TravCon is an event with over 1500 traveling healthcare professionals. It is full of networking, education, and fun! We recently had TravCon experts Julia Kuhn (Travcon Hub/Social Media Guru), Phil Light (Director of Education), and Michelle Freitag (Director of Operations go live, and they discussed everything you need to know about the conference and what you should expect when you attend.
Your mom, daughter, or best friend may have no clue why you travel this country from assignment to assignment, but we do! Your people are at TravCon, and we guarantee that we can help you become a more competent, better-paid, and more savvy healthcare traveler.
About The Presenters:
Julia Kuhn (TravCon Hub/Social Media Guru): Julia is a Speech-Language Pathologist in adult neurogenic rehab. She is the founder of The Traveling Traveler Blog.
Phil Light, RN (Director of Education): Phil is an ER Nurse Traveler of 15 years, a co-founder of TravCon, & a co-founder of the Professional Association of Travelers (PanTravelers).
Michelle Freitag, BSN(Director of Operations): Michelle traveled full-time in an RV as an ICU & ER traveler for seven years. She’s a co-founder of TravCon & travels whenever the opportunity arises.
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“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”
Getting ready for a 13-week travel assignment can be both exciting and hectic! You’ve got so much to do– from squaring things away at home to ensuring you’re getting all your paperwork done for your assignment.
Packing your bags may be one of the last things on your to-do list, but it’s one of the most important things to get right!
Of course, you don’t want to show up with bags upon bags of clothing, toiletries, and other odds and ends from home; so, what’s the most efficient way to get everything done? We’ve come up with a few helpful hints to make your packing (and the rest of your adventure) a breeze!
1. Make a packing list.
Begin to think of things you use every day and things you can’t live without a few weeks before you begin packing for your assignment. Adding to this list over time can help ensure that you won’t forget anything the day of.
Go over your packing list the day of and ensure everything is packed and ready to go.
2. For shampoo, conditioner, and other bottled liquids, place a square of plastic wrap under the cap.
The plastic wrap will keep the fluids from getting into the cap and spilling out if the lid isn’t shut. Place the piece of plastic wrap on top of the bottle and screw the cap back on. Safe and secure!
3. Roll your t-shirts, pants, and other garments to save space.
Rolling your garments to form a cylinder shape will save more space than folded clothes. You can pack more into your suitcase without worrying about wrinkles.
4. Cover your razor heads with a binder clip.
Razor heads are sharp and can be dangerous. Not only can they scrape your hand when reaching in your bag to find something, but they can also tear up the inside of your luggage. Placing an appropriately sized binder clip over the razor head will keep everything safe & clean.
5. Separate your shoes from your clothes with a shower cap.
To prevent dirt, dust, and other stuff from getting onto your clothes in your luggage, wrap a pair of shoes in a shower cap. Covering the soles of your shoes will keep your bag and clothes neat!
6. Hide valuables in an empty lotion container.
You can never be sure of your new surroundings or the people you’ll encounter. To ensure that your money and valuables stay safe, especially in your hotel room or on a plane, keep your valuables in something discrete—like an empty suntan lotion container or an old shampoo bottle.
Try out these hacks, and stress less about your new assignment! Everything will go smoothly, and the next 13 weeks will be a breeze! So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags!
If you’re ready for your next travel assignment, give Titan Medical a call today at 866.332.9600, and we’d love to assist in finding your next adventure!
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Equipping a hospital or clinic with some high-tech imaging machines and systems goes a long way in producing accurate diagnosis and correct treatment. There is quite a variety of imaging machines. Some ultrasound machines do examine specific organs. The imaging machines include Computed Tomography (CT Scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI Scan), Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan), and ultrasound machine. All imaging machines require intensive training to facilitate accuracy in their operation. They are also delicate and require careful handling, observing all the laid precaution advice.
The use of radiation-emitting imaging machines to examine organs has adverse health-related complications. Ultrasound machines that use sound waves to create an image on a display screen have become the most preferred and recommended type of imaging since they don’t emit any ration that can cause harm to the patient. The same reason has led to using of ultrasound machines to examine delicate and sensitive organs.
