With gas prices going through the roof, travel nurse agency American Traveler recently surveyed traveling nurses about where they would most like to travel if they were given a free gas card. The online poll asked nurses whether they’d rather see:

• The Blue Ridge Mountains
• The Great Lakes
• The Pacific Coast Highway
• The Famous Route 66

 

And the winner – with 40% of the vote – was the Pacific Coast Highway. Most PCH fans noted its beauty and its jaw-dropping ocean views. One nurse said,

“I imagine the Pacific views, craggy cliffs, the sunset … and driving white knuckled. But what a thrill it would be!”

Winner or not, every one of these noteworthy drives has its supporters. The Blue Ridge Mountains won kudos for their “beauty and serenity”; the Great Lakes for brushing up against exciting cities like Chicago. And one of the more daring respondents said that they would like to scoot across Route 66 on their motorcycle.

Even with transportation costs soaring, the dream of the open road is still alive and well. That’s why American Traveler decided to offer a pre-paid gas card on selected travel nursing jobs — with the goal of providing travel nurses with more disposable income for dining out, gifts, entertainment, or maybe a special embellishment for that Harley.

Online poll results so far: Great Lakes: 12%; Blue Ridge Mountains - 24%; Route 66 - 24%; Pacific Coast Highway - 40%.

You can still tell them where you want to go. Take the survey here .

Although the housing market is weak and the cost of gasoline is soaring, the travel nursing profession is surging ahead. Demand for jobs in the healthcare sector remains strong, fueled by the influx of aging baby boomers and their children, reports the Associated Press and Money/CNN.

American Traveler, the nation’s largest independent travel nursing agency, reports March has been the strongest month of 2008 due to the dramatic increase of travel nurse jobs. In some cases salary ranges have reached $100K, depending on specialty and location. Says Mary Kay Hull, VP of Recruitment at American Traveler:

“Not only have we raised the bar on travel nurse salaries by as much as 20 percent in the last year, we’ve incorporated new benefits such as pre-paid gas cards on select assignments, a huge plus for professionals who typically do a lot of driving and sightseeing.”

As salaries for staff RN positions have flat-lined, hourly pay for travel nursing jobs has increased. Particular growth has been seen in the Pacific Northwest and in northeastern states like Connecticut. With benefits such as free private housing, travel and licensure reimbursements, free health insurance and education, it’s no surprise more RNs are choosing to travel as the economy cools.

“Take the cost of rent, health insurance and gas out of your financial picture and you find that your quality of life improves significantly. We’re prepared to give travel nurses everything they need to lessen the burden of living expenses while at the same time moving their careers forward,” said Hull.

Read more about Travel Nursing Jobs Flourish Despite Failing Economy

Whether we’re at home or on a travel nursing assignment, travel nurses are in a constant struggle to stay healthy.

We don’t recommend living in fear of microbes. No one wants to turn into Howard Hughes. Or Howie Mandel for that matter. But for those in the healthcare profession, hygiene does take priority. According to MSN and Prevention Magazine, here are a few of the germiest places in our homes - healthwise:

Worst place to set your handbag: The kitchen counter

Your fancy handbag is a swell mode of transport for germs: A woman’s purse gets parked in some nasty spots: on the subway floor, beneath the restaurant table— even on the linoleum of a public restroom. Put your bag in a drawer or on a chair, anywhere except where food is prepared or eaten.

Worst place for your sneakers and flip-flops: In the bedroom closet

Well, basically, anywhere that’s not just inside the front door. Walking through your house in “outdoor” shoes brings allergens and contaminants inside. Store shoes in a basket or under an entryway bench. If you must hide your shoes away in the bedroom, carry them there.

Worst place for your toothbrush: On the bathroom sink

There’s nothing wrong with the bathroom counter — but it’s awfully chummy with the toilet. When you flush, airborne toilet funk is propelled as far as 6 feet, settling on the floor, the sink, and your toothbrush. Ick. Best place for the toothbrush: in a nearby cabinet. Click here for more interesting tips on how to sanitize a toothbrush.

