Nebraska Voters Approve Medicaid Expansion Ballot Initiative
Nebraska joined the likes of several other states who approved Medicaid expansion Tuesday, with more than 53 percent of the vote in favor with 90 percent of precincts reporting. As many as 90,000 newly eligible residents will gain coverage and the uninsured rate could fall from to 9.6% from 12.4% next year, according to an independent study by the Urban Institute. Along with the new Medicaid patients, the state will also see a cash flow of federal dollars—as much as $68 million annually—to help cover the program’s costs. The approval is a big win for advocates who have watched attempts to expand Medicaid fail six times in the state’s legislature. Advocates successfully petitioned and got the initiative added to the ballot in July. Voters also said yes despite heavy opposition from the Republican-controlled state representatives and Gov. Pete Ricketts, who saw it as a “government entitlement program.” Depending on when Nebraska’s Medicaid expansion program is officially implemented, the state could see a new wave of job opportunities in the travel healthcare market in 2019. Studies have shown that Medicaid expansion states have increased patient demands and healthier hospital budgets, which can lead to a higher volume of traveler needs. We will update this story with the final election totals when they are made available.
Hurricane Michael: Florida Panhandle Hospitals Brace For The Storm
Update, 8:30 a.m. CST, Oct. 10, 2018 After gathering speed and intensity, Hurricane Michael is tearing towards the Florida Panhandle and increased in strength Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. CST, Michael was upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane with top sustained winds of 145 mph. Forecasters have said Michael could be the strongest storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in history, affecting nearly 30 million people in the Southeast. New forecasts expect Michael to make landfall Wednesday afternoon. Along with devastating wind speeds, storm surge predictions also increased to 14 feet and forecasters warn of flash flooding in Florida, southern Alabama and Georgia. Florida Gov. Rick Scott and emergency response officials have advised any residents who have not already evacuated need to hunker down, as it’s too late to leave the area. “The time for evacuating along the coast has come and gone,” Gov. Scott said in a Twitter post. “First responders will not be able to come out in the middle of the storm. If you chose to stay in an evacuation zone, you must SEEK REFUGE IMMEDIATELY.” You can find online resources for emergency preparedness and help here: Find open shelters here: https://www.floridadisaster.org/shelter-status/ Free housing for evacuees and disaster responders available through Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/welcome/evacuees/hurricanemichael Report significant debris from the storm: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/466259a6f3fc41e58bb3f651e59e3bd1 App for emergency updates on the storm: http://fpbs.org/get-emergency-info-on-free-florida-storms-mobile-phone-app/ Find out current traffic conditions: https://fl511.com/App Original Story Hurricane Michael, a major hurricane with winds up to 120 mph, is expected to make landfall Wednesday afternoon near Panama City, covering most of Florida’s Panhandle region, according to current hurricane models. The National Hurricane Center expects life-threatening storm surge—up to 12 feet in some areas—along the coast of the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend and Nature Coast regions. Hurricane-force winds from Michael will extend across parts of the Panhandle, southern Georgia and southeast Alabama. Unlike Hurricane Florence in September which stalled on the Carolina coast dumping record-breaking rainfalls, Michael is expected to move quickly through the Panhandle and curve northeast, moving through Georgia by Thursday afternoon. The storm could also intensify to a Category 3 hurricane by the time it makes landfall, carrying winds of up to 130 mph. Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a pre-landfall state of emergency for 35 Florida counties to secure federal assistance and encourage residents to evacuate before the storm hits. Scott also activated 2,500 National Guard members for storm response, he said during a press conference Tuesday. Florida health officials communicated with healthcare facilities and nursing homes Monday afternoon to prepare for the storm, Scott said. After Hurricane Irma hit last year, 14 people died in South Florida when a nursing home lost power and air conditioning. “The Florida Department of Health has five ambulance strike teams and 35 special needs shelter teams ready to deploy,” Scott said. “The expectations are: If you’re responsible for a patient, you’re responsible for the safety of that patient through this entire storm.” As of Tuesday afternoon, several healthcare facilities in the path of the storm activated emergency response procedures, canceling or rescheduling outpatient and elective procedures. Some facilities in the Tallahassee area are monitoring the storm before activating emergency response declarations. Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Alabama is closing all of outpatient departments on Wednesday, according to a WDHN report. In response to the storm, the Department of Health issued an emergency order allowing healthcare professionals with a valid, unrestricted and unencumbered license in any state, territory, or district to render services in Florida during a 30-day period, according to Gov. Scott’s website. Florida became a compact nursing license state this year but does not normally allow for quick temporary licenses. The Florida Board of Nursing office, located in Tallahassee, will be closed until Thursday, according to their voicemail message. Travelers entering the state should be aware that major highways designated as evacuation routes could be congested with evacuees and could affect their access to locations along the Panhandle. Hurricane Safety Checklist Regardless of where you are located or if you’re working at a hospital during the storm, your first priority is to have a disaster plan in place to protect yourself and your family in a time of crisis. The American Red Cross has provided a hurricane safety checklist that has everything you can do to prepare for the storm and respond to the aftermath. We’ve provided a PDF of the checklist below, but you can also download or view it here: Hurricane Checklist
Travel Jobs: Where Travelers Applied In Sept., Oct. Market Predictions
October is a crucial month for the travel healthcare staffing industry as a whole. For staffing agencies, it marks the beginning of the busiest month of the year as healthcare providers recruit temporary staff at breakneck speeds. For healthcare providers, October is the final push to find as many quality temporary workers as possible to help carry operations through at least February. As a result, the last two weeks of September ramped up sharply in job board activity leading into October, mostly affecting states that are popular destinations for snowbird travelers who head for warm weather locations like Florida, Arizona and California. The record-breaking impact of Hurricane Florence also provided an unexpected boon for travel nurse needs in North Carolina, as hospitals located away from the coastline needed help dealing with the increased patient census due to hurricane evacuees. Travel healthcare jobs October 2018 In short, we expect the travel healthcare market and job board activity to remain red-hot throughout most of October, with the potential for a slight dip at the end of the month as less new needs hit the market. Most of the market activity is expected to be driven by core specialties—for travel nurses, this means a high number of medical-surgical, telemetry and ICU will be available. We are also starting to see a noticeable increase in OR job needs in the market, which is part of the expected year-end rush for scheduled elective surgeries. While most of the hospitals near the North Carolina coast have reopened in the weeks following Hurricane Florence, there is still a heavy demand for travel nurses in Charlotte and Wilmington, according to staffing agency sources. States that were popular in September will continue to remain popular this month, including California, Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee and parts of Texas. This is a result of the regular “snowbird” traveler migration and because most of those locations—excluding California—are often the first places affected by high levels of flu activity early in the season. At the same time, northern states will also see an increase in job needs as they will look to fill vacancies left by snowbird travelers. Some of those areas include Michigan, Wisconsin, Oregon, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Maine. Hospitals in northern states will also typically increase bill rates for travel contracts during this time to entice recruiters to submit quality candidates who will stay through the winter, which can translate into higher pay packages depending on what agencies travelers use. This mostly applies to the coldest areas like Michigan, Wisconsin and Maine, and not so much for winter tourist destinations like Colorado or Utah. Core specialties are expected to be the most in-demand. For travel nurses, this means medical-surgical, telemetry, and ICU. We also expect to see an increasing amount of OR job needs, as more elective surgeries take place during the end of the year. Let’s take a closer look at what we learned from the StaffDNA job board about where travelers applied in September. Michigan, Missouri enter the Top 10 Michigan jumped eight ranks from August to September, moving from No. 17 to No. 9. Missouri made a smaller climb of three ranks to take the No. 3 spot. We may see both states retain