Nurses can work with international development organizations in refugee camps, or areas without access to quality medical care. Their primary role as nurses means they provide front-line care to people from a variety of walks of life. They may not require master’s degree education to work in international development contexts, but the work is some of the most challenging available to nurses or any medical professionals.

The main objective of travel nursing is to help fill nursing shortages in certain hospitals or health-care facilities. Although many traditional travel nursing positions are temporary (nurses work on contract until the nursing shortage is addressed), working as a traveling nurse in international development could be a career choice for many nurses. Effective development efforts usually take longer to establish a sustainable result, so traveling nurses can expect to work for longer contract periods than traditional traveling nurses.

International development assignments for nurses can vary in duration depending on circumstances. Nurses who work with organizations that provide mostly emergency medical care may find themselves working in locations stricken by natural disaster. After helping the area regain its footing and re-establish its medical community’s capacity to provide quality care, they may move on to another area. On the other hand, nurses may work in local clinics or hospitals for years on end if they choose.

The requirements of nursing also include educating local community health workers on the importance of sanitation, disease prevention, nutrition, treating common conditions, and how to identify and assist malnourished children. Nurses in international development may also be charged with supervising local employees as they gain the skills necessary to successfully continue nursing work on their own. They may need to write manuals on topics in such a way that they are easily understandable to local medical staff as well.

Reports, writing papers, and giving community classes on various health-related topics are also important parts of their duties. For example, nurses may help conduct research on the particular health education needs of particular communities and partner with government and international development organizations to design and implement a program to address those needs.

Some nurses in international development work their way up the ranks to supervising other international development organization staff or to focus mainly on training and administrative work. They may no longer work directly with patients as much as they did in the beginning. Significant experience and training as a nurse are required to work with an international development organization, and it takes even more experience and training to become a nurse administrator in that context.

A great opportunity for nurses is through working with Medicines Sans Frontiers, an organization which seeks to bring formidable health specialists to different parts of the world to contribute their expertise. In addition to its need for doctors, MSF concurrently recruits seasoned nurses to provide health care and public health needs to developing areas. Requirements for becoming a nurse in MSF are demanding; qualified individuals must have at least two years of work experience and are willing to cope with the dynamic, fast-paced work environment that they are thrown in.

Nurses who work overseas provide critical care to people without access to quality, affordable health care. They are always in demand in locations around the world. Their work is vital to the success of any medical health program in any developing country.

Blow your nose frequently: by blowing your nose often rather than sniffing mucus back into your head.

It’s that time of the year again when our schedules are getting hectic, the weather is inconsistent and the common cold and flu can get the best of us. As a Traveling Nurse you are on the go and it’s very important that you stay healthy and feel good on and off the job. Let’s review some of the symptoms of the common cold and nasty flu and also look at some suggestions to help prevent you from feeling under the weather this winter.

Symptoms of colds and flus

It’s the yearly colds and virus that can put us down for a period of time and makes us feel uncomfortable. Colds usually are not dangerous to your overall health but may set you back with symptoms including:

• Generic stuffy nose
• Congested headaches
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Decreased appetite

Colds generally settle in the nose. While symptoms usually last between 1 and 5 days, most often symptoms are over within 7 days with possibly a lingering cough for another week.

Flus are similar to colds but you may have symptoms which can make your entire body feel sick instead of just settling in the nose. Flus can take many forms but the most common form includes the following symptoms:

• Abrupt high fever ranging from 102 to 106
• Body aches
• Flushed face
• Loss of energy
• Dizziness
• Vomiting

After 2 to 4 days the symptoms of the entire body begin to slow down and respiratory symptoms begin to increase. Viruses can settle anywhere in the respiratory track which produces symptoms of a cold.

The main difference between a cold and the flu is that you have a better chance of preventing the flu. Every year scientists gather data to produce vaccines to prevent the flu. Vaccine results can vary from year to year but are a valuable tool in prevention.

DrGreene.com – Caring for the Next Generation

Home remedies for the cold and flu:

• Drink plenty of water: by drinking plenty of water it helps to cleanse your body and wash out your cold and flu. Also, try adding a little lemon to help balance the pH and keep your body hydrated.
• Feed a cold, starve a fever: The best way to remove congestion is to reduce your food intake. You are ill because of congestion and if you feed a cold, you need to starve a fever. Drink plenty of fresh fruit juices, vegetable juice or broth to help the hunger.
• Blow your nose frequently: by blowing your nose often rather than sniffing mucus back into your head, you will loosen up the pressure improving your breathing.
• Rest: Getting plenty of rest helps your body strengthen your immune system which will fight off colds and flu’s.
• Take a hot shower: Hot showers or a bath helps to moisturize your nasal passages and releases congestion which can make you feel better.
• Gargle: An easy home remedy is to gargle; it is a simple way to moisten a sore throat. Try adding a teaspoon of salt in warm water, the salt reduces the tickle and scratching in your throat.
• Use salve under your nose: Salve can help save the skin around your nose from frequent tissue use, using a mentholated salve can have the added benefit of clearing your breathing passages too.

