By Kevin Devoto

July 10, 2022

1470 Views

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Taking Care of Yourself As a Travel Nurse

Nursing is an incredibly taxing profession. With the current nursing shortage worldwide, there has been an uptick in travel nurses. These specialists spend a few weeks helping a hospital or private office before moving to a new locale. While nursing itself takes a toll on your health, working as a travel nurse is often even worse. If you’re always hopping between communities so you can help people, here are some ways you can take care of yourself.

1. Focus on Nutrition

One of the best things you can do to protect your health as a travel nurse is to maintain a healthy nutrition standard. The food you put in your body will not only fuel your daily routine but also allow you to build a healthy immune response that’ll keep you safe when traveling. Of course, sitting down for a meal is not always possible when you’re on shift. Depending on what department you’re working in, you may not even get a break until you’re ready to clock out. So how do you focus on nutrition? 

A simple solution is to keep healthy snacks in your pockets or desk. While you may not have time to go to the cafeteria, you’ll probably be able to grab a few bites of a protein bar between patients. If you get breaks during your shift, keeping a glucose disposal agent with you can help balance your blood sugar for the rest of your workday. These supplements act the same way insulin does and help take sugars from your bloodstream to the cells that need them most. You can maintain enough energy to make it through your day and build a healthy immune system by keeping your blood sugar balanced. 

2. Reduce Stress Between Shifts

Another vital component to your health as a travel nurse is stress reduction. There’s no getting around the fact that nursing is a ridiculously stressful and mentally taxing profession. No matter your department, you bear the emotional burden of helping people on some of their worst days. You can take care of your mental health by having a stress relief plan outside of work. Allowing yourself a space to relax after your shift ends will help keep you stable and motivated as a nurse. 

Making time for self-care between shifts doesn’t need to be elaborate. On most days, your chosen form of pampering might be a hot meal and a long nap, and that’s okay. When you have a few days off, going to a bar or restaurant with friends can help reset your emotional meter. If that’s not your style, simply making an appointment to get your hair done or an upper back massage can help return you to your best self. No matter what you like to do on your days off, it’s essential to reduce stress between shifts to stay mentally fit.

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3. Create a Healthy Sleep Routine

Finally, creating a healthy sleep routine will protect your body and mind. Without proper sleep, it’s impossible to function at your highest level. No matter what shift you work, you should have a bedtime routine for when you get back to your lodgings. Even in the middle of the day, following your set ritual will help your body fall asleep and stay asleep longer. 

If you’re staying in a hotel during your placement, simple acts like putting the “do not disturb” tag on your door and closing the blinds can help you sleep well. If your room has a kitchenette, try soothing tea options to get your body winding down for bed. By creating a healthy sleep routine, you can stay at the top of your game during work. 

Overall, being a travel nurse is both taxing and rewarding. The nature of your job demands that you help people stay healthy, but you should be able to remain healthy. With these tips on taking care of yourself as a travel nurse, you can maintain your health while traveling. 

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. There you can search for what you are looking for in housing.

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 The Gypsy Nurse

July 9, 2022

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The Benefits of Having a Travel Nurse Guide

While there are certainly peaks and valleys in travel nursing, it is comforting to have someone on the inside to guide you along the winding paths that await your next assignment. Watch Relias’s Director of Post-Acute Care Solutions, Trish Richardson, as she discusses the benefits of having a travel nurse guide. You will walk away from this session confident with the knowledge that you are NOT alone in your travels.

We hope you enjoyed this live discussion with Trish on the benefits of having a travel nurse guide. Please check back for more live events. Click here to view our on-demand events.

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About Trish Richardson, MSN, BSBA, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN (prichardson@relias.com):

Trish Richardson MSN, BSBA, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN is a Registered Nurse with 30 years of business and healthcare experience, including numerous leadership positions in clinical education, operations, management, and oversight for countless successful organizational change initiatives.
Her clinical career includes 17 years at UNC REX Healthcare, 2 ½ years of corporate clinical leadership at PruittHealth, and 1 ½ years as the Manager of Consulting Services for Allscripts.
Before becoming a nurse, Trish worked as a licensed stockbroker and held several corporate accounting positions, including Auditor and Inventory Accountant.

In her current role as Director, Post-Acute Care solutions for Relias, Trish is responsible for establishing and advancing the strategic vision for the Post-Acute Care Solutions Practice and providing executive clinical counsel for the SaaS organization offering strategic guidance for key renewals, prospects, and consulting engagements. She is also the current President-Elect for the North Carolina Nurses Association. Trish is published in the Winter 2019 Tar Heel Nurse Journal, highlighting the impact of nursing leadership on the patient experience. In 2021, she presented Empowering the Leader Within (NCNA), Cultural Competence in Home Care (MHCA Annual Conference), Marketing & Census Recovery Post-COVID (HCANJ Assisted Living Conference), and Return on Investment for Healthcare Recruiting & Competency Management when implementing a learning management system (Relias’ Impact Nation). In 2020, Trish presented on Cultivating Nursing and Finance Collaboration (NCNA Annual Convention). In 2019, Trish delivered a Ted-Like Nurse Talk on Perseverance (NCNA Annual Convention), where she also received a Board of Directors Award. She is committed to serving her community as a volunteer for the North Carolina Office of Emergency Management, Capital Medical Reserve Corps.
Trish is the current Board Chair for the NCNA Political Action Committee, a member of the Hudson Memorial Preschool Board, and serves as Board Secretary for the Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church Foundation.

