The Benefits Of Traveling With A Nursing Compact License
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life I was unknowingly blessed as a new travel nurse because I chose to start traveling in my home state. I was testing the waters and wasn’t quite ready to venture out while my husband finished grad school. I did go through the process of applying for my New York and Kansas licenses after a few months. I was still lucky in a sense because I knew that even if these did not come through in time, I would be able to look for jobs in my home state or several surrounding states thanks to my compact license status. I was not constantly worried about if I needed to fork out money for a new license, or if I would be limited by the one or two licenses I had in hand. The enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) was established in 2018 as an expansion of the previous Nurse Licensure Compact and is an agreement for license reciprocity between states that are a member of the compact. If your primary state of residence is listed as a compact state, that means you can practice in any of the listed states without having to apply for a new license in each state. This has been such a huge benefit to my travel nurse journey that I have even advised people living close to compact state lines to consider relocating, especially if they plan on traveling for several years. The benefits of traveling with a nursing compact license are extensive, and many states that are part of the compact have low costs of living. Benefit #1: No fees between nursing compact license states. An individual state license can cost upwards of $350 after basic fees, fingerprinting, and Nursys verifications. If you travel between compact states, all of these fees are irrelevant. You simply prove your primary license is in a compact state and you are safe to practice under that license in a state with reciprocity. Even if you request compensation from your company for these fees, most of the time you will still pay up front and be reimbursed. Very few companies offer direct payment for licensing fees unless there is confirmation of a strike or other critical need. Benefit #2: You can submit ASAP to jobs in other compact states. In some compact states, it can take four or more weeks to get a single-state license. Travel nursing jobs typically open and close within a day or two, so most hiring managers are not willing to wait on a license to come through and will just select another nurse instead. The majority of nursing jobs are listed as “license in hand” which means you have to have proof of an active license to even be submitted. With a nursing compact license, a recruiter can submit you instantly for a job you are interested in, which can put you ahead of the competition. Benefit #3: Less licenses to maintain. Although having multiple state licenses can make you more valuable as a traveler, it can also be costly and time consuming to maintain. Each state has its own set of fees and continuing education required to renew a nursing license. Some states even require yearly renewal, which can add up quickly. By having a nursing compact license, you only have to maintain your primary license. I only have to renew my Missouri license every two years. As an added benefit, Missouri does not require continuing education, so I simply pay the fee and have an active license in 31 states. Benefit #4: As each new state joins, your options for travel are expanded. During my three years as a travel nurse I have seen Florida, Kansas, and Louisiana join the compact. According to the compact map, there is also the potential for Washington, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and New Jersey to join. Assuming all of these states pass legislation to join, in the next year or two I could be able to practice as a nurse in almost 40 states. This opens up so many avenues for travelers and will make holding a compact license an even more powerful tool as more states join the compact. So what if I don’t live in a nursing compact license state? I recommend looking into how feasible it could be for you to maintain residency in a compact state prior to becoming a travel nurse. It may sound a little complicated, but if you travel for several years and plan on going to multiple states it could save you thousands of dollars on state licensing fees alone. This would require a tax home in that state, which you can learn more about here. If you live in border cities like Kansas City or St. Louis this could be as simple as moving 20 minutes down the road. For others people, it could be a little more complicated. If you are interested in specifics on how to legally obtain a compact license if you move, be sure to check out the FAQ page on the NLC’s website. Regardless of your residence or if you choose to travel, this is something to keep an eye on as laws are being made in your home state. Pay attention to local politics and discussions about interstate licensing so if the issue does come to a vote in your area you can make an educated decision. Compact licenses are a valuable tool for nurses and are something we should all know about, even if it doesn’t apply to those of us working permanent jobs. 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.