their top 10 status as winter approaches. Of the two, Missouri is most likely to drop in total traveler applications in October. The late-August hiring surge in St. Louis may have been a factor in the increase of applications for September, but we expect it to at least hang around the top 20 states for October. September’s Top Markets California Florida Texas North Carolina Georgia Pennsylvania Arizona Tennessee Michigan Missouri Virginia South Carolina Indiana West Virginia Wisconsin Arkansas Kentucky Iowa Nevada Oklahoma Maine Idaho New Mexico Oregon Hawaii Colorado Washington Ohio Illinois Alabama Alaska Massachusets Maryland Connecticut Kansas New Jersey Louisiana Minnesota Wyoming Montana New Hampshire New York Washington D.C. Mississippi North Dakota Nebraska Rhode Island South Dakota Vermont Delaware Utah
Travel Market: Florida Sees Wave Of New Jobs In September
Want to find positions in Florida now? Click here to check out the most recent posts on the StaffDNA job board. Most veteran recruiters know that Florida is a juggernaut state for travel healthcare staffing. The Sunshine State utilizes more travelers than most states, in part because of heavy winter seasonal needs. Those job needs have come back in force in the last few weeks of September, according to staffing industry sources. David Kinslow, a senior client advisor for LiquidAgents Healthcare, said he’s aware of more than 140 new jobs in the state, an increase of 80 compared to August. Agencies have anticipated this spike in job needs for several weeks. Florida ranks third in the country for most hospitals statewide according to American Hospital Directory data, and many of those facilities start recruiting for winter in late September and early October. Along with other southern states like Texas and New Mexico, Florida is a large target for “snowbirds” seeking warm weather for winter contracts. This could mean the job market will continue to ramp up through December, eventually cooling down by next January. For travelers who are interested in Florida, here are some things you should consider before working in the state this winter. 1. Florida became a nursing compact state this year Florida joined the enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact in January, so nurses who have their compact license can now work in the state and don’t have to apply for a single-state license. This only applies to nurses, so allied healthcare travelers will still have to get a single-state license. Click here to see a map of states who have joined the enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact. 2. Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) uses a lot of travelers HCA is one of the largest private health systems in Florida with 50 hospitals and 31 surgery centers across the state, according to their website, and many HCA-associated facilities use a large number of travelers, according to staffing industry sources. This is good news for travelers who want some variety when picking a location, as HCA-affiliated hospitals are located in almost all major cities in the state. 3. Depending on location, cost-of-living in Florida is pretty cheap According to our Travel Nursing Pay Package Ranking List, Florida has a 99.7 rating on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price parity index, which means the state is almost exactly at the national average for prices on housing, gas and other goods. However, the state average is largely affected by Miami, which is significantly more expensive than most other cities in the state. When looking at other locations like Tallahassee, Tampa or Orlando, prices drop to 5 percent or more below the national average. This is mostly because of dirt cheap rent and housing costs, which is great for travelers hoping to pocket extra money from agency housing stipends. Florida is also peppered with temporary vacation homes and seasonal vacancies, so finding proper short-term housing may be easier than in other states. 4. Expect fierce competition Just because there are lots of job opportunities in Florida doesn’t mean travelers can apply to jobs at their leisure. Hospitals in major “snowbird” states are looking to fill jobs fast, and agencies will send in qualified candidates even faster. Speed and efficiency are key to locking down a solid Florida contract, so travelers who are flexible on location and who can quickly produce necessary compliance docs will have the edge over others. 5. Beware of January pre-books David Kinslow, a senior client advisor at LiquidAgents Healthcare, said travelers should be wary about pre-booking Florida jobs with January start dates. Census numbers may not be high enough to warrant a high number of travelers, so January contracts could be canceled before the start date. While no one can perfectly predict how healthcare needs will change in the state once winter hits, it’s still safer to book early and ride out a fall contract through the winter than hope for needs to stay consistent.
