By Kevin Devoto

July 3, 2022

2481 Views

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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

6674 Views

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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!)

By StaffDNA

July 1, 2022

1583 Views

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Evolving the Travel Healthcare Staffing Industry

StaffDNA provided this article.

The healthcare staffing industry has made several rapid advancements in the wake of the pandemic. But we still have some lingering problems to address.

Let’s talk about a few.

First, healthcare facilities are looking to pay less.

Nurses and other healthcare workers, however, accustomed to the levels of pay you’ve experienced during the worst of the crisis, now expect to be paid more.

How do we find the right balance to make both sides happy? It’s a tough one.

Second, healthcare staffing has been slow to evolve technologically.

This is particularly evident when compared to the impressive gains of other industries. For too long, we’ve stayed traditional and status quo. Some staffing companies are continuing with this approach, assuming the way they’ve always done things will continue to yield results.

Third, archaic application methods.

While today’s healthcare workers are as tech-savvy as anyone, many still rely on archaic methods of completing a profile and waiting for a recruiter to call and offer a job.

So how do we solve our industry’s issues? The most obvious answer is through digital transformation by building automation into any process that will create efficiency. As a travel nurse, that translates to higher pay for you.

job board

The following are some key considerations for bringing digital transformation to healthcare staffing:

100% mobile technology

The freedom to choose where you work, when you work, and the potential to earn a life-changing income are among the most enticing ideas the world has ever seen. To make this a reality for caregivers in demand requires the ability to access jobs and important updates anywhere, at any time. Further, the shortage of qualified healthcare workers isn’t changing anytime soon, so we’ll need to be able to connect with prospects quickly and seamlessly. Not to mention handling the emerging opportunities in virtual nursing, centralized monitoring, and other healthcare offerings still on the horizon.

Self-service, end-to-end automation

What if everything you needed to find a job and manage the process was available in one place?

Companies like StaffDNA have made this leap, and others will follow. A single platform gives nurses and allied health workers complete control over their job search, enabling them to choose where they wish to work and immediately see where they’re most needed. The ability to upload a resume, personalize pay packages, track application status, and accept and sign an offer—all within the app—is a game-changer for the industry.

Reducing friction wherever possible

What key platform functionality will help bridge the divide between what clients want to pay and what nurses wish to earn? Automated compliance management. This ability to manage unique compliance requirements, streamline the credentialing process, and eliminate efficiencies will create significant time and cost savings, reducing one of the biggest onboarding hassles.

There are others, of course. But ultimately, the challenges we take on will have the same aim: to improve our industry, create value, and give the best opportunities for health professionals to provide exceptional patient care. Let’s spur each other upward.

We hope you found this article on evolving the healthcare staffing industry helpful. Are there any topics you would like to see us write about? Comment them below.

About StaffDNA 

By creating the first self-service healthcare staffing platform built on the industry’s most advanced technology, StaffDNA has revolutionized how healthcare professionals find their next job. Candidates can see available positions nationwide with complete details and apply 24/7. All onboarding can be handled in the app, and once they’ve started, candidates can manage the entire assignment—from credentials and timesheets to booking or extending a contract. StaffDNA has been designated the first Total Staffing Solution from Staffing Industry Analysts, the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions. The company frequently makes regional and national Best Places to Work lists, including from Dallas Business Journal and Modern Healthcare. The StaffDNA app currently averages 30,000 unique downloads a month, making it the #1 downloaded app in the healthcare staffing industry.

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 Aequor Healthcare

June 30, 2022

3091 Views

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A Flexible Perspective

Aequor Healthcare provided this article.

It used to be—before covid—that most of the general public had no idea that being a healthcare traveler was a thing. Then, as you know, the pandemic put the spotlight on the healthcare industry, and travelers were in high demand. Crisis response pay rates were double or triple what was normal, so naturally, many new travelers entered the market, and their presence in hospitals grew, as well as their familiarity with their profession among the general public.