9 Tips to Treat Colds and Flu the ‘Natural’ Way
6 Quick Tips to Avoid Getting Sick and What to Do if You Do
7 tips for new travelers

Reasons to keep active

You may be surprised by the physical and internal changes that can take place when you stay active. As you already know, you will be able to lower your risk of many diseases including high blood pressure, strokes and diabetes. In addition, it will help you on the job. Research has shown that exercise can help you be more productive, and even friendlier on the job.*

Whether it is walking, running, weight lifting, yoga, Pilates or countless other exercise alternatives, the key is to get moving. By doing just 30 minutes of exercise three times a week you will be able to see improvements in your athleticism, balance, strength and flexibility. Not only does achieving a fitness goal lead to more self-confidence and self-esteem, but you will also notice improved overall muscle tone, more energy, and more stamina. Regular exercise can also help you sleep better, giving you more energy and less stress during your busy workday and life. Here are a few web sites with more general fitness information:

Fitness Online
Women Fitness
Fitness Magazine
Self
MSN: Men’s Fitness

Recommendations for keeping active

Going for a walk or run around your new location is a great way to experience the culture of an area.

Just because you are on the go as a travel nurse does not mean you can’t still get a good workout on the road. Even though you may not belong to a gym or are unable to take a lot of equipment with you on your travel nursing assignments, there are still good exercise alternatives available. Resistance bands or exercise videos/DVDs are easy to pack and can be very effective. And don’t forget your running shoes. Going for a walk or run around your new location is a great way to experience the culture of an area.

Visit these sites for information, advice and recommendations for keeping active without fancy equipment. Whether you are just a beginner or have been working out for years, there is something for everyone:

weightlossforgood: Exercise in the home
MedicineNet: No weight workout
WebMD: No Gym Required: How to Get Fit at Home
eDiets.com: Weight Lifting without Weights
Women Today Magazine: Workouts That Travel

Imagine the possibilities as an international Travel Nurse. Forget about visiting the beaches of Florida, what about the beaches of Ibiza or Sydney. Maybe you like Indian food, so how about sitting down to dinner in a casbah somewhere in New Dehli? These scenarios and countless more await you if you choose to become an international Traveling Nurse. Not only can you experience the world and all it has to offer, you’ll be gaining valuable life lessons as well as clinical ones too.

Spin the globe and point to where you want to take your next job as a Travel Nurse.

It’s no surprise how many options you have if you choose to travel as a Nurse around the world. You can apply to be part of the medical staff for cruise companies, or accompany those who are ill and headed back home or on the way to receive treatment. There are of course many parts around the world without efficient healthcare and you can choose to volunteer your services in countries throughout Africa and Asia. The need for healthcare professionals is a dire one and you should have no problems finding some sort of way to put your expertise to use.

If leaving the country for any long period of time has got you feeling a little queasy, there will always be the trusty ‘ol Travel Nursing job. If you’ve reached your limits working in hospitals, there are still options too. Have you ever considered being a staff nurse for one of the hundreds of kid’s camps across the country? These positions are usually only available during the summer, but that might just be the right amount of time away from the politics and routines of a permanent position. Plus, you’ll be around children all the time and you can’t help but feed off of their energy!

So if you’re looking to take your knowledge to greater lengths, check out these companies and associations who can certainly point you in the right direction, whether it be north, south, east or west. Bon voyage!

Nurses With a Purpose: Use your nursing skills to make a difference for people all over the world through this organization. Volunteer to travel to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and experience healthcare a world away.

Flying Nurses International: Get the chance to travel all over while enjoying sharing your nursing experience through this company. You’ll be set up to escort those who need nursing assistance as they travel, taking them there safely and letting you explore the world.

Dialysis at Sea: If you love the open water and want to get paid for cruising this may be the way to do it. This company provides dialysis services to cruisers so they’ll be healthy while enjoying a vacation. They need nurses specializing in the field onboard, and you could fit the bill.

