It won’t be long before most medical professionals carry stethoscopes AND smartphones on the job.

According to a report by Manhattan Research, 64% of U.S. physicians currently own smartphones, and that number is expected to increase to 81% in 2012.

Trend watchers predict that healthcare workers will use online resources more frequently and that offline resources such as books and printed journals will become a complimentary, rather than primary resource. A larger number of nurses and physicians will perform a broader and more complex range of functions on their mobile devices, including administrative tasks and patient monitoring.

It’s all about the apps!

The Medical Software Advice blog released a study of smartphone use among medical professionals, showing Apple’s iPhone with a leading market share, and BlackBerry, Palm Pre and Google phones also making a respectable showing. The survey’s respondents overwhelmingly said they selected their phone based on the available apps and the ease of use.

Mobile phones with medical apps can offer a real advantage if you’re a travel nurse who would love to carry a full library of medical resources in your pocket. No more lugging around those “go-to” research tools (even something as basic as a calculator) or counting on every destination hospital to have a particular clinical resource that you’ve come to rely on.

Who should try travel nursing?

Here’s what American Traveler, leading travel nurse company, discovered to be 2009’s top 10 locations for travel nurses, along with several popular specialties. Even in this tough economy, experienced nurses can still travel to beautiful parts of the country, make new friends, and learn new skills at a new hospital.

Travel nursing is the perfect opportunity for nurses looking to explore the country while earning a higher nursing salary with excellent benefits. Travel nurse jobs usually last for 13 weeks, during which travel nurses receive free private housing, free health, life, and dental insurance, licensure reimbursement, free continuing education classes, and tax advantages, and can earn up to twice as much as an individual in a permanent nursing position.

Beyond the financial benefits, travel nurses are given a great deal of  flexibility in their work. As a travel nurse, you can choose your own start dates and can include vacation time in your contract. Whether you want to work in a big city or a rural town, there is a travel nursing job that’s right for you.

Top 10 Travel Nurse Locations for 2009

Reno, Nevada – Reno is Nevada’s “Biggest Little City” and is rated among the best places to live and launch a career; more information about Reno on CNNMoney.com. This fast growing valley city offers nurses superb quality of life and a temperate climate featuring four distinct seasons with few extremes. Learn more about travel nurse jobs in Reno.

Greenville, North Carolina – North Carolina nursing jobs are in some of the fastest growing cities in the nation, internationally known for state-of-the-art healthcare and advanced medical research at Triangle Park and Duke University Medical Center. In addition, outdoor lifestyle is amazing!  Learn more about travel nurse jobs in North Carolina

Boynton Beach, Florida – Boynton Beach is part of West Palm Beach County, in Florida. This location offers world-class warm sandy beaches, steamy nightlife, trendy shopping and Florida stone crab and lobster!  Learn more about travel nurse jobs in Florida

Santa Clara, California – Santa Clara is located in the center of Silicon Valley and is home to the headquarters of many high-tech companies. In addition, California jobs have it all – gorgeous beaches and Surf City to the south; wine country and winter snow-capped mountains to the north. Learn more about California nursing jobs

Tyler, Texas – Nurse jobs in Texas will take you to the nation’s second largest state and home to three of the country’s largest cities: Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. While music and art lovers engage the galleries, nightlife and big performance venues of Austin and San Antonio. Learn more about Texas nursing jobs

Oakland, California – Oakland is a working-class Bay Area city with a temperate climate and spectacular redwood hills for hiking and camping. The Raiders, Warriors and Athletics provide enough professional sports action for nurses in California. Oakland is minutes from San Francisco and a short few hours from Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe and wine country. Learn more about Oakland nursing jobs in Oakland

Bridgeport, Connecticut – Bridgeport is down the road from New Haven’s Yale Campus and about an hour by train to New York City. Bridgeport runs along the Interstate 95 corridor, granting easy access to Stamford, Darien and Greenwich, wealthy sister cities where great dining, galleries and jazz clubs fill the bill. Learn more about Bridgeport life and nurse jobs

Fairfax, Virginia – Nurses in Virginia enjoy days and weekends on the beach and road trips to Washington D.C. for high-end shopping, libraries and social networking. Learn more about Virginia nursing jobs

Los Angeles, California – Travel nurse jobs in LA show you coastal beauty and cool city culture! Venice Beach is a must with its boardwalk of cool characters, unique boutiques and eateries. Santa Monica and Hollywood provide more classic California ambience. More about Los Angeles nurse jobs and lifestyle

Bronx, New York – Travel nurses enjoy New York because it has everything they want in terms of outdoor recreation and indoor entertainment – trendy SOHO living, galleries, nightclubbing, dining and shopping in NYC, as well as the up-and-coming outer boroughs. Learn more about nurse jobs in New York

More Popular Nurse Specialties in 2009

In 2009, particular specialties were also in higher demand, specifically critical care travel nurses in Reno, Greenville, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and Redwood City, California. In addition, medical/surgical travel nurses in Reno, Greenville, Boynton Beach, Bronx, and Syracuse, New York.

