May 11, 2022

1462 Views

What Can You Do To Celebrate National Nurses’ Week?

Posted on May 11, 2022May 4, 2022 by TheraEx

TheraEx Staffing Services provided this article.

From compassionately assisting with life-threatening medical crises to advocating for the health of their patients during their most vulnerable moments, nurses perform some of the most difficult tasks in the medical world. National Nurses Week honors the contributions and sacrifices nurses make day in and day out and reminds us to thank the medical professionals that work so tirelessly to keep us healthy. With so many healthcare workers risking their health to care for the many communities impacted by COVID-19, the celebration takes on added meaning. Whether you come from a family of nurses, have friends in the nursing field, or you simply want to thank local nurses for their efforts, your support means more now than ever. Here are five ways you can thank the healthcare heroes in your local community for serving their patients with devotion, the utmost care, and exceptional professionalism as they continue to protect our health and safety during a global pandemic.

Be Understanding

Many healthcare workers have risen to the occasion of providing quality care to their communities throughout the pandemic. Nurses and other healthcare workers have taken on extra shifts or put in extra hours to ensure they are able to take care of their patients. If a friend or loved one is in this situation, be mindful of what they are going through and make sure you are not asking or expecting too much of them.

Send Flowers

Sometimes simply saying “Thanks” doesn’t feel like enough. Show some love to a nurse in your life with fresh flowers to show your appreciation for going above and beyond to help you or support you. Flowers like hydrangeas and roses are just the flowers for National Nurses Week because they symbolize gratitude, grace, beauty, and courage.

Donate a Meal

Nurses work long hours with few breaks. What better way to show appreciation and say thank you than with food? Due to COVID-19 protocols, if you’d like to donate a meal to healthcare workers, make sure it’s from a restaurant. Understandably, most hospitals are not accepting homemade goods currently, but many local restaurants are offering free deliveries. A hot meal from a restaurant can provide a sense of normalcy and some much-needed nourishment during a busy shift.

Handwrite a Note or a Card

Cards are a personal way to show someone that you appreciate them. In today’s world, instant communication through emails, social media posts, and text message is commonplace, while receiving a handwritten card or letter is rare. Handwriting a letter to express your gratitude could provide extra motivation for a nurse to continue moving forward during these trying times in the era of COVID-19.

Leave Positive Feedback

Nurses might not realize that the work they do each day is appreciated unless you tell them. Many nursing units provide incentives to nurses who receive positive patient feedback. Call the unit, ask for the charge nurse, ask for the patient feedback email or phone number, and put your experience in writing. Your positive feedback can brighten their day and remind them that their profession to care for others has made a positive impact.

Nominate a Nurse for a DAISY Award

Nurses go above and beyond the call of duty to provide exceptional care. The international DAISY award program celebrates nurses’ extraordinary clinical skills and the compassionate care they provide to their patients. If your life has been touched by an extraordinary nurse, nominate them for a DAISY Award to recognize the admirable attributes they possess.

Being a nurse is often physically demanding and almost always emotionally taxing. Nurses are caregivers, mentors, and leaders, steering the profession towards excellence in patient care and compassion. Today and every day, we thank each and every nurse for their tireless commitment in delivering outstanding patient care. You are our heroes.

We hope you enjoyed this article from TheraEX Staffing Services. What are some ways you like to celebrate Nurses Week? 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!)

By Susan Keller

May 10, 2022

2422 Views

Useful Tips for Researching the Assignment Location

Posted on May 10, 2022May 4, 2022 by Susan Keller

As a traveling nurse, you are moving around a lot, so research of the assignment location becomes a must. Research helps with preparing for a new location and knowing what to expect. It may also help with the adjustment to a new environment.
Here are several useful tips for your research of the location.

Inform yourself on the climate

Climate may really affect your mood, health, and daily activities so make sure that you know where are you coming to. This will help you prepare for climate change and take the needed steps to prevent difficulties. Also, you will know how to pack your bag, so you don’t have to buy additional clothes when on the spot. If needed, here are some great solar power stations.

Talk to your recruiter

Your recruiter may be a good source of information for any questions you might have. Recruiter will help you with any issues as well with adjusting, transportation, housing, and everything else that might be of use to you.

Get to know the culture

Make sure that you have done research on culture in the place of the assignment. What are common habits, what is different, what is unacceptable behavior, and what are some of the requested terms of behavior? You would be surprised that you don’t have to travel around the world to meet new cultures.

Get familiar with important institutions

After you get your housing info, check the important institutions near you. You want to know where is the nearest hospital, police station, embassy, gym, grocery store, etc. It’s better to know those so you can act fast in moments of a possible crisis.

Do you need to drive?

Check if there’s organized transportation that works for you or do you need to drive to work. Do good research to see if it’s maybe easier to use public transportation like buses and trolleys, or Uber, taxi, and a shared ride seem like cheaper options? If you want to rent a car, check if that’s an option in the location that you’re headed to.

Prices

Get familiar with the basic prices range and where is the best to shop. You want to know smaller shops, family businesses, and other places that might not be on Google but sell quality goods at lower prices.

How will you spend your free time?

Plan your free time so you can make the most of the location of the assignment: research heritage places, museums, galleries, fun activities, nature parks, etc. Adjust your research to your needs and preferences when it comes to activities. Make a plan for what will you visit when and if some activity is conditioned by the weather.

Where to research?

Internet is the most common place where people do the research, but magazines and newspapers can tell you so much about a location. Also, smaller places are sometimes not on Google, so it’s best to ask your recruiter, local population, and someone who’s already been there. Try to get as big a palette of information as possible so you can get a clearer picture.

