Stocking Up: How To Save Money On Essentials For Your Travel Nurse Rental Home
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. You can read part one by clicking here, or jump to part three by clicking here. Finding housing can be one of the most stressful parts of working as a travel nurse. At the beginning of my career, I always looked for a place that had all the bells and whistles: furniture, linens, and dishes seemed like “must-haves” for a short term lease. I started to realize that this was actually costing me money as I have moved back and forth across the country. I could pay for the convenience of having everything I needed ready and waiting or I could spend a little extra time and cash up front and save myself hundreds of dollars a month at each assignment. Aside from corporate rentals or Airbnb, I have found that most apartment complexes that offer furnished options do not usually offer a “fully stocked” option. This means your apartment will have all of the big pieces of furniture, but smaller items such as dishes and linens will not be provided. I have found these rentals to be much cheaper than move-in ready versions, and for our last three assignments, we have gone this route instead. In the process, I have learned several shortcuts to get all the necessities we need without breaking the bank or overflowing the car. 1. Get familiar with Dollar Tree and other discount stores. My first stop is Dollar Tree whenever we have to purchase small household items including kitchen utensils, dish towels and bathroom accessories . I usually make a list of things we need and go their first and see if I can get lucky and find most of the items I need. After that, I go to Big Lots. I can usually find some of the larger items here like shower curtains or small kitchen appliances for $10 or less. By purchasing cheaper versions of some necessities, I can usually keep my first-day expenses under $150 and donate anything that won’t fit in my car at the end of the assignment. 2. Remember that you likely won’t be entertaining large groups of guests. I think one of the reasons we stress about having certain items in our home is because friends and family might be coming to visit and “need” something like a matching hand towel or an extra blanket if they get cold. When you start to think about what you personally use on a regular basis, the need for extra “stuff” will start to dwindle. Even when we do have friends come out to visit, we simply make a joke about the travel life and hand them our plastic silverware and a paper plate. 3. Pare down linens to the bare minimum. When it comes to bulkier items like blankets and towels, space gets taken up wdqquickly. As a traveler, you have to analyze what you actually use on a regular basis, and weed out items that you might have at home for “show” rather than usability. For example, traveling with a good quality fleece blanket or heavy afghan will take up less space than a comforter. Try to bring no more than two towels per person—one for everyday use and an extra in case you go to the pool, gym, etc. Use dish towels that can double as hot pads when cooking. 4. Opt for disposable options. Madeleine Olivia Get Rid Of It GIF from Madeleineolivia GIFs While producing extra waste is not my favorite way to live, often as a traveler, we have to take a few shortcuts here or there. One way I have learned to save space when packing is to utilize disposable silverware, plates, and bakeware when I can. One way I do this and cut back on overall waste is to reuse these items as I can. By buying the heavy duty plasticware, you can actually get quite a bit of use of them by re-washing. I have also rewashed plastic cups and aluminum pans that are meant to be disposable and then I try to recycle as much as I can when they are worn out. 5. Be willing to do dishes and laundry more frequently. If you only have one towel or just a couple sets of silverware it is inevitable that you will have to wash these items quite frequently. I often hand wash my dishes as I use them because I know I will be using them again soon. I also do a lot more laundry as a traveler than I did when I had a permanent home. This may seem like a little bit of a pain, but the other option would be to create more space in your vehicle for extra items or splurge on a few things you want to donate at the end of your stay. I personally am fine with washing my towel every couple of days to save a little money and space. 6. Don’t stress—you’ll get more efficient as you go along. Model Of Efficiency GIF from Model GIFs Any long term traveler will tell you that as your career progresses you will find yourself getting better at streamlining what you need and cutting back on what you don’t. I used to spend way too much money stocking up on “needs” at the beginning of each assignment and quickly realized how fast three months goes by and what we really use in that time frame. Now, if I end up needing it, I can always go back for it. Whether you decide to aim for the convenience of a move-in ready rental or to save a little cash by bargain shopping your first few days, you will find the routine that works best for your lifestyle
