September 14, 2022

2668 Views

How to Know It’s Time to Switch Travel Nursing Staffing Agencies

Posted on September 14, 2022September 13, 2022 by ONESTAFF MEDICAL

As a travel nurse, having a good relationship with your staffing agency is a key part of your success. Not only will your agency help you get the travel nursing assignment you’re looking for, but they’ll also be your best advocate as you move from hospital to hospital.

Sometimes, however, this relationship can turn sour and may no longer be helping you work toward your goals. Not every staffing agency will be a good fit for you, and you might need to switch agencies if you find this to be the case. If you’re unsure what red flags you should look out for, here is how to know it’s time to switch travel nursing agencies.

How to Know It’s Time to Switch Travel Nursing Staffing Agencies

When Is It Time to Switch Travel Nursing Agencies?

There can be many indicators that your relationship with your travel nursing agency isn’t working out. In general, if you aren’t happy with your current agency and feel that your needs are not being met or heard, it’s time to begin the process of moving on.

You Aren’t Presented Many Options for Assignments

It’s likely time to look for a new travel nursing agency if the one you’re currently working with doesn’t have any job options that align with your goals. Many travel nurses have specific career goals in mind, such as expanding their areas of expertise, trying different nursing specialties, and even traveling to new places for work.

Whatever your career goals are, your agency should have enough opportunities and assignment options available for you to explore. That way, you are more likely to find an assignment you’re excited about.

The Recruiters are Pushy or Rude

Dealing with someone that is pushy or rude is never a good situation. Unfortunately, this can happen with recruiters from time to time, as well. Feeling pushed into taking on a new contract or location that you are not comfortable with will likely lead to a bad experience.

If you feel that your travel nursing recruiter is pushing you to do things you are not comfortable with, they may not be looking out for your best interests. Your relationship with your recruiter is a two-way street, so if your needs and wants are not being heard, this is a sign that your agency may not be the right one for you.

You Can Never Get Ahold of Someone

To be successful, you need to be able to reach your recruiter and get a response in a timely manner. If communication is lacking from your staffing agency, this is likely a sign of a larger organizational problem. You deserve a certain level of service from your recruiter and agency. If you aren’t getting the communication you need, it might be time to consider another agency.

Many recruiters make a habit of checking in on their nurses a few times throughout the course of their contracts. The most critical times to speak with your recruiter are near the very beginning and the end of your contract. During these communications, your recruiter will make sure that things are going well in the new role and help set you up for success as you discuss potential upcoming assignments.

Outside of those two crucial time periods, you may hear from your recruiter a few times. However, if you are unhappy with the level of correspondence, you can always discuss your concerns with your recruiter. Your recruiter is here to support you on your travel nursing journey. Proper communication is necessary to ensure that problems can be resolved in a timely manner and that you are happy throughout your travels.

Documents or Paperwork Are Missing or Late

Just like lack of communication, missing or delayed paperwork can be a sign of a larger organization issue. Getting documents to the hospital you signed a contract with is a vital step to making the contract successful. Late documents can delay the start of your contract, causing you to miss out on shifts and money. Missing paperwork is an even bigger problem and contracts may be canceled entirely for this mistake, leaving you without a job.

Compliance can be a long process for both you and the agency. Hospitals have different requirements and expectations for this process. Because of this, most staffing agencies are aggressive about collecting the documents needed for compliance from you at the early stages of planning new contracts.

If your agency is not asking for your credentials and any required documents they don’t already have, reach out to them and ask about the next steps so your contract is not affected or canceled.

Your Recruiter Doesn’t Put Your Best Interests First

Finally, one of the most important red flags you should look out for to know when it’s time to switch travel nursing agencies is if your recruiter doesn’t put your interests before there’s. Some recruiters are just looking to complete a sale; getting you to say yes to an assignment means more money in their pocket, which can be a primary motivation for some.

If you find yourself in a situation where your recruiter is pushing you to say yes, it’s likely time to ask yourself if they are really meeting your needs or helping you to achieve your goals. If the answer is no, it’s probably best to start looking for another agency that will make you a top priority.

3 Tips on How to Leave a Staffing Agency

Leaving a travel nursing staffing agency can cause a lot of anxiety for some people. It’s never an easy thing to do, especially if you need to tell your recruiter that you are unhappy with their performance. To ensure success, consider these tips to help you quit your travel nursing agency.

