One of the best parts about travel nursing is the chance to temporarily live and work in a new location, with your housing and travel expenses covered and plenty of time to explore.
This career option also allows you to choose when and where you work, with contract terms ranging from four weeks for a crisis assignment up to 13 weeks for a more typical travel nurse assignment. But what happens at the end of that assignment period?
Nurses can choose to move on to another location, or their assignment facility may ask the traveler to extend their contract and stay a while longer. Usually, organizations will broach the subject about halfway through an initial assignment, but that timeline can vary.
Extending a travel nurse assignment is very common, reports Michele S., a recruitment and placement specialist with Onward Healthcare, adding that extensions are a “win–win” situation for all parties. Many nurses like the chance to stay put a little longer—to work in a place where they’ve gotten to know the people, the culture, and the electronic health record system. They also don’t have to worry about going through the credentialing process again or relocating. At the same time, the facility managers don’t have to worry about finding, onboarding, and training a new travel nurse.
If you’re interested in extending a travel nurse assignment now or in the future, here’s what you need to know.
How to Land a Travel Nurse Contract Extension
According to Michele, site managers will often initiate the extension process, but the nurse traveler can initiate the process, too. She offers the following tips to boost your chances of landing a travel nurse contract extension:
Be the best nurse you can be. You want to create a good impression at work. Give the managers and staff multiple reasons to want you to extend with them. Be reliable. Use good clinical judgment. Make an effort to get to know your new colleagues and to get along with everyone.
Consider extending as early as possible. If you think that you might be interested in staying at your current assignment a while longer, start planning as soon as possible. Know what you want to do and be ready to discuss how to make it work.
Talk to your recruiter. Once you’ve decided you would like to extend your travel nurse assignment, talk to your recruiter right away. Your recruiter will know if your facility tends to offer extension opportunities so that they can give you a better understanding of the likelihood. They can also initiate contact with the organization to discuss options and get the paperwork started if an offer is made. Your recruiter can also discuss other options with you, just in case the extension doesn’t work out.
Feel out your manager. “If you have a good relationship with your manager, talk to them and put the idea in their ear,” suggests Michele. This can get the ball rolling, and you will be at the top of their mind if they decide they need a travel nurse for an additional period.
3 Things to Consider When Planning a Contract Extension
If you and the staffing manager at your assignment facility are both interested in a travel nurse contract extension, there are still some things to consider before you sign on the dotted line:
Time off. Many nurses prefer to take some time off in between travel nursing assignments. Scheduling a vacation, especially a longer vacation, can be a little trickier if you’re planning to extend your travel nurse contract and remain with the same healthcare facility. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on the idea. Instead, Michele strongly suggests speaking up and making arrangements for vacation or time off as soon as you possibly can. She encourages nurses to be upfront and address the issue before agreeing to an extension. Nurses should also clarify with their recruiter if all of their traveler benefits will remain in effect if they are taking a break from a regular work schedule.
You’ll also want to verify the availability of your travel nurse housing when planning an assignment extension. If you arranged your own housing, check to make sure it’s available during the period of the extension. Otherwise, talk to your recruiter or the agency’s housing staff as soon as possible about making arrangements for you to stay in your company-arranged housing.
The fine print. Finally, be sure to read your contract extension offer carefully and pay attention to all the details. Sometimes the details can change from an original contract to an extension contract. If you have any questions, ask your recruiter.
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:
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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!”
Embarking on a career as a travel nurse is an exciting journey, but many aspiring nurses wonder about the experience required to venture into this thrilling field. Whether you’re a seasoned RN or a fresh graduate, understanding the experience requirements can help you chart your course and step confidently into the world of travel nursing.
What Is the Requirement to be a Travel Nurse?
While there’s no industry-wide time requirement, the current industry standard is that travel nurses should have at least 1-2 years of experience in a hospital or healthcare facility to be hired as travel nurses. However, it really comes down to the travel agency, specialty, and facilities and/or units, as they may require more experience, but such enhanced experience requirements are usually specified on a job posting. Your recruiter would also share this information with you before you apply for a travel healthcare job.
Why Do I Need Prior Experience to be a Travel Nurse?
When travel nurses start an assignment, they’re expected to hit the ground running. Orientations are often short, and there’s a lot to learn to get adjusted, like learning hospital protocol, navigating a new charting system, and simply finding your way around in a new space. In order to provide great patient care while navigating a new place, your clinical skills must be solid.
Plus, prior experience requirements help protect a travel nurse’s license, strengthen their resume, and facilitate a successful travel nursing experience. For hospitals, experience helps reassure them that their travelers will provide care from day one of an assignment and are reliable.
