January 2, 2022

9693 Views

Top 10 Details to Include on Your Nursing Resume This Year!

Posted on January 2, 2022January 16, 2023 by Keerthana Krishna

Creating your perfect resume is not that simple! Yes, I have been there, you have been there, we all have been there! For a vacancy of 2-3 job openings, there may be 200+ candidates to compete for! Who knows what will be their eliminating criteria or what they are looking for in a candidate? And if you are applying through an online ad, chances are 76% of resumes are rejected by Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

Apart from the usual resume format of Contact details, resume summary, skills/certifications, professional work experience, and education, what makes your resume stand out from many applicants is the extra information you are providing to your recruiters!

Honors / Awards / Volunteer Work

Have you won any awards? Did you receive any honors regarding your work? If you think including your special awards, honors, achievements and volunteer work will add a plus point in this recruitment, then don’t wait to create a new section to add these details. This will tell your recruiter in a few words that you were excellent in your work area.

Language

According to TalentNeuron, employers are considering bilingualism as the second most required skill in the nursing field. Being a bilingual or multilingual nurse within the healthcare industry has its tremendous advantages because such skilled professionals in this industry are a prized asset to any medical team. As a bilingual nurse, knowing another language can be a huge factor in times of emergency situations. List every language you know by speaking, writing, and reading format.

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

Recruiters might want to know if you belong to any professional memberships or associations! Some recruiters may consider this as your commitment to providing and honoring your skills! Therefore, if you belong to any affiliations like the American Association of Critical care Nurses (AACN), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) or Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) include its details on your nursing resume. You might want to consider the following as the affiliation name, date of admission, units held by you and a short description of your role.

Detailed Education Details

Do you have a degree in ADN, RN, BSN, MSN or ASN? Or any other special nursing degree? Include the nursing degrees you have earned on your resume or the job opportunity would go for those who have included this particular kind of information. If your GPA is below 3.0 it’s better if you could avoid including the grades on your resume!

Certifications and Nursing License Details

There are plenty of people argue that as a matter of privacy nurses should not include their nursing license details on their resume. Nonetheless, as a matter of fact, nursing license numbers are publicly accessible. Using the basic information available on resume anyone can easily obtain a nurse’s license details from the state’s Nursing Board. Therefore, if you could provide the certifications and nursing license details to the recruiter it could give you a top hat among your competitors.

Computer Skills

Do you have any particular skills which you think will be a great asset to your nursing career? Are you good at electronic medical recording or e-prescriptions? If you think this will make an impact on your recruiter’s mind, do add them to your resume! You can include your computer skills in your summary or can create a separate section to list your computer skills. Or you could also mention this skill in your job description.

Facility Details

Including various facility details in your resume tells your recruiter about your work experience in a nutshell. Example,

Facility Type: Designations like Assisted Living Program, Short Term Acute Care, Long Term Acute Care, Acute care Hospital, Life Care Communities, Nursing Facility, etc.

Trauma Designation: Add the trauma center level (I, II, III, IV, or V)

Magnet Status

Unit Details

Unit details also tell your recruiter about your work experience in a few words. Match your previous job details with a recruiter’s perspective! For example, if the recruiter’s requirement is “Emergency Department” and you have worked before in an “Emergency Room” section, then go with the “Emergency Department” in your resume. Never lie in your resume about your skills and qualifications. If you haven’t worked in an emergency department, do not lie and include this in your resume!

Availability

Everyone knows that it doesn’t matter what your degree is, whether its MSN, ADN, LSN, or RN to BSN nursing program or any other degree you have taken, all fields work round the clock. You could include the shifts you are willing to take, whether you are available to work during holidays, and also mention that if the job requires you to relocate, you are okay with the relocation or not. Because you may never know if the recruiter has any other unadvertised job openings that you might qualify for!

Accomplishments and skills in your working history

Include the skills and accomplishments you have received for your work, and let them speak for you! Your achievements will tell your recruiters that how excellent were you in your work. If you have too many achievements to include in your resume only pick relevant and best achievements and skills. And also remember to conclude your resume in a maximum of two pages.

We hope you found these nursing resume tips helpful. Do you have any nursing resume tips to share? Comment them below.

