Usually, during fall, a large group of Travel RNs starts looking at their next assignment in warm climates such as Florida or Arizona. BUT welcome to 2020 where nothing is the norm.
Your fall assignment?
With the Virus not under control yet and a vaccine still unknown, picking your next assignment will leave you with many choices if you are part of the in-demand specialties. Some but not all include ICU, TELE, and Med Surg to name a few. Typically we have the mass migration of snowbirds, which is our oldest and most cared for a population when it comes to healthcare. Now? A lot are opting to stay put due to the Virus.
So what does this mean?
If you add in the pending flu season with the Virus and states opening, this is a recipe for a large demand for healthcare professionals. So travel nurses who usually go South may want to step back and look at their options. Pay levels have increased across the states (minus Covid care which has subsided if you contracted the Virus on assignment). The demand for certain specialties will reach an all-time high over the next few months even with a vaccine due to the rollout and people’s insecurity about taking a vaccine until proven 100% safe. Travel RNs will have the opportunity of these options: to take an assignment where they could be near family for the holidays, receive better pay at a non-traditional winter location, or still choose to go to warmer climates.
This is a time when nothing is normal.
Travel Nursing is no exception. Be smart about your decision-making and do your homework. More money does not always mean a great working environment. Nor does warmer weather!
Have you started looking at your next assignment? Does it differ this year? Comment below.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
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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!”
From picking up per diem shifts to going back to school, there are multiple ways for travel nurses to earn more.
No one goes into nursing to get rich – most nurses are answering a call to help others. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ensure you’re being paid well while providing care. There’re many different ways to increase your pay as a nurse, but we’ve put together some of our top suggestions. Some of these tips are easy to implement – others will take time, a personal investment, and drive.
If you’re here, it’s likely you’re already a travel nurse – or at least considering it. This is a great first step to maximizing your earnings. Travel nurses make 20% more than non-travel nurses on average.
These tips assume you’re already working as a travel nurse. But enough preamble – let’s jump into our…
Seven tips to maximize pay as a travel nurse
Tip #1: Location, location, location
It’s true in real estate and it’s true for travel nurses. Whether it’s a local shortage of qualified professionals or just a higher cost of living, some markets simply pay better. Metropolitan areas typically pay better than rural ones. Non-hospital roles often pay better as well.
Just be careful of the geographies that pay more because the cost of living is higher. You might wind up just spending that extra pay on higher rent and groceries.
Tip #2: Pick up per diem shifts while on assignment
Picking up per diem shifts is a great way to maximize your pay during the coronavirus pandemic. Many cities are still under fairly strict lockdown mandates and your options for fun and adventure are limited. If your contract allows for overtime, working an extra shift or two at your current facility is easy to do. But it’s probably better for your career to work with different facilities in your market.
Working extra shifts at different facilities isn’t just about more money. It allows you to grow your network by working with different staff and doctors. Not only that, but you’re also able to see how different professionals approach various procedures and how they provide care.
Your choice in a travel nursing agency may impact this. Some agencies don’t offer per diem work or allow you to work with another agency to book shifts. While some travel nursing tech platforms, like Medely, offer both assignments and per diem right in the same app.
While there are a lot of benefits to working per diem shifts while on assignment, there can be drawbacks too. It’s important to make sure you get enough time off and rest. Your patients deserve the best care you can give, not what little gas you have left in the tank.
Tip # 3: Take less desirable shifts
From TGIF to “Woo-hoo! Three day weekend!” most of us think of work as Monday through Friday day shifts. But weekends, holidays, and night shifts all typically pay better for the exact same work as a weekday shift. Not everyone can make these less-desirable shifts fit their day-to-day schedule or travel plans, but the benefits are clear. If it works for you, these shifts can earn you an average of a few dollars more per hour.
Tip #4: Maximize your tax benefits and travel perks
Travel nursing typically includes per diem stipends for lodging and meals. These are generally tax-free up to a certain amount, which is set by the General Services Administration (GSA) and differs by geography and time of year.
How travel nursing agencies approach stipends can be wildly different. Some reimburse you for your actual expenses, up to the maximum. Others will offer a flat amount lower than the GSA recommendations for your location. And others, like Medely, offer the maximum tax-free stipend amount for your location on every assignment.