A Flexible Perspective

Depending on where you stand, you may have a particular idea about these travelers. Are they just in it for the money? Are they wanderers in it just so they can travel the country? Why do they choose a traveler career, never putting down roots, always on the go?

job board

Through personal interviews with healthcare travelers from all walks of life, we’ve set out on a journey to get to know what a traveler is and who they are, one individual at a time. We hope this new series of articles, Aequor Perspectives, will help you better understand how to navigate life as a healthcare traveler. By sharing their stories, their lessons learned, and strategies for navigating a career as a traveler, maybe you’ll learn something valuable, or maybe you’ll choose to share your own perspective.

flexible perspective

* * * * *

“A Flexible Perspective from an ER RN Traveler”

Meet ER nurse traveler Tess. In her mid-thirties now, she was a respiratory therapist for a few years before going back to school for nursing. She’s been traveling with her partner Andy, also an ER nurse, since 2018, mostly in California and the Pacific Northwest, and she loves it. She loves the flexibility and variety of opportunities that traveling offers. And the ER? Her focus is always on her patients. With so much happening—someone new every half hour or so—she has many opportunities to practice flexibility each day.

It’s hard for Tess to have a bad day for very long when she has to continually refocus her energy on helping someone on their worst day. “When I remember that your worst day is my every day, it changes my perspective. It’s not about me.” This attitude has helped her transition more smoothly from one facility to another. She’s learned that there’s not just one way to do things, and being open to learning a new way has not only broadened her skill set as a nurse but given her the flexibility needed to thrive as a traveler.

flexible perspective

Travel nursing kept Tess in this profession. Exhausted, burnt out, and jaded by hospital politics and drama, she was ready to get out of working in health care, but thankfully she opted for a travel assignment, and it saved her.

Laura Walker

Marketing Communication Lead laura.walker@aequorhc.com

We hope you found this article on flexible perspective enjoyable and helpful. Did the information from “A Flexible Perspective from an ER RN Traveler” surprise you? Comment below.

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

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 Fusion Medical Staffing

June 29, 2022

1434 Views

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How to Market Yourself as a Medical Traveler to Get the Job You Want

Fusion Medical Staffing Provided this article.

You chose the medical travel life for a reason. Whether your reason is to travel through all 50 states, visit the country’s best national parks, or gain ultimate professional autonomy, you’ve already done the hardest part of the job: Taking the leap.

With the hardest part in your rearview mirror, what do you have to do to land the travel job you want? I mean, you already have the education, experience, and qualifications to get out there and start improving the lives of others! What’s next?

The only thing standing in the way of you and your next dream travel job…is you. So, become your best hype person and learn how to market yourself better to get the job you want! Here’s how.

No. 1: Decide what’s important

First things first—you need something to work towards. That means it’s time to identify what’s important to you in a job. When looking for your next med travel job, set a couple of clear objectives to help you narrow down your options. Here are a few things to consider:

  • Work-life balance. Are you looking for a set schedule or something with a little more flexibility?
  • Skills and experience. Are there opportunities for professional and personal growth available to you?
  • Workplace culture. What’s more important: A paycheck or a purpose?

You’re the only one who can answer these questions, and good for you, there are no right or wrong answers! But you’ll want to know what’s important to you before you embark on the adventure of your next job. Why? Because knowing what you want will help you find and achieve it that much easier. Having clarity on what you want helps you move towards it and inspires you to keep going. Knowing is half the battle, right?

Not sure what’s really important to you? We get it! This is some tough stuff to figure out, but we’re here to help along the way. Let’s get old-school and grab a pen and paper. Good, now let your mind roam free and make a list of everything that you want. Literally everything—the winning lottery ticket, the chance to meet Channing Tatum IRL, and the opportunity to practice medicine in a foreign location. Save this for future you. Revisit it when you lose inspiration or forget what you’re working towards. Future you will thank you.

job board

No. 2: SWOT it out

So, you’ve done some introspection. Now what? Time to SWOT it out! Don’t worry, it’s not nearly as aggressive as it sounds. SWOT stands for:

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

And you’re going to analyze each of yours! It may not sound like a walk in the park up front, but in the long run, doing so will help you take advantage of your opportunities and set yourself apart from the competition.

To get started, identify the strengths and weaknesses that are specific to you. Here’s the catch: Whatever you list must be within your control, which means you can’t say your biggest weakness is not being Captain America. Instead, these would be things like your extensive knowledge on a variety of charting systems = strength or your subpar communication skills = weakness. Whatever makes it on the list should be things you can improve on over time.

Next, think of external opportunities and threats, aka the things that are outside of your control. For example, an opportunity could be working alongside a mentor to elevate your experience and give you an edge over the competition.

Lastly, anticipate your threats. No, not “threat” like a bear chasing you with a chainsaw. Rather, a threat like another candidate’s experience = something you can’t control. However, it is something you can work around. Knowing this, you can discover alternative job options that align with your strengths and provide professional growth and development.