Expectant mothers undergo ultrasound scans to keep the mother and the unborn baby safe. Undergoing training concerning usage, interpretation, and maintenance increases the nurse’s efficacy while operating an ultrasound machine. The following article outlines some key results of efficient ultrasound training for nurses.
In-depth Understanding Of Ultrasound Machine
Ultrasound machines use sound waves to create images. The functionality of the ultrasound machine is dependent on more than one part. The primary parts of an ultrasound machine include; the transducer that collects the sound waves from the body surface as it slides on greased skin. It then transports the collected sound waves to the central processing unit (CPU) that converts the sound waves into images. The images move to the display for a simplified viewing experience. A transducer pulse control helps the technician controls the frequency, amplitude, and duration of the pulse collected by the transducer. The technician inputs data and collects measurements at the display using the keyboard. The printer helps the ultrasound machine print out the information displayed on the display screen.
A nurse who has undergone the ultrasound training program can step in when the doctor is preoccupied and prepare the ultrasound machine to ensure it is functioning. It saves time and eliminates delays during the procedure.
Enhances Patient Preparation Skills
One of the primary roles of nurses is to prepare the patient emotionally and physiologically before, during, and after a medical procedure. Having undergone the ultrasound training program helps the nurse comfortably explain to the patients what to expect during the ultrasound procedure.
The nurse advises the patient on the requirements for the ultrasound. The preparation differs depending on the type of procedure. Generally, an ultrasound procedure requires the patient to be loosely dressed, without jewelry near the area underdiagnosis. The patient may need to change into a hospital gown to ease access to the part under examination. It also depends on the type of ultrasound to be conducted. The patient may be advised not to take water or any liquid within a given period, and others may require one to consume more water within a given period.
Gains Skills To Perform an Ultrasound
Ultrasound procedures get performed by a sonographer. Some simple ultrasound procedures get delegated to nurses who have undergone an ultrasound training program to conduct them. The basic ultrasound procedure sees the patient change into a hospital gown and lying on an examination table with the area expected to undergo the ultrasound procedure exposed. The technicians then apply a clear or blue jelly-like substance to the exposed area. The ultrasound technician slides a transducer over the lubricated area to collect the sound wave that creates images.
The jelly-like substance helps the transducer, which works like a microphone, to tap the high-frequency sound waves that echo upon hitting organs and bones. The nurse can advise or help the patient keep a convenient position for a successful ultrasound.
Exposure To Different Types Of Ultrasound
There are three main categories of ultrasound exams, namely, External ultrasound, the transducer moves over the skin like one performed on expectant mothers to monitor the unborn baby. An internal ultrasound is where the transducer gets inserted into the body, e.g., one inserted in the vagina to examine the uterus or the ovaries. The endoscopic ultrasound is where the transducer has an endoscope attached to it. It goes deep into the body like one used to examine the stomach via the esophagus.
The patient preparation for ultrasound differs per category and in after procedure effect. Through ultrasound training, nurses become conversant with the wide variety of ultrasounds. They also learn how to conduct an ultrasound and how to prepare a patient to have ultrasounds.
In Conclusion
Nurses play an essential role in the medical field, patient handling, and care. It’s the nurses’ responsibility to manage the patients’ overall well-being and guarantee comfort during treatment. Nurses also are educators and counselors to patients before, during, and after a delicate procedure. Ultrasound gets used for diagnosis and monitoring and, the nurse’s counsel, encouragement and, education can help the patient ease during the ultrasound procedure.
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“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”
If travel nursing allows you to travel all over the country and get paid while doing it, why isn’t everyone doing it? Travel is getting increasingly popular; in 2019, millions of dollars were spent on travel and people catching flights. People claim to be catching flights and not feelings. It doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. But there is something about the uncertainty of not knowing what’s next that brings about its challenges. Not knowing where your next job is going to be, not knowing the city or the neighborhood you’re going to be in, not knowing who your coworkers are, and all the things that can make you feel like the new kid on the block. Instead of feeling that for a little while and then eventually learning all those unknowns with time as a travel nurse, you’re in a constant state of change, which can be uncomfortable. So, let’s talk about it. How do you thrive when the only thing that is certain about your living and working situation is that there will be an inevitable change at the end of your assignment?