Obviously this isn’t the only deciding factor in the agency you choose. But if you work as a travel nurse for the majority of the year, they can add up to a large amount of your income quickly.
Tip #5: Pursue a new specialty
It’s no secret that certain specialties pay better. CRNA and Nurse Practitioners are at the top of the list but come with an advanced degree requirement. ICU and ER nursing traditionally pay well – but they come with a higher stress level. And any change in specialty will require you seizing the right opportunity. Yet another reason for building your professional network is important.
But if you’re up for the challenge, the pay off is clear. The degrees, certifications, and experience can add up to a specialty that pays six figures instead of five. Speaking of getting a new degree…
Tip #6: Earn an advanced degree
Earning a master’s degree is the first step to becoming an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). It’s also the way to move into education, research, or climbing the ladder in healthcare administration. Each of these career paths holds considerable income potential, but they’re not for everyone. Not only do they require an incredible investment of time and money, but the programs themselves are rigorous and competitive. On top of that, several of these career moves will limit how much direct patient care you provide.
Tip #7: Get creative with facility and industry choices
Most people automatically think of hospitals and family practice when thinking of nursing – and certainly, that’s where many nurses work. But there’s plenty of work for nurses outside of that setting in both full-time roles and as side work. You can pick up shifts as an insurance nurse, tutor local nursing students, provide telehealth support, offer medical transcription or technical writing services, and much more. Not only can you earn extra income by working in these areas, but you might also discover something new that you’re passionate about.
Find the right balance for you
Whether you need a couple of extra dollars an hour or you want to move into a new tax bracket – the right choice will be different for everyone.
Some of these choices are fairly simple. Picking up travel assignments in a better market or finding an agency that pays you better can maximize your pay with minimal risk. Working third shift or eating up your time off with per diem shifts may help you meet a temporary goal, but may not fit your lifestyle.
Working around the clock can quickly lead to burnout. Providing medical transcription may bore you to tears. So don’t be afraid to try something and decide it’s not for you. No matter your choices, money is secondary to your health, happiness, and the level of care you give your patients.
We hope you found these tips for to help maximize pay helpful. Have you found any ways to help you maximize pay? Comment them below.
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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!”
Currently, I work in Healthcare Informatics for an American company and am based in the United Kingdom. A little about me: I graduated in 1997 and had worked as a travel nurse for several years. In 2012, I met my husband and decided to move to Australia to be with him, so I applied for my nursing license through APHRA. After getting registered, I quickly found a job at a newly opened Private Hospital in Sydney.
Why Informatics
In July 2014, I returned from my honeymoon to find my Nursing Unit Manager had assigned me to Superuser training for our new EMR conversion. Due to my background as a travel nurse and many EMR conversions, I spent 1:1 time with an Application Specialist to create the new ICU Flowsheet. Although it may have been tedious to review every observation item in Critical Care, it was also gratifying when we went live with an awesome Flowsheet. After six months in the superuser role, I was asked to be Hospital Project Coordinator for the EMR implementation.
The project was going into its fifth year and was stalling. The Senior management wanted the project to progress. I have seconded to my ICU position, and the hospital Go Live occurred five months later. Shortly after the successful Go Live, my husband and I moved to Amsterdam for his job. During our year in The Netherlands, I started the interview process with my current company.
My company has specifically hired clinical staff for Application Analyst positions. It is necessary to understand the workflow that clinic staff is using to recreate the errors being seen. A good clinical understanding of how the product should function and troubleshoot when it doesn’t function as expected is necessary for this role.
What do I actually do as an Applicant Analyst?
I work Monday through Friday from 09:00 to 5:30. Occasionally, I travel to customer sites, but it’s much less than my implementation colleagues as I work in Product Support. My daily work involves; picking up tickets from our queue, recreating workflows to test errors, testing new development that will be deployed into the products, creating JIRA tickets for bugs and new development, investigating errors that arise for the customer, conducting meetings with customers, engaging with colleagues from all over the world, and dealing with high-stress situations.
Skills are required for this role
Varied skills are required for this role in informatics. Leadership is necessary as well as management skills as often the customer may be difficult or frustrated. Working as a nurse for too many years to count, I have developed my own management skills and have helped resolve issues instead of escalating the situation.
