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Here are some oldies but goodies:

1.Valentine’s Cards: Buy a bunch of children’s Valentine’s Day cards and send one everyday to your loved one until Valentine’s Day.

2. Capture the moment: Who doesn’t love photos? Make a collage with photos of the two of you or even just a bunch of photos of him/her and their friends. You can even find inexpensive snow globes at places like your local hobby store to insert your own photos into to create a homemade snow globe! You can also add photos to mugs, mouse pads, or calendars to spice up any loved ones life.

• Walgreens Photo
• Cafe Press

3. Be Betty Crocker: If it isn’t too far to send the baked good-try making some of the cookies below, everyone loves homemade treats. Otherwise, if you’re like a lot of people you can always just order cookies and have them shipped to your loved one!

• Valentine Suger Cookie recipe
• Valentine Chocolate Suger Cookie recipe
• Mrs. Fields

4. Coupon book: Make homemade coupons that you know the other person would love to have you do for them. Such as “I’ll do the dishes” or “One Free Back Massage” or “I’ll make breakfast” either way the coupons you create will be a sure hit.

5. Scrapbook: Make a page or an entire book of pictures of the two of you. Decorate the pages with quotes or stories that go along with each photo.

6. Flowers: Flowers will never go out of style. Just find a local store near where you’d like to send them and order away.

• 1-800 Flowers

Here are some new unique ideas to keep things interesting:

1. Jar of LOVE: Find a little box or jar and decorate it if you choose.

• Fill with pieces of paper with reasons why you love them or memories you have with them. Also spice it up with some quotes and/or drawings.

2. Email Valentine’s: There are a bunch of new ways to say “I love you” or “I miss you” through email “cards.” They are cheap yet are sure to warm any heart.

3. Buy A STAR: Buy your significant other a star. Nothing says you’re special to me like a star of their very own!

• International Star Registry

4. Perfume: Create your own perfume or cologne. You get to pick not only the way yours will smell but also the bottle it comes in and best of all… you get to create its name / logo for the bottle.

• ScentCrafters

5. CANDY: If they love M&M’s or Dove Chocolate, what could be better than creating a little message on the inside wrapper or a couple words on M&Ms! It’s a sure treat that your loved one will eat right up.

• Personalized M&M’s
• My Dove Chocolate

6. Photo Book: Create an actual hard cover book full of your choice of pictures! You even get to choose the design and color of both the pages as well as the cover.

• Our Hubbub – Photo Memory Books

Even though you may be miles away from your loved one, hopefully by reading these 12 Valentine’s Day ideas you’ll be able to easily surprise your Valentine with something they would have never expected. Sometimes the joy of holidays isn’t in the huge present you give or receive; it is the idea and meaning behind the gift itself. Make this Valentine’s Day the holiday you give out of love and creativity. Those seem to be the gifts that are never forgotten.

Come enjoy the beaches of eastern FL!

Click here to learn more about this Traveling ICU Nurse Job in Florida.

Click here to see more ICU travel nursing jobs.

Click here to see more travel nursing jobs from one of the top ten travel nursing companies.

Watch this video to see all the exciting things there are to do in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Ask a Travel Nurse Question:

My wife and I are both nurses and are starting to travel nurse. Her experience is in home health, hospice and LT care. My experience is ED, cardiac and CATH lab. We have signed with a couple different companies, but they seem to be looking more for me and not for us together. Could you recommend a good company that would work for both of us to travel together.

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

There are a handful of agencies I use, but when referring people, I prefer to give nurses the names and numbers for specific recruiters, as these are the people I work with and trust. The nurse/recruiter relationship is very important in travel nursing and a good recruiter can make all the difference in the world. I prefer not to post those numbers online as some are direct numbers that dial in to a specific recruiter rather than going through the company switchboard (where most new travelers are routed). If you contact me at david@travelnursesbible.com, I’ll be happy to share with you the contacts I have at the companies I use and trust.

