Travel Nursing isn’t for everyone. Just like with any other job there are pros and cons to it. For that reason, a travel nurse of 8 years came up with these 17 things you need to know about being a travel nurse before you sign that contract.
17 things you need to know about being a travel nurse.
1. Yes, it will be hard getting your first job.
Because not all hospitals take first time travelers, the more requirements you have (location, shift, block schedule, time off) the harder it will be.
2. You may get a great hospital for your first job that is okay with you being green, asking questions, needing guidance.
But it’s unlikely. Most will give you little to no orientation, the hardest patient load, and then nitpick your care. Or if they do take you it will be a hot mess. Know your practice. That skills checklist you have to do? Be honest. And if you aren’t marking expert in most to all the boxes, get more experience.
3. Yes, we are serious that you should get two years in your specialty.
Yes, TWO years minimum. Are there people who do it? Yup. Would you want someone caring for your grandma who is a year nurse with no support system in place? Oh, and you can bet they will cancel you if you can’t keep up. Or if you need a lot of assistance.
4. We are at-will employees.
Because of this we can’t sue for cancelled contracts, housing issues, ect. We put up a lot of upfront money with no guarantee. It’s just part of travel. You want security, keep your staff job.
5. Are there jobs out there that are destination locations, paying $3k a week, and block scheduling?
Yes, there is one. And it was filled 0.0000005 seconds after it posted by Janet who has been traveling for 22 years and has her travel game on lock down.
6. Have a savings.
You will hit a snag and not have a contract for a month, get cancelled, have that cheap housing fall thru, get sick/injured on contract. Nothing sucks more than being 3000 miles from family, broke, alone, and jobless.
7. They are paying us to work.
If you don’t, they will keep more of your money and you may get cancelled.
8. Be professional.
Yes, more professional than the staff nurses.
9. Mind your business.
They don’t want to know how you did it at your staff job. So, do it the way they want (within the parameters of patient safety). There is more than one way to skin a cat. As they say.
Yes, housing is harder. Adding big, bully breeds, or multiple dogs makes it even harder. Is it doable? Yes, but it’s harder. It may limit your locations.
13. Yes there is a quarantine for dogs going to Hawaii.
It’s it doable? Yes. But it’s a huge pain, expensive, and stressful for your pet.
14. Recruiters
There are crooked recruiters. Yes, there are lazy recruiters. There are crappy recruiters. Yes, you will work with a few before you figure it out. But there are great recruiters who will become your friends. Who will support you, listen to you lose your mind/whine/cry. When you find them, keep them. And tell all your friends.
15. Not every “good” recruiter is a good recruiter for every nurse.
Because of this you need to realize your needs and desires and find a recruiter who fits with you.
16. Travel nursing isn’t for everyone.
And that’s okay. You must be flexible, optimistic, and roll with the punches. Therefore, if that’s not you, stay home.
17. There will be nurse that disagree with these.
Saying well “I traveled after being a nurse for two weeks, have fifteen pit bulls and a horse and I found a job making $3k a week with block scheduling on day shift and housing for $50 a month. You can do it”. You can friend, but you are responsible for your license, bank account, and happiness. No one else.
So, before you sign that contract make sure you have not only read over these 17 things you need to know about being a travel nurse, but do your own research as well.
The pandemic triggered the demand for travel nursing professionals. But at the same time, it created fierce competition among specialists. Finding a decent job is no longer as easy as before, as travel nurses have many new requirements.
How to overcome tough competition in the labor market and become one of the first to receive the best offers? What is possible to do? Use the following tips to promote yourself as a nursing professional.
Top 5 Tips To Market Yourself As A Travel Nurse
Against the background of increased demand and competition, you have to improve your qualifications and get new experience within the framework of your career. It is time to learn how to promote yourself in the labor market properly. Get started with the following tips to find the best jobs in travel nursing.
Create a Quality CV
The first place to start is to update and rewrite your CV. Most likely, you have gained new skills and experience when dealing with the challenges 2020 made us face. Many people forget to update their resumes from time to time, especially when they have constant work. But for the travel nurses, keeping your resume up-to-date is a must-do.