System analysis is critical to this role. I assess how users interact with the EMR by examining the workflow and input of data and the output of information. Is the process working as expected? Is the problem a bug, or is it working as designed? As well as collaborating with implementation to ensure the EMR functions more efficiently for the organization and clinical staff. Data Protection and Compliance are vital to this role.
Yearly, I must complete Data Protection Education to ensure the patient’s record remains confidential. Often, we work over VPN and use remote desktops. We may not receive patient data via email, and tickets may not include any vulnerable information related to the patient. Often, an organization sends information via a Minimum Dataset Form, detailing the issue found. I use these details to try and work out the problem.
How my nursing background helps
Coordination, facilitation, and integration; I am the Middle Man. I can translate our technical specialists’ complicated language into easy to understand clinical terms or basic computer language. Also, I can discuss what might be happening on the back-end of the EMR with the clinical staff and make it more relatable. We use an integrated platform for one of our Healthcare tools. There is also coordination of Go-Live activities and project management skills required.
I must facilitate monthly reports and weekly internal and external meetings with other departments in our organization or with customers. Go Live activities must be coordinated well so that everything that needs to happen will happen. Travel, hotels, phones, schedules, and VPN/EMR accounts must be organized so that we aren’t struggling at the last moment with these tasks.
Recently, I’ve transferred from the Windsor office to the Edinburgh office. Since I’ve moved to Scotland, I’m travelling a bit more for my role.
Overall, working in informatics requires a very similar skill set as nursing. I love my role and my job.
Are you looking for more information on travel nursing?
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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!”
If you are a nurse looking to try something new and exciting, you should consider travel nursing! Travel nursing is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. As a Registered Nurse, you work with a travel nurse staffing agency that sends you out to travel to different hospitals that are lacking in resources and need extra nurses for certain periods of time. Contracts typically last around thirteen weeks and then you move on to another spot.
This provides an opportunity for nurses to continue the work they love while also seeing new places and meeting new people. With this interesting job comes unique circumstances, and you may find yourself looking for some help in figuring out how to best utilize those circumstances. Here are a few fun tips for anyone looking into travel nursing.
Take The Long Way
If you get a contract to work somewhere abroad, you can look for a fun way to get there. For example, if you know you will be working in Bermuda, you can make your way to that location on fun Bermuda cruises. This can help you settle into your travel routine while also giving you the mental legroom to switch from being at your home and in your home city to moving around. You can also engage in fun activities while on your cruise that can help you reduce any new job jitters. Sightseeing your way to your new job’s location could prove to be a fantastic way to get there!
Do As the Locals Do
Wherever you get assigned it is good to remember that people live there permanently. You are a tourist in their town. So, you should be respectful of that privilege. When locals see that respect, they typically will feel safe sharing neat spots around town with you that you may not have found on your own. The best local restaurants, hiking spots, surfing spots, and more are not going to be relinquished to just anyone and you must take this knowledge with respect and not overshare it on social media. Although it may seem annoying not to be able to share the knowledge of the sweet spots, you will find that your experiences are richer and help destress you from the potentially stressful nature of nursing as a job.
Create a Capsule Wardrobe
Capsule wardrobes are an interesting and clever way to have an easy to travel wardrobe that is versatile, classy, and can fit into one suitcase. As you begin your travel nursing journey you will find that less is more when it comes to packing. On your days off when you do not want to wear your work scrubs, you will not want to be rifling through your suitcase or hotel room drawers to find the best outfit. Instead, you can pick from a combination of a few well made, durable, versatile, and cute options for the weather and activities you have laid out ahead of you. Dressing to impress is easier when you have a few key pieces that all work together and fit you perfectly. This would be a great tip to put your travel nursing salary towards. Many people have discovered that investing in a few highly-priced items will benefit you in the long run as opposed to buying and replacing cheaper clothes.
Don’t Leave Your Furry Friend Behind
If you have a dog or a cat or another pet who you think is the only thing keeping you at home, then fear no more. Your furry friend can travel with you to your destination. Think of how much fun they will have exploring the streets of a new city by your side on your days off work. Your pet can also help you feel more comfortable as you adjust to the new life of travel nursing.
Travel nursing is currently blowing up as people realize they can travel, make money, and help people. It is a really cool way to meet new people and explore new places. You will certainly never be bored!
