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Before I started travel nursing, these are some of the issues I wish I would have prepared for a little better.
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Educate yourself on how travel nursing pay packages work. Do not be alarmed that your base pay is going to be significantly less than what you’re getting paid now. Just know that the tax incentives will make up the difference. It is also good to know that if you miss work you don’t get paid and you might actually have to pay your travel agency for part of your housing. Try to find a travel company that guarantees hours.
Packing up and moving every few months is a pain. Instead of bringing your dishes with you everywhere, maybe go to goodwill and buy just a few to get you through your assignment and then re-donate them when you move. As far a clothes and shoes go, if you haven’t worn it in three months, you probably don’t need it. Keeping your materials to a minimum is an important life lesson you will learn by the end of your journey.
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You know how to take care of people, this is what you were born to do. The trickiest part of traveling is figuring out where all the stuff is and who to call. You will find that traveling brings back the best part of nursing. It allows you to take care of your patients without having to get hung up on the inner workings of the unit.
Just because you worked in an environment that embraced personal opinions it doesn’t mean other people feel the same way about your opinion. You will find it frustrating that nobody really cares what you have to say, even if it means improving current nursing practice; not to worry, someday someone will seek out your traveling expertise and it will land you one of the best jobs you have ever had.
Just because you are a travel nurse doesn’t mean you have to move every 13 weeks. If you are loving the city you are in, then try to extend your contract or find another hospital within driving distance that is in need of an awesome nurse.
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This can be scary at first. You may want to quit an assignment or move back home. It is extremely important to push through this loneliness and find ways to combat homesickness. Plan for activities to keep yourself busy. Join a gym, buy a puzzle, plan touristy activities, get Netflix and make regular phone calls to the people you love. Learning to be your own best friend is priceless.
There will be times when you won’t get a paycheck for a month. Most of the time you will have at least a week off in between assignments and then it takes two weeks to get your next paycheck. Your budgeting skills will need to be on point. If you are smart, you will learn that buying material things does not benefit you in any way as a travel nurse. Not only is it usually a waste of money but then you have to lug it around with you all over the place.
I know it’s so much easier to just let your company do it for you but the financial incentives are way worth it. There are lots of furnished housing options out there and if you are feeling really zealous, you can even find a roommate. I know living with a stranger can be challenging but it will get you out of the house more and maybe expose you to some of the local culture.
There is only so much research one can do before going on an adventure. Most of the time, the unexpected experiences of the journey are the most important life lessons and are what make the adventure the most exciting.
Have you ever had a question about something but didn’t know who to ask? You have Googled and Googled your little heart out but still can’t seem to get the inside scoop?
Well guess what – there’s an internet site for that! It actually turns out there are numerous sites full of information for travel nurses who want the inside scoop.
With so many resources out there it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Lucky for you, I have narrowed the vast list down to the top five blogs based on relevant content, contributing authors and user friendliness.
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Bluepipes.com is a professional networking site that provides travel nurses with the ability to store all of their necessary paperwork including resumes, skills checklists and certifications digitally on their site. This basically replaces that pesky folder you have to carry around with you everywhere you go. They also happen to have a blog. I rate their blog #1 because the topics are most relevant to what you need to know as a travel nurse and they have a podcast as well. This site, I feel primarily focuses on the business side of things. The topics are categorized and well organized so you don’t have to scroll through a bunch of pages to get to what you want to read about. The downside to this blog is that it seems to only have one author and I’m not 100% sure he is a nurse. The guy writes really well but fails to provide a subjective side to what it means to be a travel nurse.
The Gypsy Nurse website is an online community dedicated to traveling medical professionals. The operator of this website is a former traveling nurse and her contributing authors include either former or current travelers as well as some specialty nurses. The content covers a wide variety of topics ranging from the Ebola epidemic to travel nursing lifestyle to what compression socks to buy. The content is not organized into categories but there is a search area. This website also hosts an annual travel nursing convention with an educational piece and the opportunity to network. One thing to note is that there is quite a bit of advertising on this website which may drive some of the blog topics.
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Travelnursing.org (the blog you are currently reading) is a career portal for nurses. If you are having trouble finding a company you want to work for you can apply directly through this site and they will connect you with a travel company that fits your needs. This blog has a multitude of experienced travel nurses (including myself) as well as a wide range of topics that covers both the business and lifestyle side of travel nursing. Many of the blog posts are from a personal more subjective perspective, which I tend to appreciate when it comes to certain topics. I like to know the business side but I need the raw emotional side as well. The blog is not categorized but it is easy to read and there are no advertisements.