Indiana Officially Joins Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) July 1, 2020
This Wednesday, July 1, 2020, Indiana officially joins 33 other states in implementing the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), making it easier for healthcare travelers with compact licenses to work across state lines without having to get separate licenses. Registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses whose primary state of residence is in an NLC state and they hold an active multistate nursing license can now add Indiana to the list of states they can work in. “Indiana has always had several travel nursing needs but the single-state license requirements added a hurdle for travelers who didn’t have an Indiana license to work there,” said Leah Moss, Senior Recruiter at StaffDNA, the fastest-growing digital marketplace for healthcare. “Now, nurses with compact licenses looking for an assignment in Indiana will be able to start quicker and vice versa.” Indiana nursing professionals will be able to apply for a multistate license effective July 1. It’s not necessary for Indiana license holders to wait until their renewal period to apply. The application will be available on the Indiana State Board of Nursing website. In announcement from the NCSBN, Toni Herron from the Indiana State Board of Nursing said: “The NLC presents innovative ways for our Indiana nurses to improve both access to care for patients, while simultaneously reducing the regulatory burden on licensees. This is also great news for nurses who already hold a multistate license from another NLC state, because, as of July 1, 2020, they will be able to practice in Indiana, in person or via telehealth. Our staff looks forward to working with stakeholders to ensure that all Hoosiers, both providers and patients, are fully informed about the dynamic changes on the horizon.” Licensure requirements are aligned in NLC states, so all nurses applying for a multistate license are required to meet the same standards, including submission to federal and state fingerprint-based criminal background checks. For more information, please visit the Indiana State Board of Nursing website. For general information about the NLC, visit the NCSBN NLC webpage.
Tax Season Tips for Healthcare Travelers
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life The season of the year that has accountants working in overdrive and everyone just a little stressed about their finances is upon us: tax season. As a new traveler, this time of year can seem particularly stressful if you are unclear on what you need to do differently as a traveler to make sure all of your finances are in order. Luckily, there isn’t too much difference in the way of actually filing your returns, but it is important to be familiar with tax laws to avoid any issues if you happen to get audited (knock on wood no one reading this has that happen!) Also, I want to note that I am not actually a tax professional–I am simply sharing my experiences and tips to stay a little more organized and get through filing your returns as seamlessly as possible. Tip #1: Have all of your W2’s sent to the same address While some travelers prefer to use mail forwarding services so they can get their hands on their mail without relying on a friend or relative to forward it if you move around during the time when your tax documents are getting mailed out you increase your risk of missing something important. What I have found to be easiest is to make sure all the staffing agencies I work for have the address to my tax home which happens to be my mom’s house. I give her a list of how many W2s I am expecting and what companies they should be coming from. This way she knows when they have all arrived and she can simply send one package with all of my paperwork in it. Tip #2: Keep track of any online payroll logins for the agencies you work for A lot of companies have transitioned to digital versions of tax documents or they do a paper and digital copy. This is actually really handy because you don’t have to wait for your physical mail to make its way to your current location before you can file. The trick comes when it is nine months from the time you signed up for the payroll access and you have no clue what your login might be at the three different agencies you worked for. Head this off by keeping a list somewhere safe of your username and log in for all of your employers, even if you don’t plan on using the site to check your pay stubs regularly. This could save you a lot of time and headache if you can’t track down your W2. Tip #3: Look into using a personal accountant These days it is really easy to get your hands on software that makes filing your taxes by yourself somewhat easy. However, this software might not address specific questions or concerns that come up regarding travel pay or stipends. Because of this I highly recommend looking into a real-live personal accountant. Most of them are familiar with how stipends work (lots of different professions provide living stipends). Plus they can make sure you have all the paperwork to legally collect your stipends and help prevent you from getting into any sticky situations with the IRS. Also, a local accountant is probably a lot cheaper than you would anticipate so don’t let cost be a reason to deter you from hiring someone. Tip #4: Keep a digital or paper trail of any housing payments you make You can read all about how to maintain a tax home here. The key takeaway I want to touch on is that you have to have proof that you are making some sort of housing payment back home and wherever you live on assignment. Even if you are renting a room from your mom back home, you need to make sure to have proof of the payments you are sending. This can be as simple as scheduling a