Safety of the neighborhood

There are many online tools to check crime rates and help you get a picture of the neighborhood you’re gonna live in. It’s rare to find a place where crime doesn’t exist, but it’s important to acknowledge the risks. In places with more people, crime rates are normally higher, but that doesn’t mean that you will be endangered. This will simply help you to determine how to protect yourself, like should you walk alone at night hours, etc.

Plan

Using the research you did on all mentioned topics, make a plan. You should plan your budget, places to visit, transportation, safety measures, and your daily schedule.

Planing will make your adjustment easy and painless so you can enjoy your time in a new location.

Conclusion

Research is half of a job to make your stay comfortable and with no bad surprises. It’s up to you to come prepared and make the transition as easy as possible. The good news is that it’s not that hard; you just need enough motivation to do everything upfront and thoroughly. Good luck in your new endeavors!

We hope you found this article on useful tips for researching the assignment location helpful. Are there any ways you research locations before taking a travel nurse assignment? 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

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 RNnetwork

May 9, 2022

2439 Views

Tips to Get the Best Travel Nurse Assignments

Posted on May 9, 2022May 6, 2022 by RNnetwork

RNnetwork provided this article.

Quitting your full-time job and applying for travel nursing jobs can be a bit scary. You’re embarking on a brand-new position with brand-new people, and you’re not sure exactly what to expect. You’re also taking a temporary job and aren’t sure where you’ll be working in six months, much less a year.

Don’t let these concerns bring you down! Travel nursing is an exciting way to see the country and gain valuable clinical experience. Here are seven travel nursing success tips to help you attract the best assignments.

Build a strong relationship with your recruiter

It seems so easy — and it is. One of the easiest ways to get the best jobs and have a positive experience as a traveler is to build a positive relationship with your recruiter. Answer their calls or texts, be honest about what you want in a job, and tell them immediately when you have problems or need help. Your recruiter presents you to a potential employer and can talk you up and help you land the best jobs.

If you struggle to communicate with your recruiter or don’t tell them about red flags on your record, it can hurt your chances of getting travel nursing jobs.

Get and give lots of details.

Before you ask your recruiter to submit your name for a new job, find out as much as possible, including:

The pay package
The hours you’ll be working
The departments you could potentially float to
The patient load
The trauma level of the hospital
Orientation time

You should also have your college transcripts and other paperwork ready and give your recruiter the following information:

Dates when you need time off
Whether you have friends working there (this could help you get a job)
If you’ve applied for a permanent job there in the past or worked there before as a traveler
If you have other offers with other travel nurse agencies

Tell your recruiter who else you work with and what jobs you’ve applied for

Some travelers work with multiple agencies or even apply for permanent and travel jobs simultaneously. If you’re doing this or plan to do this, tell every recruiter you work with where you are working. By being open about how many jobs you’re applying for, you can avoid being submitted to the same job by multiple companies.

Since it’s common to work with several agencies that have contracts with different hospitals, recruiters will appreciate your honesty and work hard to get you the best package possible. If you do apply for several positions simultaneously, it’s crucial to respond quickly when your recruiter has an opportunity for you so you have a better chance of landing the job.

Give yourself time to fit in.

As a travel nurse, you’ll have a short orientation (sometimes only a day or so) and will be expected to jump right in and help. You’ll have to quickly speed on new electronic health systems, learn where the supply closet is, and even figure out what’s palatable from the hospital cafeteria.

It’s challenging to be the “new kid” every three months and get to know new doctors and nurses — but give yourself a break. Don’t expect the staff to be welcoming or invite you to company events instantly. And don’t expect to make connections with everyone quickly. If you do your job well and are willing to work hard, you’ll gain your coworkers’ respect and make lasting friendships.

Tell your recruiter why you have turned down job offers

Explain the situation to your recruiter if you’re offered a travel nursing job and decide to turn it down. They will want to know if you need a higher salary, more flexible hours, a different location, or more time off work. This helps your recruiter find you a better job in the future.

Be aware that turning down a job once it’s been offered can hurt your chances of working with that hospital again.

Be flexible wherever you can

If your sister is getting married next summer, you can’t budge on the dates you need time off. However, you can be more willing to work a different shift, try a rural hospital instead of an urban one, or work in a state you had never considered.

While it’s important to know what you want in a job and communicate that to your recruiter, it’ll be harder to find a job if your requirements are too specific. If your dream is to work in Alaska, you may have to be more flexible on pay or shifts. Likewise, you may need to work in Florida during the summer rather than the winter (at least for your first assignment).

Let your recruiter know if you’d like a permanent job.

Sometimes, you love a travel job so much that you decide you’d like to work there full-time. Or sometimes a hospital offers you a permanent position because they’ve been impressed with your work.

No matter how it happens, let your recruiter know as soon as possible if you’re considering taking a permanent job. They will need to cancel your benefits, help you transition out of agency housing, and evaluate your contract. While your recruiter will be sad to lose you to a permanent job, they may be able to help you find a place to live in the new city and give you tips on transitioning to full-time work again.

Travel nursing is an experience unlike any other, and it comes with a bit of a learning curve. If you communicate well with your recruiter, are honest about what you expect from a job, and are willing to be adaptable, you’ll be successful and have the time of your life.

Have you caught the travel nursing bug yet? Check out our open travel nursing jobs, or call us at 800.866.0407 to get started.