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 Luke Smith

December 31, 2021

11653 Views

Things You Can Do to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Traveling Nurse Job

Posted on December 31, 2021January 18, 2023 by Luke Smith

Thank you for working towards a career as a traveling nurse. This is an occupation that is needed now more than ever. With COVID-19, people need medical help, and they can’t always leave their home to get it. This is truly a job that makes the world a better place.

If you are just beginning your journey. You likely need some guidance on the best way to land a traveling nurse job and the certifications you will need along the way. Let’s look at how to obtain your dream career.

Get Your Certifications

As with most medical careers, you will need the proper education and certifications to become a traveling nurse. As a general foundation, you will want to go to school and acquire either an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The former is a two-year program and the latter a four-year endeavor.

Both of these degrees will teach you the technical and medical skills that you need to become a registered nurse (RN). Along with how to apply these skills to real-world scenarios. Once your education is complete, you will also need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam. Which really puts your skills to the test with a computer-based assessment that reviews your efficiency with every aspect of nursing. From health maintenance to physiological adaptation.

On top of your education and certifications, you will also need one to two years of experience before you can become a traveling nurse. You can get this experience in a hospital and gain the skills that you can show off on your resume. Generally, you will have your choice of specialties in which to gain this experience, whether that be in labor and delivery, ICU, or many other departments. You can also consult your school for a recommendation.

Write Your Resume and Cover Letter

Once you get the required education, it is time to put together a professional resume and cover letter to present to potential employers. Avoid using a generic cover letter. Instead modify it to the company where you are applying, including adding their address along with the person and department you are directing it towards. At the start, mention the position you are applying for and why.

Your resume and cover letter should have a mix of your past experience along with the qualifications you’ve earned up until this point. Your cover letter is a general summary, while the resume goes into further detail. Resume should include honors you received, your professional affiliations, and your best achievements thus far. When writing achievements, you want them to be specific and measurable, so an example is that you “improved patient ratings by 20% through passion and commitment.”

Your resume should include a combination of hard and soft skills. Hard skills include things you learn in schools, such as performing CPR or drawing blood, while soft skills are more like personality skills, including the ability to stay calm in stressful conditions and how to effectively communicate with coworkers and patients. As you gain more experience, continue to update your resume so you can impress future employers.

Acing the Interview

The final step to improving your chances for that traveling nurse job is to ace the job interview. Before you show up, take some time to research the hospital or company you will be working for. So you can impress when they inevitably ask what you know about the company. This also gives you a chance to ask questions. Not only about the establishment, but their values, the patients they serve, and more.

Next, take the time to research some common nursing interview questions. They may ask you about a time you dealt with a difficult patient, your most rewarding experience, or how you deal with the stress of nursing. Take some time to come up with quality answers to these questions. So you don’t hesitate when you are asked during the interview.

During all of this preparation, also make sure that your social media accounts are clean and presentable. Take down any inappropriate photos that you wouldn’t want an employer to see. Instead, add a profile photo of you in professional attire. If you want to keep your profiles separate from your professional life, then change the privacy settings so only your friends can see what you post.

As a traveling nurse, you are truly helping the world on a daily basis. Take the time to make the proper preparations and apply for these positions with confidence.

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 Elizabeth Scala

December 30, 2021

10819 Views

Make Travel Nursing Fun: 2 Secrets to Working ‘On the Road’ with Enthusiasm

Posted on December 30, 2021December 30, 2021 by Elizabeth Scala

The following is a Guest Post via Elizabeth Scala:

Travel Nursing Fun?

Traveling is fun. No doubt about it. In fact, one of my ‘heart’s desires’, ‘big money whys’ or vision work is: to travel.

My vision boards are full of pictures of places I’d like to go, cut-outs of maps for trips I’d like to take, and so forth. What’s a vision board? Great question- in a moment, I’ll share more detail.

When I travel, I’m always learning. I immerse myself in the culture by finding interesting people to talk to, visit with, and share space. I love hearing about and seeing the world from their perspective. Even when I travel locally, I always come home a brand new woman, filled with a refreshed energy for life.

So what’s this got to do with nursing? Especially if you’re traveling for work?

Here are two ways to bring this enthusiasm for travel to travel-nursing and make travel nursing fun!

Let’s start with vision boarding.

The conventional way to create a vision board is to get an armful of magazines, a blank larger poster board, and an open mind and heart. What you want to do is flip through the magazines, looking for words/photos/images/colors/anything that jump out at you.

