March 30, 2022

1866 Views

Working as a Travel Nurse

Posted on March 30, 2022March 30, 2022 by Diane Wong

See the Country and Earn a Living at Same Time

A travel nurse has the option to choose almost anywhere she desires to live – then has all employment, housing, and moving preparations made for her.

Many nurses and other healthcare professionals, with the freedom to travel, and the propensity to explore new sites and surroundings, enjoy travel positions. Moving without the daunting duties that accompany, is made simple and may even be an exciting experience.

Registered nurses are medical health professionals who have completed at least two years of training in the field of nursing at a school of nursing or community college. Graduates must then pass state licensing exams. Once a nurse has earned her state license, she can look for a job in the many varied fields of nursing. One of the most popular employment areas of nursing is known as travel nursing.

Travel Nurse Jobs

Traveling nurses work in many parts of the country. They help deal with the medical effects of short-term disasters such as hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, or earthquakes. Travel nurses also help hospitals and nursing homes fill staff shortages. A travel nurse may assist workers helping people dig after their homes have collapsed, fill in for a nurse on maternity leave, or help a busy urban hospital deal with an influx of patients for some time.

A travel nurse might spend a month in a hospital in a burn unit in Florida during December and then head to Texas for three months or California for six months.

Benefits & Bonuses

Travel nurses are paid by their staffing agency – not the facility or hospital. She may receive direct deposit payments and benefits provided by the agency. Bonuses are another perk that is dependent upon the agency – and may include referral bonuses and completion bonuses (paid upon completion of the employment term). Considering the many advantages such as paid travel expenses, furnished and fully paid apartment living, and free standard utilities – those employed by such agencies may fare better (financially) than those employed directly by the hospitals and facilities.

Disadvantages

Individuals with family ties and tight-knit friendships may find it difficult to travel. Relationships may be strained when communication is stretched. For those who seek permanence and stability – a transitory lifestyle may be intimidating and unsettling. In addition, those who have forged friendships with co-workers may find it disheartening to leave upon completion of the temporary employment assignment. A definite resilience to new situations and settings should be a prerequisite to travel nursing. Those inquiring about a position should be sure to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages and not make a hasty decision.

Travel Nurse Agencies

A travel nurse agency is a company that specializes in the employment of traveling nurses. Agencies vet candidates for employment, create contracts, set up assignments, and act as a middleman between the travel nurse and her assignments.

Most traveling nurse agencies require candidates to have completed their education and training. Nursing agencies also require most registered nurses to have at least two years of full-time employment in a hospital setting. A potential travel nurse may also be required to have specific training and certifications such as neonatal resuscitation to work in a NICU or experience with kidney patients to work on a dialysis unit.

Many travel nursing agencies have contracts in different states. A traveling nurse must have a valid state license for each state where she wants to work. A travel nursing agency owner will work with her to earn any additional state licenses so that she has as many working opportunities as possible.

Benefits of Travel Nursing

Working as a traveling nurse can have many benefits. Travel nurses often earn a higher hourly wage than their on-staff counterparts. A travel nurse can decide to work for six months and then take the next month off. Many travel nursing agencies provide travel nurses with additional benefits such as health insurance, a housing allowance, and a completion bonus if they full all the requirements of their contracts.

Travel nurses are expected to be quick learners. Some hospitals will provide the nurse with a few hours of onsite orientation. Many expect the nurse to be fully ready to work in a position within a short period of her arrival.

A job as a travel nurse can be fun and exciting. For a registered nurse with the right credentials, travel nursing can be the perfect way to see many parts of the country and advance their careers.

We hope you found this article on working as a travel nurse helpful. Do you have any advice or tips to share with those considering this career? Comment them below.

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

About the author:

Diane H. Wong is a content writer at essaywriter.nyc and a family coach. So she prefers to spend her spare time working out family issues solutions. In this case, she has an opportunity to share her experience with others and keep up with advancing technologies.

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 TheraEx

March 29, 2022

3184 Views

6 Tips for Soothing Pre and Post-Shift Anxiety

Posted on March 29, 2022March 21, 2022 by TheraEx

TheraEx Staffing Services provided this article.

It doesn’t matter if you are just beginning your profession as a travel nurse or are a seasoned veteran in the field. Anxiety doesn’t discriminate and can strike at any time without warning. The sheer responsibility of overseeing another person’s health, safety, and wellbeing can get rather nerve-racking! Sometimes you just need a quick fix for when you’re feeling particularly stressed and overwhelmed. Enter these 6 ways to calm anxiety, from creating a calming morning routine to taking a relaxing bath.

Create a Calming Morning Routine

Mornings – you either love them, or you loathe them. Chances are, you most likely loathe them. And we get it; you’re not alone! Mornings can be hectic and rushed, and they can set the stage for a bad day that feels like it will never end. Try creating a specific routine that you’re comfortable with, and it’ll give you a game plan that you can rely on when your brain feels like it’s running in a million circles and you cannot seem to focus on anything but the sound of your own racing heart. Try creating your own calming morning routine that includes an early morning walk, journaling, yoga, meditation, listening to a podcast, reading gossip blogs, or simply drinking a hot cup of herbal tea or coffee.

