May 7, 2021

5991 Views

5 Essential Packing Tricks & Tools for Travel Nurses

Posted on May 7, 2021May 19, 2021 by Jessica Smith

Travel nursing is an excellent way to experience and learn about new cultures. Packing can be tricky. When you need to lessen the bulk of your personal belongings to what is necessary for a travel nursing assignment, it would be best to try out a more minimalist lifestyle. Picking up packing tricks along the way will help. We have put together some to get you started.

When you need to lessen the bulk of your personal belongings to what is necessary for a travel nursing assignment, it would be best to try out a more minimalist lifestyle.

Packing tricks and tips:

Conduct Some Basic Research

The most crucial aspect of your move is knowing what you’re getting yourself into. Your employer, future property owner, or recruiter, will be able to answer some or all of your questions. What electronic devices will be available on-site? Is the house/apartment completely furnished? What kind of storage is available on-site? Do not hesitate to ask as many questions as you possibly can. It’s never a bad idea to be overly prepared.

Knowing what the climate will be like in your new location will also help you plan your packing. Are you considering relocating to Chicago during the winter? It’s probably a good idea to leave the flip-flops behind.

You do not want to fill your car’s roof rack with unnecessary luggage.

Digitize Important paperwork

When you are constantly on the move, there is a high risk of losing or destroying important paperwork. This is why digital versions of your documents are essential. This can be as simple as scanning or taking photographs with your phone and emailing these items to yourself. When digitizing more sensitive information, take extra precautions to ensure that it does not fall into the wrong hands.

Consider A Minimalistic Approach.

We understand – it’s easy to go way over the top with the hype of preparing for your new travel assignment as a nurse. You can learn a thing or two from travelers: pack your belonging with a minimalistic mindset. Overpacking may seem like a great idea, but imagine packing and unpacking your luggage every thirteen weeks. Consider your dissatisfaction with unpacking and repacking items you didn’t even use. For example, if you’re only bringing your laptop, you probably won’t need your big TV.

Save your energy and time by only packing the essentials – your scrubs, day-off clothes, prescriptions, important documents, and electronics. Remember that you’ll most likely pick up souvenirs along the way, so make room!

There are numerous personalized recommendations from routine travelers to help you evaluate the items you will not need. Your journey should be light and stressful-free.

Medical References

The software-as-a-service, Epocrates, provides free medical reference information such as capsule and pill identification, drug interactions, and more. Upgrade to the paid version to get disease and symptom information, as well as lab test results. You could also use the nurse-centric app Nursing Central, which incorporates nursing journal studies and details, or Merck manuals, which cover much of the same information. Each costs less than $200, with some costing even less, and they are available for Android and iPhone phones.

Electronic Hardware for Traveling nurses

Smartphone

The use of smart devices in medical practice is on the rise. Most health workers, including nurses, use smartphones at work despite potential problems with information and infection control security.

As a travel nurse, you will need your smartphone for personal reasons such as maps and/or GPS, communication, information, and entertainment while on assignment.

For information on smartphone use at work, contact your assigned hospital.

Laptop

Although a smartphone is more convenient for traveling medical professionals, a laptop provides the same functionality and some extras that are ideal for travel nurses. You can pursue an online career or work-related research while also calling or video conferencing with friends and family back home.

Try Skype, where personal video and voice calls made online are either free (Skype-to-Skype calls) or extremely cheap.

While downloaded books and medical practice apps are more commonly used on mobile phones, video works best on your laptop. During your downtime, you can use it to rent movies online. For a better visual experience in your temporary home, get a cable to connect to your compatible TV.

Rent or Buy Supplies at Your Location.

Keep in mind that you can always rent or purchase basic supplies at your new destination. Don’t feel obligated to bring all of the spices in your kitchen cabinet, all of your four cans of hairspray, and nail polish. Pack only what you need, and if you run out, you can easily replace them with an online Amazon order or a quick trip to the store.

Pick up basic kitchen utensils at a local thrift store and return them after completing your stay. You can also purchase new items for a low cost at the local store.

Remember that you can also rent outdoor equipment such as skis and surfboards from a local outfitter shop. Renting may be preferable to the hassle of having to pack and haul all of your equipment. Furthermore, you never know where your next contract will come from. Don’t be the person who brings snowshoes to Texas!