Inevitable change
The only constant is change. That is a popularized quote you have probably seen floating around on your Instagram or Twitter, but it is true. I was a checklist girl, literally attempting to checklist my way through life. There is nothing wrong with planning or creating goals; without some form of planning, it’s like navigating life with no real direction.
Getting into travel nursing was the opposite of the direction that I wanted to go but transitioning to a career that constantly forced me to face change shifted my mindset. It taught me to adapt to the important concept of flexibility. As a travel nurse, you’re constantly navigating change, like life, learning to adapt and be flexible. Learning how to go with the flow and, yes, change is hard, but like anything else, you learn how to adapt to those changes. When you go to work, you’re constantly changing even within your assignment, whether you go in. You expect to work for a few hours on one floor. You get floated mid-shift, or maybe you go into work expecting to work on one floor, but you then get floated to work on a different floor or the most recent challenge that I’ve had to face is going into work and not having enough staff and working through your shift without taking a lunch break.
Having to deal with those different changes has allowed me to carry those same concepts from work into my everyday life. Not knowing what the next five years will look like or not knowing what the next twenty years will look like is not as much of an issue as it used to be for me. Sure, plan, pray, and manifest. I have different things that I want and different things that I expect from life, but if I veer off those original plans, it’s no longer something that will make or break my day. I have learned how to embrace the change that comes with life and understand that if life begins to go in a different direction, it’s not necessarily the wrong direction. Maybe your life needs to go in that direction to set you up for something bigger and better than you’ve expected. That is a lesson within itself, and I can see how becoming a travel nurse has helped push that concept and plan.
Prioritizing your needs
The second thing that I want to highlight is prioritizing your needs. So, when you’re in a constant state of change, what do you do to bring stability? You have to find things that bring about a sense of home, regardless of where you are. What I mean by that is that I can’t plan my assignments to the exact details as a travel nurse. I can’t plan them too far ahead of time because a lot of time, the assignments come through maybe a couple of weeks or a few days before you start. So, I try to control what I can beyond the actual assignment. I have a list of places I’m willing to go based on my expectations for places I’m willing to live. Even if it ends up being for only three months. I tend to extend my assignments at least by one additional assignment to give me a little time beyond three months. I try to prioritize safety, diversity, and whether there will be a church in the area where I will live. Even though, as a travel nurse, you’re constantly changing, and you’re constantly uprooting your life and moving around, there are non-negotiables or different things that you can set to ensure that those things are constant. Having things that are constant when you’re constantly changing helps. Having that list of places I’m willing to go to gives me a sense of control. If you are the type of person who doesn’t need to have a sense of control and lives off spontaneity, and you thrive off it, then maybe you don’t need a list. Maybe you don’t have to have expectations like diversity, safety, or different things that in your mind give you a sense of peace. Many of these things stay in our minds because just because I perceive a place as safe doesn’t mean that it’s safe, or just because I perceived an area as more diverse than another doesn’t mean it is. Having these lists still gives me a sense of control over what I can control. When things are coming my way that I cannot control, like going to work and not having a lunch break or going to work and not knowing where I’m going to be, it doesn’t bother me as much because there are still some things within my life that I have control of.
Another thing that I try to do is once I get to my assignment, within that first week, I unpack everything. I put everything where I need it to be. I settle into where I’m going to live. I also find my closest gym because I prioritize ensuring I do some physical activity. I also prioritize church, so finding a church community or a church to attend quickly after arriving at my new location is a priority as well. All of these are contributing factors to your self-care and maintaining balance within the workplace.