Do not forget to add new certificates or knowledge of foreign languages. Any international experience will be a great point in your CV. Highlight your traveling nurse experience, plus describe the challenges you have faced and the ways you overcome them.
Create Your Site
The next step for successfully promoting yourself as a specialist is to think about creating your own website. It will be something like a business card or an online resume. You can also run your blog to share your expertise, use-cases, and stories to showcase yourself as a nursing professional and personality at once.
Remember about SEO promotion, as it will help your site reach the top of the search results. Accordingly, your site will be better discoverable and findable by those in search of travel nursing services.
As for promoting your blog, consider using guest posting to reach your target audience and improve your website’s position in the search result. All you need to do is find sites that accept medical guest posts and write some valuable articles that will link back to your website. Find more details here about medical blogs that accept guest posts and how to collaborate with them. By the way, you can discover more about this topic on a medsnews.com website as well.
Use LinkedIn
LinkedIn is one of the best platforms that allow people to find new business connections. Medical service is no exception, which means that you can find travel nurse agencies with top salary offers within this social network.
There you can post your resume and link to your website. It is noteworthy that there are many HR managers on this site, and they are in constant search of the specialists they need. Therefore, creating a profile on this platform is a potential opportunity to receive tempting offers even without additional promotion effort. But if possible, you should devote your time to updating your Linkedin profile and connecting to those who can offer you a job you are looking for.
Find a Recruiter
One of the best ways to stop worrying about your career is to make a connection with a reliable recruiter. As noted earlier, you can find a suitable one on LinkedIn and stay in touch all the time. The new job opportunities can appear unexpectedly, and there are always a lot of applicants for a vacancy.
Therefore, friendly relationships and ongoing communication with recruiters are a good idea for those who want to remain attractive to employers and be the first to receive the best offers. Some specialists keep in touch with several recruiters so that you can follow this tactic as well.
Follow Nursing Ethics
Another important piece of advice for travel nurses is always to follow the rules of medical ethics. As one of the points, it’s about always being positive about your customers. The main thing is to never complain to your new employer about your experience, especially if this experience was negative. Try to turn negative situations into positive experiences. Focus on the ways you dealt with them and the skills you gained in the process.
Moreover, travel nursing companies are always looking for specialists who know how to care from a medical perspective and a human one. Therefore, politeness, calmness, and a positive attitude are needed for those who want to promote themselves as great specialists and get the best jobs offers.
The Bottom Line
Travel nursing services are in great demand. Make sure to show your future employers you are serious about taking care of people – your professionally created CV, website, and well-developed LinkedIn profile can already say a lot about you. Also, don’t forget about making a good impression as a personality and a human since your personal qualities are no less important than professional ones.
With the market as hot as it is right now for travel nurses, it is more important than ever to know how to market yourself as a travel nurse. We hope you found these tips helpful. Have you found ways to market yourself as a travel nurse that has helped you on your travel nursing journey? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Already have your assignment but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Travel nursing offers amazing adventures, great pay, and valuable professional experience, but travel nursing assignments can occasionally cause conflict in romantic relationships. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but this doesn’t make long-distance dating any easier!
Whether you’ve been with someone for years or recently met someone before your assignment, there are ways to make things easier on you and your partner.
Read on for a list of tips and strategies to maintain your long-distance relationship while on assignment.
Make a Game Plan
Planning is important in a long-distance relationship. Before you leave for your assignment, talk about what you expect from each other while you are gone. Outline your needs, wants, and boundaries. Setting standards will prevent a lot of worry and stress.
Do you like texting throughout the day or checking in by phone? Are there certain times of the day you are more available to speak? Will you take a trip to see each other during your assignment?
Once you make a game plan, you’ll both have a better idea about what to expect while you are away. That way, you won’t have to stress about your partner not responding to your texts or phone calls and vice versa.
Communicate Creatively
The physical limitations of long-distance relationships can be difficult, but you can avoid feeling like you’re in a rut by getting creative with your communication.