Cut out pictures of things you want to be, do, and/or have in your life. Take words and/or sayings that inspire. Make it pleasing to your eye because what you do next with the board is the most important part.

You can also do a vision journal. Write out your vision of what you want to be, do, and/or have in the first person, present tense, as if it’s already happening to you. You can do this daily, every so often, or weekly. It’s up to you!

When you have your vision, you want to own it. As I wrote about the journal, you want to experience it as if it’s already happening. This is key. So once you have your board (or whatever sort of vision creation you’ve made), you want to visualize the things on the board as though they are already yours. Feel them when you bring strong emotion to anything. Your much more likely to receive it!

A second way to bring enthusiasm and energy to travel-nursing is through those lasting relationships you make.

I’m just coming back from a conference, which I’ve attended every September for three years now. And every single fall, I have a new vitality for my work! What’s happened is I meet new, exciting, and supportive people at this event.

I come home with heart-based connections I can call upon when I am down, frustrated, or lost. It’s always great to know that guidance, mentorship, and help are just a phone call or email away.

As you travel through nursing (quite literally in your case), be sure to invest the energy, effort, and time into building supportive relationships. And if you ever feel lost in a new place you’re at… you can always turn to this ever-growing space of virtual support.

The Gypsy Nurse has created an awesome space for travel nurses here on this blog. Other nurse entrepreneurs have done the same in their field. Even me, I’ve created a virtual conference for nurses that helps us to refresh, renew, and re-energize our passion for our work!

Please click HERE If you would like to submit your story to The Gypsy Nurse.

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By Medical Edge Recruitment

December 29, 2021

5238 Views

Tap into your Inner Gypsy: How to Decide if 2022 is Your Year to Travel

Posted on December 29, 2021December 21, 2021 by Medical Edge Recruitment

This article was provided by Medical Edge Recruitment.

Written By: Brittany Davie, Recruitment Consultant, Medical Edge Recruitment

The year is almost over. You’ve probably already created your New Year’s Resolution list and plan to publicly announce each resolution on social media. On that list are probably a few things that would make 2022 YOUR year. Making more money, traveling, and making new friends are likely at the top of the list. Are you ready to start scratching a few things off? Keep reading to discover if you should tap into your inner gypsy, take your career on the road, and become a Travel Nurse in 2022.

Desire to Seek New Adventures

Gone are the days where you get only one week to visit another city or state. If you desire to seek new adventures, you can decide where you want to visit and for how long as a travel nurse. With an 8+ week travel contract, you can ski in Colorado Springs, walk down the strip in Las Vegas, visit Disney World in Orlando, or see the Statue of Liberty in New York. In one year, you may be able to visit all four of these places and then some. You get to determine where your next adventure lies and how long you want to enjoy it.

Want To Make Connections

When experiencing new places, new people come into the picture, and who wouldn’t want more friends? If you want to make meaningful and memorable connections, not only should you see the world, but you should also meet its people. If we didn’t learn anything else during the Pandemic, one thing we did is that we humans need real live, personal connections. Talking through a screen is not enough. Traveling allows you to meet new people with a variety of backgrounds and cultures. The locals will tell you where all the “hot spots” are and inform you of the best their city has to offer. Your visit will be more memorable by being connected to people. You will return home with stories to tell of the people you’ve met and the places you’ve seen. The next time your friends want a break from their city, you will be their new go-to guy or gal for their next adventure.

You Love Your Freedom

There is nothing better than having the freedom to choose when and where you want to be at any given moment. If the weather, facility, or overall environment is not necessarily your cup of tea, you can always change your scenery. You can determine how long of a commitment you want to make, whether that is as little as 8 weeks or as much as 24 weeks. If you would like a break before starting the next assignment, there is no need to put in a request for time off and cross your fingers that it is approved. You can decide to take a week or two break before the start of your next assignment.

You want to Build your Resume

Gaining experience in different facilities increases your knowledge and earning potential. For every facility you contract with, you will gain useful skills, exposure to new systems, experience with state-of-the-art equipment, awareness of additional procedures, and familiarity within other sectors of health care that you may not otherwise become familiar. All the above will give you bragging rights that will make for an exceptional resume. As a travel nurse, you will show the next hiring manager you are full of industry knowledge, are adaptable, dependable, and an overall asset to the facility.