Trish is a Board-Certified Nurse Executive and Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse. She received her Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Administration from Capella University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University, Associate in Applied Science in Nursing from Durham Technical Community College, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from East Carolina University. You could say she is dedicated to lifelong learning! Trish lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband and two sons.

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

July 8, 2022

2918 Views

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How to Survive Your First Nursing Assignment

One of the benefits of being a nurse is the opportunity to travel and utilize your nursing skills to help others. It can get overwhelming; it is unusual to abandon stability for a flexible and unique system. Stepping out of your comfort zone has its rewards, and the excitement of a new journey and diversifying your resume will yield growth in your personal and professional life. When you are going on your first trip as a nurse, using sim-only deals is one of the best days that you can survive. It helps you to keep in touch with your family, friends, and colleagues without having to pay exorbitant fees. Five tips to help you survive your first nursing assignment are detailed in this article. Keep reading.

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Do your research:

Being knowledgeable about the challenges to expect will help you make adequate preparation. On social media, you can follow influencers on Instagram and Facebook. You can also join Facebook groups with nurses who have experienced firsthand what traveling nursing feels like. Weigh the results against the challenges and see if this is something you would be willing to do long-term. Reach out to recruiters and get helpful information. Most recruiters are willing to answer your questions when you tell them it is for research. It will be time-consuming, but getting the correct information will be worth it and valuable in helping you decide the direction you want to go.

Get organized:

When do you want to begin sending out applications? Do you have the minimum qualifications required to qualify as a travel nurse? What else will you need? Is your license up to date? Do you have the necessary paperwork, and have you gotten all the immunizations needed for the countries you will be visiting? Your recruiter will need all of the above and maybe more. If there is anything else you do not have, your recruiter will assist you with it after you apply. Therefore, if you are ready, you should not waste another second. Apply immediately.

Get the right recruiter:

You need to use the right recruiter to process your applications. Looking out for travel nursing opportunities on your own can be intimidating. You can eliminate the stress of getting one by working with a recruiter from the beginning. You can try out at least three recruiters for variety. Find one that suits your temperament, style, and ease of communication. A great recruiter can help you discover your goals and the kinds of jobs that would best fit you and be the start of a new direction in your career.

Understand your limits and flexibility:

When you meet with your recruiter, work together to understand the limits and flexibility of the different positions available. Have an open conversation about the proximity of work to home, your willingness to travel, and if you have preferences for certain countries. Knowing your choices will help the recruiter find the best assignments to help you build the career you desire. You will have a good idea of the expectations, and the pay and travel stipends are provided. Getting the resources, you need to keep in touch when you purchase sim-only deals will give you the best choice to keep in touch with friends, colleagues, and family.

Search for housing:

Be efficient in securing proper accommodation because you may be responsible for your living arrangements. Use newspapers and online vendors and websites of popular hotels to search for good places to reside while in a new location. The degree of comfort you have will affect the efficiency you use in getting the job done. Be assertive and communicative about your options for temporary housing. Do you want a month-to-month apartment lease? Would you prefer an extended-stay hotel? Communicate to property owners that you are a traveling nurse. Some hotels give special discounts in such situations.

Wrapping up


There will be some loneliness and isolation involved, especially during your first nursing assignment. You might find it challenging to make new friends, especially when you are staying at various places for a short period. It is wise to stay connected on Facebook with other nurses in the same field. Sim only deals get you the best deal on internet connectivity without the addition of a mobile phone contract. This will increase your chances of having friends when you arrive in a new country. Join some social groups and ask questions about nurses living in the area where you are on assignment caring for your clients. It is critical to remember why you chose a career in nursing; this will allow you to maximize your skills and passion.

We hope you found this article on how to survive your first nursing assignment helpful. Do you have any tips to share with those taking on travel nursing and embarking on their first nursing assignment? 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:

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

By HealthTrust Workforce Solutions

July 7, 2022

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4 Magnificent Nurse Travel Locations for Fall

This article is sponsored by Healthtrust Workforce Solutions.

Tennessee for the leaves. Virginia for the history. Florida for the weather. Texas for the culture.

Looking for an amazing fall experience? Set your destination for one of these four locations.

Tennessee for the Leaves

              Starting in early October, the lustrous green leaves of the Great Smoky Mountains transform into a spectacular view of yellow, orange, and red. The Great Smoky Mountains are in east Tennessee but the foliage throughout the entire state bursts with fall colors. You can experience the beautiful fall colors even from the big cities of Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.

              Come to Tennessee in September and be there for the Nashville Pumpkin Festival. This festival is packed full of fall activities such as corn mazes, apple cider, pumpkins, and more. Pumpkin festivals like this are scattered throughout Tennessee during this time of year.

              If your favorite time of year involves comfy sweatshirts and jeans, pumpkin spice, or apple cider, then you will want to put Tennessee on your destination list for this fall.