We hope you found this article on tips to get the best assignments helpful. Have you found any ways to find the best assignments that we didn’t list here? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nursing 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:

START HERE

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

By Furnished Finder

May 8, 2022

2598 Views

How Facebook Messenger is Hurting Travel Nurses

Posted on May 8, 2022May 8, 2022 by Furnished Finder

Throughout the process of building www.furnishedfinder.com, I’ve made it my mission to stop scammers in their tracks. They are the nemesis of our industry, and I thoroughly enjoy pulling the rug out from underneath them. Knowing that online housing scammers prey on traveling nurses, this two-minute read could be the difference between keeping or losing big money.

What you learn in this article could save you thousands!!

One of the ways that travelers connect with each other, and landlords looking to host them, is through Facebook (Meta) groups. If you’re a member of Furnished Finder’s Travel Nurse Housing Facebook group, you know how helpful our group is when it comes to learning from other travelers and being part of our community. However, when it comes to finding housing, there’s a vulnerability within ALL Facebook groups that travel nurses absolutely must be aware of. Please keep in mind that this view may not necessarily be the view of The Gypsy Nurse.

Scammers are Targeting Nurses Via Messenger.

Be careful using Facebook Messenger to connect with potential landlords! This might be my Jerry Maguire mission moment, but I can’t sit back and let overseas scammers take advantage of hard-working healthcare professionals. Calling for a boycott of Facebook Messenger may not be popular, but it will hopefully provide enough exposure to the problem that prevents you from losing a couple of grand!

Facebook Messenger is Worse than Craigslist.

While scammers historically preferred setting up shop on free listing sites like Zillow and Craigslist, they are now focusing their efforts on travel nurse housing-related FB groups! Before I expose the ruse, I should mention that Facebook does not provide group admins with adequate member-screening tools, so while we try our best to identify and remove fake accounts, it is an impossible battle.

That said, here’s the racket:

Scammers view your ‘housing-wanted’ group post through one of their fake accounts that got approved.

Then they’ll reach out to you (using a different profile) via FB Messenger, asking if you still need a place in the city that you just mentioned in your post.

Once you engage them, the ruse begins. Here comes 20+ beautiful images, a rent price that is surprisingly affordable, and they have immediate availability! Oh, and of course you can bring your pet.

They try to convince you to send a deposit immediately to hold the place and they are actually quite convincing.

What just happened is that they used the information you provided against you. The hard part is that legitimate landlords use Messenger as well!

Here are the best ways to protect yourself.

Request a phone call – Scammers prefer to do everything via text/messenger. If they won’t talk to you over the phone, it is a huge red flag.

Request a Facetime/What’sApp VIDEO walk-through. If they won’t provide a live video walk-through, it is another huge red flag.

Stick to websites that verify landlords like www.furnishedfinder.com. On Furnished Finder, travelers feel comfortable booking housing because you know that landlords are vetted and legitimate. They are who they say they are.

Furnished Finder wants you to stay safe at all costs, and we hope this information is helpful. There are inherent risks in everything we do, but traveling healthcare professionals are in the crosshairs of scammers and must always be hyper-vigilant.

We hope you found this article on how Facebook Messenger is hurting travel nurses helpful. Are there any other tips you would like to share with fellow travel nurses when it comes to Facebook Messenger and scams? 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:

START HERE

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

By Mynoucka

May 7, 2022

1322 Views

Starting Life as a Travel Nurse

Posted on May 7, 2022April 22, 2022 by Mynoucka

Today we’re discussing the world of travel nursing. How did I begin? Why did I start? You should keep in mind some key items before beginning your travel nursing journey. I’ve been working as a travel nurse now for about 14 months. I began my first travel nursing assignment back in October of 2018. Before that, I worked on a cardiac progressive care unit for about 3 1/2 years, so I felt confident enough to leave my comfort zone and work on different floors, in different states, and in different hospitals. And still, feel like I would be okay.

As a travel nurse, you’re contracted to work through a travel nursing agency at the hospital. Most travel nursing agencies require that you have at least two years of experience, but as of late, some travel nursing agencies allow their nurses to work with one year of experience. The two years of experience give you more of an edge over someone working as a nurse for only one year. Again if you feel like that’s what you want to do, and you want to go out and work as a travel nurse, and you only have one year of experience, but that one year of experience was packed full of so many different things that you’ve been able to do on the floor. You put yourself out there; you can get your feet wet, you’re able to get your hands dirty and do different things, and you feel like you could do that at different hospitals after one year; then, by all means, go for it.

I do feel like the two years gives you that extra confidence that you need because, as a travel nurse, you don’t get a lot of orientation on the floors, so you’re contracted through a travel nursing agency. You go to this hospital; you get maybe one to two days of orientation after you’ve been assigned, and then you’re expected to perform at an exceptional level like the rest of the staff. Your charting is expected to be up to par, and your patient care is expected to be up to par. As you can see, you need to make sure that you can quickly adapt to those different environments.

I knew that I wanted to travel. I knew that I needed a way to support myself while on the road. So, those two different things led me to believe that travel nursing would be the perfect career shift for me to get the best of both worlds. So I had heard of travel nursing here and there, but I honestly didn’t understand it before becoming one. Living in Florida, you often feel the fluctuation of people coming in and out of the state, so you feel that fluctuation when working in the hospital. Because of that, while I was working on the cardiac progressive care unit floor, it allowed me to get floated to different units because our census on our unit wasn’t the same every day. We would be super busy one day, and we wouldn’t have enough help. Then the next day, we would be over two to three nurses, so whenever that happened, and if you’re a registered nurse, you know this already, you might get floated to another unit to lend a helping hand to them. When that was happening, and I was getting floated, it allowed me to feel how it is to work in a situation where you don’t have a lot of training, where you’re not familiar with the people there, you’re not familiar with where all your supplies are. I feel like all of those experiences came together to make me feel comfortable to be able to go on the road.

