January 5, 2022

6819 Views

Ways to Make More Money as a Nurse

Posted on January 5, 2022December 8, 2021 by AMN Healthcare

This article was provided by AMN Healthcare.

Nursing is a rewarding career that provides more than 3 million registered nurses (RNs) in the United States with various workplace choices and good salaries.

According to the 2016 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the median nursing salary for R.N.s is $68,450 per year. The job growth rate between 2014 and 2024 is expected to rise by 16 percent, higher than the average for other occupations.

Although compensation is not the primary driving factor for most nurses who enter the profession, there are several options for R.N.s who want to make extra money as nurses.

Nurses can choose immediate or long-term options, ranging from taking nursing side jobs or travel nursing assignments to advancing their education for future opportunities.

Where Do the Majority of Nurses Work?

The country’s 5,564 hospitals employ the majority of R.N.s. However, changes in healthcare delivery in recent years have resulted in earlier patient discharges and a growing number of nursing jobs outside the hospital setting. For instance, more chronic illnesses are now handled in outpatient clinics.

In addition to acute care, nurses can work in outpatient ambulatory care, community health agencies, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities, home health, and other environments.

Nurse salaries can vary widely because of location, working environment, specific job responsibilities, and individual nurses’ qualifications.

How To Make More Money As A Nurse

1. Complete your BSN degree.

Research by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing found that 79 percent of R.N. employers prefer to hire nurses with a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) degree as entry-level employees. There also appear to be greater advancement opportunities for BSN-prepared nurses.

Magnet hospitals and those pursuing Magnet status must demonstrate that most of their nurses have BSN degrees or are on the educational path to earn this degree.

Some hospitals will offer nurses tuition assistance or student loan repayment, based on their commitment to continue their employment for a certain amount of time.

Today’s traditional and online BSN programs are designed to meet working adults’ professional and personal needs.

2. Pursue experience in a nursing specialty.

Decide on a nursing specialty that will meet your professional and personal goals, then complete certification courses to increase your knowledge and skills. Certified nurses have a better chance to earn the top pay in their field.

Some nurse specialties also offer better compensation than others, so doing some research early in your career may help you decide which path to pursue.

3. Volunteer to work overtime on occasion.

Working some overtime not only provides more money-making opportunities but can show management you’re a team member who’ll pitch in when needed. However, too much overtime can lead to fatigue or burnout, so set reasonable limits to guard yourself and your patients.

4. Get an advanced nursing degree.

Earning your graduate degree is one of the surest ways to make more money as a nurse, either as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), nurse manager, or other professional.

APRNs require a master’s degree and lead to more independent practice as either a nurse practitioner (NP), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse-midwife (CNM), or clinical nursing specialist (CNS). CRNAs make the highest average salaries among all APRNs, averaging close to $160,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Other career choices with master’s or doctoral degrees include working as a nurse educator or nurse researcher or climbing the healthcare administration ladder.

5. Get creative with nursing side jobs.

When deciding how to make extra money as a nurse, some savvy R.N.s find that nursing side jobs can help them achieve their goals. Such extra opportunities might include:

Working per diem shifts on one of your days off
Teaching patients how to use medical equipment at home
Providing care for homebound patients
Tutoring nursing students online
Working as a camp nurse during weekends or vacation breaks
Writing blogs or other content for nursing publications
Giving flu injections at doctor’s offices or special clinics
Teaching patient education classes

6. Become a travel nurse.

Experienced nurses with recent experience in their specialties can earn excellent compensation as travel nurses. Travelers work temporary contracts in their choice of locations around the country, and their travel nursing agency covers most of their expenses.

The shorter-term, critical staffing assignments offered by NurseChoice are some of the highest-paying jobs in the travel nursing industry. Employment benefits include a contracted nurse salary, free housing, bonuses, travel reimbursements, health insurance, 401K, and other standard employment benefits.

If making more money as a nurse is one of your top priorities, ask your nursing recruiter to connect you to the best-paying assignments.

Are you looking for your next or first travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Need to find housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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

START HERE

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

By Grant Oster

January 4, 2022

4750 Views

7 Easy Hobbies for Travel Nurses

Posted on January 4, 2022December 8, 2021 by Grant Oster

Travel nursing has its pros and cons, but the biggest pros of all will always be the hobbies you get to do. Wherever you go, to the mountains or the islands or the tropics, you’ll get a chance to pick up new hobbies or try another form of a hobby you already do. What are 7 easy hobbies for travel nurses you’ll find in almost every city?