When you arrive at your destination, giving your partner a “full tour” of your new housing is a fun way to make them feel like they’re along for the ride. Small, thoughtful updates about your day will let them know they’re on your mind. If you’ve established specific times of day to communicate, that doesn’t mean you can’t be spontaneous – send a link to a song you both like, snap a picture of something silly, or talk about what you’ll do during your first date once you’re back home.
Try scheduling your longer catch-up calls ahead of time. Having a skype date or phone call to look forward to can make those long shifts fly by.
Share Experiences
Thankfully, technology has made long-distance relationships much easier than they used to be. There are still ways to share experiences, even if you’re halfway across the world from your partner.
Try picking a show that both of you haven’t seen to watch while you’re away. Scheduling evenings to watch it together and discuss new episodes is a great way to stay engaged and connected. You can do the same thing with movies, articles, or books.
Remind Yourself It’s Not Permanent
Even though it may seem like you’ll be apart forever, it’s simply not true! If you experience conflict, miscommunications, or you’re just feeling blue, remind yourself that your assignment will come to an end.
While it’s not a good idea to obsess over how many days remain until you’re back home, it can be useful during particularly rough days.
There are so many ways to stay connected to loved ones while you’re a travel nurse. With a little effort and honest communication, travel nursing can help you learn about yourself and your partner in exciting ways, allowing you to cultivate an even deeper connection than the one you have.
Maintain Friendships with Others
You may be tempted to spend every free moment talking to your significant other, but this can cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. Maintaining independent friendships outside of your relationship is important.
Don’t miss out on opportunities to bond with your coworkers or new friends outside of work, even if it means taking a rain check on that Skype chat with your partner. If your significant other wants the best for you, it will make them happy that you’re making friends.
Be Flexible
While it’s important to set and maintain standards and expectations for your relationship, don’t let a change of plans stress you out. Keep an open mind and try to remain in the present, as your assignment won’t last forever. Plus, your partner will appreciate your flexibility – it will let you communicate that you are confident in your relationship.
Invest in Yourself
The bottom line: the quality of your experience is up to you. Perceiving your travel nursing assignment as an opportunity rather than an obstacle is the best way to enjoy your time away from your partner.
Make plenty of time to focus on your own interests. Explore your new city, take on new or forgotten hobbies, and invest in your own happiness. Spend your time in ways that will eliminate future regret about your awesome nursing adventure.
If you develop the ability to be satisfied on your own, staying in your long-distance relationship will become more meaningful – because you’re truly choosing to be with the one you love.
Looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Found an assignment but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
An injury to the brain can alter the way an individual experiences physical stimuli and emotions. They could suffer mild or significant changes in how they experience emotions and how they behave. This can be extremely difficult for family and friends to cope with, and a highly skilled nurse can do a lot to support them in learning how best to support their loved ones.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can cause a previously gentle and composed person to lose self-control. It is important to help their family and friends understand that they may witness out-of-character outbursts of anger or aggression or be the subject of insensitive comments that could feel hurtful and confusing.
Equally, the opposite could be the case. A previously vivacious person may become apathetic in what is also known as the flat effect. This can also be deeply concerning and confusing to the victim’s loved ones.
Nurses understand that it is of utmost importance to treat a TBI victim with care and sensitivity. However, since the injury is not physically visible, loved ones can often become frustrated and struggle to cope and may judge them unfairly or treat them inappropriately.
Here are some of the mistakes that family and friends can make and what you can do to help.
Inappropriately expressing frustration over their inability to recall
Most people who suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury also experience challenges in remembering.
Having to repeat oneself several times can be frustrating. Ordinarily, we would ask, “how many times do I have to tell you?”
Such a sarcastic comment may seem suitable to a support person who, in their frustration, secretly hopes that a push in that direction will spur the patient on to remember. However, in the case of a person with TBI, it will only make things worse.
A compassionate nurse can encourage a patient’s loved ones to deepen their understanding and find gentler ways of supporting progress. Suggest the use of a memo board and focus on improving sensitive communication skills. Demonstrate that using kind gestures can help them remember. You could also introduce them to studies showing that Brain Training and Cognitive Therapy techniques can help reverse the situation.
