking for.

Not Accepting the “Extension Offer” immediately.

Holding out on taking a travel extension “just in case” something better comes along has been a mistake a lot of travel nurses are currently doing. If you are currently on a decent travel contract offering “crisis pay,” take the extension if it’s offered to you. An extension will often guarantee that your current pay will remain. Waiting for higher pay somewhere else is a risk that has not worked out for the majority of travel nurses we have worked with.

Disappearing.

Have the courtesy of when you get an offer not to ghost. You are hurting your future chances of working with agencies that are working hard for you to get you an offer. It is okay to decline. But to ghost? You are hurting the agency and the hospital that offered. They are focused on getting staff for care.

Working with expired licenses or certifications.

So many opportunities are missed if we are unable to present you without the proper certifications or licenses. Be prepared, and ways take inventory of when renewals are coming up.

These are the 5 Common Mistakes that we are seeing/experiencing with travel nurses. What else should be on this list? Please feel free t share.

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 Molly Crockett

January 16, 2022

9284 Views

5 Rookie Mistakes Made In Travel Nursing

Posted on January 16, 2022January 16, 2022 by Molly Crockett

Being a travel nurse can be both exciting and frightening. But when you’re first starting out, it can be a lot more challenging than you would expect it to be.

Here are five rookie mistakes that new travel nurses make, whether intentionally or by accident.

Rookie Mistakes:

Not Knowing Policies And Procedures

“Don’t ever assume that you’ll know every policy and procedure in one day,” says Deanna J. Ussery, a travel writer at Study demic and Top Canadian Writers. “It takes time to learn and live by these rules and forgetting a rule can be detrimental to your work. If you can’t memorize all the policies and procedures quickly, then find the protocols on what you should do.”

Not Prepping For The Journey

Your travel nurse agency should be able to help you prep for your journey, to make sure that your state nursing license, credentials, and other documentation are current. Also, make sure you complete any training and tests that may be required for your assignment.

Plus, be on time, as you travel to your destination, and start working on Day One. Know your supervisor, what to wear, and what items you’ll need for the trip.

And, if available, ask your recruiter for first-day instructions with all the information you need.

Not Finding Suitable Housing

Travel nurses tend to have the option of either letting their agency book an apartment for them or opting for a stipend to find their own housing and keep the remaining funds. However, if you plan on looking for your own housing, understand that it takes time to find a suitable home for when you’re travel nursing.

If looking for a house on your own, do your research in advance, so that you won’t have to live on someone’s couch until you find something. Or, settle for agency housing for your first assignment, and get to know the housing options for future assignments.

But whatever you do – whether you let the agency find a home for you, or find one yourself – don’t settle for something that either makes you uncomfortable or doesn’t fit your lifestyle. For example, sometimes, travel nurses would use their housing as a crash pad, if they’re busy around the clock on important assignments. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for upgrades on the housing – switch a bed for just a pull-out sofa, or opt for a smaller home if there’s too much space. Making necessary changes and upgrades to your housing can save you money.

Failing To Ask Questions

“Asking questions is a part of life,” says Gabrielle Bungaree, a health blogger at Australian reviewer and Elite assignment help, “and travel nursing is no exception to this, especially if you’re new to the trade. As a new travel nurse, you’ll need to learn how to do things, what certain equipment is for, and how to go about certain situations. Therefore, don’t be afraid to ask for guidance when necessary, and establish a good relationship with your preceptor or other staff contacts. Failing to ask will cause you to do more harm than good in most situations.”

Not Having A Good Schedule

Sometimes, when you travel to a new place, it’s easy to get caught up in your travels and have too much fun. The purpose of your trip is to do a job. Therefore, schedule your off-time activities wisely, so that you’ll always feel rested and energized on the hours that you work.

Also, keep in mind that travel nursing assignments tend to last a few weeks long (usually 4-13 weeks). So after you spend a few days settling into your new housing, start planning when you can explore places with your fellow travel nurses, or when you can hit one of the most popular tourist sites, so that you won’t deprive yourself of any fun, while still being responsible for your actions.

Conclusion

As travel nurses, it’s common for people to make mistakes. In fact, while you might be able to avoid any of the ones mentioned here, other mistakes can still happen. Many travel nurses will tell you that they’ve at least one mistake in their careers so far and that it’s part of the learning process in the trade.

In short, being a travel nurse has its perks; however, rules need to be taken seriously on the job, so that you can have the best travel nursing experience as possible.

We hope that you found these common rookie mistakes helpful. Do you have any other mistakes you have made or seen while travel nursing? Comment them below?