1. Be Polite

You owe it to the recruiter and the agency you are working with to be polite. Even if they have not been kind to you, it’s important to be the bigger person. No matter what has happened, the agency has been a stepping stone to get you where you are. Respecting them as people is the best way to leave the situation with your reputation still intact. The last thing you want to do is burn bridges that may affect you later in your career.

2. Be Honest

Anything less than honesty helps no one in difficult situations. If there are problems with the agency you are working with, document them and discuss them with your recruiter. It’s best to give the agency your detailed reasons for leaving, since giving feedback can potentially spur positive change for that agency now or in the future. Also, remember to stick to the facts when leaving, and try to keep your emotions at bay.

3. Be Realistic

If you know it’s time to switch travel nursing agencies, be realistic about the things you want to be different when negotiating a contract with your next agency. While a lack of communication is a fair reason to move on, expecting the new agency to be in constant contact with you about positions is not necessarily realistic. Balance what you want with what you can reasonably expect to get.

Changing travel nursing agencies is not something that should be taken lightly. Consider your wants and needs, what your family needs, as well as your own career goals when making the right decision.

Our recruiters at OneStaff Medical are to help if you’re looking for your next travel nursing agency. Contact us today at 877-783-1483 to learn more!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

Sources:

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By RNnetwork

September 13, 2022

2567 Views

2022: The State of Travel Nursing

Posted on September 13, 2022November 10, 2023 by RNnetwork

RNNetwork provided this article.

Travel nursing is in a state of transition in 2022. Throughout the pandemic, COVID-related hospitalizations combined with staffing shortages and provider burnout led many hospitals to increase travel nurse usage to meet demand. But as hospitalizations surged, so did the cost of travel nursing contracts — and many nurses experienced an unprecedented period of demand and high compensation for their services. However, as COVID-19 trends toward endemic status and hospitalizations subside, that trend is changing.

Travel nursing: Then and now

Eleonore Ruffy, Vice President of RNnetwork, says that travel nursing was a regular, steady business prior to the pandemic. “Hospitals staffed approximately two percent of their nursing positions with travel nurses,” Ruffy says. “Here at RNnetwork, we had roughly 8,000 open positions nationwide at any time.”

However, as the COVID-19 pandemic surged — especially surrounding the Omicron variant in December 2021 and January 2022 — demand for travel nurses soared. COVID highlighted the value of nurses but was also a tipping point, according to one industry expert.

“COVID patients were treated largely by nurses. So, as the hospitals filled and nurses treated those specific patients, demand spiked. Compounding the issue, nurses began to get very burned out from the experience, and many left their permanent positions or left the profession altogether,” Ruffy says. “At its highest, contingency nurses accounted for an estimated nine percent of total contingency staffing. Here at RNnetwork, we peaked at 55,000 open positions nationwide. As you can imagine, when supply didn’t increase, bill rates and pay rates went up dramatically at that time.”

Industry data suggest the average pay for travel nurses increased from $1,706 per week in December 2019 to around $3,290 per week in December 2021. The travel nursing industry doubled in size over the last year. And in 2021, travel nursing revenue tripled to an estimated $11.8 billion, up from $3.9 billion in 2015.

As COVID-related hospitalizations decrease and relief funding tapers, some experts predict the travel nursing “bubble” may burst. Ruffy acknowledges the demand reduction but says demand and pay are still much higher than pre-pandemic levels.

“It has dropped down, but it’s still much higher than before COVID,” says Ruffy. “We have more than 20,000 open positions. And while hospitals are making incremental adjustments to pay, rates are still much higher than pre-pandemic rates.”

Traveler and permanent staff rapport

In addition to demand and compensation, the pandemic impacted other areas of travel nursing, including increasing the tension that sometimes exists between permanent staff and travelers.

“There are challenges to travel nursing,” says Ruffy. “And some got better, and some felt more intensified during the pandemic.”

“Long-term relationships can be harder to forge as you’re seen as the new provider and have to learn new systems and processes with new team members. Sometimes a stigma exists if someone is not a permanent nurse, and that stigma was exacerbated during the pandemic. As travel nursing compensation increased, that gap widened.”