Blunt remarks about their change in behavior
A brain injury could also cause changes in personality or behavior, one of the most common signs being irritability. It could be a direct result of brain injury or an indirect outcome of psychological effects like anxiety, chronic headaches, insomnia, or depression.
While dealing with their own traumatic array of emotions, the patient’s loved ones can struggle to manage their reactions.
It can be hard for them to keep their cool, and it is common to react negatively and critically, which only makes the situation worse.
Give these support people whatever time you can manage to have them feel heard and understood with compassion. Encourage them to seek some support of their own through a counseling service – an online counselor could be more affordable and easier to access. Other simple recommendations for positive change could help exponentially, too. For instance, changing the diet, supplements, or medication can help them cope. Other changes could require more effort, like changes in routines. But ask the questions to help ensure that they are taking care of their own wellbeing and making healthy choices to help them to cope.
Denial about the signs of Traumatic Brain Injury
Although brain injury may be invisible to the eye, the signs are not. It’s hard to turn a blind eye to the behavior changes, challenges in remembering, inability to focus, and other psychological effects.
It is common for some loved ones to make it worse by either being genuinely oblivious to these changes or subconsciously opting for denial as a coping strategy. When they make comments like “you seem fine to me,” it could worsen the situation.
Sometimes, they may not recognize issues like apathy or depression for what they are, and instead, take them to be a form of laziness, and become critical towards the victim.
Help them avoid this downward spiral by gently encouraging them to accept the situation’s reality and seek help from a counseling professional.
As every nurse knows, every person’s experience with TBI is as unique as their fingerprint. But, inexperienced and traumatized loved ones can struggle to comprehend the changes. Symptoms like difficulties with memory, recurrent chronic headaches, and behavior issues like irritability, depression, and anxiety can prove overwhelming on top of recovering from the initial shock and trauma of the injury itself.
Remind them that they are not helpless. Aside from reaching out to a counselor, you can suggest these adjustments:
Encourage them to breathe deeply and keep calm, especially when the individual has an emotional outburst.
Acknowledge their feelings compassionately and give them a chance to let them out.
Support them in learning how to respond positively and gently provide feedback when the individual regains control.
Introduce the strategy of redirecting the focus to a different topic or activity.
Set up an easily accessible memo board to help with the patient’s recall.
It is also prudent and may help to support the family further to ensure that they have consulted with a lawyer if appropriate. The brain injury could be due to another party’s fault. Perhaps the individual was involved in an automobile accident, operated faulty equipment, fell in a public place, or something went wrong during a medical procedure. In such cases, legal help is crucial. A TBI lawyer can inform patients and family members regarding their rights and guide them in claiming compensation. This can take a huge burden off their shoulders, allowing them more mental energy to cope with the changes.
Final thoughts
As a traveling nurse, your role in a patient’s traumatic brain injury recovery may be fleeting. However, you can still do so much to positively impact their road to recovery and provide them with invaluable support and information that can significantly improve their journey forwards and that of the patients.
Are you a travel nurse looking for your next assignment? Click here to visit our job board. Do you have your next assignment secured but still need housing? Click here to view our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
If you’re a nurse looking for a profession that’s in demand, look no further than travel nursing. It’s expected to grow by over 15% through 2026. The increase in demand is more than any healthcare location can handle. Travel nurses travel to different locations and accept assignments where the need is greatest.
Traveling nurses experience a variety of benefits and experience an in-demand career that provides security. Here are some of the benefits you’ll experience as a travel nurse.
Discover New Places
Of course, one of the main benefits is travel. You may end up in parts of the country you never thought possible – or were even on your bucket list. Travel nurse assignments span the entire country, and you’ll be able to see how nursing is different across the nation.
You can take in the beautiful sights of Montana’s Big Sky or get wrapped up in the lights and sights of Las Vegas. Take advantage of what each location has to offer. Some areas are known for their restaurants or their cultural offerings. Take in what you’re able to when you’re on assignment.
As a travel nurse, you’re able to experience the country in ways others aren’t, thanks to the profession.
Flexibility (Personal and Professional)
Travel nursing allows you to do many things from a professional and personal standpoint. You have the opportunity to travel to different hospitals; many include research and learning opportunities – especially at teaching hospitals. At those locations, you’ll be able to learn new techniques and pick the brains of veteran staff.