bank transfer or sending a payment via PayPal or Venmo. Most landlords will also use electronic payment methods, but if for some reason you pay cash or use a paper check be sure to get a receipt and keep track of those in case you are audited. Tip #5: Don’t stress With stipends and words like “taxable” or “tax-free” coming into play when you learn about traveler pay, it may seem like filing taxes as a traveler is going to be incredibly complicated. Luckily if you work through an agency as a W2 employee there is not much more to filing than if you work a regular job. There may be more pieces of paper to keep track of since travelers often bounce between agencies, but your agency should take care of deducting proper taxes and all of that ahead of time. Filing taxes as a traveler really isn’t that much different than dealing with tax season as a permanent staff member. Stay organized, hire a professional, and make sure you are maintaining a legal tax home and it should be a smooth process. 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. << Starting a Family as a Traveler
StaffDNA Launches Self-Service Digital Marketplace for the Healthcare Industry
Hospitals, Nurses and Allied Professionals Have a New Digital Platform to Take Control of Finding and Managing Job Placements A first-of-its-kind self-service digital marketplace for healthcare careers was launched this week by StaffDNA, the fast-growing national staffing leader. New StaffDNA technology gives healthcare professionals complete control to find and manage jobs for travel, local and permanent contracts. “The mobile first marketplace is built on top of the most advanced Applicant Tracking System (ATS) in the industry,” said Sheldon Arora, founder and CEO of StaffDNA, “streamlining interactions between professionals and employers in real-time.” “The staffing model has been stagnant for more than 75 years and is inherently inefficient in today’s world,” Arora said. “So, we built one that is going to revolutionize the industry as we know it.” Without having to register, healthcare professionals can search exclusive jobs across the country and get all details upfront—from the charting systems to scrub color requirements. They have the ability to customize pay packages by selecting housing options, benefits, travel allowance, and apply to jobs. With the self-service StaffDNA marketplace, they have the ability to easily manage their assignment details without recruiters: Submit to multiple jobs with 1-click Track job submittal status and get real-time updates Manage compliance requirements, upload credentials and get timely reminders Accept or decline offers, request extensions with the facility Upload timesheets and manage all assignments from past, current and upcoming jobs Founded in 2013, StaffDNA is backed by private investors and leaders in the healthcare, staffing and technology sectors. The company has a strong support team with more than a decade of experience in healthcare staffing including compliance, recruiting, HR, payroll and housing. About StaffDNA Founded 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.
The #LightItBlue Campaign: Coming Together to Thank Essential Workers
The #LightItBlue initiative launched nationwide to show united support for all the frontline staff and essential workers confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, including the courageous healthcare professionals working tirelessly to care for the influx of patients. The idea was based from the United Kingdom and will soon be launched globally. On April 9 at 8pm local time, communities, businesses, city skylines and venues transformed blue in support of the #LightItBlue campaign and the essential workers. Social media is filled with inspiring photos and videos of support from across the country. Below are a few of our favorite finds. Anyone can get involved and share their positive messages of support using the hashtags #LightItBlue, #MakeItBlue and #StayAtHome. For more information, visit:http://makeitblue.us Dallas, TX Dallas is lighting up the night to honor all frontline and essential workers. Thank you all for working tirelessly everyday during this unprecedented time. 🙏💙 #LightItBlue #MakeItBlue pic.twitter.com/J4Ucm9XFxf — Visit_Dallas (@visit_dallas) April 10, 2020 St. Louis, MO View this post on Instagram Tonight, we are lighting the St. Louis Wheel blue in solidarity with our healthcare workers and those on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thank you for all that you do. 💙 #lightitblue A post shared by The St. Louis Wheel (@stlouiswheel) on Apr 9, 2020 at 5:47pm PDT Washington, DC View this post on Instagram Landmarks around the DC metropolitan area were illuminated tonight with blue lights to honor those who are on the front lines fighting COVID-19 and to all of those essential workers who are risking their lives to keep this country moving. _ _ #photography #April #Thursday #instaphoto #instagramer #dcist #dmv365 #washingtonDC #maryland #virginia #nationalharbor #igdc #potomacriver #dcchasers #weclickdc #socialdistancing #covid19 #stayathome #stayhome #lightitblue #CapitalWheel #FirstResponders #nurses #doctors #grocerystoreworkers #custodial #thankyou #essentialworkers A post shared by SoloWanderer (@world_travel_party) on Apr 9, 2020 at 7:14pm PDT Scottsdale, AZ Tonight, Impulsion, our magnificent public art at WestWorld, will honor all the frontline workers who are tirelessly facing down the COVID-19 pandemic. #LightItBlue #Scottsdale #StayHome pic.twitter.com/ydQetYXLeh — City of Scottsdale (@scottsdaleazgov) April 10, 2020 Seattle, WA View this post on Instagram For all the essential workers, landmarks across the country were lit up in blue as a way of showing support. Go wash your hands. • • • • #lightitblue #spaceneedle #makeitblue #emeraldcity #sonyimages #bevisuallyinspired #moods_in_frame #shotzdelight #bealpha #visualambassadors #sonyalpha #seattle #night_owlz #upperleftusa #westbysouthwest #curiocityseattle #pnw_shooters #igtones #kiro7 #komo4 #nightshooters #captureperfection #urbanromantix #visitseattle #seattlewashington #visualgrams #northwestisbest #sonyalphasclub #creativetones #wegotthisseattle A post shared by Wolf (@wolfmercuryphotography) on Apr 10, 2020 at 9:13am PDT — LAX Airport (@flyLAXairport) April 9, 2020 AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX Thank you to all the frontline workers for your continued efforts during this unprecedented period. The @DallasCowboys support the #LightItBlue movement to shine a light on those who are working tirelessly every day! pic.twitter.com/kuWWrDgNuR — AT&T Stadium (@ATTStadium) April 10, 2020 PNC Park – Pittsburg, PA Tonight, we #LightItBlue at PNC Park in support of healthcare professionals and essential workers around the world. pic.twitter.com/gloJjSPcA0 — Pirates (@Pirates) April 10, 2020 Gillette Stadium – Boston, MA View this post on Instagram A post shared by New England Patriots (@patriots) on Apr 9, 2020 at 6:30pm PDT Universal Studios Hollywood – Universal City, CA We salute the heroic efforts of first responders and frontline employees throughout the U.S. who are working tirelessly during these unprecedented times. As part of the #MakeItBlue initiative, we light up the sky with 26 moving beams of blue lights in honor of these individuals. pic.twitter.com/5CW93PvY1l — Universal Studios Hollywood (@UniStudios) April 10, 2020 Amazon’s Seattle Campus We joined buildings across the U.S. to #MakeItBlue tonight, illuminating the Spheres on our Seattle campus with blue light in a show of support for those on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. #LightItBlue pic.twitter.com/CToMEniyx9 — Amazon News (@amazonnews) April 10, 2020 Texas A&M University – College Station, TX #LightItBlue 💙 | #GigEm 👍 pic.twitter.com/vXxt2QF46y— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) April 10, 2020 Baylor Univesity – Waco, TX To all the healthcare professionals and essential workers caring for us on the front lines – THANK YOU! 👏 McLane Stadium shines blue to show our support and gratitude. #LightItBlue 💙 pic.twitter.com/kPqBX4aVdw — Baylor Athletics (@BaylorAthletics) April 10, 2020 UCLA University – Los Angeles, CA View this post on Instagram Thank you to all our first responders, healthcare workers and essential staff battling the front lines of COVID-19! #LightItBlue A post shared by Rose Bowl Stadium (@rosebowlstadium) on Apr 9, 2020 at 8:07pm PDT
Healthcare Travelers and Packing: What to Store and What to Throw Out
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life As a traveler, it can be extremely daunting trying to figure out what to pack for your very first assignment. I promise it will get easier as you go along, and you will most likely get tired of lugging huge amounts of stuff around and therefore naturally trim down what you actually take with you from place to place. Sometimes the more difficult part is deciding what to do with the stuff you leave behind. Realistically most people will not be able to get rid of every single thing they own that does not fit into their car before they take their first traveling assignment. This is usually okay because you also need to maintain a tax home to keep your tax free stipends, so a lot of travelers store more important possessions in the room or space they rent at their tax home. Deciding what is worth keeping and what to sell or donate can be a very difficult decision and will vary depending on each person and their plans for their travel nursing career. How long you plan to travel and how much space you have to store items at home will have a huge impact on what you should keep. The most extreme approach to whittling down possessions is to either sell or donate everything you will not be using while on assignment. This can be helpful if you need to save up money to help you put down deposits or cover travel expenses on your way to your first assignment. Doing so also alleviates the need to find a place to store your stuff while you travel which will likely save you money in the long run. If possible you could store a few personal possessions or keepsakes at your tax home so you don’t have to take those types of things back and forth across the country. If you aren’t quite sure if travel nursing is going to be a long term career choice for you, being more conservative with your cleanout may be a better approach. Repurchasing large pieces of furniture and multiple household goods can really add up if you have to buy it all at once when you decide to go permanent. One thing to consider is the cost vs benefit of renting a place to store big pieces while you aren’t using them. One thing we did was check the cost of local storage units. Then, we totaled the cost of replacing most of what we were considering storing. If the cost of what you are storing is less than what you would pay overtime for a storage unit, it may be more reasonable to get rid of the majority of your stuff before hitting the road. There are also a few items I would definitely NOT recommend storing. Any extra clothes or shoes can most likely be donated or sold. You will be surprised how few clothes you need once you get the hang of packing, and you’re not likely to go back and look for more to add to your collection. I would also not recommend storing any linens or pillows. Unless you have really, really expensive items you want to hang on to, plan on replacing these when you go back to a permanent position. Bring your favorite pillow and blanket and find a new home for the rest. Cheap or mismatched kitchen items are usually not worth keeping either. If