Listen to Your Favorite Music

Music is powerful. It can pump you up, boost your confidence, make you feel like you’re on top of the world, and nearly everything in between. Feel like you can run the world every time you hear Beyoncé? Or you’re a champion every time you hear Queen? Either way, putting on your favorite feel-good tune can put you in the mood you need to conquer the task at hand. Choose something that reflects how you want to feel throughout the day, blast it as loud as you can, and sing along to your heart’s content.

Incorporate Regular Exercise Into Your Routine

One of the best-known coping strategies for anxiety is exercise. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, getting your body moving is a great distraction. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people,” and exercise can help the brain cope with stress better.

Create a Calming Commute Home

Once your shift has ended, you may face nursing shift anxiety and stress from the 8-12 hours you spent providing care to your patients, in addition to acting as a liaison to their worried families. On your commute home, try stopping for a treat to reward yourself with or listen to an audiobook or a podcast. As soon as you walk in the door, immediately change from your work clothes to a comfortable home outfit. Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference.

Take a Relaxing Bath

Taking a bath can seem like a rare luxury for busy medical professionals. However, it is extremely beneficial to set aside time just for yourself to decompress from your stressful workday. In today’s hectic world, it’s easy to fall into the routine of showering after a stressful day of work, throwing on clothes, and heading to bed. But slowing down and taking a bath every once in a while can benefit both your physical and mental health. It can also help soothe muscle aches and pains from a long day at work.

Learn How to Separate Home and Work

You have a work-life. You have a home life. And you have, likely, forgotten how to keep them separate. As hard as it can be, try to forget that you’re a medical professional when you’re at home. Focus on relaxing, eating, and sleeping well. Go out and spend time with friends and family and try to forget all your work problems. Do all the things you love and leave your work problems at work.

We hope you found this article on pre and post-shift anxiety tips helpful. Do you have any remedies for pre and post-shift anxiety? 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 Brandy Pinkerton

March 28, 2022

1906 Views

Two Travel Nursing Destinations for the Mountain Lover

Posted on March 28, 2022March 22, 2022 by Brandy Pinkerton

The Mountains are calling, and I must go! -John Muir

If you’re a mountain lover, adventure seeker, and love to travel to destinations that feed your passion, here are a couple of places worth considering.

Colorado

There are few major cities in America where you can be a short drive to hiking trails, mountains, waterfalls, canyons, and urban amenities. Colorado has so much to offer with its majestic Rocky Mountains range in every direction. Colorado travel assignments might just be for you if you like a winter wonderland. Colorado offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the U.S., with Vail and Aspen as two of the most popular destinations. Personally, Breckenridge is a favorite of mine. The moment you arrive, you feel a contagious energy, a laid-back mountain vibe, and a fun-loving sense of adventure that calls out the freedom-seeker in all of us! You will feel right at home, and honestly, you may not ever want to leave. For those who prefer to stay off the slopes but still want to experience all that winter has to offer, Colorado offers plenty of opportunities to snowshoe, snowmobile, or cross-country ski. My first travel assignment was in Colorado Springs; it quickly stole my heart and is still one of my most favorite assignments. It is a gem of a city! Depending on your specialty and time of year, there are usually an abundance of travel nursing options in Colorado. If you are looking for a relaxing lifestyle in a town with natural beauty that offers awesome outdoor opportunities available year-round, you definitely need to add this town to your bucket list. Staying fit and healthy is a priority of the locals, and it is a very pet-friendly town. Pikes Peak is the most famous natural attraction in the region, and you can enjoy hikes up to the 14,000-foot summit. In Colorado, you can be in the urban city but have the option to head to the mountains for a quick getaway in minutes!!

* Mentor Tip: If you are up for a big challenge, make sure to check out the extreme rated, heart-pounding Manitou Incline Hiking trail where you gain over 2,000 vertical feet in less than a mile climbing 2,744 stairs to reach the summit where there are stunning panoramic views. Trust me, the views at the top are well worth the effort!

Montana

I saved the best for last. I must warn you, proceed with caution because Big Sky Country will likely steal your heart, and you may never want to leave. As soon as you cross state lines into Montana, you get this laid-back, easy pace way of life vibe. You can follow the Rockies all the way up through into western Montana into the northern region where the Canadian Rockies begin. There are jagged peaks, pristine water, and abundant wildlife in every direction. Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks are all worth visiting while in this area. In my opinion, Glacier National Park steals the spotlight. It is land of mountain ranges carved by prehistoric ice rivers full of alpine meadows, deep forests, waterfalls, about 25 glistening glaciers, and 200 sparkling lakes. The vistas seen from Going-To-The-Sun Road are breathtaking, a photographer’s paradise. Relatively few miles of road exist in the park’s 1,600 square miles of picturesque landscape, thus preserving its primitive and unspoiled beauty. It offers tons of hiking trails and backcountry camping and hiking. Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, and Kalispell, are all cities that often have travel nursing needs. I was able to spend 9 months in Kalispell as a traveler to help them open up a brand new Children’s Hospital. As a traveler, you get to enjoy the breathtaking views of vast forests, rugged mountains, and green meadows, which will make your assignment an unparalleled adventure. Montana is truly the Last Best Place.