Other fall activities in Tennessee:

  • Music: Tennessee is home to several genres of music: blues, bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, country, gospel, and soul. Listen to the next great music at any of the music cafes scattered throughout the state, like Listening Room Café in Pigeon Forge, The Bluebird Café in Nashville, Rum Boogie Café in Memphis, or Open Chord Stage in Knoxville.
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Virginia for the History

              Virginia is a state filled with history dating back to the 1600s. The soil witnessed battles not only in the American Revolution but in the Civil War as well. Along with the incredible history, there are haunting ghost stories. According to the National Register of Haunted Locations, Virginia has almost 170 sites with paranormal activity. From the mountains of Virginia down to Virginia Beach, there are ghost sightings to discover.

One such tale is in Alexandria, Virginia, at the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum. It is said two young travelers, husband and wife, stopped at this tavern in 1816 to rest for the night. While staying there, the woman’s health deteriorated and she died. Her last departing wish was that no one should reveal her true identity. To this day no one knows who she was, and her grave site is marked “Female Stranger.”  Room 8, the room they stayed in is supposedly haunted by this young spirit.  

If fall screams spooky tales and haunting sites for you, Virginia is the perfect place to go.

Other fall activities in Virginia:

  • Leaves: Virginia also has an impressive display of fall foliage in late October and early November. Mabry Mill is a historical town, known for its beautiful fall leaves, located off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd County, Virginia. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic drive that takes you through the Virginia Mountains. During the fall, this parkway will be blanketed in reds, yellows, and oranges.

Florida for the Weather

              It is well known that Florida is the Sunshine State with warm sunny weather all year long. The great part about traveling to Florida in the fall is capturing the sunny skies without the 100-degree heat. The average temperature for Florida in the fall is 70 to 91 degrees.

Looking for milder weather? Travel to these northern beach locations: Panama Beach, Daytona Beach, or Jacksonville, FL. At Cocoa Beach on the east coast and Clearwater on the west coast, Central Florida heats up a little more. Further south, Miami down to the Florida Keys have the hottest locations.

              If you are a beach bum that loves to spend days off next to the ocean with a cocktail in your hand, then Florida is the place to be.

Other fall activities in Florida:

  • Camping: As the weather starts to cool down, Florida has some amazing camping sites to explore. St. Augustine, a historical town south of Jacksonville, has several beachside campsites that provide a fun night of camping under the stars with a great beach experience during the day. There are also several other activities such as canoeing, hiking, and biking to experience.

Texas for the Culture

               In the fall, Texas is filled with festivals celebrating the great Texas culture. Starting Labor Day weekend, West, Texas celebrates Westfest which pays tribute to the area’s Czech heritage. In late September, head to Plano, Texas for their Balloon Festival. In early October, Fredericksburg, Texas raises a beer to salute the German heritage with Oktoberfest. Cuero, Texas (between San Antonio and Houston) celebrates Turkeyfest, which is a festival dedicated to their favorite bird, the turkey. Then conclude your fall with the Dia De Los Muertos festival in Port Isabel, Texas. This Day of the Dead celebration will meet all your Halloween needs with skeletons, a costume contest, and more.

Other fall activities in Texas:

  • Leaves, sun, and more: Due to the vastness of the Texas landscape, you can experience the fall foliage in the north, the sunny beaches on the Gulf Coast, and everything in between.

No matter what your favorite fall activities are, one of these four states has what you are looking for.

We hope you found this article on hot travel locations for fall helpful. Discover more about HWS Specialty Travel Program here.

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.

About the author: Leslie Catalano

Leslie earned her nursing degree from Illinois State University in 2005. She was raised in the Midwest, and after 10 years of traveling, she is now back in her hometown of Springfield, IL. She is married to a wonderful guy and is the mother of 3 boys. She is an avid reader, loves the outdoors, and uses writing to distress and regain her spirit. Leslie had more articles on self-care for nurses on her website ThePositiveNurse.com

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 AMN Healthcare

July 6, 2022

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Is Home Health Travel Nursing a Good Fit For You?

AMN Healthcare provided this article.

When you began your nursing career, you might have felt drawn to a particular specialty.

Maybe you were interested in caring for surgical patients, or you couldn’t resist the adrenaline rush you got from working in the emergency department.

But if you’ve acquired some experience and now relish the idea of getting away from the hospital and having more independence, then you might try home health nursing. Even if just for a few months as a home health travel nurse.

These assignments allow you to build relationships with patients as you care for them in their homes. Not only can you help them recover and heal, but you can plan for some travel adventures of your own.

The demand for home health nursing

The need for well-trained, compassionate professionals to provide short-term and long-term care for people in their homes is excellent—and it’s expected to grow. As Andrea Devoti, executive vice president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), puts it, “The home is going to be where it’s at.”

Is Home Health Travel Nursing a Good Fit For You?

Some of the demand for home health nurses can be attributed to the aging of the population. As the U.S. Census Bureau predicted in 2018, “In less than two decades, the graying of America will be inescapable: Older adults are projected to outnumber kids for the first time in U.S. history.”

Sometimes, people must return home to recover from an illness, injury, or surgical procedure, as hospitals have shifted so much care outside the acute care setting. And some people prefer to recover or receive ongoing care in the comfort of their own homes.