Stocking Up: My Top 5 Travel Nursing Kitchen Must-Haves
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Editor’s note: Stocking Up is a three-part mini series 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. You can read part two here. You guys—I love to cook. Like, a lot. Before travel nursing, I had all the gadgets. Pressure cooker, Ninja blender, wine glasses for each style of wine…the list went on. But when we had to pack up our life into our small SUV and Nissan Altima for our first out-of-state travel assignment, I knew there was simply no way I could fit all of my precious kitchen items into our new lifestyle. After almost two years on the road it is safe to say I have our kitchen box down to a science. I have made a few alterations as we’ve gone along, and I also have some “disposable” items that I can donate and then buy again at Goodwill if needed. By keeping a few quality items on hand I have made sure we still eat healthy, home cooked meals on a regular basis and that everything I need for the kitchen fits into one 30 gallon tub. My number one tip would be to start with the box you know is feasible for your vehicle, and dedicate only that space to kitchen supplies. If an item doesn’t fit in the box, try 13 weeks without it. Worst case scenario? Amazon will deliver just about anything you could need. My Top 5 Travel Nursing Kitchen Must-Haves 1. Crock-Pot A lot of people swear by their Instant Pot, but I left mine behind in favor of my trusty slow cooker. I love it for long work days because I come home to a ready-to-eat meal, whereas with a pressure cooker I would still have to throw it all in and wait 30 minutes or so for dinner to be ready. Fun fact: I left my Crock-Pot behind for one assignment where we had to pare our belongings down to one car and I thought I could make it three months without it. It took me one week and I ordered a new one on Amazon. I will never ever leave it behind again. 2. A high-quality kitchen knife While it would be nice to have the perfect knife for every occasion, I have found that keeping one high quality knife and sharpener in my box does the trick. I usually buy a medium-sized knife so I can use it for lots of different tasks (think cutting open a spaghetti squash or eating a steak you grilled at home). Another option is to buy a mid-range knife every couple of assignments. Depending on how often you cook, the blade may stay sharp enough for several months and then you can purchase a new one when you start feeling like it isn’t safe to cut your sweet potatoes any longer. 3. Dutch Oven Initially, I thought I could get away with my crock-pot for all of my bulk meals or entrees that needed a larger pan. I quickly realized I needed something with a little more room to cook some of my favorite recipes like taco chili soup or salisbury steak. This is not an item you have to buy high-end. I was already on assignment when I realized how much I needed some sort of soup pot, so I made a trip to the nearest thrift store and found a plethora of large pots to choose from. This is also an item that you could probably donate and re-purchase if needed, as most of the thrift store options were under $5. 4. High-quality skillet People might argue you can make do with whatever is supplied at your rental house, or you can purchase this from a thrift store. However, after our first assignment where the cheap, nonstick coating from the provided pan started scraping off into our food, I decided keeping my own skillet was worth the extra space. I personally have a nice Calphalon pan that can also go into the oven up to 500 degrees, so it doubles as a casserole dish when needed! This is an item I would splurge on a little bit as it is hands down the most utilized cooking tool in my box. 5. Pizza cutter Yes, I run a health and fitness coaching program and no, I am not above a homemade pizza night or a good ole’ take-and-bake every once in awhile. For those occasions, there is nothing worse than trying to cut a hot pizza with your medium-sized kitchen knife without burning your fingers or sliding the cheese all over. This is another item we did not bring at first and ended up buying early on. Since then, we make sure our pizza cutter makes the cut (no pun intended) every time we start packing up. While there are some other kitchen items I would love to bring along—my favorite wine glass and my French press are top of the list—I have found that with everything else we can usually make do. Most of my other kitchen utensils come from Dollar Tree, which makes it easy to get rid of them if we need to make space. I also like to reach out and ask if there are specific items provided by the rental I have chosen. Things like a toaster or coffee maker might seem standard, but I have found most landlords have differing ideas of what’s considered a necessity. >> Part Two: How To Save Money On Essentials For Your New Rental Home