Conclusion

With these packing tricks and tools, your travel nursing experience should be smooth. Remember that this guide might not cut it for everyone. Feel free to personalize what needs to be customized.

We hope you found these packing tricks and tips helpful. Have you found any packing tricks that have helped you? If you would like to share them with your fellow travel nurses comment them below. For more packing tricks and tips click here.

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By Gifted Healthcare

May 6, 2021

5221 Views

Happy Nurses Week: Travel Nurses on What Makes a Great Nurse

Posted on May 6, 2021January 16, 2023 by Gifted Healthcare

This article was provided by Gifted Healthcare.

In 1910, the American Journal of Nursing published an article titled, The Ideal Nurse. It was written by a registered nurse named Rebecca H. McNeill.

In The Ideal Nurse, McNeill outlined the qualities of her ideal caretaker. The nurse she describes is compassionate, kind, dedicated, loyal, and motivated by a higher calling:

“No true nurse ever loses her sympathy…she has the deep sympathy which causes her not only to feel for her patient’s woes but prompts her best efforts to alleviate them. The true nurse is devoted to her work, faithful in all that she does, neither shrinking nor shirking any responsibility that may present itself. The ideal nurse should be able to understand the whys and wherefores of her physician’s orders and be able to execute them with judgment.”

This vision of the ideal nurse, written over one century ago, is strikingly similar to the vision we uphold today. This is a testament to the heroic work of the nurse, a role that has remained essential and unwavering in the face of profound cultural and technological change.

McNeill also beautifully portrays the life of a nurse; its sacrifices and hardships as well as its transcendent rewards:

“Unless a nurse is prepared for a life of untiring effort and disappointments, discomforts or deprivations, countless sacrifices of time, talent, and inclination, unless, indeed, able to suppress her own heartaches and to give herself bravely and brightly to all the work with patience, enduring all things…She must have singleness or purpose, directing all her energies toward the faithful accomplishment of her life’s work; be loyal to her doctor, her patient, and herself….”

Nurses are the backbone of the American healthcare system. Even more, they can be seen as the protectors of the American spirit. When searching for compassion, generosity, loyalty, and duty to one’s fellow man or woman, look to a nurse.

Travel Nurses on What Makes a Great Nurse

In honor of nurses week, we’ve asked a group of exceptional travel nurses to describe what makes a great nurse. Each of them drew from an intensely personal and unique set of experiences to create their own philosophy of care.

Read on for their inspiring, heartwarming answers.

Charlotte Swopes, RN

“First and foremost, you have to care about people. You’ve got to have integrity; people aren’t going to be watching you, so you’ll be expected to be diligent.

You have to have a sense of ethics. You have to see all your patients as one: you can’t look at color, you can’t look at nationality, you can’t look at the economic background. You have to care about your patients regardless of the situation.

You have to have a heart of compassion.”

Megan Selser, RN

“Advocating for your patient is number one, despite any effect it will have on you. Always put patient advocacy in front of everything else.

I love to make my patients laugh. I know what it’s like to feel unhappy — so I try hard to be a light in someone’s day, in some type of way, even if they’re going through something terrible.

I think a great nurse also celebrates wins, even when they’re really small—someone who takes care of the patient and the family. Most of the time, like if a patient is intubated, you become the nurse for their family. Yes, you are there for the patient’s physical needs, but the family is what you’re taking care of. I try to involve the family as much as I can in patient care because it matters.”

Erica Rogers, RN

“My motto is, ‘compassion is the highest level of intellect.’ A brilliant nurse is someone who understands that concept.”

Emmanuel Paron, RN

“As nurses, we are just instruments of the love of God. When you take care of patients, many times they are in their worst moments – you take care of them no matter what.

The core of nursing is caring. When you care for somebody, you do everything you can to take care of them. It can be as simple as holding a patient’s hand.

You educate yourself, study more to become an expert so that when a patient comes into the hospital, you are as prepared as possible to take care of them.

What I believe is that the core of nursing is caring.”