*Mentor Tip: Montana is Grizzly Bear country and hiking in these areas requires some preparation and planning. Make sure to educate yourself on Bear Safety and understand the proper way to secure your food. Make sure to always carry bear spray and know how to use it; it could save your life. Also, this is NOT the place to hike alone, and if you do, that is a risk you assume. Try to hike with groups of 3 or more and make lots of noise when on the trails.

Being able to have endless adventures in the mountains is one of the many perks of becoming a traveling nurse. The mountains are a place to go to feel fully truly alive.

This is just a glimpse of the incredible locations travel nurses can enjoy while on assignment. Want to learn more? Contact Brandy@travelnurse101.com today to schedule your complimentary 1:1 mentor session.

We hope you enjoyed this article on two travel nursing destinations for the mountain lover. Have you found any great mountain destinations for travel nursing assignments? 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 Kevin Devoto

March 26, 2022

1622 Views

How Travel Nurses Can Improve Their Sleep

Posted on March 26, 2022March 22, 2022 by Kevin Devoto

Getting quality sleep on a regular basis is essential for maintaining good health. That being said, travel nurses and nurses, in general, can struggle with getting adequate amounts of sleep at night. Between the long hours, night shifts, time zone changes, achieving a restful night of sleep can seem impossible at times. The good news is that there are things you can do to begin improving your sleep quality. The first step to doing this is to make sure that you understand what impacts your ability to fall asleep at night. If you want to get the rest that you and your body need to truly feel regenerated, then here are some things to consider.

Your Diet and Nutrient Intake

One of the first things you need to think about when you are working to improve your overall sleep quality is what you eat on a daily basis. The foods you eat can impact how much energy you have throughout the day and your overall hormonal balance. These things, in turn, can then impact how easy it is for you to fall asleep. When you eat foods that tend to be high in sugar and carbs, your blood sugar will be more likely to spike and crash. This means that your energy levels will also be spiking and crashing. Ultimately, this can cause you to feel tired all day long and then full of energy at night.

In addition to paying attention to your blood sugar and how foods impact that, you also need to consider the nutrient density of the foods that you eat and whether or not you might be deficient in some nutrients. Doing things like taking a vitamin d test can help clue you into what nutrients you need more of in your diet. Different deficiencies can hurt sleep in different ways. For example, those with a vitamin B12 deficiency might find that their sleep patterns are disrupted, while those with a vitamin D deficiency might notice that their sleep duration is shorter overall.

Your Caffeine and Alcohol Intake

The amounts of caffeine and alcohol that you drink can also significantly impact your ability to fall asleep at night. Caffeine can keep you up due to the fact that it is a nervous system stimulant. A nervous system stimulant can be great for getting you up and going early in the morning. However, all of this energy can be detrimental too late in the day. Because caffeine can keep you energized for up to several hours after consuming it, it is important to make sure that you avoid drinking caffeinated beverages too late in the evening.

Along with caffeine, alcohol is another beverage that can significantly impact your sleep quality. Even though some may not think that alcohol impacts their sleep much because they are able to fall asleep easily after drinking, the reality is that it can still be hurting sleep quality. While alcohol may not prevent you from falling asleep, the reality is that it can disrupt sleep cycles and lead to short and fragmented sleep. Because of this, you may find yourself waking up frequently throughout the night and feeling exhausted when you do finally get up for the day. To avoid this, it can be a good idea to limit the number of drinks that you consume or to avoid drinking too frequently.

Your Daily Activity Level

Your daily activity level is something else that can have a noticeable impact on the amount and quality of sleep that you are able to get. Typically, the more active that you are throughout the day, the easier it will be for you to fall asleep at night. This is due in part to the fact that being physically active can wear you out and cause you to feel more tired when it is time for bed. The other reason that it can be beneficial is that physical activity can help to balance out your hormones and can even affect many hormones that are related to sleep quality and duration.

Something else to keep in mind is that it often doesn’t matter what kind of exercise or movement you are doing throughout the day. As long as you can make sure that you are working out for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day, you can see benefits when it comes to your sleep quality.

Your Sleeping Environment

Where you sleep is another factor that can have a lot to do with whether or not you are sleeping well at night. If you have a bedroom that is full of light, heat, and noise, you may find it difficult to fall asleep easily or stay asleep throughout the night. While you may not always be able to change all of these things, doing what you can to create a dark, cool and quiet sleeping environment can be important for getting good sleep.

One way to help cool your bedroom down is by using a fan at night, which can also be great for white noise. Additionally, turning your thermostat down by a few extra degrees before bed can be another way to accomplish this. To help reduce noise, using noise-canceling panels on your door or earplugs can be helpful. If you want to make sure that your room is dark enough, then using a sleep mask or trying room-darkening blinds can be a good idea.