“Especially after the pandemic, people want to be at home,” said Devoti. “They want to be with their stuff, and they want to be where they feel comfortable and with the people they love around them.”

Home health nurses facilitate that type of care. And if you’re an independent nurse with good critical thinking skills and the ability to be flexible, you could be one of them. “You also have to be someone who doesn’t mind working alone,” noted Devoti.

A unique privilege

One crucial point to remember is that a home is very different from a hospital, with its institutional rules and regulations. And you must be respectful of that.

“People primed to be a home health nurse need to understand that they are providing essential care and services in someone else’s home where they are a guest,” said Devoti. In other words, you can educate a patient about hygiene and other essential aspects of care, but you can’t tell them how to live in their own home.

However, the home setting gives you an advantage. Working as a home health nurse provides a unique insight into the life of your patients that you couldn’t get any other way. When you arrive at a patient’s home, you can see the state of their living situation and how that may affect their recovery process. 

An article about home health nursing care in BMJ Safety and Quality noted, “Patient safety at home is as important as patient safety in hospitals. Unsafe conditions in the home can lead to unnecessary or avoidable hospitalizations.”

For example, you might notice that a patient seems to be hoarding items, creating a potentially dangerous situation in an emergency. You might notice that a patient is having trouble navigating the stairs or the bathroom in their home. Or you might notice that a patient doesn’t have much food in their home or that they’re having trouble taking care of wounds or personal needs.

All of those factors can affect how your patient is doing. Home health nurses will diligently notice and record that information and pass it along to the patient’s physician. They’ll also use it to shape the care they provide—hopefully contributing to better outcomes.

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Earn a good living

If working in home health sounds interesting, you’ll be glad to know that you can make a solid living as a home health nurse, too.

In fact, the average salary for a registered nurse working in the home health arena is $92,401, according to Glass Door. You could earn even more depending on where you live and how many hours you work.

You can also earn a healthy paycheck as a home health travel nurse while enjoying free housing, travel reimbursements, and other benefits. A travel home health nursing gig allows you to explore a new city or area while using your nursing skills to care for patients who need you.

By Medely

July 5, 2022

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Top 5 Budgeting Tips for Travel Nurses

Medely provided this article.

As a travel nurse or allied professional, you may find yourself trying to manage an income that fluctuates from assignment to assignment. Uncertainty makes it more difficult to stick to a budget, particularly when your living costs are also changeable.

With thoughtful planning and research, you can get control of your finances and choose contracts that move you closer to your goals. Here are five of our favorite budgeting tips to help you put your money where it matters most.

1.   Set clear and measurable financial goals

What attracted you to the free-spirited lifestyle? Maybe you want to pay off debt, build your savings account, be closer to family, or gain experience in different types of healthcare facilities. Maybe you just want to have an adventure and explore the country!

Whatever your motivation, design a plan to help you reach your goals—now and in the future.

In explaining the importance of setting financial goals, the team at Investopedia recommends setting short-, mid-, and long- financial targets:

  • Short-term goals (6-12 months) can help you build confidence in your ability to follow a plan and gain knowledge to support your longer-term objectives. Set yourself up for easy wins—find goals you can achieve within the coming year, such as rebuilding your savings account or choosing one debt to pay down quickly.
  • Mid-term goals (1-5 years) are multi-year goals that may not show an immediate impact but make a noticeable difference over time. Mid-term goals often overlap with your long- and short-term goals. For example, you may want to save up for training that will expand your knowledge into

higher-paying specialties down the road, or put money toward a milestone for a downpayment on your first home.

  • Long-term goals (5+ years) apply to future life events such as not carrying a mortgage, saving for retirement, or sending your kids through university. You may need to regroup from time to time as you achieve these goals and your life circumstances change.

Clearly defined money goals—whatever their timeframe—are the “big rocks” for you to prioritize as you figure out the different pieces of your monthly budget.

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2. Adjust your budget regularly

Your income likely fluctuates as you move between travel nursing assignments. Importantly, so will your expenses—and there may be variables between contracts that you’ll need to account for, such as medical and

dental benefits, accommodations, furnishings, or travel stipends. To keep your budget on track, you’ll need to review it regularly and adjust your calculations as your cost of living varies.

First, let’s look at the main pieces in your monthly budget. It will likely include some combination of the following categories:

  • Accommodations
    • Debt payments (i.e., credit cards, unexpected costs)
    • Entertainment and dining out
    • Groceries
    • Transportation (i.e., car, metro)
    • Travel
    • Savings toward your goals

But how can you think about budgeting without adding extra stress and a lot of admin to your day-to-day life? There are three popular approaches to setting a budget: 50/30/20, zero-sum, and the envelope method.

A 50/30/20 budget splits your income broadly into three categories: 50% goes toward things you need (i.e., transportation, groceries, essential bills); 30% is to spend on things you want (i.e., dining out, travel for fun, clothes shopping); 20% goes toward savings or debt payments.

A zero-sum budget gives every dollar you earn a job. This doesn’t mean you spend all your money; it means that 100% of your take-home pay is allocated to something, so there’s no money left just “floating around” at the end of the month.

An envelope budget splits your expenses into specific categories, with a set dollar amount assigned to each category that you can spend until it’s gone.