Highwayhypodermics.com is a website that attempts to improve the connection between travelers and travel nursing companies. They don’t have a designated “blog” section but there are a couple articles a month posted on this website with up to date info on certain travel nursing companies with a few posts about general travel nursing stuff. It is written and maintained by Epstein LaRue who is a current traveling nurse supervisor. Most of the articles are written by her with a few guests here and there. Her website is well known for providing a yearly list of the nation’s top 10 travel companies.
Travelnursingblogs.com is exactly what it states… a blog for travel nurses. They cover the usual topics but only seem to have two contributing authors with only one of them being an actual nurse; the other one is a creative writer. I put this on the list because there are two sections on this site where you can “ask a travel nurse” and “ask a housing expert” where you can ask specific questions.
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Just like everything else on the internet, it is important to verify your information and take other people’s experiences with a “grain of salt”. There is plenty of information out there, it’s up to you on how you want to use it.
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It is official; the holidays are now upon us. Some of you may get a warm fuzzy feeling, some of you may cringe or maybe some of you are like me in that you feel indifferent about them altogether.
I feel like us indifferent people are the lucky ones in this situation, especially as healthcare workers. The majority of my coworkers and myself have learned to plan our lives around the mandated holiday schedules and after time, having to work on them doesn’t seem so bad.
For those of you who are new to this profession or who may still be struggling, let me give you a few pointers.
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Unless someone forgot to put you on the schedule for November and December, you will most likely be working at least one or two holidays depending on how nice your supervisor is. Most of the time you will have some idea of what holiday(s) you will be working many months prior too so you can plan ahead.
I like to remind people that the most important part of the holidays is that you are spending time with your loved ones. Just because you don’t have Thanksgiving Day off doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate on another day. If you are extremely religious and working on Christmas Eve and Christmas is offensive to you, then guess what, you have two other holidays to choose from; Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
From my experience, there aren’t many people in this profession who get worked up about their holidays. I think we all understand that our noble profession calls on us to take care of people despite what day of the week it is.
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So now that we understand that no matter what, we will have to work on the holidays, why don’t we make the best of it. Every single place I have worked has some sort of potluck on the holiday that they work. Some people even do Secret Santa gifts.
Participating in your holiday party at work brings you closer to your coworkers and if you have a family like mine, you might enjoy spending time with your coworkers even more.
Working on the holidays gives you an excuse to not have to prepare an entire meal for your extended family. Instead you can just stop by the grocery on the way to work or take time to prepare your favorite side dish to bring to the party. If you’re lucky enough, the hospital might provide you with a free meal that day or night.
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I personally prefer to work on the holidays and celebrate on a different day because there usually isn’t anything to do but sit around, watch T.V., and eat and I can do that on any day; plus you get paid more. I would rather have my days off when everyone else is back to work. Traveling before or after the holidays is usually cheaper and there is less people. It’s a win-win situation.
If working on the holidays is still a big deal to you than I suggest you get an office job because even PRN and travel nurses have to work the holidays; unless of course as a travel nurse you have enough money in the bank to take a month or two off in between assignments then you might be able to get away with not working the holidays.
As you can see, working the holidays as a healthcare professional is inevitable. This is why it’s important to love the people you work with; they will become your home away from home. Complaining about working on the holidays only makes you sound like a scrooge. Remember, the rest of the world has to work five days a week. We only have to work three! Let those Monday through Friday people enjoy their time off. They need it.
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Someone would think that after four years of college that a person would have some idea of what their profession would entail; this was not the case for me. I’m pretty sure that my new grad years were more educational than all of my years spent in college. Here is what I learned my first year nursing.
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Anatomy and physiology, chemistry and biology classes all contain interesting factoids, but in the real world, they didn’t really apply to my daily work life. The real skills like understanding when someone needs an intervention, navigating family dynamics and time management are all learned on the job and with experience.
Relying on yours or other people’s memories can lead to mistakes. Always reference drip rates, drugs, drug interactions or anything else you don’t know with actual evidence based reference material.
I learned to never say “quiet” or “slow” when referring to my night and I would resent anyone who told me my assignment would be easy. Full moons are the real deal and so is Friday the 13th.