Taylor McCombs, RN

“For me, the ideal nurse is detail-oriented and compassionate. They stick to their own personal morals and values, as well as the principles set by the facility they’re working at. It mostly comes down to the individual – if you hold yourself to high moral standards, it will impact the way that you do your job.”

Chelsea Wynder, RN

“Someone compassionate, who is nurturing, and is the person who will be there when a patient feels they have no one else. That’s what I had when I was sick, and what I needed…and that’s what my mom needed, too.”

Eddie Kaiser, RN

“The standard answer is someone compassionate, who wants good healthcare for their patients, but I like to go deeper. A nurse needs to be somebody who treats their patients as though they are family. However, that patient is also the chairman of the board. For the most part, patients are in control of their care until they can’t be anymore. To me, it’s very important to make sure the patient is shoulder to shoulder with you as a caregiver.

A nurse must be able to think critically through a process of care — for any patient, and you need to ask yourself, ‘What are the family dynamics of this patient? What is their belief system? What are their core values?’ The ideal nurse is well-rounded with all of that, including compassion, patience, caring, attention to detail. And finally, you have to know what you’re doing: you have to be skilled, have to be confident, and have to be able to go into new situations and mesh into the nursing staff. An ideal travel nurse not only has to display these qualities with patients, but they also have to display these qualities with the staff around them.”

Jill Maxwell, RN

“I’ve worked all over, and I’ve worked with a lot of nurses. And there are a few qualities you’ll find in the best ones. You have to be compassionate, and you have to be approachable.

When people are sick, they want a smiling face.”

James Dorsett, RN

“Someone who’s a straight shooter. Someone who can be honest and not sugarcoat things. Someone empathetic, not sympathetic. And for me, everything is about trust. If you lose the trust of your patient, you lose everything. I am a nurse because I like making an impact in people’s lives. If you do the best you can 100 percent of the time, people remember that.”

Transia Brown, LPN

“I never met my grandparents. I adopted a lot of my friends’ grandparents. When I go into work, I think of my patients like my grandmother or grandfather that I never met.

A lot of people have pride. A lot of my patients are scared to tell me that they’re in pain, or that they need help because they’re not used to being in that situation. But if you make them feel they can trust you and that you’re concerned about them, they’re more open to you.”

I let them know: I’m here for you. Don’t feel like you can’t call me. Whatever you need, call me, and I’m there.

If you can’t go into a facility, or someone’s home, and take care of someone like they are your mom, or your dad, or your brother, or your sister, and treat them the way that you would want to be treated – then you don’t need to be a nurse.

I look at every patient as though they are part of my family because I leave my own family to go out every day and do my job. And when I get older, I would want someone to take care of me as though I am a part of their family. That’s the ideal nurse to me.”

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!)

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“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

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By ONESTAFF MEDICAL

May 5, 2021

5432 Views

4 Ways to Make Mother’s Day Special as a Travel Nurse…and Then Some

Posted on May 5, 2021May 19, 2021 by ONESTAFF MEDICAL

This article was provided by OneStaff Medical.

Being a traveling healthcare worker definitely has its challenges. One of them is feeling homesick and being away from family and friends. It is especially difficult when holidays come around. If you are a traveling healthcare worker, you are used to being away on these special occasions, but it is just as important to celebrate from another state, across the country, or even if you are on assignment with your kiddos. Here are some fun ways to celebrate your mother or be celebrated on Mother’s Day.

Communicate

In today’s day and age, there are countless ways to stay in touch with your loved ones; social media, cell phones, video chat, special apps, and more, in addition to the old school methods of sending emails or even SNAIL MAIL! Making an extra effort to reach out this Mother’s Day will put a smile on her face even if you are scheduled to work.

Before Sunday, schedule a time that you and your mother or your kids are available to have a nice, unrushed talk on the phone to hear their voice/see their face.
Purchase a shared journal that you and your mother can pass back and forth and learn more about one another.
Write some “open this when” letters and tell mom how much you love and appreciate her.

Spend Time at home together

There is no better gift to give or receive than spending quality time with a loved one. You don’t need to spend lots of money to make someone feel loved. You can find many fun things to do under your own roof!