Find a budget strategy that will enable you to reach your short-term goals without running calculations in your head before every transaction. And don’t forget to scan your expenses for potential tax deductions.

3.   Choose travel nurse assignments that fit within your budget

Just as changing jobs can impact your budget, moving to a new location can boost or hinder your financial plans. That’s why choosing a location that’s in sync with your current priorities can be helpful.

For example, a winter travel assignment in budget-friendly Phoenix, AZ, can ease the stress on your living expenses and bank account while giving you access to plenty of low-cost activities in spectacular national parks and nearby mountains. And if you need extra money, common travel nursing advice is to keep an eye out for rapid response jobs or less-desirable assignments.

Accommodations, transportation, and groceries (not dining out) are some of the essentials that can vary a lot by region. To find the right balance, you may want to consider:

  • Food: What’s the cost of basic groceries and what are your options for buying them? Food availability and pricing, particularly for fresh fruits and vegetables, can vary from one part of the country to another.
    • Travel expenses: How will the location impact your discretionary travel budget? For example, will friends and family be easier to reach or further away?
    • Transportation costs: Will you require a car to get around, or is there a solid public transportation system? For example, considering gas prices in 2022, it may not be an ideal time to take a job that requires a big commute.
  • Entertainment: Is there a lot to keep you engaged in the local community? A big city offers a lot of variety, and while fees can add up, you may also find more deals and cheap tickets. In a rural area, however, there may be many free options outdoors with an occasional trip to nearby cities.

Try to estimate these costs ahead of time so you can anticipate how to adjust your budget to match.

4.   Get resourceful about meals

We barely need to mention that dining out can quickly add up, while planning and meal prepping in advance can save time and money. Knowing this common advice and following it when you’re coming off a double shift are two different things. But there is help!

Take advantage of Facebook groups and smart apps to connect with your new neighbors and get their recommendations for affordable groceries and cheap eats. For example:

  • Which grocery stores offer the best value?
    • Are there farmer’s markets or coop programs that allow you to buy direct or in bulk?
    • Are there options such as Too Good to Go, which make it easy for stores and restaurants to sell surplus food?
    • What restaurants offer healthy and cheap meals?

And don’t forget to consider the value of your time. Prepping ingredients ahead of time is great—but only if you do it. It’s less ideal if your fridge is filled with well-intentioned ingredients that never quite make it to the table. A meal prep service might help you get past that hurdle and stock your fridge or freezer with leftovers.

  • Don’t hesitate to ask a local

As with groceries, local residents and your fellow travel nurses can be your best resource when it comes to budget-friendly tips and great deals. Reach out to get insights into the best options in an area for:

Budget well and create a travel nursing experience that works for you

Being a travel nurse or allied professional can be a fantastic way to save money and achieve financial goals of all sizes. With planning, research, and an understanding of the type of travel assignments that are an ideal fit, you’ll have a positive and memorable experience wherever your career takes you.

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.

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 TheraEx

July 4, 2022

3373 Views

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Common Reasons People End Up in the ER on the Fourth of July

PRN Healthcare provided this article.

For most people, the Fourth of July is a time for a celebration, grilling out, and spending time with family and friends. However, for many healthcare workers, the Fourth of July is a busy time treating many holiday-related injuries. To keep you safe, we made a list of the most common reasons people end up in the ER on the Fourth of July:

fourth of july

Fireworks/Sparklers

Not surprisingly, a significant portion of ER injuries during the Fourth of July are related to fireworks/sparklers. Most of these injuries are due to people holding the fireworks too close to them while lighting them or young children handling them. If you are the person lighting the fireworks, make sure you walk away quickly after lighting it and only light one firework at a time. It is also important to have water nearby just in case something happens. Another piece of advice is to never wear loose clothing while dealing with fireworks in case the loose clothes would catch on the fireworks, or a spark could land on the clothing, causing it to catch on fire. When lighting fireworks, wear protective gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants to avoid a spark landing on the exposed skin. Always face the firework/sparkler away from yourself and other surrounding people in the area. The next point is to leave the fireworks to the professionals! A person should never let children handle fireworks or sparklers on their own. There have been many serious injuries related to children having burns on their hands, forearms, and feet due to fireworks and sparklers.

Pay Careful Attention to Food Preparation to Avoid Food Poisoning

A big part of the Fourth of July involves grilling out. Make sure the food you are consuming is fully cooked and hasn’t been in the sun for too long. Many illnesses on the Fourth of July are due to foodborne bacteria from undercooked or poorly prepared food. The patients that are sent to the ER for food poisoning are typically from the food sitting out for a while in the heat. Make sure to avoid eating any perishable food item that has been sitting out for more than an hour or two, and some examples of this are potato salad or chicken salad. Even though the food may still look and smell okay, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any food bacteria on it. Other tips to avoid food poisoning are to be mindful when preparing your food and ensure the raw meat never comes in contact with other food. You must keep your raw food items away from the other food and always make sure to consistently wash your hands while cooking and preparing food for others.