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

START HERE

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

By Theresa Cofield

March 4, 2021

13961 Views

5 Unusual Mistakes Travel Nurses Make On Their First Contract

Posted on March 4, 2021May 19, 2021 by Theresa Cofield

As a travel nurse, there are many benefits, such as you get to travel to various locations and learn from differently trained professionals. It is a job that can give you so much, especially in terms of achievement. A travel nurse is always on the move and stays in various housing, which is paid for by the company. Because of this, there is a sense of freedom and aliveness with every contract you get.

There is a lot to remember when you get assigned to your first location on your very first contract. It is important to always keep notes, so a diary is a good idea. This will allow you to revert to your notes when you are not sure of your daily tasks. There are more tips that you will read through here to help you succeed.

5 Mistakes To Avoid as a Nurse on Your Contract

There are some mistakes that can be made when nurses work on their first contract. This article will help those thinking of becoming a travel nurse to not make these mistakes.

The Contract

It is vital that you read through the nurse contract and understand your duties. This may seem a simple thing, but you will be surprised at how many nurses do not understand their contract and what is expected of them. By reading the contract, you will understand the hours you must work, any bonuses you are entitled to, and the important one, pay grade. By doing your homework on your contract, you will know what to do and how you are expected to work. If there are any issues in your contract, you can bring them up with your company before starting the job.

Errors in Your Records

This is something that can be difficult because, as a travel nurse, you are working in different locations from month to month. So it can be tricky to learn how certain hospitals keep their records. Each hospital does things differently, so it is important to make sure you understand how each location wants you to charter the records. This is a common mistake and is something that can be solved very simply by writing notes and asking your supervisor questions.

Do Not Take Your Work Home With You

When you are a travel nurse, you can be in stressful situations; this is all part of the job that you signed up for. Many travel nurses do not know when to turn their work off. After your 10-12 hour shift, make a point of turning your work brain off. As soon as you leave the hospital, you are free of work and can start living your normal life once again. This means you can do the things you enjoy, like meeting singles at http://datingjet.com/, doing yoga, or watching stuff on Netflix. If you keep taking your work home with you, you will find that your social and private life will be affected. This will then also have an effect on your work life.

Do Not Overpack

This is something that is easily done. Lots of travel nurses tend to pack too many items of clothes. This will only cause problems when you need to pack and move onto another location. It is a good idea to think about exactly what you will need to wear when you are working and what type of climate you will be in. Once you have done the relevant research on your location, you will have a good idea of what you will need to pack. A minimalist approach to packing will certainly help you in the long run, as you will not be weighed down with a heavy bag every time you are on the move.

Curiosity

This is something that is always very important, and many travel nurses are afraid of it. Never be afraid of asking questions and being curious about your work. There is a saying, and it goes, “there is no such thing as a stupid question.” How true those words are. Always be willing to ask questions to your supervisor and work colleagues. By holding your tongue and not asking questions because you fear you will look stupid, you may not complete your work in the correct way. Something as simple as a question about lunch breaks will not only educate you but it will show your supervisor that you want to learn.

Conclusion

So as you can see, there are several things to remember when it comes to working as a travel nurse. By following these steps and being open to learning, you can avoid making these mistakes. A travel nurse is a sought-after job with high responsibilities and great rewards. The perks of the job, which is travel and being able to work at various locations and even countries, is amazing. The amount of new people you meet and can learn from. As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to help so many people, but it is important to help yourself first.

By Amber Pickler

April 19, 2019

13376 Views

4 Common Mistakes that Travel Nurses Make

Posted on April 19, 2019May 20, 2021 by Amber Pickler

Travel nursing requires you to adapt frequently and quickly. Your contracts last 13 weeks, and you move on. Along the way, you can and will make mistakes. These mistakes could not potentially harm your patients, but they can sometimes affect your contract and how your co-workers treat you. We recently asked our Facebook network members what the most common mistakes travel nurses make. They voted on the following mistakes as the most common mistakes that Travel Nurses make.

Saying “Well, at this other hospital we did it this way, not your way”

Just because you did it a certain way at other hospitals doesn’t mean that is necessarily the norm for every facility. Many facilities have their own way of doing things that they feel are the safest and efficient way. Even if you feel the way you did it at another facility is more efficient or prefer that way, it is best to keep that. The staff nurses do it the way they have been trained to and aren’t really interested in hearing how it is done at other places.

Talking about how bad the hospital is constantly

It seems obvious, but sometimes we get annoyed, and things slip out. Even if you don’t like the hospital or have been too much better facilities, saying so will not go well. The facility staff may not have any experience at any other facility; to them, the facility may be great. And even if they don’t believe this, hearing someone who is a contract employee coming in and talking bad about the facility isn’t going to make them happy.