Cooking a local dish

Let the locals introduce you to the dishes they like to eat. It might be a new way of roasting fish or a different kind of barbeque spice mix. The best part about learning how to make a local dish is that ingredients are usually easy to find in the area, and you don’t need to exert yourself to find spices, mixes, or sauces you need for the dishes.

Learn from a local instead of a recipe. Let them teach you how to cut the meat, how to choose the vegetables at the market, how to wait for the right level of oven heat. If you’re feeling adventurous, bring your favorite ingredients from your own home and create some fusion dishes while you’re at it!

Biking the city

If you anticipate being in a city for a while, buying and then pawning a secondhand bike might be the best way to go. You could also bring your own foldable bike right there with your luggage, ready to unleash your restless wheels on whatever city you find yourself in.

Why bike? First, you automatically get some exercise in. Travel nursing can keep you up on your feet your whole shift, but good old-fashioned cardio with a cool wind and no patients can be a restful hobby. Second, you get to explore the city without worrying about getting back to your home when your legs get tired of walking. And you might cut down on too much extra shopping!

Visiting antique shops

Maybe not necessarily antique shops. Hole-in-the-wall secondhand stores and pawn shops usually do as well. The best part is that what you find is probably not what you could easily pick up in any souvenir shop. And if you’re very lucky, you’ll find something with a little history to it that someone can tell you about.

Not sure where to start? Markets are always a fun area. Rather than going to large shops, look for smaller stores and little stalls with their own unique sets of wares. You might not find classic antiques, but the search might yield handcrafted or personally designed items that are better to bring home than a generic souvenir.

Backpacking in the local park or trail

There’s more to every city than its clinic and hospital, and sometimes the best thing to do is to get out of it for a while. Research and discover any local parks or hiking trails that can give you a nice, long walk if there are spaces for overnight camping, even better. If camping is your thing, you might already be carrying around your own backpacking gear to make it easier.

If you are an animal-lover or dabble in trees and flowers as well, backpacking will give you a chance to experience different kinds of environments across terrains and countries. Every time you need to move, you can look forward to a new backpacking experience.

Taking a long bus or train ride

Sometimes it’s the movement that matters more than the destination. This might be a weird thing to do for a travel nurse—aren’t you always on the move? But the truth is, you’re always on the move with a purpose, and that’s not any kind of vacation. But if you can find a park or tourist spot that’s quite a ways from the city, a long bus or train ride might hit the spot.

If you don’t particularly want to get out of the bus or the rest stop, go ahead and book yourself a round-trip ticket. Run the whole circuit, go down for coffee and snacks or just stay in the same bus if it’s also your ride back. Let the destination-less movement keep you going.

Trying a local hobby

What are they into where you’re going? Surfing? Skiing? Baking? Karaoke? See what the national sport or hobby is and give it a try. You might not end up actually surfing every day, but a couple of lessons might be fun. Friendly locals can give you a shot and help you understand why they love the hobby so much.

Like with local dishes, let the locals tell you what they love to do. Tourist books and websites can only go so far. When you bike around the city or as you meet your local colleagues, learn a little more about the culture and bonding activities that the locals enjoy. Who knows? They might enter your list of hobbies to hold on to!

Exploring art and photography

One thing is for sure: as a travel nurse, you’ll rarely find yourself in the same place in the same season. Or, you might get to live out 4 seasons of every year in a different place. When it comes to the vastly changing scenery, it becomes hard to explain how different places feel without another medium to help us.

If you have an eye for color and beauty, you might want to brush up and polish your art and photography skills. It might be as simple as mixing color palettes to match what you saw that day. It might be as complex as an oil painting or a beautifully rendered photo. Either way, it gives you an outlet for all the different scenes and skies you see as you travel.

How do you choose your hobby?

It depends on you! You might want a hobby you can carry with you anywhere, like a folding bike or a set of paints. You might want to pick up a hobby in each city you end up working in. Either way, as a travel nurse, there are so many opportunities wide open. Which one are you going to pick?

Check out our top city picks for 2022!

Are you looking for your next travel nurse adventure? Click here to view our job board. Are you trying to find housing for your 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:

START HERE

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

By Amber Pickler

January 3, 2022

5766 Views

Tips and Advice for New Travel Nurses

Posted on January 3, 2022May 27, 2022 by Amber Pickler

So, you are taking your first assignment and you aren’t sure what to expect, or you are looking for some advice. We frequently see posts in our Facebook group asking for tips and advice for new travel nurses. Veteran travel nurses are great about giving advice and being there to mentor new travel nurses as they start their assignments. In this article, we put together some of the best advice we have seen in our Facebook group for new travel nurses.