Schedule a weekend to make a trip home
Spend a day how mom wants to spend the day (looking at you, kiddos)
(Another one for the kids) Let mama sleep in!
Lounge on the couch together and travel the world at the same time via Amazon Explore
Have a make-your-own pizza party
Work on a puzzle together

Send a thoughtful gift

If your love language to give is gift-giving, there are endless options of great gifts to bestow upon your mother, here are just a few options!

Send some Flowers
Order her a nice meal to be delivered
Schedule her a spa day or a massage
Purchase something off her Amazon Wishlist
Create a custom album, mug, or blanket on websites like Shutterfly

Schedule a fun activity

Do something out of the ordinary. Treat Yo’self by having something fun and different planned for Mother’s Day.

Take a hike as a family or visit your local lake and pond for some quality time outdoors
Go to a movie
Go to a museum with your kids
Have a beach day!

As we aren’t still 100% back to normal after the crazy year, we’ve all had, and it’s a good idea to plan a simple day close to home or spend it outside and enjoy the time you have with each other. Take a few minutes out of your day to tell your mom how much you love and appreciate her or spend a little extra time snuggling your children. Whatever you end up doing, make sure to sprinkle the day with a little extra love.

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—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

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By AMN Healthcare

May 4, 2021

4550 Views

7 Self-Care Activities for Travel Nurses

Posted on May 4, 2021December 27, 2023 by AMN Healthcare

7 Self-Care Activities for Travel Nurses

This article was provided by AMN Healthcare.

Shift work is par for the nursing course, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you. A study originally published by the Department of Health and Human Services noted that long hours and odd shifts could lead to negative consequences, such as injuries, poor job performance, obesity, and chronic illnesses.

In short, if you’re not taking care of yourself as a nurse, you put yourself and your patients at risk for harm. One way to reduce those issues is to follow some proven self-care tips.

Check out these seven self-care ideas for nurses who are looking to reduce stress.

7 Self-Care Activities for Travel Nurses

1. Don’t sacrifice your own nutritional needs.

With a busy patient roster and an emergency always seemingly around the corner, it can be difficult for many nurses to take a break for a wholesome snack or meal. That leaves a lot of healthcare pros munching on less-than-healthy alternatives in the few minutes they can steal for lunch. And working shifts outside of the traditional 9 to 5 doesn’t just make it hard to eat lunch; it could impact your breakfast and dinner, too. Margaret Roth, a retired RN, says she used to work weekends, pulling long shifts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. She made extra food on Thursday and prepared it in to-go containers, so she didn’t have to think about eating healthy when she worked.

2. Use a sleep app for power napping.

Shift work or just the stress of a normal day in a physician’s office can play havoc with sleep cycles. The Joint Commission notes that insufficient or poor-quality sleep over a long time can cause various problems for healthcare workers and their patients, so sleep is one of the most important self-care tips. If you’re struggling with nightly Zs or want to foster a strong power-napping habit, consider investing in an app like Pzizz, which uses the power of binaural beats to soothe you into rest at night or during a quick daytime nap, even when you’re sleeping in a new place or hotel. “If I had to think about it or do too much during those days, I’d end up with fast food,” she says. That’s double trouble for a nurse who travels.

3. Enjoy time with friends both within and outside of your career.

Don’t make your entire life about your career. Enjoying spending time with people you really care about, including family, friends, and even colleagues, is an important self-care activity. Roth recommends striking a balance and not only hanging around with other nurses. “Nursing was a huge part of my life,” she says, “but I wasn’t just a nurse. I loved being around people who really understood … really knew what I did every day, but I also needed to be around my family, too.” Some ideas for spending time with people outside of work include creating a special family dinner night, getting together once a month with old friends, and taking staycations and mini-vacations with friends or family once a quarter. Take time to return to cities and connect with friends and make new friends in travel nursing locations.

4. Find a hobby you enjoy.

When considering self-care ideas, think about stuff that you enjoy doing. Yes, you might enjoy your job — nursing is often a passion or calling, after all. But it’s probably not all you like or want to do, and engaging in other activities can boost your morale, improve focus and creativity, and provide an outlet for frustrations. Potential hobbies might include hiking, horseback riding, needlework, cooking, painting, writing, carpentry, antiquing, or gardening. Choose something that sounds interesting to you, and don’t be afraid you have to commit to it. The great thing about a hobby is that you can change it when you get bored with it.