“However, in areas like Florida and Arizona where the census changed a lot during the year, facilities have been very traveler friendly,” says Ruffy. “Facilities in these areas have historically been more accustomed to having travel nurses. They are more welcoming, as a result, and tend to give a better experience overall because they have been more used to having temporary staff.”

Ruffy hopes that the pandemic-driven demand for travel nurses will help make it standard practice for more areas and contribute to friendlier work environments.

“As more and more facilities have gotten more comfortable using travel nurses, the experience has been enhanced,” says Ruffy.

Travel nursing outlook

As for the outlook for the travel nursing market, Ruffy is optimistic.

“I think the outlook is still very bright for travel nurses. Even though COVID seems to have settled, demand and travel nurse pay is still higher than pre-pandemic levels, and there is a really good opportunity for nurses who are interested in the travel profession to get in,” says Ruffy. “Travel nurses today may not expect to earn peak crisis pay, but they’re also not going to experience the challenges of peak-pandemic demand, either.”

We hope you found this article on the state of travel nursing in 2022 helpful. Do you agree with what we have said? Share your comments on the state of travel nursing and what you are seeing below.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

Interested in travel nursing? We can help you find your first (or next) travel nursing job. Call us at 800.866.0407 or view today’s travel nurse job openings.

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

START HERE

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

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By Krista Berge

September 10, 2022

4555 Views

The Signs and Warnings I Saw: My Husband’s Suicide

Posted on September 10, 2022September 8, 2022 by Krista Berge

I wish I could give you a comprehensive checklist or even a flow chart on warning signs of suicide. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could easily make the next move based on what someone says, does, or even insinuates right there in print? I would even color code it for you too. But I can’t. My heart hurts that I can’t offer you any of that, and I am guessing if you’re reading this, your heart hurts too. But I can tell you what happened to us. I can be brutally honest and tell you where I missed it…the “it” that maybe would have kept him alive another day, year, or 50 years.

Losing Brian to suicide four years ago was my worst nightmare and still is.

I would desperately lay awake every night for years, trying to avoid the scenario of him taking his life. I would ask him directly and also in roundabout ways if he was going to do it. I reached out to family and close friends. I made all the doctor’s appointments and went with him. I was honest about how bad things were getting in the sense of the “lows” coming more and more often. I removed weapons from our home, searched our cars regularly, counted pills, and watched to make sure he was actually taking the medications (once we decided to go that route). During the first six to eight weeks of any medication, he was not left alone for a single second. My world revolved around him, his safety, his health, and our children.

August 16th, 2018

On August 16th, 2018, with our four children watching, Brian attempted to take his life and succumbed to his injuries a few days later. I was asked countless times “what happened” by hospital staff, interviewed by police, questioned by family, you name it. All of whom were hoping maybe I could trace back to what ultimately led us to his devastating death. The untraceable lines of mental illness and suicide are murky and blurred with my tears to this day.

So that’s where I will start. Mental illness is a tricky thing because you can’t actually see it. What makes it even more mortifying is there actually weren’t many concrete signs at all for us in the thick of it. Even as an RN, I was taught that people who are suicidal do have clear signs. Some of those include giving away items, making comments about death, fixating on dying, etc. It didn’t look like that at all for us, though. It was not a black-and-white illness for us but also what mental illness is?

So here is the hard truth…..I missed it

I admit it, and I have to live with it. I missed how much pain he was in. He didn’t speak of wanting to die constantly but more of the frustration of having to live. I didn’t see they were one of the same. He wasn’t sure why he had to have this disease when God could just take it away. He wasn’t sure why the 3rd and 4th medications he tried weren’t working. He wasn’t sure I would stick around to fight this with him. The lies crept in and because he appeared healthy and kept working…so many of us didn’t actually think it was that bad. I grew complacent in a way and was also starting to think this was how life would be from now on.

The hopelessness

I missed the hopelessness he felt daily and for years. I missed the exhausting tone in his voice throughout the day. I missed the emptiness in his eyes in family pictures. With me being so task-oriented, it meant we would keep moving forward. I would check search histories to make sure he wasn’t trying to look for ways to end his life. There were honestly only a few moments Brian expressed suicidal ideation, and each was met with a specialized doctor’s care. So on to the next doctor that was recommended to us. On to a less chaotic job and schedule. On to the next medication. On to the next bone-broth recipe. On to the next minute, hour, and day of keeping him safe. And it worked for a little bit…or at least I thought it did.