If you have questions, ask them

If you aren’t sure how something works or even where something is at your new assignment, just ask. There may be a few people who get annoyed answering your questions, but most will be happy to help you.

Protect your license

Just because you are a travel nurse doesn’t mean you should have to take a bigger patient load. If the floor tries to give you a patient load that you don’t feel is safe, speak up. If it continues to be an issue where you are constantly getting a bigger or harder patient load, speak to your recruiter to see what can be done.

Don’t talk about how things were done at other hospitals

While you may have learned other ways or methods of doing things at your staff hospital or even at different assignments. Others at your current facility are most likely not interested in hearing “well at this facility we did it this way or we did this another way at my staff hospital.” It may be hard, but just keep it to yourself.

Breathe

We know that sounds crazy but just breathe. You may feel overwhelmed at times during your first assignment, but you will get through it. Take deep breaths and just remember that you have the experience and expertise to do the job. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be there. Your nursing skills don’t change just because your job location does.

Remember it is only 13 weeks

Just keep reminding yourself that the assignment is only 13 weeks. You can do it. If the assignment gets tough or you are just having a hard time with it, remember you are moving on in 13 weeks and your next assignment will most likely be nothing like your previous one. You can get through it, you wouldn’t have signed on if you didn’t think you could make it.

We hope these advice and tips for your first travel assignment were helpful. Do you have any advice and/or tips for new travel nurses or first travel nurse assignments? Comment them below.

New travel nurses, just remember: You got this!

Are you looking for your first travel nurse assignment or your next adventure? Click here to view our job board. If you need to find housing for your next assignment click here to search our housing page.

By Medical Edge Recruitment

December 29, 2021

4968 Views

Tap into your Inner Gypsy: How to Decide if 2022 is Your Year to Travel

Posted on December 29, 2021December 21, 2021 by Medical Edge Recruitment

This article was provided by Medical Edge Recruitment.

Written By: Brittany Davie, Recruitment Consultant, Medical Edge Recruitment

The year is almost over. You’ve probably already created your New Year’s Resolution list and plan to publicly announce each resolution on social media. On that list are probably a few things that would make 2022 YOUR year. Making more money, traveling, and making new friends are likely at the top of the list. Are you ready to start scratching a few things off? Keep reading to discover if you should tap into your inner gypsy, take your career on the road, and become a Travel Nurse in 2022.

Desire to Seek New Adventures

Gone are the days where you get only one week to visit another city or state. If you desire to seek new adventures, you can decide where you want to visit and for how long as a travel nurse. With an 8+ week travel contract, you can ski in Colorado Springs, walk down the strip in Las Vegas, visit Disney World in Orlando, or see the Statue of Liberty in New York. In one year, you may be able to visit all four of these places and then some. You get to determine where your next adventure lies and how long you want to enjoy it.

Want To Make Connections

When experiencing new places, new people come into the picture, and who wouldn’t want more friends? If you want to make meaningful and memorable connections, not only should you see the world, but you should also meet its people. If we didn’t learn anything else during the Pandemic, one thing we did is that we humans need real live, personal connections. Talking through a screen is not enough. Traveling allows you to meet new people with a variety of backgrounds and cultures. The locals will tell you where all the “hot spots” are and inform you of the best their city has to offer. Your visit will be more memorable by being connected to people. You will return home with stories to tell of the people you’ve met and the places you’ve seen. The next time your friends want a break from their city, you will be their new go-to guy or gal for their next adventure.

You Love Your Freedom

There is nothing better than having the freedom to choose when and where you want to be at any given moment. If the weather, facility, or overall environment is not necessarily your cup of tea, you can always change your scenery. You can determine how long of a commitment you want to make, whether that is as little as 8 weeks or as much as 24 weeks. If you would like a break before starting the next assignment, there is no need to put in a request for time off and cross your fingers that it is approved. You can decide to take a week or two break before the start of your next assignment.

You want to Build your Resume

Gaining experience in different facilities increases your knowledge and earning potential. For every facility you contract with, you will gain useful skills, exposure to new systems, experience with state-of-the-art equipment, awareness of additional procedures, and familiarity within other sectors of health care that you may not otherwise become familiar. All the above will give you bragging rights that will make for an exceptional resume. As a travel nurse, you will show the next hiring manager you are full of industry knowledge, are adaptable, dependable, and an overall asset to the facility.

Desire to Make More Money

Can you use some extra cash? Maybe you have your eye on a new car, want to pay off debt, or just want to see your bank account grow. According to Travelnursing.org, you can make as much as 30% more than if you stayed local as a travel nurse. Some people can even double their current hourly rate by providing care in CRISIS facilities. If you are concerned about the potential cost of traveling, keep in mind that most staffing agencies offer some form of stipend or incentive to assist you in your travels, including transportation and housing, which allows you to take home as much money as possible.