Missing from this list are 2008 travel nurse favorite locations such as Tucson, Phoenix, and Sierra Vista, Arizona. If you have been a travel nurse in the past, you might know that Arizona has typically been one of the top three travel nursing states (along with California and Florida).  However with the current economic climate, Arizona has reduced its reliance on travel nurses. According to American Traveler Director of Hospital Marketing, Dennis Urbanski, the downtrending economy has led to a reduction in patient revenue and an increase in non-insured patients, causing hospitals in Tucson and Phoenix to offset costs by relying on their core staff rather than on contingent labor, like travel nurses.

Even though the economic situation is still challenging, travel nurses remain in demand in other states around the county. For more information about travel nursing jobs, visit American Traveler and check back on this blog for our next post about 2010 Top Travel Nursing Job Locations and more. Our expert consultants will help you find the perfect travel nursing jobs to meet your current and future needs.

A devastating earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, destroying much of the capital city. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and dangerous aftershocks have followed. Food For The Poor will be gathering and posting info on their Haiti Update page. Your help is urgently needed to bring immediate emergency relief to those affected. Please join us and give to the Haiti relief fund.

Click here (www.foodforthepoor.org) to make a donation to those struggling to survive this natural disaster.

Forget about eggnog and wassail (whatever that is) … this time of year millions of us are craving the specialy holiday coffees at Starbucks. Just one of those little indulgences — every once in a while — that are become part of the season. And part of what makes them so special is that once the holidays are over, the beverages are, too. No more peppermint lattes until next November, so enjoy a little splurge now!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, but nurses are always central to improving awareness of cancer prevention, screening and treatment strategies. Breast cancer is still the most common cancer among women in the US. The good news is that the death rate from the disease is falling, according to a recent American Cancer Society report. Though there have been many wins, the fight is still far from over.

This month, as always, it is a key part of many nurse’s jobs to emphasize the benefits of healthy lifestyle changes and potentially life-saving procedures like  self-exams and mammograms. There are many misconceptions in the general population about causes of cancer, treatment options and survival rates. Patients (and friends and family, too) should be encouraged to consult knowledgeable experts like their family physician, or even reliable online sources like WebMd or the Susan G Komen Foundation.

Nurses often deal with the physical and emotional consequences of cancer in their patients.  Patients and their loved ones can feel helpless in the face of a frightening diagnosis. Volunteering is a great way to regain some personal control, and October is the month to do it. Many organizations sponsor walks, runs, and even special shopping nights. The American Cancer Society’s local event finder tool is a great place to start looking for one in your area: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PAR/PAR_9_Calendar_Of_Events.asp.  (Especially useful if you’re a travel nurse and want to participate but are new to your location.)

Nurses — along with all health care workers — get a special boost out of participating in local breast cancer awareness events.  Getting involved demonstrates your concern for the community as well as support for your own friends and family.

Flu season is starting up again, and so is the news about H1N1 — commonly known as Swine Flu. Nurses are exposed to more viruses than the general public, and some hospitals and jurisdictions are strongly encouraging their healthcare workers to get vaccinated.  The vaccine is expected to become available by early October.  New York is the first state to make the vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers, and many of them are not happy about it.  There have been formal protests from union officials and rallies in the state capital.

Some of the objections to vaccination mirror those found in the general population: fear of needles — even in healthcare workers  (the vaccine will also be produced in nasal mist form), the belief that a vaccine is unnecessary if good hygiene practices are followed, and concern that the vaccine itself makes recipients sick. But the most common objection is the reluctance to have a individual health choice determined by an outside party.

Still, many nurses and other hospital workers were planning on getting vaccinated anyway. Many physicians and nurses feel that any impetus toward widespread vaccination will help ease what is expected to be an exceptionally busy flu season.

Travel nurses who have been planning to take travel nurse jobs in New York state (or other locations, for that matter) may want to check with their travel nurse agency about vaccination requirements as the season draws near.

These days we’re hearing lots of news about the healthcare job market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released a report showing that healthcare is one of the strongest economic sectors — with an increase of 20,000 jobs in July. Bearing those numbers out, travel nurse staffing company American Traveler has seen a 100% increase in the number of available travel nurse jobs vs. six months ago.

Overall, no one expects the nursing shortage to go away long term. In fact, earlier this week, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Northwest Health Foundation issued a Call for Proposal for Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future (PIN), an initiative that works on the nursing shortage at the community level through partnerships with local groups.