I remember the few specific times he spoke of wanting to die, and each time was how we (the kids and I) would be so much better off. I called him selfish. Ugh, I hate to admit that, but I did (crying as I write this). I asked how he could ever think of doing that to us. Just like that…I cut the only lifeline he felt he had in me. He wasn’t selfish. Not. One. Bit. I guilted him further and told him I would never get past him taking his life. I told him I would never recover. So he felt even more hopeless. Without knowing, I heaped on even more guilt and shame. He was hopeless, and I unknowingly confirmed it.

Self-sabotage

One other clear sign I missed was self-sabotage. I knew what suicidal ideation looked like, so if he wasn’t expressing it…we were in the clear. He was doing anything and everything he could to feel better. Some were great ideas, and others were not. I did not notice this was him grasping just to find something, anything at all, to alleviate the pain. I made the mistake of thinking he was trying to hurt me. But the opposite was true. He was doing whatever he could to make the pain stop, so my pain of watching him struggle would also stop.

In our last conversation, he told me he had tried everything. Before trying multiple medications, doctors, and psychiatrists, he even tried going vegan, healing his gut, working out, meditating, constantly praying, and seeing Christian counselors, you name it. Yet he said nothing was working. I didn’t recognize the hopelessness in his voice. I became frustrated because, of course, we hadn’t tried EVERYTHING. In my mind, it was time to call the doctor again and go back to the drawing board that day like we had so many times before.

Invisible suicidal signs and unspoken words

Obviously, I wish I could tell you I saw the invisible signs and heard the unspoken words, but I can’t. Some days the “what ifs” cloud my mind, and I dream of doing that day all over again. I hurt when insults are hurled like flaming arrows that if only I loved him harder, didn’t encourage medication, or had Baker Acted him; he would still be here. All that is left now is for me to tell you where I missed it…where I missed the hopelessness.

There is so much I can’t tell you about that day or Brian’s illness. But I can tell you there is always hope. I can tell you the thoughts that we would be better off without you are NOT true. I can tell you to please stay and fight another day. I can tell you that you matter. We are not better off without you in the world. We are better because you are in this world. Please stay, and I promise we will hear what you’re not saying.

Please, if you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental illness, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741).

Krista has written many articles for us on mental illness and suicide. If you would like to read more of her story, you can find it here. You can find Krista on social media as well, she is on Instagram and Facebook.

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By Kevin Devoto

September 9, 2022

2400 Views

Surviving Night Shifts as a Travel Nurse

Posted on September 9, 2022August 8, 2022 by Kevin Devoto

Being a nurse is challenging. With the worldwide nursing shortage, many professionals have turned to travel nursing for a bigger paycheck and increased work flexibility. While there are substantial benefits to travel nursing, it can be exhausting. Night shifts that were already hard can feel almost impossible for many nurses. If you’re a travel nurse scheduled for a midnight rotation, here are some tips to make it easier.

Stay Nourished

First, you can make your overnight shifts easier by staying nourished. Food is fuel, and your body will need enough to make it overnight. Whether working in the emergency room or a nursing home, you need a good nutrition plan. Don’t leave your temporary housing without a meal packed or a plan to get one. If your body is low on cellular energy, you’ll get sleepy easier, and the hours will stretch. Something as simple as keeping granola bars or protein cookies in your scrub pockets will keep you nourished and awake throughout the night.

If you don’t have the time to grab food, protein shakes, or supplement smoothies will be your best friends. These drinks give you the nutrients your body needs on the go, allowing you to make the most of your time. While a protein shake isn’t an optimal replacement for food, it’s better than skipping meals. Nutrition systems like Thrive include caffeine in their products, which gives you a boost throughout your shift. Thrive reviews are generally positive, with many people seeing an increase in long-lasting energy during their workday. By improving your nutrition, you can make your night shift easier.

Curate a Sleep Schedule

The second way to make your night shifts easier is by curating a sleep schedule. When your shift ends, it can be tempting to go hang out with work friends or try to get housework done. While there’s nothing wrong with either of those things, having a sleep schedule is vital to your health as a night shift nurse. If you can, try to head for bed as soon as you can following your shift. Your off-duty tasks will still be there when you wake up, but you can’t function at work without proper rest.