Conclusion

Take another look at your New Year’s Resolution list and see if this list aligns with yours. I bet that at least three of the above are resolutions you have for 2022. If that is the case, tap into your inner gypsy by becoming a travel nurse, and make 2022 YOUR year!

Medical Edge Recruitment is the premier travel nursing recruitment agency specializing in providing top talent to clients in the healthcare industry. We connect clinical and allied providers to their ideal opportunities, focusing on building long-lasting relationships through honesty and transparency. Adventure awaits; let us show you where you can go in 2022!

We hope you enjoyed this article on tapping into your inner gypsy. Have you recently tapped into your inner gypsy? Was the experience good? Are there any tips or pointers you would give others thinking of tapping into their inner gypsy? Comment them below.

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

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

START HERE

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

Works Cited

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.travelnursing.org/why-travel-nurses-make-more-money/

Brusie, C. (2021, July 28). Travelnursing.org. Retrieved from https://www.travelnursing.org/why-travel-nurses-make-more-money/

By CareerStaff Unlimited

December 28, 2021

5373 Views

8 Steps for Resetting Your Nursing Career in 2022

Posted on December 28, 2021December 27, 2021 by CareerStaff Unlimited

This article was provided by: CareerStaff Unlimited.

A new year is here, and for many health professionals, that means a time to seek new career opportunities. While some are content to find an assignment in the same setting — or even the same building — many others have a bigger change in mind. For those of you looking to take your nursing career in a new direction in 2022, here are a few things to consider.

Step 1: Take stock of what’s important.

Before you begin your search for a new nursing career path — or, at the very least, before you make a decision to accept a new assignment—make sure that you’ve taken the time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished in your career so far (or haven’t, as the case may be).

That means taking a real consideration of what’s worked and what hasn’t in your career up to this point. Have you enjoyed working in the type of facilities you’ve been assigned to, or is it time for a change? You may discover that something you’re struggling with is something you can fix — i.e., the setting or facility type or the size of the town you work in.

Step 2: Clearly define your goals.

“The research is clear,” writes Ashley Stahl at Forbes, “people who set goals are more successful.” Stahl goes on to outline some advice for setting and sticking to goals — specifically, making sure it’s specific and clear by putting it in writing.

And now that you’ve taken stock of your past, you can be more specific in your goals for the future. That’s very important, Stahl notes: “If your career plan is to one day become a manager, that’s great,” she writes. “But it’s also vague. Get even more clear by setting goals like ‘manage a team of 5 or more senior employees by January [2022].’ This goal just got much easier to visualize.”

Step 3: Prioritize your personal satisfaction.

When you’re setting your goals, don’t forget to consider your own satisfaction, on the personal as well as the professional level. If you’ve been developing the right kinds of skills and experience but not really feeling happy or fulfilled, then you want to consider why that is — and do what you can to correct it.

Thanks to the possibilities of virtual care and the huge demand for nurses and clinicians pretty much across the board, there are more opportunities than ever. That means that you’ll have more chances to move into a new environment. So, think about what really makes you happy — everything from the size of your team to the city you work in — and work on adapting your career to that standard.

Step 4: Update your CV, stat!

As important as it is to keep your CV as updated as possible, we know it’s also time-consuming. But make no mistake: If you’re seeking a new clinical or nursing career opportunity, it’s essential to revisit your CV, stat. You don’t want to miss a great opportunity because you had to quickly create a new CV before you could apply!

But the idea isn’t just to make sure this important document is up to date, but that it also best reflects your skillset. For instance, if you have experience working in a specific type of facility like an educational or correctional institution, that can be a valuable item to highlight. Doing so demonstrates not just clinical skills but also your versatility and ability to work in a variety of settings.

Step 5: Work on your network.

With every assignment you work, you’re meeting new people and making new relationships. Besides the basic fulfillment of making friends, this is also part of building a professional network that can, in turn, provide essential benefits like endorsements, recommendations, and referrals.

Today, networking has taken on new dimensions thanks to LinkedIn, the social networking platform for working professionals. Most people who work in healthcare have at least a basic presence on this important site. Many hospitals, health networks, and recruiters are active on LinkedIn, so taking the time to build your profile there is far from wasting time on social media.

On top of that, those who take time to cultivate their presence on LinkedIn often have a real advantage when competing for the jobs that they really want. If you keep it updated, it can also double as your CV or resume too, and the work you put into one can also be used to the benefit of the other.