Working at these locations can also be a great resume builder, making you more valuable and in demand. The fact you’re willing to work at these locations shows you love to be pushed and up for any type of challenge.
Personally, you’re able to coordinate your assignments so that you’re able to take personal time after assignments to focus on things that are important to you – whether it’s spending time with family and friends or doing volunteer work. Your world is your oyster.
Explore Nursing In New Areas
Travel nursing allows you to explore many areas of nursing. Whether it’s exploring different specialties or types of hospitals, you may find you really like the non-profit since that allows you to focus on patient care. You may find you’re a natural teacher and enjoy working at teaching hospitals.
You can also float to different areas of the hospital. Spend some time in the ICU, ER, or the NICU. You can make an impact in several areas. Plus, you’re able to find out if travel nursing is for you and make the decision to continue or settle on a permanent location – assignments are a great length to determine what you want to do.
Develop Skills Beyond Nursing
Travel nursing allows you to craft your nursing skills, but you’re able to develop skills beyond nursing.
By working in different hospitals, you’ll develop patient skills from new experiences you may not be privy to as a staff nurse. It also forces you to make decisions and think critically as you encounter different situations with patients of all types.
You’ll be helping your career over the long term. You’ll see many sides of nursing so you can develop a clear idea of where you’d like to focus on.
In addition to nursing skills, you’ll develop your soft skills. You need to adapt to many different situations and communicate effectively – not only to patients but hospital leadership, as well.
Not only are you crafting your nursing skills, but life skills as well. You’re adapting to different locations, situations. As a travel nurse, you’re picking up and going from location to location and getting familiar with new surroundings.
Nurses In Demand
RNs are in demand right now as there is a nurse shortage spanning the country. The need for nurses is growing at an exponential rate, and their skills are highly sought after.
Healthcare locations are having trouble meeting seasonal needs, and with the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant, the need for nurses is quickly increasing.
ICU and ER nurses appear to be the most sought after, but really, these shortages span all specialties.
As a travel nurse, you’ll rest comfortably knowing you’ll be in demand as there will always be another assignment waiting for you once your current assignment ends.
Higher Pay
Travel nurses work hard and are well compensated with generous hourly rates and benefits. In some cases, they see higher pay and packages than permanent staff. If you have a specialty or skill set that no one has, that increases your wage.
Some locations will offer a referral bonus to RNs who refer other travel nurses or completion bonuses.
On The Front Lines
If you really want to help and are focused on patient care, travel nursing is where to be. You’re on the front lines helping patients who are in need of care.
You’ll see your impact on people’s lives on a daily basis and see the fruits of your care. You’re not stocking equipment and supply rooms. You will be working in areas and with people who need help in your specialty – so it’s focused care. Looking to start your travel nurse career today? Try Next Travel Nursing, an agency that knows strong nurse-recruiter relationships aren’t easy to come by but believes they’re totally essential. Let NEXThelp you find your perfect assignment today.
We hope you found this list of benefits of travel nursing helpful. Are there any other benefits that we missed? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Have your next assignment secured but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
So, you’ve decided you want to take the plunge and decrease the square footage of your home; that’s what we did anyway. We renovated a 1971 Airstream trailer to our liking, got rid of a LARGE amount of our items, made space for the dog and the cat, and hit the road. It has been a life-changing, eye-opening event in our lives. For the most part, it has been extremely rewarding, but there were a lot of sacrifices that this lifestyle requires too. Here are our tips on how to make the most of tiny space living, especially with your furry friends in tow.
Plan Ahead-
This one is BIG. This started as soon as we decided we were going to renovate the Airstream. Our layout was meticulously thought out to maximize space and storage. Our bed flips up so that much of our larger items can be stowed underneath. For you pet owners, especially cat owners, you’ll want to think of where their things will go (i.e., the litter box). In anticipation of living in a tiny space, we actually decided to toilet train our cat. Lucky for us, she loves a good food-driven bribe and was willing to do anything for some tuna. If that’s not your cat’s style, you’ll want to find a good storage area for the litter box to slip into and help keep the smell to a minimum.