One crucial part of setting a sleep schedule is having a bedtime routine. It can be hard to fall asleep when you’re adjusting your circadian rhythm to a nocturnal schedule. Having a routine before bed can help make winding down after work easier. For instance, drinking the same cup of tea, taking a shower, or listening to white noise every day before bed will help cue your brain that it’s time to sleep. If you know you have difficulty falling asleep after work, try creating a bedtime routine along with your sleep schedule.

Occupy Your Brain

The third way you can make your night shifts easier is by occupying your brain. Depending on your placement, you may have periods where you have little to no activity during the night. During these slow times, it’s easy to get so relaxed that you start falling asleep. Of course, you can’t exactly take a nap on the clock. Rather than getting in trouble, do things during your shift to keep your mind busy.

If you’re allowed to use your phone during slow times, play a game that keeps you thinking or listen to a podcast while you do your routine charting. For placements with stricter phone rules, bring a sudoku or crossword book with you to work. Simple additions like these can keep your brain working so you don’t get too sleepy during your shift.

While night shifts will always be challenging, these tips can make them easier. You can survive your midnight shifts by taking care of your body as much as you care for your patients.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

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

START HERE

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

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By Miles Oliver

September 8, 2022

1912 Views

Tips for Managing Your Health as a Busy Travel Nurse

Posted on September 8, 2022August 30, 2022 by Miles Oliver

On average, travel nurse assignments are about 13 weeks long. However, some contracts can range anywhere from 8-26 weeks. Typically, it’s not the length of an assignment that matters but what you’re doing to make a difference while you’re there.

That’s why so many travel nurses love what they do – every day can be a little bit different, and you never know what a new assignment will bring. That kind of fulfillment is second-to-none, and knowing you’re doing something that matters all over the world while meeting new people and experiencing new places makes your job truly incredible.

However, managing your health can be difficult when you lack stability. While your job is to take care of others and put them first, doing so at the risk of your own health isn’t helping anyone.

So, how can you manage your health as a busy travel nurse, prioritize your well-being, and enjoy what you do even more as a result? Let’s cover a few tips.

Don’t Ignore Your Own Medical Care.

When you’re dealing with a busy schedule and never in one place for too long, it can be easy to forget to schedule routine medical appointments for yourself. Or, you might have the best intentions but “forget” to keep the appointment because something else came up.

Nurses still need medical care. You might not be able to see a primary care physician consistently, but you can use technology to your advantage to make sure you’re getting the healthcare you deserve.

Consider utilizing telemedicine. You can check in with a physician no matter where you are, whether you want to talk about test results, bring up a health concern that’s been bothering you, or even speak with a specialist. Nowadays, you can take advantage of telehealth services for everything from therapy to dermatology. Yes, the selfie you take of that mark on your arm can make it to your dermatologist halfway across the world.

When you utilize telemedicine, you can connect with doctors on your own time and schedule your appointments when they work best for you without having to show up in person.

Get Enough Sleep

Travel nursing is notorious for long, busy shifts. As a result, you might feel like you can’t prioritize sleep the way you should. However, it’s essential to perform your best and take care of your patients properly. Consider setting sleep goals for yourself. It can make it easier to take “baby steps” to improve your overall sleep hygiene. If you’re not sure how to get started, try some of the following tips:

Avoid using digital devices an hour before bed
Limit caffeine later in the day
Try to wake up around the same time each day (if possible)
Practice relaxation techniques before bed

You might not be on a consistent schedule where you can go to sleep at the same time each night and wake up at the same time every morning. However, do your best to keep your circadian rhythm in a routine, and whenever you get the chance to get a bit of extra rest, take it!

Practice Self-Care

Getting enough sleep is one component of self-care, but there are so many other things you should be doing to prioritize your well-being. Self-care isn’t selfish, and it won’t take away from your patients or your experience.

