My most memorable experience as a nurse
By Bob Goldnetz My most memorable experience as a nurse is probably one of my saddest, but also exemplifies why I became a nurse and do what we do. They never found out what was wrong with him. He had a lot going on from previous co-morbidities, admitted with COVID. All the tests were negative, but in retrospect they think he had tuberculosis. He had been in the ICU previously and had been doing well. I had actually sent him to the floor. That was about a month before I came back after vacation and saw him again. It had been a month of complications and deteriorations. He was going to be transferred to hospice and life support withdrawn later that day. He was unrecognizable; every kind of tube possible, swollen, pale, surrounded by IV poles all clustered with drips. The family came to say goodbye. His mother and father apparently had become estranged from him. Unfortunately, they could not enter the room due to his COVID diagnosis. They had their own co-morbidities. So, impossibly, they said goodbye to their son from a small window in the door. As a new father I cannot imagine how they felt. I also find it unfathomable how to sum up what I needed to say or express from a 6×6 window in a door. At that moment, several feet from a doorway to a bed felt like miles. They asked me to tell him that they loved him. To let him pass peacefully. And to make sure he was not in pain. It’s a great responsibility we face every day. Perhaps one of the greatest obligations we can only learn from experience is how to guide someone into passing with respect, compassion, and dignity. What a sad experience. What a humbling task. What an honor. I was responsible for how he would leave this plane. I was the last person, the last human contact, voice, presence, touch, and energy he would feel. I prepared as best I could to make sure he was comfortable. It felt quiet as we prepared to terminally extubate him. “Don’t Worry About a Thing” by Bob Marley came into my head and It felt right. I will never know if he could hear me, the music. But I like to think that he could and that it soothed him. We withdrew the breathing tube and stopped his life-sustaining medications. He lasted barely a minute. I told him I was sorry. I was sorry we couldn’t do more and that we had not been able to save him. I told him that his parents loved him and everything was going to be okay; to not be scared. It’s okay. He can go. And he did. So, although it was an incredibly sad situation, I think of what a mercy it was that he was allowed to pass in peace. What a courageous last gift of a parent to a child. This is a patient encounter I still think about often. A time where I felt I fulfilled my calling. I relied on my experience, feelings, and instincts to provide what I think of as one of the greatest services to another human being. No one should be alone or in pain when they pass on from this world. As nurses, we deal with many moments of heartache. Sometimes we just have to remember that “every little thing, is gonna be alright.” Bob Goldnetz is an ICU travel nurse who has worked at various levels of hospitals across the country. When he’s not learning how to be a new dad or taking care of patients, you may find him backpacking, snowboarding, skiing, surfing, mountain biking, paragliding, or rock climbing.
12 Holiday Travel Nurse Adventures Posts That Will Make The Grumpiest Grinch Smile
Look, we get it. Working during the “most wonderful time of the year” can really suck. You’re stuck at a hospital while everyone else is getting to cozy up by the fire. Not to mention you’re tired, cranky, hangry, and all of this holiday cheer is bringing you to the brink of strangling the next patient who hits their call light. via GIPHY Unfortunately, we’re not here to change that. What we can do is momentarily distract you from the existential dread of working a holiday shift by reminding you of why you got into travel healthcare in the first place—for the awesome #TravelNurseAdventures that you could have never had as a permanent staffer. So without further ado, check out these 12 wonderful social media posts that will hopefully inspire you to make your own travel nurse adventures during the holiday season. Or at the very least will keep you from going insane. via GIPHY 1. BRB, going to buy a camper and renovate it to look exactly like this because it’s gorgeous. View this post on Instagram Have