Where Do I Start to Become a Travel Nurse?
If you’re starting out on your nursing/travel nursing journey, you may still be thinking, “How do I become a travel nurse?” It might be helpful to look at the whole picture when you’re starting out, and we’ve outlined the basic steps to becoming a travel nurse:
Earn your nursing degree, either an Associate of Science degree in Nursing (ASN/AND) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Once you’ve earned your degree, you need to get your RN or LPN license by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
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While the healthcare profession is invaluable to our society, in many cases, healthcare workers, and especially nurses, have a thankless job with a fair share of hazards. In the face of these hazards, it’s easy to sink into the negativity, which may affect your mental health and, indirectly, your productivity at work. As a travel nurse, you must not fall into this trap. Create a positive work culture instead and bring it on the road, so you can remain productive as you help those in need.
Why It’s Important To Have A Positive Culture
As a nurse, it’s essential that you foster a positive workplace culture during any assignment where you travel and work with others. Getting along with your coworkers is necessary because you count on them to work with you to help patients and, sometimes, to save their lives. In addition to the fact that you’ll all get along better, your positive culture could also affect your overall productivity.
When you’re unhappy at work, you’re likely to just go through the motions and not have the same passion for your job that you once had, and that can impact the patients. Even worse, if you’re sick of your job and don’t think you’re appreciated, then it’s more likely that you or your team could call out from work, which also does a disservice to the patients.
In addition to keeping you and your team content at work, a positive work culture can boost productivity because there will be mutual respect and support. You’ll want to go above and beyond to help those on your staff. Happiness at work can also make you healthier physically and mentally.
Lead By Example and Recognize Others
So, how can you encourage a positive work culture even when you’re on temporary assignments? Start with effective communication. Suggest hosting an open meeting every morning where everyone can air their concerns. Then, you can try to work through those conflicts together and start and go forward throughout the day without any negative feelings.
You can also participate in team-building activities that can make your unit even stronger. The activity could be a gratitude circle, where you go around the room and have each nurse express gratitude to someone else. Another team-building exercise is an office trivia game where you ask questions specific to nursing and have the other nurses play individually or as a team to try to guess the answers. It’s a fun way to create a little competition and remember the best tactics to help your patients.
Take Care of Yourself
You can’t build a positive culture if you’re running on an empty mental gas tank. Instead, the key to spreading positivity is to care for yourself first. This may be something as simple as packing healthy lunches or prioritizing daily movement outside of work. However, energy is a complex subject. If you find yourself lacking motivation on a chronic basis, it may point toward something bigger such as a mental health condition or a chronic illness. The best way you can address that is by prioritizing your health every day and visiting your primary care provider regularly.
Know Your Rights
Finally, it’s important that you know your rights on the job site because if you’re unable to create a positive work culture and it’s negatively impacting your productivity, you need to fight for your rights. People outside the profession don’t always realize it, but you might easily see nursing as a high-risk job, and you may have federal protections. This could be especially true if you’re working in a dangerous part of the world or around patients who may be contagious.
If you’re ever working in a situation where you believe that your safety is threatened or you aren’t being heard by your employer, then take action. Reach out to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Report what’s occurring, and you’ll be protected from employer retaliation. Take advantage of this option if necessary, and you’ll set up yourself and your fellow nurses to be safer and more productive while at work.
These are just a handful of ways to create a positive work culture as a traveling nurse and make a difference in your organization. Set the right tone at work, and your productivity will increase.
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Whether it be strolling down a tree-lined southern street or roaming around a picturesque, old New England town, small charming cities never cease to amaze. When on a travel assignment, one of the best things is exploring the area you work in. The United States has so many beautiful cities. Here are just a few to add to your bucket list. Check out our top 15 most charming cities for travel nurses who want to relax. The Pueblo town also has many hot springs to enjoy and cool off from the desert.
The Top 15 Charming Cities For Travel Nurses Who Want To Relax: Amazing Mountains and Desserts
15) Jackson Hole, WY.
Situated in the valley between the Teton Mountain Range and the Gros Ventre Range, Jackson Hole offers visitors intense mountain views ranging more than 7,000 feet above the valley floor. If you’re taking a travel nursing job in Wyoming, take advantage of some world-class skiing or experience the riverside flats with natural herds of elk. The large Antler Arch in the town square is also a not-to-be-miss showstopper.
14) Toas, NM.
Toas is well known for its adobe buildings that were inhabited by Native Americans for centuries. Toas is in New Mexico’s high desert and surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Pueblo town also has many hot springs to enjoy and cool off from the desert heat.