You don’t have to take a lot of time out of your day to practice self-care. Making small changes and choosing to do things that reduce your stress levels will make a big difference. That includes things like eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and staying hydrated throughout the day. Something as simple as drinking more water can help you feel better and give you more energy on long shifts. If you have a hard time getting the hydration you need, use these “hacks” to drink more water each day:

Set a daily goal
Set reminders on your phone
Carry a water bottle with you
Replace other drinks with water
Try sparkling or flavored varieties

These tips are just the beginning. There are so many “little things” you can do to manage your health as a nurse, no matter where you are. However, you can use these suggestions to get started and commit to prioritizing your well-being when you’re away from home.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

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

START HERE

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

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By Kevin Devoto

September 7, 2022

2240 Views

Keeping in Shape is Essential to Your Health and Wellness While Travel Nursing

Posted on September 7, 2022August 29, 2022 by Kevin Devoto

Travel nursing is a rewarding field that is also strenuous. These nurses fill temporary positions in high-need areas to help local medical professionals meet regional health care demands. A travel nurse spends many nights out on the road. This puts stress on your body and health. Here are some benefits of staying fit while working as a travel nurse.

Boost Your Energy

A regular fitness routine will help improve your energy and reduce symptoms of fatigue. When you travel, you risk being sedentary for long periods. This can make you feel less energized. Regular activity, such as a carb cycling workout plan, is an excellent way to combat this. You can incorporate your workout for a time that is best for you. Getting your body moving creates energy that will provide an immediate spark for you and increase your stamina over time.

Stave Off Illness

Exercise has also been shown to help people fight off illness. A fitness routine can improve your immune system by keeping your body working in optimal condition. Working out regularly can be beneficial in managing chronic illnesses such as heart disease and high blood pressure. If you are working on a temporary assignment where your services are needed, you will not want to be sick while you are on location.

Keep Your Weight Healthy

While traveling and working under stressful conditions, you may not have time to focus on your diet. You might have to eat when it’s convenient, and the offerings may not be the healthiest. One way to mitigate eating on the run or not eating optimal foods is to exercise regularly. A healthy weight will also help you keep chronic medical conditions under control and help avoid developing new diseases.

Help Manage Anxiety and Depression

Traveling by itself can be very stressful and cause a lot of anxiety. If you are at a location where you do not have regular social interactions because you do not know anyone, you may also be prone to depression. Exercise is an excellent way to help deal with any feelings of anxiety or depression you may have. Working out boosts feel-good chemicals in your brain that can improve your mood instantly. You will also feel more relaxed and less anxious after exerting yourself.

Improve Your Sleep

If you travel regularly, you probably experience disruptions in your sleep. In addition, you may work odd hours as a temporary nurse. You want to take whatever steps you can to improve your sleep quality. Exercise is proven to help you sleep better. Sleep is essential for your daily functioning and overall health.

Increase Your Strength

Working out will help you build and maintain muscle mass. This will allow you to become stronger over time. Your daily nursing activities will be easier to get through if you have stronger muscles that can operate efficiently. Strength training can improve your balance to help you avoid falls.

Bolster Mental Acuity

Working in a demanding field like travel nursing may leave you feeling burned out mentally at the end of your day. Exercise has been shown to improve your cognitive function. This can help you with planning your day and switching between tasks. A regular fitness routine can also benefit your ability to focus when needed.

Travel nursing places many demands on you with traveling and working long, arduous shifts. Taking care of your body is extremely important to stay mentally and physically healthy. You will want to keep a routine to get maximum benefits from exercising.

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

START HERE

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

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By Kevin Devoto

September 5, 2022

2690 Views

Staying Fit As a Travel Nurse

Posted on September 5, 2022August 2, 2022 by Kevin Devoto

Nursing is an incredibly physical profession. You’re on your feet all day, lifting patients, making beds, and doing everything you can to keep people comfortable. To be a successful nurse, you have to have some level of physical fitness. Without both mental and physical strength, your body will give up before you’re ready to retire. If you’re a travel nurse, here are some tips to help you stay fit.

Compound Your Movements

The first tip for you to stay fit as a travel nurse is to compound your movements. Because of your busy schedule, you don’t have time for long, drawn-out workouts that isolate each muscle for maximum definition. The solution? Big, compound movements that work for the entire muscle group. For instance, do squats rather than seated leg raises. You’ll still work out your quads, but you’ll also include your glutes, calves, and hamstrings in a single movement. Similarly, do bench presses instead of chest flies. You’ll work your chest, shoulders, and triceps instead of isolating your chest.