Especially when it comes to assessing patients, looking at EKGs and organizing your day. It may take time to develop but it ensures you don’t skip a beat. Organize your day in a way that works best for you, not your co-worker.
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If someone tells you that insulin drops their blood sugar and they request not to have it then don’t give it to them. I made this mistake early on.
I didn’t actually learn how to trust my gut until a few years later but I definitely felt my gut yelling at me on multiple occasions as a new grad. Your first reaction is usually the right one. Learn to listen to it.
There is nothing worse than feeling like you have no one to turn to in the midst of a crisis. Finding someone who is kind, supportive, patient, compassionate, has a positive attitude and a good sense of humor is very important.
You can have the worst patients on earth but as long as you have great personal relationships with your coworkers and good teamwork, then any night no matter how crazy, won’t be that terrible.
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There are people in this world who are in a mental or emotional place where they just don’t have the desire or ability to better their situation.
Whether it be quitting drinking, smoking or changing their eating habits, the most you can do for someone is to educate and not judge them. When they are ready to make the change they will. It is not up to you to do it for them.
Your coworkers are your greatest resource. If you think your patient doesn’t look good but can’t put a finger on it then ask one of your coworkers for a second opinion. Nursing is a never ending learning experience. You will NEVER know everything. If you need help than ask for it.
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My first year post grad year of nursing was both exciting and humbling. There was a tremendous learning curve that was extremely stressful and overwhelming at times. Mistakes were made, tears were shed and judgements were formed; all of which affect my nursing practice to this day.
The first year in the trenches was the hardest but it was also the most memorable. I saved a life, witnessed a death and made more friends than I had ever before, all in my first year nursing.
From my personal experience and from chatting with my colleagues, I think there is a general consensus amongst nurses that getting a job isn’t particularly challenging these days, considering there is a need for qualified, experienced nurses all over the country.
As of late, the demand for travel nurses remains high which makes it easier to get in the game, but you must be prepared when things cool down. Learning how to negotiate your salary, make yourself an appealing candidate and how to get the best jobs are valuable skillsets.
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A travel nurse’s salary is broken down into three parts and understanding which parts are negotiable will give you a leg up.
Tax Free Reimbursements: Tax free reimbursement for your travel/meals and incidentals is pre-determined by the government and based on the city you are traveling to. Unless you are a superstar negotiator or a lawmaker, this my friends is non-negotiable. To see what your tax free reimbursements are for each city you can visit gsa.gov.
Hourly Base Pay: Your hourly base pay also tends to be non-negotiable because your travel nursing agency has contracts with several facilities where the base pay for travelers has already been set.
Benefits/Bonuses: Opportunities for negotiation can come into play when you extend your contract, with travel reimbursement and possibly with other benefits. If a facility asks you to extend your contract, you may ask for an extension bonus and an hourly pay raise.
If you extend, you save your travel agency and the hospital money because they do not have to orient you. Also, most companies offer health insurance coverage as part of their benefits package. If you opt out of taking an agency’s health insurance and get your own, they may give you an additional bonus with each of your contracts.
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Whether making money or seeing the country is your intention for traveling, we all want to end up with the most ideal job.
If you are looking to travel to a specific place make sure your recruiter knows where you want to go. The assignment boards on your company’s website may not be up to date so keep a lookout on social media like Facebook and LinkedIn for assignments in destinations that you want to travel to.
Your company might not have a contract in a specific city or hospital you want to work in, which may require you to switch companies. Working with multiple companies is a common practice amongst travelers.
If you’re traveling intention is to make some dough, there are plenty of hospitals in undesirable locations who offer crisis pay for a multitude of reasons. You also have the opportunity to sign contracts that guarantee you four shifts a week. You may not like the location but you will love your paycheck.
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I know nurses are awesome but it doesn’t mean that you will get every job you want just because you are a nurse. No matter what field you are in it is important to remain organized, prepared and competitive.
I believe the best way to make yourself standout in the travel world is with experience and a large skill set. The more years of experience and specialized training you have prior to starting your travel nursing career will make you stand out amongst your peers and open up opportunities for employment.
As a current traveler it is vital that you maintain a good track record and have positive evaluations. Having a variety of assignments, including both large and small, teaching and non-teaching hospitals is important.
