Phoenix Rising – Nurse Burnout, Rising from the Ashes
Nurse Burnout is a real and deeply personal topic. The following is a personal account of one travel nurse’s experience in dealing with burnout and rising from the ashes. “And when all that was left was ashes, she would again clothe herself in flame, rising from the dust of her past to rekindle the spark of her future. She was a Phoenix, her own salvation; rebirthed, renewed, resurrected.” — LaRhonda Toreson I was burned out. Burnt to a crisp, really. I was bitter, angry, frustrated and tired. My back hurt, my feet and shoulders hurt; my soul hurt. It all…
Cards Nurses Play
TGN Supports Nurses Playing Cards… Throughout the drama caused by the insensitive statements from Senator Walsh, nurses nationwide have found a way to have a little fun. From the hundreds of memes created to some fun card games, only nurses can understand. Here are some Cards that Nurses Play The following is modified from a public facebook post by: Misty Collins BSN, RN Go Fish (for Nurses) Nurses fish for multiple things such as and are not limited to: supplies, veins, meds from the pharmacy, staffing, time for lunch and bathroom breaks, and typically our sanity by the end of…
Diagnosing Your Travel Nurse Pay Package- Part 1
Tips to determine your best Travel Nurse Pay Package options Many components make up a travel nurse’s pay package. When comparing pay packages, don’t just look at the numbers. Travel nurses should dig deeper to see what other benefits are provided. Those additional benefits and bonuses can result in thousands of realized dollars on each contract. Whether you’re ready to take on your first contract in travel nursing—or perhaps you’ve been at it for a while—determining the best compensation package can be daunting. With so many variables and agencies making promising claims, it’s important to understand what will work best…
How the Empathy of Mothers Helps in Being a Better Travel Nurse
Empathy: the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation, as found in the Cambridge Dictionary. An emotion that makes you kinder, more affectionate, and more caring. A feeling that grows when becoming a mother. Almost all females undergo fundamental changes during pregnancy and after birth, as Scientific American found. ‘Motherhood changes the structure of the female brain, making mothers attentive to their young and better at caring for them.’ Therefore you can say that deep empathy is a privilege restricted to mothers. It benefits the child,…
Staying Healthy on the Road as a Travel Nurses
There’s been a lot in the news, and on the web about nursing and the nursing lifestyle. Most of the information has been helpful, enlightening, or entertaining, and overall positive. But I’ve ran across several articles this week on a subject that I think effects those in the travel nurse community even more than conventional nurses, and it’s not so positive. Staying Healthy as a Travel Nurse According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses have the fourth highest rate of injuries or sickness on the job of all listed professions. If this isn’t bad enough, nurses scored below the…
The Top 5 Podcasts Nurses Should be Listening to
I don’t know if you’ve hopped on the podcast bandwagon yet, but I am definitely a fan. For me, my favorite time to listen to a podcast is when I am in the car for an extended amount of time, and as a travel nurse there may be a few times you find yourself in that situation. Whether you need a quick laugh from someone who understand the in’s and out’s of your profession, or you’re wanting to keep in the know with current technology and advancements in medicine, you can find this and just about anything in between. Here…
Treatment: Shift Work Disorder
If you feel that you or someone you know suffers from Shift Work Disorder, you probably want to know how to treat it. Below you will find some interventions that have been successful for others in the treatment of SWD. Treatments for Shift Work Disorder “Prescribed sleep/wake scheduling” Experts agree that there is no such thing as an “ideal” night work schedule, but some schedules may be better than others. For example, you can rotate shifts every two weeks in a forward (delaying) direction was found to be easier than rotation in a backward (advancing) direction. Some experts have advocated short…
How Does One Become A Travel Nurse?
A friend asked me today “How does one become a travel nurse?” I have given it some consideration and come to the following step-by-step instructions (please note that this is all in FUN): Divorce your husband. If you choose not to divorce him, realize that he will probably divorce you before your finished with Nursing School.Give custody of your children to your parents or another responsible adult. If you think you’ll have time for Nursing School and KIDS….think again.Acclimate yourself to sleeping only 2-4 hours a day. Between the reading assignments, the studying for exams, clinical, and two to three…
7 Ways to Prevent Dry Eyes While Traveling By Plane
Guest Post By Aaron Barriga: Do you travel often and experience dry eyes? Have you been ignoring it but wondered why this happens? Due to the control in air pressure and dry environment, it can take a toll on your eyes. Dry eyes, if not treated, can prevent your eyes from producing enough tears, which will make you feel irritated, and your eyes feel itchy. However, the good news is that you can ease the discomfort while on a plane by keeping these tips in mind. These 7 tips will also be vital if you are traveling with kids that…
Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers
This holiday gift guide for the travel nurse will help you get the perfect gift for the traveler in your life. The holidays are quickly approaching. Halloween is gone, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. With less than 7 weeks until Christmas / Hanukkah, the time for making your holiday purchases is now. This Gypsy Gift guide will help make your holiday shopping easier. Gift Guide for Male Travel Nurse Badge Reels – Etsy has a lot of badge reels that are specifically designed for the more masculine. For the male nurse with a beard, there are many ‘travel’…