Mercy Ships: You won’t get paid to work on a Mercy Ships operation, but you will gain a insight into the health issues of other countries and get some great experience while seeing the world. You can sign up for assignments that last anywhere from two weeks to a year.

Vanter Cruise Health Services: Enjoy a Caribbean Cruise while getting paid with jobs through this agency. You’ll be set up with cruise ships in need of medical personnel so you can travel and work at the same time.

Association of Camp Nurses: Want to get away just for the summer? You may be able to with a job as a camp nurse. This association provides loads of info as well as job listings.

Many of the online sites not only offer CE courses, but also advanced practice nursing degree and nurse refresher courses. Depending on which state your have licenses in, you may need to complete a certain amount of CE hours to keep your licenses current. If you’re uncertain about your qualifications, check out HealthGuideUSA for links to all state nursing boards to see which courses you need to complete.

Depending on which CE provider you choose, you’ll most likely be able to complete many of the course in the comforts of your own home. No books, missed work, time away from your family, and no travel. There’s no better way to keep up with the ever changing landscape of Nursing. Check with your Travel Nursing company to see if they offer assistance or reimbursement when signing up, it will make things that much easier!

According to RN.com, more than 80% of nurses interviewed mentioned that their income hiked by almost 15% after they took the choice of advance nursing education

Below is a list of the most trusted sources for CE classes. Please leave a comment below and tell us about your experiences with any of the “schools” listed.

RN.com: Nursing Continuing Education and Travel Nurse Information

Nurse.com: Nurse CE, Self-Study Courses and Free CE

NurseCEU.com: Nursing Continuing Education Directory

NetCE.com: Continuing Education Online

I’m sure you’ve seen at least one of these online coupon sites, like LivingSocial or Groupon, or even these invite only discount retailers like Gilt.com, selling everything for your house and home to shoes for your feet and even vacation packages. There’s pretty much a discount available for anything you so desire.

As a traveling nurse, you may find yourself in some remote locations where there may not be access to big shopping centers and malls, but thankfully there’s the internet. At sites like Valpak.com, plug in a zip code and get a list of stores in the zip code with printable coupons. There may be a chance stores in your area are participating within the online market. It’s worth a shot to save you some valuable bucks! If not, there’s always the online shopping experience, which is basically an electronic mall, full of everything you could ever want to buy…Ever.

Sign up today to start receiving discounts and deals to thousands of businesses, on and off line.

Digital coupons typically work in two ways. On Coupons.com, store owners create coupons, with unique serial numbers, that can be printed and redeemed in stores. Coupons can also have unique promotional codes that shoppers can use on e-commerce Web sites to receive discounts on online purchases. RetailMeNot lets users post and share such digital coupons on its site.

“No matter how much money you make, you always love a great deal,” says Doug Clinton, a research analyst who tracks the daily-deal industry for Piper Jaffray, an investment bank. “There’s not a stigma attached to pulling out a Groupon vs. pulling out a coupon you clipped from the newspaper. That makes you look totally out of touch.”

The landscape for couponing is changing daily and soon you’ll see more integration within your social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. It could lead to a coupon overload and you may start to ignore them simply because it’s too much to take in, but for now, it’s pretty easy to find deals to whatever you desire. So say goodbye to the Wednesday and Sunday papers full of pages and pages of coupons you have to snip out and say hello to your email inbox!

Here’s a wonderful list of coupon sites compiled from the thebudgetfashionista.com

RetailMeNot.com. With an easy search function, a shopping forum and, oh yeah, loads of coupons to great stores we love, RetailMeNot.com is one of our go-to bookmarked sites.

Rather Be Shopping.com. This site gives you several options to find what you’re looking for, including alphabetical listing of stores, the most current deals, and a section for free shipping (which, especially this time of year, is our favorite).

Yahoo!Deals Coupons. Totally easy to navigate (and totally uncluttered by all those annoying ads), click under “clothing” for current fashion-related deals. You can also check out storewide sales, weekly ads, and save coupons to use later.

CouponMountain.com. We like this site because they feature some of our favorite stores, and gives you lots of different options to find what you’re looking for. You can also submit deals you’ve found to share the wealth . . .

Anycoupons.com. It’s a little overwhelming at first glance, but clicking around we find lots of great deals. Our favorite part is that when we select the store we want, Anycoupons.com frequently lists multiple deals for that store, so we can pick the one (or more) that suits our needs.

Fatwallet.com. Browse for coupons by store for multiple current deals, or by most recent, expiring, free shipping, and right now, holiday deals. There’s also a “compare prices” feature so you can know if you’re getting the best bargain, and a forum where folks post a whole host of other deals as well.

