How to Have the Best Holiday Travel Nurse Assignment
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life If you are coming up on time to find a new contract this is both the best and worst time of year to be looking. Winter contracts and flu season rates are picking up, but as a travel nurse sometimes it is tough to think about being across the country from everyone you know during a time of year that is known for holiday gatherings. There are a few ways you can approach finding a contract this time of year: 1. Aim to end your last contract of the year prior to the holiday season. This means planning for time off for 5-6 weeks if you want to be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 2. Ask for time off around the holiday in your contract. 3. Work through the holidays and get creative with your celebrations. By ending your last contract of the year in mid to late November, you will guarantee yourself a good amount of time off to see friends and family over the holiday. Of course, if you are reading this article now it is probably too late for you to take this step, but it can be a good goal for next year. Keep in mind you can also attempt to extend a summer contract into the later fall months, and give yourself a little more negotiation power when you only want a partial extension to get you to your goal dates. The downside to this is you will be hitting the first-of-the-year mad dash for contracts. A lot of travelers are off this time of year, so many of them will start applying for jobs with start dates in the first week of January. And you have to factor in things like hospital HR departments that are closed around Christmas and New Years, which further slows down the process of getting a start date immediately after the holidays. When you choose to go this route, just keep in mind that you may end up with a few more weeks off than initially anticipated. And also be ready to submit to those New Year jobs fast. You could also attempt to take a job through the holidays and ask for time off to go home. This is a very tricky task because it could drastically decrease your marketability if managers are needing holiday coverage. If you submit to a popular job and want two weeks off for Christmas, your chances of getting picked tend to be lower. However, you can always feel out your requests during your interview to see if it seems worth it to hold on to that time off. Some hospitals actually do not allow travel nurses to work holidays because of the cost. In this instance, you could try to find an assignment closer to home that won’t let you work the actual holiday, and attempt to get a day or two off around the holiday to drive home and visit. This would be a win-win because you don’t have to take any extra time off, and you would still get to spend time with loved ones over the holidays. What a lot of travel nurses end up doing is developing their own, new holiday traditions. Since a lot of people cannot afford to take extended time off, or the allure of travel holiday pay rates are enticing, they will come up with a creative way to enjoy the holidays away from home. One way to do this is to connect with other travel nurses who will be in the area over the holiday season. Consider hosting a “Friendsgiving” with your new crew of friends, or treat yourselves to a fancy dinner out. For Christmas, you could make a bucket list of places you want to see that are specific to the area and make a night of exploring your new city. Another great option is to have friends and family come to you for the holidays. If you can, try to get a stretch of four or five days off (this is usually easy if the facility allows you to self-schedule). Then, invite your people to come to hang out and explore your new city. This doesn’t have to fall exactly on Thanksgiving or Christmas, but a lot of people have extra PTO to use up at the end of the year and will be excited to come to visit anywhere in that timeframe. Plus, you can still reap the benefits of the extra holiday pay since you have their visit to look forward to in the future. The last idea for seeing friends and family around the holidays while working a travel nurse assignment is to fly home a few weeks after the new year for a longer visit. While managers might not be willing to grant you two weeks off right through Christmas, a couple of weeks in mid-January might not be as hard to accommodate. See if your friends or family would be willing to plan a late holiday celebration. There really is no “right” way to celebrate or spend time with friends and family. Being together is truly what matters most. It can be easy to get stressed out about what the best course of action is when it comes to handling holiday assignments. While asking for accommodations is probably the most restrictive option, the beauty of travel nursing is that you have the option to do what is best for you. By knowing what your priorities are and having a candid conversation with your family about what their plans might be, you may end up creating new holiday traditions you never would have anticipated. Alex McCoy currently works as a pediatric travel nurse. She has a passion for health and fitness, which led her to start Fit Travel Life in 2016. She travels with her husband, their cat, Autumn and their dog, Summer. She enjoys hiking, lifting weights, and trying the best local coffee and wine.
Travel Nursing with Kids: Is It Possible?
