2012 will be a big year for us. We have started a web design business and two travel blogs. Additionally, we are considering the purchase of a large motor home so that we can become permanent travelers. That right there lets you know how we feel about travel nursing, but let’s go back to the beginning.

We became full-time travelers in October of 2011 and were recently asked about what led us into this lifestyle.  Was there a firm decision and moment of clarity that set our feet on the road? Sure, but it came after finally acknowledging the existence of, and giving in to, our own gypsy natures.

There is also a depressing aspect of our journey that, in my opinion, follows the decline of American manufacturing. As a maintenance electrician, I have witnessed the fall with my own eyes. I was one of the last to go as I watched Cessna Aircraft cut 10,000 workers in Wichita. Thus, with broken loyalty and fresh wounds, I quit my next job two months before they shut the plant down and absorbed the business into another facility. I couldn’t watch it happen again, but as you can imagine, it did.

Long story short, it was time for a career change. At some point during all of this, I went back to college for Web Design and started taking classes online.

Looking back, I can see that we were already “amateur” road warriors. In our 17 years of marriage, Melissa and I have moved 14 times and have lived in 7 cities. I literally dragged the poor woman all across the Midwest while I went from one manufacturing plant to the next.

What we learned is that dodging lay-offs and continually working for struggling companies places a huge burden on the entire family. The sad truth is that we have only been able to work the same hours for 6 of the last 18 years, and take one vacation per decade. It hurts because, after shopping, sightseeing is her passion in this world.

I can see now that we were damaging her resume while trying to maintain high wages and provide for the family. Because of this, Melissa has worked for seven different hospitals in the last five years prior to taking her first travel assignment.  We can joke about it now and refer to it as “travel training”.

As the situation and our emotions were heating up, here is a picture of where we were at:

• We had sold our last home 2 years earlier.
• Our current lease was coming up.
• Junior had gone off to college recently, so we were empty-nested.
• My “new” job required us to go days without seeing each other.
• Most importantly, Melissa was fed up with our lives and lack of adventure.

For as long as it takes Melissa to make a decision, the world sure moves when she finally does. Maybe she was just waiting for me to throw in the towel. I still don’t know, but here is how it went down.

I came home from work one day and said, “I give up. Manufacturing no longer provides an acceptable future. It’s time to deliver pizzas or something until I graduate.” She must have seen it coming because her reply was several steps ahead of me. She says, “Well, I have been speaking with a nursing recruiter lately, and I want you to be my Sherpa. You can finish college, take care of everything, and drive me to work every day while I make the money.”  Since Cessna took all my manly pride during my first layoff, all I said was, “do you want me to wear an apron?”

We were packed and headed for the mountains two weeks later and have slept in the same bed at the same time every day since leaving. Feels kind of like being married for a change.

Because travel nurses get to decide which city they work in, they can often find better deals in another area than they would locally.  For example, a more rural nurse could make about $45,000 a year.  However, if they got travel nurse job in a more metropolitan area, such as San Francisco, the average salary could go up to and past the $70,000 mark.

As with many nursing positions, the more education you have the better.  For example, an average travel nurse makes a salary of $55,000 a year when all 50 states are figured in according to Simply Hired.  However, the same site lists the average salary for travel registered nurse as $61,000.   Because travel nurses go where they are needed rather than wait for demand in their hometowns to increase, there is more potential for better pay.

And these are just the measurable benefits of salary increase.  There are also tons of other benefits to becoming a travel nurse.  Employers who really need nurses can also pay for living expenses, moving, sign up bonuses, and more which can literally add thousands to base salary.  Other benefits of becoming a travel nurse can include a tax advantage called Per Diem.  This is when the traveling nurse maintains a home but is not able to live there because of work duties.  Because travel nurses can often have expenses outside of what an employer pays, these expenses often come with tax breaks.

The downside to becoming a travel nurse is that there is loads of traveling, which can be hard on families.  There are also limitations when a nursing license is earned in one state but the nurse wants to work in another.  However, each of the 50 states has their own rules for accepting nurses from the other 49 states and there is also the Nurse Licensure Compact which enables multistate licensure for nurses, so be sure and speak to a travel nurse expert before embarking on a new career.

The first thing to keep in mind is that all of the brands we carry are well vetted and there is something for everyone.  That is to say that there isn’t necessarily one brand that is better than another, it is more about finding what you want in a scrub set!

Cherokee Scrubs: Cherokee provides the largest variety of any of our brands.  It is actually really difficult to put all of the Cherokee products in one box, so we will break it down a little further.

• The Cherokee WorkWear line is the most popular selling line of scrubs in America.  This line tends to be your basic cuts and styles.  There isn’t a lot of flash but they are made to last, priced right, and are always available.  They have made the same scrubs for years and will continue to do so years from now.  The Cherokee WorkWear line has a history of consistency that is actually tough to find with other brands.  You don’t need to worry about finding a scrub you love and it being discontinued a month or two later.
• Cherokee Flexibles are a small line that has stretchy side panels.  There isn’t a lot of variety here, but the material is brushed and a little more comfortable then the WorkWear line.  The side panels also provide a feature no other brand has.
• Everything else….We could spend an entire article on just Cherokee, but if you have questions about any other Cherokee lines just let us know and we will be happy to help!

Dickies Scrubs:  Dickies is another trusted brand in the uniform industry.  They are known for being tough and long lasting.  Like Cherokee they have a variety of lines to choose from.  The “every day scrubs” line is very, very comparable to the Cherokee WorkWear line, it offers many of the same styles, great price point, and durability.  Dickies has a new line out called “enzyme washed” scrubs.  If you want to find a product that is super soft at a very reasonable price, then give these a chance.

