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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.

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

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.

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.

Make your traveling nursing job a time to make this a unique opportunity to celebrate the holiday in a new way and create a stress free memorable holiday with these tips. It doesn’t matter if you are located in 50 degree weather or below zero temps, these ideas are fit for everyone everywhere and are easy, fun and affordable. Whether you are alone for the holidays or traveling with your family, people of all ages can participate in these fun and creative ways to get the family involved and be a part of an exceptional holiday.

Give yourself plenty of time to prepare and have fun with the holidays approaching. Most of us realize after buying gifts we have little money left for decorating, but if you use a little imagination and creativity you can create a house full of holiday spirit without breaking your bank account.

Make this holiday season your own with creative and fun ways to change your home in an inexpensive way.

Add some sparkle
Adding white or colored Christmas lights behind your curtains on your windows adds a calmness and serenity to your home. On top of your fireplace bunch up Christmas lights (any color you choose) on top of the mantle, try adding tall candles throughout which adds extra sparkle and glowing to your home or apartment. Re-using lights from the previous year is a cheap way to make a huge improvement to your home and add some more brightness to your life.

Make a card collage
If you collect Christmas cards over the years gather them up and make a collage of your favorite cards in different patterns and angles with different color construction paper behind them. This is not only free, but is also a memorable way to reminisce the holidays on your wall.

If you do not have Christmas cards with you or do not collect cards throughout the years go to a nearby dollar store and purchase your favorite Christmas cards and use those to make a collage. You can also make this a family activity by having everyone do their own section on the wall or pick out their favorite pictures. Place these collages on your walls, cabinets or doors.

Create a comforting smell
Putting a few cinnamon sticks in a small pot with a little water over the stove on low is an easy and inexpensive way to bring back those nostalgic holiday smells throughout your home. The smell of cinnamon makes your home warm, comfortable, and soothing. You will be surprised by the effect of a just couple cinnamon sticks.

Another route to memorable holiday smells is to purchase holiday scented candles at your local convenience store or wholesale store and place them throughout your home. When your guests enter your home they will be taken back in time by the fresh scent and holiday spirit.

Light some candles
Candles are an inexpensive way to change your home into a comfortable and warm atmosphere. Tea lights can be bought in mass quantity and are small candles that can be placed around your home. To make this a family activity place the tea lights in a clear candle holder and tie ribbons around the candle holder. You may be as creative and add any colors or ribbons as you like. Place these on your tables, fire mantle or anywhere around your home that is not flammable.

Make it snow inside
Gather color paper or paper of your preference and if you choose to make this a family activity have everyone cut their own snowflakes and different shapes and sizes. You can also get some Elmer’s glue and buy different colors of glitter to add to the snowflakes for some sparkle. Once the glitter has dried, place the snowflakes in groups of two to five or however many you prefer on your doors, windows or kitchen cabinets to add some extra festive color in your home.

Link a food chain
Everyone loves cereal so why not make decoration out of it? Anyone can do this activity and it’s very inexpensive. Fruit loops, Cheerios, Popcorn or anything you prefer, like cranberries, that can go on a string. Make the string as long as you would like and as many as you would like and place the food of your choice on the string in any pattern you choose. Make sure you make a knot at the ends to prevent spilling.

Once you are finished you can put the decorations along your window, cabinets, doors, or around your Christmas tree. This is a colorful way to decorate your home or tree and the whole family can join. At the store allow each person to pick out their cereal of choice to decorate their own chain to let everyone participate.

Make this holiday season your own with creative and fun ways to change your home in an inexpensive way. On your traveling nurse assignment take some time for yourself or your family to join in some crafty ways to get the whole family involved.

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

Everyday Life

Make life easier with companies and services that are available across the US.

Open a checking account at a bank that is located nationwide. This will make it easier to deposit checks and get cash out of the ATM without any charges. This is much more convenient than having to worry about finding your bank in a new city every 13 weeks.

Bank of America

U.S. Bank

Wells Fargo

These days less and less people are using landline home phones. Some travel nursing companies do set up a landline for you in your new home, but changing your number every 13 weeks can be difficult for people to keep up with. Get a cell phone with nationwide coverage allows you to have one number that doesn’t change, and you don’t to have to worry about calling cards and long distance fees. It will also make it easier for your family and friends to keep contact with you.

Verizon

Sprint

Alltel

AT&T

On the Road

AAA is best known for its roadside assistance, but it offers more than just that. You can also receive different types of discounts from hotels to dining. Some of the perks are prepaid 24-hour emergency towing, locksmith, tire change, fuel delivery and maps. With AAA, you can travel without the fear of being stranded.