In addition to compounding your movements, take a pre-workout and post-workout nutrition supplement with you. These supplements give you helpful nutrients you need to maintain energy throughout your workout, allowing you to do big compound movements for a longer period. Choose supplements that have all-natural ingredients, so you can feel confident about what enters your body. Le-Vel Thrive reviews are positive, with many clients being professionals like you. If you combine natural pre-workout supplements with compound movements, you can improve your fitness.

Use Commercial Gyms

Another tip for staying fit as a travel nurse is to use commercial gyms. While these fitness centers may not have the homey and welcoming feel of your local gym, many chains are available nationwide. Getting a membership to a commercial gym such as Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, or 24-Hour Fitness gives you access to well-stocked gym facilities at any placement. As a travel nurse, you move around often. Having a standard, you can rely on will provide a sense of normalcy when you’re away from home.

A second benefit to commercial gym chains is that they all have similar equipment. When you get a membership to a gym chain, you can rely on each facility to have the same gear as the next. Each work placement has an adjustment period. You have to figure out your housing, your work, and the local grocery store, but your gym will always stay the same. When you’re a member of a commercial gym, you don’t have to relearn how to work out every time you move.

Have a Backup Plan

Finally, having a backup plan will help you stay fit as a travel nurse. If there isn’t a commercial gym in the community, you’re placed in, or you don’t like the environment of a busy fitness center, having a plan to work out at home is a must. While you may not be able to get the same effect from a home workout as you would from a gym, you can still stay fit and healthy. The beauty of the digital age provides many free workout programs on platforms such as Instagram and Youtube. Simply search the muscle group you want to work with and your experience level and get started.

Packing fitness gear with you while you move can help you maintain motivation. If you have a yoga mat and gym clothes, you’ll be more likely to exercise between shifts. Don’t let a lack of gear keep you from staying healthy. By packing your exercise materials with you on each move, you can encourage yourself to stay healthy and fit.

Overall, nursing is hard on your body. By staying fit, you can reduce the amount of damage your profession does to your joints and soft tissues.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

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

START HERE

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

Join The Gypsy Nurse Nation

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

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

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

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By Nancy Howard

September 3, 2022

3791 Views

Photo & Text Social Media Tips For Travel Nurses

Posted on September 3, 2022August 1, 2022 by Nancy Howard

If you are considering promoting your services as a travel nurse, social media platforms are the top places to use for this goal. Showcasing your professional activities and personality on social networks is something that can bring a lot of benefits in the context of a career. For example, you can find new job offers or become an influencer, and Instagram is an especially great social media for nurses. Below you will find a simple guide to help you get started with this platform to become recognized in your niche.

What does a travel nurse need to start blogging on Instagram? Just the right tips and Instagram profile. Below you will find some ideas to get started with photo and text blogging on Instagram successfully.

1. Determine the Direction of the Blog

Before you start preparing content, you should figure out what you want to broadcast on your Instagram profile. Perhaps you want to make an exclusively professional blog or make a mix of work and life. You can find some more blog tips at the price2spy.com site; use them for inspiration and guidance.

Once you have determined what you want to showcase to your audience, prepare an appropriate bio. Bio plays a big role as it will directly affect the decision of prospective subscribers to follow your profile. Therefore, making a catchy bio is important, so subscribers want to know more about you.

For inspiration, you can check the other nursing Instagram profiles to analyze what direction will be relevant. Analyze what the other nurses show to their audience and how the audience responds.

2. Create Quality Photos

Regardless of what direction your blog will take, it is recommended to prepare appropriate photo content. Of course, you can use free images, but to make your profile unique and different from others, you should create photo content yourself. You can use popular apps for bloggers that help with such processes as creating blogs and articles – most of them help create visual content as well.

Also, remember that Instagram is a visual platform. And this means that bright and beautiful photos will be a priority. Prepare travel nurse pictures that will catch the attention of the audience. Also, do not forget that you should adhere to a single style of your profile. You can choose photo editing by Photza to make stylish and quality pictures or find any suitable services on the Internet. Aesthetics is something you should always keep in mind.

It is also recommended to publish your photos to promote yourself as a brand. As for the audience, when they are “familiar” with the blog owner, it inspires more trust than exceptionally useful content.