When you’re on a travel nurse assignment in New Mexico, you’ll want to check out this Pueblo town.
13) Telluride, CO.
This former Victorian mining town is home to the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains and world-famous skiing. Take in the dramatic mountain views while sipping hot chocolate at the base of the town, or experience the winter wonderland while skiing down the picturesque mountains. Summer or winter, this mountain town is the perfect place to enjoy unspoiled views of nature.
12) St. Simon’s Island, GA.
Enjoy the salty marshes and sandy beaches of St. Simon’s Island. Find a bench next to one of its many dramatic oak trees and open a good book, or admire the driftwood trees on the beach. This little gem is only an hour and twenty-minute drive from Savannah and an hour’s drive from Jacksonville.
11) Sedona, AZ.
Sedona is a beautiful desert town that is encompassed by the famous red rock formations. The dry air, paired with its mild climate, makes it the ideal place to relax and enjoy the old American Wild West. Numerous trails around the town offer hiking, bird watching, and wonderful picnic spots.
The Top 15 Charming Cities For Travel Nurses Who Want To Relax: Fame & History Cities Lead Our Next 5 Cities
10) Charleston, SC.
Charleston is the perfect place to relax and admire its palm tree-lined old cobblestone streets and huge beaches. Take a walk through the elegant French Quarter or a boat ride down the coast. You can’t help but enjoy the southern hospitality of Charleston as you are taken back in time to colonial houses and horse-drawn carriages.
Martha’s Vineyard is a long-time summer New England colony. Enjoy the sandy beaches, farmland, lighthouses, and picturesque harbor town. Taste the local seafood and experience the charm of this historic Massachusetts town.
7) Napa, CA
Napa Valley sits in the heart of California, a famous wine region. Relax and sip some local wines while enjoying the beautiful scenery of rolling hills. Don’t forget to try the farmers’ market cheese shop in the Oxbow public market, where you can hand-choose special cheeses to pair with your wine. If you’re on assignment in close proximity, Napa is only an hour’s drive from Sacramento and San Francisco, making it the perfect weekend getaway.
6) Bar Harbor, Maine.
Bar Harbor is within the Acadia National Park, where it reserves much of Mount Desert Island. The quaint waterfront town is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beautiful New England views and fresh air. Take a stroll down Main Street and enjoy local ice cream, juicy blueberries, or famous fresh-caught lobster!
The Top 15 Charming Cities For Travel Nurses Who Want To Relax: Breathtaking Coastline
5) St. Augustine, FL.
St. Augustine is located on the northeast coast of Florida and is known for its old Spanish colonial architecture. Enjoy the vast coastline at the sandy St. Augustine Beach or the well-known Crescent Beach and be in awe of its clear blue water and white sand. Its historical old town is also home to palm tree-lined shops and restaurants.
4) Kauai, HI.
The “Garden Isle” is filled with tropical rainforests and jagged cliffs. Technically, Kauai is the oldest island in Hawaii, at approximately six million years old. Take a scenic walk at the Waimea Canyon State Park for some intense tropical greenery and extreme views, or just relax in the midst of a waterfall while dipping your toes in untouched water.
3) Carmel By-The-Sea, CA.
Located on California’s Monterey Peninsula, Carmel By-The-Sea is a quaint beach town known for its dramatic coastline. Taking a stroll through its old town and its fairytale-like cottages will make you feel like you are stepping back in time. If you are on assignment anywhere in northern California, don’t worry. Carmel By-The-Sea is easy to get to! This scenic town is only a two-hour drive from San Francisco and a one-hour drive from San Jose.
2) Nantucket, MA.
This tiny island isolated off Cape Cod is perfect for a weekend getaway. If you have a travel assignment in Boston or Providence, just hop on the ferry and enjoy East Coast island life. In addition to the gorgeous coastline, the picturesque cobblestone streets have many boutique shops and restaurants for your enjoyment.
1) Newport, RI.
Newport is home to many historical mansions that sit on the beautiful waterfront. Take the Newport cliff walk for some jaw-dropping views! The view will see why this topped our list of the top 15 charming cities for travel nurses who want to relax.
Host Healthcare Travel Nursing
Hopefully, after reading this article, you are ready to check out some of these cities, get away, and relax. This is our list of the top 15 charming cities for travel nurses who want to relax. Whether it’s a long weekend during an assignment or time in between assignments, it’s important you find time to relax. Hopefully, one of these cities will be your next place for some R&R.
Apply today to start your travel nursing career with Host Healthcare in your ideal location!
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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!”