Your Stress Levels

Your stress levels are another thing that can impact your ability to sleep well in a big way. The more stressed that you are, the more stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol you will have coursing through your system. These hormones can cause you to feel wired and can lead to you staying up, even if you are feeling very tired. While it may not be possible to avoid stress in your life altogether, the good news is that there are things you can do to help reduce it.

One way to help cut down on stress is to try out mindfulness, or meditation. Meditation can not only help you to clear your mind, but it can also help to calm your nervous system as well. Often, aiming for 15 to 20 minutes of meditation is ideal if you want to see results.

Parting Thoughts

Quality sleep is essential for travel nurses because they have very demanding jobs that require their full energy for extended periods of time. Many don’t get as much rest as they truly need. While it might not always be easy to get enough sleep, the upside is that by being aware of all the factors that can affect your rest, you can help make the right decisions to get better sleep.

We hope this article on ways to improve sleep as a travel nurse was helpful. Have you found any ways to improve sleep as a travel nurse? Comment ways you think will help other travel nurses improve sleep.

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 Fusion Medical Staffing

March 25, 2022

2241 Views

6 Ways to Adjust to Your New Travel Job

Posted on March 25, 2022November 28, 2023 by Fusion Medical Staffing

Fusion Medical Staffing provided this article.

Throughout a lifetime, everyone moves at some point or another. But as a medical traveler, you move a lot more frequently than the average Joe. And that can be tough.

6 Ways to Adjust to Your New Travel Job

For you, each move likely means a new zip code, a new living space, and a new work environment. Although you’ll only be there for about 13 weeks, it’s still important you make the time to get acclimated to your new surroundings. Lucky for you, your good friends at Fusion have put together these helpful tips on how to adjust to your new travel job. Check it out!

No. 1: Meet new friends

As a kid, it was easy to walk up to another strange child and ask, “Do you want to be my friend?” But, somewhere along the way of growing up, it became harder to have that conversation. According to psychologist and University of Maryland professor Marisa Franco, it’s because when you get older, making friends doesn’t happen as organically.

“Sociologists have kind of identified the ingredients that need to be in place for us to make friends organically, and they are continuous unplanned interaction and shared vulnerability,” said Marisa. “But as we become adults, we have less and less environments where those ingredients are at play.”

So, it seems easier said than done to make new friends in your environment, but it’s completely doable. All you have to do is put yourself out there and make it a priority to make friends! Again, easier said than done, right? Here are some tricks you can try to form new friendships:

Assume that people already like you
Make the move to get someone’s information when you connect with them
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you find you’re on the struggle bus
Continue to put yourself out there

Use these tips at work, in the gym, in a coffee shop, etc., to meet new people. Or try out an app like MeetMe or We3 to find people nearby with common interests. No matter how you prefer to make friends, once you do, it’ll help you get situated and feel more at home while you work your travel job.

No. 2: Be a joiner

It’s hard to fit in if you don’t put yourself out there. One way to do that is by being a joiner. There are tons of local groups and organizations for you to join and be a part of. All you have to do is a little research.

Not sure where to start? Here are some good examples:

Join an employee resource group
Join a book club
Check out role or industry-specific professional associations
Meet internal colleagues
Join a gym

Put on your thinking cap and find the best atmosphere for comfort away from home. If none of these ideas fit your fancy, then give no. 3 a shot and make the first move!

No. 3: Make the first move

It can feel intimidating to put yourself out there, especially if you don’t get much in return from others. Have no fear, dear traveler. You have a lot to offer, and you should share your skills, talents, and friendship with others around you.

There’s no robust orientation or guidebook for how to adjust to a new travel job, so it’s up to you to make the best of it. If there’s no existing club or organization for you to join and connect with like-minded folk, then take it upon yourself to get one started!

There are an infinite number of clubs you could start, but to help get those gears turning, here are a few examples of common types of clubs:

Movie club. Watch movies as a group and then spend time afterwards to discuss thoughts, feelings, and more.
Dinner club. All about delicious food and wonderful company, a dinner club could be the start of lifelong friendships. Whether you decide to focus on a specific cuisine, explore a new restaurant, try a new recipe, or experiment with flavors from across the globe, a dinner club brings people together over something we all love: Food.
Sports club. Find a group of people who are fans of your team and get together for game days. You could also put together a recreational sports team if your city doesn’t already have an existing league for you to join.
Hiking club. Connect with friends over beautiful scenery and a common appreciation for the outdoors. Get together and adventure through local hiking trails to experience all nature has to offer.
Language club. Always wanted to learn another language? Well, this could be your chance! Come together with those who have the same goal and watch movies, read books, and listen to music in the particular language you want to learn.
Coffee club. Enjoy nice conversations over a warm, comforting cup of coffee. Go coffeeshop hopping and try out different brews from all over the city.

Now the million-dollar question is, how do I start this club? Well, first, there are a few tiny details to smooth out. Like what kind of club is the best fit for you? Who do you think would want to join and participate in club activities? Lastly, when and where will you meet? After you’ve worked out the details, all that’s left to do is spread the word!