DealCatcher.com. Features both online and printable coupons (which we love) and rebate notices. Subscribe to the RSS Feed to keep abreast of the latest coupons available without overloading your inbox with another newsletter.

CouponWinner.com. We like this site because it’s well-organized and the coupon codes are prominantly displayed in red (so we don’t have to pull out the magnifying glass to locate them). Also, specific categories like “Handbags & Accessories” and “Plus Size Apparel” makes narrowing down our search so much easier. Finally, the CouponScout tool is fab—compare up to five retailers to see who’s got the best deal, in a click or two. Nice.

CouponAlbum.com. Our favorite part of this site is that we can click sub-categories under our main choice (meaning when we’re in women’s apparel, we can narrow down to coupons, then to free shipping. Quick and easy with tons of great stores we shop at anyway.

You’ve probably walked past people who are living on the streets or know someone or some family who struggles due to unemployment or an unforeseen illness or catastrophe. Perhaps you’ve seen images from the recent devastation tornadoes left behind in Missouri and Alabama. Or, maybe you want to protect forests from development or rivers from pollution.

Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change lives, including your own. If you’re feeling frustrated or overwhelmed by the news of a disaster, volunteering to help can be a great way to cope. If you’d like to support a cause but can’t afford to donate money, you can donate your time instead.

Helping others in need is such an important part of the American way of life and unfortunately there are countless opportunities for volunteering in your own communities as well as abroad and being a Nurse means you have a certain skill set that is needed the world over.  So how can decide which cause you’d like to volunteer for?

Obviously, your talents are needed everywhere, but that doesn’t mean you have volunteer in a position that is similar to your daily life. Maybe you could put your other talents to use and volunteer for something completely different.

• Help kids learn and grow.
  
• Give back over the holidays.
• Play with pets at a local animal shelter.
• Volunteer for a political campaign.
• Help the environment.
• Support a health-related cause.

Suppose you have more than one thing that you truly would love to do…So find a way to combine the two.  For example, if you love kids and are great at arts and crafts, visit your local children’s hospital and offer to lead art activities for young patients. This is just one of many examples you could put your spare time to.

Here are a few great volunteering resources that will take you far and wide, or keep it local.

A Broader View – A Broader View community-based projects in Countries in development allow volunteers to live and work side by side with local people in a range of fields such as orphanage work, day care, community development, teaching and much more.

VolunteerMatch – VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement.

Serve.org – Serve.gov is your online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own. Use Serve.gov to help you do your part. America’s foundation will be built one community at a time –- and it starts with you.

You’d be surprised what all there is to do right in your backyard and surrounding areas if you just do a little research. Taking time to step outdoors to enjoy the ideal summer weather to attending a local festival or fair, there are plenty of ways to make the most of summer—without spending a lot of time or money!

The Great Outdoors

Wherever it is that you live you can find a multitude of activities to get you outside and moving this summer. Make the most of the sunny days ahead cool off by visiting your local pool or waterpark, or, if you want to be a little more active check out a State or National Park that may be nearby and hike some trails or maybe do a little horseback riding.

This time of year is perfect for trying out a new activity or sport. Depending on where you’re located, maybe try your hand at some water sports like water skiing or surfing. You could even look to rent a canoe or kayak too. If you’re land-locked, why not get yourself a bicycle and hit some local trails, couple that with a few friends and a picnic and you’ve got yourself one fun day!

If you’re more inclined to observe than partake, then see if there are any local sports teams to catch. The summer is chock full of Major League Baseball games as well as Major League Soccer, so see if any teams are close-by and perhaps make a little roadtrip of it. If sports isn’t your bag, check out some local festivals or farmer’s markets. This time of year is also a great time for music lovers as there are a wealth of music festivals and concerts coming up. Check out Pollstar.com to see if any of your favorites are coming through your town or to a nearby locale.

If you’d rather keep outdoor activities to a minimum, why not set up lounge chair in the backyard and start a new book. Maybe fire up the grill and have an impromptu BBQ with some close friends. This is what summer is all about!

Staycation

Check out local campgrounds in your area for summer fun.

There’s much to do during the summer months and you’d be surprised at just how much your own town has to offer. With gas prices on the rise, staying close home makes more sense than ever and who knows, you just may discover a new love for your hometown. I know when people ask me about the city I live in and what there is to do, I haven’t done probably half of them…So check out the museums and parks and peruse your local rags for weekend events as there seems to be some sort of celebration going on all the time.