5 Reasons Why Travel Nurses Would Actually Want To Work Night Shift
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life My relationship with the night shift has always been a tenuous balance between love and hate. Being on day shift allows for a more normal routine and definitely makes my husband more at peace with my work schedule. The feeling of being fully rested on my off days has led me to continue taking day shift assignments, but there is always a small piece of me that is envious when I meet the new night shift crew. Night shift has plenty of downsides–less support staff on duty, irregular sleep schedules, and more difficulty contacting physicians are just a few of the problems any night shift nurse could list for you. But at the end of the day, there is a reason many travel nurses prefer nights even if travel contracts don’t come with a hefty night shift differential. Less support staff at night means night shift travel nurses don’t have to learn extra procedures for working with these staff members. via GIPHY One of the first things I ask about at each new assignment is how to contact people I have to coordinate care with on day shift. Whether you are trying to contact a social worker or order lunch, there is a different procedure for these tasks at each hospital. If you work the night shift, you have the blessing—and the curse—of not having access to most of these extra pieces. While missing out on the support may cause some stress, it is nice to know you don’t have to relearn these procedures because they simply don’t apply to your shift. Unless it is a rare exception, the night shift gets to skip over this piece of knowledge when zipping through each new orientation. Less pressure from management or less involvement in unit politics. via GIPHY I wrote a whole article on the reasons why travel nurses should avoid hospital politics. The bottom line is: it’s much harder to accomplish this during the day shift. One of my least favorite scenarios is having a manager wander through on day shift and stop to ask my opinion on the unit. I appreciate the fact that they are looking for constructive feedback, but I also like to have more time to think through responses and articulate my feelings. As a night shifter, you are much less likely to get pulled into these types of conversations. If a manager is looking for some feedback it will be easier to strike up that conversation via email. For me, I prefer this method because I can still give meaningful feedback without becoming too involved in whatever issues the manager is trying to address. Patients are less likely to need to be prepped for procedures and testing. via GIPHY Another policy that can change drastically between assignments is pre- and post-procedure policy. I have seen several variances from how a patient is transported to how frequently nurses monitor post-op vital signs. I very rarely had to know the details of these procedures on the night shift. Except for rare emergent cases, my patients rarely left the floor at night. I was especially thankful as a new traveler to not have to learn the ins-and-outs of consents and transport when I was desperately trying to pick up on all the other new procedures during my short orientation. The night shift lull can be a great time to get to know your coworkers. via GIPHY During the day shift, the 2-4 p.m. period can be one of the busiest. This is when baths are fit in, discharges and admissions become a revolving door, and all the catch-up charting happens before starting the 4 p.m. rounds. On the night shift, this is what I liked to refer to as the “golden period.” Once your midnight rounds are done you inevitably cross your fingers and hope for no excitement during this chunk of the night. Some of my favorite memories as a night shift nurse were made during this time frame, where patients are finally sleeping for a bit and families have calmed down enough to get a bit of rest themselves. As a traveler, this is when you have time to get to know your coworkers. Use this to your advantage and strike up conversations or share some stories to make the shift go a little faster for everyone. Breakfast drinks are a great icebreaker to meet new friends. via GIPHY There is a weird bond that can only be formed over a glass of local beer at 8 a.m. in the dingy bar two blocks from the hospital. If you are feeling shy or struggling to make friends at your new assignment, one of my favorite ways to break the tension is to ask about the favorite night shift hangout. I have found that once you have a breakfast and beer date with new coworkers, a wall comes down that allows for more camaraderie and connection at work. Even though I enjoy having a normal schedule and not having to nap on my days off, as a traveler I truly do miss working the night shift. There is a certain bond that all night shifters share and I don’t feel like day shift has quite the same connection. I absolutely loved my night shift assignments and felt they were less stressful for reasons other than the stereotypical “Oh, it must be easy because all of your patients are sleeping” (Hard eye roll to that statement). Even if the money doesn’t necessarily change between day and night shift for travelers, I certainly understand the draw many nurses would feel to work nights as a travel nurse and am thankful for those who love the nocturnal life and adjust to it so well. 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