In addition to maintaining your skillset, I also recommend that you stay organized. There is a lot of paperwork that goes along with travel nursing and it is up to you to maintain it. If a hot crisis pay job comes along or the destination of your dreams and you don’t have your certs up to date, then guess what, you missed out. Keep yourself organized and up to date. Your recruiter will love you for that.
Most of us aren’t in this career just for the money but receiving adequate pay for your hard work is vital to your job satisfaction. As you take more assignments you will learn that spending time negotiating deals while on the road takes time away from enjoying the real benefits of being a travel nurse; unless of course you are in this just for the money then in that case, more power to ya!
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The one thing I missed the most about being a staff nurse was the personal connections I had with my co-workers. When you spend 12 hours a day in the trenches of bedside nursing, your co-workers become your closest friends.
Making connections on the road can be difficult but not impossible. There are thousands of travel nurses looking to make the same connections you are. It just takes a little open mindedness and willingness to step out of your comfort zone.
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The personal benefits of connecting with your fellow nurses are limitless. Your co-workers provide support in difficult times, whether it be helping you through a stressful shift or having a shoulder to lean on during tough times at home.
There is no one in the world who can relate to you like a fellow nurse; not to mention nurses are extraordinarily fun to hang out with. As you probably know, it’s easier to hang with your co-workers because they have the same schedule and sleeping habits as you; they understand that if you work night shift, doing anything before noon is unacceptable.
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Not only are there personal benefits to befriending your fellow nurses but there are professional benefits too. We would all like to believe that getting a job in the medical field is based on your skills, experience and personality but the reality of the matter is that for the most part, it’s all based on who you know.
The nursing world tends to be small. Any one of your personal connections could turn into a professional connection, possibly giving you the inside scoop on a new job.
I also recommend talking with your fellow travel nurses about their contracts and the companies they travel with, especially if you are unhappy with your current travel agency. Ask them about where they have traveled and what hospitals and cities they recommend working in or avoiding; it may open your eyes to a destination you never even thought of or help you dodge a bullet.
Travel nursing can become very lonely especially if you know absolutely no one where you are heading. Learning how to connect with people will be vital to your happiness on the road.
There are many different ways to meet new people. Social and professional networking websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and allnurses.com allows you to connect with people without actually having to meet with them face to face.
Making new connections may be as easy as posting online that you will be traveling to a new city and are looking for recommendations on things to do. I met my fiancé in Los Angeles, California through a personal trainer I met in Tucson, Arizona. All I did was ask if he knew anyone in LA that could show me around and voila!
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I personally prefer to meet new people in person. Breaking the ice is actually quite easy with travel nurses. All you have to do is ask the nurse why they decided to travel. There is usually a good story behind this and it is one that you can probably relate to.
If you don’t like to get that personal right off the bat, then you can always start with asking where they are from and where they have traveled to. Three months is not a long time when it comes to making new friends so I recommend introducing yourself to your fellow travelers right off the bat in orientation.
This is a good time to connect with people on Facebook and let them know that you are open to hanging out. If there aren’t a lot of travelers at your hospital you can always join Meetup groups to find people to hang out with who have similar interests.
Connecting with new people on the road and in such a short period of time is difficult. You will have moments where you feel lonely but it’s important to keep in mind that in nursing you are never alone.
Travel nurses come and go but as demonstrated by Miss Colorado, Nurse Kelley Johnson, nurses all over this country and even the world are connected and have your back regardless of location.
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Although travel nursing has been around for a while, the curiosities surrounding the profession are still very prevalent. There are many myths and questions about pay, treatment and lifestyle that usually require some explaining, both to staff and patients.
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Here are some common questions I have encountered:
Your travel agency will pay for your housing, furnish it, set up your utilities for you and pay the monthly bill. If you want cable or internet access you have to set that up and pay for it yourself.
Most companies do not pay for a television, washer and dryer or a vacuum but you do have the option of renting these items from the company that furnished the apartment. All you have to do is let your recruiter know what you would like to rent.
You also have the option of taking the housing stipend and finding your own place to stay. If this is the case then all of the living expenses are your responsibility.
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There are many nurses that travel with their pets. You just have to let your recruiter know that you have a pet so they can find housing that is pet friendly.
There might be restrictions on what type of pet you can have and you may have to pay an additional security deposit.
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Travel nursing is ideally for single people or couples, however, there are a few folks out there who travel with their little ones.
If you do choose to travel with your family, your travel agency can set you up with housing big enough for everybody. Many of these families have one parent at home and choose to homeschool their children.
