Blacklisted as a Travel Nurse? What You Should Do Right Away
It’s news you never want to get. Something has happened, and you’ve been marked “Do Not Hire” or “Do Not Return”. Whether you’re considered “Do Not Hire” by an agency or “Do Not Return” by a hospital or vendor management system, it may feel like you’ve severely crippled your career. While being a setback, it doesn’t have to be permanent. There are things you can do to prevent being blacklisted and get back in good standing. Time is of the essence. “Being proactive rather than reactive is key,” said Richard Dunn, Senior Recruiter at LiquidAgents Healthcare. “The more information you can get over sooner rather than later can be a determining factor in being placed as a DNH or not.” Getting off an agency blacklist The first thing to note about being marked as “Do Not Hire” by an agency is that if you are on the list for clinical reasons it may be hard, if not impossible, to get off of it. However, if you’ve been blacklisted because of a personality issue or because of something situational, you can get back into an agency’s good graces, and that process starts with a statement showing that you understand what has happened and why. Your statement should show some remorse and show some effort to fix the issue. That could be courses or extra class work completed to build knowledge. It should also include references from recent jobs worked showing that they were completed without incident and that behaviors that were an issue in the past aren’t any longer. More than anything, you need to do things that give the agency a reason to trust you again. “Nurses need to know that if they term their contract for any reason, they need to submit a statement over within 24 hours to make sure it is submitted,” added LiquidAgents’ David McKenzie, Director of Talent Advisory. “A lot of nurses do not realize if they do not ask their recruiter what they should do to get their side of things over to the facility, it may result in them being blacklisted from the facility’s VMS permanently.” Getting off a hospital blacklist Getting back into a hospital’s good graces takes a similar effort. The best place to start is by working with your recruiter to craft a statement expressing remorse at the way things ended previously. After that, do what you can to prove things are different now. Show that the behaviors the hospital took issue with are in the past. Show that you’ve completed coursework that may have been interfering with you executing on the job previously. Show that you’ve taken classes to increase your knowledge and skills. Provide references from recently completed assignments that show the kind of work you’re capable of. While it’s no guarantee that you will be removed from a “Do Not Return” list, it’s the best foot you can put forward in efforts to get off of one. Getting off a VMS blacklist Like agencies, a VMS is willing to consider removing nurses from a blacklist if the reason they landed there in the first place wasn’t clinical. And, like with agencies and hospitals, the process starts with a statement expressing understanding of the situation, why you were considered “Do Not Hire” and what you have done to correct any issues that may have caused you to be blacklisted. Most vendor management systems are willing to reconsider “Do Not Return” candidates if it was extenuating circumstances that put them there, like a family illness that caused them to have attendance issues. While a situation you never want to be in, having a trusting, ethical recruiter to represent you and puts your best interests first makes a big difference. Read Next: Travel Nurse Recruiters: What a Good Recruiter Won’t Do
Traveler Tips: Organizing Your Travel Nursing Resumes
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Organizing a resume is a task that very few people enjoy. Everyone knows their worth, but it can be difficult to communicate that on a piece of paper. In addition, there are tons of rules that vary depending on who you talk to. Should your resume include references? Is one page the maximum limit? What is the best font to catch an employer’s attention? Once you enter the travel nursing world the rules of resume writing change again. Work history grows faster than one page can accommodate and references will change with each new assignment. Simply put travel nursing has a whole different set of guidelines for resume writing than any other type of job application. Staying organized and knowing the best format to use for your work history will help you not only keep your sanity, but it will also give you a leg up when it comes to applying for jobs. Speed is crucial when applying for open jobs in the travel nursing world, so having a well-formatted resume ready to hand to a recruiter at a moment’s notice could make or break your chances of getting into the job opening you really want. List all certifications with expiration dates near the top One thing that can really set you apart from other travelers is your specialty certifications. Managers will spend very little time combing through job applicants, so seeing someone who put the extra effort into getting certifications may catch their eye. Also, some jobs will have non-negotiable certifications they require, so if that is the case, you want to make it clear and obvious you are qualified for the position. List the facility you worked at along with dates Just like with a regular resume, keeping your job history organized by date is easiest. In addition, adding in the specific start and end dates will let employers know if you are likely to extend or not. Some managers will definitely want travelers willing to stay for more than a single contract, but others may not mind if you only work 13 weeks at most facilities. Size of the unit and types of patients cared for are key While working at prestigious medical centers may be a little impressive to potential managers, they are likely more concerned that you will be able to deal with their unit’s specific patient load. Don’t write a huge paragraph for each job, but definitely include how many beds were on the unit and the basic patient population. Don’t get too caught up in the length While keeping a resume as concise as possible is great, doing so as a travel nurse can certainly be challenging. As a general rule aim for two pages or less and simply list the minimal information on older jobs. That way employers can see that you have extensive travel experience and are confident you will be able to transition