yourself a merry little camper… I mean Christmas 😊 I’ll be home for 5 whole days including Christmas Eve and Christmas. Anyone who works in healthcare knows how big of a deal that is! I am so excited to spend time with family and friends. The past four years I’ve had to work at the hospital and this year, my husband and I are both off! Excited is an understatement. I’m ready to celebrate! A post shared by EMILY (@ems_traveldiary) on Dec 16, 2018 at 4:27pm PST 2. In Hawaii? During Christmas? Now that’s living the dream. View this post on Instagram Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains, can you paint with all the colors of the wind 🍃🎨 I hope you sang that and it’s stuck in your head now 🎵 A post shared by Anna Nguyen (@annannna__) on Dec 16, 2018 at 12:13pm PST 3. Remember to equip your doggo with the latest winter fashions when bringing them along for fun in the snow. View this post on Instagram Glad my baby had fun today 💛💚 #mustard X #lettuce A post shared by Wendy Diane Mendoza Lozano 👑 (@weymendoza) on Dec 17, 2018 at 5:34pm PST 4. Taking a good look at The Monkey Face in Smith Rock State Park in Oregon. View this post on Instagram None of that monkey business Prince. 🙈 A post shared by Andrea Hahn (@drehahn) on Dec 17, 2018 at 2:22pm PST 5. Snow plus barn equals perfect Christmas cards for the family. View this post on Instagram It looks like a winter wonderland at my papaw’s old barn. . ❄️🎄❄️ . #asheville #winterwonderland #snowday #redbarn #winter #somanymemories A post shared by Courtney (@courtney.dowell) on Dec 10, 2018 at 1:48pm PST 6. Remember to drag your SO along to Christmas light displays because they have the perfect lighting for great selfies. View this post on Instagram The holidays are in full swing 🎄🎁 ⭐ I personally love this time of year and am lucky enough to travel with this guy ⬆️⬆️ who will gladly come along to all the light displays and Christmas events. ⭐ I know that a LOT of travelers aren’t as fortunate so this week I’m sharing some tips to keep your spirits up as a traveler over on the blog today ▫️ Link in profile ❤ A post shared by Alex McCoy- Peds Travel Nurse (@fit.travel.life) on Dec 17, 2018 at 5:22am PST 7. Wait a second, is that Boba Fett decorated with HOLIDAY LIGHTS? Move over Santa, everyone’s favorite intergalactic bounty hunter is here. View this post on Instagram Who needs a visit from Santa when you can get a visit from a Storm Trooper, Darth Vader, a Rebel Fighter Pilot and Boba Fett?!? JK, Santa arrives next week 🎬 . . #starwars #darthvader #jedi #pedsnurseshavemorefun #picunurse #movietime🎬 #sundayfunday #travelnurselife #travelnurseadventures A post shared by the wandeRiNg RN (@the_wandering_rn) on Dec 16, 2018 at 9:21pm PST 8. Time for a winter wonderland weekend road trip? View this post on Instagram Man oh man… what an adventure the last couple days have been. We made it though! Me, most of my belongings, and two (very annoying) cats, all packed tightly in a little Hyundai Elantra. Can’t beat that view though 😍 I would make that drive again in a heartbeat. Excited for the next 3 months ☀️ #welcometomontana #cowboycountry #travelnurseadventures A post shared by Samantha (@raygammas_) on Dec 16, 2018 at 7:15pm PST 9. A family is great, but friends are also fantastic to spend time with during the holidays. Also, we are digging that hairy dude sweater. View this post on Instagram I may be 3,000 miles from home but having great friends close by makes these holiday times easier 🌲🎁 A post shared by j1marie (@j1marie) on Dec 16, 2018 at 10:21am PST 10. Christmas pub crawl? Christmas pub crawl. View this post on Instagram #12pubsofchristmas #shenanigans #imgonnamissthisplace #sixmonthswentsofast #travelnurseadventures #cctctravel @crosscountrytravcorps A post shared by Andrea Rea (@andie1026) on Dec 16, 2018 at 6:25am PST 11. This time of year is the perfect excuse to hang out with your fellow travelers! View this post on Instagram Getting close to finishing our #travelnurse contract at SJMC #stockton so our travel nurse group got together for #dinner tonight at #seoulsoondubu #korean #koreanbarbecue #travelnurselife #travelnurseadventures #thewrights #jeffandheatherwright #notwv @klanerh @jswright75 A post shared by Jeff Wright (@jswright75) on Dec 15, 2018 at 10:21pm PST 12. Do pajamas count as scrubs? View this post on Instagram Good morning world! #california #nevada #laketahoe #tahoe #northlaketahoe #travel #travelgram #vacation #winter #travelnurses #travelnurselife #travelnurseadventures #gypsynurse #nursesofinstagram #snow #pjs #instagood #me #happy #victoriassecret A post shared by Samantha Garcia (@samanthagarciasg) on Dec 14, 2018 at 8:39am PST