We hope you found these travel nursing tips helpful. Do you have any travel nursing tips to share? Comment them below.
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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!”
Your mobile device might just be the key to getting the most out of your new assignment.
We live in a world where our cars drive themselves and our refrigerators tell us the weather and commute times. Well… they do if you can afford it. Think about it – what are the chances that you’d forget your phone when leaving on a 13 week travel assignment? There’s a better chance you’d forget your toiletries.
Technology is a vital part of healthcare as well. Whether it’s something as cool as a 3D printed cast or something as seemingly simple as a digital staffing platform like Medely, technology is creating better patient outcomes and simplifying our work lives – yes, even those frustrating EHR/EMR systems.
Here are six ways technology can improve your travel nursing experience.
Your agency experience
From the moment you submit your application to a travel assignment until you collect your last paycheck 13+ weeks later, you will be regularly relying on your agency for all kinds of administrative tasks. This makes the agency you choose to book travel assignments through a critical choice in this experience. An agency’s level of tech adoption will impact how you apply, prove your credentials, accept your offer, clock in and out, and get paid. Look for an agency that provides digital tools for each of these aspects but still provides the level of support and interaction you need.
Your exploration
Most of us have at least heard the names Yelp and Travelocity. Knowing how to maximize travel tools makes getting to the new city a breeze and has you living like a local in no time.
Pro-tip: If you fly regularly many travel sites will use a cookie to track you. They may actually show you inflated rates based on your need. Use incognito mode in your browser or a privacy-focused browser like Brave to avoid this.
Once you’re there, make the most of your time. Make sure you don’t spend 12 weeks in a city only to find out the best Thai restaurant is just around the corner. To do that, you need to have the same info the locals have. Using tools like Spotted By Locals, Showaround, and Eat With will have you up to speed in no time. From having a resident show you around to planning meals around non-touristy restaurants, there’s an app to fit your needs.
Your productivity
Productivity apps are nothing new. From complex workflow apps like Jira to simple note-keeping apps like Evernote, everyone has their favorite productivity app. Nurses are no different. Here are a few useful productivity tools for nurses:
Evernote (Android, Apple): Any list of productivity apps without Evernote on it is suspect at best. With the ability to quickly take and organize notes, set voice reminders, and file photos, it’s a must-have app.
Epocrates (Android, Apple): This app that has been alive and kicking since the days of Blackberrys. Use it to quickly find drug safety information, drug interactions, and dosage calculators. The built-in Pill ID function lets you identify medication by shape, color, scoring, imprint codes, and more.
UpToDate (Android, Apple): This app puts reliable, peer-reviewed info within easy reach and is an invaluable resource. Use it to find information for primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, internal specialties, and general surgery. It also has well as over a hundred medical calculators and thousands of patient education articles.
Medscape (Android, Apple): The latest medical news, sorted by specialty, FDA announcements, and continuing education courses are all found in this app. Not to mention medical calculators and drug information.
MedPage Today (Website): This site specializes in covering breaking medical news and offers several continuing education options and articles.
Your credentials
Life’s uncertain. You could show up on your first day and find out the facility misplaced your credentials. Or maybe you’re in a pandemic and would rather pick up per diem shifts than explore a new city. Making sure you’ve got all of your credentials in one digital location just makes sense. Before leaving on assignment, scan or take a photo of each of your credentials. Give them a clear name, and upload them to a folder on a cloud service like DropBox or Google Drive.
Technology Pro-tip: Don’t own a scanner? (because who owns a scanner in 2020?) Take pictures of documents in a well-lit location, preferably with natural light. Get as close to the document as possible, and make sure it’s in focus. A fuzzy, poorly-lit document pic won’t be very useful!
Your work experience
While you’re in a new city you’ve got access to facilities and doctors you don’t have at home. Each of them may do things a little differently or use technology you don’t have experience with. You’ve got a great opportunity to expand your network and your knowledge. Use your days off to pick up per diem shifts at different facilities. Clock some hours on a different EHR, work with professionals that use different methods, or just figure out what kind of staff you like working with. This is one place where your choice in agency and having your credentials ready matters. Not all agencies offer per diem jobs or allow you to pick them up while on assignment. So choose wisely and be prepared!