Why Travel PTs Should Consider Home Health Jobs In 2019
By Stephen Stockhausen, PT, DPT, OCS, Contributing Writer, Founder of PT Adventures As 2019 rolls in we all have change on our minds. Sometimes it is something as simple as a New Year’s resolution—that chances are you have already broken—or occasionally it is something much bigger, like changing your job. For those of you considering the latter, I am here to tell you that taking a contract in home health might be one short-term change that you stick with all year. Why Travel PTs Should Consider Home Health In 2019 1. Join the Party via GIPHY With patients being discharged “sicker and quicker” from hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities incentivized to do the same come October of this year via the Patient-Driven Payment Model, a considerable uptick in home health admissions is to be expected. Early Release After Surgery (ERAS) total joint patients are popping up with increasing frequency on home health case loads. With clients foregoing the 2-5 days in a hospital bed, they are able to get up and moving much quicker under the care of a home health physical therapist. This is a growing field by all accounts. The travel physical therapist who has experience in this high demand field will find themselves sought after for jobs in locations where they previously could not find work. Building a stronger resume in more settings will only serve to boost your chances of landing a job in that dream location or at your goal pay rate. 2. Mo’ Money, Fewer Problems via GIPHY Speaking of pay rates, did I mention that home health is one of, if not the most, high paying setting in physical therapy? It is not unheard of for travel home health physical therapists to make over $2,200 per week after taxes. Add a 40 hour guaranteed contract on top of that and you have a sweet paying gig regardless of patient census. My wife and I were able to pay off around $240,000 in combined student loan debt in three years using home health jobs almost exclusively! You can read more about that story here. 3. Freedom via GIPHY Despite all of the exciting, challenging, and lucrative aspects of home health, it may be the freedom that is the most impactful for clinicians new to the setting. For most agencies, a full day in home health is 4-6 patients, and depending on visit type, sometimes only two patients are required. Making things even better, at nearly all companies you get to make your own schedule. Mani-pedis with the girls after a long lunch? Want to squeeze in a mid morning trail run? Perfect! Just call your clients and move your day around accordingly. My wife and I have our 18-month-old daughter with us on the road, and because we are both working home health jobs we can arrange it so that we only have a nanny at our home for around five hours a day. That’s hard to accomplish in most other travel job settings. Now, I do not want to mislead you. You will likely end up putting in your 40 hours for the week. The documentation and driving can eat into your working time more than you’d expect, but at least you are getting paid for mileage. Still, with most systems you can document from anywhere you can get Internet service. Nestled deep into your couch, on top of a bluff overlooking the beach, or even from the patio of a beautiful vineyard. The choices are endless, and they are all available to you. Years ago, back in PT school, it was made abundantly clear to us that home health is where therapists go to disappear. Substandard care was not the exception, but the rule, and none of us students should stoop to level occupied by the lowly home health PT. Well, I’m here to tell you that this could not be further from the truth. Things have changed in the three years between PT school and taking my first home health job. There is an abundance of superior clinicians making their way into the home health setting. OCS, GCS, and NCS clinicians, traditionally found in outpatient or acute/subacute care are migrating to home health with increasing frequency. Maybe it is the challenge, the excitement of a growing field, the money or the freedom. Whatever it is, clinicians are making a change in their lives and giving home health a try. Maybe this year is the right time for you to do the same. Stephen Stockhausen is a doctor of physical therapy, a traveler, and a founder of PT Adventures—a blog created with his wife Ellen to help travel PTs take control of their career and live their dreams. You can find Stephen and Ellen exploring the country with their daughter, Kinley, and two dogs Cayenne and Layla.
Traveler Tips: Is The PT Compact License Worth It For Travel PT?