Getting Lost

We have all gotten lost going somewhere new. Make sure you know your route ahead of time. Also, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. That way, if you do run into issues or you do end up lost, you don’t risk missing the first day of your new assignment. Getting lost seems like it shouldn’t be an issue with GPS at our fingertips. However, sometimes GPS can mislead us or run into traffic situations that we must reroute our trip. This could, in turn, make for a longer than anticipated trip or getting lost.

Not communicating issues with your recruiter

If you are having problems with your assignment or the facility, it is essential to make these things known to your recruiter. They aren’t going to know that there are issues if you don’t tell them. They will probably assume things are going great for you. Keeping the lines of communication between you and your recruiter is very important. Communication with your recruiter is important even if there aren’t any problems. But it is essential if you are having problems. They need to know what issues you are having. Otherwise, they can’t help you fix them.

There are probably other mistakes that travel nurses make. These were the main ones mentioned in our Facebook group. These mistakes really are easy to avoid. Avoiding these common mistakes can and will make your next assignment go a lot smoother for you.

Want more information on Travel Nursing?

Check out our Travel Nurse Guide!

By The Gypsy Nurse

April 9, 2019

21502 Views

Top 10 Things a Travel Nurse should NEVER Say

Posted on April 9, 2019February 24, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

Part of being successful is not to ‘burn bridges’ along the way. If you have ever worked with Travel Nurses, you have certainly come across the one that is always bragging and making crazy wild statements that make you want to roll your eyes in frustration.

Here are the Top 10 things that a travel nurse should NEVER say on the job.

10. I NEVER work the Holidays

If you want the staff to hate you, go ahead and let them know that you haven’t had to work a Christmas in the past x number of years. As the holidays approach, be extra cautious of this.

9. I get to take as many Vacations as I want and for as long as I want.

This is never something that a staff nurse wants to hear about. They are generally lucky to get two weeks vacation a year and if they are telling you where they are going on their next vacation, they certainly won’t want to hear that you get an optional vacation every 13 weeks!

8. The nurses at __________ were awesome/horrible/etc.

When you make a habit of discussing the individual staff members at another hospital in a negative aspect, don’t be surprised if the staff stays away. Bringing up someone else’s poor work ethic, poor performance or whatever, will cause staff to think that you will talk about them as well at your next location. If you are chatting up a particular hospital or nurse, they will become jealous and feel inadequate. It’s best just to keep these thoughts to yourself. Focus on the here and now.

7. I can’t wait for this job to be finished.

Remember who you are talking to. The full-time staff may feel trapped in the job and you bragging about being able to leave soon will only make them resentful.

6. I can’t imagine how you live (in this dirty city/in this small town) all the time.

Small town living might not be your cup of tea as city living could be the furthest from ‘fun’ in my book. Putting down the area is never advised. Instead, ask what fun things or ‘hidden gems’ might be in the area. It’s amazing what you might find when you simply ask.

5. That supervisor/nurse/cna/Doctor is _______ (any negative comment).

That nurse, supervisor, doctor or CNA that you’re bad-mouthing may be someones friend, significant other or family member. Best to keep these thoughts to yourself!

4. My life is so great. I’ve been to ___ # of cities and I get to travel all the time.

I know that you love your job as a travel nurse and if you’re asked this is different. Realize that some of the staff nurses that you work with ‘dream’ of living the life that you have…don’t rub it in. If you are asked, make sure to note the downsides to traveling as well as the good. Giving a realistic view of what travel nursing entails is important.

3. Your accent is _ (funny, disturbing, silly, etc). All people in the south are __ (hicks, hillbillies, etc).

This should go with out saying but… Avoid degrading any local dialects, customs, stereo-types. We travel (hopefully) for the experiences that travel affords us. Enjoy the differences and accept them.

2. At ____ hospital, they do it better/different.

No one wants to hear about how their hospital lacks or is behind times when it comes to equipment or procedures. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to speak to someone about an outdated process and every time been met with resistance. Embrace the way ‘they’ do things and just go with it.

1. I Make $100/hour (or some other ridiculously exorbitant amount).

This is the thing that I most see travel nurses brag about. This will only hurt you. If the staff believes that you are making double what they are making…believe me, they will make sure that you work for it by assigning you the most difficult patients.

“If you can’t say something nice…don’t say anything at all.”

My Mother used to tell me this all the time. Follow these words of wisdom and you will leave the contract without burned bridges.

Is there something that you have heard a travel nurse brag or complain about? List it in the comments!!

Are you new to traveling?