to the unit quickly and efficiently. Layout and font may not be too important In a lot of cases, recruiters are not actually sending your document to the facility. With more hospitals using a vendor as the middleman between companies and managers, there is likely a program they have to input specific information into. This is also why your recruiter may call during the submission process and clarify details that come up as they are using these programs. Keeping this in mind–be sure to keep your phone close if you give a recruiter the go-ahead to submit you so they can get any extra info they may need! Skip listing references Most travel jobs will require updated references within the last one or two contracts. In addition, each company typically has its own process for gathering references for their travelers. Some will email out a form while others do a quick phone call to check your references. Be sure to get both a phone number and an email address from each person you plan on using as a reference so you can give them whichever form of contact they need. Another great idea is to use a generic reference form and have a supervisor at each assignment fill that out so you can upload it to each company requesting a new reference. In a way travel nurse resumes are a lot easier to put together than a traditional resume. Hiring managers at travel jobs want a quick overview of who you are because they aren’t looking for their next ten-year employee. Different traits will be considered positive for travelers than what they are looking for in permanent staff and your resume format should reflect that. As you move through your travel career you will also learn what each company is asking for and what the common information needed will be. If you work as a recruiter repeatedly you won’t necessarily need to send them an updated resume each time because they may keep an updated version on their end. However, it is still important to keep your own resume updated in the event a dream job opens up for a different company and you want to get your application in ASAP.
Traveler Tips: Setting Realistic Expectations For Your Healthcare Career
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Working in travel healthcare is a great way to branch out in more ways than one. Traveling allows you to visit new areas, expand your skills as a practitioner and build relationships across the United States. When you first leave your staff job, there is a certain thrill of anticipation that becomes embedded in your soul, and your world is suddenly open to a host of possibilities. As a brand new traveler, it can be hard to balance these great expectations with a small dose of reality. Not every assignment will fulfill every point on your list of assignment goals, but by setting some realistic travel nurse expectations, your career can strike a balance between fun, adventure and regular employment. Know what you want from each assignment A great way to have success in any situation is to set goals. Travel nursing is no different. Before starting your career as a traveler, it is important to sit down and think about what you hope to accomplish by working as a travel nurse. Decide if you have a set amount of time you plan to travel or if you are going to reassess how you feel at the end of each contract. Then, set some financial goals for yourself. One of the most popular reasons to work as a travel nurse is financial security. For a majority of people travel healthcare is more lucrative than working in a permanent position. This could allow you to spend more money on travel between assignments, or give you enough extra cash to save for a large purchase such as a house. During other assignments, you may have the chance to work in a dream location. While you may not earn as much during this time, there should be other positives to focus on during these types of contracts. Every job may not come with a killer location and awesome pay rate, so setting a specific goal for each assignment is a great way to stay focused and keep a positive attitude even if you had to make some compromises on location or unit setting. Decide if there are other “must-haves” for each contract Some travel nurses are very particular about shift while others are happy to work nights or rotate if needed. While it is not impossible to travel as a days-only nurse, it can limit your job options. By limiting your shift preference, you may also limit your location or even pay. Most hospitals do not offer a traditional differential for travelers, but they may set a higher bill rate for a night shift position. The same rule applies to other non-nursing specialties. If you are a therapist, limiting your setting may result in fewer job options. Radiology travelers may have to be willing to work an odd shift or take a little more call than they would like. Each field has different considerations, but being open to new settings or learning new skills is helpful when trying to land a contract. Other things to consider for each contract are time off, holiday schedule, and floating stipulations. Adding a laundry list of requirements to your contract may cause managers to pass you over for more flexible candidates, but do not agree to something you are unable to sustain for your entire contract. Expect a few bumps in the road Anyone who has worked as a travel nurse will have a story or two about a time where almost nothing went according to plan. However, most of these people will also tell you they have stayed in the field and rolled with the punches. Whether your assignment gets canceled, your licensing takes longer than expected, or you have to change housing plans last minute, know that it is all part of the journey and take each hiccup as a learning experience. Keeping an open mind and being flexible is key to working as a traveler. If your experience is wearing you down more than you can handle, do not be afraid to reach out for help or advice. There are some great online communities for travelers to connect, and chances are someone has experienced a similar situation. Don’t be afraid to reassess at the end of each assignment One of the best parts of being a traveler is you do not have to do it for very long. Some people take one assignment and realize the lifestyle is not the right choice for them, while others spend years working travel jobs. There is no one-size-fits-all requirement, and by going in with realistic expectations you can be better prepared to make your experience as a traveler right for you.