Your connection to others
Oh sure, you love Facebook for staying in touch with friends from college or high school. But social networks, when on a travel assignment, can be vital to your mental health. They’re not just for staying in touch with people back home. LinkedIn and Facebook groups for travel nurses or local professionals are a great way to find local networking events. Meetup is also a great way to find events for people who share your interests in a new city.
Do what works for you
Technology can impact all aspects of travel nursing. It helps you maximize your work experience (and pay!), explore new surroundings, stay connected, and ensures everything runs smoothly. Finding what works best for you may take some trial and error, but being ready to try a new app or service will enable you to tailor your travel experience to best fit your lifestyle and needs.
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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!”
Getting the flu vaccine this year? It might be in your best interest to consider getting your flu vaccine earlier than you normally would. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, allergies, and flu, it might become difficult to differentiate the symptoms. By getting your flu vaccine earlier, it could help by preventing the spread of the flu.
Availability
Flu vaccines will become available in healthcare clinics, pharmacies, etc., by early September. It might look different in some locations as there will likely be more drive through immunizations across parking lots and spacious open areas. This will allow for more social distancing and disinfecting breaks in-between patient stops.
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get annual flu vaccine by the end of October
It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu
Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization for children and adults
By getting the flu shot, you could keep yourself and those around you safe. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, consider taking safety precautions early this year. Get your flu vaccine as soon as possible. Not only can it help prevent those around you from getting sick, but it can potentially cut back on the number of patient visits to clinics and hospitals.
Has the pandemic changed your perspective on getting a flu shot this year? Did you get your flu shot earlier this year than in prior years due to COVID? Comment below and let us know.
If you or someone you know is on the hunt for their next travel healthcare assignment, Titan Medical is here to help. Give us a call at 866-332-9600 to talk to a recruiter today to learn more about traveling with Titan Medical Group.
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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!”
Summertime is ending, and the cool breezes and beautiful shades of autumn are on their way. There are many different ways to experience the fall across the United States, which makes the season a perfect time for your next travel nursing assignment!
We’ve created a list of the best states for fall travel, all of which have plenty of travel nursing assignments to choose from.
Read on for our list of the best states for travel nursing this fall!
Tennessee
Tennessee is a state that offers jaw-dropping fall landscapes. It’s also chock-full of cities essential to American music, art, and history.
Take a scenic autumn drive along the Cherohala Skyway, a 43-mile National Scenic Byway from Tellico Plains to Robbinsville. Or enjoy changing fall leaves while learning music history along the Americana Music Triangle, a partnership of attractions across the South that includes which includes Brownsville, Franklin, Memphis, and Nashville.
Immerse yourself in critically important U.S. history by taking a trip on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail in Memphis, Nashville, and Clinton – the state offers 10 stops where visitors can learn the stories of those who changed the course of civil rights history with protests and legal victories.
Can’t get enough music? You’re in luck! Nashville is known as “Music City,” and offers a huge range of delicious food options, entertainment, and gorgeous autumn views.
Colorado
No matter what time of year it is, Colorado is always a great choice for a travel destination, but it truly shines in the fall. Colorado’s aspen forests begin to display their unique autumn hues from mid-September to mid-October, turning the state’s stunning landscape a mixture of yellow and gold.
Colorado’s four national parks – Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The parks offer hiking, camping, biking, and other outdoor activities within some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Colorado’s major cities are bustling centers of arts and culture; the Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center are world-class museums. Colorado also offers delicious dining options, with must-visit establishments serving top-notch dishes across the state.
California
Fall isn’t always about the leaves. California, the Golden State, offers beautiful scenery and weather nearly all year long. Plus, if you love exploring the outdoors, California is hard to beat. From its world-famous Pacific coast to the Mojave Desert to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Golden State’s surfing, skiing, biking, hiking, and other activities will never disappoint.
Northern California offers the towering redwood forests of the Muir Woods National Monument and the incredible scenery of Lake Tahoe. California’s breathtaking and rugged coastline can be seen all along Pacific Highway 1. The state also has over 300 national and state parks, including the iconic Yosemite National Park.
In Southern California, explore San Diego’s Balboa Park, featuring the renowned San Diego Zoo(voted #1 Zoo in the World), 15 museums, and opulent gardens. Or take a trip to the vast and humbling Joshua Tree National Park, which lies at the intersection of the Mojave and Colorado deserts.