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life In light of the Covid 19 pandemic we have seen a shift in how everyone is “doing” life these days. A lot of spouses have moved to work from home options, and even if you never imagined homeschooling your kiddos, a lot of parents ended up in that position regardless. While there are a lot of stressors that come with these changes, it could also be a good time to reevaluate your nursing career to see if you could make traveling with your family work for you! Travel nursing used to be considered a career choice for singles. It is definitely less complicated to move frequently when you only have one person to worry about. However, it is possible to enjoy the perks of travel nursing even if you have kids already. With a little bit of creativity and flexibility, it doesn’t matter what your family dynamic looks like if you want to take them on the road. Here are a few tips to help you get started successfully as a travel nurse with kids: 1. Be Flexible on Housing Ideas Regardless of if you travel with your husband and two kids or you travel by yourself, your housing stipend will stay the same. Many people who travel with children opt for unfurnished apartments to help cut down on expenses or even consider buying an RV to help their kids feel more “at home” wherever they are. 2. Decide on a Parent Staying Home vs Paying for Childcare A downside to moving away from your hometown when you have children is your options for childcare drastically decrease. You won’t have family who can watch them nearby, and you likely won’t even have neighbors who could “keep an eye out” if you needed them to. Instead, you will need to either plan for a parent to be at home with your kids at all times or look into childcare to cover the hours you are away. 3. Consider Extensions to Keep Childcare Consistent A lot of people will recommend resources like Care.com to find vetted nannies if you need someone home full-time while you work. However, it can be hard to establish a good routine only to have it uprooted three months later over and over again. Because of this, travelers who utilize nannies may try to extend in one location for up to a year so their children can have a bit more stability while still enjoying a lot of the perks travel nursing offers. 4. Have In Depth Talks with Your Partner About Your Plans Yes, working as a travel nurse can be great to combat burnout or improve your nursing skills, but if you are involving your significant other and children you have a lot more weighing on your decision. Make sure to keep an open line of communication with your spouse about how they are handling staying home more frequently, managing the kids full time, and/or providing homeschooling. Being the stay at home parent may “seem” like an easy job but in reality it can be very mentally taxing. Check in on your partner and make sure the lifestyle is still working for them as well. 5. Stick to the Basic Kid Items Kids and babies can easily cause you to accumulate a huge amount of extra “stuff”. But in reality, there are some key items you need–the rest are just extra accessories. If you have a baby or toddler, a pack n play is a great safe sleep option for on the road. Otherwise, keep some basic toys on hand and either donate or mail them home when it is time to upgrade to the next age group. Also, don’t discount the fun that can be had outside or with basic household items. The same idea applies when it comes to clothes. Stock up on the basics, shop thrift stores or secondhand if possible, and then donate when you are done so you aren’t lugging clothes that don’t fit back and forth across the country. 6. Embrace the Chaos With any form of travel nursing you can’t expect things to go according to plan. Throw a couple kiddos in the mix and it gets a little crazier. Give yourself extra time for long treks between assignments. Don’t get too stressed when you have to call in sick because your child has strep throat (travel nurses are human, too). And remember that you are giving your kids the experience of a lifetime and exposing them to areas of the country many people won’t get to see in their lifetime. Working as a travel nurse with minimal strings attached may be easier, but traveling with your kids and family brings a certain comfort that you won’t find on the road by yourself. It is possible to make your dream of having a family and being a travel nurse coincide if you go in with the right attitude and are open to new possibilities. Alex McCoy currently works as a pediatric travel nurse. She has a passion for health and fitness, which led her to start Fit Travel Life in 2016. She travels with her husband, their cat, Autumn and their dog, Summer. She enjoys hiking, lifting weights, and trying the best local coffee and wine.