How many ways have you seen rates posted online by different companies? The answer to this question is most likely; “A lot!”. Today, it is time to take an in-depth look at the rates and what they mean. As a beginning traveler years ago, I had a difficult time understanding rates until someone took the time to explain.
The first-rate seen may be on an online advertisement with a weekly rate of X to Y. These rates are usually based on a percentage of the Bill Rates given by facilities and auto-calculated. They are the eye-catchers that make you look. What these rates don’t capture are the smaller details like the location of the position, the exact workman’s comp code that needs to be calculated, and the allowable stipends for the season or the area in which the job is located. Travel rates will be explained below, so let’s have a look.
Travel Rates Explained:
Now, open the ad and see what is inside. What details are listed? Pretend that all of the following information is listed.
Hourly Rate – The hourly rate that is fully taxable; This must be at or above the state’s minimum wage.
Taxable Gross – the weekly amount that is fully taxable
Blended rate – the combination of the taxable hourly rate and the Tax-Free Stipends (hourly) rate
Overtime rate – anything over 40 hours/per week and, in some circumstances, over 8 hours/per day.
Gross pay – total weekly pay BEFORE taxes.
Stipends are listed individually as Meals & Incidentals and Housing. Each having a maximum/day or week.
Bill Rates will not be listed by the staffing agency but will be discussed below. Bill rate is the rate that the facility pays the staffing agency.
Let’s start with the Hourly Rate. These rates are fully taxable.
The higher this rate, the more taxes you will pay and the higher your Taxable Gross will be. Some will want a higher rate at times because they wish to purchase a new home or a new car, and the bank needs to see paperwork with a higher gross income. Let your recruiter know this. Most agencies are operating on an extremely low margin, so the more you are taxed, you may see that the actual weekly gross must be decreased due the taxes that must be taken out. It is a balancing act. (For those that do not have the ability to DUPLICATE EXPENSES, the entirety of the check should be based on hourly rates without stipends to remain free of issues and fines with the IRS in the event of an audit. Travel Nurses do get audited!)
The Blended Rate:
By definition, an easy explanation is the combination of the hourly rate plus the hourly rate of the stipends. There are those who do not wish to see or care about the Blended rate, and often that is because this is the tricky one to understand. The higher the blended rate, the better, right?
This leads us to the Stipends.
What are they, and how are they calculated? The stipends are based on the state, and often the city of the position one is applying for. This is the daily or weekly amount that a traveler will receive TAX-FREE for meals, incidentals, and housing. The government has a maximum amount that can be given, and one would be wise to go to https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates to learn more about these rates. The “standard rates” for Meals and incidentals is $59/day, and Housing is $98/day. Thus, one often sees $157/day or $1099/week if given 100% stipends. These are then broken down into an hourly rates for the purpose of identifying the Blended rate. However, there are many towns, vacation spots, and cities that may have higher rates. The more one can receive as a tax-free stipend, the more “take home” in the end because you don’t have to “give it away” to the IRS. However, in order to receive stipends, there are IRS rules and regulations that must be followed, such as duplicating expenses that must be followed. It is very important to follow up with an accountant to discuss what you can and cannot do so that you do not get into a tax predicament. No recruiter should ever try to give the answers pertaining to accounting and tax law! These recruiters can guide you, but it is your obligation to contact an accountant.
Gross Weekly Rate is always before taxes.
Why can’t we, as recruiters, give you the actual amount in a quote? We don’t know anything about your home state’s taxation codes. We don’t know the tax codes in the state in which you are working. We don’t know how many dependents and deductions you can have. ETC. Yes, we, as recruiters, are asked! Yes, we, as recruiters, will occasionally find a candidate who gets upset because they thought the quote weekly rate was the net take-home.
Now we arrive at the Overtime Rate.
Overtime rates vary widely. Facilities do things quite differently, all in part due to the contracts that have been signed with the facility pertaining to the overtime rate. Some facilities allow an added $10 for overtime calculation, others 1.25x the Bill rate, others 1.3X the Bill rate, and still others 1.5x the Bill rate. It is becoming more popular for facilities to only allow overtime rates after 48 hours if it is a 48-hour contract. Everything that is quoted and offered comes out of the Bill rate that each staffing company is allowed to bill for. It is very obvious that some positions have great OVERTIME RATES, and others have not-so-great OT rates, but this may help explain why. Finally, it is also important to realize that some staffing companies’ overtime rates are based on the Hourly Rates, and others base it in part on Blended rates.
Finally, let’s take a moment to discuss the Bill Rate.