Licensing

You want to keep in mind when you’re working as a travel nurse to apply for your licenses ahead of time. So, once you’ve made up your mind, you’re going to become a travel nurse, and you’ve decided where you want to go, you want to make sure that you know what those license requirements are. We have this incredible thing called compact licensure, and that’s when you’re able to apply for one license, and that license is good for several other States. I believe that about 30 states right now are participating in the compact state licensure. Living in Florida, we are considered one of the compact states, so when I renewed my license for Florida, I made sure that I opted for that, knowing that I wanted to be a travel nurse. It made sense that my one license would be good for other hospitals. That would make me a better candidate for those hospitals when I look at different assignments. I also knew that I wanted to go to the state of California at some point. California does not participate in the compact licensure program, so I made sure that I applied for California separately. Once you’ve decided that you want to go on the road and decided on where you want to go, make sure that you look to see whether or not that state participates as one of the compact license states.

Housing

The second thing you want to keep in mind is what you want to do for housing. I’ve always been told that travel nurses get free housing, which is not quite the case. Your housing is actually a part of how you get paid. You have two options: either choose to use the agency-provided housing or select to receive a housing stipend. The way that works if you select to go with agency provided housing, your travel nursing agency may be contracted with different apartments in that area, and they may tell you these are the apartments that you’re able to choose from; here are a list of apartments for you to look at let us know which apartment you decided to go with. However, the better option is for you to select to get your housing stipend. This is the better option because you can get the stipend if you are comfortable finding your housing or finding somewhere to live without the company’s assistance. Let’s say your housing stipend is $2000; you find somewhere you want to live for $500 to $1000; the remainder of that stipend now belongs to you. This means that you’re able to leverage that and put it towards maybe some debt that you’re trying to pay off, or maybe you’re able to put it towards your savings. It allows you to save as much as you can while working as a travel nurse. There are pros and cons to both. Suppose you’re going somewhere and not comfortable selecting your housing. In that case, you want all of that taken care of, you don’t want to think about utilities, you don’t want to think about what neighborhood you’re going to be placed in, and you want someone to take care of that for you then, by all means, go with company housing. If you are traveling where you know someone, you can negotiate with them if they’re a friend. You have to sit back and decide what you are comfortable with, and once you decide that, go for it.

Floating

The third thing you want to keep in mind is that you are there to help. Again, as a travel nurse, you’re contracted to work in the hospital as an employee of the agency, so when you go in there, you’re going to be the first one to float. You’re going to be the first to float; keep that in mind. They’re getting travel nurses because they are short-staffed, they need help, but they’re not hiring full-time or part-time employees; maybe they need help for a specific period of time, and they feel like having a travel nurse will be sufficient. You come in, you do the job, and then once they no longer have the need, you can move on to a different hospital. Most travel nursing contracts are about 13 weeks, but they have some shorter contracts that can range between 4 to 10 weeks, but typically you’re there for about 13 weeks. You come in, do the job, and then move on to the next assignment. You do have the option to extend at times. Perhaps you like the hospital you’re at, and they still have the need. You can decide that you’re going to do a couple more weeks there, or you might decide to do a completely new assignment there and be there for another 13 weeks. It varies. You have to remain flexible and remain open. That’s part of the territory that you enter as a travel nurse. Floating does not have to be a negative experience. I’ve met some amazing people, and I have learned so much just working with various people, and it began in my home hospital in Florida. Once I began floating there, failing wasn’t an idea that I was scared of anymore. As a travel nurse, you’re going to float, so you have to keep an open and positive mind about that whole experience.

Make requests known

The fourth thing that you want to keep in mind is to make your request known early on. The awesome thing about travel nursing is that you have flexibility with your schedule. However, once you’re contracted to work in a hospital, it’s very common that they may not honor your request for you to be off. Let’s say you have a wedding or a graduation that you want to go to. They are not required once you’re contracted for them to honor those requests. The advantage you have is that if you know that you have something going on, you can put in those requests within your contract before you’re even signed on or assigned to that hospital. So, make sure when you are taking on an assignment don’t let the excitement get to you; make sure that you plan ahead of time if different things are going on that you want to be a part of or you want to be present for and put those dates in your contract. Once those dates are in your contract, the hospital you’re assigned to has no choice but to honor those requests because they took you on as a travel nurse, knowing that you would need those days off. You do have the flexibility that you need with your schedule, but you have to make sure that you let your recruiter know that these are the days that I need off, so those dates can be included in your contract. Another option you have is taking time off in between your contracts. I don’t believe that agencies provide PTO; I know that mine doesn’t. If I decide to take a month off between my travel nursing assignments, I need to make sure that I plan accordingly, because I will not get paid between those times. You can come and go as you please. You can decide that you want to take two months off and maybe go backpacking in Europe or go to Australia, go to some island somewhere, take that 10 day trip to Africa that you’ve been wanting to take, and do that as a travel nurse. Then once you’re done, you can decide that you want to pick up a different assignment and pick up where you left off.

Have fun!

The fifth and final thing that I want you guys to remember if you decide to go the route of a travel nurse is to have fun! You’re in a new city, potentially solo, or you’re with a group of friends. It’s a unique time where you can travel to a city without fully committing to living in that city. So, make sure that you take a city cruise if you want to or hop on a group chat. There are so many different group chats that you can be a part of and network and get to know different people. I like to go on Yelp and Groupon and act like a tourist when I’m going somewhere new. So I can fully experience what it’s like to live in that city, and you can potentially decide whether this will be a home for you. If it’s not a home for you, you can move on and work somewhere else and not be committed to that city. It’s a great experience.