No. 4: Make your temp housing feel like home

When you’re away from home for 13-ish weeks working a new med travel job, it’s natural to get homesick. Do yourself a favor and adjust to your new living space, new city, and new job by making your temp housing feel like home. But how?

Fully unpack your bags. You’ll be there for at least 13 weeks, so don’t spend all that time living out of a suitcase. Instead, fully unpack your bags, put things in their place, and enjoy a clutter-free living space complete with your personal touch.
Get comfy. There’s nothing better than crawling into bed after a long workday. Make sure your bed is ready for you when you get home with your own bedding. Adding your favorite blankets and pillows is a quick and cozy way to instantly transform your new bed into a safe haven.
Get personal. Bring along pictures, mementos, house plans, candles, and all those little things that make you happy and remind you of your homeplace. Maybe it’s your favorite book or fuzzy socks—whatever it is, bring it along because nothing cures homesickness like a piece of home.
Familiarize yourself with the neighborhood. Don’t get stuck inside while the world passes you by! Venture out and explore your new city. See the sights, hunt for a new coffeeshop, find a farmer’s market, walk a nature trail, and experience local attractions like museums and boutiques.

Whether you’re staying in a five-star hotel, Airbnb, or luxury apartment, make your temporary housing feel like home to help you adjust to your surroundings. Once you unpack your belongings and get settled, you’ll feel right at home.

No. 5: Practice self-care

Hot take: Self-care is underrated. When was the last time you took a bubble bath just because? Or the last time you took yourself out on a romantic dinner date? Or how about the last time you treated yourself to a massage?

If you’ve found yourself thinking, “Oh gosh, I’ve been seriously slacking on self-care,” then don’t worry—you’re not alone. Self-care isn’t as easy as it sounds or should be. But hear us when we say that you deserve to feel loved and supported by your own self. These are some ways you can practice self-care to help you adjust to your new travel job:

Get out and enjoy some physical activity
Pump your body with nourishing foods
Manage your caffeine and alcohol intake
Get plenty of sleep

When you care for yourself, it allows you to authentically enjoy what your life has to offer. Plus, engaging in self-care activities have been clinically proven to reduce and eliminate anxiety and depression, which gives you the energy to get up and at ‘em!

No. 6: Establish a routine

It may seem like the perfect opportunity to shake up your routine in your new city, but oddly enough, such a drastic change can have negative effects on your productivity levels, as well as mental and physical health. To adjust to your new travel job, stick to a familiar routine.

No, it doesn’t have to be the exact same routine that you had with your previous travel job. Of course, things won’t be the same—you’ll be in a new city with new people in a new medical facility treating new patients. However, there are ways you can still manage your routine inside and outside of work.

For example, if your normal morning routine involves a fresh pot of coffee, then carry on the tradition during this job. Or maybe every day after your shift, you go to the gym for a workout. Again, keep it up!

Treat yourself to a sense of normalcy and stick to a consistent schedule and daily routine. As your routine drops your anxiety and stress levels, it’s bound to increase your positivity, productivity, and sense of adventure.

It’s no secret that you move around a lot as a professional med traveler. Every 13 weeks or so, you take off for a new travel job in a new city or maybe even a new state. So, the next time you hit the road for a job, follow these five tips to help you adjust to your new surroundings in no time.

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

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

START HERE

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

By Aequor Healthcare

March 24, 2022

2481 Views

Not Again! What To Do About Healthcare Burnout?

Posted on March 24, 2022March 23, 2022 by Aequor Healthcare

Aequor Healthcare provided this article.

Burnout is a term that gets thrown around so much in healthcare that you’re probably going to stop reading right now. Please give me a few more sentences before you decide to stop. Yes, you know what it means, you probably have it, and you’ve heard all the trite tips and strategies for overcoming burnout over and over. What more can be said?

How about this: It’s not your fault. It’s not a problem with your character or fortitude. It’s not the fault of your place of employment or a lack of planning and poor resources. It can’t be blamed on covid or society. Nor is it a reason to change careers and get out of healthcare.

Yes, your sense of purpose and fulfillment in your job are important. Yes, your emotional wellbeing and overall health should be priorities. Yes, you deserve to be paid what you’re worth and treated with kindness and respect. Maybe a change of scenery is just what you need—become a traveler or take a vacation.

So, back to burnout. Whose fault is it? How do we fix it?

Much research has been done that identifies rapidly rising rates of burnout among healthcare workers due to “high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and low levels of professional efficacy.”[1] The “Great Resignation” is really a thing. We all know the problem is bigger than any one person or facility, which are merely symptoms. Fundamentally, we are operating in a diseased healthcare system. The problem is that we think it’s too big to fix.

What can we do? As individuals, we can turn our burnout into intention. Let it inspire us to change the world within our reach. Emphasis: within our reach. Who and what in the world can we touch within our reach?

Instead of dreading the next shift and all the negative things that will likely happen at work, get curious about what we can bring into each patient encounter or interaction with a coworker. Go into each assignment with the intention to inspire and be inspired. Transform negative patterns into opportunities for growth. How might we choose to see things differently this time?