Our experts offer up these additional tips for networking on LinkedIn:

Use professional photos on your profile that best portray who you are and your profession.
Keep your headline short and laser focused on what you do, and what you can offer a potential employer.
Join groups to find insider and trade info on valuable topics or certifications.
Follow influencers and thought leaders to learn more about what interests you in your profession.
Follow your “dream job” company or facility and their social feed — seeing what types of articles they share and how they interact with their community can help you get a sense of the kind of culture you want to work within.

Step 6: Learn a new skill.

A great way to ensure that you land the clinical or nursing career opportunity that you want is making sure you’re offering something of value to a new employer or facility. This could be getting a new certification or even working in a different facility type.

For instance, if you plan to work at a hospital again later in your career, spending a few months on assignment in a different type of setting like a skilled nursing facility could give you new skills and sometimes a higher level of compensation. Having already clearly defined your goals, you should also have a pretty clear idea of the specific skills you’ll need to realize them.

Because of the pandemic, acute care skills and ICU experience is, particularly in demand. But at all times, employers seek skills like management, communication, and critical thinking — all of which can be demonstrated by taking CE courses that support them. Being clear about this on your CV and during your interview will also help show initiative and leadership — two more skills that are always in.

Step 7: Be ready to deal with change.

Remember, if you’re taking the active steps to reset or even shift your nursing career, you have to be ready for some life changes that may come as a result. If you’ve done a good job of planning and setting your expectations for personal happiness, that change should be welcome.

But change isn’t always predictable, as we’ve all recently learned. Chances are that, no matter how well you’ve planned your career path, you’ll come across speedbumps. To succeed requires pressing on in the face of doubt and uncertainty to face the future you really want. It can be hard, though, so be ready!

Step 8: Stay up to date on industry trends and developments.

Finally, you’ll want to make sure you’re up to date on what’s happening in the industry to make sure you find the opportunity that best suits your needs and preferences. A great way to do that is by following CareerStaff on LinkedIn, as we noted above. And another great way is here at the CareerStaff blog.

ONE MORE CAREER TIP: GET STARTED TODAY!

If you’re ready to start a new clinical or nursing career path, there’s no better time to start than today! You can search all available jobs here or submit a quick application here. Good luck in your search and in achieving your new career goals!

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

START HERE

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

By Melissa Rissler

December 25, 2021

9952 Views

Things I’ve Learned in my 3+ Years of Travel Nursing

Posted on December 25, 2021December 26, 2021 by Melissa Rissler

One of our readers shares things learned about travel nursing from her 3+ years of experience.

Along the way, travel nurses pick up tips and tricks that make being a travel nurse easier or more efficient. Below you will find a fellow travel nurse’s tips learned along the way.

The Contract

Get your nursing license in hand before accepting a contract!
Please take pictures of all testing/ vaccination papers so you have them with you. Especially current flu shot if you don’t want to be forced to wear a mask!
Contracts are between you and the agency, NOT THE HOSPITAL! The agency has a separate contract with the hospital.
Verify how payroll is handled before orientation. Do you clock in? Do you fill it out on paper and fax It? Does the hospital send in your time?
Make sure you have guaranteed hours in your contract.
Ask if orientation week is included before your start date!! You don’t get a full 36 during orientation for some assignments, but you still want your stipend and hours!!!
Don’t take less than $20/hour!!!!!
Don’t take less than $1500. TAKE HOME a week. Anything less is not worth your time.
Have enough emergency money set aside just in case of cancellation.
Additional travel nurse contract tips.

During the interview

Discuss requested time off during your interview, not after!!!

Ask about orientation testing DURING YOUR INTERVIEW!!!! Most recruiters won’t know if you have to take a pass/fail EKG test, but the unit manager you interview with should.

Housing

Do not sign a lease or pay a large down payment on your housing until A.) You have seen the property. B.) you have made it through the 1st week of orientation. Extended stay hotels are a good option. There are horror stories everywhere of people who have paid money for housing and found they were canceled early or had to pass tests that they couldn’t pass and were not allowed to work.

If possible, get an RV of some sort… nothing better than coming home to your own bed!!! Usually

During the Assignment

Have fun and explore! Go on an adventure! Try new foods! My kids and I check out places that featured Diners, Drive-ins, and dives in just about every city we have traveled to. There is a pit BBQ place in Baltimore in the parking lot of a strip joint across the street from an adult bookstore in a very sketchy area, BUT THE FOOD WAS AMAZING!!!!

Be flexible… very, very, very flexible!!