Self-care
We discuss the importance of self-care because work and life generally cause burnout, anxiety, and depression, especially as healthcare providers. We work in stressful environments, often with patients with very serious situations. We often leave work feeling that energy within us. So, ensure that you know exactly what is important to you regarding stability. So, make sure you write these things down or put them in the note section on your phone. These things will help you thrive and maintain the level of success that you want to maintain when going from assignment to assignment.
Setting Intentions
Make sure you set daily intentions; I have made it a habit to set my intentions for each assignment. During my first assignment, my intentions for that assignment were to get myself together, make sure that I unwind, and make sure that I maintain a level of peace. A level of peace I felt like I was lacking. That first assignment wasn’t about looking around and exploring the city; it wasn’t about making a ton of money; it was more about trying to find consistency and stability in my schedule and daily life. This assignment and moving forward, my intentions for assignments are to try to pay off my debt. I want to be financially independent; I want to be financially free, and I want to get to a point where I am not exchanging my time for money, which is something I have prioritized. When I go to work, that is what I think about; I think of it as an opportunity for me to get closer to my goal.
So along with setting my intentions daily, I still struggle with trying to maintain a sense of balance and trying to maintain and manage my time. Still, I also ensure that I’m setting an intention for each assignment, which is one of the biggest things I think we can do for ourselves. You don’t have to be the type of person that micromanages every aspect of your life. You don’t have to write everything down or have everything on a checklist; everything doesn’t have to be crossed off.
Just make sure that you set your intentions. Know why you’re doing what you do, why you get up every single morning and understand that if you wake up in the morning, you have a sense of purpose. You can then assign different things you do to ensure that it aligns with that purpose. When I wake up and go to work, I want to help people and impact lives. That’s why I’m in the healthcare field. It also ensures that I have a stable job. But I know that every day I go in, even if I don’t want to, it is one more day where I get the opportunity to increase my salary. To make more money so I can pay down debt and essentially get to a place where I’m no longer having to pay down debt and pay for expenses that I’ve made years prior.
Those are some of the biggest things that I think that we can do to make sure that you thrive when you’re in a constant state of change and bring it back to your memory, bring it back to your mind. The three things that I talked about were: remembering the only thing constant is change, prioritizing your needs, and setting your intentions daily but even further than that setting your intentions for each assignment.
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Eating healthy can be difficult for anyone. Add packing up and moving every 13 weeks or more. That makes it even more difficult. Many fast food delivery options now exist, including Door Dash and Grub Hub. However, these are not always healthy meal options. The question was asked in our Facebook network group about healthy meal delivery options. There were four main responses. We have listed them below with a little information to help you decide which is the best healthy meal option for you.
Hello Fresh is a meal delivery service. They have different meal plans to match your lifestyle. You also have the option to cancel, skip a week or change meals at any time. The pricing depends on the meal and how many people you feed. Their site says, “Each week, you’ll open simple step-by-step recipes complete with nutritional information and fresh, pre-measured ingredients to get you whipping up delicious dinners in no time.”
Hello Fresh offers many healthy options, and the meals are simple to prepare. The measuring is already done for you, and all the ingredients are packaged together.
Freshly is probably one of the best meal delivery options for travel nurses because they are already prepared and cooked. All you need to do is heat the meals and eat. It is that simple. According to Everyday Health, “Freshly sources high-quality ingredients and ensures each meal is nutrient-dense and packed with the good stuff. All their meals are gluten- and peanut-free and contain no refined sugars.”
Freshly is a great healthy meal delivery option that takes very little time to prepare, making it great for busy on-the-go travel nurses.
Like Hello Fresh Dinnerly is a meal subscription plan. You pick the number of meals to be delivered to you every week. According to The Spruce Eats, “The Dinnerly meal kit subscription service offers two options: a two-person or four-person plan that ranges from three to six meals per week. Unlike most services, ordering just two meals per week is not an option. Customers can let the company send the meals automatically or choose from the 14 offerings that week. The kits contain most of the ingredients to prepare a meal. There aren’t ways to customize for food allergies. However, you can choose your box-made vegetarian. The cost of the box depends on the number of meals chosen for the week.