I know this isn’t the answer to the problem of burnout nor a simple solution, but it’s a start. That’s all any one of us can do—and talk about it. Say what you’re feeling out loud to a trusted friend or colleague. Then let it go. And refocus on what can I bring into this moment?

If it’s a change of scenery you need, search for healthcare traveler jobs with Aequor Healthcare Services.

Aequor Healthcare Services has over 20 years of experience placing nurses, therapists, allied healthcare professionals, physicians, and technicians in contract assignments across the United States. We match our best and brightest talent with jobs that lead to fulfilling careers and empower both employees and employers.

We hope you found this article on what to do about healthcare burnout helpful. Have you suffered from healthcare burnout? What did you do to get past it? 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!)

[1] Listopad, I. W., M. M. Michaelsen, L. Werdecker, and T. Esch. “Bio-Psycho-Socio-Spirito-Cultural Factors of Burnout: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature”. Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 12, Dec. 2021, p. 722862. PubMed Central, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8672245/.

By Rory Donnelly

March 23, 2022

2604 Views

Are Nurses at Risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? 9 Tips to Avoid it.

Posted on March 23, 2022January 16, 2023 by Rory Donnelly

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or CTS is a condition that typically starts as a numbness or tingling sensation in the arms and hands that could be painful due to everyday strenuous activities. It occurs when the median nerve running from your forearm to the hand gets compressed or pinched. This nerve runs through a narrow space called the carpal tunnel that gives the condition its name. Many forms of manual labor, musical instruments, or vibrating hand tools could lead to CTS. It could be mild or severe depending on the level of pinching occurring in the median nerve.

Why do nurses get carpal tunnel?

Since CTS begins due to excessive strain on the median nerve while performing everyday tasks and activities, there has been a rise in the cases of CTS in nurses. The reason is that your occupation demands continuous repetitive movements of the fingers and wrist without any break, awkward hand movements for long hours when assisting in surgery, and constant vibration or mechanical stress on the palm because of various medical devices.

These activities are most likely to put severe pressure on your median nerve resulting in pain, swelling, weakness, numbness, and various other symptoms in your fingers and hands. Most of the occupations, including nurses, face higher risks of CTS because their job requires excessive tugging, pulling, pushing, or twisting movements in arms and wrists. So while you may be going through your routine work of pushing syringe plunger, pressing blood pressure bulbs, continuously tapping into keyboards, etc., your median nerve might be overexerting itself.

Now you know what might have caused your CTS. It is time we take a hopeful look at what you can do to ease your symptoms. Most mild symptoms of CTS tend to fade away with some lifestyle changes and medication.

Here are nine home remedies for carpal tunnel relief:

Take multiple breaks while performing repetitive tasks:

Using timers to give your aching arms and fingers a break after every 15-20 minutes would help your hands relax. Gentle shaking of the hands also helps relieve the median nerve pressure.

Wear splints on your wrists:

Wearing wrist splints, especially when sleeping, will allow your hand to remain in proper alignment without the risk of overextension or extreme flexing. Being a nurse, you might not have breaks at work, so you can ever prefer wearing the splints during your workday to help relieve some pressure from your median nerve.

Wear compression gloves:

We all know what the cold weather can do to an already aching body part. Seek relief with warming mittens like compression gloves which help relieve the numbness and pain. Compression gloves are available with copper ions embedded in them that improve blood flow and supply adequate oxygen to your hands and wrists.

Warm water treatment:

For some people, warming treatments help alleviate the pain, weakness, and other symptoms. You could try soaking your hands in warm water. Make sure that the temperatures range between 92-100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ice bath:

Your tendons might swell up due to CTS. The best way to relieve them is by soaking your hands in an ice bath or using an ice pack once every few hours. The best time to use an ice bath is after performing your CTS relieving exercises to avoid inflammation by restricting the blood flow.

Reduce your force and relax your grip:

Lightening the strength you use to perform regular tasks can also diminish the discomforting symptoms of CTS. Try softening your grip and taking on your duties lightly.

Elevate your hands and wrists:

Some causes of CTS give rise to fluid retention. Elevation will help ease this thereby, reducing the pressure on the median nerve and helping your hands relax.

Do quick wrist exercises:

Since you don’t require special equipment for most CTS exercises, you can even perform these exercises when at work to improve blood circulation.

Ergonomic changes:

These include minor changes in the way your hands and wrists move when performing daily tasks at work.

Although CTS disrupts daily life to a large extent because it directly affects the hands and wrists, it is easy to manage it with these home remedies.

We hope you found these tips for avoiding carpal tunnel syndrome helpful. Do you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome and have any tips to share? Comment below.

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

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

START HERE

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

By Host Healthcare

March 22, 2022

47889 Views

Top 10 Travel Nurse Housing Sites

Posted on March 22, 2022August 8, 2023 by Host Healthcare

Host Healthcare provided this article.