FUNemployment: Maximizing Time Off as a Travel Nurse
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life My very first job as a new grad nurse was in one of the lowest-paying areas of the country. While my cost of living was also low, I was still picking up over time and relying on on-call hours to make ends meet. The word “vacation” meant either camping at my parents’ property or a quick road trip a couple of hours away. All of that changed when I finished my first travel nurse assignment. I intentionally took a two-week break between my first and second assignment and although we didn’t do anything crazy, I was able to go home and visit family, spend more quality time with my husband and just disconnect from the stress of working as a nurse. I quickly vowed to never work back to back assignments–meaning I always take at least a week break between one job and the next. This has allowed my husband and I to travel more and visit family regularly, which overall keeps our work-life balance much more, well, balanced. We have embraced this pattern so much in fact that we now have a name for it: Funemployment. This is the term lovingly used for the times we are not working because we choose to wait to start a new job–and this is an awesome, empowering place to be! This time is great for several reasons. First and foremost it allows us more time to see our family. As travelers one of the hardest parts is missing out on time with our loved ones, so we do our best to get home for at least a few days between assignments. By checking in every three months we don’t feel the separation as much and our families really appreciate us checking in. A lot of people assume if you work as a travel nurse you must not be close to your family back home, but for us, that is certainly not the case. Utilizing our time off between contracts to see our loved ones really helps alleviate the struggle we face between living our preferred lifestyle and keeping in touch with our family. The next best thing about taking extra time off is the opportunity for extended travel. Most regular jobs allocate two to three weeks for time off per year. As a travel nurse, you have the luxury of taking as many days off between assignments as you would like. Over the course of one summer I was able to take a month off of work to travel to Mexico, Jamaica, and take a lake trip with my family. A traditional job would never have allowed that much time off consecutively. Many travelers will take even more time off. I have had friends who take three-month trips to Asia or live in Europe for six months. Not only does this save money in the long run because you only have to buy one long-distance flight, but it gives you a more relaxed approach to vacation. When you have a longer amount of time to explore you can really enjoy the places you are visiting instead of feeling rushed to cram as much as possible into your visit. In addition to the travel perks, choosing to have an extended break between assignments can be great for your mental health. Healthcare can be a very taxing field, and travel assignments can vary in their stress level. Depending on where you are currently working you may have a heightened feeling of burnout. If this is the case travel healthcare is a huge blessing because you can step away from the bedside for a bit longer if you need to. While it might not be financially feasible to not work at all, you could pick up part-time work outside of healthcare or even take a break to change specialties if you think that would help. Either way, you have more time to clear your mind and really think about what you want to do than if you were in a standard position where your time off is always limited. Funemployment is certainly appealing to anyone working a full-time job, but it does come with a downside. As travelers, most companies do not offer standard PTO packages so this time off will be unpaid. However most pay packages for travel jobs will greatly exceed what nurses would be making at home. If you are smart and plan for time off it can be much easier to take unpaid time off than it would be at a permanent position. You can save even more by minimizing expenses while you are on assignment, so you can extend your time off in between as much as you’d like. While working 13-week contracts can be stressful for many reasons, the extra time off it will allow you can be a major perk and help you avoid burnout and exhaustion. In addition, you can travel in a way that most professionals only dream of. Whether you are working travel contracts for a short period of time or plan on living the travel lifestyle forever, I highly recommend planning in some extra funemployment between contracts while you can. 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 Nurse Spotlight: The Best of Both Worlds
Travel Nurse Spotlight: Stories and Insights from a 10-Year Traveler