Maybe you want to get away, but really can’t afford the time so why not hole up in a local bed & breakfast for the weekend, or check in to a local hotel and enjoy all the amenities it has to offer that you normally wouldn’t have a chance to otherwise. There’s nothing better than being waited on hand and foot. Did somebody order room service?

I know from experience I do not like camping, but will do it if need be, I mean if it’s really, really necessary. I don’t want to explain, but I had an experience as a 5 year old that has stuck with me since. I hear camping with friends is a good time and there are many State and National Parks all around, each offering something unique. If sleeping in a tent doesn’t sound like fun, check out the availability of cabins for rent. While traveling is a big part of summer, you can even look to get a summer rental home. Gather some of your closest friends, pick a good location and voila, you have yourself a summer activity that’s sure to be fun!

Summer is a part of the year I think many people look forward to and it’s the best time to get outside and enjoy yourself. With some careful planning and research, you can keep yourself and your friends busy, all the while having the time of your lives! So get out there and soak up those rays!

Yet, when it comes to calming their mind and body, Travel Nurses fail to follow their own advice.

Travel Nurses are great at caring for others, they often fail miserably at caring for themselves. Traveling Nurses push their needs aside and focus their energy on patients and their families, their own spouses and children and their communities to the detriment of their physical, mental and emotional well-being. This is not a good thing.

Simple breathing exercises and stretches through the day can do wonders for your body & soul.

Being a Travel Nurse takes a certain mentality where you often put others ahead of you, it just comes with the territory. But how long can you continue to ignore the needs of your own body before it becomes more of a hazard than help? It’s obvious that in order to be at your best, you have to feel your best and taking time for ones self through the day can do wonders for your mind, body and soul.

One technique in particular can help you stay grounded throughout the day…Have you ever heard of yoga? Well, it’s not like you need to break out the yoga mat in the middle of the ICU unit or anything like that. No, all you need is just a few moments to use certain elements from this practice. Breathing and minor little stretches here and there can and will do wonders for your body and mind.

All you need is to find a little quiet place and in less than five minutes you can recharge yourself and get through the strenuous day of a Travel Nurse, or any Nurse for that matter. If you don’t have five minutes, do yourself a favor and do some neck rolls or stretches right there behind the Nurses station, or just take some deep, deep breaths and collect yourself.

To help Traveling Nurses rein in stress and clear their minds, practice pause breathing. To perform this technique, inhale imagining you’re filling up your whole torso like a balloon. Pause for a few seconds and notice how you are feeling, then exhale pulling your abdomen in toward the spine, pausing again on the out breath. Follow this cycle for about seven breaths. Pause breathing can easily be practiced throughout the day, and, although it’s simple, nurses can reap loads of benefits from this practice.

These simple, daily practices can do a lot for helping you manage your life and get you through the grueling hours at the hospital. The simple act of getting in tune with your body and mind may reap huge rewards. Always remember to listen to your self, your body and take heed to what is going on, doing so is probably the best thing you can do.

For more relaxation tips and other helpful stress reducing practices, visit YogaNurse.com – helping caregivers give sacred service, enlightened health care & make a difference.

The contest is already under way and users may submit as many designs as they’d like using the simple yet powerful Fibers.com design tool, or upload your own using any number of design programs like Adobe Illustrator and so forth. You don’t have to be a graphic designer, you just have to have a good idea! Fibers.com has everything you need to create your own contest entry with over 500 fonts and 10,000 images.

Your t-shirt idea can win you an iPad 2 or one of the other great prizes!

All entrants will receive a $10 gift card towards their next purchase at Scrubadoo.com (Limit one per person). The contest ends May 12, the birthday of the founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale. Three winners will be chosen to win over $1000 in prizes, including an Apple iPad 2. Winners are selected through a panel of judges and a combination of votes and comments. It is encouraged to promote your entry using any number of social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

It’s pretty easy to enter, so get your creative caps on and design the next best Nursing t-shirt, ever!

Visit the following link to view, participate, and vote in the contest: http://www.fibers.com/contests/nurses-week-2011

Have you ever woken up in a cold sweat after having a nightmarish dream about your job? Maybe you show up naked at the hospital or you’ve missed a career-changing deadline, each of these dreams could have a deeper meaning about how you feel about your job? So what are your work dreams telling you about your relationship with your job? Here are a few examples of what your dreams may be telling you, or you’re telling yourself.