Whether you’re marveling at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco or surfing in Orange County, there are endless options for exploration in California.
Louisiana
Even in the “new normal,” Louisiana is an incredibly fun and festive place to travel. The months of September, October, and November are cool, breezy, and sunny. There is no need to worry about unusually cold, snowy days here!
A different but equally enjoyable slice of Louisiana culture can be found in Lafayette, the state’s fourth-largest city. It is located in the heart of Acadiana (near the stunning Atchafalaya Basin). The name given to the area settled by the Cajuns and Creoles in the 18th century. It has also been named “the Happiest City in America.”
Begin Your Fall Travel Nursing Adventure with GIFTED Healthcare
From travel to per diem assignments, GIFTED Healthcare provides nurses with exceptional, high-paying career opportunities.
We hope you found this article on 4 great places for travel nursing this fall helpful. Are there any locations you feel are great places for travel nursing in the fall?
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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!”
Everyone in Health Care is familiar with traveling Nurses, Doctors, Occupational Therapists, among others, but a Traveling CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)?
I know! Doesn’t that sound crazy?!
I mean, really, I thought the same thing. But, it’s true- though we are not in as hot demand as the other medical specialties, we are not only valuable but needed. I have a vagabond gene that screams, “GO SOMEWHERE! Travel, see the country- experience great things!” But most important, my vagabond gene tells me, “Go forth and share your compassion and skills with others.”
I started my quest for information and assignments specifically for traveling CNA’s when I first graduated. I knew I could not travel right away; I had to get the right amount of experience, become great at what I do, and hone my skills, just like a brand new LPN or RN. That’s exactly what I did.
I want to share my ‘Top 10 Most Important List”. I hope the information is helpful, and you can utilize the resources and lessen the initial stress of breaking into your new travel journey!
1. Resume
Your resume is going to be your only chance at a first impression. You have to make it great, and you have to make it complete.
Highlight your exceptional skills and experience and sell yourself through your cover letter.
Your resume needs to be clean, concise, and in a professional format for not only recruiters but also the person who will decide to call you for an interview.
Include your license information, including the state in which you are licensed.
Include any other certifications or memberships you have—for example, BLS or membership with the American Association of Long Term Care Nursing. (Memberships show that you take your profession seriously).
2. References
Most importantly, above all else – you need great references! If you do not provide references, which can actually speak with a recruiter, it will be useless! Your DON sounds perfect. Eh- unfortunately, not so much. Many hospitals/facilities have a policy that all references must be deferred to HR. While that is great to verify your employment dates, etc., it does nothing for a reference as to the level of your competency in your skills or how you conduct yourself with your patients and coworkers. References must be from someone who has directly supervised you; such as:
Charge Nurse (LPN or RN)
Unit Supervisors
Clinical Coordinators
Nurse Mentors, etc.
Once you have built a friendship and rapport with a supervisory nurse, ask them if they would mind if you use them as a contact reference in the future. First name, last name, telephone number, and email! You can download a blank reference form for free through the internet or Microsoft Word. Ask them if they would mind filling one out for you for use in the future.
3. Traveling CNA Medical Documentation
In order to be a traveling CNA (just like nurses), you will need to have your medical documentation in order.
Titer paperwork- (verifies immunities)
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
Varicella (chickenpox zoster)
HBV (hepatitis B)
PPD Test result
This is required once a year.
Flu shot
Ask your recruiter if this is required before you leave for an assignment.
Physical
Sometimes- this will be required to be within 30 days of the travel date, or it could be within the previous 12 months. (Your recruiter will best answer this- we will get to that).
4. Your voicemail!
You are probably asking, “what in the world does my voicemail have to do with travel nursing?” A lot! Make sure that your voicemail is professional. A person contacting you for a potential travel position is not going to like to hear: Yo, this is Michelle, yea, ya missed me- I ain’t able to get to da phone…. Beeeep, leave me a message with yo digits!” (LOL, ok, so I am not that creative, but I have heard some BAD voicemail greetings- you get my meaning.)
“Hello, you have reached Michelle Lane; I am sorry I am unable to get to the phone at this time. Please leave me a detailed message with your name and telephone number, and I will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you, and have a great day.” (Yes, that is what my voicemail says.)