5 Tips to Succeed as a Travel Nurse
Great pay, more flexibility, the chance to see new places and build relationships are key reasons why being a travel nurse has such appeal. But how can you help ensure the experience goes well? Here are some quick tips for success. Do your research. Find the right company with the support you need to fit your desires, goals, and even your personality. It’s like dating. You’re going to want to make sure it’s a good fit before committing to anything, so you want a team that’s dependable and who you can work with if the going gets rough—the same team you’re happy to send fun selfies to if you love your assignment. Get organized. Have your licenses, credentials, vaccination records, and certificates up-to-date and uploaded on your computer. This will save you and your recruiter a lot of headaches. DO sweat the small stuff in this case, because these are the things that can delay getting you into your dream assignment. Staffing platforms such as the StaffDNA app make it easy to keep your profile updated and complete so you’re able to be submitted quickly to the jobs you want. And with StaffDNA, your credentials remain accessible from assignment to assignment, so it’s easier to apply to your next contract or extend your current one. Be the kind of nurse you want to work with. Arrive at a new assignment ready to work, not with a list of days off that you need. Facilities use contract nurses because they are short staffed: be part of the solution, not the problem. Just because you are a hired gun doesn’t mean you have to act like one. Nurses know that teamwork makes the dream work. Introduce yourself to your new team, tell them a little bit about yourself, and ask questions. This will break the ice and let them know that you value their input. Your nursing chops will speak for themselves. Don’t waste your time (or theirs) by puffing up your chest talking about your skills and experiences—just show them what you’ve got when the rubber hits the road. Be Clear. Have clarity with both your recruiter and yourself. If you’ve got your heart set on Arizona for a winter assignment, don’t get talked into Alaska. If you know 36 hours/week is your limit, don’t commit to a 48 hour/week contract. 48 hours/week on your feet feels a lot different that 48 hours in front of Netflix; but it pays a heck of a lot better, and for some nurses this will be worth it! Knowing your limits and setting goals for work/life balance will make life easier and better for you, your recruiter, and your future teammates. Cover all of your bases: most importantly, home base. After a long day, you want to be sure you have a safe, quiet place to shut the door behind you. Furnished Finders, Airbnb, VRBO, and Tripping.com offer a variety of short-term housing options for nurses, though some nurses prefer extended stay hotels with the free breakfasts and daily housekeeping services. Consider the neighborhood. Is it noisy? If you are a night shifter, you’re not going to want a place next to an elementary school playground. On the other hand, day shifters might think twice about that super cool loft space above a nightclub. Most importantly, start your search early so you have a comfy place to curl up and watch The Bachelor after your first day on the job. Been thinking about embracing the travel nurse lifestyle? LiquidAgents Healthcare provides concierge-level service and support from experienced recruiters to help guide and ensure your success through the whole process. Lean more to the tech savvy side? StaffDNA allows you to manage your healthcare career using a 100% mobile self-service platform. You get complete control to find, book, and manage assignments yourself, from one app, with access to the highest pay packages available. Whichever way you choose, travel nursing has many benefits, and we hope these tips can help position you for success. Karla Theilen is a writer, storyteller, and Registered Nurse based out of Missoula, Montana. Her writing has been featured on NPR, STAT News, Life in a Strong Town, and select stories and essays have been anthologized. She has been Facebook-free since 1972.
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.