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Dehydration and Heat Stroke

Many people are outside in the sun and heat for the majority of the Fourth of July. It is important to drink a sufficient amount of water and stay hydrated throughout the day if you are participating in outdoor activities. Always make sure to have water with you at all times, and make sure you are actually drinking it. A tip would be to carry a water bottle around with you so that when you need to refill it, you have easy access to do so. Health experts recommend that each person drinks eight 8-ounce glasses (2 liters) a day. If possible, try taking a break from the sun by going to shaded areas and cooling down for a while. A large number of patients that go to the hospital on the Fourth of July come with some symptoms of severe dehydration. It is also significant that you recognize some of the symptoms of heatstroke, which include fast heartbeat, rapid breathing, dizziness, confusion, headache, nausea, or fainting. If you or someone else is experiencing any of these symptoms, try moving into the shade or air-conditioned area and drinking lots of water.

Avoid sunburn

No matter what you are doing on the Fourth of July, make sure to wear sunscreen and protective clothing to cover yourself from the sun and avoid getting extremely burned. The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., which you should limit your sun exposure during some of those hours. In the case of extreme sunburn, go to a drug store and pick up aloe vera to help cool and relieve the pain of the sunburn.

Motor Vehicle or Boating Accidents Related to Drunk Driving or Distracted Driving

During most holidays, there is typically an increase in alcohol consumption, which, unfortunately, can lead to many motor vehicle or boating accidents. Remember, if you want to have a safe Fourth of July, do not drink and drive! Make sure not to get into a car with anyone who has been drinking and take their keys away from them even if they think they are able to operate a vehicle/boat while intoxicated. Also, do not text or talk on the phone while driving because your main focus should be only on the road, and all the other distractions can wait till later! 

Final Thoughts

Overall, I hope everyone has a fun and safe Fourth of July. Just a reminder to be extra cautious while working with fireworks and pay close attention to what food you’re consuming. Also, make sure you are drinking plenty of water and look out for anyone who is consuming high amounts of alcoholic drinks, and don’t allow them to operate a motor vehicle or boat. The Fourth of July is such a fun holiday during the year, but we must make sure to follow some of these safety tips to allow everyone to have a good time!

We hope you found these tips on Common Reasons People End Up in the ER on the Fourth of July helpful. Are you a travel nurse that has worked on the Fourth of July? Do you have any other tips on how people can be safe on the Fourth of July and avoid going to the ER due to an injury?

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.

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 Kevin Devoto

July 3, 2022

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How To Turn A Home Into a Rental for Travel Nurses or Others

There are many today who are choosing rental homes over hotel rooms or other short-term housing. The industry is changing drastically, and it has become effortless for a person to rent out their home or condo on a short-term or long-term basis. However, if one is looking to turn their home into a rental, there are a few things they must consider and prepare before opening up their home to others.

Determine if the Home Is Suitable

In some instances, a person may be looking to buy a property to become a rental, and a first-time home buyer may find the process overwhelming. But it is not impossible when given the proper knowledge and preparation. The first step is determining if the property would be suitable for a rental.

There are a few questions to ask when considering if the property would be a good place for people to rent out for a vacation or short or long-term housing. One thing to ask is whether or not the location is desirable? Are there any popular attractions nearby or amenities that would draw people to the home? What might be something unique about the property that may draw people? And are there any other rental properties close by or even in the same neighborhood? These are just some questions to ponder.

There is also the critical task of finding out if the property can be legally rented out short term. Each state, city, county, or even homeowners association could have strict rules and regulations regarding vacation rentals. It will be vital to learn them before opening up the property for rental.

Decisions to Make

Once it is determined that the property would be suitable to become a rental, the next step would be making a few decisions about how this rental will be run. The first decision will be choosing the time frame of when a person could rent out the property. Will it be seasonal, year-round, or short-term? That will entirely depend on the property owner’s schedule and if they need the home on certain days throughout the year. It may also depend on the location’s regulations on rental properties.

Another thing to decide is whether or not the entire property will be rented out or if a portion will be available. When considering the answer to this question, some things to think about would be determining if engaging with strangers will be uncomfortable or not. If the thought is unsettling, it would be best to consider renting the entire property and not being present.

Setting the Rules

The decisions have been made now to set the rules for the guests. There should be a good balance of rules. Too many rules can turn off guests, but too few rules will lead to potential damage. Once the rules have been set, put them together in a welcome packet for guests to go through upon arrival with the information they may need during their stay and all the rules they must follow.

Preparing the Property

Once all the rules have been set, it is time to get the property ready for renters. There are a lot of details that go into preparing a home for rental. One of the primary things to do is clean the home inside and out. Ensure all of the appliances are functional and usable, and the furniture is of good quality. The safety equipment should all be up to date and easily accessible such as carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

Make sure also to take down any family photos or other personal items. Put all of these items in a secure location, like a locked closet that guests cannot open. Keep a stock inside the property of specific necessities such as pots and pans, utensils, plates, cups, other dishware, and certain toiletries and cleaning products.

Turning your property into a rental can be an exciting time, but do not forget that it requires much work. But in the end, it can be rewarding and a significant investment.

We hope you found this article on how to turn your house into a rental for travel nurses helpful. Have you turned your home into a rental? Do you have any tips to share? Comment 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 Katie Fitts

July 2, 2022

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Ensuring Peace of Mind: The Best Health Insurance for Travel Nurses

As travel nurses, we know the importance of having health insurance. Making a decision regarding travel nurse insurance is a tough decision, and a lot depends on your specific needs when it comes to your health. 