5. Research, Research, Research!
Deciding to become a traveling CNA is a big step- it would be a horrible experience if you do not make a sound decision on the company you decide to travel with, the recruiter you use, and your pay package.
Agency: There are many of them out there, some good, some that you need to avoid like the plague! Google the name of the potential agency, for example, XYZ Medical Staffing complaints. Also, there are some great Travel nurse groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and DelphiForums. Just do some homework.
Your recruiter should be your cheerleader, your go-to person, and most of all, they should communicate with you! I cannot stress this enough. A good recruiter returns phone calls, answers questions, and looks out for you in all aspects. They should be willing to hold your hand for the entire duration of your time with them. Nothing would be worse than to get to your assignment and have a problem, and you can reach the—cell phone, email, Facebook, etc. If you do not have a warm fuzzy feeling with them, get a new one!
Traveling CNA Pay Package
Traveling CNA’s are not paid AS much as RN’s or other medical specialties; however, there are some really great rates out there for us! How do you know that you are getting a good quote for an assignment? Well, let’s look at an example:
Powell, Wyoming -$18 taxed hourly rate (WOW! That is awesome, right?) -$500 tax-free per week per diem for housing (sometimes called a stipend)
-$300 travel reimbursement to get to your assignment reimbursed by your agency.
You now know that you have a $2000 per month budget to work with. In your research, you will want to look at what housing will cost, a car (if you are not driving there- for this example, we will say we are flying there.
The cheapest all-inclusive housing you can find is $2,600, and it is 50 minutes away. As you can see, this assignment will already eat up all your housing per diem, which means that you will have to pay out of pocket $600 per month, and you have not even researched car rental rates yet. YIKES! Not a good idea unless you really, really want to see Powell, Wyoming. There will be assignments that you really want, and paying out of pocket is something that you want to do; I get that.
6. Get a notebook
Make sure to keep good records of agencies, recruiters, and proposed assignments that you have been submitted for! While looking for assignments, you will not believe how easy it is to get confused. At the top of the page, I write the name of the agency, the recruiter’s name, and contact information, along with the city and state of the assignment. Write down the details from what the recruiter tells you about an assignment, ask for an email recapping all the details discussed, and then compare your notes to what the recruiter sent to you. Yes, it is important. It’s best to catch an error immediately and contact your recruiter to let them know the variances.
**You will want to really read your contract once you receive it, and make sure that all information in your contract is the same as you discussed with the interviewer and your recruiter. Don’t forget to get the full name of the person interviewing you and a contact number.
7.Questions to ask during the interview
(You can use these answers to compare to what the recruiter told you, and then let them know what the interviewer told you). You would be surprised how information can be different. I know I wouldn’t be happy if my recruiter told me that I would be working five 8 hour shifts, with a guaranteed 40 hours, only to find out when I get there that I will be working three 12 hour shift and a cancellation policy of up to 12 hours unpaid. It can add up over the course of a 13-week assignment.
On The Fly® – This is only accessible through the On The Fly Mobile App (you can search by a period in the calendar or specific days.)
Kayak®
Hipmunk ®
Transportation These are alternative ways to find cars/transportation
RelayRides®
Lyft®
U-CarShare®
Misc. Apps/Websites
CamScanner® is an awesome app where you can take a picture of your documents using your smartphone. I used this app to send all my paperwork to my recruiter.
PAN Travelers – Useful calculator, so you can see the big picture with contract money. This website is an all-around great resource for traveling nurses.
Travel Tax- Joe Smith at Travel Tax is a great resource for travelers regarding
taxes.
Travel Nurse Network – The Gypsy Nurse – This the ultimate go-to group for me. If I have a question, no matter what time of the day or night, I know that I will get honest answers for any question that I might have. Not to mention I have met some really great seasoned travel nurses.
CNA Travelers – obviously, I am going to plug my group on Facebook. 😉 We are building a CNA specific group just for us! This is a great springboard, so to speak, where you are free to ask questions and meet others with the vagabond gene!