Desire to Make More Money

Can you use some extra cash? Maybe you have your eye on a new car, want to pay off debt, or just want to see your bank account grow. According to Travelnursing.org, you can make as much as 30% more than if you stayed local as a travel nurse. Some people can even double their current hourly rate by providing care in CRISIS facilities. If you are concerned about the potential cost of traveling, keep in mind that most staffing agencies offer some form of stipend or incentive to assist you in your travels, including transportation and housing, which allows you to take home as much money as possible.

Conclusion

Take another look at your New Year’s Resolution list and see if this list aligns with yours. I bet that at least three of the above are resolutions you have for 2022. If that is the case, tap into your inner gypsy by becoming a travel nurse, and make 2022 YOUR year!

Medical Edge Recruitment is the premier travel nursing recruitment agency specializing in providing top talent to clients in the healthcare industry. We connect clinical and allied providers to their ideal opportunities, focusing on building long-lasting relationships through honesty and transparency. Adventure awaits; let us show you where you can go in 2022!

We hope you enjoyed this article on tapping into your inner gypsy. Have you recently tapped into your inner gypsy? Was the experience good? Are there any tips or pointers you would give others thinking of tapping into their inner gypsy? 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.

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!)

Works Cited

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.travelnursing.org/why-travel-nurses-make-more-money/

Brusie, C. (2021, July 28). Travelnursing.org. Retrieved from https://www.travelnursing.org/why-travel-nurses-make-more-money/

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By CareerStaff Unlimited

December 28, 2021

5707 Views

8 Steps for Resetting Your Nursing Career in 2022

Posted on December 28, 2021December 27, 2021 by CareerStaff Unlimited

This article was provided by: CareerStaff Unlimited.

A new year is here, and for many health professionals, that means a time to seek new career opportunities. While some are content to find an assignment in the same setting — or even the same building — many others have a bigger change in mind. For those of you looking to take your nursing career in a new direction in 2022, here are a few things to consider.

Step 1: Take stock of what’s important.

Before you begin your search for a new nursing career path — or, at the very least, before you make a decision to accept a new assignment—make sure that you’ve taken the time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished in your career so far (or haven’t, as the case may be).

That means taking a real consideration of what’s worked and what hasn’t in your career up to this point. Have you enjoyed working in the type of facilities you’ve been assigned to, or is it time for a change? You may discover that something you’re struggling with is something you can fix — i.e., the setting or facility type or the size of the town you work in.

Step 2: Clearly define your goals.

“The research is clear,” writes Ashley Stahl at Forbes, “people who set goals are more successful.” Stahl goes on to outline some advice for setting and sticking to goals — specifically, making sure it’s specific and clear by putting it in writing.

And now that you’ve taken stock of your past, you can be more specific in your goals for the future. That’s very important, Stahl notes: “If your career plan is to one day become a manager, that’s great,” she writes. “But it’s also vague. Get even more clear by setting goals like ‘manage a team of 5 or more senior employees by January [2022].’ This goal just got much easier to visualize.”

Step 3: Prioritize your personal satisfaction.

When you’re setting your goals, don’t forget to consider your own satisfaction, on the personal as well as the professional level. If you’ve been developing the right kinds of skills and experience but not really feeling happy or fulfilled, then you want to consider why that is — and do what you can to correct it.

Thanks to the possibilities of virtual care and the huge demand for nurses and clinicians pretty much across the board, there are more opportunities than ever. That means that you’ll have more chances to move into a new environment. So, think about what really makes you happy — everything from the size of your team to the city you work in — and work on adapting your career to that standard.

Step 4: Update your CV, stat!

As important as it is to keep your CV as updated as possible, we know it’s also time-consuming. But make no mistake: If you’re seeking a new clinical or nursing career opportunity, it’s essential to revisit your CV, stat. You don’t want to miss a great opportunity because you had to quickly create a new CV before you could apply!

But the idea isn’t just to make sure this important document is up to date, but that it also best reflects your skillset. For instance, if you have experience working in a specific type of facility like an educational or correctional institution, that can be a valuable item to highlight. Doing so demonstrates not just clinical skills but also your versatility and ability to work in a variety of settings.

Step 5: Work on your network.

With every assignment you work, you’re meeting new people and making new relationships. Besides the basic fulfillment of making friends, this is also part of building a professional network that can, in turn, provide essential benefits like endorsements, recommendations, and referrals.