Healthcare travel is complex and can be challenging to navigate, especially for first-time travelers. From finding the right recruiter to understanding pay packages and reviewing contracts, travel nurses need to be well-educated. Seasoned traveler and ER nurse, Lisa D., wishes there was a better platform for new travelers to learn the ins and outs of the industry. Traveling for nearly 10 years and completing more than 25 assignments, Lisa shares her stories, experiences and important things travel nurses need to know. “There are positive sides and negative sides to travel nursing; travelers need to know both sides,” Lisa said. “My persona is: you can do anything for 13 weeks. If you don’t like a facility, it’s only 3 days a week for 13 weeks.” Lisa began her nursing career as an LPN in the ER, which also landed her an EMT first responding position with her local fire department. When her two children went to college, so did she to get her Registered Nursing license. Once a RN and a soon-to-be empty nester, she started working toward her two years of experience required to travel by doing local contracts, helping nearby hospitals with staffing shortages. For example, she filled in for a nurse who was deployed in the military. Early in her travel RN career, Lisa had a unique opportunity to work a 4-week assignment in Hawaii, which she said was an eye-opening experience. It was at a very small ER department with disordered room numbers and dated processes, but she stayed open-minded. She was frequently floated to the 6-patient ICU, because other ER nurses weren’t as willing to. “The staff nurses loved me and I enjoyed helping out,” Lisa said. “I’m from the ER, I’m used to having a lot more patients at a time. When they apologized for having to give me another ICU patient, I was like ‘sure, give me another one!’ with a smile.” The best part of her assignment in Hawaii, she bought her children and their significant others plane tickets for Christmas, and they had a week exploring the beautiful island with her. Lisa’s positive attitude, adaptability and willingness to help in any situation is what facilities look for in great travel nurses. Lisa’s biggest and most important piece of advice: like your healthcare recruiter. “Get a recruiter you can count on and enjoy talking to,” Lisa said. “If you don’t feel warm and fuzzy with your recruiter, go talk to other recruiters until you find one with the right niche. There are tons of other companies out there to choose from.” Lisa has worked with about six different staffing agencies, two of which she said she will never work with again because of recruiter issues. The most important qualities she values in a recruiter are knowledge and honesty. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially when you’re new to the game,” Lisa said. “Make sure you have all of the facts. If something looks off on your contract, tell them.” Lisa’s biggest pet peeve is recruiters not answering her questions. At one hospital, she was faced with a difficult assignment and unsafe working conditions. She feared for her license and expressed her concerns to her recruiter, who shrugged it off and told her, “don’t worry about it.” Another assignment, she was promised a completion bonus, but had to fight for it. The company’s reasoning was they had changed their pay schedule and tried to move the end date mid-contract without her permission. She knew they couldn’t change the contract without her agreement. Unfortunately, newer travelers may not know how to handle these types of situations like she did. How do you research what healthcare staffing companies to work with? Lisa shares her top tips: Research who likes the company or recruiter and, most importantly, why they like them. Get on Facebook (company pages, reviews, travel groups). Know the sites you can trust and the sites you can’t (i.e. if a travel nursing review site only publishes positive reviews, they probably are hiding the negative ones). Take note of who calls you and when. For example, Lisa only works day shift and tells recruiters this. If they keep calling about night positions, they aren’t listening or putting the traveler’s best interest first. Know your pay range and look for a company who has pay packages to accommodate. Talk with travelers you work with! Lisa’s Golden Rule: if a recruiter doesn’t know the answer to a question, they should tell you truthfully that they don’t know, but they will find out for you! And that is just the supportive attitude that Lisa has found with her current recruiter. “Lisa is an absolute pleasure to work with,” said her talent advisor Leah Moss. “She has a great attitude and is always willing to help others any chance she can. I enjoy hearing about her travel stories, and appreciate her sincerity and passion for nursing.” “Everyone has their reasons to travel,” Lisa said. “My reason, I don’t do vacations very well, so travel nursing is like my vacation for 13 weeks. Working only three days a week, the other four days are vacation where I can go explore.”