After you complete all the above steps, you should start preparing quality content. Instagram is not only a beautiful picture but also a place where users look for useful tips. Therefore, useful and high-quality content is what can make you popular.

Make a content plan for the month, and don’t forget about the need for a variety of useful and entertaining content. For example, you can create nurse Instagram captions. Share stories from your life, and showcase yourself as a personality. This will keep the audience engaged. Also, do not forget that the videos are also relevant. So, it’s time to use your imagination.

4. Use Thematic Hashtags

Hashtags play an important role in profile promotion. Users usually use hashtags to find relevant content. Therefore, analyze suitable hashtags or see which tags the other travel nurses use. Point out the best hashtags from the traveling nurse sphere.

For example, you can use tags like #nurse, #nursing, #nurselife, and so on. It is recommended to add tags under each of your publications. By the way, later, you can create your own unique tag with which users can find your content or use tags to navigate your profile. Thus, users can quickly find the desired publication. For example, if you are writing a series of articles about how to find a job as a travel nurse, you can create something like a #tnworktips tag.

5. Leave Comments on Popular Profiles

If you want to draw attention to your profile, then comments are not a bad option to get new subscribers. This will allow you to get organic traffic and make the right connections in the context of your career. If you want to know more about ways that help to gain traffic, just click here.

Moreover, in this way you can get noticed by potential employers and get a good job offer. It is also recommended to participate in discussions in thematic profiles. You can subscribe to popular medical profiles or follow other travel nurses and participate in discussions on some topics. Leave comments, note that it is possible to find more regarding the topic in your profile, and so on. Follow the other nurses and follow their subscribers. This is a good way to get relevant subscribers too.

Wrapping Up

So, now you know how to start blogging on Instagram. Use these tips to create the appropriate Instagram profile for a travel nurse. It’s time to show yourself to the online audience, engaging and inspiring them to make the world a better place.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

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

START HERE

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

Join The Gypsy Nurse Nation

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

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

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

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By Fastaff Travel Nursing

September 2, 2022

2406 Views

Tips From a Recruiter – Handling Illness & Other Curveballs as a Traveling Nurse

Posted on September 2, 2022August 31, 2022 by Fastaff Travel Nursing

Fastaff provided this article.

Let’s set the scene: You’re cruising through week one of your 13-week travel assignment feeling confident and excited for the opportunities that await. You’ve familiarized yourself with the ins and outs of the facility and your new coworkers, and you extend the highest-quality care to all your patients.

Then, on the second week of your assignment, you get sick.
Or you’re needed to aid in a family emergency.
Or you need to call out of work for an unexpected reason.

What now?

Travel nursing comes with its own set of unique challenges, and handling those challenges when you’re a traveler can be overwhelming, as many nurses aren’t clear on the process.
We asked one of our Fastaff recruiters how nurses can best handle these situations and effective communication tips to make the unexpected a little easier.

“I would always suggest that an RN call their manager or scheduling at the facility to ensure they are aware of the situation, and they can plan ahead for scheduling. They should also alert their recruiter so that we can communicate on our end (but still need to message directly to the facility because sometimes there are delays in communication with the game of telephone we play, and it’s important that the manager have as advanced notice as possible in order to find someone to cover their shift).
“If it’s a family emergency, it’s best if they can just let everyone know when (approximately) they expect to return – so that the facility can plan.” – Melissa Donahoo, Fastaff Recruiter.

We strive to have the recruiter + nurse relationship built on trust and communication. What it comes down to is simply communication – no matter what arises, open avenues of communication can pave the way for a seamless resolution so you can get back to serving patients across the nation.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. If housing is an issue, we have you covered with our housing page. You can search for what you are looking for.

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

START HERE

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

Join The Gypsy Nurse Nation

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

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

—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

Join Now

When Is It Time to Switch Travel Nursing Agencies?

You Aren’t Presented Many Options for Assignments

The Recruiters are Pushy or Rude

You Can Never Get Ahold of Someone

Documents or Paperwork Are Missing or Late

Your Recruiter Doesn’t Put Your Best Interests First

3 Tips on How to Leave a Staffing Agency

1. Be Polite

2. Be Honest

3. Be Realistic

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