How to Handle Travel Nurse Burnout
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Last week we focused on how to recognize if you are feeling burnt out as a travel nurse. If you went through these points and determined that you are feeling a bit of burnout in your career, it can be a bit upsetting. People often associate “burnout” with “quitting” but that does not have to be the case. Just because you are feeling burnt out doesn’t mean you need to quit being a nurse or a travel nurse altogether. It just means you need to assess where you are at and create a sustainable plan. First, figure out what you are burnt out from. As a travel nurse, you may be burnt out from packing your belongings and moving every thirteen weeks. You could be burnt out from the stress of finding a new place to live so often. Or, you could be burnt out from constantly having to meet new people and make new friends. If this is the case, consider taking an assignment with a high likelihood of an extension. Just because you are a “travel nurse” does not mean you have to move every thirteen weeks. There are a lot of travelers who actually prefer to extend at each location because it gives them more time to explore the area around them. Start by asking the manager in your interview if they regularly have travelers or not. Some units will have a travel nurse or two almost year-round due to fluctuating staffing needs, coverage for maternity leaves, or just general high turnover rates. Other jobs will state specifically that you are filling a short-term need or may even let you know that they will not be extending you upfront. This can be helpful if you are wanting to feel a little more settled short term. Usually, after six months or so in one place, you can start to tell if it is the moving that is getting to you or the actual work of being a nurse. If you hang out in one spot for a bit and start to feel better, great! Keep in mind you can also get a permanent job for a little bit if that seems like the best option–travel nursing will always be waiting for you! If it turns out nursing in general seems to be causing your stress, then you will have to dig a little deeper to solve your problems. Are you tired of working with a certain patient population? Do you feel stuck or bored with your current job? Is the hospital schedule not working for you? The great thing about nursing is there are so many options out there. And although travel nursing is not the ideal way to try different specialties, there are opportunities out there for travel nurses to learn new skills. Reach out to your recruiter and let them know you are not feeling aligned with your current role and see if they have any suggestions for you. I personally worked an office job as a transplant coordinator with no experience in that specific role–they simply needed nurses with med surg experience. There are also sometimes opportunities for critical care nurses to cross train to other critical care areas–for example, ER nurses may be able to cross-train to ICU or ICU nurses may be able to cross-train to procedural areas like interventional radiology or PACU. Another great thing about working as a travel nurse is you have the opportunity to take extended time off. You are not obligated to take a new contract immediately after your current one finishes, so don’t be afraid to be “funemployed” for a few months if that is what your mental health needs. Perhaps you can hang out somewhere with a low cost of living, or spend some time back home while you rest and decide what to do next. If this is your goal, just be sure to save accordingly at your current assignment so you are financially prepared. Sometimes taking a step away from the bedside will do wonders for your mental health and allow you to return to travel nursing feeling refreshed. Rotating through longer periods of time off is one of the best ways to avoid burnout as a travel nurse. In fact, a lot of travelers actually do this regularly. Some will make it a goal to only work 26 weeks per year and take the other 26 off to explore and travel, or some combination of extended time off. The hardest realization is when you come to the conclusion that working as a traveler simply won’t allow you to make the necessary changes to improve your overall mental health. If your current area of nursing simply isn’t working for you anymore, then it might be time to take a break, switch gears, then re-enter the travel nursing field in a specialty that works for you. Although pressing pause on your travel career for a year or two might not be what you really want to do, it is important to consider the longevity of your nursing career. If taking a longer break from work or trying a new setting in the travel world didn’t work, try to think about how beneficial it will be for your long term health and goals to figure out how to be happiest in your nursing career. Alex McCoy currently works as a pediatric travel nurse. She has a passion for health and fitness, which led her to start Fit Travel Life in 2016. She travels with her husband, their cat, Autumn and their dog, Summer. She enjoys hiking, lifting weights, and trying the best local coffee and wine.