Travel nursing has given me a different perspective when it comes to nursing. I’m 100% sure that it has kept me at the bedside a lot longer than I would have been if I had stayed on one floor, and it’s just giving me the confidence that I need to travel solo. I just went to Hawaii as a solo traveler. It was the first time I’ve gone on an extended trip by myself, and it’s something that I felt a lot more confident doing because I’ve been traveling as a nurse travel nurse for the last 14 months now.

If you have any questions about travel nursing and what all of that entails, I have a blog on my website: vintage traveling nurse.com. You can find different blog posts about my travel nursing experiences and different things that I’m learning as I navigate the world of travel nursing; feel free to check it out.

We hope these tips for starting life as a travel nurse helpful. Do you have any tips to share with fellow travel nurses or nurses considering beginning the travel nurse life? Comment them below.

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

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

START HERE

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

By AMN Healthcare

May 6, 2022

1682 Views

Best States for Spring Travel Nurse Assignments

Posted on May 6, 2022May 6, 2022 by AMN Healthcare

AMN Healthcare provided this article.

We have some good news if you’ve been mulling over some potential spring destinations for travel nurse assignments! We’ve compiled a list of states with a wide variety of open positions that rank among the best states for travel nurses in the springtime. Each state has its unique attractions and festivities to keep you busy throughout your travel assignment.

So take a look, contact your recruiter, and start planning for a new springtime adventure. One of these states is sure to be just right for you.

The top states for travel nurses in the spring

Georgia

When you think “Georgia,” do you automatically think “peaches”? Georgia is famous for being a leading producer of peaches, but don’t forget some of the state’s other agricultural marvels. Several big food festivals celebrate strawberries, Vidalia onions, and even wine in the springtime. And yes, there are multiple peach festivals in Georgia in the springtime, just as you might expect, although these typically start in the late spring or early summer.

Or maybe you’re feeling the need for some sun and sand, some fishing, and some seafood. Head to one of Georgia’s beautiful beaches, like Tybee Island, or one of Brunswick’s barrier islands, like St. Simon’s Island or Jekyll Island. Don’t forget your sunscreen.

California

There’s so much to do in California in the springtime that it could fill an entire book! But a few highlights include:
• Seeing the wildflowers in Joshua Tree National Park or Anza Borrego Desert;
• Combining wine and wild animals (yaks and alpacas!) on the Malibu Wine Safari on a giant ranch/vineyard in Los Angeles County;
• Going whale watching in Northern California; just get ready to ooh and aah over some orcas and gray whales;
• Visiting Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles for a glass-bottomed boat tour on a breezy, sunny day and renting a golf cart for a scenic, self-guided tour around the island.

Washington

Washington is a great spring destination for travel nurses. And the month of April is an especially good time to visit Washington State because it’s the month of the famous Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. You’ll think you somehow wound up in the Netherlands by mistake. Be sure to check out the year-round garden known as RoozenGaarde while you’re there, too!

Another fun Washington destination in the springtime is the Bavarian mountain town of Leavenworth. You might enjoy booking a room at a bed and breakfast or going camping, so you’ll have more time to soak in all the charm (and take some great photos for your Instagram posts).

Texas

If you do nothing else, be sure to make time to see the bluebonnets. The bluebonnet is the official Texas state flower, and they begin blooming in March and hit their peak in April. You could even plan to attend the 39th annual Bluebonnet Festival, set for April 8-10 in Burnet, Texas. The festival celebrates the iconic Texas flower with live music, arts and crafts, and other fun activities.

Other fun springtime events in the state include the Annual Texas Steak Cookoff and the Lone Star Elvis Festival, held in May. And if you’re looking for something pretty unusual to do over Memorial Day weekend in Texas, how about going to the National Polka Festival? And yes, you’re likely to find some good barbeque joints throughout the state.

Florida

No matter where you plan to visit, there will be something exciting on the calendar in the Sunshine State. Seafood, music, and art festivals abound in Florida during the spring. And yes, there are even pirate festivals, like the Fort Lauderdale Rotary Club Pirate Festival and the Billy Bowlegs Festival in Fort Walton Beach.

One highlight to consider: if you’re planning to be in the Orlando area this spring, plan a trip to Walt Disney World to take in the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which is ongoing through the beginning of July. The festival is famous for its whimsical topiaries and garden exhibits, but you can also partake of unique food and drink offerings while you’re there.

New York

New York City is chock full of opportunities for travel nurses to indulge their sense of adventure. But if you’re going to be in New York City this spring, make a point to visit the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. The Azalea Garden in the heart of the campus is home to one of the largest azalea collections in the world! Plus, an Orchid Show is going on this spring. (And you can pop over to the nearby Bronx Zoo afterward.)

Elsewhere in the state, you might still be able to take in some late-season skiing or participate in a Maple Weekend, where you can celebrate New York’s maple syrup industry and eat pancakes with New York’s world-class maple syrup. And when it warms up a little more, consider a trip to the Lilac Festival in Rochester or the Tulip Festival in Albany. Or maybe consider the Buffalo Wine Festival in April.

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is a fantastic city, rich with history and art, and you can’t go wrong with playing tourist there. One suggestion for this spring: visit the Franklin Institute and immerse yourself in the Harry Potter exhibition. And when you have a free weekend, take a short drive outside the city to visit beautiful Chanticleer Gardens, which is open from April through October.

Another Pennsylvania destination that might intrigue you is Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, Dutch country. Spas, museums, festivals (even a Rhubarb Festival at Kitchen Kettle Village), scenic covered bridges, other sightseeing opportunities, and hiking trails all await you when you can get a little time away from the hospital or clinic.

