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

Over at NursingLink.com they’ve compiled a list of the 51 Top-Paying Metro Areas for Nurses. You may automatically think these top paying jobs are at hospitals but according to the site, “Across the country, 42% of healthcare jobs are in doctors’ offices and labs, and 34% are in hospitals. The third biggest employment setting is nursing and residential care facilities. So if you’re looking for a top career in a big city, you’ll want to look much further than the biggest hospitals in town. but you can get started here – find out which metro pays the most!”

Remember, as a traveling nurse you will earn more, so use this guide of the top-paying cities/areas to get the most of what you want from your nursing career. Your number one concern will always be the health and well-being of your patients and I’m sure a close second will be the paycheck at the end of two weeks. Happy trails to you.

If you have a favorite band and would like to know where they are headed next, check out Pollstar.com. You can either search by artist, band, city or venue and it is updated constantly with news about various artists and musical events.

Another source for tracking down where your favorite artists will be playing next is TicketMaster.com. Here you can also search by city, state, artist or venue and then take the next step to purchase tickets to the events.

So pack up your tour bus (or your car), hit the road and discover all the great music and hospitals this fine country of ours has to offer.

Lately the state of healthcare has been through some trying times and nurses and other medical staff are beginning to feel the effects. With the risk of patient care suffering and nurses experiencing fatigue and burnout, it is imperative that you give yourself a little “me” time. Vacations can work wonders for the soul and give your psyche a bit of an escape from the realities and repetition of our daily lives. Whether it’s just a “mental health” day or a weeks long vacation at some resort… You deserve a break and you deserve to make the most of every dollar you spend on it.

We all know where the economy stands today and it is probably a big factor in why you deserve to take a break. You may be leery to do anything extravagant because of your financial situation and that’s the smart thing to do. So here are a few ways to help you make the most of your time and money! Nurses and Vacation – 12 Ways to Stretch Your Budget

This is the third post relating to this show and I think this will be it for some time. I’ll check back into it once the show has found its legs and the shock of its title characters lifestyle wears off a bit. Who knows, there may be some great things to take away from a show like this. While the representation of this ER nurse may not reflect that of those in the real world, it will be interesting to see how the producers of the show react to the viewership. The first episode has been available to preview for some time now and there are many opinions out there on the validity of the show, just check out the forum on AllNurses-Central.com.

So what do you think? Will the new shows like ‘Nurse Jackie’ and ‘HawthoRNe’ help the boost the perception of nurses as well educated healthcare practitioners or will it just extend the stereotypes that Hollywood has put in place for so long? There are mixed reviews regarding ‘Nurse Jackie,’ some like it for the fact that the title character is this no nonsense veteran nurse who obviously is a bit jaded with the system and has seen it all and won’t let anyone get in her way, while others don’t like it for the extra cirriculars she participates in. While shows in the past have portrayed nurses as servants with little or no input with the care for patients, we all know that nurses have a giant role in the care and recovery of patients. Hopefully with these new shows it will translate into showing nurses in a new light that they are hard working, knowledgeable caretakers and that without them the healthcare system would just buckle.

What we need from any movie and TV show today is to bring the profession of nursing in a greater light. We know the reason for this, the nursing shortage. If Hollywood continues to do what it has done for years, then nurses will never gain the recognition it so deserves. Sadly, many who watch television and movies believe what is on-screen actually happens. So why not show them doing what they actually do!? Now there’s a novel idea! With that I think there will be many who want to do what they see – There’s so much more to the job than there has ever been shown on-screen. I hope these new shows take that into consideration… So tune in and see for yourselves. Will you keep watching or maybe write your own script? I know you’ve got stories!

Here’s a story on StrategiesForNurseManagers.com that also talks about these new shows.

Sorry fellas, this magazine looks geared toward women with articles like “advice on hair, skin, nails, makeup, and more tips by and for nurses,” but there is still a lot valuable information in it for you, particularly in their Work and Money sections. And there is a great article on Male Nurse Myths that I think they could look into expanding into its own section. 

The one thing I like is how easy the site is to find your way around and since it is all online (at least as far as I can tell) it is great for travel nurses, so you don’t have to worry about cancelling or changing subscriptions every three months.

Although it is not aimed at travel nursing specifically it does have some content aimed at travel nurses like a checklist for your first day on a travel nurse job. Check this newnursing magazine out and let me know what you think.