Authors: Megan Patek & Brett Seeburger, Host Healthcare Housing Specialist

You’ve secured your next travel nurse assignment, but have you determined your place of residency? If housing is still a pending item on your checklist, don’t fret! With so much change in such little time, the thought of finding somewhere to stay for the duration of your assignment can be a little overwhelming. Between contributing factors from cost to commute, four-legged friends to roommates, how do you begin your search for somewhere to stay that will fit your requirements?

The fact of the matter is that furnished short-term housing can be difficult to come by. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find a place that not only fits your needs but can feel like a home away from home while on assignment. Host Healthcare has you covered with all the best resources to help you find your next residential setup. In addition to a dedicated housing department to assist healthcare travelers with finding a place to stay, Host Healthcare takes note of which housing option sites and resources are most reliable so that you, the traveling nurse, feel ready to take on a new city.

In no particular order, here are our top 10 recommended travel nurse housing sites for you to explore:

Furnished Finder

For those looking for short-term, furnished housing, Furnished Finder is one of the best options. Not only do they offer competitive prices, but they also provide property verification to eliminate the worry of scammers. Using Furnished Finder, you can perform a background check on any residential property you are interested in and gain access to property owner ratings. You can even check out what other listings property owners have rented out. There are no hidden fees with Furnished Finder as they provide you with the direct contact of the property you wish to rent, so you may book directly through the homeowner. Furnished Finder is geared towards helping travel nurses discover furnished homes, apartments, and even single rooms that fit their every need. They even go the extra mile by providing city guides to help both new and well-seasoned travel nurses get familiarized with their new location.

Airbnb

The most well-known company in short-term rentals, Airbnb, goes beyond short-term vacation rentals. The platform also serves as one of the best resources for travel nurses to find housing when on assignment. With extensive options to filter your search, you can find the exact needs you are looking for in a short-term home. Airbnb also offers the most accurate availability listings when looking for specific dates to book. Because Airbnb properties are typically owned and managed by independent homeowners who can dictate their own pricing, there are certain fees to be aware of when searching for homes on the platform. For example, cleaning and service fees may come attached to your booking reservation. There are, however, in most Airbnb bookings discounted rates for monthly stays. Airbnb is a must-start website when looking for your short-term home.

VRBO

A very useful alternative to Airbnb, VRBO offers many of the same searching features, along with clarity in when your future home is available and whom you are renting from. Like we noted for Airbnb, VRBO allows property owners to determine pricing for their rental property, which includes fees for cleaning and service. All fees will be communicated prior to booking your reservation. However, it is important to note that there are far fewer monthly discounts offered on VRBO than there are offered on Airbnb.

Transplant Housing

A temporary housing website built just for traveling nurses? You bet! Transplant Housing prides itself on its ability to provide unparalleled comfortability in knowing that these homes are strictly open to travel nurses on assignment. Considering the lifestyle of a travel nurse, this platform connects healthcare professionals to homeowners who truly understand the constant shifts in this profession and the uncertainties that come with being on a traveling contract. They help take the hassle out of travel nurse housing so that you can focus on the job that awaits you!

Zillow

You may associate Zillow with purchasing a home, but did you know that Zillow actually has its fair share of short-term leases? Like other platforms, with Zillow, you can filter your search by price, location, house amenities, and even the style of home you are looking for to fit your preferred aesthetic. Before you start your search, we must tell you that the only way to find short-term or furnished housing is through the keyword bar. Once you’ve found a property that looks promising, you will want to read the description on the rental to help determine if it is the right fit for you.

The Gypsy Nurse Facebook Group

A Facebook page created for traveling nurses by traveling nurses. Could it make more sense for travel nurses? The Gypsy Nurse community is filled with travel nurses who are open to sharing their experiences traveling and working in different facilities across the country. Created to equip travel nurses with useful insights and tools they need to navigate the experience, this Facebook page built by Gypsy Nurse provides a caring community of both nurses who are renting out their homes and nurses who are searching for housing. For those who would rather avoid communicating with landlords who may not completely understand the nature of this unique travel profession, the Gypsy Nurse Facebook Group lets you do just that. By joining this Facebook page, you are instantly connected to a host of travel nurses who may even be looking for somewhere to stay in your area.

HotPads

A smaller subset of Zillow, Hotpads primarily offers rental opportunities rather than homes and apartments available for purchase. This housing platform allows you to edit all the same filters as Zillow, making it a simplified process for traveling nurses searching for their next place to stay. Hotpads gives users the ability to search for a variety of furnished options, whether that be a specific style of townhouse, condo, apartment, or even house. Although Hotpads is connected to Zillow, Hotpads provides unique listings different from what’s available on Zillow. To start searching for properties, create a profile, add your favorite listings to your account, and begin reaching out to landlords to make easy, seamless connections.

Kopa

Kopa has built a great platform to find flexible short-term housing, whether you are looking to sign a month-to-month contract or plant seeds and book a year-long stay. With rental opportunities in over 100 different cities across the United States and the platform continuously adding move-in ready homes, apartments, and rooms for rent daily, Kopa is a perfect avenue for travel nurses to explore. The platform allows you to control your entire rental experience electronically. You can speak with hosts, book your stay, and pay for your rental all through Kopa’s website. Whether you are taking an assignment in San Francisco or New York, Denver or Dallas, Nashville or Seattle, Kopa has move-in ready spots awaiting your arrival. Get a head start and begin exploring the hidden gems found on Kopa.