AAA

Nobody wants to be lost on the road and GPS is a way to help you get avoid that situation. It can be used for local help or even for a road trip cross country, and assist you in learning your way around your new home without getting lost. Just imagine finding the stores you need to without driving around wasting gas. Another option instead of GPS is navigation on your cell phone. Companies are now offering GPS on your phone for about $10 a month. These services come with auto-rerouting, mapping, local searches by name or category, and place messaging.

GPS Reviews

Garmin

Dell

Circuit City

Health

Everyone always wants to keep in shape, so it is a good thing 24-Hour Fitness, Bally’s and Life Time Fitness offer nationwide memberships. Make it easy to get your workout in, get a membership that can be used in multiple states. Keep in mind that these gyms aren’t in every state, but try to pick the one that will be in most of the states you work as travel nurse in. Each club has their own types of memberships. You just need to find the right one for you.

24-Hour Fitness

Bally Total Fitness

Life Time Fitness

Sometimes after working the floor all day, making dinner is the last thing you want to do. Well you are in luck. There are websites where you can order meals online. Order in advance to be able to get the meal on a certain day, or if you are planning on having people over then you can order an appetizer for your guests.

Home Bistro

Dine Wise

Schwan’s

Entertainment

To help relax when on assignment after a long day of working the floor, watching a movie is always a good way to clear the mind. Netflix and Blockbuster both offer movie rentals by the mail. There are no late fees, so you can have the DVD for as long as you want. With no late fees, you don’t have to watch the movie in two to seven days. You can wait to find a convenient time for you. Depending on your plan, you can have one to three DVDs at a time. This makes it easier than driving around in a new place trying to find a store while on assignment. Plus with the gas prices rising, it is a good way to save money.

Netflix

Blockbuster

Another thing to think about is possibly spending some money on a XM or Sirius radio. This way when you are driving across the country you will always have a radio station you enjoy to listening to. You will also be able to listen to the radio at home, online and on the go. It offers commercial free music, sports coverage, breaking news reports, a traffic navigator and weather updates.

XM

Sirius

Remember, keep your life simple. These few nationwide memberships can make your travel nursing experience that much more enjoyable. There is no need to worry or stress, when traveling is becoming easier every day.

The sweepstakes which started last week is open to any and all traveling healthcare professionals, specifically traveling nurses like yourself and will continue through October 31st. It’s easy to enter and even easier to win! Each week, twenty travelers will be chosen and the winners will receive a Mobile Phone Accessory Kit ($74.99 value) complete with portable battery, car charger and other connection devices made for smartphones like the Android and iPhones. Also, all entrants are eligible to win the Grand Prize of an Apple iPad 2 at the end of the sweepstakes. Enter as often as once per day to increase your chances of winning… If you don’t win this week, you certainly can win in the following weeks.

Visit MedicalSolutions.com on your phone, click the "contest" button and enter for your chance to win!

One important part of the sweepstakes is that you’re only able to participate through your mobile device or smartphone. Medical Solutions recently went through a brand change and has added a mobile friendly website to its arsenal. The sweepstakes was launched to help bring attention to its newest tool, one which will undoubtedly change the way a nurse can seek employment, on the go. So if you like winning and you have an iPhone, Blackberry or any of the Android based phones, take a look at the Room 2 Roam Mobile Sweepstakes and get yourself in the mix. Your chances of winning are great and the possibility of finding your next assignment with Medical Solutions is even greater!

Here’s the link to the page that will help you with how and where to enter Medical Solutions Room 2 Roam Mobile Sweepstakes.

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 force a smile it looks unnatural, but when you act natural it is more comfortable and inviting to others.

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.

These ideas are fit for hot and muggy summer days or mild summer nights in all states and are fun for everyone, young or old. Engaging in these activities is not only a good way to bring back the inner child in you but allows you to venture out and enjoy the last of summer.

1. Attend a County Fair: Take a walk through the fair and enjoy the activities, grab some authentic fair food and play some midway games for a fun evening or a laidback day. Check out event dates for either the local fairgrounds or a close by County.

BreedersWorld.com – Listing of State & County Fairs
WeekendEvents.com – Listing of State & County Fairs
Yahoo! State Fair Directory

Ride your bike to the park and have yourself a nice picnic with friends and family.

2. Go for a bike ride: Taking a bike ride on a cool summer night is not only relaxing, but a great way to spend time with friends or find some quiet alone time while doing something healthy for you. Intermediate or advanced, there are conditions and locations for all levels of biking in the summer in all locations.

Pedaling.com
TrailSource.com
Trails.com

3. Throw a BBQ or Picnic: On a cool summer evening or toasty afternoon get together with a group of friends and family, enjoy the day and the essence of summer with the people you enjoy. By making it a potluck event you will reduce the stress of being responsible for all the food, freeing yourself up to enjoy great company and of course food!