How to Know if You Are Burnt Out: A Travelers’ Guide
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Burnout is a huge buzzword right now in the nursing community. Honestly, it is nothing new to the field of nursing but it is new that we are learning how to recognize and talk about it more. This is so important because it is bringing this common issue to the forefront of discussions between leadership and making nurses more aware of how to recognize burnout in themselves and others. We need nurses who feel passionate about their jobs and want to show up to work every day, not nurses who are clinging to their position because they simply need an income. Travel nursing is actually one way a lot of staff nurses attempt to combat burnout. The ability to be flexible with your location, change up types of units, and stay out of hospital politics is often a needed reprieve for nurses who are feeling worn down. But does this mean you can’t get burnt out as a travel nurse? Absolutely not. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you aren’t sure if you are suffering from nursing burnout: Do you dread going to work for every single shift? Sure, there will be days that you would rather be at home binging Netflix or out at the beach instead of working twelve hours in the hospital. But overall you should feel okay with going to work and handling whatever the day will throw at you. If you are at a point where the day before a shift you spend at least 50% or more of your day thinking about how much you don’t want to go to work, you probably need to reevaluate. Is every bump in the road met with a lack of surprise? When you are feeling burnt out, it can be easy to think “of course” every time a doctor is rude to you, you’re running late for work, or you miss out on the contract you were really wanting. It is almost like the extra tension from work spills over into your reaction to everyday things. This can be exhausting mentally to be in such a negative space, so if you are feeling worn out, check how you are handling small upsets. Do you have compassion fatigue? Compassion fatigue is common among healthcare providers because we are exposed to so many tragedies on a daily basis. If you are feeling like it is hard for you to be sympathetic towards your patients, or you are just going through the motions of your basic nursing tasks for the day, it may be a sign that you are suffering from compassion fatigue. Most people become healthcare workers because they want to help and care for others, so feeling this way isn’t normal if you are a caregiver. Are your relationships outside of work affected? All of the exhaustion that comes along with negative inward dialogue and compassion fatigue can bleed over and cause stress in your relationships as well. Whether it is with a friend or a loved one, they may get weary of constant complaints or lack of empathy when they come to you to talk about something important. This can be tricky to identify because someone close to you may not come right out and say you are being negative, or they may assume you are upset with them and be less inclined to talk about the changes they are noticing. However, if you are noticing that it seems like all of your relationships have hit some rocky times, it may be time for you to reflect and see if there is something affecting your interaction with those you care about most. Are you dreading moving or finding a new assignment? When you are working as a travel nurse, part of the excitement is figuring out where you want to go next. Researching fun new neighborhoods, looking up the best local restaurants, and figuring out what to do on your time off is part of the fun. If it comes time to find your next assignment and you are stressing about needing to pack, clean, and move–it may be a sign that you are a little burnt out on the travel nurse lifestyle. Whew. That is a long, heavy topic to cover but once again, it is so important when it comes to longevity in your career and the quality of care you provide your patients. As nurses we give so much to others, and it can be easy to lose track of what we as human beings actually need to make us perform our best. Next week we will dive deeper into how to address burnout once you realize you are feeling overly worn down. Spoiler alert: it does consist of more than bubble baths and pedicures on your days off.
Hospitals Preparing for Flu Season Early: Lock in Your Travel Assignment Now
As the summer months fade and the pandemic continues, healthcare facilities are preparing early for the 2020-2021 flu season and there’s been a steady increase of travel nursing and allied health jobs nationwide. “Hospitals across the country are beginning to bring up concerns of what will happen with the combination of schools opening, COVID and the flu,” said Jennifer Pomietlo, VP of Strategic Development at StaffDNA, the fastest-growing healthcare staffing platform. “They anticipate needing even more travelers due to this and want to be prepared earlier than past years.” Anticipating an influx of patients for both coronavirus and influenza, The New York Times keyed this season as a possible “Twindemic.” Flu season typically peaks between January and February but this year could be very different. During the 2009 swine flu pandemic, the flu peaked by October. If that occurs this year, hospitals could be strained. That is the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield’s biggest fear. Here’s how the possible Twindemic is impacting healthcare travel jobs. Early High Demand Travel nursing and allied health assignments for flu season typically begin posting around October but under the current situation, there is a record number of healthcare jobs, according to StaffDNA’s Job Board, which updates all positions across the country in real-time. Whether located in COVID-19 hotspots or not, hospitals across the country are adding staff to prepare and relieve over-worked staff. The top nursing specialties include ICU, Medical-Surgical, Telemetry and PCU/IMC. Openings for Emergency Room nurses are also ramping up ahead of flu season. Top Travel Nurse Specialties & Highest Pay Packages* RN, ICU 1,050 Unique Jobs Paying up to $4,400/week RN, MS 750 Unique Jobs Paying up to $3,552/week RN, TELE 550 Unique Jobs Paying up to $3,712/week RN, PCU/IMC 325 Unique Jobs Paying up to $3,886/week RN, ER 250 Unique Jobs Paying up to $3,627/week Assignments for Operating Room nurses and surgery-related positions typically increase leading up to the end of the year for elective surgeries. This year, assignments and locations could vary depending on local and state guidelines regarding elective surgeries if there’s another surge in COVID-19 cases and stay-at-home orders. There are also positions open for more focused specialties such as CVICU, Labor & Delivery and Cath Lab RNs. Travelers interested in these roles may need to be more flexible on location to get the higher pay packages. Top Travel Allied Positions* Respiratory Therapist 150 Unique Jobs Paying up to $2,746/week Certified Surgical Technician 175 Unique Jobs Paying up to $2,446/week *Data is according to StaffDNA, the Digital Marketplace for Healthcare Careers, as of 9/8/20. Positions are updated in real-time on the StaffDNA app and Job Board. See all details upfront and personalize pay packages in the app (no registration required).