5. Care for your personality type appropriately.

When it comes to putting self-care tips into action, it helps to know your own personality type. Introverts engage in self-care activities differently than extroverts. While both do need time for rest and relaxation, extroverts tend to draw energy from being around others, while introverts gain energy from being alone. And while it might seem like most people choosing to enter the nursing field would be extroverts, American Nursing Today points out that many nurses — and nurse leaders — are introverts.

6. Get exercise off the nursing floor.

You might be ready for a hot shower and relaxation at the end of a long shift, but that doesn’t always mean you got cardio in. A busy trauma nurse might run the halls, and any nurse in a facility setting probably puts his or her muscles to work regularly. But you might also sit at a desk or nurse’s station for hours, and that isn’t ideal for your health. Give your cardiovascular system a boost by engaging in aerobic exercise regularly. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends engaging in walking, jogging, rowing, biking, or similar activities for 20 minutes to one hour between three and five times each week.

7. Set appropriate challenges for yourself to stay engaged in your career.

Implementing all these self-care tips may not help if you’re constantly placing undue stress on yourself at work. Take some time to consider your career and what you want from it and set appropriate goals that challenge you without being impossible. Expect the same of others, too. Roth said she saw a lot of nurses struggle with untenable positions over the years. “Sometimes you have to be brave enough to say no or make a change,” she says. While nursing is definitely a challenging career, it’s an in-demand one. If you aren’t satisfied with your current position, chances are you can find another if you start applying to different opportunities.

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!)

Join The Gypsy Nurse Nation

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“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

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By Gayatri Regester

May 3, 2021

4921 Views

Wellness for Warriors in Healthcare

Posted on May 3, 2021May 19, 2021 by Gayatri Regester

Wellness Warriors

As healthcare professionals, we give so much to others. For the longevity of our service to others, we must begin to give care also to ourselves.

From a place of contentment, happiness, even-mindedness, and inspiration, we are more equipped to handle stressful situations without burnout. And when we have faith in something bigger than ourselves, we carry hope even in the most difficult circumstances.

So how do we feel contentment? Even-mindedness? Happiness?

For me, it was the spiritual teaching taught by Swami Kriyananda*, “we cannot change our circumstances, but we can change how we respond to them.” The realization that I consciously have the choice to respond positively or negatively to people and circumstances. Whenever I choose to react negatively- say to get upset, hold a grudge, or some other contractive reaction, I do not feel good. On the flip side, when I choose to see compassion in others, not to let a situation rattle my inner peace, or to remain joyful even in difficult circumstances, I have a feeling of lightness.

The freedom comes from realizing that nothing and no one can affect your inner self-, the Self that is always joyful, always in a state of peace and calmness, always heart opened and filled with love. To live beyond the present moment and into the eternal now.

Swami Kriyananda explains superconscious living as “to trust one’s life to the flow of a higher wisdom.” I invite each of you to take a vow of superconscious living inwardly. Take action and see how your life is transformed!

Vow of Superconscious Living

To be true to your higher, Superconscious Self.
To be a channel of light, of blessing and love to all
To live in joy, not sorrow;
In truth, not error;
In victory, not failure
To blame no one in adversity but yourself,
And then, instead of blame, To accept responsibility,
With God’s help,
To change yourself.

*Ananda is a worldwide movement to help individuals realize the joy of their own higher Self. Ananda is based on Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings and was founded by his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda in 1968.

Thank you Wellness Warriors for all you do and are doing. We hope you found this article informational. Stay tuned for more articles from Gayatri.

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By Beatrix Potter

May 1, 2021

9095 Views

5 Elements To Include In Your Travel Nurse Resumes

Posted on May 1, 2021May 19, 2021 by Beatrix Potter

A dream travel nursing position starts with a top-class resume. Even if the jobs you’re looking at ask for application forms, creating a resume is a great way to get the facts of your qualifications and experience straight in your head, giving you experience in selling yourself and better preparing you for job applications and, if all goes well interviews.

What to include in your resume?