Just be sure that your recruiters understand up front that they need to secure a position for BOTH of you. I have worked with many husband/wife teams (work in a unit with two traveling couples right now). Be very emphatic if you need to, but make them understand that if they don’t find you two positions, they’ll lose TWO travelers to another company that will find you assignments. Do understand though that it might take some time if you are both new to traveling, but the more agencies you use, the better. It might even be possible to find you an assignment with one agency and her an assignment in the same location with another agency.

Email me and I’ll hook you up with some of the people I use.

David
TravelNursesBible.com
david@travelnursesbible.com

Being a travel nurse means you have the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends all over the United States. Making new friends is one of life’s richest pleasures and is a fun and easy way to interact with others while at your workplace or during your free time. Take some time and try out some of these ideas to help you meet new people, whether a new co-worker or a new neighbor.

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

• 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.

OR RN traveler needed for a 13 week travel assignment near Sheboygan, WI.

Click here to learn more about this Traveling OR Nurse Job in Wisconsin.

Click here to see more OR travel nursing jobs.

Click here to see more travel nursing jobs from one of the best rated travel nursing companies.

Watch this video to see the beauty of Wisconsin.

I am an experienced OR Nurse (over 35 years) and also an experienced Traveling Nurse. I have been permanent for the last three years and I am considering traveling again. I would like to know how the travel nurse industry is holding up (in our current economic situation) in terms of getting contracts that will allow the nurse to continue to be employed full-time within a travel nurse setting. In other words, is it realistically possible to get three to four contracts per year which would constitute full-time hours?

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

Hello.  As you might already know, 2009 was a bad year for the traveler with assignments down almost 50%. The following year was a “bounce back” year, but things were certainly not up to their pre-2009 state. In 2011, we only continued the climb, but I’d say that with hospitals around the nation facing state and federal cutbacks, we are not going to see anything like pre-2009 for a long time.

However, one thing remains and will continue for a LONG time. We are still in a nursing shortage, that by all accounts, will only continue to worsen. That means staffing needs throughout the country.

If you still have inactive (or active) licenses in a few states, you will be ahead of the game. The major thing is that needs are more immediate and the quicker you can interview, accept, and have license in hand, the better off you will be. Many travelers will now obtain their license before interviewing in a particular state (I believe all the travel agencies I use will still reimburse for that license if it is used on an assignment with them, even after the fact).

You might also need to be more flexible in assignment locations and if you were not using several agencies before, I recommend everyone be on file with at least two or three (I am currently on file with about 6 or 7).

So, if you understand how the market has changed, you should still expect to be able to work on a full time basis. Most of my years as a traveler have been spent on multiple extensions or repeat locations to help me limit my gap time, but you should still be able to keep traveling full time even if you need a change of venue every 13 weeks.

Hope this helps.

David
TravelNursesBible.com
david@travelnursesbible.com

So you’re saying to yourself, “I waste so much food when I cook by myself” or, “It’s just not worth my time and energy.” Cooking for oneself can both be fun and demanding. It is quite a chore to break down a recipe that is catered to four or maintain a healthy diet with take out. It’s fun, because you have total freedom in deciding what, when and where to eat, and eating a well prepared meal can equal an explosion of delight for the senses. Eating at home promotes healthy dining, it is less expensive and you get to actually concoct something of your own.

Lots of people, especially those in the healthcare profession often have a crazed schedule which in turn causes them to snack throughout the day, skip meals entirely, run through the local burger joint or another grab and go option. Neglecting meals or eating foods with high fat content can be damaging to your body and result in loss of energy. Most people today have careers that offer little in imagination so cooking can be a delightful way to step out of the box, be original, and use your creativity. There is more to life than the drive-thru, grocery store deli, and pizza delivery. Do something bold for a change: make your dinner. With just a few easy-to-remember tips you could be saving money and eating healthier! So what can you do to help yourself?

Plan Ahead

Make a list of menu items you’d like to prepare throughout the course of the week. While at the store it is always tempting to buy what you see, but try and stick to your plan. Also, never, never under any circumstance go to the store when you’re hungry. If you do, it is guaranteed you will buy something you don’t need, even worse, something you may regret. This will keep your budget under control as well as your waistline.