Eat to Evolve are healthy pre-made meals delivered to your door. There are a couple of options to choose from when ordering from Eat to Evolve. You can order Pick out your meals with a la carte or sign up for a weekly or bi-weekly subscription.
Eat to Evolve offers Keto and Paleo meals. They also offer Evolve 30 meals, which Eliminates most allergens. No wheat, dairy, sugar, soy, or grains. Eliminate for 30 days & wipe the slate clean! Their other option is Primal, which are meals that include nothing processed. No gluten, wheat, dairy, or processed sugars. Includes rice and potatoes. Eat to Evolve is an excellent option for those trying to eat much healthier. The meals are fresh, never frozen, and ready to eat in 120 seconds or less.
These are just a few options for healthy meal delivery. We hope this helps you get started with healthy meal delivery options. Do you have a subscription for healthy meal delivery? Have you tried any others not on this list? Comment your favorite options 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!”
Any job that requires you to travel also requires you to be able to pack adequately for that type of travel. People traveling for business typically have bags ready to go with the essentials, including suits, work devices, and documentation, for example. However, packing as a travel nurse requires a bit more. Here are five great tips to help travel nurses live minimally.
1. Simplify Your Wardrobe
One of the easiest ways to live minimally is by prioritizing the clothes you need for your job, including women’s scrub sets, appropriate shoes, and layers necessary for your assignment location’s climate and the time of year you’re working there. However, that doesn’t mean you need to omit all other clothes. Instead, think of ways to make the most out of your clothes. Athleisure garments are good multi-use garments and can be worn whether you’re exercising or not. Pieces that layer, such as tank tops and cardigans, can make your wardrobe more versatile. If you can, pack clothes that complement each other so you can mix and match more easily.
There are two main housing options: finding it yourself and having it assigned by your agency. If you’re finding lodging yourself, you have more freedom to find a place that fits your needs best, but your agency will have more experience and may be better suited to ensure you get what you need. Before you go, you should familiarize yourself with your housing. Check average utility costs, whether the place is pre-furnished, what stores and services are nearby, and what transportation options you’ll have.
3. Differentiate Needs And Wants
Another great way to live minimally is to differentiate your needs and wants. It’s important for people who travel for work to prioritize their packing needs over their packing wants. Clothes, toiletries, documents, linens, certain electronic devices, and medications are all necessary. Depending on your role, you may also need to bring a printer, kitchen supplies, cleaning tools, and a television. While entertainment and exercise are also important, these are activities you’re more likely to be able to find when you arrive at places such as gyms and libraries, so you may classify them as wants.
4. Create Packing Lists
If you plan to participate in travel nursing for an extended period of time, it will be helpful for you to create a packing list template that you can populate for each assignment. Typical lists written by hand or in a word processor will work just as well. Lists can help you stay organized and ensure you pack everything you need. You can even divide your list to account for your needs and wants. That way, you can pack your needs first and then fill in your wants with the room you left in your luggage.
5. Keep Your Method of Travel in Mind
Travel nurses may end up working almost anywhere. Their options may be limited to within their home country, or they may have the option to work internationally, depending on their degrees and licensing. You should pack according to what method of travel you’ll take to get to your destination. Driving yourself will give you the most space for packing, while taking ground transportation such as buses and trains means you’ll have minimal space to store your bags. Airlines typically require you to pay additional fees for checked luggage over their size, weight, or number limits. You should focus on how long you’ll spend at each location and whether you’ll be going home between assignments or spending long stretches away from home. You should also consider your transportation options. These will heavily inform how you pack and how.
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All travel nurses must face the same daunting question when it comes to planning their housing for an assignment; Should you rent private housing or a shared home? It’s a question that comes with many pros and cons, so let’s break it down.
Private Room, Shared Spaces
When the idea of shared housing is brought up, we know that many people immediately think of college dorms or rentals. But this is a different situation and a completely different lifestyle than college days! Many homes are available for rent (check out Furnished Finder!) with individual private rooms and shared living and kitchen spaces.