you are still hanging on to plastic plates from your college apartment or random dollar store utensils, now is a great time to get rid of them. If you don’t truly love an item or it doesn’t “go” with everything else, time to pass it along to a new home. For some, the pull to hang on to your worldly possessions may be a hard one to overcome. If you are nervous about what to get rid of you could always plan to come back after an assignment or two and reevaluate what you are keeping. One of the best parts about travel nursing is you can take extended time off if you want to, so you could plan some time to visit home and cut down on your storage if you decide to stretch out your travel career. Personally we got rid of a huge amount of stuff both before we started traveling and when we came home to have a baby. We were lucky and were able to store our stuff for free, so we weren’t as pressured to whittle our possessions down before we left. When we came home we were shocked at what we had deemed worth keeping before we had left. Even if you are not a minimalist yet, there is a shift in priorities once you dive into the travel world. Most people find that their “baggage” often causes more stress than it is worth. In general, most travelers are fortunate to replace anything they might really regret getting rid of, but you’ll be surprised how little you actually miss once it is gone. 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. << Top 5 Most Popular Places to Work as a Traveler
Update: Indiana to Effectively Join the Nurse Licensure Compact July 1, 2020
Update February 20, 2020: The Indiana State Board of Nursing announced its full implementation of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) will be effective July 1, 2020. This comes one year later than what was initially expected and more than a year after legislation was passed to join the compact. Beginning July 1, 2020, Indiana nurses will be able to start applying for their multistate licenses and out of state nurses who hold a compact license will be able to practice within the state. In the Fall 2019 edition of NCSBN’s In Focus publication, a representative of the Indiana State Board of Nursing (ISBN) wrote: “Board members and staff are making substantial progress putting into place the technical and administrative updates necessary for multistate licenses to be issued. At the same time, ISBN is also working closely with state and national stakeholders, including NCSBN, to institute a seamless application process.” For updates and future resources about Indiana’s full implementation into the NLC, visit www.in.gov/pla/nursing.htm. Indiana lawmakers passed compact nursing license legislation during this year’s General Assembly, which ended last Wednesday. The bill allows for the Indiana State Board of Nursing to issue compact nursing licenses and allows nurses and licensed practical nurses who already have their compact license to practice in Indiana. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill into law on Monday, according to data from StateScape. Indiana is the 32nd state to join the enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact, narrowly beating out Alabama in passing an eNLC bill into law. The new compact law will take effect on July 1, 2019, according to the bill’s text. Nurses and licensed practical nurses applying for a compact nursing license must pay $25 in addition to any other standard licensing fees. The bill is expected to cut down on the amount of time it takes for nurses outside of Indiana to start working in the state. Currently, it can take several weeks for a non-Indiana nurse to obtain a single-state license. Larry Jenkins, a client advisor for LiquidAgents Healthcare who frequently works with Indiana healthcare facilities, said the bill passing could greatly help hospitals fill travel jobs faster and more efficiently. “Indiana has a ton of jobs available, but it can be a struggle to fill them because they were not a compact state, and not a lot of nurses I see have their Indiana license,” Jenkins said. “This will be really helpful to get more candidates to Indiana. “I also see a lot of people from Kentucky [with a compact license] who want to work in Indiana, so this will be helpful for them as well.” House Rep. Ed Clere introduced the bill and has advocated for Indiana to join the compact since last year. After a legislative study session over the summer, the bill quickly gained support during the 2019 General Assembly and passed the House in January. “It’s important legislation for our area,” Clere told the News and Tribune. “It came to me about three years ago, and Hosparus Health and Baptist Health Floyd are two regional organizations that identified this as a top legislative priority. There are countless other providers that supported it and will benefit from it. It will help providers address workforce challenges and will improve access to quality health care.” Supporters of the bill hope this will address gaps in nursing service across the Indiana-Kentucky state line, which was a issue frequently brought up to push legislators to support the bill. “This is particularly important to border communities like Floyd County, where a nurse might live in Louisville and work in New Albany or vice versa,” the Indiana Chamber, a statewide business advocacy group, said in a press release. “For proponents, this is both a workforce and quality of care issue.” Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information about the process for obtaining an Indiana compact nursing license becomes available. Additionally, the original story stated the bill became law without a signature from Gov. Eric Holcomb. Holcomb signed the bill on the date the story was published, so it has been updated to reflect that information.