By Stephen Stockhausen, PT, DPT, OCS, Contributing Writer, Founder of PT Adventures Having the freedom to take different jobs in various parts of the country is by far the best, and the most obvious, perk of being a travel physical therapist. But it comes at a cost of the occasionally arduous task of obtaining a new state license. There are the jurisprudence exam, state license fee, FSBPT test score verification fee, and license verification letters—with subsequent fees that need to be sent to any state you have ever held a license. Whew! That’s exhausting just to type out let alone piece together and mail off. Oh, and then you have to wait anywhere from two to six months to find out if you’re new license has been granted or not. But fear not—the Physical Therapy Compact license is designed to fix all of that! In case you haven’t heard about the Physical Therapy Compact license here is a quick summary. Enacted in 2017, the Physical Therapy Compact Commission was created to provide a vehicle for improved interstate license accessibility while maintaining the safety of the public consumer as set forth by each state’s practice act, according to their website. The PT Compact Commission has since built up an impressive list of 21 states willing to recognize the validity of physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licenses from other participating states. The first privileges were then officially granted in July of 2018. While all 21 states have passed legislation to be members, not all states are currently issuing compact license privileges at this time and are still resolving internal issues—or just dragging their feet. At the time of this writing, nine states are active participants in the compact license process, with more joining every month! Pros and Cons of the Physical Therapy Compact License for travelers Pros: Therapy privileges can be granted in minutes rather than months Once you take the jurisprudence exam for your new state—often completed online—and pay the necessary fees, you are eligible to begin working in the new state Low Fees The fees involved with the new PT Compact are very minimal compared to sending out license verification fees for each state you have ever had a license. $45 goes to the PT Compact Commission, and then each state has their own fee. Most range from $45-60, with the exception of Mississippi at $150. (Come on, Mississippi!) One set of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to manage Since you do not have a full state license in every state that you obtain privileges for, you do not have to maintain their Continuing Education Units. The only set of CEUs that you absolutely must follow is that of your home state. Gone are the headache-inducing hours of cross-checking CEU dates with license expiration dates! Renewal This is one of the coolest aspects of the Compact system. 60 days before your home license expires they will email you a reminder. Once you renew your license at home, the Compact will automatically notify you that you are eligible to renew your Compact privileges as well, typically within a week. Responsive Admin Team When I was doing research for this article, I had a few questions that I could not find on their website. Opting to call instead of email, I was quickly connected with the lead administrator who thoroughly answered my questions and was exceedingly friendly. This was a pleasant surprise compared to the typical experience I have come to expect when dealing with licensing staff at the various states I have worked. Telehealth? While not entirely applicable to the traveler, based on the language written into the Compact it appears that Compact privileges can also be used to treat remotely via telehealth. In a burgeoning field, this is super exciting news! Especially for the therapist looking to mix in some patient care in a state where they previously worked as a traveler or will soon work as a traveler. Instead of being limited to one license per job, multiple licenses can be utilized all at once depending on the patient’s location, independent of where the PT is located. Cons: Few states fully participating Obviously, if your home state is not a participant you are fully excluded from the entire process… bummer. For those of you who are fortunate enough to have a home state proactive enough to join up, your options for states to travel to may be slim pickings. Currently, only nine states are fully active. On the positive side they are some pretty cool states. Oregon, Utah, New Hampshire and North Dakota all have some great outdoor experiences. Texas Tennessee, Missouri and Mississippi all have some killer food and Southern hospitality. As for Iowa…well, Field of Dreams is there. That’s something! There are 11 other states on the doorstep to full participation so check the site often to see if your home state or dream location is up and running. When you renew your home license you have to renew ALL of your Compact Privileges This will negatively impact folks living in a home state that requires yearly license renewal. These therapists will now have to pay all of the Compact fees again as well as fees to the state where they are working. Now, compared to paying all of the other fees typically involved in maintaining multiple licenses, this could still end up saving you money, but you will have to do the math on your specific situation to be sure. Overall the PT Compact License is—or is going to be—a huge improvement in the logistics of being a travel therapist, especially if more states get involved. If every state were to join the Compact, it would mean one license to worry about, one set of CEUs, and only paying fees to the states where you are actively working. Stephen Stockhausen is a doctor of physical therapy, a traveler, and a founder of PT Adventures—a blog created with his wife Ellen to help travel PTs take control of