Today, networking has taken on new dimensions thanks to LinkedIn, the social networking platform for working professionals. Most people who work in healthcare have at least a basic presence on this important site. Many hospitals, health networks, and recruiters are active on LinkedIn, so taking the time to build your profile there is far from wasting time on social media.

On top of that, those who take time to cultivate their presence on LinkedIn often have a real advantage when competing for the jobs that they really want. If you keep it updated, it can also double as your CV or resume too, and the work you put into one can also be used to the benefit of the other.

Our experts offer up these additional tips for networking on LinkedIn:

Use professional photos on your profile that best portray who you are and your profession.
Keep your headline short and laser focused on what you do, and what you can offer a potential employer.
Join groups to find insider and trade info on valuable topics or certifications.
Follow influencers and thought leaders to learn more about what interests you in your profession.
Follow your “dream job” company or facility and their social feed — seeing what types of articles they share and how they interact with their community can help you get a sense of the kind of culture you want to work within.

Step 6: Learn a new skill.

A great way to ensure that you land the clinical or nursing career opportunity that you want is making sure you’re offering something of value to a new employer or facility. This could be getting a new certification or even working in a different facility type.

For instance, if you plan to work at a hospital again later in your career, spending a few months on assignment in a different type of setting like a skilled nursing facility could give you new skills and sometimes a higher level of compensation. Having already clearly defined your goals, you should also have a pretty clear idea of the specific skills you’ll need to realize them.

Because of the pandemic, acute care skills and ICU experience is, particularly in demand. But at all times, employers seek skills like management, communication, and critical thinking — all of which can be demonstrated by taking CE courses that support them. Being clear about this on your CV and during your interview will also help show initiative and leadership — two more skills that are always in.

Step 7: Be ready to deal with change.

Remember, if you’re taking the active steps to reset or even shift your nursing career, you have to be ready for some life changes that may come as a result. If you’ve done a good job of planning and setting your expectations for personal happiness, that change should be welcome.

But change isn’t always predictable, as we’ve all recently learned. Chances are that, no matter how well you’ve planned your career path, you’ll come across speedbumps. To succeed requires pressing on in the face of doubt and uncertainty to face the future you really want. It can be hard, though, so be ready!

Step 8: Stay up to date on industry trends and developments.

Finally, you’ll want to make sure you’re up to date on what’s happening in the industry to make sure you find the opportunity that best suits your needs and preferences. A great way to do that is by following CareerStaff on LinkedIn, as we noted above. And another great way is here at the CareerStaff blog.

ONE MORE CAREER TIP: GET STARTED TODAY!

If you’re ready to start a new clinical or nursing career path, there’s no better time to start than today! You can search all available jobs here or submit a quick application here. Good luck in your search and in achieving your new career goals!

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need to find 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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—Meagan L. | Cath Lab

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By Lirika Hart

December 26, 2021

6775 Views

5 Steps to Reaching Your Fitness Goals This New Year

Posted on December 26, 2021January 16, 2023 by Lirika Hart

Many of us make fitness goals in the new year but achieving those goals is another struggle entirely. This article has been put together so that you can discover the five steps that will help you reach your goals. There are so many benefits to having fitness goals that you want to reach – not only will you look better, but you’ll also feel better and be healthier from the inside out.

1 – Make a plan

It is so important that you know what you want to achieve and have a plan in place to help you get there. First of all, you need to answer the question, why am I doing this? Looking good is awesome but the first and foremost reason should be your health. Set a TRACKABLE target on what you want to achieve. Maybe you want to be able to run a marathon by a certain date or perhaps you want to fit into a dress size. From there you can come up with a plan in whatever way works for you. Whether you track everything you eat, your workouts – or a combination of both.

2 – Put small changes in place

5 Steps to Reaching Your Fitness Goals This New Year

It is important that you don’t try to do too much too fast. You should start by incorporating small changes into your life and build it from there. You are not going to suddenly go from a couch potato to a health guru. Some things that you should start doing include drinking more water and eating more fruits/vegetables. You’ve probably heard that a million times before but it is very effective in reaching weight loss/fitness goals. From there, you should be incorporating more protein into your diet. There are so many healthy foods out there so do your research and don’t be afraid to experiment in the kitchen.