Flu Season & COVID-19: 5 Tips for Healthcare Travelers Looking for a New Assignment
Summer is over and flu season is quickly approaching. Typically beginning in October through the winter and following spring months, flu season has always been a busy time in healthcare with a high demand for travel nurses and travel allied professionals. This year could look more serious with both COVID-19 and influenza, so hospitals are preparing early for the possible: High influx of patients Potential early peak in flu cases Hospital staff on leave (sick days, PTO, holidays, etc.) Here are 5 things healthcare travelers should keep in mind to help land the best assignment this flu season. #1 Are your Profile & Credentials up-to-date? Healthcare travel jobs that are actively hiring, are also moving quickly. Make sure your professional profile is up-to-date so it can be submitted once a job opens up matching your preferences. Your completed profile includes resume and work experience, licenses, certifications, at least two professional references from within the last 12 months and skills checklist. Hospitals review all profile information to be considered. Whether you’re working with a recruiter or managing the process yourself on a digital platform such as StaffDNA, be proactive. “The market is moving fast; we’ve seen travel positions receive more than 50 submittals within the first couple of hours after a job is posted,” said Jennifer Pomietlo, VP of Strategic Development at StaffDNA, the fastest-growing healthcare staffing platform. “It’s important for healthcare travelers to be diligent and make sure everything is up-to-date so their profile can be one of the first submitted when jobs open up.” #2 How flexible are you on location, pay, etc.? When considering a new travel nursing or allied assignment, it’s crucial to establish your goals and what you’re looking for such as: Location Pay range Hospital setting Travel experience & lifestyle Nearby family or friends As more nurses and allied professionals are looking to travel for the first time and take advantage of higher pay, the more competition there is to fill those highly desirable positions. If your priority is getting the highest pay package, you may need to be more flexible in terms of location and vice versa. If you’re looking to experience a new adventure in a popular travel destination, you may need to be more flexible on the pay rates. #3 What’s Your Specialty? For travel nurses, hospitals typically require at least two years of RN experience in a hospital setting including one year of recent experience in the given specialty. During flu season, specialties such as ICU, MedSurg, Telemetry and ER may be more in demand. Winter months and the end-of-the-year could also bring more scheduled surgeries and a demand for related specialties such as operating room nurses, PACU nurses and certified surgical technicians. Using an app like StaffDNA to set automatic job alerts is helpful to see jobs matching your specialty updated in real-time as hospitals release their needs. #4 Do You Want to Extend? If you’re currently on an assignment you love, travelers can always consider extending their contract—for another 4, 6, 13 weeks or more. This option is usually hassle-free; there’s no onboarding fees or orientation burden. If the hospital is willing and wants to extend your contract, they’re typically more willing to negotiate an increase in pay and time-off requests. #5 Do you have plans for the holidays? Flu season pairs with popular holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year celebrations. If you’re planning on taking any days off, make sure to request your time-off as early as you can. If you’re interviewing for a new assignment, bring it up with the hiring manager at the facility and get the dates added to your contract. If you’re extending, lock in the dates you want off now. It’s important to note that some facilities may require travelers to work at least a certain number of weekends or holidays. Know the policies in place and review your contract details. Without a COVID-19 vaccine released yet, the upcoming flu season remains unknown, but if travelers can lock in their plans for their next assignment now, it’ll be an easier transition before rush. #BONUS TIP: Flu Shots What is your stance on getting a flu shot? The majority of hospitals across the country are being more adamant than ever about travelers getting this season’s flu vaccine before starting their assignment. If you have any restrictions on getting the vaccination, tell your company before applying to jobs so that they can make sure to only submit to openings that do not require it. Read Next: How Declining the Flu Shot Impacts Travel Nurses
AHA Certification Extensions End Oct. 31: Are You Due for a Renewal?