Travel Healthcare As A Pair: Getting Creative When The Market is Tricky
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life My husband Keaton and I are lucky enough that we both have careers that allow us to travel as a pair. I am a registered nurse and he is a physical therapist, so we are both able to work 13-week contracts throughout the country. We have been doing this for about 18 months and have managed to find contracts together about half of the time we have traveled. Even if you don’t have a spouse who can travel, many people choose to travel with a friend who is also a travel nurse. Not only does this help with loneliness on the road, but it cuts back on the cost of living and some of the work that has to be done when you move to each assignment. If you travel as a pair it can be a little trickier to find jobs that work for both of you at the same time in the same area. In the past 18 months, we have gotten a little creative, but we have managed to make it work and have some great ideas for anyone else looking to travel as a pair. Look for jobs in larger metropolitan areas. While some rural assignments offer big money based on location, the job concentration will be much lower. We have had much better luck if one person takes a job in a big city and then the second person works on finding something in that area. Plus, jobs are more likely to pop up for later start dates throughout the duration of the first person’s contract (more on that later). Be willing to have a longer commute. Many large metropolitan cities come with the price of heavier traffic. Keaton and I have each had to commute up to 1 hour each way to find contracts in a similar area. Whether it is heavy traffic or long distance, commute time could very well be an issue you have come up when trying to find jobs in the same location. Have a plan for if one person’s contract falls through. We always pick our housing based on one person’s income. Because contract cancellations are an unfortunate part of working as a traveler, we want to know we can survive even if one of us gets cut from a job. Similarly, if you travel with a friend, make sure and have a plan or a good chunk of savings in case you lose your job while on location. Look for start dates no more than 3-4 weeks out. A few times one of us has jumped on a great-paying contract early only to find the market drying up for the other person. The travel market is so hard to predict, so you may not be able to guarantee jobs for both individuals if you look too far in advance. For example, the Phoenix market was great back in the fall, but by the time we got here in the winter, physical therapy jobs for my husband had dried up and he has had to get a little creative with finding work. Which brings me to my next point… Don’t be afraid to think outside the box for jobs. Even if you can’t find a contract, that doesn’t mean there aren’t facilities in need nearby. I was able to sign up for per diem flu shot clinics in Georgia, and my husband found a per diem agency locally in Phoenix. Many hospitals choose to use local agencies first, so you may have luck reaching out to them directly once you are in town. Some places will even hire you directly knowing you’re short term because ultimately it saves them more money than hiring a traveler through a company. While traveling with a friend or spouse may take a little more leg work, it sure is nice when you get hit with a little bit of homesickness or loneliness. Knowing you have a roommate or companion to lean on is always a great source of comfort when dealing with the stress of changing jobs and adjusting to a new floor. Be sure to be open and honest with your recruiter about your goals are if you are traveling as a pair. It is even more beneficial if you share a recruiter, but for many companies that won’t be possible if you are different professions or specialties. Also, keep in mind my previous advice about working with more than one company, as it will be especially helpful if you need to try and match specific locations with your travel partner. 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. Alex enjoys hiking, lifting weights, and trying the best local coffee and wine.
5 Things They Don’t Tell You About Travel Nursing
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Now that the new year is officially in full swing there are a lot of people evaluating their life. Where do I want to be in five years? Am I working in a career that I love? What if now is the best time to take that leap I have been considering for a while? If you have been considering working in travel nursing for any amount of time I want to preface by saying I highly recommend this career path. My experience as a whole has been positive and to anyone considering travel nursing, I would say go for it. However, as with any positive thing, there are the inevitable negative aspects that come along with it. Getting into the travel nursing world can be daunting, and being unprepared is the worst thing you can do if you want to enjoy your work as a traveler. I feel that being upfront and honest about some of the common struggles travelers face is the best way for new travelers to be prepared to manage these stressors as they come along. Here are the top five downsides to traveling that I feel all travel nursing newbies should be prepared for: 1. There is a lot of behind the scenes work to get started in travel nursing. Before you can even submit to jobs, you must have references and an updated resume ready to go. In addition, you have to have licenses on hand, locations in mind and have a baseline idea of housing costs before you actually apply. Once you have secured a position, there is usually at least a few hours of credentialing and paperwork to complete. This includes visiting a walk-in clinic for drug screens, updated labs and submitting proof of all prior vaccinations and licenses. 