Some feel that if a staffing company doesn’t tell the Bill Rate, they are a bad agency or a bad recruiter. Some will let candidates know the Bill Rate, but most are not allowed to discuss this. The Bill rate is what the agency is given, or allowed to bill the facility, for each hour a healthcare worker is paid for working. It is higher than what the Healthcare worker is paid. Out of the Bill rate comes the licensing fees, workman’s comp insurances, taxes, wages for the recruiter, and others at the staffing agency, among other expenses. A company may keep any amount they choose prior to creating a pay package for a healthcare worker. It is up to the healthcare workers to find a position and pay package so they can say yes to working. Think of the pay package in the same way a retailer thinks of products on his shelves. The retailer paid wholesale for those products. That amount is “X.” He wants to make a profit, but not so much that the consumer will not purchase. But taking calculating utilities, repairs, updates, salaries of others, shipping costs, and adding the prices of the goods, etc., the retailer now knows what he needs to break even. The cost of the product he is selling is now “X + Y = Price of the product.” The pay package is the product you are willing to sign a contract for. If you don’t like what you see, move on. Find something else that suits your needs.
I hope that for those who have had trouble understanding the different pieces that make up a Pay Package, this will make it easier to understand. If not, send me a PM and I will try to answer your questions. Never sign a contract until you fully understand what you are signing.
We hope this article on travel rates explained helpful. Do you have any other questions about travel rates? 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!”
Burnout may feel like just a buzzword, given the heightened awareness over the last few years, but it’s certainly not a new concept. In 1997, the Maslach Burnout Inventory Manual defined burnout as “a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of low personal accomplishment that leads to decreased effectiveness at work.”1 The same study also indicated that “burnout seems to occur mainly in professions involving interaction with people, such as physicians, nurses, social workers, and teachers.” Of course, this finding comes as no surprise for anyone who’s worked in a bedside healthcare setting.
The best way to overcome the dreaded cycle of burnout (professionally AND personally) is to take some small, manageable steps toward preventing it – before things escalate into a full-blown meltdown:
Set boundaries
Learn to say no when necessary and establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Avoid overcommitting yourself and allow time for rest and rejuvenation. As a nurse, you’ll likely find this feels almost impossible to avoid 100% of the time, and that’s okay. Some people find they are more successful in sticking to their guns by establishing some soft and firm boundaries. The important takeaway here is that it’s impossible to pour from an empty cup, and only YOU get to decide when to stop pouring.
Prioritize self-care
Make sure to prioritize your physical and mental well-being. Take breaks, get enough sleep, eat healthily, exercise, and engage in activities that inspire you and bring you joy. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself to a deep-tissue massage, mani-pedi, or facial occasionally. It might feel like a shallow or selfish splurge at first, but doing something restorative for yourself can be considered an investment in your mental health and overall wellness.
Engage in stress-relieving activities that work for you, such as meditation, exercise, listening to music, or journaling. Find healthy outlets to release stress and recharge.
Seek support
Connect with colleagues, friends, or support groups who understand the challenges of healthcare work. Share your experiences, vent your frustrations, and seek advice. Seeking professional support, such as therapy or counseling, can also be beneficial.
Foster a positive work environment.
Recognize and appreciate the efforts and contributions of your colleagues and other healthcare workers. Even if you’re only working in a given facility for a few short months during your travel assignment, do your part to maintain open communication and support among everyone in your unit. Celebrating the big and small achievements of everyone on your team helps create a supportive atmosphere.
Take regular breaks
It’s tempting to use scheduled break times to catch up on charting – we’ve all been there. However, it’s important to utilize your break times to do just that – take a break! Step away from work-related tasks and engage in activities that help you relax and recharge, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Even listening to an upbeat song can go a long way in lifting your mood through the rest of your shift.
Develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Identify healthy coping mechanisms for managing stress, like engaging in hobbies, pursuing creative outlets, or spending time with loved ones. If you don’t already have an established coping mechanism, know you’re not alone. Many adults still struggle to find the best coping mechanism that works for them, and it varies from person to person. Start simple and try different tactics that align with your interests and lifestyle. Like most situations, the “practice makes perfect” mantra also applies to effectively managing your anxiety throughout tough situations.
Don’t wait, delegate
Delegate some of your mundane or tedious responsibilities when possible. Chores like grocery shopping or house cleaning can be handled by someone else thanks to the growing availability of online shopping, home delivery, and service apps like Amazon Prime and Instacart. It may add a few extra dollars to your grocery budget, but it will help reduce overwhelming workloads and create a more balanced schedule.
Reflect on your healthcare career journey.
Regularly assess your career satisfaction and, align it with your values and goals, and consider making the necessary changes to maintain fulfillment in your work. Travel nurses are in the unique position of making this assessment every few months or more, which creates even more opportunities for skill development and career growth.