Baby Phat Scrubs: One of the more popular “fashion” scrubs that is out there Baby Phat scrubs are a great option if you are looking for something a little different from your standard every day unisex options.  Our most popular Baby Phat scrubs come from the wide variety of animal prints that are offered.  They are definitely a great way to stand out and break up your normal rotation.

We will review more brands in part 2!

Nothing can help alleviate that tension like a good massage. The question is, what kind? There are so many different kinds of massages available that choosing the right one for you can be a stress all its own.

At TravelNursingBlogs.com we want the experience you have during your travel nursing job to be enjoyable and rewarding, so here are just a few quick overviews of the over 200 types of massage options that are out there. Each one can offer different benefits, so it is really just a matter of finding the one that fits your needs.

Deep-Tissue Massage
Deep-Tissue Massage aids in relieving chronic muscular pain and can speed injury rehabilitation. It also helps patients suffering from arthritis and tendonitis by reducing inflammation. A Deep-Tissue Massage utilizes techniques that affect the sub-layer of musculature and fascia and require advanced training and comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology by the practitioner.

Reflexology
Reflexology is used to encourage relaxation, improve circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids and lessen pain. Reflexology has also been promoted as having the ability to help improve concentration, confidence and motivation.

Building on an ancient Chinese therapy method, Reflexology is the manipulation of the foot, hands, and ears, which are specific reflex areas and correspond to other parts of the body. Pressure is applied to these reflex “zones” to invigorate the body’s organs and clear areas of congestion. Using principles similar to acupressure, Reflexology uses the body’s energy flow to create self-healing and promote physical balance.

Shiatsu
Shiatsu can help alleviate painful conditions like asthma, back pain, headaches and stiffness. It can also help with depression while at the same time helping to restore a natural balance to your system. For the busy worker with lots of stress this is a great massage.

Originating in Japan, Shiatsu is a technique utilizing finger-pressure and acupuncture points. It focuses on improving the flow of energy and repairing balance in the body to foster self-healing. This treatment creates a feeling of relaxation while at the same time stimulating blood and lymphatic flow through the body. Shiatsu’s benefits may include pain relief and improvement in the body’s resistance to disease and disorder.

Nothing can help alleviate that tension like a good massage. The question is, what kind?

Sports Massage
A Sports Massage does pretty much what it sounds like. It is used to improve athletic performance and speed recovery. A Sports Massage can be helpful to an athlete during three phases of the athletic endeavor, either pre-event, post-event or for injury treatment.
A pre-event massage is given right before the event and can help to warm up muscles while the athlete visualizes the race, game or competition. A post-event massage is given shortly after the event and can help calm the athlete’s nervous system, as well as helping the body flush toxins and waste products that occur from competition. This helps shorten recovery time and allows the athlete to continue training much quicker than mere rest allows. Athletic injuries are also able to heal faster and better if a Sports Massage is utilized during the rehab process.

Swedish Massage
Swedish Massage is one of the most popular massage techniques. It offers benefits that can include better circulation, eliminating scar tissue adhesions and relaxation to allow for quicker healing and reduced swelling after an injury by keeping ligaments and tendons flexible. This is a great massage if your life or work requires a lot of physical work. It is an intense system designed to energize the body by increasing circulation.

Swedish Massage uses five basic strokes, which all flow toward your heart and manipulate the body’s soft tissues. The therapists utilize a combination of movements that include kneading, percussive, rolling, tapping and vibrational, along with applying oil in order to minimize friction on the skin.

Trigger Point
Trigger Point Massage flushes toxins out of the body and releases endorphins that promote healing. This relieves tense muscles and can help alleviate pain from injuries. Some of the areas that Trigger Point Massage can help with are back pain, bursitis, carpal tunnel, frozen shoulder, low back stiffness, neck stiffness, sciatica, shin splints or tennis elbow. The goal is recovery from or a noticeable reduction in myofascial pain. Through a systematized approach this treatment relies on trigger point compression, myomassage, passive stretching and a regime of corrective exercises.

Successful treatment using Trigger Point Massage can be measured by a reduction in pain levels and an increase in endurance, range of motion and strength. Client and therapist interaction is vital in trigger point massage, the therapist asks the client to take their improvement into their own hands by paying attention to other health factors like nutrition, stress, exercise, mechanical abnormalities and other physical areas of their lives. Paying attention to these areas of their health can protect the client from a delayed diagnosis and treatment or even a conflicting treatment.
Massage is a proven stress reliever and being less stressed will help you perform at your best so enjoy. Hear are a few resources to help you figure out what massage is right for you.

MassageTherapy.com
MassageNetwork.com
HealthWorldOnline.com
About: Spas
ShiatsuSociety.org
NaturalHealers.com
Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy

All information contained in this article, on MedicalSolutions.com or in the recommended non-affiliated websites is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem – nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. See a physician before starting any exercise program or other therapy.  Sources: MassageTherapy,com and AskMen.com

1. Confidentiality

There is an old navy saying that goes, “Loose lips sink ships.” The same basic principle applies to your reputation. Keep your salary to yourself; do not share personal information you might have learned about another nurse in a roommate situation; be extremely cautious with facebook and other social media. As you travel you will see that the world of traveling nurses is actually smaller than you might think. Every year traveling nurse websites publish a list of the top facilities for the travel nurse like this list of 25. You are certain to see some of the same nurses in different locations so you want to be sure you do not share sensitive information about each other, patients, doctors, and client families with anyone. With the ubiquitous presence of social media in all areas of our life, one small slip of the tongue on your part can ruin your reputation for years.

2. Appearance

Supervisors assume that you will know how to dress for success when it comes to your nursing profession. Keeping nails short, with hair well groomed and out of the way, abstaining from perfume use, and displaying modest attire are all the norms of professional appearance for a healthcare provider, especially a nurse. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum, as well. If you do not choose to follow preferred dress protocol, you may find that your recommendations suffer. Travel nurses are in competition for the best placements so make sure that every part of your appearance is the best it can be. While excellent clinical skills are essential to secure the job, professionalism is essential to advancement over the length of your career.