Shopping

Since you’re only cooking for one it is important to buy just enough of what you’ll need. Do go shopping once a month for the essentials and non-perishables, but try and make it a habit to frequent the store at least once a week to replace your veggies, milk and other perishables. When shopping for produce remember to buy small quantities, pre-packaged portions or frozen vegetables. Buy smaller cuts of meat, or ask the butcher behind the deli to slice the meat exactly as you like. This will keep costs down, your food tasting fresh and delicious.

Divide & Conquer

Making dinner for one can be quite complicated and often frustrating when trying to reduce the serving size. One way to combat this would be to go ahead and make the recipe as specified regardless of serving size and then freeze the remaining portions to eat at a later date. Casseroles, lasagna and stews are all great meals that freeze well. Another way might be to use a slow cooker or “Crock Pot”. The portions are large but this allows for plenty of leftovers for the week or, again freeze and store.

Make it Yours

Often times eating alone can be boring and monotonous. To make dinner more of an occasion, try setting the table with placemats, use your best plates and add some color with flowers as the centerpiece. Even the color of your food can be a factor in your enjoyment. Keep it colorful. Add a green salad, fresh bakery bread and your favorite bottle of vino. Remember this is your time, so make the most of it and more importantly, make it fun!!

Now after all these helpful hints you should be able to begin a regime that will keep your pantry stocked and your belly full. Of course there will be those days when you haven’t the time to shop for the necessary ingredients but want to keep eating right. Lucky for you there is an alternative. A new trend that is sweeping the nation is going to stores where you can pick out a pre-prepared meal and all you have to do is cook it. There are also places where you decide what to make and purchase all the necessary ingredients right there in the store. With all this available to you, one should never go a day without eating what’s best for you. However, we all have our guilty pleasures and we shouldn’t give up what makes us happy, at least in moderation!

Here are a few links for recipes and other dinner suggestions:

All Recipes
Rachel Ray
Martha Stewart
Supper Thyme USA

A reputable facility near Phoenix is looking for a travel nurse to help out in their Pediatrics unit.

Click here to learn more about this Traveling PICU Nurse Job in Arizona.

Click here to see more PICU travel nursing jobs.

Click here to see more travel nursing jobs from one of the best rated travel nursing companies.

Watch this video to see all the fun and sun of Arizona.

Hello. Thank you for your time. I’m a long time travel nurse, but have been lucky in that the places I’ve been, I’ve stayed and extended, then came back home for a while, and went back out, that sort of thing. I’m with a new company and the hospitals I’ve been at (in California) don’t have any traveler needs, so I’m in unfamiliar territory. Is there a internet site where we as nursing professions can ask what other nurses have to say about a particular facility, or what peoples opinions are on whether a location is traveler nurse friendly or not? Thanks again, have a great day.

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

There is no one centralized website where you can find this information; however, there are some sites where you might find info on a particular hospital or area or be able to post a forum question to see if anyone else has information.

The first site that I recommend is the Delphi forum for traveling professionals (go to delphiforums.com, look for the box on the right that says “Explore existing forums”, type in “travel nursing” and the top result is a group called Travel Nurses and Therapists). The reason for my top recommendation of this site is that it has over a half million members. Search through the postings or submit one of your own.

Another forum is ultimatenurse.com. Pan Travelers has a forum, a free section, and a portion where there is a charge to access that information. You can also join Healthcare Travelbook (healthcaretravelbook.com) which is a sort of Facebook style place for travelers. You can also post questions there on their forum page.

Sorry there is no “one place” to find what you seek, but using the above sites, you might be able to get the info you need.

David
TravelNursesBible.com
david@travelnursesbible.com

Hospital in LA is currently looking for two experienced traveling nurses to assist in their Telemetry unit on days starting ASAP

Click here to learn more about this Traveling Telemetry Nurse Job in California.

Click here to see more Telemetry travel nursing jobs.

Click here to see more travel nursing jobs from one of the top ten traveling nurse companies.

Watch this video to see all the glamor of Los Angeles.

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!

Great travel opportunity in the northeast!

Click here to learn more about this Traveling ER Nurse Job in New York.

Click here to see more ER travel nursing jobs.