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Most travel agencies offer both health insurance and retirement with matching. The kicker is that you cannot take more than 30 days off to maintain your health insurance.
If you are one of those people who has the luxury of taking extended vacations, it may be wise to get your own health insurance.
Most companies do not offer Paid Time-Off (PTO) or short term disability. If you tend to play hard, I recommend getting some type of accident insurance so that you have some income coming in if you are not able to work; in the travel world, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid.
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I personally don’t feel that I necessarily had the worst assignments. It depends on what kind of patients you prefer.
Many places tend to give you the easy patients and leave the sick ones for their staff, at least in the ICU anyway. Some ICU nurses would consider these less sick patients the worst patients since they are probably not sedated and ventilated.
You are usually the first to float so if floating is miserable to you then you might consider your assignment “the worst.”
It takes time for the charge nurses to get to know you and learn what you can handle. You will find that if you extend at a place long enough you will feel less like the red headed step child.
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For me, the hardest part of travel nursing was the feeling of instability. It is exciting to see a new city every few months but packing up, moving and figuring out a new grocery store and gym was a bit exhausting.
You could relax for a little bit and then it was time to figure out and prepare for your next destination.
I also felt like at any moment my contract could end at any place at any given moment and I would once again be forced to repeat it all over again. If I had any suggestions, I would recommend that travel nurses extend in the places they felt most comfortable in. I think this can take away the feeling of instability, at least a little bit.
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If you are thinking about traveling, asking questions to anyone you come into contact with who is traveling or has traveled in the past is definitely a must.
The more information, the better; just be careful that their horror stories don’t deter you from making the professional leap. Everyone experiences challenging situations in their life differently. Some people embrace change while others may feel defeated.
I encourage you to face your fears head on and experience the wonderful world of travel nursing for yourself.
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Whether or not you are currently traveling or are thinking about it, we all have that dream travel assignment in mind. Some of us are looking to spend a few months hanging at the beach in Hawaii or rouging it in Alaska.
Finding the perfect destination is key to having an enjoyable travel experience. Landing that dream travel assignment is not easy; it will take a persistence, patience, sacrifice and preparation.
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Travel assignment availability is based solely on need. If you have a destination in mind, it might be wise to research when their busy time of the year is. If you are looking to travel to Florida or Arizona, keep in mind that snowbirds flock to those destinations in the winter so there is a need to increase staff based on increased population.
Because winter is a busy time of year for most hospitals, it is most likely that you will land that dream job during that season. California is the only place I know that always has plenty of jobs available year round.
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If you are looking to travel to Hawaii or Alaska, make sure you have your nursing license ready. The jobs here come and go so you need to be prepared at any moment.
You should also have a list of destinations in mind and make sure your recruiter is well aware of your travel goals. They will try to give you other assignments because they get paid more, so stay firm on where you want to go and don’t let them talk you out of it.
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Patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to landing your dream assignment; you are probably not the only one who has that dream. Making yourself standout amongst your fellow travel nurses is particularly important if you want to make it to your destination. Having certain certifications such as your CCRN, TNCC or NIH can definitely help you land your job.
Many hospitals also look at the number of years you have been a nurse and years as a travel nurse. If you are just beginning your travel nursing career then it may be slim pickins for your first few assignments; unless you have a specialty like open heart surgery, cath lab, neuro or OB. These specialty jobs are usually high in demand and pay more.
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The interview and selection process for hiring travelers isn’t that in depth. Most of the time your recruiter will describe the unit and types of patients they have and you say whether or not your skill set is appropriate for that unit. Your recruiter will forward the info to the manager of the unit and If everything checks out then you will most likely get the job.
There will be a few occasions where you will speak to the nurse manager of the unit. It is important that if you do speak to the nurse manager, you appear flexible and let them know you have no problem floating.
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As a travel nurse, your new found specialty will be flexibility and just like with anything else in life, sacrifices will have to be made to get what you want. Sacrificing pay, day/night shift preference, housing and having to float are just some of them.
If you want to travel somewhere bad enough, you will be surprised at what you are willing to do. I personally found that the only deal breaker for me was having to live in an extended stay. There is no way I could live for any amount of weeks without preparing my own meals. You will find your limits and what your deal breakers are after a few assignments.
The reason most of us get into travel nursing is because the idea of getting paid to see this beautiful country is an absolutely amazing experience. Having too focused of a travel plan can blind you to other opportunities that you might miss.