Once you completed your personal SWOT analysis, you’ll be left with a clear picture of people you could network with, what continued education courses you can sign up for, or which advanced degree to go after, if that’s your vibe. A SWOT analysis is meant to give you a comprehensive idea on what you have and what you need, getting you that much closer to your next unicorn assignment!

No. 3: Build your personal brand

Ever heard of a personal brand? It’s like a business brand, but just for you! Your personal brand is a mix of your personality, skills, and values. When marketing yourself for a job, use your personal brand to showcase what you stand for, what’s important to you, and what you have to offer as a professional medical worker. The best part is you can use your personal brand throughout the job search process to help a hiring manager better recognize your awesomeness.

Job search process

As you peruse open travel jobs, do some market research to understand the mission and values of the staffing agency and medical facility. Do they match what you’re looking for? Is it an environment that will enhance your personal brand? Are you passionate about the same things?

Application process

Before you submit your resume for the job, fine-tune it to include an introductory paragraph featuring you! Here, you can tell a story to describe what you’re passionate about, highlight your many accomplishments, and emphasize the strengths you identified in your SWOT analysis. Use this as an opportunity to pitch your personal brand and help hiring managers get to know you.

Interview process

As you interview for jobs, stick to your personal brand. Share your story and use it to connect with hiring managers. Let them see your potential from paper come to life before their eyes and impress them with the things only you can bring to the table.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between your reputation and your personal brand? Because we do, so we did some digging. Here’s what we learned, thanks to the Harvard Business Review:

  • Your reputation is built from what other people think or believe to be true about you based on your actions and behaviors. Your reputation values credibility.
  • Your personal brand is how you want people to see you. Your personal brand values what’s meaningful and important to you.

You’re in the driver’s seat of creating your personal brand. That means that only you have the power to change and redefine it.

No. 4: Be your best advocate

I don’t know about you, but it can be hard to practice self-advocacy. What is self-advocacy, exactly? In short, self-advocacy is the ability to speak up for yourself, plus the things that are important to you, and be your own cheerleader. In the long, the ability to advocate for yourself empowers you to ask for what you want and helps create independence.

When it comes down to it, self-advocacy can be broken down into three key elements:

  1. Understanding your needs
  2. Knowing what support could be beneficial
  3. Communicating these things to others

Like most things, self-advocacy is easier said than done. But, also like most things, practice makes perfect! Once you enhance your self-advocacy skills, all there’s left to do is reap the benefits like increased self-awareness, better decision-making, effective problem-solving, and more. Plus, you can use these skills to help land the job you want.

What recruiters look for in a medical traveler

When applying for med travel jobs, it’s important to market yourself to make an impression on the hiring managers and recruiters. Essentially, you want to show them that you have what it takes to be the best travel nurse or allied medical traveler that you can be. So, when you put your name in the proverbial hat, make sure you spotlight the skills recruiters look for in a medical traveler on your resume to ensure you catch their eyes. Here’s what we’re talking about:

Effective communicator

Not only should you demonstrate that you’re an effective communicator during the interview process, but you should also make that skill clear on your resume. You can do this through your personal paragraph that we talked about earlier and by making a point of your strengths, background, experience, and other characteristics that make you you.

According to research by Indeed, the most common ways to communicate at work are through written communication like emails, oral communication, and nonverbal communication like nodding, and listening. Once you become a master communicator, you can help promote a healthy culture, boost job satisfaction, increase creativity, and more.

Sense of self and authenticity

It can be tough to convey who you are through a written resume or job marketplace profile. Recruiters look for a sense of self and authenticity within applicants—someone who takes their written skills and puts them to use in the real world.

“I want to hire a person who happens to have experience relative to a job and that special someone that brings their skills to life,” said Jennifer Marszalek, Chief People Officer at Revolution Global. “Frequently, the best hire is someone with the greatest number of intangible credentials, so I look for a sense of authenticity and self to come through in their application.”

An authentic resume is one that portrays an accurate representation of yourself. Use your resume to introduce yourself to recruiters and hiring managers alike to build a genuine connection.

Agility and flexibility

A career in medical travel is an unpredictable one. In addition to starting new jobs every 13-ish weeks, you’re also more than likely moving to a new destination, learning new technologies, adapting to a new medical facility, and meeting new people. It’s a lot of newness all at once, which may be a lot for some people.