3. Behavior and Attitude

A positive outlook and even keel temperament puts patients and co-workers at ease. Be sure that you schedule in your breaks so that you can keep you energy levels up and your disposition sunny. Refrain from cell phone use except at acceptable times and locations. If you need to use your phone at another time, communicate that with your supervisor. The travel nurse might have a family emergency several states away that might require some flexibility. Supervisors want to retain good talent, so the main thing is to always communicate when unforeseen situations arise.

4. Bring the Whole Package

Keeping current on all your credentials, seeking additional training, attending conferences, and other professional development is just as important as working on your personal interactions and appearance with clients, patients, supervisors, doctors, and other colleagues. Consider the following quote : “Put forward more simply, professionalism in nursing are sets of rules, work ethics, ideologies, work principles and dedication towards the service of a community, that holistically gives a class and identity to this profession” . When working as a travel nurse, you are representing an entire field of professionals, not just you own individual self. Many people have worked and advocated tirelessly on your behalf to move the profession forward so you owe it to yourself and others to uphold the highest standards of professionalism wherever you are.

The world of the travel nurse can be exciting and adventurous. For those professionals with the clinical acumen, personal resilience, and impressive stamina to rotate locations every one to six months, the rewards are great. Overseas travel nurses may have longer stays of up to a few years with housing and other travel perks. Despite the variation in locations one thing will follow you on assignment after assignment – your reputation. It is never too soon to actively build your professional reputation and to polish the professional skills that will help build your career one assignment at a time.

Patient safety and quality care often hinges on the strength of the team’s communication abilities. In fact, The Joint Commission states that “communication breakdowns, whether between care providers or between providers and their patients, is the primary root cause of the nearly 3,000 sentinel events – unexpected deaths and catastrophic injuries – that have been reported to The Joint Commission.”

As a traveling healthcare professional, your ability to communicate effectively is critical to your success.

As a traveler you don’t have the benefit of working your shifts with familiar people who understand your communication style and you may not understand them easily at first either. You’ll need to take the extra step to listen closely and speak clearly to ensure you’re communicating effectively with your colleagues as well as patients. After a few weeks, you’ll begin to gain familiarity with your new environment and those strong communication skills will serve you well on the job as well as building relationships with your co-workers.

Of course at the end of your assignment you may be moving on to a new location and will start the process over again. Obviously your ability to communicate will play an important role in your success and enjoyment of your travel nursing or travel allied health assignments.

With so much emphasis on communication, it’s always a good idea to be aware of how you can improve your skills. So how does one go about improving their communication skills? Here is a list of links and tips to help you become a better communicator.

• How To Learn Assertive Communication In Five Simple Steps – This article offers 5 simple steps to improve your assertive communication skills. Practicing these steps can improve your abilities as well as help to reduce stress resulting from conflicts.
• How to Improve Communication Skills and Your Personal Style – This article will help you become aware of your communication style and the styles of others. You can use this knowledge to adjust your style and match other’s styles for more effective communication.
• How to Improve Communication Skills – Good eye contact and active listening are 2 steps of this article’s 6 step process to improve your communication skills.
• You can also look for books on the subject that can help you improve your skills. There are many titles to choose from and most of them will be able to give you some useful tips.

At first, signing up for these various programs seems like a great deal but later down the road, most don’t know how they work or what these loyalty programs are actually offering. In many cases, Travel Nurse loyalty programs are the same way. Each agency has their own version of such programs, some that are fairly simple and easy to follow, while others have many stipulations in place that make it nearly impossible to actually redeem any sort of bonus.

The paradox, says Mark Johnson, president and CEO of loyalty marketing think tank Loyalty 360, is that consumers are more engaged with and more 
demanding of brands than ever. “Loyalty is no longer about points for a purchase,” he explains. “Consumers are looking for ways to engage with brands who listen to them. Loyalty is about timeliness and relevancy. You have to understand each individual and how often they want to be engaged. Your offer must be unique and tailored to each person and delivered through the channel they want it delivered through.”

As a Travel Nurse, it is highly important to find that one agency that fits to your ideals and values, while offering you the best in customer service… However, if you’re just in it for the money, you may not have a chance to experience what it’s like to be a valued “customer.” In it’s most basic form, a loyalty program is designed to thank Travel Nurses for their devotion to the agency, and if you’ve found one that lives up to your expectations and offers a loyalty program, well that’s just icing on the cake!

Before signing any contracts with an agency, it’s very important to inquire about the various benefits offered, from paid time off to Completion and Loyalty bonuses. Read the fine print associated with the bonus programs, make sure that the goals set out are attainable and that your hours or points don’t expire within a certain amount of time. Many programs make it difficult for the traveler to redeem such bonuses let alone keep track of. Below we’ve listed a number of Loyalty Programs being offered to the Travel Nurse community. If you know of any others, please add them to our comment section.

Travel Nurse Across America – Complete 1300 hours of work (approximately 3 assignments) with Travel Nurse across America and enjoy your choice of cash bonuses, paid vacation, housing perks, or other rewards.

CoreMedica Group - CoreMedical Group rewards their travel nurse, travel allied health, and permanent placement staff by offering them the ability to qualify for the company’s all-inclusive, annual trip to the Caribbean.

Fastaff – The 3 level bonus program will apply to all assignments beginning or ending between 7/31/11 and 1/15/12. Bonuses will only be paid upon COMPLETION of an assignment.