Travel Nurse Spotlight: The Best of Both Worlds
In the Travel Nurse Spotlight series, HCT Today is highlighting travelers’ own unique stories and perspectives. Healthcare travelers don’t have to take assignments on the other side of the country to take advantage of all of the exciting benefits and career development opportunities that traveling offers. A registered nurse and mom of two, Sarah A., is able to enjoy the both of best worlds: travel nursing while staying close enough to home and family. A Southwest Illinois-native, Sarah started her nursing career at a local community hospital. Her primary specialty is Medical-Surgical, but she was able to do a little bit of everything and developed her skills in several areas. After five years as a staff RN, she wanted a change; she heard about travel nursing and decided to “give it a go.” “You can have the best of both worlds, traveling and experiencing new environments, and being close enough to home,” Sarah said. Raising two young daughters, she chooses travel assignments at facilities within a few hours away so she can spend time with family on her days off. In her first year of traveling, she worked with a smaller local healthcare staffing agency, but wanted to branch out for more opportunities. In 2018, she was referred to LiquidAgents Healthcare by a friend and says it’s been a successful experience ever since. Sarah enjoys meeting new people, being with other working moms and making new friends. “I could not choose a favorite travel assignment because they’ve all been nothing but amazing,” Sarah said. “At each facility, I’ve been surrounded and supported by amazing people. They welcomed me with open arms and brought me in as family.” Sarah’s biggest advice for travelers is to be open. Traveling puts you in new environments that may have a different way of doing things. Don’t go into an assignment looking to change the processes in place. Instead, take advantage of learning opportunities. “Even when there may be tough personalities to work with, show them that you’re there to be a part of their team and let them be the guide,” Sarah said. “As a traveler, you’re there to help them with the challenges they’ve been experiencing.” Sarah loves the learning curve that comes with travel nursing. In addition to MedSurg, she’s very interested in orthopedic and neurology nursing. While on assignment in Springfield, IL, she gained first-time experience at a Level 1 trauma center and teaching facility. For her upcoming assignment this fall, she’s excited to cross the Illinois state line to St. Louis, MO. “Southwestern Illinois is kind of a trauma desert,” Sarah explained. “Patients that need more critical care or specialized procedures are typically sent to St. Louis. My next assignment at SSM Health Saint Louis Hospital has been on my bucket-list. I’m excited that I’ll get to see and be a part of the next step of my patients’ journey.” “I’ve worked with Sarah for over a year,” said talent advisor Allie Harrell. “We both have trust in each other during this whole process, and that is exactly the kind of relationship you need in the travel nursing market. Whether we’re going over details for an assignment or just calling to check in and catch up, we’ve built a special bond that will last a lifetime. I can even tell you what the theme of her youngest daughter’s birthday party was.” When Sarah’s daughters are older, she would love to branch out more and try cross country traveling. But until then, she enjoys the flexibility of staying closer to home. 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.
Travel Nurse Spotlight: Taking on New Adventures Across the Country
In the Travel Nurse Spotlight series, HCT Today is highlighting travelers’ own unique stories and perspectives. Working more than 40 hours a week with very little time for vacation or recreational activities, Renee B. and her husband, Gabe, were ready for a change. With 25 years of experience as a staff nurse, which includes 19 years in endoscopy, Renee looked into the healthcare traveler lifestyle and in 2018, her and her husband began a new exciting chapter in their lives. They were intrigued with the “tiny house, big living” phenomenon, which also happens to be a great, flexible housing option for travel nurses. In 2018, they “pulled the trigger, bought the RV, the truck, and started the downsize mission,” Renee said. And they were off! Renee started working with a few different travel nurse agencies and was happy to land her first travel RN assignment in Upstate New York. Renee shares what travel nursing has taught her so far. Renee’s Travel Nursing Tips Budgeting. As pay and cost of living varies from state to state, Renee recommends creating a weekly budget for each assignment so you know exactly what you can afford. Deal-breakers. Communicate any deal-breakers you have with your travel healthcare agency, whether it’s the type of shift, call duty, length of contract, location, etc. Recruiters. Renee highlights having and maintaining a good relationship with your recruiter. They are your main supporter and oftentimes become a friend. If you have unresolvable issues, ask for someone else. Networking. While travel nursing, you meet a lot of different people in various departments. Take advantage of those connections. You can gain tremendous insights about other units or hospitals by just asking others. Extending. Use extensions to your advantage. For example, Renee extended her first travel RN contract while she waited for her California license to process. She extended in California because she wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather before the summer heat. Patience vs. Perseverance. Traveling has so many moving parts and you’re constantly introduced to new things, experiences and people. Having a patient, open attitude always wins. “Remember to have fun, and know it’s only 13 weeks if you’re not having fun,” Renee