Travel Jobs: Where Travelers Applied In August, Sept. Market Predictions
In last month’s update, we touched on how August serves as a transitional period for the travel healthcare job market. Many travelers looking to avoid the early wave of competition in July waited until August to search for a fall contract. At the same time, many travelers went back to work or squeezed in a bit more “paid vacation” by extending at their summer facilities through the month. Pediatric facilities may have needed more help, with parents bringing children in for check-ups before school and to get the first round of flu vaccinations. As such, our predictions for the total volume of applications on the StaffDNA job boards were mostly on the mark, dropping by about 12 percent from July to August. Market activity ramped up towards the end of the month, but not fast enough to reach July’s high number of applications. Travel healthcare jobs September 2018 We expect September to at least recoup from the 12 percent drop in application volume for August, but we may also see a possible increase in application activity. There are a few market indicators that point towards September as a high-activity month: Many travelers who decided to extend their summer contracts will be looking for either a quick contract between fall and winter or they will already be planning for the winter months. Hospitals are continuing to push for more temporary staffing to bulk up for flu season. The great “snowbird” migration will start to ramp up this month. Travelers who moved north for cooler summer temperatures will head back south for the winter. Conversely, travelers who don’t mind the cold will head north to fill gaps left by summer travelers. If you didn’t catch it, the recurring theme here is winter. Late November through February are incredibly busy times for general healthcare facilities, so most hospitals, recruiters and travelers have already begun planning three months ahead. We already saw a few examples of the winter job swell in the past two weeks. Facilities in East Texas have been hiring medical-surgical nurses en masse, and one of the largest hospitals in St. Louis plans to bring in more than 200 travelers in the next two months. Unsurprisingly, both of these locations are in southern states where flu activity peaks early and stays high throughout the winter. Expect to see more facilities in Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana and Arkansas heavily recruiting in the next few weeks. While we can’t say for sure September will be the busiest month of the year for job hunting, we can guarantee travelers have a much wider range of options to find a contract right now that fits their needs. Let’s see what we learned from August’s top markets. State rankings show a gradual winter shift The StaffDNA state rankings list didn’t change much overall from July to August, but it did provide early hints to where travelers may be looking for the late fall and winter. Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Nevada continued to gain ground and now sit comfortably in the top 20 most applied-to states. Arizona also held a spot in the top 10, dropping only two spots to No. 8. Kentucky, South Carolina enter the Top 10 Kentucky just barely jumped into the top 10 most applied-to states for August, bumping Virginia down to No. 11. South Carolina made the largest shift, moving seven spots from No. 13 to the sixth place slot. We expect the state to remain popular in September, as there are many high-paying opportunities on the StaffDNA job boards in the state, especially for rad techs and OR, ER, ICU and PACU nurses. August’s Top Markets Florida California Texas North Carolina Tennessee South Carolina Pennsylvania Arizona Georgia Kentucky Virginia Indiana Missouri Oklahoma Arkansas Wisconsin Michigan Iowa Idaho Maine New Mexico Nevada Oregon West Virgina Colorado Ohio Hawaii Washington New Jersey Illinois Massachusets Alabama Minnesota Utah Maryland Louisiana New Hampshire Vermont Arkansas Montana New York South Dakota Connecticut Kansas Mississippi Nebraska Washington D.C. Wyoming North Dakota Rhode Island Delaware
Starting A Travel Job on Aug. 27? Don’t Delay Compliance
Staying on top of compliance due dates should be a top priority for every travel nurse when they book an assignment, but it’s especially important for those who start on Aug. 27. If a travel nurse misses a file due date this week and they have an Aug. 27 start date, there is a high probability their new start date could be pushed two weeks instead of one. Many hospitals are informing recruiters that, because of the Labor Day holiday affecting orientation dates, what would normally be a one week pushed start will actually be at least two weeks. Need some help getting up to speed on travel nurse compliance? We’ve got you covered: Find out why it’s so important to maintain your compliance documents as a traveler, as well as the most common items requested by agencies and healthcare facilities. Managing a growing list of compliance documents can be a pain. Learn about the digital tools you can use to make travel nurse compliance management easier. First-time traveler? Here’s your “cheat sheet” to getting your compliance documents in order ASAP.
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.