The COVID-19 outbreak brought several modifications for healthcare licensing and certifications. Many emergency responses from several states and hospitals relaxed specific requirements for healthcare professionals so they can continue to work even if they have an expired card or other state license. During stay-at-home orders, many in-person training and testing for healthcare certifications were halted, postponing required renewals for certifications such as BLS, ACLS and PALS. The American Heart Association (AHA) extended renewal deadlines for all provider and instructor certifications for cards that expired in March, April, May and June 2020. These can be renewed for up to 120 days after the recommended “Renew By” date. See below for the specific recommended renewal and extension dates provided by AHA: Recommended “Renew By” Date on Card (end of month) New “Renew By” Due Date with 120- day Extension (end of month) March 2020 July 2020* April 2020 August 2020* May 2020 September 2020 June 2020 October 2020 As of July 23, 2020, AHA announced that it has resumed normal timelines for renewals beginning with cards that expired at the end of July. There is a special exception for affected areas where COVID-19 restrictions are still in place during July and August, at their discretion. Healthcare professionals in these areas may be able to extend the renewal date up to the end of October 2020. These special renewal extensions will end effectively October 31, 2020. By that time, all AHA certifications will need to be up-to-date. The organization said in a statement: “The AHA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate options for delivering resuscitation education while taking the proper precautions. Our top priority is the safety of both AHA Instructors and learners. We remain committed to serving you as a trusted resource to allow for the continuance of safe, high quality CPR training, as feasible. Thank you for everything you are doing during this challenging time.” There are several flexible options for AHA certification courses being offered that include blended online and hands-on training in small groups. After the virtual training portion, AHA has an easy-to-use tool to find on-site training offered in specific areas. It’s important to note that certification requirements during emergency orders also depend on each healthcare facility’s policies. For example, several hospitals with crisis needs in hot spots are accepting any state RN licenses. Make sure to check the requirements for each assignment you’re submitted to and keep your credentials compliant. Read Next: Travel Healthcare Jobs Hit Record High Since COVID-19 Outbreak
Travel Healthcare Jobs Hit Record High Since COVID-19 Outbreak
This week marks the highest number of nursing jobs reported since the outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year. Healthcare facilities across the country were forced to furlough or lay off healthcare workers in areas non-related to the virus as a result of the pandemic and the halt of elective surgeries. As states recently reopened, the continued surge in virus cases and restart of routine medical visits and elective surgeries has resulted in a record number of healthcare jobs open in 2020. “The number of nursing and allied health positions on our Job Board has doubled,” said Leah Moss, Account Manager at the leading healthcare staffing platform StaffDNA. “Pre-COVID-19 we were averaging around 4,000 healthcare travel positions. Today, we have more than 7,000 jobs open nationwide. Healthcare facilities that haven’t typically used travel nurses in the past are now calling for help.” ICU nursing specialties remain the highest in demand, especially in hot spots battling the virus such as Florida and Texas. A large portion of the openings are crisis positions with urgent start dates. Other specialties remain high in demand such as Medical-Surgical, Telemetry and PCU/IMC. Here’s the top 10 states with the highest number of nursing jobs. 1. Texas – 714 Unique Jobs RN – ICU: Up to $4,024/wk RN – ER: Up to $3,084/wk RN – MS: Up to $2,966/wk RN – TELE: Up to $2,840/wk RN – PCU/IMC: Up to $2,301/wk RN – OR: Up to $2,139/wk View all Texas Travel Jobs >> 2. Florida – 207 Unique Jobs RN – ICU: Up to $4,028/wk RN – PCU/IMC: Up to $3,816/wk RN – TELE: Up to $2,928/wk RN – ER: Up to $2,166/wk RN – MS: Up to $2,166/wk