So what do you do for travel nurse insurance? Really there are two options: using your travel nurse company insurance or getting your own. There are pros and cons to each, so let’s take a look. 

Travel Nurse Insurance From Your Company

Most travel nurse companies these days offer travel nurse insurance. Some of the bigger travel nurse companies will work with providers like United, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Cigna. Some of the smaller companies may only work with smaller insurance companies that aren’t as well known and may not cover your preferred providers. If you make a decision to go with company-provided insurance, I suggest thoroughly researching which companies offer the insurance companies you prefer. 

Pros of Travel Nurse Insurance From Your Company

1- Usually a good plan!

A good plan meaning with a reputable insurance company. It will likely provide you with a fairly moderate deductible and doctor’s office visits with preferred providers for a copay and may include free regular yearly physicals. You can be at ease knowing your bills shouldn’t unexpectedly be astronomical, assuming you use the preferred providers. If they have one, you can expect it to be similar to your staff job’s insurance plan. 

2- One less thing to worry about!

It’s a set it and forget it kind of thing… a weekly withdrawal from your paycheck (or biweekly if you get paid as such) that you don’t even miss coming out of your paycheck. Getting your own insurance is usually a monthly lump sum. Even if the prices are comparable, it seems to hurt a little less coming from your paycheck weekly versus a lump sum! 😂

Cons of Travel Nurse Insurance From Your Company

1- May not be with your preferred providers or cover you across all 50 states

When discussing insurance with your recruiter, be sure to get down to the nitty-gritty! Speak to a benefits specialist if they have one so you can really get the low down. As I said, most of the bigger companies work with bigger name insurance companies like BCBS, Cigna, and United. But if you plan to try to stay mostly with your own doctors, you want to be sure they are covered by the insurance company, which may not be the case with the smaller insurance companies. Also, make sure your insurance is portable across all 50 states!

2 – It can be costly!

I suppose this may be due to the more short-natured coverage for travel nurses, but it certainly can be very pricey! I paid nearly $400-$450 a month with my company insurance! It isn’t cheap, even with the big companies! It was certainly more expensive than my coverage with my permanent staff job, where it maybe was around $200 a month. Definitely, something to think about in the budget realm!

3- Insurance gaps

This is probably one of the biggest cons. You may not be covered in between contracts and have insurance gaps. This is what I like to call insurance roulette and part of the “insurance game” (More details at the end of this article). 

Travel nurse companies all seem to be different in regards to the timing of the travel nurse insurance. Sometimes your insurance will start on the 1st day of your contract, sometimes not until the 15th of the month. With some companies, your coverage will end on your last day; in some companies, you can finish out the month. Some companies allow up to two weeks off or longer in between contracts with coverage, assuming you will work with them again. Make sure you get the specifics of how your insurance works with your recruiter!

I say insurance roulette because you are just hoping and praying that you won’t need to use it if you do have a gap in insurance. Maybe most of the time, you are lucky, but it’s a risk. So buyer, beware!

4- Switching agencies

Personally speaking, I tend to switch around travel nurse companies. I go to which one may offer me the best contract at the location I want for the best money. Not all companies have the same contracts and at the same price! However, some people stick with one travel nurse company for the duration of their time as a travel nurse. This may make it a little easier when it comes to insurance to not have to switch insurance companies each time.

However, if you hop around companies like I do, it stinks. That means a whole new insurance company every few months and a whole new deductible each time! I have gotten the short end of the stick doing this a couple of times. I had to have a couple of procedures done in 1 year. I had to pay the full deductible out of pocket for both even though I had forked out the money that should have met my deductible for that year with the one plan! No fun. 

So getting a new deductible every few months certainly makes it to where you have to pay more money out of pocket!

Getting Your Own Travel Nurse Insurance

The other option, of course, is to get your own travel nurse insurance. You can either go through a broker or purchase a plan through the marketplace at healthcare.gov or another entity like eHealth insurance. Brokers work with travel nurses to get the best plans and provide customer service along to help navigate your plan. Examples include US Health Group or The Healthy Insurance Dude. I have even done a more short-term approach, such as a sharing program, at times in between contracts. A sharing program is not an actual healthcare plan. You pay a monthly fee that goes to essentially a shared pool of money that can help cover your healthcare costs. Examples include Christian Healthcare Ministries or Medishare

Shopping for your own travel nurse insurance can be a daunting task, and as stated, there are pros and cons.

Pros of Your Own Travel Nurse Insurance

1- No coverage gaps!

The BIGGEST pro of your own travel nurse insurance! You don’t have to worry about having any gaps in your insurance. So that means if you want to take 1, 2, or 6 months off in between contracts, you are still covered! If you want to live your best life and go live in Greece for a month like me, you are covered! 😂 (Although I have additional international insurance as well). 

But you can rest easy when taking time off in between contracts. That was certainly a stressor for me as a travel nurse. I was always trying to plan doctors’ appointments and such within a certain time frame when I was covered. But now that I have my own insurance, I can relax a bit more.