added. “Personally, my stress level has decreased tremendously. I know that no matter what, the assignment is temporary, and I always put my best foot forward from the get-go.” Exploring Coast to Coast in a RV Florida-natives, Renee and Gabe love the traveler RV lifestyle and experiencing new cultures across the U.S. For every new location, she does thorough research for the best things to do and places to go, including The Food Channel’s Guy Fieri’s favorite places to eat. While on her first assignment in Albany, New York, they visited Lake George, Niagara Falls, Saratoga and of course, the Big Apple. “Traveling on the road has allowed us to see various treasures in the country’s landscape,” Renee said. “We’ve been able to live amongst the natives of each state and experience local cuisine, activities, history and climate. Every weekend and every day off is a potential getaway to explore historical landmarks and attractions.” Since traveling, Renee’s mindset has changed. She no longer prejudges a new area without seeing it for herself, which is how she has found many “diamonds in the rough” throughout her travels. Renee’s favorite travel RN assignment so far was in Bakersfield, California. “Not for the city but for its location,” she added. “We were able to do so much exploring in California including Winchester Mansion, Hearst Castle, San Francisco, Pismo Beach and Los Angeles.” Her and her husband also attended the popular TV game show, The Price is Right. Meeting new friends along the way and cultivating lasting relationships has also been a big part of traveling for Renee. Friendships lay the foundations for possible reassignments in the future or planning a fun visit to see each other. Currently, Renee is working in Dallas, Texas and is already booked for a new contract back in her home state of Florida at the end of the summer. Renee and Gabe eventually plan to move home in two years to spend more time with their grandchild and family, but for now they’re loving the flexibility and adventures of RV life across the country. 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.
Navigating Travel Nurse Contract Extensions
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Whether you go into travel healthcare planning to see the world or just trying to pay off debt, contract extensions can be a difficult piece to navigate. Once you get to an assignment all preconceived notions about the area, future plans, and whether or not you will stay can be upended once you get into the flow of things. Maybe you fall in love with the staff. Maybe you start dating someone locally. Maybe you realize you scored a great pay package and just can’t leave, even though you swore you’d only work your 13 weeks. Maybe you realize you just can’t fit all of your to-dos into your time off in the three months you are there. After working ten travel assignments in the last 3.5 years, I have been offered an extension on every single assignment. This is a powerful bit of knowledge because it is comforting to know that most of the time you want to stay you will have the opportunity. When you are working a short-staffed unit, there is a sort of snowball effect that makes it very difficult to rebuild nursing numbers. Once a unit loses a few nurses, it often takes months to actually get new staff on the unit between interviews and pre-employment screening. Then once the new hire hits the floor they usually have 6-12 weeks of orientation. Unit managers have to be aggressive and forward-thinking to make up for a few lost nurses, and often upper management is slow to respond to their cries for job postings. Thus, short-term needs are put out in the form of travel nurse postings. Once onboard, it is easy for management to just extend a good worker than to try and find another one to fill the gap for the few months needed to try and fill their permanent staff positions. I think every travel nurse acutely assesses the unit they are on for the first few weeks of an assignment thinking “What will I decide if they ask me to extend?” We mentally weigh the pros and cons and have to assess everything from our housing situation to family obligations that may fall within an extension timeframe. When my husband graduated and we began full-time travel we realized that we did not have the financial pressure that many others have when they leave home for contract work. Instead, we were tempted by one major factor: freedom. Freedom to take time off when we pleased, freedom to explore new places, and the bonus of the financial freedom that travel packages afforded us. This focus on freedom quickly laid out our blueprint for deciding if we stay or go when offered an extension. We ask ourselves these three questions: Did our current positions offer something in the way of expanding that freedom? For us, this could mean a well-paying job that would pay for additional time off afterward. It could also mean experience in a new specialty that could help us when we were looking for a future assignment. Would we feel hampered by our jobs rather than blessed by them in the next few months to a year? The beauty of travel healthcare is that you are not tied to a job you hate. We made it clear from the beginning that we would not extend anywhere that made us dread going to work each day. Sometimes the money factor started to lure us (re: me) in, but setting this guideline from the beginning helped us remember how important it was when deciding on extensions. Would we have the opportunity to save, travel, and smash financial goals if we stayed put? Some locations are great destinations but are lacking in the pay department. These assignments are fun but ultimately don’t allow us to have as much fun in our off time. Typically if the location is great but we are breaking even or just above, we make the decision to move on so we can save more for time off and other goals. Sometimes the answer is not