We had some friends that kept it behind its own cute curtain, which was genius for keeping it out of sight and the smell contained! We also recommend trying to plan your meals ahead of time. If you go with a trailer, the fridges tend to be tiny. We have found that we can cut down on wasted space and food by planning out our meals a couple of days in advance so that we only have what we really need.
Purging-
If you’ve decided you want to take the leap into the world of small homes, this is another big one. It’s also hard! We had to take a good look at all of our items, Marie Condo style. We went with the system of “If it hasn’t been used or worn in over a year, then it’s out.” I’m a total sucker for “it’ll be back in style eventually” and therefore always love to hold on to clothes longer than necessary. However, for the sake of our tiny space, I got rid of soooooo many garbage bags full of clothing. It was heartbreaking but totally worth it when I saw just how neatly all of my clothing now fits into place.
We also did this for kitchen items too, we were very guilty of having far too many drinking glasses and coffee mugs. We had to be realistic and realize we weren’t going to have 10 people over for breakfast in a tiny space, therefore limiting ourselves to our 4 favorite mugs on the road. To this day, two years in, we’ve only ever needed 4 at a time. So go make some money on eBay, and sell that stuff, baby!
Small Space with Pets-
If you’re like me, your pets are your children. Therefore, the tiny space must incorporate them as well. How much space can a cat actually take up? Your dog doesn’t need too much, right? These were both things I had thought prior to making the move, but boy, was I surprised. For one, now that we are in a smaller space, our cat likes to make her presence known. She’s everywhere I want to sit. In my bed, on the toilet (remember that toilet training thing?), yelling at me to feed her.
I adore her, but it can be a lot. It definitely helped when we gave her a designated space. We made space by the window, put her food nearby and one of her toys, and now she gravitates toward that area. I still find her everywhere I need to be because, ya know, cats… but she mostly hangs out in “her” space now. Combined, our cat and dog have their own cabinet in the trailer of just items for pet use. Food, brushes, shampoo, flea and tick treatments, a colorful collection of bandanas. It definitely helps to have all of their items in their own location so that they aren’t mixed in with ours.
We also keep their vet records on hand in their own files. If you’re planning on traveling in your tiny space, this will be especially important as many parks require this information to be readily available. If you are like me and have an allurement toward fluffy pets, you’ll want to keep a lint roller on hand. I can never seem to walk out of the house without a fresh layer of fur on my own clothing, no matter how many times a day we brush them. Keeping a lint roller handy has been truly lifesaving.
Go With the Flow-
I know this may seem contradictory to my first tip of “planning ahead,” but what this life has taught me is you truly cannot plan for everything. There are going to be wrenches thrown into your days. The best thing you can do is, take a deep breath, smile, and try something new. We’ve had countless times where things have gone wrong. Most recently, our two-year-old water heater abruptly stopped working. As frustrating as that was, we ended up getting a gym membership so that we could shower and now find ourselves working out at the gym on a daily basis. That was never the intention, but it was a welcomed change in our life. We’ve become true believers that everything happens for a reason. If you’re finding yourself craving living in a tiny space, well, there’s probably a reason for that too, so I say go for it!
We hope you found these tips for small space living helpful. Are you currently living in a small space or RV? Do you have any tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Travel Nursing requires a hands-on and versatile approach to your nursing practice, but even more so, your entire life. To maximize earning potential, you can use your non-taxable stipends to help you make more take-home cash. Chief among these is the housing stipend, meant to help find lodging when traveling and working at a facility away from home.
And, there are several ways to save cash and maximize your housing stipend as a Travel Nurse or Allied Healthcare Professional.
What is a housing stipend?
So what is a housing stipend, and how does it work? Travel Nurses typically have two options when it comes to housing. They can either accept agency-provided housing, if available or a housing stipend and find accommodation independently.
When looking at the housing stipend, there are a few different ways to get paid.
Monthly rate
If you’re offered a monthly rate, your housing stipend is allotted each week based on the length of your assignment. The only concern with monthly rates is when you’re paying rent for longer than an assignment lasts. For example, if you have a two-week job, you will only be paid for those two weeks, which may not cover the entire month’s worth of rent.