Try not to do the “well at my staff job we did…” or ” at such and such hospital we did….” you don’t work there anymore, and it makes you look bad to the permanent staff. Unless patient safety is at risk, then, by all means, correct the issue!!!

We hope you found these tips about travel nursing helpful!

Happy Travels!!

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

START HERE

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

By Emily Bryant

December 24, 2021

4129 Views

An Expert’s Guide to Being a New Travel Nurse

Posted on December 24, 2021December 27, 2021 by Emily Bryant

Calling myself an Expert

Ok well calling myself an expert might be a bit of a stretch, but I have done this eight times in about two years, so the feeling is more familiar to me than to most people. It only takes about one week of being a travel nurse to hear just about every question you will ever get asked again since people seem to stick to the same twenty questions no matter which region, culture, or age group you are interacting with. What has been your favorite location so far? How does housing work? Do you get paid more? How do you get insurance? Can you travel anywhere you want? What agency do you use? How did you decide to choose this profession? Where are you going to travel to next? Can you take lots of time off? Is it hard?

Answering the Questions

I have answered these questions on repeat so many times that I sometimes want to pull out a prerecorded audio file of myself answering all these questions and hit play and walk away because I wish there could be some more interesting questions thrown in every once in awhile, but that last question always makes me pause and think. Is it hard? For about the first year or so of traveling, I would respond with a chipper “not really, the fun outweighs the difficult aspects.” Or maybe I would even squeak out a “there are some minor challenges, but I wouldn’t call it hard by any means.”

What I would tell every traveler

But if I have learned one thing on this journey that I wish I could tell every traveler out there, I think it would be that it is OK to admit that the process is hard. Travel nurses by nature are more independent than the average human, but that doesn’t mean that we need to put on an act pretending that we have it all together and that we don’t need any help. This life is hard. Starting over is hard. Making new friends is hard. Not understanding a new hospital’s process is hard. Subjecting yourself to new relationships is hard. Constantly engaging in small talk is hard. Being away from family is hard. Having no control over your shifts is hard. Leaving friends right when you make a connection is hard. Never feeling settled is hard.

It is worth it!

Don’t get me wrong, traveling is absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, better than ice cream worth it. The experience is incomparable to just about any other career option out there and has provided some of the sweetest memories I could have asked for, but I experienced a degree of freedom when I allowed myself to voice the words “yes, it is hard. Constantly being the new one and the one saying goodbye is hard.”

People love to help

However, one of the sweetest things I have learned in starting over 8 times in two years is that people love to help, but we oftentimes have to ask. In our independent and sometimes harsh stance, we can take while subjecting ourselves to new experiences, we build up walls around ourselves pretending to be ok and acting as we will just figure this out on our own. Well, let me tell you that just end you up alone in all your endeavors with a bitter outlook on life. In “The Power of Vulnerability,” Brene Brown talks about the freedom and joy that vulnerability can bring to your life by simply allowing people into the real nitty-gritty details of your life, not just the Instagram-worthy moments. People, especially nurses, are wired to want to help. Sometimes it just takes a simple statement that you are lonely and would love to be more involved with people in order for coworkers or strangers to welcome you into their social lives.

She talks about being truly and authentically yourself, no matter what the situation is. Her mantra has been one of the most powerful tools for me in this journey. She recommends that when you walk into a new or uncomfortable place, simply whisper to you on repeat “don’t puff up, don’t shrink down. Be authentically you.” I cannot tell you the power in those words. It is absolutely amazing the peace that saying brings me when I can repeat that in my head while walking into a new assignment.

We hope these tips for being new as a travel nurse help you along your journey! Do you have any tips for being new as a travel nurse? Comment them below.

Calling myself an Expert

Answering the Questions

I have answered these questions on repeat so many times that I sometimes want to pull out a prerecorded audio file of myself answering all these questions and hit play and walk away because I wish there could be some more interesting questions thrown in every once in a while, but that last question always makes me pause and think. Is it hard? For about the first year or so of traveling, I would respond with a chipper “not really, the fun outweighs the difficult aspects.” Or maybe I would even squeak out a “there are some minor challenges, but I wouldn’t call it hard by any means.”

What I would tell every traveler

It is worth it!

Don’t get me wrong, traveling is absolute, 100%, without a doubt, better than ice cream worth it. The experience is incomparable to just about any other career option out there and has provided some of the sweetest memories I could have asked for, but I experienced a degree of freedom when I allowed myself to voice the words “yes, it is hard. Constantly being the new one and the one saying goodbye is hard.”

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We hope these tips for being new as a travel nurse help you along your journey! Do you have any tips for being new as a travel nurse? Comment them below.