Top 5 Most Popular Places to Work as a Travel Nurse
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Working as a travel nurse is like the best of both worlds–you get to experience new cities and get paid to work in different and exciting areas of the country. As I worked my way around the country as a travel nurse I definitely had a list of “dream” assignment cities. I hit the road mainly for financial reasons, but I also knew that I had to have fun along the way or it simply wouldn’t be worth it. One of the easiest ways to make more money as a traveler is to have an idea of where the most popular places to travel are. Unfortunately, due to supply and demand these “fun” areas or “unicorn” assignments as some will call them often come with lower weekly take-home pay. However, if you know this ahead of time you can plan accordingly and perhaps alternate between fun and lucrative assignments. These areas of the country are top picks for a lot of travelers for a reason and maybe worth taking a little less money in exchange for a great experience. 1. Seattle As the busiest city in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle has a lot to offer for many different types of people. If you love getting outdoors there are tons of mountains, hiking, and backpacking trails surrounding the city. On the other hand, if you prefer the urban jungle feel, Seattle is the quintessential city. From great public transit options to a booming downtown scene, you will definitely get your fill of city life here as well. In addition, Seattle is a great jumping-off point for a lot of weekend trips. Bainbridge Island and the Olympic Peninsula area quick ferry ride away, or you can take a longer ride over to Victoria or Vancouver if you want a little trip out of the country. Woodinville, Leavenworth, and Walla Walla are also some great towns in the state of Washington you might not get a chance to visit if you weren’t living somewhere nearby 2. Hawaii Hawaii was the number one destination I got asked about when I told my friends and family how travel nursing worked. They were all thrilled at the idea that I could go live in a tropical paradise and get paid money to do so. While I haven’t personally made it to Hawaii for an assignment, I have heard great things. Island hopping is easy, and there is no shortage of beautiful outdoor scenery to explore and enjoy. Hawaii has a lot to offer depending on what you like–there are bigger cities like Maui or more laid back areas like the Big Island. The one downside is a high cost of living matched with lower pay packages–so be sure to have some money saved up because most consider a Hawaii assignment a “working vacation”. Bonus: Hawaii is a “walk through” state for nursing licenses, which means you can simply fly in a few days early and apply for your license in person rather than playing the waiting game ahead of time. 3. San Diego When I ask where I should visit in California, San Diego is hands down the most popular answer. This southern city has great weather year-round, beaches to enjoy and a trendy food scene as well. Similar to Seattle, San Diego is also a great starting point for road trips on days off. You can take a trip down to Tijuana, or head east and experience some great National Parks. In addition, San Diego has a great laid back vibe and welcoming people so it is a great place to make friends when you are traveling solo. 4. Phoenix Gaining in popularity over the last few years, travel nurses have begun to realize that Phoenix is not just a city in the middle of a dried-up desert. Locals refer to the city as “the valley” due to it being surrounded by mountain ranges on all sides. You can visit the tourist town of Tortilla Flat, go boating in one of the several lakes around the city, or experience phenomenal hiking in the Superstition Wilderness. Phoenix also has a great up and coming food scene. Old Town Scottsdale is full of both trendy and upscale restaurants, or head to Central Phoenix for a ton of local joints with creative flair. And obviously don’t forget to find some street tacos and margaritas while you are there. 5. Alaska Similar to Hawaii, Alaska is one of those places that most people who live in the continental United States may not ever get a chance to visit. Most travelers I know who have worked in Alaska highly recommend experiencing the drive there rather than opting for a flight and rental car. Once again, Alaska can offer a lot to travelers whether you prefer a rural or city experience. And unlike Hawaii, pay packages are generally more lucrative, especially if you are willing to commit to one of the more remote towns. I hear the chance to live in Alaska is once in a lifetime, and this is definitely on my list of must-do assignments. With the exception of perhaps rural Alaska, most of these cities are going to net you a little less cash than some of the less popular destinations. However, these places are popular for a reason, and keep their hospitals staffed despite lower pay packages. If you get the chance to mix in a fun assignment or two, I highly recommend checking out one of these popular travel nurse destinations.