I just ran across a site that if properly used could become a huge tool for travel nurses everywhere. NurseRatings.org. I don’t know if the creator of  this site, which has the tag line “Nurses helping Nurses,” meant it to be for travel nursing or just a great tool for nurses everywhere, but whatever the intent, the potential use for travel nurses is huge. Imagine being able to learn first hand from travel nurses just like you what they thought of a hospital during their time there during a travel nursing assignment. And don’t forget the valuable feedback from the perm nurses that work there too.

No matter what your goals for being a travel nurse it is important to know a lot about the hospital you are going to work at. You will want to evaluate on culture, technology and clinical skills, management style, etc. And NurseRatings.org lets you rate on the:

• Doctor to Nurse Relationship
• Nurse to Nurse Relationship
• Pay
• Location
• Nurse Management
• Professional Development

Plus it has a comments section where nurses can add anything else they would like. Rating does not require a log in or even using your real name, which is one of the strengths and weaknesses of review sites. On the one hand the anonymity can let people speak up who may not normally, but can also lead to abuse. But overall I think it is a good system that is easy to use.

But the best part may be how easy it is for you as a travel nurse to go in and rate hospitals you have worked at. The site is very user friendly. It is grouped by state with a simple to use map, as long as you are familiar with US geography, which if you are a travel nurse I assume you are. This is a great option if you want to browse a state you are considering taking a travel nursing job in, but if you are looking for a specific hospital to read about or rate, there is a easy to use search tool.

The biggest drawback of the site so far is that there does not appear to be many ratings available and currently no real incentive to do so, other than the good old fashioned nature of people who like to share their opinion. If there were some sort of social networking aspect to it or rewards system to spur reviews I think it would grow faster, but it is still very new so you just have to give it time and be a willing user yourself. Ratings sites like these are only worthwhile if people use them so I suggest you start using it today, it is a really good way to educate yourself and other travel nurses about the hospitals they may be taking their next travel nursing job.

One day last week I went home sick and actually read all the responses from the nurses who took part (The deadline is May 12th BTW so you still have some time to enter). Some of the stories were hilarious, others were just sad, it was surprising to see so many hospitals and healthcare facilities that couldn’t take the time to even acknowledge the week or clearly took so little time that it came across as nothing more than an afterthought.

It was also interesting to see how many nurses don’t think the week is needed at all and see it as demeaning to the profession. I can see both sides on this, but I was wondering what you think? What is your opinion of Nurses Week? Maybe we need to create Travel Nurses Week?

• Travel Nursing Resources
• Nursing Information
• Nursing Resources
• Nursing Organizations
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Niche Sites
• Nursing Social Networks
• Travel Nursing Blogs
• Nursing Supplies
• Nursing Other
• Hospital Information
• Moving Resources
• Travel Resources
• Housing Information
• City Information
• Settling In Tips
• Day-to-Day Living Tips
• Personal Health Tips
• Financial Resources
• Social Networking Resources

Take a look and report back with any sites you think they missed.

Life during the current economic recession can be troublesome. Being a nurse does not mean you’re immune to the ill effects of the present economic condition. Certain nursing divisions and jobs may be downsized or cut out completely as hospitals and other healthcare facilities feel the crunch. Also, there’s the ever present risk of getting injured resulting in the inability to work. But even in this troubled economy, nursing continues to have a silver lining, because there will still be a need for many years to come.

The current state of the economy has proven to be quite the wake up call for many financially. Many families are scrambling due to a loss of income and are finding it very difficult to live the way they were use to. Those in nursing are trying to find overtime hours and picking up extra shifts to compensate for the difference lost. This is only a temporary fix and those working longer will begin to feel what we’ve been talking about around here for the past couple weeks, burnout. So what can you do to prepare you and your family from avoiding situations like this?

There are many measures you can take to help you and your family through a financial crisis. The Center for American Nurses has many financial literacy resources where you can learn how to save for everything from your children’s college fund to your retirement nest egg.

Here are a list of other nursing financial resources.

Nurses Get Realistic Advice from Personal Finance Guru Suze Orman

Financial Tips For Travel Nurses – Why it is Imperative to Save For the Future

Many travelers we have met, do keep a home base. On our website http://www.travel-nurse-coach.com/travel-nurse-housing.html we have covered some options for travelers regarding housing.

The problem for a traveler is to find affordable available housing.  It is difficult to get information. Of course you can go to the paper or online but you do not know who you are dealing with.