Being late for work: Dreaming about being late can represent a lack of control over your career. It can manifest as a fear of change in your work life, a feeling of unworthiness of your job or an upcoming promotion, or something as simple as a vague feeling of disorganization. It can also symbolize a feeling of needing to impress the management and falling short when trying to do so, or a disdain for your hospital or facility.

Missing a deadline: One of the most common work dreams, missing a deadline can mean you feel unprepared and almost lost at work, and can even represent a feeling of worthlessness or inability to do your job. It can also mean that you feel disorganized and scattered at work. It speaks to the core of your work place self-esteem.

Going to work naked: Showing up in a public place naked is a pretty common dream for most people, but the interpretation can differ from person to person. Clothes symbolize a need to cover up. If you are embarrassed about being naked at work, it may mean you are attempting to mask a secret from your personal life or something you don’t want your coworkers to know about.

Many dreamers describe the ability to fly in their dreams as an exhilarating, joyful, and liberating experience.

These are just a few examples of dreams/nightmares one might have about their jobs. According to a Staples Small-Business Survey: …more than half of small-business professionals said that work has actually become part of their dreams. Fifty-one percent of those surveyed said that they “sleepwork” (i.e. dream about work), and nearly 70 percent of those “sleepworkers” report they wake up and put their “work dreams” to action.

The survey says our work-related dream/nightmares are most frequently about, in order of frequency:

1. Arguing with the boss.
2. Being late for an important meeting.
3. Lusting after a colleague.
4. Having to make an unexpected presentation.
5. Going to work naked.
6. Losing all their files in a fatal computer crash.
7. Getting fired.
8. Killing the boss.

While these kinds of dreams may highlight your subconscious emotional reactions to situations at work, they can also present solutions to these situations — or, at the very least, provide you an outlet through which you can vent these frustrations. In other words, your dreams are exaggerated. So, for instance, the fact that you imagined yourself failing miserably on a project doesn’t predict that you will fail — nor does it mean that you are inept or crazy — even if you did show up naked, lose all your files and lust after a colleague.

Being a travel nurse is similar to taking a vacation, with the many wonderful locations and time off. But it’s all not quite fun and games. So why not escape it all, just for few days and give your batteries that well needed recharge? Taking time for one’s self may be difficult for some, but it’s something you should strongly consider given the magnitude of your occupation. Dealing with sick patients, their families, long hours, etc., I’d say you deserve a vacation.

Picture yourself here.

So where should you go, what should you do? Your options are endless, but let me point you in the direction of a few ideas geared towards Traveling Nurses like yourself. The website GreatNurses.com which describes itself as, “your home for career enhancement. Our products, seminars and vacations are all focused on helping nurses get the professional information they need in a fun and entertaining way. There’s no better place to further your nursing career!” GreatNurses.com hosts a couple vacation getaways a year and each is coupled with continuing education classes, worth up to 6 credit hours. Now I know it’s not all fun and games, but this year the locales for each are pretty sweet. Check them out… The next trip is scheduled for May 16-20 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, so hurry up and claim your fun in the sun!

Here’s another combination vacation and continuing education idea. Check out CruiseAcademySeminars.com, here they offer Travel Nurses and other healthcare professionals the opportunity to earn CE credits while on vacation. Again, it’s not all play, but the perspectives you’ll have will definitely beat any classroom you could think of.

Of course, you don’t have to go where there are more nurses around you at all times. Like I said, you need a break from it all so check out these other sites for a getaway you won’t soon forget. Bon voyage!

Disney Vacation Packages – Nurses & Military personnel receive discounted rates at either the Swan or Dolphin resort hotels.

Travelocity Last Minute Getaways- Big Savings. You can get away this weekend and save up to 70%!

Medical Solutions invites you to test your cinematic prowess and predict this year’s winners of the 83rd Academy Awards^®. The Academy Awards Prediction Contest is open to all Medical Solutions traveling nurse, techs and therapists as well any other current medical professionals.

It’s simple to play and easy to win…If you know your movies. Pick your favorites in all 20 categories, and if you have the most correct, you win! Don’t worry, a speech won’t be necessary.

Watch the Academy Awards this Sunday, February 27th @ 6 CST

One entry per person. All entrants must “Like” Medical Solutions’ fan page to participate.

Grand Prize:
Blu-Ray Home Theater System ($450 value)

1^st Runner-Up:
FLIP Ultra HD Camera package ($200 value)

2^nd Runner-Up:
One-Year Subscription to NetFlix ($120 value)

The contest begins Monday, February 21 and closes on Friday, February 25^th @ 5:00 p.m. CST.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to Medical Solutions, Inc. and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for sending subscribers company updates and announcements.