AMN Healthcare has thousands of travel assignments to advance your career while seeing the country.

We hope you found this article on the best states for travel nurse assignments this spring. What do you think of our list? Are there any you think should be added? 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!)

By Krista Berge

May 5, 2022

2173 Views

How I Survived My Husband’s Suicide

Posted on May 5, 2022May 5, 2022 by Krista Berge

How did I survive Brian’s suicide?

The unedited version is…I didn’t. I desperately want to put a beautiful bow on how I successfully made it through to the other side of this immeasurable grief, but I can’t. I deeply wish I could tell you I leaned on my faith in those early times of confusion and pain, but that would be a flat-out lie. The me I was before suicide inflicted a death blow; died with Brian. I just couldn’t accept I had lost him and myself. It felt like defeat at every turn.

Admittedly, I walked around like a zombie regretting my choice not to climb into the car with him for well over a year. I relived every second and knew I would have had more than enough time to stop breathing before any kind of help would have shown up. In those moments of self-disdain and being so utterly lost, I can also tell you the only reason why I didn’t that day was because our kids were right there. The kicker is they had to watch Brian die, and in so doing, they were the only reason I was breathing (ok, that was REALLY difficult to write). I remember saying, over the beeping of machines keeping him alive for those few days, “I just want to be with him,” and I didn’t mean in that room. He was already gone, and so was I.

I didn’t survive

I didn’t survive, but I sure was trying to make it look like I did. I continued to run at 100 mph. There was SO much pressure. Pressure to grieve “correctly,” handle legal matters, run a household, hold space for all of the kids’ pain, etc. The list goes on, and I feel sad for the girl I was trying to be. It was like I was standing over my own dead body, trying desperately to revive her. If I could just grasp what I lost…I would be ok. I could make this pain go away if I tried a little harder. I mean, Brian would still be here if I tried a little harder, right? If I just could be good enough and do enough. If I could fill all my seconds with busyness, then the darkness wouldn’t come. All the lies that I swallowed to fill the void are something I was doing out of despair and desperation.

This new and chaotically beautiful life

I kept trying to be who I was before Brian’s suicide, and it took years to see that just wasn’t possible. I had to learn (and am still learning) some hard lessons in order to not only survive this incredible loss but to thrive in this new and chaotically beautiful life.

1. I had to learn to rest.

I never really understood this concept before. I didn’t know how to rest, and I didn’t want to. If I could just keep up the charade that I had my life under control…then I would eventually feel better. If people believed I was ok, then maybe I would feel it, right? The rug was pulled out from under me, but I was not willing to accept Brian wasn’t coming back or why. I couldn’t be who I used to be, and it was slowly killing me. I kept trying to fill the void, and nothing worked. Much like depression, it finally sunk in that I took a major blow to my body. A trauma had occurred, and I was finally willing to understand that this was my story. The only way I can explain it is, “imagine if someone had half of their body amputated…you wouldn’t tell them, “Quit crying and let’s go!” It would take YEARS of therapy to relearn how to use the half that was left. Yet I placed this pressure on myself to keep moving as if I was intact. Grief and pain finally caught up with me, and the only thing to do was to stop running and rest. To let my body heal. This was and is still imperative to my healing even close to 4 years later.

2. I had to learn to show myself grace.

I lost Brian and so much more. I watched as my children lost their father. I lost ANY sort of security in my and their future. I lost my dreams. I lost my financial security. I lost my protector. I mean, now, who was going to get up in the middle of the night when I hear a strange noise? I lost my reason to believe God is good. I lost my world. But here I was pretending like everything was normal. Why is it that if my best friend was going through what I was going through, I would heap so much grace upon her? Why was it so difficult to extend this to myself? Once I realized I could actually be kind to myself and extend grace, THAT became my oxygen. I didn’t need to carry this weight anymore. I found friends that bestowed immeasurable grace on me and still do when I am incapable of extending it to myself.

3. I had to learn to be ok with losing people.

Suicide will ripple FAR past what you could ever imagine. Grief not only changed me, but it changed everyone around me. Some were willing to accept Brian’s death, while others kept wanting to talk through the timeline of it; why didn’t I tell them? They would ask me what specific medications he was on, was I aware of the side effects, what was our last conversation, etc. HINT: Don’t do this, please…you are only placing more pain onto someone that feels solely responsible (it needs to be said again that suicide is a symptom of a disease that ravishes the body). In finally realizing my answers weren’t good enough and also they wouldn’t bring him back…I just stopped even trying to explain the unexplainable. When I began to get my life back together or started working, or the forbidden “dating” as a widow…I lost even more people. Sometimes, and this is a hard truth, others like you are so broken so they can repair you how they want to, not necessarily what is best for you. The second I began to come alive again little by little….I gained myself back but lost others. It seems counterintuitive, right? I lost more people on this road of healing, for sure. I just wasn’t willing to lose myself anymore to keep them.

4. I had to learn to NOT people please.

I was living in a fishbowl. I was either too sad OR didn’t seem sad enough. Was it even ok to laugh and smile? Was I joking around too much? I was either moving forward too quickly or not quick enough. Why was I still so sad after the first year when everyone said that was the most difficult? I mean, I either looked too disheveled, or who was I dressing up for? The people-pleaser I was couldn’t keep up anymore. No one was happy with me now. Brian’s suicide clouded so many people’s eyes, and I felt it was my responsibility to try and make them all feel better. But grieving is work, and it takes time to go through the process. But I couldn’t make anyone do it either. Once I let go of others’ expectations of me, I started to breathe again.