3 – Use a bicycle regularly

Cycling is a great way to build up your exercise regime, especially if you have not got your body moving for some time. You can get affordable beach cruisers and use them around your neighborhood. In addition to helping you lose weight, cycling will help you build muscle in your legs and butt. Beach cruisers are simple but really effective and they burn a ton of calories. Using a bike is also a great way to build your stamina, which is really important if you move up your fitness a level, which you can read about in the next point.

4 – Find an exercise that you love

If you make yourself do something that you absolutely hate physically, you are not going to stick to it and your fitness goals will become absolutely impossible. There are so many different types of exercise out there so it’s important that you find something you enjoy.

Whether that be dancing, swimming, running, aerobics, exercise classes at your local gym or something else entirely. Perhaps there is a sport you are interested in trying? When you find what it is that you love, it won’t even feel like exercise at all and you will reach your goals before you know it.

5 -Don’t weigh yourself too often

The average person can fluctuate around five pounds in weight PER DAY. Checking your progress purely by the number on the scale is not a good idea, particularly when you are working out. Stick to weighing yourself once a week at the very most and instead, track your progress in other ways. This includes the way that your clothes fit you, taking measurements on certain areas of your body can also be more accurate. Photos are also a really good representation of how your body has changed over time. If you are holding onto weight, stay consistent and they will drop off eventually.

Conclusion

By following the tips that have been mentioned in this article, you are guaranteed to reach your goal. Keep in mind that getting in shape is a slow and steady process – there is no race to the finish line. Eating healthy in addition to regular exercise (classic bikes are a great way to get around), is the best way to go about it. Start today and you will soon see some inspiring results!

We hope that these fitness goal tips help you to reach your fitness goals this year! Here is a great article with Easy Workouts for Travel Nurses.

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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“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 Melissa Rissler

December 25, 2021

10526 Views

Things I’ve Learned in my 3+ Years of Travel Nursing

Posted on December 25, 2021December 26, 2021 by Melissa Rissler

One of our readers shares things learned about travel nursing from her 3+ years of experience.

Along the way, travel nurses pick up tips and tricks that make being a travel nurse easier or more efficient. Below you will find a fellow travel nurse’s tips learned along the way.

The Contract

Get your nursing license in hand before accepting a contract!
Please take pictures of all testing/ vaccination papers so you have them with you. Especially current flu shot if you don’t want to be forced to wear a mask!
Contracts are between you and the agency, NOT THE HOSPITAL! The agency has a separate contract with the hospital.
Verify how payroll is handled before orientation. Do you clock in? Do you fill it out on paper and fax It? Does the hospital send in your time?
Make sure you have guaranteed hours in your contract.
Ask if orientation week is included before your start date!! You don’t get a full 36 during orientation for some assignments, but you still want your stipend and hours!!!
Don’t take less than $20/hour!!!!!
Don’t take less than $1500. TAKE HOME a week. Anything less is not worth your time.
Have enough emergency money set aside just in case of cancellation.
Additional travel nurse contract tips.

During the interview

Discuss requested time off during your interview, not after!!!

Ask about orientation testing DURING YOUR INTERVIEW!!!! Most recruiters won’t know if you have to take a pass/fail EKG test, but the unit manager you interview with should.

Housing

Do not sign a lease or pay a large down payment on your housing until A.) You have seen the property. B.) you have made it through the 1st week of orientation. Extended stay hotels are a good option. There are horror stories everywhere of people who have paid money for housing and found they were canceled early or had to pass tests that they couldn’t pass and were not allowed to work.

If possible, get an RV of some sort… nothing better than coming home to your own bed!!! Usually

During the Assignment

Have fun and explore! Go on an adventure! Try new foods! My kids and I check out places that featured Diners, Drive-ins, and dives in just about every city we have traveled to. There is a pit BBQ place in Baltimore in the parking lot of a strip joint across the street from an adult bookstore in a very sketchy area, BUT THE FOOD WAS AMAZING!!!!

Be flexible… very, very, very flexible!!

Try not to do the “well at my staff job we did…” or ” at such and such hospital we did….” you don’t work there anymore, and it makes you look bad to the permanent staff. Unless patient safety is at risk, then, by all means, correct the issue!!!

We hope you found these tips about travel nursing helpful!

Happy Travels!!