If you can't go for a jog, try walking briskly through the halls.

What about your blood pressure? What about your stress? What about your own body and heart? Have you ever given thought that the life you lead now may not be conducive to a healthy life later? It’s known that nurse’s schedules can be rather crazy and can be difficult to squeeze in time for the gym. So what can you do? Well there are many things you can do during a typical day on the job, or even driving in the car on your way to your new travel nursing assignments. Set aside 10 minutes each day for these simple body building, stress reducing exercises and the results will quickly show up in your energy level and more importantly, in your mirror reflection.

To see how heart healthy you are, take a heart health assessment at the American Heart Association’s website.

Please share any other exercises or tips you use to keep a sound body and mind in our comment section below.

Having said that, starting an “office romance” in nursing and especially travel nursing can present a serious set of challenges in an already challenging environment: Your new relationship can be distracting, especially if you interact with this person frequently while on the job and in turn can make your coworkers uncomfortable and sometimes even hostile towards you and your partner.

There's a time and place for everything.

So what are some of the best practices you can do to avoid these mishaps of love? Well, as a travel nurse, your time there will be short barring any extensions or permanent placement so an “office romance” may be difficult to come by… But not impossible. Upon arrival a traveling nurse is usually given a brief orientation covering hospital policies and practices, but one topic may not be covered. Make sure to double check the policy on in-house dating, both written and unwritten. No one wants a sexual harassment charge on their permanent record.

It’s important to maintain your existing relationships with friends in the workplace, especially coming in as a travel nurse. Your time is short to make a good impression. Make it known that you value you coworkers and you would do nothing to jeopardize what you have. At the same time, try to refrain from gossiping about information you may have learned from your “special relationship”, especially if they are from a different department or hold a higher position than you.

One of the most important things you can do is keep your lips sealed. Whether the relationship is good or has soured, keep your affairs to yourself. The last thing you want to do is tarnish the reputation of those involved. Keep the details to yourself.

Lastly, be professional. There’s a time and place for displays of affection and the workplace is certainly not one of them. If you happen to be dating a superior or someone on your level, call them by their professional title and name, no nicknames. That will only lead to eye rolls from spectators and worse yet, making others uncomfortable.

Dating a coworker definitely doesn’t have to mean you’re flirting with disaster.  But ultimately, in nursing as in life, discretion is usually the better part of valor.

Here are some pro’s and con’s of dating in the workplace. Is love in the workplace really worth the price? Sometimes, it can be.

Let’s hear from you, how do you feel about relationships in the workplace? What were some of your experiences, whether your own or what you’ve witnessed?

Do you use your career, money, hobbies, or frequent travel as a way to live a secret life?

Lights, camera, action!

A major U.S. TV network is currently looking for men and women living secret lives who are ready to free themselves and reveal the truth on a documentary style television project. If your secret life (or the secret life of someone you know) has simply gotten out of control, and you’re ready to finally come clean, we want to hear from you.

If you think the life you lead qualifies for this, email Jonathan Tanzman at
Reveal TV Project.

Who knows, perhaps you’ll be a part of must see TV this fall! Let us know the progress if you choose to see if you’re who they’re looking for. Good luck and break a leg!

So what does this mean to you?  Here is a little bit of data for nursing aids & assistants (NAA) on salary projections, and what states pay the most. 

• NAA’s on average made about $24,000 in 2010, this is expected to increase to $24,600 in 2011
• Pack your warm weather scrubs!  Alaska has the highest average salary for NAA’s in 2010 at $15.32/hr or about 33% more than the national average. 
• The total NAA job pool will grow about 2% in 2011 to around 1,552,000 jobs. 

Registered Nurses have seen similar trends: 

• According to the In 2010 RN’s on average made on average about $63,800, this is expected to increase to $65,000 on average in 2011.
• California, which was not on the NAA top 10 list, had the highest average RN salaries at almost 30% above the average or $39.86/hr. 
• The lowest paying state?  South Dakota at $16.53/hr.

Check out the rest of the best & worst 10 below

Registered Nurses Pay for 2011

Best:      

1. California: $39.86
2. Hawaii: $39.34
3. Massachusetts: $37.39
4. Maryland: $36.38
5. New Jersey: $35.85
6. D.C.: $ 35.36
7. Alaska: $35.33
8. Oregon:$ 35.30
9. Nevada: $$35.23
10. New York: $34.66

Worst:

1. South Dakota: 16.35
2. Iowa: $16.36
3. Mississippi: 16.42
4. Arkansas: $16.44
5. West Virginia: 16.52
6. Kansas: $16.74
7. Oklahoma: $16.76
8. Wyoming: $16.88
9. Louisiana: $17.50
10. North Dakota: $17.60

*All hourly wage data is hourly and was collected from monster.com.