Advantage RN – Advantage RN offers its travel nurses Loyalty Bonuses of $250 — $500 on every 13-week extension you accept with us. (Please note: nurses have the choice to continue their FREE single insurance OR receive a Loyalty Bonus with each extension.)

HGI Healthcare – We’re also with you every step of the way with rewards and other perks that demonstrate our commitment to RNs by rewarding you for your dedication to your patients, and your loyalty to us.

Onward Healthcare – Onward Healthcare offers one of the most comprehensive travel nursing bonus plans in the industry, including up to $5,000 completion bonuses for select travel assignments. These bonuses are paid upon the completion of your assignment and are detailed in your travel contract. We also offer renewal bonuses on select assignments of thirteen weeks or longer.

Aureus – Other bonuses, including sign-on and completion bonuses, vary from travel assignment to assignment but are often available.

Procel Nurses – All Travelers earn a Loyalty Bonus throughout the year. The bonus is earned upon each 1000 hours worked in one year. Your recruiter will tell you all about it.

Medical Solutions is also launching a new Loyalty Program for travel nurses at the start of 2012. It’s one of the easiest explained traveling nurse loyalty programs in the industry. Simply work 600 hours and they’ll pay you $600. Work another 600 hours and earn another $600… All throughout the new year.

Bundle up

First and most importantly, make sure that you have the proper clothing to keep you warm during freezing temperatures. A windbreaker and a sweater simply won’t cut it when you’re walking around in 20 degree weather. If you’re working in a city with a harsh winter climate, don’t hesitate to invest in quality winter clothes—it’ll be worth the money when the time comes. Starting from the feet and moving up, consider these additions to your wardrobe:

• Snow boots (waterproofed so melted snow won’t leak inside)
• Wool socks
• Thermal pants
• Thermal shirt
• Heavy, insulated coat
• Gloves (thin enough so you can use your fingers, but thick enough to keep your hands warm)
• A thick scarf
• A beanie or a wool cap

As a nurse, you surely know that most of your body warmth escapes through the extremities, so do your best to keep them the warmest of all! When you’re shopping for winter clothes, be sure to choose utility over fashion as the more fashionable clothes won’t keep you as warm.

Secure your car

If you have a car, you’ll need to be wary of the dangers brought on by severe winter weather. Freezing temperatures can render your car useless if you’re not proactive about securing it. Do yourself a favor and take your car in for a routine inspection to make sure everything is in order. When you take your car in for inspection, ask the mechanic to pay close attention to the brakes, the tread on your tires, and the belts and hoses under the hood. If the mechanic recommends chains for your tires, ask that they install them on your car to save you the trouble of putting them on yourself.

Also be sure that your car’s level of antifreeze is up to regulation levels. Antifreeze—like its name implies—helps your car fluids from freezing during extreme cold temperatures. Without antifreeze, your car would basically turn into a useless hunk of metal in freezing weather.

Be prepared for snowstorms

Ask friends in the area about the average snowfall during the winter months. If they tell you that the average snowfall can get to several feet, you should prepare your home in the event of a snowstorm. If you rent a house, invest in a snow shovel for clearing large swaths of snow and plenty of rock salt to thaw out icy pavement. Stock up on groceries if serious snowfall is expected in the forecast so you can cook at home while you wait out the storm. The same advice goes for those living in apartment complexes or condos.  Even if you aren’t snowed in during a snowstorm, it’s wise to wait it out inside until the worst of the storm has passed and it’s safe to travel.  People unaccustomed to snowy weather would be wrong to have the perception that snow is fun and festive, something not worth worrying about. When the snow starts piling in front of your window, you’ll be glad that you took steps to prepare properly.

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.

Focused Environment

You want to pay special attention to your surroundings when you are planning to do a phone interview. Because technical difficulties can be common, you want to make sure that the interviewer can only hear the sound of your voice. Find a location that is quiet without any background noise or foot traffic. You should make sure that you are in a place that allows you to stay focused and distraction free. Also, pay close attention to your phone. While this may sound silly you should be sure that you have your phone charger with you in case your battery begins to dwindle. It may also be wise to remove earrings that might clank and make noises when the phone is to your ear.

Do Your Research

This is a step that any interviewee should take be it a phone interview or a face-to-face interview. You should be sure that you are educated on the specifics of that particular facility. Of course, because you are a traveling nurse, you know what to expect in general about a new practice, but you should be sure to know more of the specifics about your interviewer. You should try to gain an understanding of that facility’s particular interests and objectives. Going into an interview uninformed about your potential employer is a surefire step towards rejection.

Prepare Notes

While each interview will have a unique set of questions, there will no doubt be topics and ideas that are common throughout. It is a wise idea to prepare your answers to some of the standard questions you know will likely show up during the interview. Prepare these notes ahead of time so that you can give them some careful thought and consideration. However, you should not write out a script for yourself. Just jot down a few notes that can guide you in your answers. You want to sound natural and confident, not theatrical.

Relax

Obviously, staying calm and relaxed during your phone interview is important. Because the interviewer only interacts with your through the sound of your voice, you want to keep your speech clear, calm, and professional. Take a few breaths and make sure to even out your voice. Speak slowly and clearly. Staying relaxed during your interview will help you give the best and most accurate answers to the interviewer’s questions. One of the struggles with phone interviews is that silence over the line feels much more painful than when people are in person. Don’t feel like you need to fill every silence with your voice. Take time to collect your thoughts and catch your breath. You want to sound engaged and enthusiastic while remaining professional and knowledgeable.

Decorate

If you are spending Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years away from home you can still celebrate while on your travel nursing assignment. Just think of the fun activities you can do. For starters, decorate your house for each of the holidays. This is just a little thing to do that will help you feel better about the holiday season and less homesick. Don’t forget to put up a Christmas tree and lights.