Worst place to set fruit before washing it: The kitchen sink

Of all the household germ farms, the sink sees the most bacterial activity, even more than the bathroom. The Food and Drug Administration recommends washing raw fruits and vegetables very well before you peel, cut, eat, or cook them. (Guess what cleaned most produce better than bottled sprays, according to the FDA? Plain old distilled water. )

The best thing you can do to prevent the spread of germs is good hand washing with soap and water — but you knew that already. The way you wash your hands is much more important than what you wash with.

After food prep, remember to clean your countertop, utensils, cutting boards (use separate cutting boards for meat, fish, poultry and produce). We like flexible cutting mats like these: lightweight, reasonably priced and easy to stow away. Wash kitchen surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item. And make sure you use a clean towel to dry off.

There is much debate about using products containing bleach, antibacterial cleansers or “green” cleaners. Whatever you choose, check the labels; many products advise leaving the cleansers on the surface for several minutes before wiping clean.

While we try not to get carried away with our cleaning rituals, we do derive some comfort from doing things the same way when we’re on a travel nursing job. Just one more way to make our new accommodations feel like home.

Chronic condition inspires a nurse to change her job — and her life

Dashing to high risk deliveries and pushing isolettes was no longer an option for Cathy Trumbull, RN. Six years ago, she was diagnosed with Pulmonary and Osteo Sarcoidosis, and the physical challenges of NICU nursing had become too demanding.

Sarcoidosis is a disease that results from a specific type of inflammation of tissues of the body. It can appear in almost any body organ, but it starts most often in the lungs or lymph nodes. As sarcoidosis progresses, microscopic lumps, called granulomas, appear in the affected tissues. The disease can develop gradually and go on to produce symptoms that come and go, sometimes for a lifetime. The cause of Sarcoidosis is unknown and to date there is no known cure.

Cathy did not permit her condition get in the way of her nursing career, or from helping others cope with this debilitating malady. She decided to switch from a hospital nursing position to corporate Clinical Coordinator for a travel nursing company in 2002. As a liaison to high-ranking children’s hospitals Cathy draws on her 20 years of NICU nurse expertise to help other nurses build successful travel nursing careers. Many nurse professionals like Cathy have found that making the switch to healthcare staffing is a rewarding career move.

In addition to her numerous professional achievements as a Clinical Coordinator, Cathy has formed the East Tennessee Sarcoidosis Support Group (ETSSG) and is involved in a national Sarcoidosis research project spearheaded by Dr. Wonder Drake at Vanderbilt University.

Cathy’s persistence led to Dr. Drake visiting East Tennessee this April, for a presentation to Sarcoidians and physicians on the remarkable research underway at Vanderbilt. Cathy also utilized her people skills and healthcare background to arrange a news interview with Dr. Drake on the nationally syndicated Dr. Bob Show.

“Nurses are often ideal people to start a medical support group due to their professional and personal background and their strong desire to help those in need. The ETSSG has been a great opportunity. It has been rewarding on so many levels.” – Cathy Trumbull, RN.

Cathy reports that April 2008 will be the first National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month. A nurse in Chicago (Glenda Fulton) pushed to have it added to the national calendar for several years and it finally made the list last October! Glenda is very active on the national/political scene and she will be presenting at the National Institute of Health and congressional hearings in June.

Additional information on Sarcoidosis can be found on the www.stopsarcoidosis.com website.

Do you know why there is a big nurse shortage in this country?

One of the reasons is because nurses are getting tired of their long shift hours and quitting their nursing career; some even retire early and move on to something else.

The average age of the nation’s 2.9 million nurses is 47; travel nurse jobs infuse life into exhausted but qualified RNs. Many RNs move on to a travel nurse career.

Now, the main reason for the nurse shortage is because we don’t have enough qualified nursing instructors. However, nurses have the option of becoming instructors, which they should seriously consider, or moving on to a few different corporate nursing careers later in life.  