5. I had to learn to not only form a new identity but take responsibility for it.

Suddenly I was a “widow” and a “suicide survivor .”Shoot, I didn’t want to be either, and I still don’t. But I am. When the opportunities (and yes, they are called “opportunities”) come up to talk about losing Brian, I better….lives depend on it. When I hear of someone else deeply grieving….eventually, I need to speak up and tell them what I have learned OR better, yet I can just sit there and be quiet (take note this is all you need to do in someone’s deep pain). I need to tell them that who they were before suicide wreaked havoc isn’t coming back and to stop trying so hard. That just being alive when all you want to do is die is more than enough. I so wish someone had told me sooner that just breathing from one painful chest stab to the next was all I had to do. I wish someone would have grabbed my hand and told me to put on my favorite sweatshirt and cry in bed all day. Now it is my responsibility, to be honest about suicide and what it actually takes. Suicide always takes more than just one life, and this may not be who I wanted to be, but it is who I am now.

I had to learn how to come alive again in an impossible situation. I had to let go of Brian and accept a horrible disease had taken his life. I had to let go of the girl who had tried saving him for years. I had to let go of the guilt and the shame that I did all I could, and it still didn’t work. I didn’t survive losing Brian, and I was never going to. Accepting Brian’s death by suicide did not overshadow the beautiful soul he was and still is. I was terrified death meant defeat. It was only by accepting Brian’s death, my own, and learning these hard lessons that I could truly begin to live again.

We can all help prevent suicide.

The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals at 1-800-273-8255. You are not alone in this fight!

If you would like to read more articles from Krista, click here. If you are looking for more articles on mental health, click here.

And remember, If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts…please reach out to someone, anyone. And make sure you STAY. YOU, my dear, matter.

By Gifted Healthcare

May 4, 2022

4026 Views

Iconic Moments in Nursing History

Posted on May 4, 2022May 3, 2022 by Gifted Healthcare

Gifted Healthcare provided this article.

As Nurses Week approaches, let’s kick it off early with a celebration of nursing throughout time with some iconic moments in nursing history.

National Nurses Week is celebrated every year, beginning on May 6^th, National Nurses Day, and ending on May 12^th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. This is the time to celebrate the Nurses that heal us every day, put our needs first, and collectively fight for humanity daily. Nurses have championed iconic moments in time throughout history, but the profession was not always respected.

In the 1800s, most “nursing” was executed by family members on sick loved ones at home. There was no schooling, certifications, or training to establish the profession and advance the field of nursing. All of this changed and set nursing forward on a successful path, and now we live in a world where nurses are a critical and essential piece of the healthcare system.

Let’s take a look through moments in time that have brought nursing to where it is today.

1860

Florence Nightingale, the mother of modern nursing, established the very first collegiate nursing school in 1860. The school opened its doors in London, creating an image of nursing as a profession for the first time in history.

Leading up to the school’s opening, Nightingale published the first-ever instruction manual titled “Notes on Nursing.” The manual was full of training tips based on her time running an army field hospital during the Crimean War. She became known as the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ because she put her patients first, often patrolling the hospital at all hours of the night, but the biggest takeaway Nightingale used to propel nursing forward was the need to enhance ventilation and sanitation in hospitals.

Nightingale incorporated her experience in the school, and it was a major success. It inspired more of its kind, with a nursing school opening in New York City, Connecticut, and Boston in the years following. Nightingale’s original school is still around today and is known as The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery.

1879

Mary Eliza Mahoney, a child of freed slaves, was the first African American licensed nurse and began working in 1879 at the age of 34, a dream she had had since she was a teenager. Mahoney started working at the New England Hospital for Women and Children as a janitor in her teenage years, hoping to one day become a nurse. She spent 15 years at the hospital, working as a cook, washerwoman, and eventually a nurse’s aide.

Once accepted into nursing school for this experience, Mahoney was one of four students to graduate among a class of 42. This fact alone is exceptional, but what makes it astonishing is that Mahoney did all of this as an African American woman in a time when discrimination was overwhelming.

Due to discrimination, Mahoney spent the next 40 years working as a private nurse, advocating for equal rights, women’s rights, and the rights of children, pioneering a path for minorities in the nursing field.

1947

By this time, the American Nurses Association has been established for more than 35 years and is fighting to continuously improve working environments for registered nurses, but nurses still did not have equality in the field.

Florence Blanchfield was a nurse during both World War I and II and began leading efforts for nurses serving in the military to earn full rank and payment due to the lack of equality she experienced as a nurse serving in the military.

At the time Blanchfield served in the military, women were not treated equally when it came to recognition and pay. In fact, women were discharged immediately if they chose to marry. By 1947, Blanchfield’s efforts were validated, and nurses were granted full rank and equal pay under the Army-Navy Nurses Act of 1947.

1983

Cliff Morrison began working as a nurse at the San Francisco General Hospital in 1979. Within two years, the AIDS epidemic broke out, and the hospital had five ICUs filled with AIDS patients at a time when there was little to no research on the disease. Everyone suffered not only because of the physical and mental effects of the disease but also because of the stigma.

Morrison took care of his roommate at the time, who he believed had AIDS, and used this experience to pioneer the patient care that HIV and AIDS patients deserved. Morrison spent time interviewing patients and gathering information on how nurses could best support and care for the terminally ill.

From Morrison’s research and first-hand experience, Ward 5B was born in July 1983 and was the only unit in the United States dedicated solely to the care of HIV/AIDS patients. It revolutionized the way AIDS patients were treated, placing care and physical touch at the heart of it all.