Click here to see more travel nursing jobs from one of the top ten travel nursing companies.

Watch this video to see all the exciting things there are to do in upstate New York.

If you are narrowing your focus on a particular area of study, you may be able to accept a position that will help to supplement your studies. For example, if you are interested in focusing on geriatrics or pediatrics, an assignment that will help you gain experience in these particular branches of medicine will help to supplement your education and add substance to your resume.

Aside from being a wonderful way to experience new places and a chance to work for some of the top hospitals in the country, travel nursing can also offer a great deal of flexibility in scheduling. Because you can often decide exactly how long a particular job will last, you can plan to incorporate a few weeks` study time in between nursing positions. If you find it too difficult to fit study time into your regular everyday schedule, plan for time in between work assignments to take an accelerated summer course. You may even be able to negotiate the cost of your schooling as part of your bonus package.

Time management skills become of the essence in combining travel nursing with continuing education. As a nurse you will already be competent in utilizing time management principles for patient care. Your own schedule is no exception. Common sense and adherence to a few classic techniques will go a long way in helping you to maximize efficiency. It may help you to get a diary and track your activities for a few days, in order to see where the majority of your time is spent. You will then be able to zero in on unexpected moments of free time that you could use for effective studying or for completing homework.

Once you’ve identified areas where you can free up time, write a to-do list so that you can budget your time most effectively and make sure you update it daily. It is also good to remember that travel nursing by its very nature helps you to simplify certain aspects of daily living that can free up time to focus on completing your degree.

Any work experience can have a positive effect on your resume and travel nursing also has the advantage of offering job opportunities at some of the country`s best hospitals. You may be able to coordinate your travel nursing job to take advantage of top nursing programs that are offered in your assigned area. For example, both Yale and Emory Universities offer positions to travel nurses and are also considered among the top schools in the country. With a little forethought and planning, you will be able to make the most effective use of your time and talents, as well as working towards completing your degree.

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.

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Hi, I am a new nurse, and one of the major draws for me was the travel-nursing career path. I also have a pilot’s license, so I’m curious if this could work to my advantage at some point. I could take per diem jobs week-to-week in different regions (Chicago one week, then Texas the next, for instance). Have you ever heard of anyone doing such a thing?

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

While you add an interesting twist to the “travel” portion in “travel nursing”, I’m not quite sure how you would incorporate this into a travel career.

Most assignments are for a set duration (typically 13 weeks) in one location. You could sign up with a travel company that also employs nurses in a per diem capacity. Then you could conceivably work a week in Chicago and then one in Texas, but I would think this a very chaotic schedule.

Plus, if you are only a VFR pilot, then the weather might be an obstacle in getting from location to location.

While not being a pilot, I too have some aircraft time, but have never had enough time to complete my full training. For me, I like the idea of taking a travel assignment and then being able to fly in all different areas of the country (rather than staying local with my flight time).

Explore it further with those companies that offer per diem opportunities. You would truly be a pioneer in this type of nursing. If you can make this work, please keep us all updated on your adventures.

David
TravelNursesBible.com
david@travelnursesbible.com

Where is the best place for me to look for travel jobs? The job boards seem to be a bit dried up. What other resources are out there? Bob

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

I suppose my first question is where exactly are you looking for jobs and why are you doing it? Please don’t take offense at that question, I’m just not certain about how you are looking for travel positions and it sounds as if you might be doing it in a very uncommon way.

For most travelers, they join a company and a recruiter then looks for a job for them. I always tell people to join at least a few companies (join ten if you want); the more companies you join, the more people you have looking for a job for you (I am currently on file with about six or seven companies).

Again, I’m not certain if I understand the way you go about this because you mention “you” looking for jobs rather than your “recruiter” looking for jobs. If you do not have recruiters looking for you, then feel free to email me at david@travelnursesbible.com and I can give you the names of several recruiters I use to help people locate assignments.

This is the way that is familiar to me and the way that has worked for me for over fifteen years. Please let me know if I am not understanding you correctly.

Thanks Bob.

David
TravelNursesBible.com
david@travelnursesbible.com