The ability to be agile and flexible will get you far as a professional medical traveler. By improving these skills, you can avoid burnout more effectively, make friends wherever you are, and quickly adapt to your new environment. Sounds like a win-win-win if I’ve ever heard one.

Of course, listing these skills on your resume won’t guarantee finding your dream job ASAP. But hey, it doesn’t hurt, right?

Marketing yourself as a professional only has its upsides. By doing so, you get to not only tell others, but even better, show them how valuable you are. Stand above rest and use these steps to market yourself as a medical professional. Before you know it, you’ll have all the jobs you want right at your fingertips!

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

By Brandy Pinkerton

June 28, 2022

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Basics to Choosing the Right Travel Nurse Company

Your travel nurse company and recruiter can make or break your experience, so this question should not be taken lightly. When you’re starting your travel nurse journey, one of the first steps you need to take is finding a travel nurse company and recruiter. This process might feel overwhelming because there are so many options out there. How do you know if you’ve found a good travel nurse company and a recruiter who has your best interests at heart? I’ve learned there are several qualities that set good companies apart from the others. Keep reading for the non-negotiable attributes you want in your travel nurse company.

Mentor Pro Tip:

When looking for the best travel nursing company to suit your needs, you first have to know what your needs are, so make sure to have a clear understanding of what you need from a company too. Ask yourself what benefits you need.

Basics

When looking into travel nurse agencies, you should first make sure that they provide the basics. The short answer to this is you need to pick a travel nurse company that is knowledgeable, transparent, trustworthy, and personable. This company needs to pay you fairly and have good resources and benefits for you. 

When looking into travel nurse agencies, you should first make sure that they have these non-negotiables:

  1. A dedicated housing department of experts to help you find housing or do they give you a stipend to find your own housing
  2.  Day 1 health, dental and vision insurance, and premium cost
  3. 401K that you can start contributing to immediately,
  4.  Travel reimbursement
  5. 24-hour customer support
  6.  Have a variety and abundance of travel nursing jobs all over the country for your specialty. 
  7. Make sure to ask if they are Joint Commission credentialed. Agencies that obtain this certification must complete a strict qualification process, and it helps ensure that the company is upheld to the highest standards in the industry. 

Mentor Pro Tip:

There are a few elite companies that even stand out more than others because they offer low census protection, weekly pay, paid time off,  and tuition reimbursement. The “diamond in the roughs” will also have mental health resources for you as well as a strong clinical team of nurses or can give you advice and help. Trust me on this one: Your recruiter is not usually a nurse, and a great one will be able to refer you to a team of clinicians available to you for career counseling and guidance in times of crisis. This individual needs to be someone with a diverse and authoritative background so that you can trust their advice. So make sure to ask!

From there, the absolute best way is to get referrals from other travel nurses (you can even do this in social media groups) and search for travel nurse agency reviews. When researching travel nurse companies, it is imperative to use a longstanding and reputable site for reviews. One of my personal favorites is right here on The Gypsy Nurse, which lists the Top Agencies based on their national ranking, user reviews, and features. Do your due diligence and research, research, research. Knowledge is power! 

Mentor Pro Tip: Make sure to check out my other recent blog post about Top Qualities To Look For in a Travel Nurse Recruiter – TRAVEL NURSE 101

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 trustaff

June 27, 2022

2188 Views

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Top Must Packs For Your Travel Nurse Assignment

trustaff provided this article.

Packing for your assignments can be a stressful time. Making sure you have everything you may need for a 13-week stay in a new area while also trying to fit everything in your suitcase or trunk can be a real task. Whether you’re a light packer or over pack just in case, we came up with this list of 5 must-have things to make sure you have room for in your suitcase to bring on every assignment.

A camera.

You’ll be out adventuring new places, and what better way to create memories than to take lots of photos to share with friends and family or for yourself as keepsakes. While it’s just as important to take a mental image and take in all the experiences, sometimes having a photo to look back on helps you reminisce about your unique experience. Packing a good camera is a must for travelers of all kinds. Evolving technology makes this even easier now, as many high-quality cameras are compact and packable in a purse or backpack.

Top Must Packs For Your Travel Nurse Assignment

A few good books.