Check out our Travel Nurse Guide

By The Gypsy Nurse

February 5, 2018

12666 Views

10 Travel Nursing Mistakes I Made

Posted on February 5, 2018May 20, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

I made a lot of mistakes early in my travel nursing career. I’m going to share my top 10 Travel Nursing mistakes. Knowledge is the key to success. We’ve all heard it before and I’m going to share mine.

I was uneducated and unprepared for the life of a Travel Nurse.

I headed out on my first Travel Nurse Contract without having any idea what I was doing. I ended up surviving but it could have been much smoother if I had only done a little research before I left home.

I had no idea what my wants and needs were.

All I knew when I left for my first contract was that I wanted to get ‘outta Dodge’. I didn’t think about what I needed or even wanted out of travel nursing. I took the first job offered and off I went.

I choose to leave home to begin travel nursing without a financial cushion.

Unfortunately, this was not a lesson easily learned for me. I did this time and time again and always ‘swore’ that it wouldn’t happen again! I was once on contract in San Diego and the company wasn’t paying me correctly or on time and I ended up canceling the contract and having to call my Dad for help to get home. Talk about degrading! Don’t let this happen to you…have a financial cushion.

I didn’t keep track of my paperwork and was disorganized.

Trying to find the paperwork needed for the agencies was sometimes a nightmare in the beginning. I had some things stored on my computer, some in paper format and none of it in the same place. Submitting to a new travel nurse staffing agency was always a daunting process.

I didn’t research travel staffing agencies well enough.

See #3! If I had researched the agency, I would NOT have been put in this situation. There were warning signs (that I choose to ignore) and after the fact I found out that this was a common issue with this particular company. If only I had researched better prior to accepting the contract; perhaps I could have avoided this situation.

I totally over-packed.

When I left home for my first contract, I had a 4-door Explorer packed to the gills! I don’t think I could have found room for an additional teaspoon. I didn’t know what to expect from the housing so I brought everything! Couple this with having to unload all of it and unpack and I quickly learned to down-size.

I didn’t know what questions to ask in the interview.

Not knowing what to ask can make the first few days/weeks on contract even more stressful than it has to be. I had no idea what resources I had, what the patient mix would be, etc. Ask questions!

I had no idea how to negotiate a contract or even what should be included in my contract.

I mentioned in a previous article that anyone pursuing a career in Travel Nursing should work as a car salesman first. I really am not kidding! Your negotiation skill will be very important and you MUST use them. If you don’t negotiate, companies will offer you the bare minimum.

I didn’t scrutinize the contract before I signed.

Even though we had agreed during the interview that I would have x day off for a personal reason…I didn’t make sure that it was noted in my contract. I ended up missing an event that was quite important to me because of this.

I didn’t listen to what ‘experienced’ travel nurses were telling me.

This is perhaps the most important lesson that I have learned. LISTEN. If everyone tells you that company A is a company with a bad reputation for something….they probably know. Listen and take to heart what other more experienced Travel Nurses have to say.

Are you an experienced travel nurse? What lessons did you learn the hard way? Share them in the comments!

Canceling a Travel Assignment Contract without proper notice.

Not Keeping Up with Credentialing Requirements.

Not Accepting the “Extension Offer” immediately.

Disappearing.

Working with expired licenses or certifications.

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!)

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Rookie Mistakes:

Not Knowing Policies And Procedures

Not Prepping For The Journey

Not Finding Suitable Housing

Failing To Ask Questions

Not Having A Good Schedule

Conclusion

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!)

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The Contract

Errors in Your Records

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Saying “Well, at this other hospital we did it this way, not your way”

Talking about how bad the hospital is constantly

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Not communicating issues with your recruiter

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Here are the Top 10 things that a travel nurse should NEVER say on the job.

10. I NEVER work the Holidays

9. I get to take as many Vacations as I want and for as long as I want.

8. The nurses at __________ were awesome/horrible/etc.

7. I can’t wait for this job to be finished.

6. I can’t imagine how you live (in this dirty city/in this small town) all the time.

5. That supervisor/nurse/cna/Doctor is _______ (any negative comment).

4. My life is so great. I’ve been to ___ # of cities and I get to travel all the time.

3. Your accent is _________ (funny, disturbing, silly, etc). All people in the south are __________ (hicks, hillbillies, etc).

2. At ____ hospital, they do it better/different.

1. I Make $100/hour (or some other ridiculously exorbitant amount).

“If you can’t say something nice…don’t say anything at all.”

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3. Your accent is _ (funny, disturbing, silly, etc). All people in the south are __ (hicks, hillbillies, etc).