Stipends paid out in bi-weekly paychecks
It’s essential to have enough money out of pocket to start living through a stipend. Because your stipend is typically paid out bi-weekly, you may be expected to cover the initial deposit and first month of rent before receiving your first paycheck.
Tax-free housing allocation
One of the most significant ways you can save big on your housing stipend is that it will be entirely tax-free if you have a valid tax home and are far away enough from that tax home when traveling.
Amounts vary
Stipend amounts vary, and it’s essential to look at the fine print on many of these contracts. Some agencies will pay very high stipends but offer lower hourly rates for your work, and prices will vary, of course, depending on where you’re living and the local housing markets in those regions.
On top of these crucial points, you should look out for perks like included utilities or fully furnished accommodations when assessing a contract.
Tips to maximize your Travel Nursing stipend
There are many different ways to maximize your Travel Nursing housing stipend. Below are several tips to help bolster your earnings and make your nursing housing stipend go the distance.
Short-term housing, utilities included and furnished
It’s important to remember that some assignments may be as short as a few weeks and as long as three months or more. With this in mind, life will be that much easier if you find fully furnished housing that includes utilities in the rent and doesn’t have exorbitant premiums on short-term leasing.
Rentals/sublets
If your nursing assignment is for more than six months, you will likely find traditional rentals through apartments, condos, townhomes, and so on. If you have a shorter contract, however, things like Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO, among others, have made it easier to find short-term housing.
Extended hotel stays
Extended hotel stays can be a good option if space isn’t a priority for you. Depending on the area you’re in, finding fully-furnished housing that includes utilities might be challenging. An extended hotel stay could make things a lot easier. Be sure to keep an eye out for hotels that offer special deals for extended stays.
RVs
While these might not be for everyone, RVs are a very convenient and cheap solution that can be a lot of fun! RV parks and campsites are a lot cheaper than monthly rent, and the convenience of being able to pack and move on at a moment’s notice is a massive appeal to the RV route.
Roommates
Finding a roommate as you go from place to place is a great way to mitigate many of the challenges that come with travel nursing. Aside from your bedroom, the apartment will already be fully furnished, and utilities will be included in your rent. Living with a roommate is also typically much cheaper than living alone, so you will save costs on that end as well.
Friends/family
Reach out to your friends and family members across the country. Living with a friend or family member for a short period is a great way to reunite with loved ones and save costs at the same time.
House sitting
House sitting almost sounds too good to be true. To live and watch over someone’s house and possibly their pets and plants, you may not have to pay a single dime and may even earn a little cash for your efforts. TrustedHousesitters, HouseSittersAmerica, MindMyHouse are just a few options for house sitting apps you could utilize.
Whichever option you choose, know that there are a plethora of ways to maximize your stipend and save on housing costs. While it might require a little bit of research and effort, you could make significant earnings on your housing stipend over time and create your travel nursing experiences as cost-effective as they are liberating.
Medely
With Medely, your next nursing job is only a tap away. Travel nursing opportunities are brought directly to your phone, so you have the control to create your schedule based on your travel needs.
Medley delivers premium pay, maxed out travel stipends, and the ability to book per diem shifts while on an assignment so you can maximize your earnings.
Freedom, flexibility, and support come standard. Be where you want to be when you want to be there with Medely today.
Are you a travel nurse looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you have your next assignment secured but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
The pandemic is slowing in some areas, but the stress that accumulated for travel nurses remains. Now is the time to tackle it. Travel nurses know life in the healthcare industry is stressful by nature, but it can be mentally and emotionally exhausting if you can’t find a way to relax when your shift is over. So, here are five things you can do to decompress after a hard shift.
5 Ways to Decompress
1. Break up your routine of going straight home after work.
Instead, go somewhere to help your mind shift its train of thought from work to “you” time. Participate in group trivia at a bar, spend a few minutes at a park, or grab a snack from the new shop down the street — add anything to your day that will break up the monotony of your routine.