Home Decorating

If you are not feeling like the usual turkey or ham dinner, go out to a great restaurant or make your favorite meal.

Holiday Dinner

The holiday dinner is an important subject since you are making it for yourself. If you are not feeling like the usual turkey or ham dinner, go out to a great restaurant or make your favorite meal. You can even go to the Whole Foods website and have them make a holiday dinner for you to pick up. Check restaurants in the area for any holiday dinner specials. You are the only one you need to please this year so eat whatever you want. How often can you have lasagna on Thanksgiving or lobster on Christmas?

Whole Foods

Celebrate with a New Friend

When you are working on your travel nursing assignment, wrap yourself up in holiday festivities by celebrating with patients and other staff members. After you get off your shift on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Years, ask new friends who need someone to celebrate the holiday with to join you for a holiday get together. Have a holiday dinner together and then check out the local theater for a movie or watch a holiday movie marathon.

Keeping in Touch

To help keep in contact with family and friends during the holidays there are a few things you can do. Email your family and friends to catch up individually or send them all a Christmas newsletter. Have a conversation on instant messaging using a webcam making you feel closer to your family and friends. You can even set up your own website to have people be able to check-up on what you are doing and make a family blog that everybody can write on. Social networking is really huge in the community right now. Find out which one most of your family members are on and use it. This way it is easy to share pictures and videos back and forth between your family and friends. And of course don’t forget to send them presents in mail for the holidays.

5 Ways to Keep in Touch with Family and Friends Online

Elf Yourself

WordPress

Facebook

Twitter

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the time of giving, so give back to the community by volunteering your time. Volunteering is a great way to spend your free time this holiday season while on your travel nursing assignment. Do your part by helping out at a local soup kitchen or ringing a Salvation Army bell. If you do have to work Thanksgiving make the best of it. Be the one to get patients excited about the holidays. Plus the hospitals always serve better food on Thanksgiving, so take advantage of it.

Thanksgiving Fun and Games

Christmas

When December comes rolling in possibly look into going caroling at a local church or attending a local holiday parade. You can also continue volunteering after Thanksgiving in your community for the Christmas season.

New Year’s

Every New Year motivates people to make their own New Year resolutions. However, many people end up not being able to keep them. Make one that you know is reachable and if you do falter one day forget about it and get back on track.

To celebrate the New Year, find out information about the community your doing your travel nursing assignment at. Every place has their own festivities so why not join them in the fun. If you are a huge college football fan you can watch the bowl games and the Rose Parade.

New Year’s Info

New Year’s Resolution Tips

While you are on your travel nursing assignment away from family, always make the best of the situation. The holiday season can be as enjoyable as you make it. Your family is only a phone call away, and remember that you have the ability to make a patient and their family have a great holiday season.

Celebrate Alone

Festivals and Events

Donate and Volunteer for Charity

Here are a few other things to help you while navigating your career as a Travel Nurse… Check out these useful Travel Nurse tools, everything to help you start, from a cost of living calculator to a packing list to help you prepare for your next journey.

Perhaps chief among the perks of working as a traveling nurse is the opportunity to explore new and exciting US cities. As a traveling nurse, you enjoy a constant mobility that most 9-5ers stuck in their day jobs can only dream of. What’s more, the small period of time that most travel nurses reside in their assigned areas allows for just enough time to get acquainted with a new city without tiring of it. On your off days you could educate yourself about your temporary home, discovering see what it has to offer instead of staying inside your apartment. In short, it’s a chance to become more cultured about your country without needing to spend money on travel expenses.  But exploring a new city, especially one that you’re completely unfamiliar with, can be a daunting task. How can you make the best of your time?

Read local publications about free and interesting events

My first suggestion would be to find a local publication that appeals to you and look through it for events in the area that may catch your interest. Most major cities have multiple publications that appeal to a variety of demographics; you need only find the right one for you. For instance, if you’re a person intrigued by local art, you might want to check out coffee shops and independent bookstores for flyers that advertise events in the local art scene. Or if you’re interested in the food scene, you could pick investigate the dining section of the major newspaper or online new source for the city for reliable restaurant reviews and stories on local food culture. The key is that you search out events in the right publication; otherwise you might find yourself discouraged that you can’t find any fun activities in the city.

Use Twitter to search out and follow people in the know

If you’re not keen on looking through newspapers on a daily basis, you could take the social media approach to find out the latest happenings in your city. Twitter is probably your best bet for finding useful sources that dispense local events to those who really know the city. You could follow local food critics for insider details on the best bars and restaurants to frequent, or local sports analysts who have the inside scoop on the latest sporting events around town. Begin your searches by looking through tweets marked with a hashtag followed by the city’s name. Oftentimes local Twitter celebrities will assign a hashtag to their city so as to spread awareness for local events.

Additionally you could use Twitter to search out other traveling nurses (or general tourists) in your area looking for a partner in exploring the city!

Subscribe to deal sites pertaining to your city

You can also arrange to be updated on events throughout your city without actively searching any resources at all. Simply set up a subscription with daily deal sites like LivingSocial or Groupon, designate your current city in your profile, and watch as you get 2 to 3 deals a day in your email inbox from each service. These services tend to advertise deals on local social events like concerts, museum exhibits, classes at various instructional courses, and the general local nightlife. You may not get events off the beaten path that you might otherwise find through personal research, but you’ll never be without knowledge of at least a few things happening around you.

Walking around the hospital over the next few weeks don’t be surprised to see a vast increase in the amount of facial hair on the men you work with.  This is not just happenstance, over the last several years, November has become a special month for the mustache.

In case you haven’t heard November has become the official month of “Movember.”  In it’s 8^th “official” year Movember, is a movement to raise awareness for men’s health, specifically focusing on prostate cancer.  One-in-six men are affected by prostate cancer, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.  This is a very curable disease if caught early.  However, in my experience, men are stubborn and tend to think they are invincible.  Thus, we are not always the first to volunteer ourselves up to talk about our health, let alone go out and get tested regularly. Which is where Movember comes in.