Where To Find National Nurses Week Deals And Freebies
The theme of this year’s National Nurses Week celebration, which takes place from May 6-12, is “4 Million Reasons To Celebrate”, which highlights contributions of America’s 4 million registered nurses, according to the American Nurses Association website. Even if there are four million reasons, one of the best reasons for nurses to celebrate this week is that they get to cash in on tons of free food, giveaways and discounts! We’ve compiled a list of as many great National Nurses Week deals and freebies that we could find, but some are only available for a limited time. Editor’s note: We plan to update this page if we find more deals, so make sure to bookmark it and check back in throughout the week. Found a great deal you want to share? Submit it here or email it to us at news@hcttoday.com National Nurses Week Deals And Freebies Cinnabon May 6-11: Nurses can recieve a free MiniBon roll or four-count BonBites. Must show ID badge to receive free items. Sonny’s BBQ May 6: Complimentary Pork Big Deal at any of the chain’s 100 locations for nurses who can show their ID. MOD Pizza May 12: BOGO free deal on a MOD-size pizza or salad with a valid nurse ID. Only available for in-store orders. Uniform Advantage May 6-14: Up to 50 percent off on all products sitewide. Use the code “125FREE” to get free shipping on all orders over $125. Giordiano’s May 6-8: 20 percent off any order with the code 656-263-214. Offer valid for both dine-in and online and for both teachers and nurses. Enlightened Ice Cream May 6-12: Nurses or friends of nurses share their appreciation for all that nurses do by visiting this link: https://eatenlightened.com/pages/nurses-week. They can send themselves or their nurse friend a coupon for a free pint of ice cream or a free box of ice cream bars. PDQ Restaurant May 7: Teachers and nurses get 50 percent off their entire order with a valid ID at all PDQ locations. Hey, Teachers & Nurses! ☺️ On Tuesday, May 7th we’re hooking you up with 50% off your entire order with valid ID. Valid at all PDQ locations. pic.twitter.com/K1vpHWV0kr — PDQ Restaurant (@PDQFreshFood) May 3, 2019 Salata Salad Kitchen May 8: BOGO free offer Wednesday for nurses on salads and wraps with a valid ID on in-store orders. The free salad or wrap must be of equal or lesser value. Home Run Inn May 6-10: Teachers and nurses get 20 percent off their checks during Teacher Appreciation and National Nurses Week. Scooter’s Coffee May 6: 50 percent off any drink for all teachers and nurses. Cotton Patch Café May 6-10: 20 percent off on orders for all nurses when they show a valid ID. Sandals Resorts May 1-31: Sandals is giving away six-night, seven-day trips for free every day throughout the month of May to teachers, nurses and members of the military. Full giveaway details are here. DiscountGlasses.com May 6-12: 30 percent off any order with the code “HEARTNURSES30.” DiscountContactLenses.com May 6-12: 15 percent off contact lens orders with the code “HEARTNURSES15.”
Find Your New Happy Place: WalletHub Releases 2019 “Happiest Cities In America” List
Some travel healthcare professionals already know that where a job is located can have a big impact on how much they enjoy working there. It can be difficult, though, to narrow down which city they will enjoy working in the most. A new list released by WalletHub, a personal finance education website, could help with that issue. WalletHub released the 2019 rankings for their annual “Happiest Cities In America” study Monday, which evaluated 182 of the largest U.S. cities based on 31 indicators of happiness, like the depression rate, income-growth rate and average leisure time spent per day, according to their website. Those key factors were combined into three main categories—”Emotional and Physical Well-Being,” “Income and Employment,” and “Community and Environment,” which produced a composite score for each city. While not all of the indicators listed in the study affect travelers directly—like the rate of separations and divorces in each city—others have a more direct impact, including ideal weather, crime rate, access to parks and open spaces, commute time, and illness and disability rates. The top 10 happiest cities in America, based on WalletHub’s rankings, are: Plano, Texas Irvine, California Madison, Wisconsin Fremont, California Huntington Beach, California Fargo, North Dakota Grand Prarie, Texas San Jose, California Scottsdale, Arizona San Francisco, California Among the top 10, Fremont received the highest rank for “Community and Environment” and San Jose for “Emotional and Physical Well-Being.” Seattle, Washington, which ranked overall at No. 54, received the highest ranking in the “Income and Employment” category. The results are intriguing, but should not be used as the ultimate solution to fixing the blues, experts say. Most studies suggest that finding and fostering happiness is less about a location and more about how people engage with their jobs, their communities and the experiences they choose to have. Travelers can view the full results of the analysis on the WalletHub website.