The nurses of Ward 5B touched their patients without gloves or any protective gear to remove the feeling of ostracization, something a lot of healthcare professionals were too afraid to do at the time.

2020

The year of the nurse. The world began to face the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, and nurses around the globe stepped up to fight. Everything changed quickly, and many answers were unknown, but that did not prevent nurses from putting their patients first.

Nurses had to shift from floor to floor to prioritize the COVID units and safe care, many working far more hours than they ever had before. Not only was the work dangerous and exhausting, but it was also mentally difficult.

Afomia Bekel from Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, summed up the feeling of thousand of nurses when she said, “The unknown was frightening, but the urgency of the pandemic placed on health care workers all over the world didn’t allow us to sit in that fear or uncertainty for too long.”

Although nurses still face COVID-19 challenges, their work at the height of the pandemic, as well as its ups and downs, have collectively brought the world to a safer standing within the pandemic.

Thank you, Nurses!

Nurses come from a history of heroism, acting on the front lines through iconic moments in humanity’s history. From fighting for recognition and equality in the field to stepping up in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, Nurses deserve the recognition as healthcare professionals they have long-awaited.

The role of the nurse has evolved over time, but some things never change. The profession has been voted first among the professions the public trusts the most multiple times, rightfully so.

Celebrate this Nurses Week by thanking a nurse in your life that has put your care above all else when you needed it most. It is the care they give patients that heals the world.

We hope you enjoyed this article on iconic moments in nursing history. Are there any other iconic moments in nursing history we didn’t include that you think should make the list of moments in nursing history? 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!)

By Misty Lack

May 3, 2022

2108 Views

Substance Abuse in Travel Nursing: My Story

Posted on May 3, 2022April 25, 2022 by Misty Lack

Content Warning: descriptions of drug use is mentioned in this article if you or some you know are struggling with substance abuse get help here.

My substance abuse story:

Hi! My name is Misty, and I am a recovering drug addict.

My clean date is February 29, 2016, and for that, I am truly grateful. A couple of months ago, I reached out to The Gypsy Nurse with the topic idea of nurses struggling with addiction and mental health.

I was duel diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Severe Opioid Dependence.

On Feb 8, 2016, I was escorted to Human Resources and questioned about “tampered vials” of Morphine. I lied, of course, and apologized for the inconvenience. I was escorted out of the hospital via security.

When I pulled out of the hospital, I was numb.

I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do. Would it just go away, or is the gig up? I received a text message from my recruiter telling me to get a drug test, but the closest place was 45mins away, and it was 1630. So, I was told to get there first thing in the morning.

The next morning my phone was going off

With text messages, phone calls, and emails from the travel agency. I was praying this was just a bad dream. I opened the email, and there it was, in bold letters “We will have to report even if negative and BON will investigate because not all suspected diverters actually ingest the meds.”

Oops, they accidentally sent me the email that all company heads had been responding to. Well, it was official- I was busted! I forwarded the email to a nurse I had worked with who is also an attorney. First question: Are you safe? And then said, we must go to the Board.

I got busted on a Monday

I talked to an attorney on Tuesday, drove 2 hours to get back home and in his office on Wed, and sat in front of the Director for the diversion program on Friday. The attorney wanted me to call and talk to another nurse who reported to the board for diversion.

“How honest do I need to be?”

After hanging up, I called her right back and said, “How honest do I need to be?” She said, “As honest as you’re ready to be!” I didn’t know if I would be arrested or, worse, lose my license. I sat down and, for the first time, told my story.

I told my substance abuse story-

I admitted that I was diverting drugs and shooting up for about 2 yrs. When I was done, she smiled and acknowledged how refreshing it was to hear the gut-wrenching truth and not be given excuses or lies. She explained how the diversion program works and asked if I was interested. There was one reservation I also suffered from chronic pain. I would not be able to be in the program and take narcotics of any kind. I cried and explained that I really do suffer from pain. She looked at me with empathy and said, “I’m sorry!”

I spent the next 17 days tapering myself off any and all mind-altering substances. I officially started the program on March 1, 2016.

My story is not for everyone.

I get that. You will find me repulsive, unethical, a disgrace, and several other adjectives. I am not seeking your approval. My hope is to open your eyes. Do not sign that you witnessed a waste unless you witnessed it. I banked on my colleagues whom I worked with for 15 years to sign regardless.

My story is for you!

The nurse that is scared and can’t find a way out. The nurse that wakes up every day saying, “I’m not using today!” and then finds yourself with a needle in your arm within minutes of clocking into work. There is a way out. If I can do it, you can do it too. You just have to admit that there is a problem and ask for help.

I am a member of a 12-step program that keeps me accountable. You can find me on Instagram or email me. #wedorecover

We hope you found this article insightful and possibly helpful. Have you found yourself in a similar situation? Would you like to tell your story? Comment below.

Still searching for that next travel 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

Be Understanding

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

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Inform yourself on the climate

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Get to know the culture

Get familiar with important institutions

Do you need to drive?

Prices

How will you spend your free time?

Where to research?

Safety of the neighborhood

Plan

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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Get and give lots of details.

Tell your recruiter who else you work with and what jobs you’ve applied for

Give yourself time to fit in.

Tell your recruiter why you have turned down job offers

Be flexible wherever you can

Let your recruiter know if you’d like a permanent job.

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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What you learn in this article could save you thousands!!

Scammers are Targeting Nurses Via Messenger.

Facebook Messenger is Worse than Craigslist.

That said, here’s the racket:

Here are the best ways to protect yourself.

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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Floating

Make requests known

Have fun!

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