An Update On Medicaid Expansion Efforts and How They Affect Travelers
As we move closer and closer to November midterm elections in the U.S., healthcare access and quality issues have become a heated political battleground for legislators and citizens across the political spectrum. Medicaid expansion, a tentpole policy part of the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, is one of the key divisive topics in this realm. It’s also something healthcare providers—and by extension travel healthcare professionals—are keeping an eye on, as expansion can have an impact on provider funding and patient care. What Is Medicaid Expansion? Under the Affordable Care Act, states can expand Medicaid eligibility to nonelderly adults with incomes at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which equals about $16,700 a year for a single person and $34,600 for a family of four. Expansion states are funneled billions of dollars from the federal government to support expansion efforts and coverage for newly insured populations. In states that haven’t expanded, those adults fall into a “coverage gap” for having incomes above traditional Medicaid eligibility but below the limit to get approved for ACA marketplace premium tax credits. So far 34 states have approved Medicaid expansion, two states—Maine and Virginia—are in the works to implement expansions, and three states—Idaho, Utah and Nebraska—could potentially approve Medicaid expansion this year. Why is Medicaid expansion important to travelers? Simply put, hospitals in states that expand Medicaid can expect to see a new influx of patients looking for care on a regular basis which can affect seasonal staffing needs. A Commonwealth Fund study in 2015 found that 4 out of 10 primary care physicians who accepted Medicaid saw an increase in patients after expansion coverage took full effect. Additionally, studies have shown that hospitals in expansion states have much healthier budgets, which can leave more money on the table for hiring and retaining temporary or permanent staff. According to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation, expansion hospitals saw “significantly improved hospital operating margins.” These factors don’t completely guarantee that facilities in expansion states will overflow with traveler needs, but it can help prevent razor-thin hospital budgets and get executives thinking about how to ease the burden on their permanent staff. What’s happening in states with plans for Medicaid expansion? Maine Medicaid was supposed to be available to newly eligible Maine residents on July 2, but a series of appeals and heated courtroom battles have kept expansion in limbo, leaving more than 70,000 without coverage. At the heart of the issue is Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who has vetoed Medicaid expansion efforts six times in office. Mainers approved Medicaid expansion through a referendum vote with a 59 percent voting majority in 2017, but LePage refuses to submit a plan to the federal government until sufficient state funding—under his terms—is found. LePage was ordered by a Superior Court justice to submit a plan in June, but his administration appealed the ruling to the Maine Supreme Court, saying they did not have to file a plan during the appeal process. Arguments for the appeal took place on July 18, but the court has yet to make a decision. You can view a more detailed timeline of the events leading up to the court hearing by clicking here. Idaho Advocates in Idaho successfully petitioned and gathered 75,314 verified signatures to add a Medicaid expansion measure to the ballot this November. The petition met both state requirements to qualify the ballot measure, gathering at least 56,192 verified signatures that represented at least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts, according to Ballotpedia. Utah Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed a bill on March 27, 2018, for partial Medicaid expansion, directing the state to seek federal approval to expand Medicaid to 100% of the federal poverty level. The bill stipulated using the ACA enhanced federal match rate and adding a work requirement for the expansion population. To date, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has not approved waivers to access the match rate until Utah approves a full expansion. In the meantime, Utah expansion advocates garnered enough petition signatures to add a competing bill to November ballots that would approve a full expansion. Nebraska Similar to Idaho and Utah, Nebraska advocates have submitted a petition to add a Medicaid expansion initiative to the midterm election ballot this fall. Supporters filed more than 133,000 signatures on July 5, but the Secretary of State office is still verifying the signatures. At least 84,908, or more than 60 percent, of the signatures need to be valid for the initiative to make the ballot.
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.
4 Best Ways to Show Appreciation on Recruiter Recognition Day
A truly outstanding travel healthcare staffing recruiter is (almost) irreplaceable. They are your hospital matchmaker, your job market insider, your personal motivator, your experienced career mentor and—if your goal is to make lots of money—your “partner in crime” all in one package. For those travelers out there who love their recruiters, today is the day to show it. National Healthcare Recruiter Recognition Day occurs the first Tuesday of June every year, so we asked recruiters for the four best ways you can show your appreciation. Post a review with a shout out Reviews go a huge way towards building up a staffing agency’s reputation in the traveler community, and recruiters have a vested interest in their company’s success. Posting a positive review that mentions how much you love your recruiter will go a long way and could even lead to a referral. Speaking of which… Give your recruiter a referral Almost every recruiter we asked said sending a referral their way is one of the best ways to show appreciation. Recruiters depend on referrals to stay in the game and referring your friends or colleague will provide even more of an incentive for your recruiter to go above and beyond for you on every deal. Tell them thanks While referrals go a long way towards helping recruiters, many of them also said a simple thank you would suffice. Recruiters would love to hear how much they have helped you achieve your career or travel goals. Send them a text, email, or give them a call and tell them thanks for being a great recruiter. Send a small gift If you absolutely need to send your recruiter a gift to show your thanks, you don’t have to go overboard. Cards, candy, gift cards—any small tokens of appreciation will be more than enough to tell your recruiter that you love working with them!