Barbecue’n On The Internet
Fiesta Barbecues
Evite.com – Picnic Party Ideas

4. Pick fresh fruit: Before the trees are done bearing fruit and the berries are all picked, go out one last time and pick some fresh fruit and enjoy the summer day. Make some homemade jams and pies and if you have leftovers freeze them, it is always a good way to bring back the summer treats in the winter.

PickYourOwn.org
Tips on Picking and Using Strawberries

5. Go fishing: Lake, river, or ocean, take some time to relax, catch some fish and get a tan before the days become too cold. Enjoy the great outdoors, it does not matter if you catch ten fish or any fish at all, enjoying this hobby or trying it for the first time is always a good experience and a great way to spend time with friends.

Best Fishing Tips
TakeMeFishing.org

6. Watch the sunrise/sunset: On a weekend morning, try getting up earlier than normal to watch the sunrise from a local park or lake, bring a cup of your favorite coffee and savor the moment. It is a great reminder of how wonderful life really is and a chance to appreciate summer.

SunriseSunset.com
U.S. Naval – Observatory Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day

7. Attend a concert in the park: Attending a summer concert at many parks is free. You are able to bring your own food and drinks and have the freedom to come and go as you please while enjoying the relaxing music. Many cities and towns also offer free movies at dusk in the park showing classic movies from Casablanca to Grease.

TiBConcerts.com
AOL – local city guide

8. Go to the zoo: The zoo is fit for all ages and is a great way to get some exercise walking around before the warm days come to an end. Check out the times at your local zoo for animal shows and gather up some friends and family to enjoy the wildlife and have a “wild” day together.

Smithsonian – National Zoological Park
Association of Zoos & Museums
Zoos Worldwide

9. Shop at your local Farmers Market: Most places all over the United States offer free to the public Farmers Markets with locally grown fruits and vegetables. Most have many other wonderful products only available at these markets. Fresh foods inspire most people to cook and experiment with new recipes or to make old time favorites, another great way to do something you enjoy and it’s good for you.

Find your state’s local farmers market
LocalHarvest.org

10. Go to a baseball game: Whether a college, minor or major league baseball game attending a game is a great way for family bonding or going out with close friends. Enjoy the loud and enthusiastic atmosphere and make sure to grab hotdog and peanuts to complete the nostalgic feel of a baseball game.

Baseball.com
MLB.com
MILB.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s very possible to bring your children along with you on every travel nursing assignment you choose to take, it just takes a little more effort and kids that are resilient and open minded to change. Whether across town or across the country, changing schools can be surprisingly tough on kids. There are a few things to consider if you plan on taking school age children with you on your next travel nurse move.

The number one thing to consider when planning your next assignment as the beginning of the school year looms is to get there ahead of the start of the semester. Give your children time to adapt to the new neighborhood and make new friends in the area. This way they won’t have so much to adjust to at once, it will help ease the move.

Ask around your new hospital or neighbors in the area about the schools your kids can choose from. Maybe one school has a better arts and sciences program than the others, or they have excellent sports programs. Whatever your kids interest, seek out the ones in which you think your kids will thrive at most. It will make it easier for them to make friends if there are programs and after-school activities they have a strong interest in.

Make his switch to a new school a smooth one and your assignment will be that much better.

Another important thing to think about when enrolling your kids in a new school is to sign them up in the schools buddy program, should there be one. Many schools have programs in place to pair your child with a classmate to clue him in about where the restrooms are, the lunchroom, that kind of thing. If the school does not have such a program, suggest they start one. If all else fails, take initiative yourself and scour the neighborhood or ask around for kids around the same age to help. You may not earn any cool points right away, but later your kids will definitely be thanking you… In their own way.

Once the school year is underway, check in with the school and your kids about the progress thus far. Are they getting acquainted to their new surroundings or are they shying away from making friends or any new contacts. A check-in will do a great deal in squashing any situation that may arise if the kids just aren’t liking it. Your awareness of the difficulty they’re going through will help tremendously. A little bit of extra cuddling and conversation will multiply the odds that your child will make it through this trying time just fine.

Changing schools is never an easy task. It is possible, but may require a bit extra from you and your kids. You’re a team and the only way you can do this is together. The pay-off is the great experiences you’ll share together…Your children may not realize it now, but after awhile I’m sure you’ll all look back and think just how cool it was to go to school near a beach, or take a rock-climbing class and so on. The opportunities are abound, not only for travel nurse, but for the entire family.

Here are some great resources to help you and your family make the change a smooth one, or two, or three…

How to Evaluate and Change Schools

National Center for Education Statistics

Parental Information and Resource Centers on Education

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

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

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

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

RN.com: Nursing Continuing Education and Travel Nurse Information

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

NurseCEU.com: Nursing Continuing Education Directory

NetCE.com: Continuing Education Online