clear cut and there are other ways to go about figuring out your next move. I have actually never taken a full extension. Instead, I request a partial extension of six weeks or so if I am on the fence. This can also be a good option if you aren’t in love with your assignment but you also don’t see any open jobs that are particularly appealing. The reality of being a traveling worker is that the next job is not guaranteed. But you are not obligated to stay in a job you hate either. If you are like me and choose this lifestyle for the freedom, there is no point in sacrificing that freedom by staying somewhere that is detrimental to your mental health. Figure out what is important to you, remember why you started, and take each contract extension as it comes. You never know which place will make you want to stay awhile and which one will have you running to the next assignment as fast as possible. 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. << 5 Ways to Make Sure You Always Land a Travel Healthcare Contract
Travel Nursing Stories: My Favorite Parts About Living In Arizona
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life When people ask me what my favorite travel nurse assignment location has been so far, I always tell them Phoenix. We have now been lucky enough to spend two winters in the southwest and do not regret circling back to this location one bit. From hiking to good food to national treasures, there is an abundance of activities to keep you busy no matter what the season. Even as it begins to heat up, we have still found plenty to do, and even joked that Phoenix would be the one place we may have considered settling down permanently. Here are just a few reasons we really love this area of the country. You can experience a variety of climates within a short distance. While Phoenix winter can’t be beat (75 and sunny 95% of the time–what could go wrong?) it does get pretty toasty during the summer, with temperatures already creeping into the double digits in mid-May. However, just take a short trip up to Flagstaff or Sedona (about two hours away) and you will find temperatures are back to a much more comfortable range. In the winter months, you can even head that direction for skiing and other cold-weather fun if that’s your thing. We love the fact that we’ve been able to take a break from warm weather one day then go back to soaking in the pool the next day. There are trails galore–even in the cities. While a lot of states are known for hiking, Arizona is particularly impressive in that you do not have to drive all that far to experience some awesome hiking. In Phoenix alone there is South Mountain Park, Camelback Mountain, and Piestewa Peak in the actual city limits. Take a drive down any major highway and you will find that there are opportunities to get out and explore in just about any direction. From the Painted Desert to the Superstition Wilderness to Grand Canyon National Park, no matter which area of the state you visit you will have no problem finding somewhere to get out and move. There are a ton of delicious local restaurants. Some of the best food I have ever eaten has been during our times in Phoenix. Of course you can find amazing Mexican food and margaritas, but the culinary experiences don’t end with the delicious Mexican food. Simply look at the list for the Arizona Restaurant Week coming up and you will see that just about any palate can be satisfied by the local fare in the area. On our trip to Tucson, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the neighboring city followed this trend. While I expected there to be a variety of food as in any big city, I have been blown away by the quality of just about every place we have eaten on our nights out. It is an easy drive to a lot of fun cities and attractions. Some of the best photo ops in the country can be found in the state of Arizona. Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and the Grand Canyon are within an hour or so of each other. Zion National Park is just across the Arizona-Colorado border. The beautiful falls of Havasupai are also close (if you can snag a permit) and this doesn’t even touch on all of the scenery in some of the protected areas like the Tonto National Forest. And if you aren’t big into the outdoors, San Diego or Las Vegas are also a quick weekend trip away. Whether you are craving sunshine, beach life or some gambling time, Arizona is a great centrally located spot to mix up your entertainment on your days off. The people are friendly. While Phoenix and Tucson have a lot of the perks of big cities, the people there haven’t shifted into the larger city coolness I have experienced in other large cities. My husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed our coworkers while living in Arizona, and have also found it easy to make friends both at work and outside of work. We have been lucky enough to stay pretty busy with our social lives and have been active in our gym, met coworkers for evenings out, and joined sports leagues while we were here with ease. As a travel nurse, living away from familiar faces can be tough so it’s always nice to live in an area with people who are willing to embrace the newbies as they come along. My biggest takeaway is don’t let the heat or desert life scare you away. Living in Arizona has shown me that there is so much more to the southwest than cacti and sand. The landscape is actually quite varied and beautiful, there are a variety of climates to experience, and the food can’t be beat. Whether you are looking for a fun, thriving vibe in a travel location or a great place to connect with the outdoors, Arizona has something to offer you. You will stay busy on your days off and feel welcomed by staff, which are two things we have greatly appreciated during our time here. 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. Find your next high-paying assignment in Arizona!