There are a hundred different posts on the best thing to include on travel nurse resumes, so it’s easy to bloat out your resume by trying to include all of them. These tips are guidelines condensed from the advice of experts and recruiters of what the most successful applications have in common. Still, at the end of the day, it’s up to your judgment what elements best sell you and your qualifications.

1. What Sets You Apart?

Positions will likely receive hundreds, if not thousands of applications, so it pays off to demonstrate the unique aspects that set you apart from the competition. This includes specialties, specific trauma or teaching experience, anything that highlights how unique your application is compared to other applicants, or how you are especially suited to the role.

2. Be Specific

One way to set your application apart is by tailoring each application to each position. Serge Tankian, a resume expert at Boomessays and Paperfellows, points out that “there’s nothing more off-putting to a recruiter than knowing you’re reading a copy-pasted CV. It shows the candidate doesn’t really care about your position or, if they are, isn’t willing to put the time in to show it. Look at the assignment listing for the job you’re applying for and include the keywords in your CV, preferably in summary near the top. Also, if you can, do some research on the employer and refer to specific points. You’d be surprised how few applicants do; it’ll immediately set you apart.”

3. Tick The Boxes

Often with travel nurse applications, you have to do a lot of work to get your resume in front of a real and responsible person. Many applications are vetted out by automatic applicant tracking systems, which are just looking for applications to satisfy certain criteria. Sometimes your resume could be perfect, but it’s not formatted appropriately, so the tracking system discounts it.

The aim of the game is simple and clear.

Don’t try to be too fancy with fonts and formatting, or it’s likely to confuse the system. Use plain text, bullet points, and clear and conventional section headings. Also, include keywords or even direct quotes from the job description to show that you fit the specified criteria.

4. List Your Certifications

One of the things that set nursing apart from other careers is the certifications you have to gain before you can practice, so you should make sure you include these in your resume. You’ve worked hard for these, so display them proudly on your applications!

Be detailed

Try to be as detailed as possible when listing your certifications and licenses. Include identification numbers, the official body, and expiration date (or, if not applicable, date obtained) for every license and/or certification you have.

5. Use Action Words

How you write your resume is almost as important as what’s in it, sometimes more so. With a pile of a hundred applications in front of them, recruiters are often looking for any reason to abandon your resume. If your text is boring or difficult to read, there’s less of a chance a recruiter will keep reading to see what you’re qualifications are.

Action words suitable for travel nursing resumes

Thomas Oliphant, a career writer at Write My Paper and Finance Writing Service, recommends you “use action words related to your chosen field to engage the reader. Action words suitable to nursing include administered, nursed, evaluated, sutured, tested, and others. These words show definitive action and are better at getting your experience across.”

Conclusion

Often, no matter what the resume advice is, the best person to give you feedback is your recruiters. Every job is unique, every company has its preferences and guidelines, and the only way to learn them is to send off resumes, ask for feedback — try and try again.

We hope you found these tips for your travel nurse resumes helpful. Do you have any tips you would suggest for travel nurse resumes? Comment them below.

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

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By Emily Bryant

April 30, 2021

9681 Views

Tips for a Travel Nurse Interview

Posted on April 30, 2021April 21, 2022 by Emily Bryant

This can be a daunting and intimidating process for first-time traveler nurses, or really anyone who has never done a phone interview. Some companies will have you fill out questions and videos online, and others will just have the manager or hiring director contact you directly for an interview. But either way, it is important to remember that you are interviewing the hospital as much as they are interviewing you, especially since you most likely know very little about the hospital/nursing facility. Remember, this is your license, so you want to make sure you are choosing safe places to practice in. Below you will find some tips for the travel nurse interview.

Sell Yourself

I have now been through about 15 of these phone interviews, and almost everyone has started with “so, tell me about yourself” after making the introductory greetings. This is your chance to sell yourself by highlighting your most proud nursing accomplishments while also infusing your personality into the interview. Set yourself apart from other applicants that have been asked the same question, express your desire to be in that specific city, throw in some humor and appropriate sarcasm, but most importantly let them know who you are as a person. They asked a generic question, so you get to sell yourself in whatever way you choose! Managers are looking for people that will meet the required standards, but that will also mesh well with their existing staff. It does not good for either party to pretend to be someone you aren’t, because there is a chance that you will not be the best match for the position and could potentially be miserable for the next 13 weeks.