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By Emily Bryant

December 24, 2021

4437 Views

An Expert’s Guide to Being a New Travel Nurse

Posted on December 24, 2021December 27, 2021 by Emily Bryant

Calling myself an Expert

Ok well calling myself an expert might be a bit of a stretch, but I have done this eight times in about two years, so the feeling is more familiar to me than to most people. It only takes about one week of being a travel nurse to hear just about every question you will ever get asked again since people seem to stick to the same twenty questions no matter which region, culture, or age group you are interacting with. What has been your favorite location so far? How does housing work? Do you get paid more? How do you get insurance? Can you travel anywhere you want? What agency do you use? How did you decide to choose this profession? Where are you going to travel to next? Can you take lots of time off? Is it hard?

Answering the Questions

I have answered these questions on repeat so many times that I sometimes want to pull out a prerecorded audio file of myself answering all these questions and hit play and walk away because I wish there could be some more interesting questions thrown in every once in awhile, but that last question always makes me pause and think. Is it hard? For about the first year or so of traveling, I would respond with a chipper “not really, the fun outweighs the difficult aspects.” Or maybe I would even squeak out a “there are some minor challenges, but I wouldn’t call it hard by any means.”

What I would tell every traveler

But if I have learned one thing on this journey that I wish I could tell every traveler out there, I think it would be that it is OK to admit that the process is hard. Travel nurses by nature are more independent than the average human, but that doesn’t mean that we need to put on an act pretending that we have it all together and that we don’t need any help. This life is hard. Starting over is hard. Making new friends is hard. Not understanding a new hospital’s process is hard. Subjecting yourself to new relationships is hard. Constantly engaging in small talk is hard. Being away from family is hard. Having no control over your shifts is hard. Leaving friends right when you make a connection is hard. Never feeling settled is hard.

It is worth it!

Don’t get me wrong, traveling is absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, better than ice cream worth it. The experience is incomparable to just about any other career option out there and has provided some of the sweetest memories I could have asked for, but I experienced a degree of freedom when I allowed myself to voice the words “yes, it is hard. Constantly being the new one and the one saying goodbye is hard.”

People love to help

However, one of the sweetest things I have learned in starting over 8 times in two years is that people love to help, but we oftentimes have to ask. In our independent and sometimes harsh stance, we can take while subjecting ourselves to new experiences, we build up walls around ourselves pretending to be ok and acting as we will just figure this out on our own. Well, let me tell you that just end you up alone in all your endeavors with a bitter outlook on life. In “The Power of Vulnerability,” Brene Brown talks about the freedom and joy that vulnerability can bring to your life by simply allowing people into the real nitty-gritty details of your life, not just the Instagram-worthy moments. People, especially nurses, are wired to want to help. Sometimes it just takes a simple statement that you are lonely and would love to be more involved with people in order for coworkers or strangers to welcome you into their social lives.

She talks about being truly and authentically yourself, no matter what the situation is. Her mantra has been one of the most powerful tools for me in this journey. She recommends that when you walk into a new or uncomfortable place, simply whisper to you on repeat “don’t puff up, don’t shrink down. Be authentically you.” I cannot tell you the power in those words. It is absolutely amazing the peace that saying brings me when I can repeat that in my head while walking into a new assignment.

We hope these tips for being new as a travel nurse help you along your journey! Do you have any tips for being new as a travel nurse? Comment them below.

Calling myself an Expert

Answering the Questions

I have answered these questions on repeat so many times that I sometimes want to pull out a prerecorded audio file of myself answering all these questions and hit play and walk away because I wish there could be some more interesting questions thrown in every once in a while, but that last question always makes me pause and think. Is it hard? For about the first year or so of traveling, I would respond with a chipper “not really, the fun outweighs the difficult aspects.” Or maybe I would even squeak out a “there are some minor challenges, but I wouldn’t call it hard by any means.”

What I would tell every traveler

It is worth it!

Don’t get me wrong, traveling is absolute, 100%, without a doubt, better than ice cream worth it. The experience is incomparable to just about any other career option out there and has provided some of the sweetest memories I could have asked for, but I experienced a degree of freedom when I allowed myself to voice the words “yes, it is hard. Constantly being the new one and the one saying goodbye is hard.”

People love to help

We hope these tips for being new as a travel nurse help you along your journey! Do you have any tips for being new as a travel nurse? Comment them below.

