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In my opinion, there are 3 elements that can make or break a nurse’s 12 hour shift; the behaviors of his/her patients, the neediness of their family members and the overall health and well-being of the nurse. I have been a nurse for almost 10 years and have finally come to a place in my career where I can say that 90% of my shifts are relatively stress free.
I attribute this stress free nurse life to a few things; working night shift, sleeping plenty, not taking things personal, and developing certain routines that I can apply to all of my patients. Because working nights and sleeping may not be an option for some of you, I have developed a few “nurse life hacks” that everyone can incorporate into their daily nursing lives.
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Taking care of patients with certain diagnoses can be a challenge some days. Developing a routine on how you approach these patients will improve the quality of your life and the patients all at the same time.
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Learning tricks on how to insert foley catheters and NG tubes is an interesting and important part of nursing, however, I believe in the larger scheme of things. Setting up a routine in your daily nursing life is a much more effective way to save time and energy. Initiating a routine will not only greatly improve your job satisfaction but will also help improve the quality of life of your patients and their families.
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Travel nursing has its many challenges and staying healthy while on the road is definitely one of them.
If you already have a healthy lifestyle, then staying healthy while traveling will be a snap. If you are someone who hasn’t found the time to acquire healthy habits, then travel nursing is the perfect opportunity to do so. With careful planning and research all travel nurses can learn to manage stress, exercise and eat healthy while on the road.
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Moving to a new city, starting a new job and being alone are all very stressful situations, especially when they all happen at the same time. Avoiding a mental breakdown is key to becoming a successful travel nurse, or any nurse for that matter. My best advice to new and seasoned travelers is to plan, plan, plan, and prepare yourself for occasional boredom. Before starting a new travel assignment I highly suggest you:
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Exercise by itself is a great way to manage stress. If you already have an exercise routine, then researching local gyms in your new area is all you really need to do. It tends to be a lot easier if you belong to a nationwide gym like 24 Hour or Lifetime Fitness, so you don’t have to pay initiation fees every time you move.
If you don’t belong to a nationwide gym, then I recommend looking on Groupon or Living Social to see about getting a discounted monthly membership to a group fitness gym. Group fitness is especially good for those of you who don’t already have an exercise routine and tend to be a little lost in the weight room. This is also a good way to meet people.
If you happen to be traveling to an outdoorsy state such as Colorado, then going to a gym may not be necessary, as there are plenty of parks and hiking that you can do for free; all it takes is a little motivation. I like to pick a local race that I can train for such as a 5k or half marathon. I did my first triathlon in Texas, which was a great training experience. I also brought my bike with me to all of my travel assignments. Making exercise a normal activity in your life takes time. Find something that you enjoy doing; there is no need to suffer your way through it.
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Stress management and exercise are key components to feeling great, however nutrition, I believe, is of utmost importance. What you put in your body effects your energy level, your mood, how well you perform at work and changing your eating habits can seriously impact the size of your wallet. Eating healthy is probably the most challenging lifestyle habit to change and one that I have personally mastered, even on the road. Here are my suggestions:
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Travel nursing provides you with a unique opportunity to get to know yourself. As a seasoned traveler you will have mastered navigating a stressful work environment, discovered what activities you enjoy the most and have hopefully become a somewhat decent cook. Take this quality time with yourself to practice what you preach and fine tune your own healthy lifestyle…your body will be forever grateful.
RNs can make up to $2,300 per week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
Are you looking to become a Registered Nurse (RN)? Or maybe you are already an RN and are looking to advance your career? Well let me tell you, that you are definitely on the right path to a very rewarding future.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) estimates the projected job growth for Registered Nurses is 19% from 2012 to 2022 and the outlook for Advanced Practice Nurses is even higher at 20%.
For many of you who are pondering the idea of becoming a nurse or advancing your career, the path to this rewarding future may not be so clear. There are numerous options out there, all the way from online courses to full blown doctorate degrees in nursing! The opportunities are endless and all of these options can be overwhelming… so let’s start from the beginning.
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As of now, it only takes two years of schooling to become a Registered Nurse. Nurses who graduate from a two year program receive an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN). This degree can be obtained from a community college or vocational school. ADN programs tend to mainly focus on nursing skills such as administering medications, performing assessments, dressing changes, pharmacology, math calculations, and basic nursing concepts rather than theory.
The benefits of going through an ADN program versus a Bachelor’s Degree (BSN) program are that it is shorter (2 years vs 4 years) and can be cheaper if you go to a community college; most vocational schools are for-profit, so they can be just expensive as a four year college. Another benefit is that one year into the program you can apply to take your practical nursing (PN) test and if you pass, you can work as a practical nurse while you finish your ADN. PN’s can do basic nursing skills such as administer medications and dressing changes but they cannot do assessments.