9. Finances
You are getting ready to embark on a travel journey, and you must consider your banking options. Banks are everywhere, but is your bank? If you lost your bank debit card while on assignment, how would you get a replacement? Due to possible fraud, many banks will only send a replacement card to your home address on your account or to a branch in the city that you are in. What if your bank does not have a branch within 200 miles of your assignment city? That would create a big problem. Personally, I got sick of all the bank fees eating away at my abysmal bank balance anyway. (It’s ok to giggle- I did) I decided six years ago to go with non-traditional banking by using an online bank. There are several out there, and a Google search can help you find others, but of course, I have my pick:
NetSpend
I have 24/7 access to my money, a free direct deposit, a Visa® debit card, and free overdraft protection (with direct deposit). I have the convenience of an app on my phone and text message alerts for every transaction that includes your current balance. Your account comes with a free Savings account. If you lose your card, you can go online immediately and deactivate your card yourself, and set up a “Virtual Debit Card” so you never lose access to your money. NetSpend also has cashback rewards.
10. Flexibility
As a Traveling CNA that wants to break into traveling, it is essential that you are flexible and willing to go ANYWHERE. The assignments for Traveling CNA’s are not as plentiful as they are for RN’s, so you really have to be open to new places that you may not have thought of.
I hope that my Top 10 List helps you step out into the gypsy world and share your skills and experience new places and adventures. You never know; maybe we will meet in person along the way!
About The Author:
Michelle is a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), having three years of overall healthcare experience. She recently found her vagabond gene and is a newly anointed Gypsy who loves to travel, meet new people, and help others live their dream of traveling as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant).
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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!”
I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. I mean, we made it through year one, the hardest year, right? But today…it was foggy one moment with “Wait, what happened?” & clear the next as the ache in my chest stole every breath from me.
Today, my mind told me I deserved it all.
Every crack in my heart, every hardship, every tear. That this was my fault. That I didn’t try hard enough, that I didn’t pray correctly, that it was me that chose the wrong doctors. Once again I was able to understand a little bit of Brian’s pain. A small glimpse into depression.
Funny how we can beat ourselves up BUT if my friend was sitting in my shoes and saying these ridiculous things to me, I would probably have to shake her and scream “STOP! Don’t you dare do this!”
So what can I do to fight against these lies swirling in my head tonight?
Well….I decided to let you into the darkness a little more. I want to try and help you understand grief during the second year. Because let’s face it, none of us are immune to it. We will, or we already have, at one point or another, experienced a significant (the word doesn’t even describe it) loss.
1. It’s not just one day
I lost Brian to depression before I even lost Brian. But today is the day I found him and knew nothing would ever go back to the way it was. Today is the day he met Jesus and become whole. Tomorrow is the day he was pronounced, the following is the day our kids knew Daddy was going to Heaven, and the day after that is the day I received the phone call that all of his organs had been donated. For most of us in grief, there is the last day we saw them, the last day we had hope, the last time we talked to them. It is never just one day of loss.
2. Everyone is lying if they tell you the first year is the hardest.
I woke up thinking it was all going to be better after the first 365 days, but it was worse. Much, much worse. The end of the first year only confirmed I had to do this all over again. I didn’t have to make it through the “firsts” but the “seconds” and “thirds” and so on and SO ON! Booooo!
3. I regret every single moment leading up to it.
This isn’t just a “suicide thing” either. This is anyone that has ever lost anyone. We wish we kissed them longer, harder, more, or even at all. We wish we didn’t take the long way home. That we called and said “I love you” one more time. That we followed our intuition. Anything. It’s hard pulling yourself out of that terrible loop.
4. I am exhausted more now than ever.
I swear adrenaline and denial were the only things that kept me going for the longest time. Now, it’s only by God’s grace I can roll out of bed. People tend to go back to their normal lives while those in grief are left wondering what “normal” even looks like anymore.
5. AND there is hope in making it through another year.
I used to say we lost Brian BUT God is good. I now feel we lost Brian AND God is good. See what I did there? I changed one word and it reminds me that God is God and I am not. I am constantly learning to change one word. I don’t HAVE to get up to take care of the kids…I GET to take care of these loud creatures that God entrusted me with. I am in pain, we all are, AND God is good.
So there you go. Enjoy my dark and twisty thoughts. Even though He has slain me, my future, my dreams, I will praise Him. I will shout of His goodness! Praise Him in my pain! I will point you to the one who gives and takes away! This is the hard part you guys…this is the place between the pain of this world and the promise of the next.
Praying for your heart right now ❤️
Please, if you are struggling with your mental health and/or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HELLO to 741741
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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!”