Taking some time away from screens can really refresh your mental state. Having a few good books on hand can make your time between shifts enjoyable and a breath of fresh air. We highly suggest checking out Book-Tok (on TikTok!) for some amazing suggestions for your next read. Whether you’re into history, fiction, or biographies – enjoying a good read can be very important for your mental health and overall downtime.

An air fryer, Instapot, crockpot, etc.

Meals are important, and having time between long shifts to prepare them is sometimes a hassle. Bringing your favorite kitchen appliance can do wonders for time-saving on your meal preps while on assignment. And to be fair – what CAN’T you cook in an air fryer or Instapot?! The options are endless! These are taking over kitchens and are easy to use in any housing situation. Thinking ahead and bringing one of these can make for a life-saving item when you’re hungry.

A yoga mat or at-home fitness gear.

Finding somewhere to work out or clear your mind with yoga in an unfamiliar location could be challenging. Having a few staples ready in your hotel, apartment, or house while on assignment can make a difference! And making sure you’re moving your body and clearing your mental state is SO important as a healthcare professional.

Your pillow.

Sleeping on a new pillow you’re not used to can jam your beauty sleep – and we know how important your sleep is after a long shift! Making sure you have your comfy pillow wherever you sleep is a game-changer. Never leave home without it – especially for 8-12 weeks of sleep.  

We hope you found this list of top must packs for your travel nurse assignment helpful. Are there any other items you think should make the list of must packs? 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. 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 Kevin Devoto

June 26, 2022

1990 Views

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3 Reasons You Should Consider Becoming a Travel Nurse in 2022

The need for healthcare continues worldwide, making this a worrisome trend since there is a nurse shortage. Hospitals and medical facilities are having a difficult time retaining their staff. Many people who have had nursing careers decided to retire early due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and young people aren’t as interested in obtaining student loans for nursing degrees. Earning a nursing degree requires a lot of work, and not all universities offer this degree. Once in the workforce, a nursing career is incredibly demanding, both physically and mentally. For this reason, travel nursing positions are in high demand, as medical facilities may temporarily need a nurse to fill in while they are short-staffed or have a surge in patients. If you’ve been considering becoming a travel nurse, read on for a few reasons that will give you the inspiration to finally make the jump.

Travel Nurses Make A Difference

In many career fields, you can sometimes feel like what you’re doing is meaningless. You may feel like you’re replaceable in your company and that anyone else could do exactly what you’re doing. As a travel nurse, however, you can truly know that you’re making an impact every single day. There are less and less people choosing nursing for a career, but there is an increase in the need for medical care.

It will be rewarding for you knowing that what you do can’t be done by anyone and that you’re helping people receive the care they need. Your job means something to those people who are sick and suffering. They are grateful to have a caregiver who cares about their well-being and chooses to invest their time in helping them get the care they need for recovery.

Travel Nurses Have Freedom

Now more than ever, younger generations value their freedom more than anything. They want to travel and have flexibility in their careers, so they don’t experience burnout. One of the drawbacks of nursing careers is they have rigorous and tight schedules. If you work in a hospital, you may have to work night shifts along with long 12-hour shifts. If you work in a clinic, there are specific hours they are open, which means there are specific hours you have to be there.

The difference with travel nursing is that you can accept an assignment and then take a couple weeks off or longer after you complete it before you accept another. This makes it less likely to avoid burnout. You don’t have to request time off from your boss if you need a break; you simply don’t accept any assignments until you’re ready to.

Travel Nurses Have Job Security

As a travel nurse, you’ll have the opportunity to work in a variety of specialties. This will benefit you when looking for new assignments or if you’re ever interested in settling down and becoming part of the permanent staff. Your opportunities for employment will open up when employers see that you have experience in many different areas. While you’re travel nursing, you don’t have to worry about not finding work because you can move to whichever location is in need of nurses. Additionally, instead of hoping for a certain position to open up like most nurses have to do who are permanently employed by a hospital, you can search for different growth opportunities, such as functional medicine in Denver. All these things can be added to your resume and increase your chances of getting hired for future jobs.

Final Thoughts

A travel nursing career can have benefits like job security and flexibility, but there are many more. However, the greatest reward you can have as a travel nurse is knowing that you are truly making a positive impact in the world and in the lives of others.

We hope you found this article on 3 reasons you should consider becoming a travel nurse in 2022, are you a travel nurse and have advice for those considering becoming a travel nurse? 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 Annie Rueb

June 25, 2022

4516 Views

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How to Prepare for a Travel Assignment in Alaska

Alaska…The Last Frontier, Land of the Midnight Sun, The Great Land, Where Wild Meets Wild… Whatever you call it, it is undeniably a bucket list destination. 