Landing

As a travel nurse, you already have a lot on your plate. If you want to skip communicating with flighty landlords, avoid possible scams, or prevent getting locked into a lease that’s not fit for your situation, Landing may be a great option for you. To get access to Landing properties, a membership is required. A year-long membership costs $199, however, when you partner with Host Healthcare, you can score quite the deal. When you become a travel nurse with Host Healthcare, the team of trusted housing specialists will help you apply a $250 discount code to your reservation.

Once you’ve completed your new member sign-up with Landing, you will get access to more than 35,000 fully furnished, WIFI-ready, pet-friendly apartments. You will be able to book and pay for your furnished apartment conveniently through your profile online or through their app. A 24/7 hotline that you can call or text gives you a sense of ease while checking in, living, and checking out of your Landing home.

Apartments.com

Say goodbye to third-party servicing fees and hello to countless apartments across the nation right at your fingertips. Apartments.com is a very reliable website whether you are searching for a townhouse, condo, or any other type of apartment-style of housing. Aside from the never-ending listings on tap, a major advantage of using Apartments.com is that you will be working with the apartment complexes or real estate agency directly. However, one disadvantage of using Apartments.com is the lack of short-term housing options. Many of the options available on the platform are listed as 12-month leases, so before you start your search, be sure to apply the appropriate “short-term” filter in the lifestyle tab. Once you have the proper setting selected, start exploring a variety of suitable apartments for your upcoming travel nurse assignment.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go

Travel nursing is an exciting career path filled with opportunities, challenges, and adventures not everyone will experience. Whether you are about to start a 3-month or 12-month assignment, it’s important that you feel at home in your new city. Leave it up to the short-term housing experts at Transplant Housing, Landing x Host Healthcare, Airbnb, and so many others to help you settle into your new home away from home. It’s the least we can do. After all, you are out there saving lives.

We hope this article on the top 10 housing sites for travel nurses was helpful in your housing search. Do you have any housing sites you use that we didn’t mention here? Comment those housing sites 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 powered by one of the housing sites: Furnished Finder.

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!)

housing sites

By Amber Pickler

March 21, 2022

5691 Views

Tips for Working a 60 hours a Week Contract

Posted on March 21, 2022May 3, 2022 by Amber Pickler

Since the pandemic started, there has been an influx of crisis-type contracts with less conventional hours. One of those being contracts that have more hours required per week. How do you handle that many hours a week of work, though? Members of our Facebook group have asked for tips and advice for working a contract with so many hours. We have put together some tips to help get you through these 60 hours a week contracts.

Get rest- Stick to a sleep schedule

This tip may seem crazy, but working that many hours you need to make sure you get plenty of rest. It can be easy to come back to your housing and try to unwind and spend time awake, but you may regret not going to sleep and getting the rest your body needs. A sleep schedule is critical. According to The Mayo Clinic, sticking to a sleep schedule of no more than 8 hours and being consistent is important. The number of hours of sleep you can get based on the number of hours you are working may not be 8 hours. However, if you can go to sleep and get up consistently at the same time will help you feel rested.

Eat a healthy diet-Meal Prep

While junk food may seem like an easy route to take with working so many hours, the carbs and sugars that come with those types of food can make you feel sluggish. Meal prepping on your day off or when you have a little downtime will help keep the temptation of fast food or junk food down. There are many easy methods for meal prepping for travel nurses with not a lot of time. A crockpot or InstantPot can make cooking a lot easier. For these types of meal prep, you can easily combine all the needed ingredients into zip lock bags and store them in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the meal. Then it will be as easy as dumping them into the crockpot or InstantPot.

Healthy Snacks

Healthy snacks will help you make it through your long shifts. There are many options for healthy snacks; it really will depend on your taste. Some healthy snacks that will help curb your cravings during your long work hours could include; trail mix, jerky, Greek yogurt, almonds, peanut butter and apples, string cheese, or fresh veggies and fruit.

Stay hydrated

Staying hydrated during your shift will help keep you going. According to Healthline, “If you don’t stay hydrated, your physical performance can suffer.” While you may not look at working your shift as “physical performance,” it very much is. You are on your feet and moving for 12+ hours each day. Staying hydrated will make your shift easier to complete, and you won’t feel as sluggish, as dehydration can affect your energy level and brain function. While you may not get the total 8-8oz servings of water recommended, it is important to drink water during your shift.

These are just a few tips to help you get through your 60 hours a week contract. Many of our Facebook group members said they work, eat, sleep and repeat. Knowing that, in the end, they were making very good money. So, if you keep that in mind, it may make the days and hours go a little easier. We hope you found these tips for working a 60 hour a week contract helpful. Have you worked a 60 hour a week contract? Do you have any tips to share with those considering a 60 hour a week contract? Comment them below.

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

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

START HERE

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What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Why do nurses get carpal tunnel?

Here are nine home remedies for carpal tunnel relief: