March 13, 2022

1726 Views

Tips for a Traveling Nurse with Diabetes

Posted on March 13, 2022February 24, 2022 by Kevin Devoto

Traveling nurses serve many healthcare needs. They travel to provide services at homes, businesses, schools, and other remote locations where people cannot travel for their medical care. When hospitals are short-staffed, traveling nurses can provide temporary services to meet the needs. Travel nurses are responsible for caring for other people and ensuring they, themselves, are in the best of health. Diabetic nurses face daily challenges, and here are three guidelines for nurses to follow to be proactive and successful in managing their diabetes and performing their jobs.

Traveling Nurses Need to Understand and Teach Diabetic Care

Diabetes affects many people of all ages. Type 1 diabetes affects a smaller percentage of overall diabetics but is unavoidable, more dangerous, and usually starts with younger children. Type 2 diabetes is a common form that develops later in life, is generally avoidable, and is based upon diet and lifestyle choices. As a person becomes obese or follows a poor diet, their blood sugars will start to fluctuate, leading to a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

When diabetes is diagnosed, it impacts many parts of the body, including the heart, eyesight, kidney function, and the overall nervous system. A continuous glucose monitor helps a person with diabetes to track their blood sugar highs and lows. A travel nurse tends to patients with diabetes and works to educate people on how they can prevent contracting Type 2 diabetes. A diabetic nurse or a patient must know what their blood sugar levels are to control and manage the health impacts of the disease.

Traveling Nurses Need to Perform Many Tasks

Nurses generally have acquired a Bachelor’s degree in nursing as part of their training, along with licensing or certifications. In addition to testing diabetic patients for glucose levels, traveling nurses perform many general patient tasks. These include bandaging wounds, performing blood pressure testing, managing medicine, coordinating reports, and handling patient communications. The nursing position demands organization, timeliness, strong written skills, empathy, politeness, and a person who enjoys working with people.

A travel nurse with diabetes can teach others how to care for their diabetes through diet and exercise based upon the nurse’s experience. The nurses understand what is needed to control the disease and make time to handle the demanding work responsibilities and balance life. The nurse’s diabetic expertise and personal experience can help them be more relatable to their patients. The sooner a person with diabetes takes the disease seriously, the better their overall health.

Traveling Nurses Need to Find a Daily Routine

Nursing is tough on the body and mind. When a nurse travels, there are extra demands with the impact of moving from one place to another and hauling the necessary equipment. Since travel nurses can work anywhere, it is hard for them to keep a regular daily routine.

One area of diabetes that impacts nurses directly is foot care. Diabetes attacks the nerve endings, and the feet are most vulnerable. When a travel nurse is on their feet most of the day, it puts a strain on nerves in the foot that are already under pressure from diabetes. Nurses need to take planned breaks to alleviate the stress on their feet to prevent blood clots.

Diabetic nurses need to have healthy snacks and meals to keep blood sugars under control. The job demands will be draining for anyone, so this dietary approach is critical for nurses with diabetes. The lack of a daily routine can lead to poor eating habits since the nurses are always on the go. Many meals can be eaten in a car when driving between locations.

Traveling nurses will continue to perform a critical role as healthcare issues grow worldwide. Every day for a diabetic nurse or patient will bring new challenges, and traveling nurses need to continue to adapt to keep their daily routine intact. Educating people and themselves will be essential to help control the diabetes outbreak.

We hope you found this article with tips for travel nurses with diabetes helpful. Do you have any tips to share? Comment them below.

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.

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By Furnished Finder

March 12, 2022

11332 Views

Should I Sign a Short Term Lease?

Posted on March 12, 2022March 12, 2022 by Furnished Finder

When finding short term housing it is a nice goal to want to “have it all”. Perfect location, beautiful apartment, affordable pricing, and laid back lease terms. However, as travel nurses looking for housing to accommodate us for a few months at a time, it can be difficult to hit every single checkmark on our list.

As my husband and I got more experienced in finding our own travel nurse housing, we started to realize that one easy way to cut back on living expenses is to sign a short term lease for the unit we were interested in. Although a lot of our landlords on Furnished Finder do not require you to sign a lease, by offering to do so you may be able to negotiate a lower rent or move to the top of the list if they have multiple applicants. By giving some guarantee to the landlords, they can often reduce their prices slightly because they don’t have to worry about the “what ifs” of an empty apartment. While signing a lease does come with some risks, the benefits of a longer agreement rather than a month-to-month rental may be worth it.

Know the Risks

Before signing a short term lease, check to see what the cost of breaking said lease would be. If the short term rental saves you $100 a month over three months, but it costs you $2,000 if you move out early due to contract cancellation, it probably isn’t worth the risk. However, if it saves you $500 a month, it might be worth considering.

Check Move Out Requirements

Some apartments require a 60-day notice if you will be leaving at the end of your lease. For travel nurses, this means at week four of your contract you will need to know whether you plan to extend or not or risk being charged money for late notice. If you know for sure you will not be extending, this might be okay but if you want to wait and see you may not be able to give your full notice. Usually, your best bet will be to try and find a place that allows a 30-day notice.

Ask About Going Month to Month

At a lot of apartment complexes, you can switch to month-to-month after your initial lease expires. This is great because you can finish your initial contract and lease and not feel obligated to stay another full three months if you can make your housing situation work for a shorter extension. Plus, with month-to-month, there is usually a shorter move-out notice requirement.

Have Some Money Saved

It is always a good idea to have an emergency fund as a travel nurse, but this is especially important if you opt to sign a short term lease for housing. In the event that your contract gets canceled unexpectedly, you will have to be prepared to pay any penalties that come with ending a lease early unless you can find a different job in the same area.

Plan for a Little Overlap

The chances that your lease start and end dates line up perfectly with your contract dates aren’t super likely. You may have to plan for a few days at the beginning or end where you stay in a hotel to make the timing work out. If this happens at the end of your lease you may even be able to crash on a coworker’s couch for your last couple of shifts to help save money.

The financial benefits of signing a lease can often be the deciding factor for if it is the right move for you. Not only does signing a short term lease save you money, but it can also give you peace of mind knowing that you are secure in your living space for the duration of your contract. As long as you have an emergency fund in case of cancellation, you should be able to sign a lease for your travel nurse contract with minimal worries.

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By Triage Healthcare Staffing

March 11, 2022

5296 Views

Breaking Up with Your Travel Nurse Recruiter

Posted on March 11, 2022March 11, 2022 by Triage Healthcare Staffing

Triage Staffing provided this article.

We get it. Few relationships are as unique as a healthcare traveler and their recruiter. A good recruiter is there for you when you need a sounding board, understands what you want in a job, and actively searches to find you the one that best fits your needs.

But not every recruiter/traveler relationship will be a match, and not every recruiter will be your person. What happens if your previously great relationship turns sour, or you’re just not vibing with your recruiter? It might be time to have a tough conversation. While we can’t promise there won’t be tears involved, shaking up the dynamic with your recruiter doesn’t have to be painful. Here are a couple of ways for breaking up with your travel nurse recruiter.

Option 1: Ghost Them So Hard You’ll Leave Them Saying Boo

Sure, you can always ghost your recruiter. But like ghosting a boyfriend or girlfriend, they’ll be stuck wondering what happened. While that’s irritating for a recruiter, the real issue is that you’ll continue to get phone calls, texts, and emails from your recruiter wondering why you disappeared.

Instead, if you no longer click with your recruiter, send a quick text or email letting them know you’re moving on. They may reach out and ask questions, but at least they can remove you from their call list, saving your phone from a barrage of calls, emails, and texts.

Option 2: Have a Conversation About Your Needs

While this isn’t as easy as ghosting someone, it definitely is a more professional choice for breaking up with your travel nurse recruiter.

A good travel nurse recruiter wants to help you reach your goals. If your plans change or your agency’s jobs no longer meet your needs, talk to your recruiter. You never know if there’s something going on behind the scenes that might change your perspective.

Maybe your agency is working on a new contract with higher bill rates, and it hasn’t been announced yet. Or perhaps there’s a longevity bonus coming your way that you forgot about (yeah, some agencies do offer a bonus after you’ve worked a certain number of hours). If you don’t have a conversation, you might be leaving money on the table without knowing it.

We know it’s sometimes stressful having this type of phone call, especially if you and your recruiter have been close in the past. But, if you can ask for what you want in a mature and respectful manner, chances are that your recruiter will try to do what it takes to keep you on their roster.

Option 3: Chat with Your Recruiter’s Manager

What if you’re really not comfortable having a conversation with your recruiter? Maybe you can’t get ahold of them, or you’ve had an issue that you can’t get past. There’s nothing Karen-like about calling and having a chat with their manager. Don’t know who the manager is? No problem.

Call into the agency’s main number and tell whoever answers the phone that you want to talk to a manager about switching recruiters. They’ll be able to transfer you to someone within your recruiter’s chain. A good agency understands that sometimes personalities don’t mesh, even if they did in the past. The manager will have a quick conversation with you about what you’re looking for and then put you in touch with a recruiter that meets your needs now.

Don’t worry about getting your old recruiter “in trouble.” Most agencies understand that personalities can be the most important part of a recruiter/traveler relationship and won’t penalize a recruiter if you switch. You’ll get a new recruiter, and the manager will have the conversation for you, which is perfect if you’re nervous about having an uncomfortable conversation.

If you decide it really is time to make a change, look for one with a proven record of taking care of its travelers. Triage Staffing was named The Gypsy Nurse’s Best Overall Travel Nurse Agency for both 2020 and 2021. Connect with Triage Staffing here.

We hope you found this article on breaking up with your travel nurse recruiter helpful. Have you ever had to break up with a travel nurse recruiter? Share your experience with breaking up with your recruiter below.

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:

START HERE

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

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By Taylor Haskings

March 10, 2022

3945 Views

5 Tips for Choosing Your College Path in Nursing

Posted on March 10, 2022January 19, 2022 by Taylor Haskings

Choosing the right college path can be overwhelming. You may feel unsure about what to do once you finish high school and even more confused when it comes time to enroll in a nursing program. The great thing is that there are plenty of options available for students looking to pursue their career goals! Here are some tips on how you can choose your college path in nursing:

Find a School that Fits You

Not all nursing schools are created equal. Make sure to research different programs and find one that fits your learning style. If you prefer smaller classes, then look for a school with a lower student-to-teacher ratio. Or, if you want more hands-on experience, consider FNP programs that offer clinical rotations. No matter what, make sure to ask plenty of questions and tour the school before making your final decision. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a program that isn’t right for you.

In addition to researching the school, you should also consider your career goals. If you want to work in a certain location or specialize in a specific area of nursing, then look for an accredited program that aligns with your interests. Even if you are a parent looking for ways to support your teen who wants to become a nurse, it’s important to consider career goals, program length, financial strain, and general interest in the field before embarking on a healthcare degree path.

No matter where you choose to attend classes or how long it takes, always remember why you signed up for nursing school in the first place. You’re embarking on a challenging and rewarding journey, so enjoy every step along the way.

Find an Affordable School

Nursing school comes with a hefty price tag. However, you can reduce your college costs by attending community college for the first two years of your degree. Even though transferring to another university will cost more money, it’s often much cheaper than starting at a private or out-of-state institution. Some universities also offer scholarships and grants specifically for nursing students.

Another way to reduce the cost of school is by working part-time while you’re in classes. This can be a challenge, but it’s doable if you’re determined and motivated. Just make sure that your workload doesn’t become too overwhelming. There’s no need to add any unnecessary stress to an already stressful time in your life. Remember that the cost of nursing school doesn’t have to break the bank or prevent you from achieving your career goals. You need to be smart about where and how you choose to spend your money.

In addition to cutting down on the overall cost of school, you should also try to save money wherever possible, for example, by living at home instead of in an off-campus housing facility, using coupons or shopping for deals online, and eating healthier meals cooked in bulk (then frozen). With a little bit of creativity and self-discipline, you can easily slash your expenses without sacrificing your education or social life.

Consider Your Options

There are several different nursing programs to choose from, and each has its unique benefits and drawbacks. For example, if you’re interested in working with children, a pediatric nursing program may be the right choice. Alternatively, if you want to specialize in a certain area of medicine, plenty of nursing programs can help you achieve your goals.

No matter what type of degree or specialization you choose, make sure to do plenty of research before enrolling in a program. Ask questions and tour the campus so that you feel confident about the path ahead. It’s important to consider all available options and not just settle for something because it seems like the easy choice. With a little bit of effort, you can find the perfect program that meets your needs and sets you up for success in the nursing field.

In addition to choosing the right type of program, you should also think about what level of education you want to pursue. There are associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees available in nursing, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, an associate’s degree may take less time to complete than a bachelor’s degree, but it won’t allow you to specialize in a particular area of nursing. A bachelor’s degree is a good choice if you want to become a registered nurse, while a master’s degree can allow you to pursue more specialized careers such as nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.

Network With Other Students

If you’re serious about becoming a nurse, it’s important to surround yourself with like-minded people. Join your school’s nursing club or student organization so that you have the opportunity to meet other students who share your interests and goals. These groups are also great ways for students in different programs to support one another throughout their studies.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions and get involved with other nursing students early in your college career. If you’re struggling, then there’s no shame in asking for help or meeting with an advisor so that you can map out a plan of action moving forward. It takes time to adjust to the fast-paced life of a nursing student, but with the help of your peers, you’ll be able to stay on track and reach your goals.

In addition to meeting new people, you should also make a point of staying connected with your friends and family. Don’t neglect the important relationships in your life because you’re busy studying for midterms or writing a research paper. Make sure to carve out some time each day to check in with loved ones so that they know how much you care.

Get Involved in Your Community

If you want to become a nurse, it’s important to learn about local health care needs and how your skills can make a difference. Volunteer at an after-school program, women’s shelter, or senior center; join the medical mission trip of your church, or take up teaching CPR.

By getting involved in your community, you can gain valuable real-world experience while making a difference for those who need it. Volunteering is an excellent way to test out the nursing field and see if this career path is right for you before committing yourself to years of school. Not only that, but many volunteer opportunities can help you build up your resume and gain valuable experience.

By following these five tips for choosing your college path, you’ll be able to find the nursing program that’s right for you! If this is really what you want to do with your life, then make sure to put in the work now so that it pays off later.

We hope you found this article on choosing your college path helpful. Are you a seasoned travel nurse who has tips to share with those choosing their college path now? Are there things you wish you would have done or classes you would have taken during your college days? Comment them below.

Are you a travel nurse looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you have an assignment lined up but need housing? Click here to search our housing page.

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 Angela Hosking

March 9, 2022

1688 Views

Your Most Important Patient—You

Posted on March 9, 2022March 9, 2022 by Angela Hosking

I remember my first patient that died.

She was young. Younger than me. A mom, a daughter, a sister, and a passionate elementary school teacher. She was living her life in a happy and fulfilling way when ovarian cancer knocked on her door. When I cared for her the first time, she was recovering from a dramatic abdominal surgery and coming to grips with the diagnosis. Stage 4 ovarian cancer. We focused on her post-operative recovery for the first few days, but as the diagnosis began to sink in, I found our conversations turned to how to be a survivor and have hope. I became her cheerleader, her confidant, and when her family went home, her advocate as a nursing professional.

I saw her when she was the most vulnerable.

In pain. Frightened. As a night-shift nurse, I was used to the “what-if” thoughts that plagued my patients in the night when the comfort of the family departed. That is when they usually allowed their nurse to see what they were really feeling. When faces of feigned bravery for their families could relax.

Over the next eighteen months, I was lucky enough to care for her many times.

Even if she wasn’t my patient for that shift, I made sure to check on her every time she was admitted for symptom management or pain control. I learned what worked and what didn’t when she was having a bad night. I knew the right mix of bland food she could tolerate when the nausea was bad. I helped her make a list of all the things she wanted to remember to tell her daughter when her mind was fuzzy. Sometimes I even made her laugh with my corny jokes and just forget for a moment that she was dying.

When she lost her battle, I was there. I made sure she wasn’t in any pain, that her favorite blanket was tucked around her just so, and that her family was supported. But what I didn’t realize was that I would need support, too. I was grieving a loss that had a monumental impact on how I viewed my role as a nursing caregiver. I was now acutely aware that many of the patients I bonded with would die on my watch.

Over and over again.

And to give in such an extraordinary way, I would have to make sure I was being cared for as well. I had to allow others to calm my fears, dry my tears, and give space for the emotions I had at work. I was not, thankfully, a machine instead of a human that just went about her night shift as if nothing had happened.

When was the last time you did a complete head-to-toe on yourself? A mental, physical, and emotional check-up to see what systems and areas are NOT within normal limits? It is easy to deny that nagging inner-nurse voice when it comes to ourselves. But if you were your patient, what would you tell the provider you were concerned about? What recommendations would you make for your own care? What consults would you immediately advocate for?

Take time to do your assessment carefully.

To be a nurse means to first care for ourselves so that we can care for others. You are your most vulnerable patient.

This article is an excerpt from Angela’s journal “From Burnout to Balance: A Nursing Resilience Journal” click here to purchase the journal.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel nurse assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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 Titan Medical

March 8, 2022

2566 Views

Lucky Tips For Starting as a Travel Nurse

Posted on March 8, 2022March 7, 2022 by Titan Medical

Titan Medical Group provided this article.

Are you feeling nervous about taking on your first assignment as a Travel Nurse? Here are a few tips for setting you up for success!

Get and Stay Organized

If you are getting ready to take on your first assignment as a traveling nurse, you need to stay organized every step of the way. You need to make sure your paperwork and information are updated. Prepare for your phone interview and bring copies of any necessary documentation to your first day. Being organized will help you out tremendously in the long run!

Stay in contact with your recruiter

When you get a recruiter, they will be your best friend on your journey. They are on your side to make sure you are placed in the perfect fit for you. Once you start your assignment, be sure to check in with your recruiter to update them to help you with future assignments.

Keep an open-mind

Going to an unfamiliar place away from the people you love can be overwhelming and hard to adjust to. When going into your assignment, always have an open mind and a positive attitude. Getting to know people you will be working with will help you open up to new opportunities and growth in your career!

Ask questions

When taking on a new assignment, you will be encountered different situations and people. If you are unsure about a task, don’t be afraid to step up and ask questions. It is better to ask questions as soon as possible instead of being hesitant about a situation.

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We hope you found these lucky tips for starting travel nursing helpful. Have you recently started travel nursing and have tips to share with those considering travel nursing? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel nurse assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are 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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By Kevin Devoto

March 7, 2022

2374 Views

6 Ways To Take Care of Yourself as A Busy Professional

Posted on March 7, 2022March 7, 2022 by Kevin Devoto

When you spend your days in a coffee-fueled haze while rushing to be effective and productive in your work and home life, burnout is inevitable. You may make it to the weekend, but how much of your personal time do you spend just trying to recover from the chaos of the previous week? If you feel physically and mentally drained all the time, you may not be taking adequate care of your mind and body. Here are some ways to care for yourself when you’re extremely busy.

1. Nourish Your Body

As a busy professional, your daily habits matter. It can be easy to fall into a routine that seemingly makes your life easier but ultimately impacts your health and wellness. Replacing a balanced breakfast with an extra-large sugary drive-thru coffee may save you a few minutes of your morning, but you’ll likely feel anxious and unsatiated throughout the day. Taking care of yourself means being intentional with the types of sustenance you consume. If you simply don’t have time to prepare meals, consider nourishing meal replacement shakes as a healthier option.

2. Prioritize Your Sleep

One of your most basic human needs is sleep, and chances are, you don’t get enough. Sleep is often the first thing you sacrifice when your work/life balance becomes unbalanced. You think you can make enough time to get everything done, but the truth is you lose your ability to concentrate and make good judgment calls when you’re sleep-deprived. By setting a clear and defined bedtime routine and sticking to it, you can make sure you wake up each day feeling refreshed and motivated to take on the world.

3. Get Your Workout In

According to experts, you only need 20 minutes of physical activity each day to maintain a healthy fitness level, and it doesn’t have to be cardio-centric. When you spend most of your day caring for others, it can be extremely hard to shift your mindset to self-care, but it is necessary to maintain your strength and sanity. By making your exercise routine a priority, you can ensure you maintain optimal physical and mental health while also setting and achieving important personal fitness goals.

4. Pause and Breathe

When you feel overwhelmed, there’s no shame in taking a timeout. Pausing to take deep long breaths and adopting a meditation practice gives you the opportunity to calm your mind and body at the moment. When you’re stressed, you hold tension in your head, neck, and back, which can leave you feeling terrible and lead to chronic pain and fatigue. Giving yourself the opportunity to release this pressure allows you to release this pressure and resume your busy life.

5. Reduce the Noise Around You

In your life as a busy professional, you’re surrounded by stimuli and stress triggers. While you may not always be able to ignore your responsibilities and quiet your brain, you can take measures to quiet the space around you. Reducing the noise includes removing yourself from a social space, disconnecting from your devices, and finding a relaxing place to just be for a while. Your quiet time may manifest as a hot bath, a long walk, or even a 30-minute nap in your car between meetings.

6. Compliment Yourself on a Job Well Done

Maybe you’re not a validation-seeker at work or at home, but you can’t deny that it feels good to hear someone say you do a good job. Because everyone gets busy, you may not hear those words as often as you’d like to. When you feel like you could use a pick-me-up, feel free to give yourself the compliment you deserve. What is something you know you did well today? Take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments, even if you’re the only one who recognizes them.

All the big-name healthcare professionals and gurus tout the importance of self-care, but not everyone realizes the time commitment that’s required. Luckily, with a bit of planning and self-awareness, you can give yourself the care you need to get on with your busy schedule and maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

We hope you found these tips for taking care of yourself as a busy professional helpful. Do you have any tips to share with your fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel nurse assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

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 Evan Kaden

March 6, 2022

11909 Views

How Travel Nurses Find Balance

Posted on March 6, 2022March 6, 2022 by Evan Kaden

For a travel nurses, finding balance between work and exploration is a skill worth mastering.

Being a Travel Nurse starts with the art of self-care. Let’s face it, nurses are by nature the world’s nurturers. Your compassion for others is your ‘why’ for your chosen career. In order to be really good at what you do, however, you know you have to put your own metaphorical oxygen mask on before you help the passenger next to you. Adventuring can help you achieve the life balance you need.

Work from a Lifestyle of Self-Care

Adopting a philosophy of self-care first will give you the confidence to work the rest of the balancing act without compromising yourself in the process. Whether you’re home or on assignment, developing a lifestyle of self-care including a healthy diet, exercise, quiet time, and personal time to explore interests will make you a happier person and a better nurse. Self-care is the foundation of the life you create; everything springs from this single well. Only a healthy, rested, energized travel nurse can have satisfying adventures and a joy-filled career.

Travel Nurse, Know Thyself

This is where you give yourself permission to design your own life and own it. Exploring your likes and dislikes can help frame your work life. If you don’t like hot weather, then a job at a higher elevation in Panama would be a better fit than one on the coast. Maybe you can’t get enough of big city monuments and museums, or maybe off-roading the high desert revs your motor.

Does adventure mean the adrenaline surge of base jumping or dropping into a monster wave to you, or is your idea of adventure exploring a new culture or hiking through a deep forest? As a travel nurse, you have the flexibility to follow your bliss – so figure it out, own it; go there, do that.

Make a Bucket List, and Check It Twice

Let’s say you get a nursing assignment in New York City. (Who wouldn’t jump at the chance?) Sit down and make a list of all the things you dreamed of doing if you ever made it to The Big Apple. As Alicia Keys’ Empire State of Mind flows through your headphones, get busy on that list: the Apollo Theater in Harlem, Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square; your list of urban adventures continues to grow. Let it all out. Once you finish your list, circle your top ten choices. This is the must-do content for your upcoming adventure schedule.

You’ve developed a habit of self-care, figured out the kind of environment that suits you, and explored the kinds of adventure activities that give you the emotional response you crave, be it excitement, fearlessness, accomplishment, or something else. Now it’s time to turn ideas into reality.

Insist on a Predictable Work Schedule

There are few careers, especially in helping industries, where those you serve aren’t constantly pushing against your boundaries. Responsibilities scale up, downtime gets encroached upon, clients become more particular or demanding, and everyone has an opinion about your job description. Of course, you want to play nicely and be accommodating where you can (after all, that’s kind of who you are), but your schedule is the one place you need inviolable boundaries. Even if it isn’t the schedule of your dreams, predictability is the only sure way to strike a work/adventure balance as a travel nurse.

The rest of the plan hinges on your ability to say no when you need to, so you can protect the space you’ve created for self-renewal, also known as adventure!

Use Your Adventure Tools – Books, Maps, and Apps

Lonely Planet is one of the best travel guide books you can own for nearly any region of the world. You can get them as trade books or downloadable ebooks. They’re excellent for detailed maps, local attractions, lodging, restaurants, regional planning, and travel advice. They’re also updated often. You can become fairly well-informed about an area before you ever get to your next gig.

Schedule Your Upcoming Adventures

Planning helps you get the most from your free time. On your calendar, fill in your work hours and see where you can schedule a day trip to a nearby town, a three-hour snorkel tour, or even an hour-long stroll along a boardwalk. Even if it’s only a few hours a week or a weekend a month, there’s something about formalizing your adventures by writing them out that makes them stick. Well-laid adventure plans help you make the most of your downtime, and bring balance into your life.

Author: Evan is a rare-breed of freelance writers who, believe it or not, doesn’t drink coffee! Currently serving as a content specialist for FreedomCare, an agency that helps with Medicaid’s CDPAP program, he’s grateful for the opportunities he’s had to share his thoughts and stories with people through this crazy place called the internet.

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By The Gypsy Nurse

March 5, 2022

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Leveraging Your Career as a Travel Nurse to Live Your Life by Design

Posted on March 5, 2022February 23, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

Leveraging Your Career as a Travel Nurse to Live Your Life by Design

How many careers do you know allow you to work as little as three days a week while still being able to travel essentially WHERE EVER you decide you want to live? Moving without the total commitment (or hassle) of relocating permanently. The ultimate dream. Nurses have worked EXTREMELY hard in recent years, posing some of the most challenging times our generation has seen. We will discuss the pros & cons of working as a travel nurse and why travel nursing can be used as the perfect segway to live your life by design. Watch the video to learn about leveraging your career as a travel nurse.

About Mynoucka | mynoucka@vintagetravelingnurse.com

Ever been in a space where you felt stuck in your career? That was me in 2018. I was in my third year as a registered nurse and felt stagnant. While I loved my career, the monotony of working long hours in a hospital every day made me feel some type of way. I wanted the flexibility of traveling and making my schedule while doing what I loved. So, I decided to give travel nursing a shot.

Long story short, I loved it, lol.

I worked in two hospitals in Southern California for nine months before transferring to a hospital in the Bay Area for eight months. My time in Cali gave me the autonomy and flexibility to lean more into my nursing career. Since I wore skirts to work every day, my colleagues would always refer to me as the “classy” or “classic” nurse. This inspired the name for my blog, Vintage Traveling Nurse, which I launched in 2019 to start documenting my travel nursing journey. Being in this field has helped me gain fulfillment in my career and other areas of my life like fitness, finance, and, most importantly, self-care. While I am now in my hometown continuing my work as a bedside nurse, my time as a travel nurse has changed my life FOREVER!

Check out Mynoucka on Instagram at vintagetravelingnurse or visit her website at vintagetravelingnurse.com

We hope you enjoyed this live event. Watch for more live events happening soon.

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Option 1: Ghost Them So Hard You’ll Leave Them Saying Boo

Option 2: Have a Conversation About Your Needs

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I remember my first patient that died.

I saw her when she was the most vulnerable.

Over the next eighteen months, I was lucky enough to care for her many times.

Over and over again.

Take time to do your assessment carefully.

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

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

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