Since my first road trip when I was 16 to San Francisco, I have had it in my head that I wanted to live there. When I first started traveling I told my recruiter that my ultimate goal was to go to San Francisco. Because I was not an experienced travel nurse, there were no opportunities there for me.
Instead, I got to experience the music scene of Austin, Texas, work with awesome critical care nurse practitioners in Tucson, Arizona, meet wonderful friends and my future husband in Los Angeles, California, and drive across this beautiful country to Sarasota, Florida. I’m glad I remained flexible in my adventures. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for those unexpected experiences.
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Homesickness is defined by the English dictionary as “longing for home and family while absent from them”. Homesickness not only has a definition, but apparently it has symptoms as well: grief, nostalgia (a longing or wistful affection for the past), depression, anxiety, withdrawal, sadness, agoraphobia (fear of going outside), and claustrophobia.
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Sounds intense doesn’t it? Well, let me tell you that this phenomenon can make or break your travel experience. I have no doubt in my mind that every travel nurse has experienced homesickness at least once in their travel nursing lifetime. Because there is no medication to prevent it or treat it, I have researched a few methods to help combat it.
1.Research the city
Before you get there, plan your activities and fun sites to see ahead of time. Visit all of the touristy hot spots and fill in the extra time with your own beloved hobbies. If you did yoga, enjoyed hiking, went to the gym, or attended church every Sunday, then make sure those activities follow you to your new location.
2. Create a routine as soon as possible
If you can, follow the same routine you had at home prior to traveling. You might have more alone time in your routine so plan accordingly. Make your alone time productive. Learn a new language, read some books, or do a puzzle. Find a local coffee shop to sit in. Sometimes it just feels good to be around other people, even if you aren’t talking to them.
3. Take advantage of your new surroundings and try new activities
If you have been landlocked and are now by the ocean, take some surfing lessons. If you have been on flat land and find yourself in the mountains, go for a hike. Utilize Groupon and living social to help you find local activities at a decent price.
4. Seek out a group or even one person to hang out with
I know this may be challenging for some, but now is the time to exit your comfort zone. I have found the easiest way to meet people as a travel nurse is during orientation and at work. It’s easy to connect to other travel nurses because they understand your situation, they have similar schedules, and are usually willing to do touristy things with you.
5. Try to avoid staying too connected to people back home
I’m not saying cut them off completely, but distancing yourself from your friends and family will make it easier to enjoy new people and new experiences. I would recommend talking with friends and family from home maximum once a week, just to check in.
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6. Limit your time spent on Facebook and Skype
I definitely noticed when I saw my peeps back home doing fun stuff without me, nostalgia started to kick in and everything else seemed bleak in comparison.
7. Bring home to you
Convince your friends and your family to come visit you in your new city. Sharing experiences with other people can help keep your outlook positive.
8. Make your living space your own
Having familiar household items that you carry with you to each assignment can make each new apartment feel like home. I carried my favorite rug, Christmas cup, towels and dishes everywhere I went.
9. Get outside every single day
Find a local place where you can go for a walk, run or bike ride. Sitting inside watching Netflix all day or night can lead to a very depressing day. You would be amazed at how motivating sunshine can be.
10. Watch your favorite home team
I made it a point to find a local Denver Broncos bar in every city that I traveled to. This is also a good way to connect with local people. You will notice that you become increasingly patriotic about your home state the longer you stay away.
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Homesickness may seem unbearable when you are going through it and there are no guarantees that you will be able to avoid it. Like with anything else, prevention and education is key. Knowing the signs and symptoms allow you to understand that this is a natural way to feel and there are ways to combat it.
Becoming a travel nurse will single handedly make you the most independent person you have ever been in your entire life. Once you get the hang of being with yourself, by yourself, you will never be lonely again.
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I have to be honest – before writing this review I had zero apps on my phone related to healthcare, and now I have five. I have never been the technological type and for the last 10 years I have been relying on google, my critical care pocket guide and two folders full of reference pages when times get tough.
Because there is an overwhelming number of healthcare apps in my iPhone app store, I decided to rank my most recommended apps based on current reviews, stars they received and peer recommendations.
I purchased a few that looked interesting to me and downloaded the free ones so I could personally check them out. Here is a list of a few apps that I thought would be useful for both new and experienced nurses.