2. There will be upfront expenses before you get your first travel nursing paycheck. Most travel nursing contracts include a form of travel reimbursement—on the first check, that is. This means if you move in the Sunday before a Monday start day, you will not actually receive your first housing stipend or travel money until about 12 days later. Some costs to consider at the start of each assignment include first month’s rent, pet deposits, and travel expenses on the way there. I have had to pay close to $3,000 before actually starting work, so planning ahead for this is key. 3. Each state has different renewal requirements you have to monitor. To make yourself more valuable as a travel nurse you will want more than one state license. If your home is in a compact state this is great, but a lot of the destination states are not part of the compact (Hawaii and Alaska in particular). After the leg work of getting the license is complete, you then have to maintain said license. Each state has different guidelines and fees for renewals and you will have to check the individual boards to make sure you stay on top of these. 4. Loneliness is a real problem in travel nursing. A more obvious downside to travel nursing is lack of in-person connections in each area you live. You may make friends on assignment but there is always an awkward period at the beginning where you don’t necessarily have people to hang out with outside of work. While there are many ways to combat this loneliness, it is also helpful to be aware of it so you can meet it head-on. This is a normal feeling and it is okay to be lonely, but have some plans in place to deal with these emotions. Call a friend, go to a workout class, or just go for a walk if you are feeling especially down about a lack of personal interactions. 5. If you decide to switch companies, all of that hard work has to be done a second time. Working with multiple companies is almost inevitable in travel nursing, but that doesn’t mean it is easy to coordinate. Each time you decide to submit for a contract with a company you haven’t worked with, you will have to re-submit your resumes, references and paperwork. The best way to handle this is to get organized at the start. Keep a folder of all your personal identification, license copies, and vaccination records. In the event that you have a company pay for a vaccine, TB test or physical, always request copies of these records in case you work with a different company for your next contract. By keeping your files up to date you can simply send all of your paperwork over in a matter of a few clicks each time you need to establish a contract with a new company. This can all be a bit of a downer, but I would not change my choice to work in travel nursing for anything. The people I have met and the experiences that came as a result of this career are without a doubt worth all of the extra work and planning. By being prepared and knowing what to expect you can have a more positive experience as a traveler and minimize the anxiety that comes along with this career. Expect the unexpected, plan for bumps in the road, and just be thankful when you don’t have to make use of those plans when everything goes smoothly. 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. Alex enjoys hiking, lifting weights, and trying the best local coffee and wine.
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.
10 Best Travel Dog Breeds For Healthcare Professionals
Tons of travel healthcare professionals love to bring their beloved pooches along for the ride, but not every dog breed is great for the open road. Breed size, temperament, trainability and need for exercise are all important factors to consider. To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve created a list of the top 10 best travel dog breeds by comparing data and information across many pet health and lifestyle web sources. We also refined our list by considering factors unique to healthcare travelers that could affect the health and happiness of your furry friend. For example, we took border collies off our list because their high-energy nature can be a bad match for busy solo travelers who may not have the time to work off that energy. When you’re looking over this list, keep in mind these are not the only dogs who can travel well. Every dog is different, so it’s very possible you find a mutt, mixed breed or alternative breed dog that happens to be the perfect travel companion. If you have questions about how to travel safely with your pet, make sure to check out our Pet Travel guide for quick tips! 10 Best Travel Dog Breeds 1. Chihuahua The “gold standard” for portable pups, Chihuahuas are compact enough to fit in a large bag anywhere you go. They also have very low exercise and food needs, so you won’t have to worry about bringing along big bags of food or hiring dog walkers very often. If you want small, you can’t go wrong with a Chihuahua. 2. Labrador Retriever Labrador retrievers are happy and ready for adventure. This breed has plenty of energy to happily follow you on the hiking trail and loves to explore. Most importantly, labs are very easy and obedient to train, meaning they won’t destroy your rental while you’re working those 12-hour shifts. 