Alaska

We have always wanted to explore Alaska. One of the reasons we started travel nursing in the first place was in hopes of having an opportunity to live and work in Alaska. With our dream in mind, we quickly learned that it was possible but not simple. There is a lot of planning involved in coming to Alaska (especially as a family with kids and dogs), and you need to save up your money for it too! 

How to Prepare for a Travel Assignment in Alaska

First, you need an Alaska nursing license.

We have all worked with different state nursing departments to get a nursing license. Sometimes it is simple and smooth. Sometimes it takes some time, follow-up, more time, and more phone calls. Alaska is the latter. So prepare in advance, start the process, and practice your patience. It may just be the season of the world, but they were quick to say that they are overwhelmed with an abundance of requests, so everything takes more time. 

Alaska

Second, you need to get a job.

Job listings in Alaska seem to be relatively frequent. Depending on your specialty and agency, a variety of jobs are posted in the major cities around Alaska year-round. Rates seem to vary greatly, and some are very dependent on location. For example, if you get a job in Nome because it is not accessible by car, the contract is likely to include housing and other accommodations. Most of the island contracts will not allow kids or dogs, so keep that in mind as well. Alaska seems to post its contracts farther in advance than other states. So keep an eye out early before they get snagged up! 

Alaska

Third, you need to figure out how you are going to get there. 

Flying:

This is a great, quick option. However, if you fly to Alaska, you have to rent a car when you are there. The land is so vast that you will want to drive to explore all the beautiful sites. Some housing accommodations include car rentals, so keep an eye out for those. 

Driving:

This is a beautiful but very long option. We drove from Arizona, which happens to be almost 4,000 miles. Driving the Alaska-Canada highway is such a memorable experience. If this is a doable journey for you, and you have the time, I couldn’t recommend it more. We allowed ourselves two weeks for the journey, and it worked, but the more time you have, the better. Grab The Milepost book and go. See the sights, and enjoy! However, what time of year are you coming to Alaska? We drove to Alaska in April, and even in April, we drove through one of the scariest snow storms we have ever been in. So plan accordingly and check the weather along your route. 

Ferry:

This is an expensive but beautiful and laid-back travel option. There are ferries from Washington to Alaska, and they can take a few days to about a week to get to your destination, depending on where you are going. The challenge here is the schedule. Ferries do not travel between ports daily, so this would take advanced planning.

Alaska

Fourth, you need to find a place to live.

Alaska is expensive, especially in the summer. Housing prices blew our minds. We travel as a family with dogs, so our options were more limited, but most furnished, 2-bedroom apartments or homes ranged anywhere from $4,000-$7,000 per month. The options in the $2500-$4,000 range were few and far between and not available, even though we were looking several months in advance. The summer fills up fast here, and the market is hot. Maybe you can travel with a buddy and share expenses? Maybe you are traveling alone and can find a bedroom option or a smaller, more affordable apartment? Maybe you can travel here via RV? RV travel would, of course, be very weather dependent, and planning ahead would be crucial as the RV parks fill up here months in advance. For us, our options were so expensive and so limited that we decided to rent an unfurnished apartment and rent furniture. Although this wasn’t the simplest, most ideal plan, it saved us thousands of dollars a month which was well worth it. 

How to Prepare for a Travel Assignment in Alaska

Fifth, you need to plan as many adventures as you possibly can, and have fun!!

Alaska is incredible. There is so much to do and see. From the moment we got here, we hit the ground running, knowing we will barely scratch the surface in the four months we are here. If you are coming in the summer, plan some of your big excursions ahead of time because, yes, you guessed it, things book up fast! So far, we have seen an abundance of wildlife, hiked a glacier, cruised the Kenai fjords, and gazed on some of the most beautiful lands we have ever seen. We have float plane excursions planned to go salmon fishing and view grizzly bears feeding on salmon jumping through a waterfall. We are planning campouts and a trip to Denali National Park. All of this requires appropriate gear and planning, a sense of adventure, and a decent travel fund. So gather your hiking gear, your clothing layers, your bug repellent, and your bear spray, and get out and start enjoying Alaska! All of the planning and preparation are beyond worth it. You can do it, and you’ll never regret making it happen! 

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!)