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There is nothing more frustrating than a language barrier. The hospital provides us with those trusty translator phones, but let’s be honest here, they are a pain to use every time you need to communicate. Here are a few apps that I recommend to help improve communication between you and your patients:
MediBabble Translator (3 Stars, 30 Reviews, Free) is a language translation tool made for the medical field that translates medical terms to different languages. It includes features such as a physical exam translator which is extremely helpful when dealing with sensitive exam maneuvers. The translation is written out and also has audio for those of you who are not familiar with the language. You also have the option of downloading multiple languages for free. I found this one extremely useful especially when dealing with sensitive, potentially uncomfortable situations.
Dr. Patti Medical Translations (5 Stars, 6 Reviews, $4.99) is also a medical translation tool. I added this one on here because it has the best reviews out of all the other apps. This app only focuses on Spanish, Mandarin and Pinyin. The reviews say that it is very easy to use and there is a youtube video attached to this link if you want to learn more about Dr. Patti and her app.
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For those of you who are familiar with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), you know that it can be difficult to remember all of the examinations and can be very tedious. Well guess what – there’s an app for that!
NIH Stroke Scale (3.5 Stars, 32 Reviews. $2.99) allows healthcare providers to quickly and accurately identify the severity of a stroke. It also includes a guide for t-PA administration. I rarely go to stroke alerts and I prefer to use my handy reference papers with all my stroke patients, but loved the ease of use on this one. There is a Spanish version of this app that also costs $2.99 that I’m still considering downloading.
NIH Stroke Scale from StatCoder (4.5 Stars, 5 Reviews, Free) is an app for iPhones that allows quick assessment and scoring of stroke patients. It’s easy to use and gives a description on how to perform the exam. I’m not sure I would put it to use because I prefer my papers instead, but would recommend it for physicians or ER nurses who need a quick result.
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Another nursing skill that tends to be tedious and confusing is reading ECG’s, especially when you don’t see every cardiac rhythm every single day. These ECG apps are a great reference for basic and 12-Lead ECGs.
Instant ECG (3.5 Stars, 414 Reviews, .99) helps you understand ECG physiology, identify waveforms and myocardial ischemia, and gives you the ability to test your knowledge. This app incorporates both strips and 12-Lead examples and also has a feature where you can play “movies” of ECG’s. There are many pros to this one, but unfortunately wasn’t able to get the video to work.
SubtleSTEMI (Unrated, Free) uses a formula to help practitioners quickly identify STEMIs. I downloaded this because my co-worker said she liked it and it’s free. While a bit basic, it’s a good reference when looking at a 12-Lead to determine if you have an emergency on your hands.
Pocket lab Values (4.5 Stars, 164 Reviews, $2.99) is an app gives a description of over 300 lab values, what color tubes they are drawn in and an explanation of various reasons why they may be out of whack. This was my favorite out of the three.
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For those of you trying to get your RN license, CCRN or are just looking to keep up with the latest evidence, I found a few apps that will help you study anytime, anyplace.
CCRN Exam Prep (4 Stars, 50 Reviews, Free) is a preview to the full $19.99 version. While it does have some great example questions, the free version is pretty bare. The full version boasts 700 questions and has rationale for each answer. This would be a good supplement to any book you are currently using to study. The full version cost $19.99 which is comparable to most CCRN study books which usually cost over $20, so buying the full app wouldn’t be a bad idea if you prefer to study on the go.
NCLEX RN Mastery 2015 (5 Stars, 283 Reviews, $29.99) I chose this app because all of the reviews are raving and carrying your phone around is way easier than lugging a book around. While pricier than most apps, it is well worth the steep price tag. With more than 1700 questions with rationales, mnemonics, quizzes, and so much more, this is truly a must have for anyone preparing for the NCLEX.
ICU trials by ClinCalc (5 Stars, 8 Reviews, $4.99 costs $4.99) This app keeps critical care professionals up to date on the latest evidenced based research; it highlights the findings so there is no need to read the full manuscript. Super user friendly and kept updated on a fairly regular basis.
The ability to use technology to make our nursing lives easier is a wonderful gift. Having information at the touch of a button is convenient and allows nurses to keep up to date on the latest and greatest information out there. It is important to keep in mind that you will not always have your phone with you to save the day and you should never allow technology to replace your professional judgement or your hospital’s policies and procedures. Use your apps wisely and remember that sometimes your best resource may be sitting right next to you.
