Why Every Nurse Needs To Try Travel Nursing At Least Once

The opportunity to be a travel nurse is one of the single best aspects of our profession. I cannot think of any other job which allows you to basically have a trial period of living in a new place of your choice, honing valuable career skills, and earning maximum wages for it. Travel nursing is an incredibly enriching experience both personally and professionally.

The decision to try travel nursing is not easy. It’s very common to find ourselves comfortable — comfortable in our current role, comfortable in our environment, comfortable with predictable shifts, comfortable with coworkers who feel like a small family. However, to truly grow as a nurse and as a human, it’s important to challenge ourselves. To experience the unknown is uncomfortable, but it makes all the difference. That is exactly what travel nursing is — exposure to new environments, new coworkers, new clinical skills — and it will enable you to reach the next level of your potential.

My own journey as a travel nurse has been a rollercoaster. I’ve experienced the fast-paced city life of Chicago, enjoying runs along Lake Michigan during the beautiful summer months and walking to work through harsh winter winds wondering why I chose to live in such a place. I’ve experienced the lush green California forests with coastlines of mountain cliffs meeting the Pacific Ocean during vibrant sunsets.

I’ve experienced working for the nation’s top hospitals with some of the most brilliant minds in the country, learning how to utilize breakthrough research and treatments to help my patients. I’ve worked with an entire spectrum of diverse patient populations. I’ve been thrown into countless situations where I felt lost — unable to locate supplies, unable to manage challenging patient ratios, unable to remember hospital-specific policies — but those were always learning moments.

I’ve also worked with amazing travel nurse companies and companies who didn’t treat me with the respect I deserve. It’s a lifestyle that you can’t imagine until you try it — and I dare you to try it!

There’s great salary potential.
There’s another HUGE benefit to travel nursing that we cannot ignore — salary. Travel nursing pay can vary greatly based on a number of variables, so I will try to break down the basics of getting a lucrative contract.

Staffing Company. Choosing a travel nursing company can be difficult because there are so many out there — some are sister companies, some claim to have exclusive contracts with hospitals, etc. The best advice I can give is to shop around and do some research. Pay packages are higher than staff nurses are used to, so first-time travel nurses often settle for mediocre contracts.

When a position opens at a hospital or facility, that organization offers a set bill rate for the position. Travel nursing companies recruit and manage travel nursing contracts, so they earn money by taking a percentage of what the organization is willing to pay. (The average is 15-30%, but sometimes higher.) This is why transparency is best when negotiating a contract. It’s also completely professional and acceptable to tell recruiters that you’re comparing pay and benefits between companies.

Pro tip: Everything is negotiable in your contract — hourly pay, overtime wages, non-taxable housing stipend amount, travel and licensing reimbursement, and even extension bonuses.

Specialty. Pay packages tend to be higher for in-demand specialties like Labor & Delivery, OR, Oncology, and ICU. If you are a nurse with specialized experience, be sure to note that on your resume. Also, earn any certifications that quantify your experience like CCRN or ONS.

Location. Where you take a travel contract heavily determines what kind of pay package to expect. In general, big cities offer higher wages, and states like New York and California. Alternatively, rural hospitals in need of staff may also offer very competitive salaries.

Timing. The best times to earn money as a travel nurse are during the holiday months, during cold seasons in northern areas, and during acute staffing shortages like strikes. Most contracts are 13 weeks in length, but there are contracts much shorter or longer depending on the needs of the facility. If you connect with multiple travel companies, you’ll be contacted frequently during times of need, which guarantees higher earnings.

There’s opportunity for adventure.
So, you’re somewhat convinced. Earning some great money seems nice, trying a new experience sounds like fun, now how do you choose where to go?

To work a nursing contract in any location, you need an active licensure from that corresponding state. A large majority of states in the US are covered under the Compact RN license. If you want to work in a state outside of your license network, you’ll have to apply for a new license. Many travel nurse companies can help you with the process, and many will even pay for your new license.

The process is fairly straightforward. Most require a background check, proof of an active RN license, and a fee made payable to the state nursing board. There are even states that allow faster processing for “temporary” licenses, so you can take an assignment on short notice. Before you have your heart set on a location, know that processing times vary. California, for example, is notoriously long for processing, about 4 months. Once you have narrowed your choices to a few states and your licenses are in process, look for travel assignments often — new travel nurse assignments pop up every day. Alternatively, recruiters ask for your top picks for location and contract and match you as jobs arise.

If you’re not sure where you want to travel, make a list of places in the country you’ve always wanted to explore, are near family and friends, or have top hospitals that you’d love to work at. Travel nursing can take you anywhere you like. Travel nurse companies usually reimburse for travel expenses (like flights and gas) to get to your new location too. If it seems like too much to uproot or the thought of embarking on your own overwhelming, know that many travel nurses adventure with their friends, their partners, their pets, and even children!