Our Free E-Classified Ad Community is a new concept. It targets other health care travelers. Under housing, you can list that you have a dwelling available. Many people looking for house-sitters do so because they have plants, or pets to look after or a yard that needs regular care. You as a house-sitter can get a reduced rate or sometimes even free housing.

If you are looking for accommodations you can request what you are looking for. Like all new ideas it takes time for this to catch on.

Presently, Janet and I are doing a four month house-sit ending April first. Our Nurse Mafia (check what the” nurse mafia” is, on our previous article) found us the house-sit. Our friend Joanne who is a registered nurse knew we were looking for housing in the area we wanted and her parents were going away for four months.

We took over this clean attractive three-bedroom house for the cost of the utilities

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We also have a monthly newsletter, which starts March 15 where we will feature house-sits for health care travelers. Please sign up and do register at our Free Classified Ad Community.

There is approximately twenty thousand travel nurse’s in the US. The more nurses that post on the Classifieds the better chance you have of finding a house-sit.

When we are looking for items and or information we usually reach out to other travelers. There are other practical benefits to contacting other travelers.

Passing on items and simply learning where the good deals are found can help you get started in the right direction. My husband and I have bought sold and passed on everything from snorkeling equipment, computer equipment and even leased out our vehicle.

We have built a Free Classified Ad section on our website www.travel-nurse-coach.com

It is brand new and the more people who use it, the better chance you have of finding what you need. Please let healthcare workers know about the Free Classified Ad Community.

The one problem that we found is when we were traveling we only got to meet a limited amount of travelers.

We have a section marked (activity partner wanted) where you can post and let people know when and where you are traveling. This is” a work in progress “so we welcome any suggestions.

Oh, by the way it is not necessary to give out your email or contact information unless you wish to do so. You can simply have them hit the reply button.

Please pass this forward to other travelers possibly your “nurse mafia!”

Carol e-mailed and asked “Do healthcare workers rent out there home base apartment, or house to other travelers?” Stay tuned for our answer next week.

• Interview for the travel nursing job as soon as you can. You don’t want to lose the position to a nurse who was able to interview faster.
• Remember that just because you are in high demand as a nurse that doesn’t mean you can afford to sound unprofessional or casual during the travel nursing interview process.
• Follow up with your travel nurse recruiter after the interview. They will want to know how it went and if you’re still interested in the travel nursing job.
• When you are doing the interview set all distractions aside and focus on the interviewer.
• Remember that being a flexible, team player is one of the most sought after traits in a travel nurse.
• Be sure to ask questions (I would plan them in advance) and keep in mind that you are interviewing the facility as much as they are interviewing you. You want to make sure it is a good fit for your nursing career goals.
• Be prepared for your travel nurse interview. Take the time to research the name of the hospital and research it online so there are no surprises in the interview.
• Smile when you talk it will change the tone of your voice during the interview. Hiring managers need to know that you will be able to fit in with the rest of the unit.
• Have your goal in mind, which is to present yourself as a competent, reliable and skilled nurse, before the travel nursing interview takes place.
• Make sure you practice the interview first. Knowing what you are going to say ahead of time will make your answers sound smoother, eliminate the umms and awkward pauses and make you look like a better communicator. Just be sure to stay spontaneous and not sound robotic.
• Be prepared for the travel nursing interview by finding a quiet place to do it with minimal distractions.
• Have a bottle of water on hand so your throat doesn’t dry out from so much talking and have a pen and paper on hand to write notes or any new questions you come up with.
• Also have all the materials about the hospital close by and write down the name of the person doing the travel nursing interview.
• Nothing is worse than calling someone the wrong name during an interview.
• Make sure you know what the next step is in the travel nurse placement process, and if you want the job make sure to state that fact and follow up with your recruiter immediately after the travel nursing interview to let her know how it went.

What other tips do you have for fellow travel nurses?

As a travel nurse, you won’t have that everyday familiarity; however, you do start to establish it more and more as time passes. When ending and starting a new assignment you won’t be able to meet as many people at that job, but overall you meet more people all across the U.S. since you are always going to new places and transitioning. You also won’t get wrapped up in the hospital politics like you would in a permanent place.

Every nursing job offers medical insurance, PTO and 401K, but to receive there benefits you must work for that hospital for a certain time period. As a travel nurse, the more established companies offer medical insurance and 401K from day one. That’s just the beginning of benefits.