So, the domino effect is simple…

Not enough instructors = Not enough nursing graduates = Shortage of nurses.

Read the article below, posted on 3/27/2008

Nurse, doctor issue taken to White House

The Council on Physician and Nurse Supply called for the White House to hold a conference to discuss the shortage of physicians and nurses. The council said the U.S. needs to graduate 30,000 more nurses annually to deal with the shortage.Also, the U.S. will also have a shortfall of 100,000 to 200,000 doctors over the next 15 years, the organization said.

“Access to healthcare services cannot be maintained, let alone expanded, unless we educate more nurses and physicians,” said Linda Aiken, professor of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania and co-chair of the council. “The shortage of nurses and physicians is a serious matter that should be addressed at the highest levels.“

The Council on Physician and Nurse Supply is based at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Study shows more nurses prefer benefits of travel nursing

Boca Raton, FL (MarketWire) March 25, 2008 — The ongoing nurse shortage, coupled with a heightened interest in travel nursing, has afforded nurses a boost in earnings and more opportunities in 2008, says travel nurse leader 50 States Staffing. As a result, more staff nurses are choosing to travel.More than half of the nurse respondents in a recent Medical News Today survey said that travel nursing is more

rewarding than working as a permanent nurse, with an overwhelming percentage rating flexibility and pay as the primary reasons for travel nursing.

“Salaries for permanent positions have flat lined due to the cooling economy,” said Debbie Bacurin, Clinical Resource Manager for 50 States Staffing. “In order to boost earnings, nurses are shifting to travel nursing, which often pays up

to 20 percent more than staff work and includes benefits such as free private housing, free health insurance, flexible scheduling and time off.“

Other high-ranking reasons nurses give for making the switch to travel include fewer hospital politics and the spontaneity and excitement of meeting new people and experiencing new destinations. “I’ve never had to miss a wedding and always spend Christmas with family and friends,” said travel RN, Nicole Gohring. “I planned to travel nurse for only a year at first, but it’s going on five now and the perks and flexibility are tough to beat.”

“With the noticeable uptick in travel nursing jobs comes the flexibility to renew 13 week assignments, opt for a new location or return home,” said Mary Kay Hull, Vice President of Recruitment for traveling nurse agency American Traveler. “This flexibility has more permanent position nurses calling and requesting traveling nurse assignments in high paying healthcare markets such as Seattle, Washington State and Northern California, where we have an increase of 32 percent in travel nurse job postings.”

Click here to read more »

For seasoned RNs who are tired of the physical and emotional drain of bedside nursing and long hours at the hospital, becoming a Clinical Coordinator at a travel nursing company may be an ideal career move.

Clinical Coordinators still use their nursing skills and education — only now they’re in an office environment with a team of staffing professionals. 

“I worked as a nurse on the floor for over 11 years then moved up to management where I was on call 24/7, 365 days a year. It got to the point where I was really drained by the physical and emotional demands of the job.”  – Deb Bacurin, RN

Deb Bacurin, RN said she took the job of Clinical Coordinator to improve her quality of life and spend more time with family and friends. She says her new job as a clinical staffing advisor brings her a lot of satisfaction. It was also a perfect opportunity to put an end to the stress and strain of floor nursing.

For more information regarding Clinical Coordinator positions, check out this travel nursing company’s career information page.

(And just as an aside, it can’t hurt to keep your sense of humor even when you’re feeling burned-out … there are plenty of folks out there who know what you’re going through!)

If you’re in the healthcare profession, you know how difficult it can be to tell a mastectomy patient that she has to go home without a proper hospital recovery period. Some patients are still so emotionally and physically stunned by the procedure that they can’t even process the instructions for home care. It seems the financial concerns of insurance companies and other parties are pushing many women through the healthcare system before they’re truly ready to be released.