Tall Man, Tall Van: Nate Hemann Shares His Experience Travel Nursing While Living The Van Life
Like many travel healthcare professionals, nurse Nate Hemann wanted to pursue traveling to experience new sights, meet new people and gain experience working across the country. Before starting his journey, Hemann decided to make his first major commitment to the travel life in an unconventional way—by converting a freshly purchased 2018 Ford Transit into his permanent home away from home. Hemann started documenting his experience building and living in his van on August 2, 2018, through his Instagram account, @thetallmanvan. From his posts, Hemann shares messages of positivity, his enthusiasm for nature and all the highs and lows of living in a van while working as a travel nurse. I spoke with Hemann to find out more about his nursing career, how he converted his ride and why he decided to tackle the #VanLife. Editor’s Note: Photos in this story pulled from the @thetallmanvan account were used with permission. Some of the answers below were edited for clarity. Q: How did you get involved in the nursing profession? I decided I was going to go to school for nursing in about the 10th grade. I honestly don’t remember a single moment that sparked it. I did, however, grow up right next to the Mayo Clinic, and with both of my parents working there, as well as nearly every other adult in my life growing up, it’s really no surprise that I ended up with a career in the medical field. I have also always loved people and science, and to me, nursing is the best fit for me with my strengths in both of those areas. Q: What made you want to pursue the travel nursing route? Travel nursing was not something I had ever thought about until holiday break during my senior year of nursing school. I went on a study abroad trip with 20 some other nursing students to the Philippines to learn about and dive into the culture and nursing practices there. This single trip set me on the travel path that I am on now, both in my career and in my personal life. I made it a financial goal of mine after graduating college to always be able to say “yes” to travel when asked by anyone around me, and so far, I’m surpassing my goal of traveling whenever possible far more than I ever imagined I would. Q: Being that you’ve just started your travel career, what has the experience been like so far? Although I technically began my travel nurse career the beginning of October 2018, I feel that it really started in July of 2017. After working one year as a staff nurse in Duluth, Minnesota, I packed up my car and drove to Seattle to be a part of the amazing team and culture of Harborview Medical Center. After a year at Harborview, and meeting all of the countless, amazing travel nurses there, I knew that I had to be one as well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nate Hemann (@thetallmanvan) on Feb 6, 2019 at 6:59am PST The experience so far has been supportive and educational, as well as beautiful considering I have gotten to be in Northern California and Central Oregon for my first two contracts. I feel fortunate to have gone to two hospitals so far with an overall good attitude toward travel nurses because I know that that is not always the case. Q: What have you learned? Any unexpected challenges? I have learned that I love to float, which as a traveler is something you have to learn to like, or you certainly won’t have a good experience. I love the challenge of a new unit and a new patient demographic outside of my specialty. I will say that I am not learning as much nursing-wise as I would like to, and that’s why I will seek out more trauma and teaching hospitals, like Harborview. For now, I am trying to keep up to date outside of work. However, I am learning so much about myself being in these smaller cities and hospitals. It is giving me more financial freedom and time to explore the great outdoors with my van and any friends I meet along the way. As far as nursing goes, the main challenge I have found is that staff nurses tend to be resistant to change, and as the new nurse on the unit all the time, that can make me feel isolated. I have picked up skills and knowledge in various ways and places, and some nurses I work with only know nursing from the college in the same community that they work in—and perhaps have lived in that very community their entire life. As someone who constantly wants to learn and understand the world from other perspectives, it frustrates me to work with complacent and inflexible individuals. Q: Where have you visited so far? Considering that, what’s your most favorite moment from the places you have visited? My two contracts so far have been in Eureka, California and Eugene, Oregon. I have visited countless places outside of these two locations since I drove from Minnesota to get here, and in between contracts, I took two-and-a-half weeks off to ski in Wyoming and Utah. Top of my list since starting travel nursing would be as follows in no particular order: Grand Teton National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Redwoods National Park, and the Southern Oregon coast. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nate Hemann (@thetallmanvan) on Oct 19, 2018 at 11:24am PDT I’m not typically a man of favorites—usually a top three or five kind of guy—but there was an instance during this travel nurse journey that I felt absolute bliss. I hiked down a steep and wooded part of the Southern Oregon coast, made my way to rocky outcrops, and it was all just after a big storm system had rolled through. The waves crashing against the coast were absolutely massive. I
Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas For Travel Nurses
The sickly sweet smell of candy corn, the itchy feeling of polyester costume fabric, the annual country-wide revival of “The Monster Mash”—yes, Halloween is here, nurses. But unlike the thousands of sexy-zombie-insane-asylum-Harley Quinn-nurse costumes you’ll see on Instagram, you don’t have the time to slather on heaps of special effects makeup. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy and work-appropriate costume ideas out there for travel nurses who want to dress up for the “graveyard” shift, or who just need to throw on something quick before an after-work Halloween party. For those planning to wear them at work, keep in mind these suggestions may be work appropriate, but not necessarily allowed. Make sure to ask around about your hospital’s costume policy. Travel Nurse Halloween Costume Ideas 1. Anyone in the Belcher family from Bob’s Burgers Bob’s Burgers is one of the funniest animated TV shows out there, and you can earn some easy laughs if you decide to dress as one of the Belcher squad. Throw on a pair of scrubs that match your chosen character’s colors, add a pair of glasses if you picked Tina or Linda, or bunny ears if you picked Louise, and you’re good to go. Just remember-If you dress up as Tina, be prepared to both razzle and dazzle. via GIPHY 2. Almost Everyone From Orange Is The New Black via GIPHY Have a pair of light brown scrubs? What about orange ones? Congratulations, you’re a new prisoner from the Litchfield Penitentiary for Halloween. Just make sure local law enforcement knows you’re not an escaped convict. 3. Bryce Dallas Howard From That One Episode Of Black Mirror No, we’re not talking about the neatly put-together character from early in the “Nosedive” episode of Netflix’s hit futuristic drama series “Black Mirror”, we’re talking about post-meltdown Bryce Dallas Howard, complete with dirt and ruined makeup. This costume earns bonus points because you actually have an excuse to show up at work with massive bed head. Wake up, throw on a pink dress or pink scrubs, roll around in the dirt for a few minutes and you can become everyone’s favorite dystopian meltdown queen. 4. The Addams Family (Because We Had To) via GIPHY Yes, we know—Addams Family costumes have been done to death. We still added them to the list because they are simple, effective and a great way to show off your love of the macabre on the spookiest of holidays. Some characters require more work than others—the family butler Lurch is probably the most difficult to pull off—which is why Wednesday is a fan favorite because the only things you need are a little makeup, black scrubs, pigtails and a healthy amount of sass. 5. Sabrina from “The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina” via GIPHY While you can never go wrong with an old-school, mid-to-late 90s Sabrina The Teenage Witch costume, our girl got a new look in this year’s much darker Netflix series “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”. Like all the other costumes on this list, it’s fairly easy to accomplish with a red top, blue bottoms and a headband. Also, make sure you have your spells handy to summon Salem if you need a black cat companion. What are some of your favorite last-minute travel nurse Halloween costumes? Let us know in the comments below!