Ask Questions

One of the most important things I have learned through this process is to ask them plenty of questions. Even if you can’t think of super deep, insightful questions, just ask a bunch. This puts the manager in a position to offer as many details about the unit as possible so that you have the best picture in your mind about what it might be like.

Ask hard ones in a polite fashion, because these can be very telling about the unit culture, the drama included, the ratios, and potential issues that might arise on the assignment. I have had people that re-frame or completely divert the question entirely which is a huge red flag, and ones that seem to see everything through rose colored glasses which can also be a quick indicator. All in all, be yourself, infuse as much personality as you can, be confident, and ask many questions. Most importantly trust your gut. If you have a bad feeling about a place, trust it!

A non-comprehensive list of interview questions:

Will I be floated to other units?
Are the hours guaranteed?
Is there a possibility that I would be a charge nurse?
Are there mandated ratios?
Do you have security that stays in the ED?
What is the general vibe of the night shift crew?
Will I be working in the Trauma Bays?
What is the relationship between the physicians and the nurses?
Am I allowed to pick up OT//How much?
What is the uniform at that hospital?
Is there free parking?
What hours are the shifts (6-6 or 7-7)
Why are you currently in need of travelers?
What computer system do you use?
Would there be a possibility of extending my contract at the end?
Do you have EMTs, Medics, or CNA’s
Do I need any specific training in order to do triage?
Is your psych unit secured? Is security back there with you?

We hope that these tips for your travel nurse interview help you along your way here are a few more articles with even more tips:

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!)

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By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

April 30, 2021

6587 Views

Picking an Agency That Gets You on Assignment Quicker

Posted on April 30, 2021January 16, 2023 by TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

This article was provided by Travel Nurse Across America.

The travel nursing industry is fast-moving, especially in the job market era of COVID-19. Many jobs are filling as quickly as they post online. If you are coming to the end of our current assignment, this can add unwanted stress. That is why finding an agency that can get you on assignment as quickly as you need to be is important. Keep reading to see if the agency you are working with offers these helpful tips.

Picking an Agency That Gets You on Assignment Quicker

Easy Onboarding

Onboarding can seem like a daunting task, especially if you are working with more than one agency or if you are just starting. Even if you apply with your resume through a job board, it is likely that the agency still needs to create a profile for you. Additionally, most agencies will require a skills checklist to be completed.

Look for an agency that helps you with the onboarding process. Many will have someone available to assist you in filling out that information for your assignment. Believe it or not, it helps to have a dedicated person take the time to enter information with you because it ensures accuracy and speeds up the process.

It is easy to wonder why it is not as simple as emailing your resume and being done. When an agency submits your profile to a facility, they have had one or more people working behind the scenes to make your profile shine. This is why having an updated profile is a crucial step in finding your dream travel nurse assignment.

Recruiter

Beyond having a recruiter that you click with, finding a job quickly relies on having a knowledgeable recruiter. We have all heard the nightmare stories of being blind submitted to a job you did not know about, but imagine trusting your recruiter so much that you permitted them to submit you the second a job posted because you trust they have your best interests in mind.

A knowledgeable recruiter may have years of experience, or they may just be extra attentive. They will know traveler-friendly hospitals, as well as which facilities offer the fastest interviews. Just make sure you communicate with them what your goals are in finding an assignment.

Support Offered by Agency

There is nothing wrong with only having one contact at an agency if that is your preference. Like having a recruiter who knows facility facts, it benefits you as a traveler to support resources who know the areas. Your recruiter is only one person. If they have a team helping ensure your licenses are applied for and up-to-date, and credentials and references are verified, you can be on the road with confidence. They may even have specialists to help you find housing in the area, including vetting the locations before you pay deposits.

Number of Jobs

Job numbers can easily make you feel tricked. Hopefully, by now, you’ve read enough reviews to know if an agency lists accurate assignments on their site or not. Whether you use the agency’s website directly or the job search function on thegypsynurse.com, most jobs are updated in real-time.