Each and every year as December draws to a close, many of us usually make some sort of New Year’s resolution. It’s pretty easy to spout out the things you’d like to see change in your life, but much more difficult to actually attain them. Year after year we tell ourselves we’re going to do this or stop doing that and after many unsuccessful tries, we may just stop making any sort of resolution all together. Why is that? Because most of the time we never keep to our promises, our resolutions because we have no plan.

Make promises to yourself that you can keep.

If you are really serious about a resolution this year, you can succeed with just a little help and a planned approach. A lot of the time our resolutions are pretty lofty and great in theory, but can be difficult because there usually are changes that must be made in order to achieve what we’ve identified as our goals and personal promises. To ensure that you can attain your goals you must be reasonable and realistic. If your plans involve few, smaller changes rather than large life altering ones you’ll be more likely to follow through because you won’t feel defeated by what may seem to be hopeless.

Besides a plan, you could also enlist a “support system” of friends and family to help you stay on task. For instance, say a group of traveling nurses you’ve worked with wants to improve their physical health and well being. You can all combine your goals and help one another by taking baby steps together and celebrating every small goal that ultimately leads to the bigger picture. By doing so, you will help everyone stay motivated and before you know it you’ll be looking back at 2011 and say, “take that New Year!”

Here is a site with a bunch of fun facts surrounding New Year’s day… It’s full of tips, fun facts, famous birthdays on January 1st and a lot more… Check it out for some fun!

Other tips on how to achieve your New Year’s resolutions.

Fresh food for nurses on the go!

The answer is the nation’s only gourmet home-meal-delivery service offering an all-natural, preservative-free, flash-frozen diet system for even the most discriminating of palates presents a one-of-a-kind program designed to conveniently keep your calorie in-take in check during splurging season.  Freshology, which has been grabbing headlines since the program launched in 2005 as the diet delivery that served up weight loss for Jennifer Lopez, Ricki Lake, Mel B and many others, launches Lifestyle-Grab & Gourmet, allowing for delicious, calorie-controlled à la carte meal purchases from 28 different dishes delivered directly to customers’ doorsteps.

Starting on November 24th, traveling nurses in the U.S. can go to Freshology.com and choose a minimum of six gourmet meals that ensure proper nutrition without sacrificing taste anytime, anywhere. Travel nurses can mix and match – selecting any combination of breakfast, lunch or dinners of your choice.

With the holiday season upon us, many of us will be running from one celebration to the next, mindlessly feasting on guilty pleasures that leave you making unrealistic New Year’s resolutions to lose that inevitable “holiday weight.” Maybe you have everything under control, but know of someone who could use the gift of health and help to maintain a balanced diet during the hectic holiday season or anytime of the year for that matter. Lifestyle-Grab & Gourmet by Freshology is the perfect calorie-controlled, meal solution. Six healthy Freshology meals are priced at $39.95… That’s a better price than six combo meals at any fast-food joint, and far better taste I guarantee!

Info on all of Freshology’s national home-meal-delivery programs, including Get Slim Gold, Get Slim Silver and Fresh Mommy are also available at their website and here is an article from last week’s OK! Weekly featuring Jennifer Lopez’s weight loss via Freshology.

Have you ever thought why patients may act up when a nurse is present? Why they may be sweet and attentive or bitter and distrustful? A nurse may have preconceived notions about their patients and hope that each is as pleasant as the last. But is this ever the case?

Comforting patients of all sizes is just part of the job of a travel nurse.

The one important thing to remember about the patients you’re caring for is they may have lingering bad memories of a loved one who was admitted to the hospital or a personal experience of their own that has essentially scarred them for life. Nurses must remember to be mindful of each person’s unique situation and adjust their treatment to cater to their needs. Just think of the many stages one goes through in life, the infant, the toddler, the school age child, the teenager, and finally the adult.

Over at ScrubsMag.com you can read about the differing stages of these certain types of patients and how you can adjust the way you deal with them to provide them with the most optimum care possible.

Throughout nursing we encounter different personalities, different ages, and different backgrounds on a daily basis. Although it can be hard, try to put yourself in your patient’s shoes. There could be nothing more gratifying than hearing one of your more difficult patients expressing how thankful they are for the care you provided.