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

START HERE

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

By Amanda Dudley

December 23, 2021

5631 Views

6 Tips On Maintaining Relationships As Travel Nurse

Posted on December 23, 2021December 8, 2021 by Amanda Dudley

Travel nursing comes with several exciting benefits and offers for most people within the occupation. You get to go on exciting trips and adventures, enjoy a variety of local cultures, and go home with a fat paycheck at the end of the day. However, it’s not all roses and sunshine over here.

While this occupation can be very beneficial, it might be at the detriment of your romantic relationships.

So how do you solve this? Well, whether you’ve just stepped into a new relationship or you’ve been with your partner for ages, there are ways for you to keep the strings of your relationship together as a road trip nurse.

Let’s explore these tips, shall we?

Set expectations and plan effectively

Although most relationships are often spur of the moment, it’s important to plan ahead and set expectations before you set out for your trip. Talk about what you need and expect from each other while you’re absent.

Whether you’re a travel nurse or simply dating a nurse, mapping out these expectations and plans will help reduce stress and the likelihood of experiencing avoidable issues. For instance, you can decide if either of you would take a trip to see the other party. You can also decide what your major communication channels would be. Do you prefer regular text messages or phone conversations?

Although mapping out these plans won’t necessarily eliminate the strain of long-distance relationships, it certainly makes it easier.

Maintain constant communication

Communication is the bedrock of every working relationship, and if you and your partner are long-distance, you’d need to communicate even more. As such, try as much as possible to stay in contact with your partner regardless of how stressful your day might have been.

Share updates about the little mundane moments in your day, such as what you had for breakfast or how you commuted to work. You can also share some of the significant moments you experienced at work.

To boost your communication with your partner, you could also consider using up all communication channels at your disposal. Use pictures, video calls, or texts to stay in contact with your partner. Remember: they can’t see or touch you, so you’ll need to make your presence felt as much as you can.

Remain positive

We get it: being in a long-distance relationship can be extremely difficult and have psychological effects on both parties. However, it’s important to keep your chin up and maintain a positive outlook on things. This will help you to put in the required effort and get you through on the bluest days. Even though your partner might not necessarily be frolicking with hot brunette women while you’re away, long absences can certainly put a dent in your relationship.

If you’re ever feeling blue about the distance between you and your partner, just remind yourself that your assignment is only temporary. Think of the positive memories that you’ve both shared, and in no time, it will all come to an end.

Surprise each other

While you’re away from your partner, it’s important to constantly remind them of how you feel about them by surprising them. You can do this by sending them small delightful packages that will brighten their entire day. For instance, you can send them a small lunch package or a tiny piece of jewelry.

In some cases, you could even send a small romantic note to their workplace to make them smile. This will help to strengthen your relationship and make each other’s hearts grow fonder.

Even though you and your partner are miles apart, you can still do things together in your free time. This will tighten the bond you share and reduce the loneliness that comes with long-distance relationships.

For instance, you can try playing shared online games like Words With Friends. You could even watch your favorite Netflix shows together.

Another way to lessen the strain of distance relationships is by recommending new books, games, or movies to your partner. This way, you both can try out new things and have fodder for your late-night conversations.

Make New Friends

Constant communication with your partner is great, but if you have no friends, you might feel even lonelier, which could further strain your relationship. As such, it’s important to make travel nurse friends who are in the same situation. When you converse and bond with people who can relate to your problems, the whole situation seems more bearable and short-lived.

If you aren’t sure where to find these friends, there are tons of travel nurse apps where you can find nurse friends and build a close-knit community.

Final Thoughts

Being in a relationship as a travel nurse is certainly not an easy journey for both you and your partner. Luckily, the tips outlined above will help you enjoy a strong, healthy relationship and an amazing career at the same time.

If it ever gets too tough, remember that it’s only for a short while!

We hope you found this article on tips for maintaining a relationship as a travel nurse. Are you a travel nurse in a relationship? Have you found ways to maintain the relationship, even while on assignment? Comment your tips below.

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

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

START HERE

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

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

December 21, 2021

9109 Views

Enrolling in an RN to BSN Program as a Travel Nurse

Posted on December 21, 2021November 28, 2023 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

This article was provided by TNAA Healthcare.

More leading healthcare organizations are pushing for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to be the industry standard, citing an increased quality of patient care. According to The Joint Commission Journal of Quality and Patient Safety, nurses with BSNs were better prepared in evidence-based practice, data analysis, and project implementation than those who only held an associate degree in nursing (ADN). There was even a push to increase the number of nurses with a BSN to 80% by 2020, though recent data shows the United States hit just 59% in 2019. Still, the effort to increase the number of BSNs continues, so if you don’t have this degree, there may be a reason to consider enrolling in an R.N. to BSN program.