RN – OR: Up to $1,926/wk View all Florida Travel Jobs >> 3. California – 299 Unique Jobs RN – ICU: Up to $4,400/wk RN – TELE: Up to $4,113/wk RN – PCU/IMC: Up to $3,330/wk RN – MS: Up to $3,263/wk RN – ER: Up to $2,708/wk RN – OR: Up to $2,643/wk View all California Travel Jobs >> 4. Missouri – 237 Unique Jobs RN – PCU/IMC: Up to $3,070/wk RN – OR: Up to $3,012/wk RN – TELE: Up to $2,932/wk RN – ICU: Up to $2,625/wk RN – MS: Up to $2,360/wk RN – ER: Up to $2,229/wk View all Missouri Travel Jobs >> 5. North Carolina – 212 Unique Jobs RN – ICU: Up to $4,02/wk RN – ER: Up to $1,841/wk RN – MS: Up to $3,274/wk RN – TELE: Up to $2,532/wk RN – PCU/IMC: Up to $2,884/wk RN – OR: Up to $2,377/wk View all North Carolina Travel Jobs >> 6. Virginia – 198 Unique Jobs RN – ICU: Up to $3,196/wk RN – OR: Up to $2,139/wk RN – TELE: Up to $2,139/wk RN – ER: Up to $2,118/wk RN – PCU/IMC: Up to $2,211/wk RN – MS: Up to $1,931/wk View all Virginia Travel Jobs >> 7. Tennessee – 198 Unique Jobs RN – ICU: Up to $2,588/wk RN – OR: Up to $2,112/wk RN – TELE: Up to $2,078/wk RN – MS: Up to $2,048/wk RN – ER: Up to $1,841/wk View all Tennessee Travel Jobs >> 8. Arkansas – 130 Unique Jobs RN – ICU: Up to $3,355/wk RN – ER: Up to $2,409/wk RN – PCU/IMC: Up to $2,409/wk RN – MS: Up to $2,337/wk RN – TELE: Up to $2,337/wk RN – OR: Up to $2,221/wk View all Arkansas Travel Jobs >> 9. Georgia – 115 Unique Jobs RN – ER: Up to $3,556/wk RN – ICU: Up to $3,036/wk RN – MS: Up to $2,561/wk RN – PCU/IMC: Up to $2,380/wk RN – OR: Up to $2,370/wk RN – TELE: Up to $2,247/wk View all Georgia Travel Jobs >> 10. South Carolina – 90 Unique Jobs RN – ICU: Up to $3,017/wk RN – PCU/IMC: Up to $2,945/wk RN – TELE: Up to $2,769/wk RN – ER: Up to $2,385/wk RN – MS: Up to $2,351/wk RN – OR: Up to $1,813/wk View all South Carolina Travel Jobs >>
StaffDNA’s Digital Marketplace on Track to Exceed 100,000 Downloads This Year as Demand for New Staffing Model Skyrockets
StaffDNA announces major milestones from the recent launch of its self-service digital marketplace for healthcare careers. Since launching, StaffDNA achieved more than 30,000 app downloads and is on pace to reach 100,000 by the end of the year. StaffDNA offers healthcare professionals unparalleled flexibility and simplicity in finding jobs, building pay packages and submitting through its mobile app. The platform is averaging 1,500 new unique candidate registrations per month. “We love the response we’ve received from the healthcare community,” said Sheldon Arora, founder and CEO of StaffDNA. “The staffing model has been inefficient and doesn’t work in today’s mobile-first culture. That’s why we created a new model built with revolutionary mobile technology. The future of staffing is here.” Within the first two months, more than 200 healthcare facilities in 36 states have joined StaffDNA’s fast-growing network. StaffDNA gives healthcare professionals the tools to take control of finding and managing jobs without recruiters. It’s the first mobile platform that is built on the most advanced Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The StaffDNA app is available to download in the Apple and Google App Stores. About StaffDNAFounded by staffing veterans, technology leaders and private investors, StaffDNA has created the new staffing model that gives professionals complete control to find and manage jobs independently—without recruiters or barriers. StaffDNA is the first digital marketplace that completely integrates with ATS software, which allows professionals to connect directly with employers and get real-time updates. StaffDNA gives healthcare professionals the freedom to find the jobs they want, while making it easier for healthcare facilities to manage their staffing needs more efficiently than ever before. To learn more, visit stage.staffdna.com. StaffDNA’s app is available to download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Travel Nurse Spotlight: Doing What You Love