What exactly is Movember and how does it work?  It is simple really.  Starting on the 1^st of November any man willing can pledge to shave their upper lip one last time for the entire month.  For thirty days thereafter they will keep the rest of their face nice and clean shaven while doing their best to grow the bushiest mustache possible.  Many of these brave men will collect monetary pledges from friends, family, and co-workers that will be donated to various research & awareness groups to help fight a variety of great causes.

I imagine some men probably just use the month as an, understandable, excuse to grow a sweet mustache.  To be honest, I think every man has at least some desire to see what they look like with a mustache.  The more the merrier!  Even if you don’t raise money you can help raise awareness.

To “officially” participate in Movember, you can register at www.movember.com.

If you still aren’t convinced to give it a shot maybe Mr. Clean can convince you.

Mr. Clean, the 54-year-old Proctor and Gamble icon has never sported facial hair, yet even he sees Movember an acceptable reason to start. Mr. Clean’s ‘stache will grow in accordance with the number of Likes he gets, as measured by a “Stache-O-Meter” on his Facebook Page.

“I’ve gone over 50 years without facial hair of any kind.” Mr. Clean stated in a on Movember.com.  “Even the 70′s couldn’t make me grow a mustache. But for an important cause like this, I’m gonna grow the greatest mo’ ever illustrated.”

If that isn’t enough motivation I don’t know what is!

Why you should meet new people

Because you are a dedicated travel nurse we know it can be difficult for you to find time for yourself, let alone meeting others. However, whether you have one minute or one hour, you should take some time to say hello and introduce yourself to new people. Doing this is the first step towards feeling connected to your new community and co-workers. Meeting new people helps you enjoy activities, can bring positive opportunities into your personal and professional life, gives you the sense of support through difficult times, and contributes to your experience when you have something to celebrate. Meeting new people also helps you get involved, share things with others, and connect with people at work.

How to meet new people

Whether you have one minute or one hour, you should take some time to say hello and introduce yourself to new people.

Everyone has different personalities with different strengths and weaknesses, and you may feel comfortable or uncomfortable taking the initiative towards meeting new people. Keep in mind that the other person probably feels the same way you do. While at work it may be a challenge to converse with co-workers while taking on an important role attending to others and fulfilling your role as a nurse, but asking others for their opinion or letting them know you are new to the workplace is a great way to break the ice. During your lunch break, try having lunch with a group of people; this will help increase your opportunity to meet people through others and connect with your co-workers in a non-working environment. It may be tough at first meeting a group of new people, but half the battle is having enough confidence. It will help to just be you. By taking the first step you could be beginning a new lifelong friendship. Here are some sites giving you more ideas on how to meet new people:

Five Friends Every Woman Should Have
SoYouWanna meet people in your neighborhood?
Making And Keeping Friends: A Self-Help Guide

Where to meet new people

When you have time to spare outside of work, try attending a variety of events such as: sporting events, concerts, art shows, theatrical productions, special interest groups, or joining a book club. Letting your new neighbors know that you are new to the area is a good way to strike up a conversation with the people in your neighborhood. Other ways to meet new people include: going to a coffee shop where the environment is relaxing and friendly; going to a bookstore where you can meet new people with the same interests; and shopping where you can interact with others with similar hobbies. Here are some sites that will give you more ideas on where to meet new people:

Friends wanted
No plans? Meet New People via Activities
6 Tips for Meeting New People When You Move

A few last tips to help you meet new people

• When you meet someone for the first time it is important to be yourself. Being true to who you are is the most important thing and will show others your true character.
• Have a positive attitude. When you have an attitude that is accepting and you behave like you believe you will find you’ll get a better response from those that are around you.
• Be natural. When you force a smile it looks unnatural, but when you act natural it is more comfortable and inviting to others.

But the world is a big place, so one must consider is that really travel? Have they ever thought of travel nursing with a twist?

We have been recruiting RNs, allied health professionals, doctors, and other healthcare professionals for hospitals in the Middle East – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates – for 30 years. This is travel nursing on a grand scale!

Sure, there are some differences: The contracts are one or two years, not the common 13 week assignment; and the cultural and linguistic differences will be wider than, say a hoagie versus a grinder, or a New York accent versus a warm southern drawl!

But there are similarities: the hospitals’ working language is English; you’ll see the same sort of equipment – pumps, ventilators, etc., as you see back home; housing is provided, and includes furnishings, basic linens and housewares, and free utilities; licensing is easy, essentially by endorsement of your American or Canadian license; relocation airfare is paid, as is healthcare. And while those working as travelers in the United States earn a higher salary and can get some tax perks, income in the Middle East is tax-free.

So who does well? Energetic people with a sense of adventure. People with a sense of curiosity. Those who enjoy learning about new cultures. Those who want to learn about new or different cultures, countries, religions, diseases, ways of life, points-of-view, and ways of doing things. People who like to grow as a person. And those who can think of something interesting to do with 47 to 54 calendar days of vacation each year!

Interested in considering real travel? Visit http://www.hziegler.com/

There are some great precautions you can learn and take with you when you are in your car, housing, working out or even while exploring your new area.

Car/Parking Lots

When walking to your car always have your keys ready in your hand to be able to open up your car quickly if needed. Possibly think about purchasing a flashlight, whistle, or something to protect yourself for your keychain. Create a safety plan and change up your routine by driving different routes to keep people from tracking you.

Make your car less of a target of getting broken into. If you have a stereo with a face plate, take it out when you are not in your car. Leave nothing valuable in your car, and if you do, put items in the trunk out of sight. Try to park your car in well lit areas and not on the street. This decreases your car’s chances of getting broken into or even hit.