Pros of a private room- shared spaces:
The cost savings is the first and arguably largest advantage of renting a room within a shared home. Prices for private rooms are typically much lower than renting the entire home as the expenses are shared and split up between tenants. We know travelers and travel nurses have budgets to keep in mind, which is a great way to save some money on rent!
Another great perk about renting a private room within a shared home is the chance to meet other travelers or perhaps residents of the local area. Some homes are rented to all travelers, and other homes may have long-term tenants or even the owner residing in other parts of the home. What better way to meet new friends and get the scoop on the local areas than to live with someone?!
Cons of a private room- shared spaces:
Sometimes there can be a conflict with roommates or those sharing a living space. However, this is much less common with professional roommates. Be sure to set clear expectations and have an open and respectful line of communication; many conflicts can be avoided before they even happen.
Entire Homes- private housing
Just like it sounds, renting an entire home means that it’s you, you, and only you (or perhaps you and a spouse or family member!) in the home. No sharing of common spaces – everything is yours!
Pros of entire homes:
Total privacy! Although it may seem obvious, this perk is a big perk for those who may have varying hours, work nights, or just tend to be more private travelers. You won’t need to worry about potentially waking someone else up if you’re headed in to work late (or early!), and vice versa if you are trying to sleep.
Additionally, with an entire home rental, you can live according to your own habits without worrying about others who you live with. Keep the thermostat how you like, clean it on your own accord, etc. As long as you are within your lease limits, you get to determine how you keep things!
Cons of an entire home
When you’re the only tenant, you’re also the only one to assume all housekeeping responsibilities. Any terms agreed to in your lease are on your shoulders. This may not be a big deal for some, but for others, it may be difficult with schedules and workloads. Remember that different types of homes require different types of maintenance (and per your lease). An apartment may have minimal outdoor upkeep, for example, but an entire single-family home may require you to do yard upkeep if agreed upon.
Whichever you prefer – a private room within a shared space or an entire unit (private housing) – find a home that excites you! On Furnished Finder, you’ll find everything from apartments and townhouses to single-family homes, cottages, back houses, and guest suites! You may even find an RV or a tiny home!
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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!”
Many things distinguish travel nurses from others. A sense of adventure, a drive to help people, a thrill of new places — and of course, a mission to travel that isn’t just unchanged in the face of COVID-19 but all the stronger because of it.
During the pandemic, travel nurses were on the road more than ever before. So, hitting the nurse conference system this year may seem like pretty standard procedure. But even if your travel lifestyle hasn’t changed much in recent years, the world itself — and day-to-day travel — definitely have. And for nurses who haven’t traveled lately, those changes could be even more striking.
With that in mind, before heading off to TravCon 2022 in September, or whichever nursing conference you choose to attend next, let’s look at how Covid-19 has changed the travel and events scene and what to expect if you’re traveling this summer or autumn.
Getting to your nursing conference
Masks are no longer required while flying, nor are vaccinations or negative Covid tests. And the amount of people flying in the summer of 2022 is back to about the same levels as before the pandemic. With that in mind, those who haven’t stepped into an airport since before the pandemic may not notice too much change.
As for travel this summer, you can expect the usual at American airports — long lines and frequent delays. As usual, it’s best to arrive early and have a backup plan. For those looking to reduce hassle and lost time, consider getting TSA PreCheck® status to skip the security lines. Some travel groups, like Orbitz, offer PreCheck status as perks to frequent flyers.
Before traveling internationally, you’ll want to check the entry requirements for each country you’ll be visiting (even if it’s just a stopover). You can find these with a quick Google search or by visiting the U.S. State Department’s website.
And remember, while most countries have eased COVID-19 restrictions (including the U.S., as of June), many others haven’t. Even if it’s just a stopover, these restrictions could seriously impact your schedule. Search Google for your destination airport’s website to keep an eye on potential delays, cancellations, or strikes (which can be common in Europe).