PIN will award up to $250,000 to qualified foundations and charities that develop projects that increase:

• the diversity of the nursing workforce
• the number of public health nurses
• the number of nurses specializing in geriatric and long term care
• leadership training programs
• nursing faculty development

In the July/August 2009 issue of Health Affairs, Dr. Peter Buerhaus and his coauthors wrote that despite the current easing of the nursing shortage due to the recession, the U.S. nursing shortage is projected to grow to 260,000 registered nurses by 2025.  A shortage of this scope would be twice as large as any nursing shortage experienced in the U.S. since the mid-60s.

So all nursing students, graduate nurses, and travel nurses as well should take heart.  Your skills will be highly sought-after for years to come. And to those experienced RNs with an interest in higher education, know that the need for nursing professors will be even more acute.

The nursing job market is turning around even as we speak, with demand for travel nurses expected to be one of the first areas to experience the shift. Consider applying for travel nurse jobs now so you don’t miss the sea change!

These days a background check and clean criminal record are expected in many professions, and the standards in healthcare (travel nursing in particular) have always been high.  And now Florida has tightened its standards.

A new law, 456.0635, Florida Statutes, now disqualifies health professionals from licensure or license renewal if they have been convicted of or plead guilty/nolo contendere to certain felonies involving drugs, abuse, violence, or fraud, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application.

During the Florida Board of Nursing meetings in August 2009, applications were denied to several candidates seeking exemption for minimally offensive felonies that had taken place between five and fifteen years ago.  The Florida Board of Nursing has issued a notice to all nursing school deans and directors in the state and posted a link on their web site under the heading “IMPORTANT NOTICE.”

Your travel nursing agency should be able to assist you with licensure questions because travel nurse jobs often require you to practice in a number of states. While some states may have mutual agreements or reciprocity, many do not. Different states and jurisdictions have different requirements as to which categories of misdemeanors or felonies must be reported to medical licensing boards, as well as  which offenses may result in a revocation, suspension or denial of licensure. Be sure to check your local board(s) if you’re at all concerned.

You may find the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to be a good place to start.

In today’s tough economy and job market, finding job stability seems an impossible task. Labor specialists agree, however, that health care jobs are on the rise. With the baby boomer population aging and in need of medical care and physical rehabilitation, the demand for physical therapy services will only continue to grow.

SmartMoney.com recently released an article declaring healthcare related fields to be one of the smartest areas of study for college students. Physical therapy currently boasts an unemployment rate below .5%. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2016, nursing employment should increase by 23%, and physical therapy employment should increase by 27% as the aging population causes a heightened demand for rehabilitation centers and therapy facilities.

In 2007, the Chicago Tribune listed physical therapy jobs second in its list of the top five careers for job satisfaction; so why is there still such a shortage of physical therapists? Many believe it’s because educational requirements and expenses have increased in the last decade. Just over ten years ago, a bachelor degree, plus appropriate licensing for physical therapy jobs, was enough to become a practicing physical therapist. Since then, two-year masters programs and three-year doctoral programs have sprung up and become the standard. Current legislation seeks to ease this strain by attempting to amend the Public Health Service Act to include loan repayment for physical therapists working with under served populations, in an effort to replenish the physical therapy profession.

For more information on a career in physical therapy and how to get physical therapy jobs, visit the Travel Force website.

Whether you’re a recent grad just starting out on your nursing career or a seasoned pro, staying current with your profession can be time consuming. American Traveler’s new Nurse Career Resources page is designed to help travel nurses find the perfect travel nurse job and transition smoothly into new employment — wherever it may be.

The Nurse Career Resources page spotlights American Traveler’s most recent travel nurse job postings and links to national healthcare employment opportunities, with plenty of opportunities for registered nurses specializing in critical care, labor and delivery, med/surg, and more. Travel therapy jobs are also available through American Traveler, with open positions in occupational therapy, physical therapy and many other rehabilitation therapy specialties.

Even if you’re not new to the profession, you’ll still want to stay up-to-date on developments in the nursing field. You can track the latest healthcare news from the health.com and J&J from one convenient spot. The page also provides links to nurse credentialing and licensing sites. And for your personal life, there are useful links for staying healthy, wealthy, and (maybe) wise.

No matter where you are in your nursing career, American Traveler’s Nurse Career Resources page has something to help enhance your future in the profession.

Travel nurse jobs are a great way to sample different healthcare settings and visit exotic locations. Some travel nurses find an assignment they like so much, they decide to make it permanent. Either way, American Traveler’s Nurse Career Resources provides leads for moving and relocating, along with city guides to help new arrivals learn more about their destination, and networking resources for connecting with neighbors and colleagues. Connect with fellow travel nurses online through American Traveler’s facebook fan page and twitter updates, or advance your career with links to American Traveler’s Continuing Education services and discounts on nursing publications.