Hello everyone. I’m a travel nurse originally from Ohio who graduated in 1993 from Mount Carmel School of Nursing in Columbus. I completed a critical care fellowship at Riverside Methodist Hospital in 1994 and started traveling in that specialty a year later. My first travel assignment was in Maui and since that time I have completed over thirty travel contracts, worked with several different travel agencies, and currently hold about a half dozen nursing licenses in different states.Last year I wrote a book entitled, Travel Nurse’s Bible (A Guide to Everything on Travel Nursing), which can be found at TravelNursesBible.com. I am currently blogging on this site and writing a monthly column in Healthcare Traveler Magazine.I am presently on assignment in Phoenix, AZ and travel anywhere from six to eleven months of the year.
Most have heard the expression that hindsight is 20/20. Well I would like to contend that occasionally foresight can be just as clear.
While none of us have a crystal ball with which we can see into the future, we can all learn from our past experiences, or even those of our fellow travelers. With that [...]
A first-time traveler recently contacted me with difficulties on her first assignment. When she began to describe some of the problems she was encountering, I began to see where she might have made some better choices for a first contract.
The first thing she mentioned was that it was a “float” position. In case you happen [...]
Last week I was under the impression that I had concluded my three-part series on transportation options while on assignment. Then I realized that there was just one more subject I wanted to cover: island travel.
During my travels, I have been to Hawaii several times on travel assignments. While I am one that likes to [...]
This week I wanted to finally conclude my three-part post on transportation while on assignment. We last talked about getting around in a new city via mass transit. This week, we’ll take a look at another way to get from point A to B while on assignment.
If you fly to your location, whether you choose [...]
I’m still trying to finish what will be a three-part posting on transportation options while on assignment. However, I wanted to post a Haiti update this week since so many of you have contacted me wanting information on how to help.
Right after the quake, I was initially sent a mass email from one of the [...]
A few weeks back we discussed getting around in the city of your travel nursing assignment. In the next few posts, we’ll take a look at some of the ways that can be accomplished.
Obviously, if you are like me and drive to every assignment, transportation should not be an issue once you arrive. If you [...]
Last week I mentioned that this week we would be discussing how to get around while on a travel assignment. However, I wanted to postpone that discussion for another week due to a question that I received a few days ago in regard to Haiti. A traveler contacted and asked if I knew of any [...]
I have always wanted to travel to New York and it is still on my “to do” list. However, when you travel to any big city such as New York or San Francisco, special consideration must be given to the transportation you will use while on assignment.
Last week we talked about preparing for the start of a new assignment. Despite swearing that I would never follow in my mother’s footsteps of being a “list” person, I must say that a good “to-do” list can be very helpful in keeping track of all the things that need to be accomplished when embarking on a travel assignment.
Your first day on a new travel nursing assignment is sort of like your first day in a new school. All your surroundings are different, you’re wondering if the work will be hard, and you’re worried about fitting in and making new friends. All of these things usually roll into one great big ball of stress for the traveling nurse. While some of these things are out of your control, there are some things you can do to ease the stress of a new assignment.
Any nurse who has been traveling for a few years has undoubtedly collected a handful of different state licenses. Keeping current with all these licenses can be tricky, especially if any have specific requirements.
Last week we discussed taking time off during the Holiday season while on assignment. However, if you put a little forethought into taking assignments at the end of the year, you can increase the likelihood of having time off during the Holidays.
Last week we discussed making some extra money over the Holiday season by working on the “Big Three” (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years). However, what should you do if you need any of these shifts off to spend with family and friends?
Let’s face it, no one likes working on what some call the “Big Three” (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years), but we also work in a profession that does not close its doors just because of a holiday. However, those that are willing to work on these days, or accept a travel contract just prior to the Holiday season, might be able to take home a little extra cash by doing so.
A reader recently asked my advice on whether or not to sell her home to travel. She wanted to know which would be better, keeping her home for the tax implications, or renting an apartment and using it to maintain a “tax home”.
I was once asked why the travel nursing companies require a year of experience before a nurse may travel. A recent email I received should illustrate the answer to that question.
My assignment is coming to an end. What now?
Most seasoned travel nurses can tell you the options available at the end of a travel contract, but if this is your first assignment, you might be left wondering, “What now?”
Everyone knows how birds migrate south for the winter; it is the same for some people. Most of the people with the ability to pick up and move somewhere else for a period of time are retirees. Those who are retired tend to be older and start to have an increased need for medical services. So when those individuals move into an area for a period of time, and do require a medical facility, it puts an added burden on those facilities to deal with the temporary increase in population. These states that see a large influx of people migrating south for the winter are called “snowbird” states.
Last week we touched on the travel nursing contract. This week we’ll take a look at a few things it should include.
A travel nursing contract should spell out the employer’s expectations of you in your job role as well as the things that you expect from your employer. Some companies will have you sign a “work agreement” that stipulates such things as maintaining a professional attitude, following the hospital policies and procedures, and maintaining licensure. This document may cover you for several different assignments over the course of six months to a year or longer. This document is basically just saying that as long as you work for “Travel Company X”, you will uphold the standards of your profession.
A reader recently wrote to me with a situation that I have never encountered before. His question was regarding “at-will” work states. He stated that a travel company (one of the larger ones) that was located in an “at will” work state, told him that because of the company’s location, they did not use contracts. They simply stated that they, “expect the traveler to complete the 13 week assignment”. While I have NEVER heard of such a thing, it is not all that hard to believe considering some of the off-the-wall things I have encountered in this profession.