Remember, preventing burnout is a continuous process that requires ongoing self-care and attention. It’s essential to find balance and be sure to listen to your needs and proactively implement strategies to maintain your well-being.
We hope you found this article on finding balance helpful. How do you find balance as a travel nurse? Do you have any tips for finding balance for your fellow travel nurses?
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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!”
Let’s face it: some of us are morning people, and some of us need a little jumpstart to get going. Long work hours and time spent adventuring can make us feel a little sluggish when the alarm buzzes, but as a travel nurse, you want to make sure you’ve got your best foot forward before your shift starts.
It can be hard to find any time to take care of your body at all when you’re a travel nurse – you’re in a new city, a new living space, and you might not have your regular gym equipment. These quick exercises are a perfect match for how to stay fit while traveling in addition to starting the day feeling fresh.
6 Quick and Easy Exercises To Help You Wake Up
Warrior Pose
You may recognize the warrior pose from any introductory yoga class. This is a great way to start off your morning travel nurse workout, feel powerful, and streeeeeetch out that spine, which is a little bit compressed after you’ve spent eight hours in bed (give or take).
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and raise your arms above your head, parallel to your body. Step one foot forward slightly, moving the opposite foot backward to come into a lunge position. Press your torso downward and stretch your arms up to the sky. Repeat with the opposite leg.
Side Plank
Side planks help strengthen the core, hip, and shoulder muscles, so they’re a great way to start off targeting multiple muscle groups at the same time.
Put your forearm on the mat under your shoulder, perpendicular to your body. Stack your upper leg directly on top of your lower leg, extending the knees and hips. Raise your body toward the sky, straightening your waist. Hold position. When you’ve done an equal number on each side, feel free to reward yourself with a healthy snack.
Squats
Some people consider squats the royalty of exercises, although others would choose to avoid that particular kingdom. Squats work your buttocks, quads, hamstrings (front and back of your thighs), adductors, hip flexors, calves – all sorts of big important muscles to keep you stable and practice your balance. These will definitely wake you up.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart or slightly wider if that’s more comfortable. Push your seat downward, keeping your back and hips straight, as if you’re sitting in an imaginary chair. Stand and repeat. Just be careful with your knees!
Bicycle Crunches
Technically, they’re not sit-ups. Crunches go way faster, it’s easier to work the core abdominal muscles you’re trying to target, and you can multitask when you get your legs involved!
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Put your hands behind your head as if you’re preparing for a standard crunch position. Then, raise your shoulder blades off the ground and bend your knees to 90°. Pedal your legs back and forth in the air, alternating your elbows to opposite knees, like riding a bicycle.
Donkey Kicks
This exercise is a less common move, but works great. It targets your gluteus maximus as well as the gluteus minimus, which stabilizes your hip and pelvis. It also works your core muscles, so you get more bang for your buck!
Position yourself on all fours, with hands underneath your shoulders and knees under your hips. Keep one knee bent at 90° degrees and flex the foot as you slowly kick back your leg parallel to the ground. Lower the knee back to the other knee and repeat.
Add Bird-Dog Pose:
With this position, you can get more out of your workout by extending the arm opposite of your kicking leg and balancing on the mat.
Lunges
Almost done! Lunges are sort of like trust falls between you and your ankles. When you do lunges, make sure you’re going slow and steady to avoid losing your balance or injuring yourself.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Step one foot forward slightly, moving the opposite foot backward. Push your hips forward to deepen the stretch in your thigh and hip muscles. Repeat with the opposite leg.
You know how important it is to take care of the human body and mind – start with yourself.
We hope you found these 6 quick and easy exercises to help you wake up helpful. Do you have any quick and easy exercises 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!”
As a traveling nurse, building and maintaining relationships can often be a challenge due to the constant change in work environments and patient demographics. But forming strong bonds with patients, their families, and your fellow team members is crucial in promoting effective communication and efficient teamwork within the healthcare setting, no matter where you are.
In this guide, we’ll explore various strategies that could help you build connections with others more seamlessly while enhancing your nursing experience throughout your evolving journey.
12 Effective Ways for Traveling Nurses to Stay Connected
Clear and open communication is crucial in any relationship. Make it a habit to express your thoughts and concerns openly with your patients, their family members, and your colleagues. For example, forging bonds with patients requires asking questions about their needs.
2. Be Approachable
As a healthcare professional, maintaining a friendly demeanor is essential in building relationships with others. Always demonstrate a warm smile when meeting someone new at work, greet everyone respectfully, and make sure to listen attentively when they are speaking.