Parking Lot Safety

Parking Garage Safety

Parking Lot Security

House/Apartment

“Safety first” has been a slogan everyone has heard when growing up. If you don’t feel comfortable then don’t do or go somewhere that you feel uneasy about.

If you live alone, keep that information unknown by making up a roommate or dog. Tell people you have a dog and give it an aggressive name like Spike. Find a neighbor or coworker to trust and let them know your schedule, so they know when you are going to be gone. If you are going to be gone for a few days have the post office or your trusted neighbor or coworker hold your mail. Also keep your schedule confidential so people don’t know when you aren’t going to be home – it’s easy nowadays to post these types of things of Facebook and whatnot, but we highly recommend against it.

Once again you don’t want to give people a reason to break in. Keep blinds shut on bottom floors so people cannot see in. Always lock your door when alone in your house and at night turn on lights around all inside and outside entrances. Alarm systems are great, but it is hard to get one when you are moving every 13 weeks. To fix that problem, you can get a fake alarm or just put a sign out saying you have an alarm system. Notify your landlord to cut overgrown shrubbery around your home so people can’t hide in it. At night keep your phone and something that could be used as a weapon by your bed just in case something does happen at night.

Apartment Safety Basics

Apartment Safety Tips

Working Out

If you like to go on walks, runs, or bike rides before or after work you should visit www.mapmyrun.com, www.favoriterun.com and www.sanoodi.com to map out safe runs in your new community. Try to work out in high populated areas or with a new friend from work. Work out during the day and at places you feel comfortable at. If you cannot find a place outside where you feel comfortable, then look to find a gym that you can work out at.

How To Run Safely

Running 4 Women’s Safety Guide

Additional Tips

• Take a self-defense class before or during your travel nursing assignment. It is important to learn to stand in a way to ward off people from thinking they can take advantage of you being new to their city. By doing this, it makes you more aware of your surroundings so you feel more comfortable in your community.
• Make sure you learn about your new city so that you don’t make wrong turns or end up getting lost in unfamiliar areas. Also, try to ask your new coworkers about where you should do your shopping and exploring, most likely they are from there and able to give you good advice.
• Another important tip is to put 911 on your speed dial to make it easier to call for help if you find yourself needing it.

“Safety first” has been a slogan everyone has heard when growing up. If you don’t feel comfortable then don’t do or go somewhere that you feel uneasy about. Learn and follow the steps to become “personal safety certified.” At TravelNursingBlogs.com we want you to be comfortable and safe wherever you travel.

National Crime Prevention Council

Impact Personal Safety

ISU Department of Public Safety

Routine monthly check-ups under the hood will do wonders for the life of your automobile.

Fluids

Look under your hood monthly to check fluids. Check transmission, engine coolant, oil, power steering, window washer, to help keep your car running smoothly. Get to know your car by learning where to check all the fluids. Check the car manual for a diagram of your engine and learn what your car requires. If you have never checked all the levels before have someone experienced run through it with you.

Maintain Your Car’s Fluid Levels

Car Fluids

Gas

Thanks to the increase in gas prices, it has been a highly discussed topic across the United States, but one way to save money is understanding the different types of fuel qualities. When pulling up to the pump, you have the option of regular unleaded, mid-grade and premium. Most cars only require regular unleaded and upgrading your car to the higher octane fuels doesn’t do anything for your car unless it’s made for it. With gas prices these days, there is no reason to buy the more expensive fuels. Conserving fuel can also limit your visits to the pump by maintaining the speed limit. This way you won’t burn an excessive amount of gas.

How Can I Improve My Gas Mileage?

Fuel Types

Tires

There are also a lot of people out there that don’t pay much attention to their tires unless they get a flat. Check your tire pressure once a month to help improve gas mileage. Keep an eye on your tires to see how they are wearing down. If one side is wearing down then it could be time for an alignment. People should get an alignment on their car around every 12,000 miles, and you should get your tires rotated around every 6,000 miles. To find the tire pressure for your car, check your car’s owner’s manual, and it is also noted on the tire themselves. Also keep in mind that during the winter the pressure should be less than in the summer.

Proper Auto Care

Automotive Care

Cleaning

Keep your car looking good too. Wash it at least once a month especially during the winter months when there is snow on the ground. This will keep your car from rusting as a result from the salt on the ground. Make washing the outside of your car and cleaning the inside a monthly routine.

Twelve Car Cleaning Myths

Auto Detailing

How to Clean Car Interior

These timely car care reminders will help keep your car running with fewer problems. As a travel nurse, you need a reliable car since you are traveling to and from every assignment. Take the next step to prevent your car from being on the side of the road. Make checking your car a monthly routine by taking care of your car like you would take care of any of your patients.

Winterizing your car

Even if you don’t live in the snow belt, it pays to run through a basic winterizing checklist to keep your car in top cold-weather shape.

How-to Winterize Your Car

Ten Tips to Winterize Your Car

There are so many (better) ways to keep in contact with those you care about.

Embarking on your travel nursing assignment is an opportunity to travel and experience the country, but being away from loved ones, family and friends can be hard at times. To help you capture and share memorable moments whether across the state or across the country we have some easy solutions to keep your friends and family in the distance even closer.

Your loved ones, family and friends are the most important people in your life. By staying in touch while traveling, you give the important people in your life an opportunity to observe what you are doing as a travel nurse and allow others to connect with your experiences as well. With the boom of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc., it can seem as though you never left… But alas, below are some old fashioned ways to do the same.

All of the ideas we have for you can be altered for anyone regardless if they are a loved one, family or friend.

Staying close with your significant other:

Being far from your significant other may be hard at times. These easy tips are ways for you both to stay connected and share memories even miles away.