The downside to only having your ADN is that most hospitals these days are only hiring BSN nurses and are requiring the current ADN nurses to get there BSN. It is also important to note that nursing managers and community health nurses are required to have their BSN, so career advancement may be a challenge if you only have an ADN.
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If career advancement is something you value, then obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) may be the better path for you. A BSN takes approximately four years to complete; I say approximately because it took me six years while working full time. BSN programs tend to be a little more comprehensive than ADN programs; there is more classroom and theory on top of your required clinical time. Examples of theory based classes include evidenced based research and nursing leadership. The BSN programs prepare you for not only bedside clinical nursing but for a leadership role as well. BSN nurses tend to be more hirable and have more opportunity for growth.
There is not a significant pay difference among ADN and BSN trained RN’s. According to the Bureau of Labor and statistics Registered Nurses make approximately $65,470 annually. The downside to getting your BSN is that is does take longer and you might end up with more student loans at the end.
If student loans don’t bother you or you are a BSN nurse who is ready to take your career to the next level, then obtaining your Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) may be right for you. There are numerous types of (MSN) programs out there all focusing on different specialties. MSN in education and leadership programs prepare nurses to become educators, Clinical Nurse Specialists, nurse managers and even Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs). For those of you who prefer to work five days a week, with no holidays, weekends or nights, the education and leadership focused path may be good for you. These nursing professionals also tend to get paid a little more. The average annual salary according to the Bureau for Labor and Statistics is $88,580.
MSN programs focusing on becoming Advanced Practice Nurses, such as Nurse Practitioners, Midwives and Certified Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) provide nurses with the education and skills to diagnose and treat patients under a physician’s supervision. These programs allow nurses to be more autonomous and specialized with their practice. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average annual salary for advance practice nurses is $73,410 with CRNAs making the most money at $158,900 annually. The only disadvantage I can see to obtaining your MSN is time and money spent getting your degree.
If you are still not satisfied with having your MSN or are looking to have an impact on the population as a whole, then a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) may be right for you. DNP programs provide nurses working in advanced practice roles and leadership with the knowledge to impact health care policy. Many of these nurses become college professors, researchers and political figures. The programs are usually two years in addition to your MSN program and of course cost more money.
If you are considering joining the nursing profession, I suggest taking your pre-requisite courses at a community college and transferring to a four year BSN program to obtain your RN license. This is the cheapest and smartest route. If time is an issue for you than obtain your ADN first with the expectation that you will at some point have to obtain your BSN. If you are looking to further your education as a nurse, there are multiple online programs for those ADN nurses who are looking to get there BSN. Some of these programs even combine the BSN and MSN so that you can go straight through without stopping. I recommend avoiding private universities as these tend to be more expensive.
As with anything else in life, it is important to take this professional journey one step at a time. The opportunity for growth in the nursing profession is endless. Choosing to become an RN or further your education can be a timely and expensive process, but in the end, priceless.
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For me, deciding to become a travel nurse, was way more of a personal goal than a professional one. Even before starting nursing school, I knew that traveling was an activity I enjoyed and even think it played a role in me becoming a nurse in the first place. I am going to share my personal travel story with you, along with all my fears and how I prepared myself for the greatest adventure in my life thus far.
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I spent my entire life living, working and attending school in Colorado and I was in need of a change of scenery. My goal was to use travel nursing to explore cities I have never been to, looking for a place that I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I love warm weather, so I kept all my travel assignments in the southern part of the country chasing summer. I also needed a break from my family. I don’t know about any of you, but my family will suck the life out of you if you let them. The third reason I decided to travel was more of a professional one. I only knew of one way of taking care of patients and wanted to see how other facilities functioned in order to expand on my own skills. I was also very involved in the politics of the hospital and was becoming very frustrated with the lack of change that was occurring. I guess you can say that I was in search of a place that could offer me peace and tranquility in both my personal and professional life.
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I started preparing myself for travel nursing approximately 6 months prior to my first assignment. I worked with a travel nurse previously who gave me the name of her recruiter and that’s how I chose my travel agency. I didn’t do any research about the company because honestly I didn’t know much about the profession. I had all the paperwork completed within 2 months but I wanted to make sure I had my CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) certification prior to traveling because I thought it would help me get better travel assignments. In between studying for my CCRN and filling out paperwork, I moved out of my place and into a temporary living situation. I downsized all my belongings, only keeping the necessary things that would fit in my SUV.
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I had heard from some nurses that travelers get treated poorly, floated first, and often get stuck with the worst assignments. Being treated poorly was a fear of mine in the beginning, but I quickly learned that people will only treat you poorly if you let them. I was fortunate to “grow up” in an ICU where people were free to speak their opinions without judgement, so I felt very comfortable standing up for myself when I needed to. In reality, I was never treated poorly and most people were very friendly and helpful. They didn’t give me the worst assignments as I feared and in fact, my assignments were really great most of the time.