 

Senator Landrieu (D-LA) and Representatives DeLauro (D-CT) and Moran (R-KS), are urging Congress to end the practice of “drive-through” mastectomies, when women are forced to leave the hospital following their difficult breast cancer surgeries before they and their doctors may feel they are ready to go home. Senator Landrieu and Representatives DeLauro and Moran are championing the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act (S.459/H.R 758), which allows a woman and her doctor to decide if she is best off going home or staying in the hospital for at least 48 hours after having a mastectomy.

 

The bill has stalled several times in Committee, but has gained a lot of momentum in the past year … mainly due to the support of some influential people in a wide variety of fields. There’s political support (from the likes of former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala), healthcare organization support (from the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and the Oncology Nursing Society, among others), and celebrity support (Desperate Housewives’ star Marcia Cross and pop singer Jewel).

Lifetime TV has also started an online petition to champion the bill! So far, over 20 million people have signed! It only takes a minute to add your support. Just go to this petition link at Lifetime TV. And while you’re at it, forward the link to a couple friends.

There are so many ways that travel nurses can be there for breast cancer survivors and research. There are hundreds of “Walks” and “Runs” across the country, but if you don’t find one nearby, you might want to think about starting one up at a local community organization or at your work, like this breast cancer walk sponsored by a travel nursing company.

If you, or anybody you know, have been affected by breast cancer, it’s worth your time!

 

If you’re really interested in tracking the progress of the Bill, you can do so here.

Five easy steps travel nurses can take to safeguard personal information

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as nine million Americans fall victim to identity theft each year. Identity thieves use your name, social security number, credit cards and other important financial account information to commit fraud and other crimes at the expense of your good reputation and credit. Don’t let this happen to you!

1. Safeguard your driver’s license, credit and debit cards
Always keep these items secure. Don’t leave them unattended in a restaurant or with tourism and hospitality personnel when you’re out recreating. There are many safe, secure, waterproof sacks and satchels available to protect these items while travel nurses are having fun in the outdoors.

2. Don’t ever give out personal information to people you don’t know
Not through the mail, not over the Internet and not over the phone. Don’t take special offers for granted and only use your social security number for personal travel nursing matters such as employment, education and financial and tax purposes. Should someone request your personal information, always ask them why they need it and if they sell it to third parties – and always make sure you have a way to contact them. When in doubt, never give personal information out!

3. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your PC and laptop while on the Internet
Always keep your personal computer offline when not at home and your email accounts password protected. Traveling nurses should avoid using obvious passwords such as the last four digits of a SS number, a birth date or other easy-to-obtain password possibilities.

4. Keep your personal information in a secure travel nurse housing location and keep your schedule to yourself
It’s best to secure personal documents and identification when leaving them behind for the day. There’s no need to keep others abreast of your daily travel nurse schedule or activities unless absolutely necessary.

5. Never leave important documents or identification behind when you move. Shred everything you don’t need
Traveling nurses should complete a thorough walk through of their apartment before moving to ensure that no personal information is left behind. Paper shredders come cheap and portable and are the most efficient way to destroy bills and other documents which contain personal information before throwing them in the garbage.

Make your traveling nurse experience the safest it can be by following these five easy steps. For more detailed information on identity theft, visit Travel Nurse Links & Resources to access the FTC’s Identity Theft Website.

In most cases, travel nurses live close to the hospital they work at. So, I suggest we all start being a little more conscious about saving our environment. That said, here are a couple of tips to consider when going green: 

• Consider walking or biking to work to help reduce gasoline use and emissions; and you can also help improve your cardiovascular health!
• Consider car pooling with one of your travel nurse friends. American Traveler and 50 States Staffing help travel nurses and their friends get jobs at the same hospital and save on some of their daily expenses, plus helping the environment with less pollution in the air.

Right now, if you are a travel nurse with American Traveler you can refer a friend and get $1,000 referral bonus.  If you are not a travel nurse with American Traveler, don’t wait any longer apply online now!