The best benefit of traveling nursing is being able to travel across the U.S. meeting new people and learning about different cultures. Once you are in your new home, you can go out site seeing and check out all the hot spots in that area.

The main reason people become a travel nurse is traveling. You get paid to do the traveling you have always wanted to do and didn’t have the money to do sooner. Traveling is cheap and easy, when the more established companies reimburse you for your travel and licensure expenses, and help you get your certification.

Patricia Lederman
Group Editor
plederman@advanstar.com

Bobbi Harrison
Managing Editor
bharrison@advanstar.com

Jennifer Samuels
Associate Editor
jennifer.samuels@advanstar.com

If you read Healthcare Traveler magazine then you are already aware of the kind of info and quality they will bring to the travel nursing blog universe. Check out their blog and tell them TravelNursingBlogs.com sent you.

Last night’s episode of ‘Hopkins’ featured another heart transplant. This time it was a toddler in need of a healthy heart. This scenario is every parent’s worst nightmare. Watching your child face what comes down to a life and death situation. As a parent of 2 young boys this episode really tugged on my emotions as well as my wife’s.

It was amazing watching the pediatric doctors objectively discussing the options for this little boy. They must consider all avenues and present them to the parents. Not only that but then they must follow through with parents’ choice of action, which in this case was placing the boy on a transplant list and hoping that a heart would become available.

Their prayers were answered and a heart did become available. This was another difficult segment to watch as the little boy underwent heart transplant surgery. It is such a miracle that this is even possible and that it went so well for this boy.

It does make me think how much pressure there must be on the doctors and nurses involved in these types of surgeries and how they must detach themselves from the emotional side of the procedures. In fact, I’m sure it’s a necessity to detach from the circumstances surrounding each patient in order to do what is required.

All in all, this was another compelling episode that stayed true to the formula of the first couple episodes.

First off, let me just say that I have not watched the second episode of Hopkins yet. Fourth of July festivities with family precluded me being able to catch it. I do plan on watching it and will post my opinions then.

As I watched last night’s episode of Hopkins, there was a sequence where a patient attacked a nurse. I found this to be quite a coincidence as I had posted a story on this blog yesterday regarding workplace violence in healthcare facilities. This is quite a problem and certainly no hospital or facility is immune.

Other than that there was a touching moment when a young man was getting ready for a heart transplant. As he was being wheeled from his room to prepare for surgery, all his nurses stopped by to wish him well and hand out some hugs. This is where Hopkins really shines, highlighting these moments where you can see how much the nurses and doctors do care for the patients.

I’m sure all nurses could relate to that moment as the connection between care giver and patient is so strong and that scene plays out in hospitals throughout the world every day.

Again, it was another good episode that really has done a nice job of focusing in on the personal side of healthcare.

Some of the other healthcare careers look pretty intersting too. If you get second it is worth looking at the whole list.

While we are familiar with the state of healthcare here in America, it should come as no surprise that many Americans are now seeking medical care from abroad. Within the past decade, the medical travel industry is beginning to really, take off. More often than not one can find the level of expertise and care to meet or exceed that of what one may be used to in the ole US of A. There are a few companies based here that offer exchange healthcare in countries like Brazil, Costa Rica, South Korea and many others. On another note, from major to minor medical emergencies one can expect to pay significantly less and without the hassle of insurance companies. So while you have the option to choose where you want to work and practice, the patients now have a similar option… Except their choices can be a little more exotic.

My hope is that I imagine the whole world will open it’s doors to one another and soon enough anyone and everyone can get the care they need and deserve. Until then… Be well.

Did you catch the first episode of ‘Hopkins’ last night on ABC?

I thought it was a well-done look into the lives of 3 doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital. They did a nice job of focusing on the human element in healthcare rather than the techonoligical side. In my opinion it is in these moments when the real miracles in healthcare take place.

The show mixed in some stories about a few of the patients each doctor was working with. I’m sure this format will continue throughout the course of the show. These stories made me want to pull for them and I’m hopeful that at the end of the series they do a follow-up and give us an update on all of the featured patients.

Illegal immigration and divorce were 2 other topics addressed in this episode. These are big topics that nearly all of America can relate to or are affected by in some way.

I was disappointed that the show only focused on the 3 doctors. I’m really hoping that we’ll see more of the hospital staff in upcoming episodes. Especially some of the great nursing staff! If they spotlight a travel nurse I’ll be really impressed!

If you saw the show last night, let me know what you thought about it.