Another fear of mine was that I was going to lose my critical care “skills.” As a travel nurse, some places will not give you the CRRT’s, swans or the balloon pumps because they have their own staff to take those patients who are certified with that particular equipment. Despite not receiving these types of patients, I still had my fair share of sick ones; Plus, re-learning how to use that equipment is like riding a bike. In reality, I learned many other skills, like being flexible and going with the flow, that are much more valuable than working a machine. In fact, it was my experience with floating that landed me my current staff position.
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I knew there were many benefits to traveling, tax free money, free housing, getting paid to travel, and flexibility with time off. What I didn’t realize was that my experience as a travel nurse would forever change the way I take care of my patients, my lifestyle and how I value my family and friends. Not having to participate in the politics of a hospital allowed me to focus on the most important part of nursing…taking care of patients. Floating to different floors allowed me to see how other nurses cared for their patients and ultimately influenced the way I care for mine. I no longer felt the moral distress that accompanies nurses who continuously work in the ICU.
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Traveling has made me simplify my life. I realized that I don’t need as much stuff as I thought I did. I lived out of my car for 2 years and survived just fine. Experiences are now more valuable to me than material things. I developed a new sense of pride for my hometown. I realized how amazing Colorado really was and how much it had to offer. I realized that I don’t hate the cold as much as I thought I did. Traveling brought me closer to my friends and family. I didn’t realize how much I missed them until they were too far away. I learned what I love…being active and also what I hate… big cities. I believe that my travel nursing experience brought unimaginable insight into my life.
I know I would not be where I am today, personally or professionally without having experienced travel nursing. At this stage in my life, I feel that being a staff nurse is in my best interest, but the allure of traveling has not left me. I will travel again but next time it will be for different reasons and without fear and worry.
I have always found the most exciting thing about starting a new travel assignment is getting your schedule and planning your activities. It is not uncommon for the nurse manager on your floor to have your schedule done for your first few weeks by the time you hit hospital orientation; after all, you are there to fill a need.
Most people are generally good about scheduling travelers fairly; meaning not every weekend or spreading your days out (especially on night shift) but this doesn’t happen all of the time. It is important to keep in mind that as a travel nurse your primary role is to help this specific hospital with staffing and to be flexible. If you know you need to have a particular day or weekend off, then it is best to have it written into your contract prior to your start date. I have found many nurse managers are willing to work with your schedule. If you are like me and can’t stand working 3 days in a row, most of the time they will be open to scheduling you accordingly. You can also trade shifts if necessary with the regular hospital staff if you need time off.
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Travel nursing is flexible in many different aspects, however, assignment start dates and number of hours worked are not one of them. Assignment start dates are based on that specific hospital’s orientation dates, which are usually every 2 weeks. The human resources department and your nurse manager have to prepare for your arrival by scheduling preceptors and so on, so it is vital that you stick to your intended start date. There are some facilities that will actually charge you a fee for canceling your contract prior to starting or changing your start date.
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The search for a new travel assignment usually begins approximately 1
month before your current contract ends. Your company likes to have you thinking ahead 2 months before your contract ends to prepare for licensure and other required education. I have signed a new contract within as little as 2 weeks prior to my start date, which I would not recommend. If you are new to traveling, then the search will begin once you have all of your paperwork completed. When you are searching for a travel assignment, your nurse recruiter will be able to tell you when the start date is, whether it is a day or night shift position, and if it will be 12 hour shifts or some alternative (the majority of travel assignments are 12 hour shifts with the exception of interventional radiology or cath lab positions, which are usually four 10 hour shifts or five 8’s); It is important to understand these three elements before starting because they are usually set in stone; remember, you are there to fill a need and it is expected that you work as your contract says you are going to.
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As with any healthcare setting, there will be times when your facility is slow and may need to cancel one of your shifts. The number of shifts that you are allowed to be cancelled are written in your contract. Most companies allow you to be cancelled 1 shift per pay period without having any financial penalties such as paying for your housing. If you call in sick often or are not meeting the minimum required hours to pay for your housing, meal stipends and other reimbursements, then you may be required to pay out of pocket for those expenses. There are very few travel nursing companies that offer vacation or sick pay, so it is of utmost importance to be financially prepared for time off. I would recommend purchasing your own accident insurance to cover your bills in the event that you are hurt off the job; in the travel world, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. This is also the case for time off in between assignments. If there is a specific city that you want to travel to but the start date is many weeks after your current assignment ends, it is possible to extend for a few weeks if your company allows it so you don’t go unpaid for such an extended period of time. Hospital orientation is paid for but may leave you short a few hours, so make sure you budget appropriately in between assignments.
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Being flexible and adapting to a constantly changing environment is what being a travel nurse is all about. Companies choose to hire us because they know they can count on a travel nurse to get the job done on short notice and a small amount of preparation. Understanding what is expected of you and coming to your travel assignment prepared mentally, emotionally, physically and financially sound are all important aspects of being an experienced and well-traveled travel nurse.
