By StaffDNA

July 1, 2022

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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

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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

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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

2152 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

1946 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

4458 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!)

By Furnished Finder

June 23, 2022

5767 Views

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50 Best Places to Travel Nurse

According to Furnished Finder, here are the top 50 cities where travel nurses work.

travel nurse cities

First, we’ll start with the top 10 cities where travel nurses need housing:

  1. San Diego
  2. Seattle
  3. Denver
  4. Phoenix
  5. Boston
  6. Los Angeles
  7. Nashville
  8. Atlanta
  9. San Francisco
  10. Portland

Here are the other most popular travel nurse cities to round out the top 50.

  1. Albuquerque
  2. Austin
  3. Las Vegas
  4. Saint Louis
  5. New Orleans
  6. Tucson
  7. Tacoma
  8. San Jose
  9. Reno
  10. Portland
  11. San Antonio
  12. Miami
  13. Charleston
  14. Houston
  15. Washington
  16. Sacramento
  17. Orlando
  18. Honolulu
  19. Tampa
  20. Baltimore
  21. Charlotte
  22. Asheville
  23. Chicago
  24. Burlington
  25. Dallas
  26. Oakland
  27. Palo Alto
  28. Saint Petersburg
  29. Colorado Springs
  30. Anchorage
  31. Fort Myers
  32. Santa Rosa
  33. Charlottesville
  34. New York, NY
  35. Scottsdale
  36. Fresno
  37. Savannah
  38. Boise
  39. New Haven
  40. Jacksonville
travel nurse cities

There are so many great cities that travel nurses can visit, and just because a city isn’t on this list doesn’t mean that travelers don’t go there. One of the things you’ll notice is that Furnished Finder doesn’t just have listings in the big cities, as about 50% of the cities in the top 200 have populations of less than 100,000 people.  

Whether you’re going to the big city or a quaint rural town, chances are that Furnished Finder will have a monthly furnished rental to choose from. Start your travel nurse housing search today by filling out a Housing Request or Search the Map

The way it works is that you can search and contact landlords directly or through the App. Every landlord on Furnished Finder is verified so you can book housing in confidence, knowing that the person you’re speaking to really is who they say they are.  

travel nurse cities

Next, there are no booking fees on Furnished Finder. This can literally save travelers hundreds every month!  Plus, you can now book hotels on Furnished Finder and save up to 25% off.  

Want to learn more about a city before you go there?  Check out the free travel nurse housing Stipend Calculator

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 TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

June 22, 2022

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Agency Support During Mid-Contract Pay Changes

TNAA Healthcare provided this article.

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

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

Who Sets the Bill Rate?

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

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

Who Makes Mid-Contract Changes?

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

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

How Your Agency Should Support You

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

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

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

Decisions, Decisions

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

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

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

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