Starting a Family as a Travel Nurse
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life As travel nursing has gotten a little easier with the development of technology, the idea of who can work as a traveler has also shifted. The general belief is that to travel you must be single, without children, and unlikely to “settle down” or commit to either a long term relationship or family. I began my travel nurse career breaking outside of that mold. My husband and I were happily married and he was in school, so I traveled without him for the first six months of my travel career. Needless to say, we went in with open minds, so when we started to think about having kids, we kept that same open mindset. Whether you are planning to start a family or find yourself with a little unexpected bundle on the way, having a child is totally doable whether you decide to continue your career as a traveler or pick a more permanent location mid-pregnancy. I am going to cover a few possible scenarios to consider if and when you find yourself with a little baby fever during your travel career. Option 1: Extend your current contract to the end of your pregnancy and give birth locally. A lot of families find themselves unsure of how to go about changing providers mid-pregnancy. If you become pregnant while on an assignment you will need to see someone pretty quickly, and it can be hard to consider leaving a doctor or midwife that you really connect with. In this instance, it may be worthwhile to talk to your manager and recruiter about the likelihood of being able to extend through the end of your pregnancy and just plan on giving birth wherever you are currently located. If you are using company insurance, plan to use COBRA for coverage once your assignment ends. The only downside to this may be not living close to friends and family when you are going through the first few weeks with a new baby and extra hands can be helpful. Option 2: Extend your current contract to the last part of your pregnancy and travel home for delivery. Another possible scenario is to try to extend your contract to the latter portion of your pregnancy and then plan for time off to get home and deliver wherever “home” is. Of course, babies can come at any time so this means accepting the risk that everything may not go according to plan and you could end up having the baby while on assignment. In addition, you will need to discuss travel safety with your provider and consider whether you will be traveling via car or plane, especially since most airlines will not allow passengers to fly past a certain week of pregnancy. Option 3: Move home and take a permanent job or local contract prior to delivery. Ultimately, we chose to move closer to friends and family and take a permanent job about halfway through the pregnancy. We knew we wouldn’t be moving regularly for a bit and wanted the support of family and friends nearby when we delivered. Having people nearby to help get naps in, run quick errands, and just be supportive was a lifesaver. However, dealing with transferring insurance and time off as a new employee can be tricky. First, you have to decide if you will disclose to your employer ahead of time that you are pregnant. Then you have to navigate the company’s insurance timeline and leave of absence policies for newer employees. We ended up with about 45 days where all of our prenatal expenses were out of pocket while we waited for my permanent job’s insurance to kick in. Also, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) does not guarantee job protection for employees under a year, and you may be limited on maternity leave options as a result. Ultimately it may have been easier to simply take a local contract. I would have likely made more money overall and instead of having to coordinate unpaid leave with my permanent job, I could have simply ended my contract around 37 or 38 weeks and then looked for a new job when I was ready to end my “maternity leave”. This is one of the best pros to starting a family while working in travel healthcare–you can make your time with your new baby last as long as it works for your family! As with anything else that is part of the travel nurse lifestyle, having a baby comes with a bit more to think about than if you have a permanent job. However, it is possible to start a family and continue your travel lifestyle if that is what works for you. If there is one thing I have learned over the course of my travel career, it is that healthcare workers are blessed to be needed. Between travel contracts and local jobs, there is almost always some way to stay employed no matter what your circumstance is. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with how you build your dream life, and don’t worry if people tell you you “can”t” do something like start a family as a travel nurse.