3. Offer Support
Be compassionate and empathetic towards patients and their families during challenging times by offering comfort or moral support when needed. This can also help nurture strong relationships among the staff as you extend your support to fellow friends and team members.
4. Take the Initiative
Don’t simply wait for friendships or bonds to happen—actively engage with colleagues on lunch breaks or at social events after work hours. When you make an effort to initiate conversation or ask for opinions and advice from others, you’ll show that you truly value their company.
5. Embrace Flexibility
Traveling nurses encounter different environments frequently, and adapting to them quickly can contribute significantly to building good working relationships. Remain open-minded and willing to learn new ways of handling situations from others around you to build honest connections.
6. Share Your Knowledge
By sharing valuable information or tips that could benefit other people at work, like efficient techniques for specific hospital procedures, you will establish yourself as an invaluable team player. You can also build plenty of relationships outside of work through similar methods.
7. Network Professionally
Attend conferences related to nursing professions whenever possible. This allows you to meet professionals in similar roles who can share insights into their experiences from various locations around the country. They can also help you find friends with something in common.
8. Show Appreciation
Don’t forget to express gratitude towards your colleagues, friends, patients, and their families. Take the time to say thank you or congratulate someone on achieving a personal milestone. Small gestures like these can go a long way in building and maintaining relationships.
9. Seek Feedback
Assess your performance by asking for constructive feedback from patients, coworkers, or even your friends if they’re with you. This helps you improve professionally, and fosters trust, demonstrating your commitment to providing quality patient care.
10. Engage in Team-Building Activities
Participate in any organized team-building events or outings with your fellow nurses when possible. Engaging in fun activities together can build camaraderie and bring people closer together outside the work environment.
11. Stay Connected
Even after moving on to another assignment, make an effort to stay in touch with former patients and colleagues by exchanging contact information before you leave. You can exchange phone numbers, emails, or social media platforms. Use a contact method that works best for you.
12. Cultivate Your Personal Brand
As you interact with others and develop relationships along the way, always be mindful of how you present yourself professionally. By having a strong personal brand that is centered around positivity and compassion, building relationships becomes an easier task for any nurse.
In Conclusion…
Building and maintaining relationships as a traveling nurse is integral to your professional success and overall well-being. By embracing the 12 tips shared in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating strong connections with patients, families, and colleagues alike.
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“Work Smarter, Not Harder.” We’ve all heard this common advice, and some of us are better at putting it into practice than others. With a demanding profession such as nursing, the need to steal back time each day becomes even more important. Less time wasted on mundane tasks means more time focused on the well-being of ourselves and our patients.
The challenges and responsibilities of travel nursing often spill over into our personal lives, leaving too little time for self-care and relaxation, and left unchecked, can contribute to burnout. Luckily for us, we are living in an unprecedented digital age. As scary as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) might sound, these technologies can help us win back our work-life balance, allowing us to spend more time on what matters most.
We don’t know what the future holds, so let’s set aside the talk of a machine takeover for the moment. Instead, this article will focus on how modern tech can help travel nurses save time and energy, or as we call it, the Top 5 AI Tools & Lifehack Apps for Travel Nurses
Travel assignments offer flexibility, freedom, and fun. But with that comes added challenges that can take up your free time. The sheer amount of planning and coordination it takes to get through the hiring process, compliance requirements, and onboarding at your next travel nurse job is hard enough. But when you add to that the need to find accommodation, plan your travel, and fill your free time with local activities — it can all become overwhelming.
The newest AI tools like ChatGPT can help you save time when researching your new city to discover the best things to do, must-try restaurants, and other local experiences. You can ask ChatGPT to create a three-month itinerary for you based on any interests and preferences you set. For example:
Acting as a [role], perform research for [audience] to [action verb(s)] things like [essential info] that are [descriptive adjectives] for my 3-month travel assignment in [location].
Check out this example prompt we put through ChatGPT to get recommendations for a 13-week travel nurse assignment in Denver, Colorado. Use the template above for any city, and use the time you saved exploring more fun activities!
Music is an essential tool for most travel nurses. For starters, music has long been the ultimate companion for long road trips. Even better, music is scientifically proven to help reduce anxiety, manage pain, lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, and positively impact overall well-being.
So whether you need a playlist for your next 17-hour cross-country trek or you’re just trying to find the perfect song to get you home from work, AI can help. Earlier this year, Spotify introduced AI DJ to offer customers an easy-to-use machine learning tool to customize their listening experience.
Need Spotify’s AI DJ to curate the perfect song for the moment based on your own likes? Check out what it is all about, or try it on your own Spotify today. Just search DJ on Spotify, play the top “DJ” link, and then sit back and relax.