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

By Amanda Dudley

December 23, 2021

6289 Views

6 Tips On Maintaining Relationships As Travel Nurse

Posted on December 23, 2021December 8, 2021 by Amanda Dudley

Travel nursing comes with several exciting benefits and offers for most people within the occupation. You get to go on exciting trips and adventures, enjoy a variety of local cultures, and go home with a fat paycheck at the end of the day. However, it’s not all roses and sunshine over here.

While this occupation can be very beneficial, it might be at the detriment of your romantic relationships.

So how do you solve this? Well, whether you’ve just stepped into a new relationship or you’ve been with your partner for ages, there are ways for you to keep the strings of your relationship together as a road trip nurse.

Let’s explore these tips, shall we?

Set expectations and plan effectively

Although most relationships are often spur of the moment, it’s important to plan ahead and set expectations before you set out for your trip. Talk about what you need and expect from each other while you’re absent.

Whether you’re a travel nurse or simply dating a nurse, mapping out these expectations and plans will help reduce stress and the likelihood of experiencing avoidable issues. For instance, you can decide if either of you would take a trip to see the other party. You can also decide what your major communication channels would be. Do you prefer regular text messages or phone conversations?

Although mapping out these plans won’t necessarily eliminate the strain of long-distance relationships, it certainly makes it easier.

Maintain constant communication

Communication is the bedrock of every working relationship, and if you and your partner are long-distance, you’d need to communicate even more. As such, try as much as possible to stay in contact with your partner regardless of how stressful your day might have been.

Share updates about the little mundane moments in your day, such as what you had for breakfast or how you commuted to work. You can also share some of the significant moments you experienced at work.

To boost your communication with your partner, you could also consider using up all communication channels at your disposal. Use pictures, video calls, or texts to stay in contact with your partner. Remember: they can’t see or touch you, so you’ll need to make your presence felt as much as you can.

Remain positive

We get it: being in a long-distance relationship can be extremely difficult and have psychological effects on both parties. However, it’s important to keep your chin up and maintain a positive outlook on things. This will help you to put in the required effort and get you through on the bluest days. Even though your partner might not necessarily be frolicking with hot brunette women while you’re away, long absences can certainly put a dent in your relationship.

If you’re ever feeling blue about the distance between you and your partner, just remind yourself that your assignment is only temporary. Think of the positive memories that you’ve both shared, and in no time, it will all come to an end.

Surprise each other

While you’re away from your partner, it’s important to constantly remind them of how you feel about them by surprising them. You can do this by sending them small delightful packages that will brighten their entire day. For instance, you can send them a small lunch package or a tiny piece of jewelry.

In some cases, you could even send a small romantic note to their workplace to make them smile. This will help to strengthen your relationship and make each other’s hearts grow fonder.

Even though you and your partner are miles apart, you can still do things together in your free time. This will tighten the bond you share and reduce the loneliness that comes with long-distance relationships.

For instance, you can try playing shared online games like Words With Friends. You could even watch your favorite Netflix shows together.

Another way to lessen the strain of distance relationships is by recommending new books, games, or movies to your partner. This way, you both can try out new things and have fodder for your late-night conversations.

Make New Friends

Constant communication with your partner is great, but if you have no friends, you might feel even lonelier, which could further strain your relationship. As such, it’s important to make travel nurse friends who are in the same situation. When you converse and bond with people who can relate to your problems, the whole situation seems more bearable and short-lived.

If you aren’t sure where to find these friends, there are tons of travel nurse apps where you can find nurse friends and build a close-knit community.

Final Thoughts

Being in a relationship as a travel nurse is certainly not an easy journey for both you and your partner. Luckily, the tips outlined above will help you enjoy a strong, healthy relationship and an amazing career at the same time.

If it ever gets too tough, remember that it’s only for a short while!

We hope you found this article on tips for maintaining a relationship as a travel nurse. Are you a travel nurse in a relationship? Have you found ways to maintain the relationship, even while on assignment? Comment your tips below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse adventure? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for your 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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Step 1: Take stock of what’s important.

Step 2: Clearly define your goals.

Step 3: Prioritize your personal satisfaction.

Step 4: Update your CV, stat!

Step 5: Work on your network.

Step 6: Learn a new skill.

Step 7: Be ready to deal with change.

Step 8: Stay up to date on industry trends and developments.

ONE MORE CAREER TIP: GET STARTED TODAY!

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1 – Make a plan