2- Usually cheaper!

Usually, the plans come out a little cheaper than the travel nurse company-provided insurance. As I said, I was paying nearly $500 a month for insurance! Now I pay around $315 for both health and dental insurance. Not too shabby at all. Typically speaking, this option is cheaper, but you will have to shop around, and it depends on which specific health benefits you will need.

Cons of Your Own Travel Nurse Insurance

1- It may not be a comprehensive plan/more limited benefits

Speaking from my current experience, many things seem to have to be pre-approved or have to have a workaround in order to get coverage. I didn’t feel the need to get things pre-approved with company insurance. My doctor ordered something, and I got it done, and it was covered. 

2- May be more out of pocket

Although the insurance is generally cheaper, that also leaves a lot of room to skimp benefits on. Deductibles may be higher, and it may not be the “copay” type plan you are used to.

I consider myself a healthy person with only basic needs of healthcare, fortunately. My doctors are “covered” under my insurance, so the insurance will pay some towards doctors’ visits. But it is not like a copay, so I was used to it. I have always had both a PCP and an OBGYN being a woman, but only 1 of my provider visits was covered. The other, I had to pay more out of pocket as I only got one wellness visit a year. So as much as I have enjoyed having to not worry about gaps in coverage, I sure do miss those copays!

3- Lump sum withdrawal versus weekly

Somehow getting money drawn out weekly versus a lump sum makes it seem to hurt less in the bank account department, even if it is cheaper! 😂 It comes down to just making the budget for it!

Conclusion

Now are you utterly confused about which option to choose? That makes two of us! 😂 As a person who has done both, I don’t have a strong conviction for either option, honestly. I think it’s just a matter of trial and error for you to see what works best for you!

Currently, I have my own insurance right now. I do love the fact that I don’t have to worry about gaps in insurance and that it is significantly cheaper than the company’s insurance. However, I feel like I have to pay more out of pocket for things such as regular doctors’ office visits or bloodwork, etc. Luckily this is not often, just yearly, but still!

So again may just come down to trial and error for you. However, it also depends on your specific health needs and the time you plan on taking off between contracts. If you use the insurance often for multiple doctor visits, it may be worth it to do the company insurance. However, you just have to worry about consistency: It works best if you stay with the same company and only have a limited time off in between contracts. 

Personally speaking, I use multiple different companies and don’t like being limited to, say, only two weeks off in between contracts! Maybe they will come up with a middle-ground option! But in the meantime, for my lifestyle, I prefer getting my own insurance. 

The Insurance Game

As promised, I will discuss a little of the “insurance game” and some of my insider tips! This is for if you choose to take company insurance.

So the “insurance game” is basically just trying to make the most of your company insurance during the actual time you are covered. As a nurse, I value maintaining established relationships with my regular doctors. I have had them for years, and if I ever had to have anything done, I want to be home where I know which doctors I want to use. So here’s where it gets tricky!

You want to be sure to get really clear with your recruiter regarding the start and end of your coverage. Does it start on either the 15th or 30th of the month? Is it the 1st day of the contract? Somewhere in between? When does it end? Sometimes it ends on the last day of your contract; sometimes, you can finish out the month.

Insurance Start Dates 

  • If it starts on either the 15th/30th or something to that effect, it will likely end on the 15th or 30th AFTER your contract. So you’ve got a little time to scoot home and get your regular doctor’s office visits in before coverage needs. 
  • If it starts on the 1st day, it may very likely end on the last day of the contract (unless you sign up for another contract with the company). If it’s a time I need to get something done like an eye appointment, dentist, or yearly checkup, I try to take some time off in the middle of the contract and go home and get that done. It kinda stinks going home mostly for that, but BONUS, you get to go home! 🙂

Insurance End Dates

  • If it ends on the last day of your contract, you definitely want to see if you can squeeze time off in the middle of your contract to go home and get doctors’ appointments done. 
  • If it ends at the end of the month, you have got some time! 

Pro Tip!

So let’s say your contract ends on the 30th of the month, and your insurance runs out at the end of the month, the 31st. Well, that’s not very much time or good use of your insurance! 

If I am interested in extending, I will extend for whatever time I can, but at least until the beginning of the next month. So let’s say you end the 5th, then you have the whole rest of the month to get your insurance benefits! More time off in between for you, and you still have coverage! You can go home and get whatever you need done!

Isn’t the insurance game FUN?! 😂

Prescription PRO tips:

  • Keep all your prescriptions at something very generic that is transferrable. I usually use Walmart or Walgreens, something that usually every major city has. Makes it WAY easier to transfer prescriptions
  • If you have refills on prescriptions and can get them early, do so before your contract/coverage ends. Same with eye contacts. I’ll go ahead and refill early before my prescription runs out so I can delay the need for regular eye appointments if I am not close to home.
  • Push for 90-day supplies with your prescriptions!
  • Walmart has quite a few selections of $4 prescriptions; check them out! 

Good luck in the insurance games, and may the odds ever be in your favor! ✌️ 

Gypsy love,

Katie

We hope you found this article on travel nurse insurance and tips on using company insurance or getting your own helpful. Do you have any tips on travel nurse insurance 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 an upcoming travel nurse 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!)