Stocking Up: 4 Ways To Cheaply Furnish Your Travel Nurse Short Term Rental
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Editor’s note: Stocking Up is a three-part miniseries that covers the essential travel items and furnishing methods Alex McCoy uses to make it feel more like home at each new travel assignment without breaking the bank. Click here to read part one, or click here to read part two. One of the best ways to save money on short term rentals is to do a little more leg work when it comes to furnishings, linens, or other household supplies. While fully furnished places might sound appealing, opting to furnish a rental yourself may be a great way to save money while on a travel nurse assignment. There are several ways to approach furnishing a short term rental, from bare bones furnishings up to move-in ready packages. This week I want to share some ways to save money while furnishing a rental yourself. These options won’t get you a decked-out crib, but hopefully, you will be able to weigh the pros, cons, and cost of each option and make the best decision for you. How To Furnish A New Rental As A Travel Nurse Option One: Bare bones furnishings. Most travel healthcare workers are minimalists at heart. If all of your belongings fit into your vehicle, chances are most of your life is pretty “no frills”. As a result, I have seen many travelers opt for the most basic of furnishings to save money and time. Many of these travelers will simply invest in a decent air mattress and use plastic tubs as tables in their home. They will sometimes buy inflatable couches or a cheap futon to act as a couch. Camp chairs also work well for watching TV or eating dinner if you want to avoid purchasing actual furniture. While this may seem extreme to some people, to others this is simply a practical way to live to save money. If you are not entertaining guests and sleep well on an inflatable bed, there may be no reason to spend money on any more furniture than what can fit in your car. Option Two: Purchase cheaply or find free furniture. Some travelers prefer to purchase gently used furniture at the beginning of each assignment or even find offers for free furniture on Facebook or Craigslist. One great way to source cheap furniture or other household items is to find a local traveler page for the city you are living in. By searching “City + Travel Nurses” on Facebook you can find a specific group for almost every major city in the United States. I have seen many furniture listings on such groups, and most travelers looking to sell will list their whole apartment as a lot for an incredibly low price. The downside to this option is having to then get rid of the furniture at the end of each assignment. However, it can be easy to simply offload possessions in the way you acquired them: by listing them for very cheap or free on different networks. This also requires some leg work the last few weeks of an assignment when you have to coordinate pick up times and meet-ups. One way to skip this hassle would be to simply donate items, or you could re-list as a lot for people to pick up in one go. Option Three: Rent cheap from a furniture store. If you go online and browse some of the more popular rental furniture stores, you will notice that a full apartment worth of rental pieces will run several hundred dollars. But what they don’t tell you is if you go in person to the store they will have a selection of gently used pieces that may not be as “pretty” as the online photos but will be just as functional. You don’t actually have to rent a full package—you can simply pick the basic necessities (think mattress, couch, coffee table, TV stand) and build your own perfect package. Some of these stores will even have furniture that can be sold and delivered for cheaper than renting it, but once again you will have to decide if purchasing and then reselling is worth the money you may save up front. Option Four: Scout out locally-owned furniture stores for deals. Last time we rented furniture ourselves, we found an incredible deal from a local furniture shop. We initially planned on just renting the basics, but the cost of an entire apartment worth of furniture was less than $200 so we splurged a little to make our place feel more like home. Because locally owned stores have less overhead they may be able to keep prices down. This is even more common in areas with large military bases where renting furniture is a much more common practice. These types of places may be easier to find in person once you arrive at your destination. You can simply plan on using an air mattress for the first couple of nights while checking out the local area for potential rental shops. Or, combine all of the above. Some travelers will simply rent or purchase a couch while sleeping on an air mattress and using a plastic bin for a TV stand. Regardless of how you make it work, all that matters is that you are comfortable and happy with your living space. By getting a little creative when deciding how to furnish your travel nurse apartment, you can skip the big prices and still end up with just what you need. Skip the major websites, look for local travelers offloading items, and itemize rather than renting full packages to save cash all around. Make note of what furniture you actually use on a regular basis rather than worrying about filling space, and it will be easy to see what the must-haves are for each assignment. << Part Two: Saving Money On Essentials For Your New Travel Home