• Before taking off on your traveling nurse assignment sit down with your significant other and create a playlist of your favorite songs and songs that bring back special memories. Have as many songs as you both would like with a variety of music that you can put in any time of the day to bring back memories and put a smile on your face. If you choose, tailor the music to different memories and different genres to play during different times of the day.
• When you are away create your own personal stationary of memories and pictures of your experience being a traveling nurse. Alter each letter to be different so each time your loved one receives it they will have a different letter of your experience and they can be a part of it. At the end of your assignment when you return home you will be able to gather all your letters and create a collage or scrap book of your experiences. Each letter will be different and will summarize your experience.
• If you both have access to a computer and are able to purchase webcams this is an easy and fun way to communicate face to face over a personal video conference. Webcams are an inexpensive way to stay connected and communicate across the country and see your significant other on the computer. By interacting online you are able to see each other every day and stay close even when you are miles apart.

Connecting with your family:

Staying close to your family when miles apart should be something that is fun and gives your family an idea of what you have been up to while on your travel nursing assignment.

• Creating a scrapbook of your adventure is a great way to share with any family members. Individualizing your scrapbook lets your family know you were thinking of them when away and you want them to experience what you did. Over the course of your assignment collect brochures and pictures of the places you have visited to make it personal and allow them to see where you have been and what you saw.
• If some of your family has access to a computer, create an online album that is easy to update so family members can check it at their convenience. Online albums such as Kodak gallery and Picasa are two of the many online albums available and are easy to use. Albums online gives you the capability to add photos and captions to personalize your experience.
• When you are away from home nothing is better than having your favorite meals that remind you of your family. Gather your favorite recipes before you leave and create a family cookbook of all your favorite meals. While on your travel nursing assignment plan out your meals to cook and the aroma and taste will remind you of home.

Staying close with friends:

Many times throughout your career close friends move away or relocate due to a job, especially as a travel nurse. Staying in touch with friends should be something easy and something you look forward to.

• If you have a group of friends that are spread out create a friends group to send each other gifts or pictures of your experiences. Rotate your group of friends to send each other memoires of your new town and scenery. Keeping in touch with friends and sharing your and adventures is what being friends are all about.
• Sharing similar interests, books and movies with friends is great ways to stay connected when miles apart. After finishing a good book or favorite movie send it to a friend with similar interests. Staying close to friends by sharing some of your favorite things shows them you haven’t forgotten about them and that you where thinking of them while reading or watching a movie.

With your career as a travel nurse, maintaining relationships and staying in touch with family and friends in your life can be difficult. With these simple tips nothing should be a hassle or take long for you to do. When staying close with your spouse, family and friends any one of these tips can be altered. Adding your own inspiration and making it personal is the best way to include a part of yourself in each project.

If you have some unique and other thoughtful ways of staying close to those you love and care for, please leave them in our comment section below.

Why it’s important to get a good night’s rest

If a nap is necessary, try just taking a 20-30 minute nap to avoid throwing off your body’s clock.

Getting enough sleep is important because it rejuvenates your body at the end of the day. During sleep your body goes through cycles to help you refresh mentally and physically, restoring the functions that are necessary for your next day’s routines. Here are some sites that give you insight about the importance of sleep.

Fine Living
Homespunspa
Sleep Disorders Guide

Results of lack of sleep

Without adequate sleep, you open yourself up to potential health risks, some of which impact short term mental performance, while others pose more serious, long-term risks. Some of the negative mental effects that may occur are an increase in stress and irritation. Shortness of memory may also take place because during the sleep cycle your brain refreshes for the next day by processing and organizing information.

A lack of sleep could also weaken your immune system, making you more prone to colds and viruses. In addition, a long-term lack of sleep or “sleep debt” can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, sleep apnea, obesity, headaches and digestive problems. Here are some sites that have in-depth information about the consequences of sleep deprivation.

BBC News | HEALTH | Lack of sleep ‘risks lives’
Insomnia Connection
Sleepdex – Resources for Better Sleep

Advice for getting a good night’s rest

Even though your schedule as a travel nurse means you may not always be able to keep a regular schedule, there are still steps you can take to get the best sleep possible.

• During the day, it is important to try to avoid naps. Taking naps could throw off your sleep cycle, making it difficult to fall asleep at night.
• If a nap is necessary, try just taking a 20-30 minute nap to avoid throwing off your body’s clock.
• Try to limit the amount of caffeine you drink before going to bed.
• Pay close attention to keeping as regular a sleeping schedule as possible.
• Keeping active and exercising on a regular basis will also help improve your sleeping patterns
• Make sure to limit your exercising to 3 hours before bedtime so your body has time to slow down and relax.

Create a restful sleeping setting

Creating a good sleep environment can also help you get a good night’s sleep despite an irregular schedule as a travel nurse.

• Make sure you have a comfortable pillow; you may want to try a therapeutic foam pillow that cradles your neck.
• Do not use the room for doing work, paying the bills, using your computer, etc… Your body needs to recognize that the bedroom is only for sleep.
• Try to keep the room as quiet as possible; use a fan or white noise machine to keep outside noises down.
• In addition, be sure to hide your clock. It will only be a distraction when you are trying to fall sleep. Focusing on the time can make you anxious about being unable to sleep.

Finally, establish a good pre-sleep ritual. Don’t eat a big meal before you go to bed. Take time to relax for a while before you go to bed; read or take a warm bath. Give your body cues that it’s time to wind down and go to sleep. Put on some quiet, relaxing music. Last but not least, listen to your body, and go to sleep when you’re tired.

Here are some sites with more tips and advice about getting a good night’s sleep:

Helpguide
National Sleep Foundation
National Institute of Health
Journal Sleep
MedicineNet