In the Travel Nurse Spotlight series, HCT Today is highlighting travelers’ own unique stories and perspectives. “I’ve been loved all my life and I wanted to give love back to others.” That’s what Laura V., a Telemetry Travel Nurse, said when she found her love for nursing. In university, she started in Forensic Science, but discovered it was more time spent in a lab, and she wanted to be out in the community helping people. She switched to Forensic Nursing, and ultimately, she followed her heart to traditional nursing. After two years serving as a staff RN in Pittsburg, she started her travel nursing journey in 2017 and hasn’t looked back since. “The reason I started traveling is ‘to see beautiful places and to meet beautiful people‘ and I do feel like I’ve done just that through my experiences,” Laura said. “I’m so in love with being in awe of all that I’ve seen and experienced.” Her first assignment was in Texas just outside of Austin, where she fell in love with the unique city and the traveler lifestyle. She stayed in the central Texas area for a few more assignments including a contract at Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, which she said has been one of her favorite hospitals so far. For travel assignments, what are top qualities to look for in a hospital? “Each hospital has its pros and cons, the most important thing is a good team environment,” Laura said. “I like facilities with stricter policies. When you start somewhere new, it’s easier to grasp when there is more structure in place.” High workload is always going to be a factor in nursing, so Laura values hospital environments where everyone has respect for one other. For travelers, it’s especially important to feel comfortable to ask questions as needed to learn and understand the unit procedures quickly. How did you meet your recruiter? Unique story! Laura met her current staffing agency while visiting her friend in Dallas. They went to the House of Blues and stumbled upon an event that was celebrating nurses hosted by LiquidAgents Healthcare, a nationwide healthcare staffing company specializing in travel nursing. Being a new traveler, she was seeking more insights and guidance, which she was not getting at her current agency. There she met Senior Recruiter Jayson Sipe and discussed the issues she was having on her first assignment. Even though Jayson wasn’t her recruiter at the time, he tried to help in any way he could. “He looked up details about my current facility and pay rates, and gave me advice on how to communicate my contract,” Laura said. “I’m so thankful for how straight forward he was.” Openness and transparency are key qualities to finding a great recruiter. Laura appreciates how her agency provides clear details for each assignment, like how the hospital is run and if a location is hard to get to. She also enjoys working with her compliance manager, Katrina Anderson, who sets everything up for her and provides easy checklists and reminders to stay on top of credentialing deadlines. “Laura is the type of RN any recruiter dreams to have working with them,” Jayson said. “She is calm, professional, understanding and a pleasure to work with. She works as a travel nurse for all of the right reasons and is embracing the best parts of the industry to the fullest.” Loving Every Minute of the Travel Lifestyle Outside of the hospital, Laura spends as much time as she can outdoors and exploring the local culture. When she worked in a permanent position, she said she found herself not going out as much, but traveling has been the complete opposite. Now, she wants to experience as much as she can on her days off, especially given the limited timeframe in one place. “I feel like ever since I started traveling, I’ve been on vacation,” Laura said. For every new city Laura travels to, she makes a list of the top things she wants to do before her assignment ends, “including the touristy stuff,” she added. While in Austin, you could find her at Barton Springs and Lake Travis or attending local music festivals like Austin City Limits. On assignment in Reno, Nevada, she spent days at Lake Tahoe and soaking in the phenomenal views hiking. While in Phoenix, Arizona, she frequented nearby trails and tried all of the top-rated restaurants. “I love getting to hear about all of her adventures,” Jayson said. “Wherever she goes, she makes the best of where she is at and loves every minute of it.” Where is Laura’s next stop? Portland, Oregon! She’s looking forward to being back in the mountains, waterfall hunting and hiking as much as possible. See more photos of Laura embracing the traveler’s lifestyle. In the Travel Nurse Spotlight series, HCT Today is highlighting travelers’ own unique stories and perspectives. Want to share your story? We’d love to hear from you.