Does that mean the risk of calling in only to find out the position you had been looking at has been filled is obsolete? No. Jobs are moving quickly, and agencies are working with facilities to interview faster than ever.

Nevertheless, a higher number of jobs increases your chances of finding an assignment.

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!)

Join The Gypsy Nurse Nation

Discover new travel nurse jobs, subscribe to customized job alerts and unlock unlimited resources for FREE.

“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

Join Now

By Kevin Devoto

April 29, 2021

5229 Views

6 Reasons to Become a Travel Nurse

Posted on April 29, 2021November 28, 2023 by Kevin Devoto

As a travel nurse, you take short-term assignments in hospitals around the country, potentially even around the world, when those facilities have a need. There are many different reasons why professional nurses take up the travel lifestyle, and all of them are completely valid. If you’re interested in becoming a travel nurse but are not yet convinced that it is right for you, here are some of the potential benefits.

1. Avoiding Burnout

Nursing is a rewarding career but also a very demanding one. Becoming a travel nurse allows you to vary your routine, which may be just what you need to get yourself out of the dismal gray doldrums of hospital politics and let some light in to recharge your internal solar battery.

2. Developing New Interests

As a travel nurse, you can work in many different places, including those that are very different from where you came from. This gives you the opportunity to try new activities or hobbies that were unavailable to you before. For example, if you came from the Midwest, you can work in a coastal location, giving you the opportunity to try surfing. If you came from Florida, you can take a post in the Rockies and try downhill skiing for the first time. Developing new activities also gives you the opportunity to meet people with the same interests and potentially make new friends.

3. Escaping Bureaucracy

Hospital politics and bureaucracy can be some of the worst parts of the nursing profession. Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with this as a travel nurse. Your contract with an agency that handles all the onboarding and associated paperwork for you. It is understood from the beginning that you are only there on a short-term basis. Therefore, you’re usually at least one step removed from any political posturing or intrigue that may swirl around you.

4. Enjoying Freedom and Flexibility

A traditional nursing job can sometimes feel like a prison sentence. You may feel that you are always on call and don’t get enough time to yourself. As a travel nurse, you have the freedom to choose your own assignments. When you finish one stint, you can choose your next one on your own time. If you wish, you can take a long break in between assignments for a much-needed vacation. Not only that but as a travel nurse, you have total freedom to choose where you want to go to work. If there’s a particular place where you have always wanted to travel, here’s the opportunity to go there and get paid for it.

5. Growing as a Professional

As a travel nurse, you go to work where there is a need, whether that be a remote rural hospital or a top research facility. Each of these settings offers you the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques that contribute to your professional growth. You will become more well-rounded as a result, which can open up more options for you if and when you decide to return to full-time work at a single facility. Performing different jobs as a travel nurse may also give you an idea of a specialty in which you would particularly like to work long-term.

6. Earning More Money

Nursing salaries are not known for being exorbitant, but travel nurses often make more money than their non-traveling counterparts. Not only do the hourly pay rates tend to be more generous, but there are also bonuses and the opportunity to earn more through overtime or shift differentials. Some travel nursing companies also provide private housing to travel nurses free of charge, drastically cutting down on the cost of living and essentially putting more money in your pocket.

The experience you gain as a travel nurse can help you gain a clearer idea of what you want in life. You may find that traveling and working in many different places helps you decide where you ultimately want to settle down, establish some roots, and work out the rest of your career.

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!)

Join The Gypsy Nurse Nation

Discover new travel nurse jobs, subscribe to customized job alerts and unlock unlimited resources for FREE.

“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

Join Now

Packing tricks and tips:

Conduct Some Basic Research

Digitize Important paperwork

Consider A Minimalistic Approach.

Medical References

Electronic Hardware for Traveling nurses

Smartphone

Laptop

Rent or Buy Supplies at Your Location.

Conclusion

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7 Self-Care Activities for Travel Nurses

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2. Use a sleep app for power napping.

3. Enjoy time with friends both within and outside of your career.

4. Find a hobby you enjoy.

5. Care for your personality type appropriately.

6. Get exercise off the nursing floor.

7. Set appropriate challenges for yourself to stay engaged in your career.

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

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

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