5 Signs You Are Ready To Start A Travel Healthcare Career
It can be difficult to know when to start a travel healthcare career. Many would-be travelers can suffer from “analysis paralysis” thinking about all of the criteria they should meet before traveling. Should I wait until I have more experience? What if I end up somewhere I hate? Will I be able to support myself sufficiently? Do I have to become a wizard at finding a new place to live every few months? While those are all important questions, they are better left for after you decide to commit to a travel healthcare career. We’ve narrowed down five signs to look for when deciding to pursue a travel healthcare career. Signs You Are Ready To Start Your Travel Healthcare Career 1. You want to see new sights One of the most obvious benefits of being a healthcare traveler is right in the name. There are more than 30,000 active job posts on the StaffDNA boards at any given time that span the U.S. and cover a massive variety of locations. Looking to hit the ski slopes in the winter? Some facilities recruit for the winter as early as August. Want to find a nice small town with pretty trees for the fall? Take your pick of northeast states right off the Atlantic coast. One of the main factors stopping travelers from working where they want is having current state licenses, but even that is made easier because most agencies will pay your licensing fees. Additionally, nurses and physical therapists can get compact licenses which allows them to work in multiple states with only one license. Other healthcare professions are working towards implementing licensure compacts as well. 2. You want more control over your pay A traveler’s job flexibility also applies to their earning potential, not just location. The keyword to focus on here is “control,” because while it’s true travelers earn more on average than permanent staff, that doesn’t mean they always will. That’s why it’s important to think about your salary in terms of control—you can control what agencies you work with, the recruiters you work with and the jobs you pursue. Since the traveler job market is fast-moving and highly competitive, travel staffing agencies are constantly fighting tooth-and-nail to offer you the best pay package and solid benefits. 3. You want to build up your professional skillset quickly It’s easy to get stuck in a routine while working at the same facility every year. If you plan on traveling for more than a year, chances are you will work in a variety of different environments with unique challenges. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this constant job hopping can actually help you in the long run because it will show potential employers you are highly adaptable and can face unexpected problems with confidence. Traveling also means getting experience in multiple electronic medical (healthcare) record software platforms, as different hospitals will have their own systems. In a Black Book Research survey, 98 percent of travel nurses said fluency in multiple EMR platforms is a highly valued skill. Since facilities are constantly updating or implementing new EMR platforms, travelers with experience in multiple platforms can apply for EMR conversion contracts, which typically offer much higher pay rates than standard travel assignments. 4. You are sick of healthcare workplace “politics” Bad hospital management, interpersonal drama, pointless gossip, local union disputes—traveling gives you a chance to avoid almost all of the workplace “politics” that permanent staff have to deal with. Since you have the option to avoid toxic workplace relationships as a temporary staff member, that means you can focus more time on patient care and improving your skills. 5. You are ready for a challenge We’ve explained a lot of the benefits to traveling, but that doesn’t mean travelers get to just kick back and rake in money. Healthcare travelers have to be ready to face almost all of these challenges at any given time: Managing and frequently updating compliance documents Maintaining a tax home Managing relationships with multiple recruiters and agencies Applying for state licenses Multiple job interviews every year Calculating travel expenses Frequently looking for (and moving to) temporary housing Adjusting quickly to new work environments with limited orientation Planning on how to travel with friends, family or pets Loneliness or homesickness Constant on-the-job learning High expectations for job performance Avoiding workplace drama If this list of challenges seems daunting, that’s perfectly natural. Traveling has plenty of positive aspects, but it may not be for everyone. Some travelers find they love the challenge as it motivates them to work harder and improve their skills. The most important thing you can do after noticing the signs that you’re interested in traveling is to educate yourself. There are a variety of online resources—including this website—where you can find answers to any lingering questions you may have about being a healthcare traveler.
4 Best Ways to Show Appreciation on Recruiter Recognition Day
A truly outstanding travel healthcare staffing recruiter is (almost) irreplaceable. They are your hospital matchmaker, your job market insider, your personal motivator, your experienced career mentor and—if your goal is to make lots of money—your “partner in crime” all in one package. For those travelers out there who love their recruiters, today is the day to show it. National Healthcare Recruiter Recognition Day occurs the first Tuesday of June every year, so we asked recruiters for the four best ways you can show your appreciation. Post a review with a shout out Reviews go a huge way towards building up a staffing agency’s reputation in the traveler community, and recruiters have a vested interest in their company’s success. Posting a positive review that mentions how much you love your recruiter will go a long way and could even lead to a referral. Speaking of which… Give your recruiter a referral Almost every recruiter we asked said sending a referral their way is one of the best ways to show appreciation. Recruiters depend on referrals to stay in the game and referring your friends or colleague will provide even more of an incentive for your recruiter to go above and beyond for you on every deal. Tell them thanks While referrals go a long way towards helping recruiters, many of them also said a simple thank you would suffice. Recruiters would love to hear how much they have helped you achieve your career or travel goals. Send them a text, email, or give them a call and tell them thanks for being a great recruiter. Send a small gift If you absolutely need to send your recruiter a gift to show your thanks, you don’t have to go overboard. Cards, candy, gift cards—any small tokens of appreciation will be more than enough to tell your recruiter that you love working with them!