How Fast Can A New Internet Standard For Sharing Patient Data Catch Fire? (KHN)
By Janet Rae-Dupree, Kaiser News Health Medical professionals have been storing personal health information in electronic form for more than a decade, but it is cumbersome for patients to gather disparate computer and paper records scattered across doctors’ offices, hospitals and medical labs. Wouldn’t life be easier if you could view your full medical history with a few taps on your smartphone? The consolidation of medical records may be on its way, as technology companies prod the health care industry to embrace an internet-based common standard for storing and sharing patient information. It’s known as FHIR and pronounced “fire” — a catchier way of saying Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources. Industry analysts say the rapidly growing demand for freer exchange of health care information is creating an electronic health record market estimated to reach $38 billion by 2025. With numbers like that bandied about, it should come as no surprise that Silicon Valley tech giants Apple and Google are lining up for a slice of the pie — as are other technology behemoths, including Amazon and Microsoft. Those corporations, and many smaller companies and startups, offer FHIR-based apps and services to consumers and health industry professionals. The idea behind FHIR is to share specific pieces of information, such as symptoms, procedures or diagnoses, without passing along entire documents. Each discrete chunk of data has a unique identifier, which makes it possible for patients, doctors and researchers to get the information they need on any device or browser, regardless of where the data is stored. Proponents of the new standard say it should ensure that health care information can be exchanged seamlessly among providers across the industry — from a urine-testing laboratory in Los Angeles, for example, to a pediatrician in Redding, California. When tech companies can agree to use an industry standard, the adoption of new technology accelerates: Think Bluetooth or USB. It’s a confusing tangle when that doesn’t happen: Think laptop power cords. Adoption of the medical record-sharing standard may begin to accelerate with the rollout of a new federal rule this year requiring health care providers that receive payments from the U.S. government — Medicare and Medicaid — to use FHIR-compatible apps for patient data. FHIR has met considerable resistance, however. Until recently, there were few business incentives and limited advocacy by health care providers to create the necessary demand for FHIR’s adoption, said Micky Tripathi, chairperson of the advisory council of Health Level Seven International, a not-for-profit developer of electronic health information standards that created FHIR. “Change will come incrementally over time, not overnight,” Tripathi said. “The older standards, though inferior, have the advantage that they are in use today and the cost of ripping and replacing them is not worth the added benefit.” Some hospitals and medical clinics put the brakes on the very concept of data sharing by engaging in “information blocking” in an effort to retain patients. In 2016, Congress enacted financial penalties to stop them from doing so, but their resistance has not been eliminated. “There have been roadblocks that prevent innovations and data from being widely shared where it could benefit patients,” said Julia Adler-Milstein, director of the Center for Clinical Informatics and Improvement Research at the University of California-San Francisco. Beyond its potential to revolutionize medical records requests, FHIR may also provide the first reliable gateway for patient-generated health information from millions of smartwatches, fitness trackers and blood pressure monitors to merge with clinical data in doctors’ offices, people in the industry say. The need for a standard arose from the incompatibility of electronic health records at medical sites ranging from hospitals and doctors’ offices to urgent care clinics and nursing homes. Digitizing health records was intended to clean up the chaos of paper-based medical histories, allowing information to be shared more readily. But many practitioners still rely on paper, and among those who have made the digital switch, medical records often lie isolated in electronic silos. In 2014, Health Level Seven International proposed leveraging how the internet works to break open the silos. FHIR evolved quickly, creating what its product director, Grahame Grieve, calls a “public treasure” of international health information exchange. At UCSF, FHIR is being used in a study to track the weight of newborns hour-by-hour. UCSF’s Healthy Start program integrates weight data with other information about each newborn to alert doctors when one of them may be struggling. Established medical technology companies and a host of startups are salivating over FHIR, because eventually it could give them paths to lucrative uses of data, including for personalized medicine, population health and medical genetics as well as in emerging technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. “We want to have FHIR in our analytics and machine-learning tools,” Aashima Gupta, Google Cloud’s director of Global Healthcare Solutions, said at a conference in Orlando, Florida, in February. Tech giants are already striving to benefit from the growing use of FHIR: Microsoft recently released FHIR Server for Azure, its data-on-demand offering, to attract health care clients to its cloud services. Google joined with the American Medical Association in an effort to improve coordination among health care systems with FHIR and develop methods of collecting and managing patient-generated health data. Apple’s Health Records app uses FHIR to let consumers download data from their health care providers. Amazon Comprehend Medical works through Amazon Web Services to offer guidance for health care data specialists using FHIR. Six big tech companies — Microsoft, Google, Amazon, IBM, Oracle and Salesforce — have also joined to support FHIR and broader sharing of health care data through a government-endorsed project called Blue Button, which is intended to make it easier for patients to view and download their health records. Consumer advocates and cybersecurity experts warn that personal health information shared on the web could be compromised. They want to make sure the risk is minimized before any widespread rollout of FHIR products. Patients do not have a say in how their health providers store medical information, but patients