The good news is life on the road as a travel nurse shouldn’t hold you back from continuing your education. You can pursue both! R.N. to BSN programs can typically be completed in two years or less.

Reasons to Get Your BSN

Besides the fact that it could soon be required, there are definitely other perks for travel nurses who get a BSN.

More Job Options

A 2021 survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) found that nearly 41% of hospitals and other healthcare settings require a bachelor’s degree, and approximately 77% of employers prefer it. NursingProcess.org further emphasizes that point with its findings on job openings for nurses. It estimates that there will be about 105,600 job openings for BSN nurses and approximately 65,500 for ADN nurses each year.

The career advancement opportunities are wide-ranging for nurses who earn their bachelor’s degree. Those with BSNs can apply to Magnet hospitals, a designation from the AACN that recognizes the best healthcare facilities in the nation, to serve as nurse managers and nurse leaders.

Potential to Earn More Money

PayScale shows that R.N.s with an ADN make an average of $64,786 while nurses with a BSN make $68,328. While entry-level positions for nurses with an ADN or BSN have close pay rates, nurses with BSNs are eligible to apply for higher-paying jobs not necessarily available to nurses with just an ADN. So, when taking this into consideration, the pay gap between the two degrees widens.

Enhanced Patient Care

The AACN Fact Sheet says BSN programs teach students all they would learn for an ADN and more in-depth studies. These in-depth studies include the physical and social sciences, research, public and community health, management, and more – preparing the nurse for a broader scope of practice and helping them understand issues that affect patient care in the United States.

Paying for an RN to BSN Program

There are several traveler-friendly R.N. to BSN programs out there, and there are also grants, scholarships, and programs to help cover the cost.

TNAA

TNAA partnered with Aspen University to offer a BSN degree program available entirely online, and it’s open to travelers anywhere in the country. That means you can learn and study from anywhere and on your time. Through this program, students can earn their degree in as little as 12 months or up to 24 months. Students must pay all tuition and fees up front, but TNAA will provide 100% tuition reimbursement once the program is completed and documentation has been submitted proving all eligibility requirements have been met.

TNAA also offers a $2,500 scholarship twice a year for nurses working to earn their BSN degree and plans to add a scholarship for students in full-time programs pursuing a career as an allied health professional next year.

Cross Country Healthcare

Cross Country Healthcare has relationships with various academic partners to offer discounts for nurses going to school to receive their BSN or higher degrees. R.N. to BSN discounts are available with Capella University, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Oklahoma Christian University, and others. The discount amount and the program length vary by university.

Aya

Aya gives $1,000 scholarships to up to 10 people each year. To apply, you have to be in good academic standing, volunteer or be involved in extracurricular activities, and not be a current Aya nurse.

Nurse.org

Nurse.org offers a Healthcare Leaders Scholarship of $1,000 for students pursuing a degree in nursing or medicine. To qualify, you have to be at least 17-years-old, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and be a U.S. citizen.

If you are interested in earning a higher degree, know that your unique skill set acquired from working as a travel nurse in various hospital settings will only enhance your studies. Ask your agency what perks, like scholarships or tuition reimbursement, are available to you when you pursue your BSN.

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

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

START HERE

Where Do the Majority of Nurses Work?

How To Make More Money As A Nurse

1. Complete your BSN degree.

2. Pursue experience in a nursing specialty.

3. Volunteer to work overtime on occasion.

4. Get an advanced nursing degree.

5. Get creative with nursing side jobs.

6. Become a travel nurse.

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

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

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Cooking a local dish

Biking the city

Visiting antique shops

Backpacking in the local park or trail

Taking a long bus or train ride

Trying a local hobby

Exploring art and photography

How do you choose your hobby?

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

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

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If you have questions, ask them

Protect your license

Don’t talk about how things were done at other hospitals

Breathe

Remember it is only 13 weeks

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Desire to Seek New Adventures

Want To Make Connections

You Love Your Freedom

You want to Build your Resume

Desire to Make More Money

Conclusion

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

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

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Step 1: Take stock of what’s important.

Step 2: Clearly define your goals.

Step 3: Prioritize your personal satisfaction.

Step 4: Update your CV, stat!

Step 5: Work on your network.

Step 6: Learn a new skill.

Step 7: Be ready to deal with change.

Step 8: Stay up to date on industry trends and developments.

ONE MORE CAREER TIP: GET STARTED TODAY!

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

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

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