2. Get together with friends and laugh.
Laughter actually is good medicine. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter activates endorphins, increases your intake of oxygen-rich air, and can help relax your muscles. Laughter also comes with potential long-term health effects, like helping your immunity.
What better way is there to induce laughter than getting together with friends? After all, it’s likely not often you get a night with your friends as an adult. The Mayo Clinic says having a sound support system can help you cope with stress and increase your self-worth. You don’t have to be in the same town to enjoy your friends’ company. Schedule a video chat, catch up with one another, and let the laughs begin.
3. Lose yourself in a hobby.
Spending a few minutes of your day with a hobby can leave you feeling refreshed and fulfilled. Your hobby doesn’t have to be expensive or come with a lot of gear (we know you need the space in your car for cross-country road trips). Just find a hobby that brings you joy and captures your focus, such as calligraphy, reading, hiking, music, or even listening to podcasts.
4. Find stillness.
Sometimes, the best way to get through stress is to face what is bothering you. Journaling can help you reflect on and express your feelings, which allows you to determine your triggers and identify what brings you happiness. Practicing meditation gives you space to acknowledge your emotions and let them pass as you focus your attention on your stillness. Using these methods to decompress might take practice and an open mind, but your future self will thank you for adding them to your life.
5. Take advantage of your agency’s benefits.
Some travel nurse agencies have free resources you can use even without agency-provided insurance. Ask your agency if it has an Employee Assistance Program or Chaplain Program, offers clinical support, or has other free benefits. There’s zero judgment and no backlash when you ask for help to take care of yourself.
Sometimes, stress relief comes by taking simple actions that you may disregard in your busy life. However, comfort can come when you take even a few minutes to prioritize your needs. Watch The Gypsy Nurse’s recent Facebook Live about Mental Health Resources for more ideas on ways to decompress, and join the conversation to let us know what has helped your mental well-being the most.
By now, most of us have a presence or participate in some type of social media platform. The urge to social connect is powerful and even more so for a segment like travel nursing. Being active on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram shows that you are not alone; there are hundreds, in fact, thousands of Nurses just like you who share a “gypsy” soul and are traveling cross country from one 13-week travel contract to another.
Being able to connect can allow you to find a new assignment, perhaps a place to live, or simply connect with others while being a Traveler. The positives of being on social media are endless; however, there are a few reminders worth keeping in check before your next social post.
Stranger, danger? Do not let your guard down online. Be thoughtful and careful about what you share on social media. Keep a “digital border” with people you connect on the road or in social media groups. Although rare, there are bad actors who may take advantage of solo travelers. This tip is not exclusive to women.
Had a bad day at work? It may even be justified to vent about the hospital “dirty laundry” on social media groups, but Reminder #2 is: Do not bash employers in a public forum. Friendly reminder: social media is a public forum – yes, even groups that are supposed to be private. As tempting as it seems to vent to your peers, how well do you really know the thousands of members of a group? And who do they know? Rule of thumb: if you want to share how bad of an experience a travel assignment/hospital is to warn or help others, be constructive, be truthful, but leave out direct names of facility or employees.
Be a “Privacy Setting” expert. Understand your privacy settings on each of the various platforms. For your user profile, can everyone see everything you have shared/posted? Then ask yourself, “should they”?
Be HIPPA compliant. For selfies at work with #travelnurselife #nursemode (not vetted hastags), be cognizant of any posts or pics that can be considered violation. Don’t be THAT nurse. Some HIPPA violations on social media have had the best and even heartwarming intentions.
Watch your language & correct your spelling. In a social media world full of emoji oversharing, ALL CAPS no-holds-bar tirade, do your best to maintain a certain level of decorum. You are a nurse, the most trusted profession in our country. What you do and what you say matter both in person and online.
When used properly, social media IS a utilitarian tool to not only stay connected but to stay informed for travel nurses. The platforms have given everyone a place to gather and a place to share carefully. We hope you find these 5 tips/reminders useful before your next social media post.
“Just because you don’t share it on social media, doesn’t mean you’re not up to big things. Live it and stay low key. Privacy is everything”. – Denzel Washington.
If you are looking for housing for your next travel nurse assignment, click here.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