What to expect at — and how to prepare for — your next nursing conference
Once you arrive, you’ll want to make the most of your conference attendance and do what you can to respect local rules and guidelines. Here’s a quick checklist before you travel.
✓ Respect local mask and social distancing rules.
While most public life in the U.S. is now mask-free, many hospitals and healthcare settings still require them. On top of that, many professionals working in healthcare still prefer to wear masks at gatherings. Take a moment to double-check the conference guidelines, and consider wearing a mask even if it’s not suggested.
✓ Earn credits when you can.
Most conferences offer the chance to earn educational credits by attending certain sessions or workshops. Be sure to take a few of these sessions to earn credits toward a certification or skill to get real career value out of your conference experience.
✓ Get up to date on tech or best practices.
One of the biggest benefits of attending nursing conferences is staying up to date with new skills, research, technology, or best practices — which can be critical to growing your career in an industry that’s preparing to live with Covid-19 in the long term. Take the time to seek out a session or speaker offering specific insights into skills you want to develop.
✓ Network and make friends.
As a travel nurse, making new connections is a big part of the job description and is necessary for each new assignment. But during Covid-19, there hasn’t always been the chance to make friends amid the chaos. At travel nurse events like TravCon, you’ll have the chance to meet other nurses who love traveling as much as you do and strike up lasting friendships.
✓ Enjoy yourself!
Some people love attending conferences. But for others, it can be a chore to sit through session after session of discussion and presentation. To help get you though, plan some form of entertainment in the evening in order to have something to look forward to — and to seize the opportunity to get in some real relaxation while you’re away from work.
If you’re interested in taking your travel nursing career to new places, CareerStaff has opportunities across the United States! Visit CareerStaff.com for more information.
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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 I said in the first article, I suffer from chronic pain. During a clinical in nursing school, I found a pain pill in a patient’s bed. I said to myself, “You either get to be a pain patient or a nurse… You can’t be both!” I reported the find & went on with my day. While working charge nurse in the ER, a nurse left a patient’s prescription bottle with 100+ pain pills. I made it a point to tell the nurses not to set each other up for failure. Fast forward to 2014. I reported a nurse for possibly diverting. I emailed the director of the department & the VP of Nursing. NOTHING HAPPENED!! They let her quit. That planted a seed in my head.
“Well, that was easy!”
The next time I wasted a narcotic, I didn’t throw it in the shapes. I put it in my pocket. When I got home that morning, I self-administered my first IM injection. That was the beginning of the end for me. It felt amazing & I had my own dirty little secret. It wasn’t a week later I was shooting up in the bathroom. My job performance took a hit, and I transferred to another department. It was there that I sunk deeper & deeper into my addiction. Using multiple times throughout my shift. One of the nurses reported me to the director of the department. They watched me, ran reports, got called in, and questioned me about discrepancies. But, in the end, GUESS WHAT?!? They let me quit and didn’t report me to the BON. NOTHING HAPPENED!! To me, anyway. I walked away & my addiction continued to get more reckless & more dangerous.
2 yrs later… that sweet young nurse that reported me… she was found dead in a bathroom from an overdose.
I’m my experience… you cannot stop using by yourself. If you are not willing to self-report, you need to walk away & quit. You WILL either get caught or kill yourself.
There is not enough self-willpower. Your addiction is more powerful than you.
I, too, thought I was different. I was in control. But I wasn’t. I was just another junkie chasing that high.
The thing about the disease of addiction is that it does not Discriminate. Red, yellow, black, white, her, him, tall, short, skinny, fat, rich, poor, happy, sad, the victim, the perpetrator, that disease is just waiting to attack when you least expect it.
Please reach out. Ask for guidance. Find a 12-step program. Pick up the phone. There is a way out & we do recover.
I’ll leave you with this. One of the 12 steps literature says, “any addict can stop using, lose the desire to use, and find a new way of life.”
Thank you for reading,
Misty Lack RN
We hope you found this article on substance abuse in travel nursing insightful and possibly helpful. Have you found yourself in a similar situation with substance abuse? Would you like to tell your story? Comment below.
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