3. Pomeranian In terms of travel convenience, Pomeranians are basically fluffy Chihuahuas. Their super-compact size means they are ready to go anywhere in a moderately sized bag, and they are just as loyal and affectionate as their less poofy brethren. Shedding is obviously a downside of breeds with thicker hair, so plan to brush your Pom on a regular basis to weed out excess hairs before they end up everywhere. 4. Boston Terrier Boston terriers are adaptable and friendly. With a gentle, happy-go-lucky temperament, Boston terriers are great car-ride companions and want to tag along with you no matter where you’ll move. As a snubnose breed, it’s not recommended to take Boston Terriers on any planes. Becuase of their narrow airways they can asphyxiate at high altitudes. 5. Bichon Frise Bichon Frise’s have easy-going and sassy personalities—perfect for dishing about all the stuff that happened after a crazy shift. Like the Boston Terrier, this breed is also quite adaptable and comfortable around new people. 6. Great Dane You’ll have to make some room for your massive Great Dane, but what they lack in compact size they make up for with their loving temperament and gentle nature. Despite a large frame, Great Danes actually need very little exercise to stay healthy. Combine that with minimal grooming needs and you have a large, loveable and low-stress travel companion. 7. Yorkshire Terrier One of the benefits of owning a Yorkshire Terrier, other than their compact size, is their tendency towards sociability. Yorkshires are one of a handful of breeds that do very well in urban environments with lots of other dogs and owners, which is great for travelers who want to stick with metropolitan areas and larger hospitals. 8. Dachshund If RV travel is your method of choice, you can’t go wrong with a Dachshund. An inquisitive breed, Dachshunds form strong bonds with their owners and make great guard dogs. Just like the other small breeds on the list, they are compact, low maintenance and ready to accompany you anywhere. Keep in mind this breed is a bit more territorial of their owners and less tolerant of curious youngsters, so they are not recommended for travelers with children. 9. Golden Retriever Opposite from Dachshunds, Golden Retrievers are the perfect family dog and an all-around great first pet. They are eager to make friends with every new person they meet, which makes them a great tagalong for outdoor activities and social events. Just like their Labrador cousins, they are also very easy to train. Goldens do like to enjoy more open spaces and they may not do as well in urban environments. 10. French Bulldog A very trainable breed, French Bulldogs are just as happy playing around as they are lounging all day. Their laid-back attitude and low maintenance grooming and exercise needs mean they are great for long drives and in most living situations. As a snubnose breed like the Boston Terrier, French Bulldogs should not fly on planes. Stick to car travel with this dog.
TravCon 2018: Organizers see strong early registrations for September conference
Signups for TravCon 2018, one of the largest annual conferences for traveling healthcare professionals, remain steady after a strong burst of early registrations in April, TravCon event coordinator Michelle Freitag said. “650 attendees have signed up so far, which is a little less than last year at this point,” Freitag said. “It’s very common for us to have an initial rush of registrations, and then a lot of signups at the very end.” At the 10th annual conference last year, 1,250 travelers attended marking the largest year ever for the event, according to the official conference website. The event has grown exponentially in the past five years in both the number of attendees and the diversity of classes, events and exhibitors it offers, Freitag said. Participation from allied health travelers at last year’s conference greatly increased, so organizers have added classes specifically for allied professionals. “60 percent of our [educational sessions] are new this year,” Freitag said. “We have a traveler self-defense class, a Destination: Guam class which we’ve never done before…and three new panels that will be very interesting. We have a CEO panel with a Q-and-A talking about the state of the healthcare industry.” Attendees can learn from travel healthcare experts at 40 educational sessions over three days and meet in person with travel healthcare staffing companies from around the country. Travel nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists can also receive upwards of 17 CEU credits to help maintain their professional licenses. Out of the 105 registered exhibitors this year, 78 of them are staffing companies, Freitag said. One of the main draws of TravCon every year is for travelers to meet with their favorite agencies—possibly for the first time. “Generally travelers may never meet their recruiter or company, so we bring them together so that you can meet your company or to find your future company,” Freitag said. “It’s a great way to get together professionally to find your next job or who you want to work for.” The conference will take place from Sept. 9-11 at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is located on the Vegas Strip. Attendees can arrive early for the unofficial meet and greets and other pre-conference events, according to the TravCon website schedule. Registration for TravCon 2018 is open until Sept. 6. You will also be able to buy conference passes at the door, but availability will be limited. Those interested can learn more by visiting the TravCon website.