Nursing Education Summit 2019 | Nursing Congress 2019 | Travel Nursing Self-Care: Carve Out More “Me Time”

Nurse life in general can naturally wear a person down. You basically give all day in almost all ways—mentally, emotionally and physically on top of socially and professionally.

On the rewarding flip side, you’re literally a lifesaver some days and a galvanized link between patients and the care they need to achieve the best outcomes.

Now add travel to the mix. New city, new people, new living space, new work environment—all of which come with a mixed bag of pros and cons you know all too well.

The life of a travel nurse is a roller coaster to say the least, and it’s important to acknowledge the real potential for burnout and to be intentional about self-care wherever you happen to be calling “home” for the moment.

Here are a few self-care action items travel nurses can prioritize and some ways to fit them into your exciting yet busy life.

Travel Nursing Self Care Tips

Do Nature Daily
The scientific health benefits of spending quality time in nature have become a big focus over the years, and it’s good to be aware of them.

When we say “daily” here, we’re not just talking about the outdoor adventures many of you love dearly, like ziplining, kayaking, hiking or snowboarding. We’re talking about the health benefits micro moments in nature provide the body and mind.

When considering the following, if you can keep your phone or laptop tucked away, give yourself bonus points. Disconnecting and being present will maximize these outdoor micro moments.

• Walk a few extra blocks on your way to the train or bus stop before or after your shift.
• Bike to work or when meeting a friend for lunch.
• Step outside during a break or have coffee at an outdoor café on your day off.
• Open the windows of your living space to let natural light and fresh air in.

Get Some Zzz’s
Easier said than done, but it’s essential to physical and cognitive functioning—two things you need on the floor and on your adventures. The National Sleep Foundation lists seven hours of sleep as the low-end range for adults aged 18–65 and over. Consistency is also key, so try to keep a regular bedtime routine.

For quick self-care, never underestimate the positive impact of a well-deserved nap. According to sleep expert Sara C. Mednick, PhD, a 15- to 20-minute power nap can reset the system and provide a burst of alertness and increase in motor performance.

Stretch Yourself

There are tons of quick and simple yoga routines out there to incorporate into your week. Yoga can not only relax your body and mind, it can strengthen it too. Plus, you can double-down on the self-care here by doing a few poses in a park or on your rooftop deck.

If following a more guided practice is more your thing, check out these eight yoga workouts recommended by Men’s Journal. Session times vary, some are free and others offer a free trial.

Feed Your Face

While every 12-hour shift doesn’t come with a quality meal break, you can make the most out of the time you do have to nourish yourself on the job.

• Keep your fresh food cool and more enjoyable by investing in a decent insulated lunch bag.
• Cook in bulk and freeze pre-portioned meals for when you need to grab-n-go.
• Stash energy-boosting snacks in your purse or pocket for a quick nibble (mixed nuts, no-bake oatmeal bites, soy crisps, etc.)

For a few more tips on maintaining a healthy diet as a busy nurse, check out Tasting Table’s “What a Nurse Really Eats in a Week” article.

By spending a little extra time focusing on self-care this roller coaster life and career you’ve come to know and love can be even more fulfilling and you can be an even better you for yourself, your patients, your friends and your family.

To learn more please visit: https://nursingeducation.conferenceseries.com

Australia Nursing and Health Care Conferences 2019

 New blood test can detect ovarian cancer in its early stages

Relatively few cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in their early stages, so many people lose the opportunity for effective treatment. A newly developed blood test, however, could change this situation. 

The American Cancer Society (ACS) state that "only about 20 percent of #ovarian_cancers are found at an early stage."

Australia Nursing and Health Care Conferences

However, when a doctor can diagnose the cancer early on, about 94 percent of people have a good prognosis following treatment.

Beyond a full pelvic exam, a doctor has two diagnostic tests at their disposal: the transvaginal ultrasound and the cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) blood test.

Both tests have significant limitations. The ultrasound test allows a doctor to look for tumors in the uterus, fallopian tubes, and #ovaries, but it cannot indicate whether a growth is cancerous.

The CA-125 test assesses the levels of an #ovarian_cancer marker in the blood. The problem is that high levels of this antigen are also present in people with unrelated conditions.

The authors of the new study, which appears in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, note that "CA-125 serum levels may also be elevated in nonmalignant conditions, such as #endometriosis, #pregnancy, #ovarian_cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, #hepatitis, #cirrhosis, and in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle."

For this reason, the researchers sought to develop a new, more accurate blood test to detect #ovarian_cancer. 

The team came from Griffith University in Gold Coast or the University of Adelaide, both in Australia.

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