Doctors, athletes, and the world’s most successful people generally agree on one thing: Good sleep is the most important thing we can do to improve health, performance, and wellness. Quality sleep and stress management are essential for nurses to maintain physical and mental health.
While digital screen fatigue and social media anxiety are real issues today’s tech has created, when used properly, these same tech advancements can improve our relaxation, meditation, and sleep. In general, to sleep better, start with these basics:
Create a quiet, dark bedroom with a comfortable temperature.
Avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime
Exercise each day, but not within 3 hours of bedtime
Limit daytime naps to 30-45 mins and none after 3 p.m.
Commit to a scheduled time and bedtime routine.
Then, add a few of these tools and apps to your routine until you find the one that’s right for you. Here are a few of our favorite options:
Aura is a mobile app that provides users with guided meditations, stories, and other tools to help them improve their mental health and well-being. The app is designed to be personalized to each user’s individual needs and goals, and it offers a variety of content to choose from, including personalized AI-powered recommendations and a huge library of various sleep-enabled programs.
We love that the Calm app is easy to use for beginners of all types, and its Sleep Stories section has tons of bedtime programs to fit individual needs. Bonus! Many of these programs are read aloud by celebrities with soothing voices, like Matthew McConaughey. Try Calm Premium to unlock more Sleep Stories, guided meditations, music for focus and sleep, and more. Compared to Headspace, the Calm app is more oriented toward relaxation and sleep.
Headspace is one of the most popular guided meditation apps and is also great for sleep. Compared to Calm, this app is a better choice for people who want to learn how to meditate and manage mindfulness throughout their day. The Headspace Sleepcasts are long-form audio experiences (think adult bedtime stories) that help create calming experiences. And with new stories every night, you’ll never get bored. Headspace also has a wide variety of guided meditations, music, and short video options to help you feel more relaxed while making it easy to fit into your day.
Modern apps and AI tools can empower nurses to take charge of their financial well-being and achieve their long-term investment goals. Intelligent financial management tools use machine learning algorithms to analyze spending patterns, set budgets, and offer personalized financial advice. Nurses can track their expenses, identify saving opportunities, and plan more effectively. These tools can alleviate financial stress and provide a sense of security quickly and easily, giving you time back in your day to what more of what you love.
Monarch Money uses artificial intelligence to help people save money. The company’s platform also allows users to track their spending, set financial goals, and find those pesky recurring subscriptions you forgot to cancel.
Mint brings together spending, balances, budgets, credit scores, and more into one powerful app for managing your financial life. Plus, the Mintsights™ are designed to provide personalized insights to spend smarter, save more, and pay down debt.
Noonlight can help offer an added layer of security outside of the workplace. It’s a safety app that allows users to connect with emergency services with just the press of a button, track the user’s location, and send an alert to emergency services in emergency cases. It can even be connected with Uber, Lyft, Tinder, and other tools so users can share important calendar and location details with friends, family, and local first responders. Connected to Smart Home devices, Noonlight can even offer certificates that help with discounts on homeowner and rental insurance rates.
bSafe was created by a father whose daughter was raped in response to the need for more personal safety and to help fight violence against women. Globally, 1 in 3 women experiences violence or sexual assault. With bSafe features such as SOS Alarm, Live Streaming, Voice Activation, Follow Me, and more, users can leverage the app to increase personal safety in all situations.
Finally, when talking safety, we can’t end this article without talking about your mobile cellular service itself. Did you know that as a nurse, you can join the emergency services network, First Net, powered by AT&T? This amazing program acts as a normal cell phone service in your everyday life, but for any public safety crisis or emergency response needs, your phone is part of dedicated network band open only to first responders.
Always-on priority of FirstNet ensures that when emergencies happen, first responders can reliably communicate without public demand jam their Band 14 Federally-protected spectrum. FirstNet is the first-ever nationwide network with comprehensive tower-to-core network encryption based on open industry standards. This public safety need is why NuWest Group offers FirstNet to its nurse employees as a regular part of our perks and benefits. What you do as a travel nurse is more than just a job. It’s a mission and a calling. Reliable communication is vital to both your and the public’s safety.
Do More of What You Love
Machine learning and digital transformation are changing our world faster than ever. As a healthcare professional with a lot of demands on your time, it’s important to prioritize well-being and find ways to simplify your life. These AI tools and Lifehack apps are designed to do just that: to help you achieve a better work-life balance, reduce stress, and optimize your personal time. Leverage this technology to save time, pursue your passions, and do more of what you love.
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!”
