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.

Congress is engaged in a lively debate on Healthcare Reform, and President Obama has claimed that changing our healthcare system is a pre-requisite for economic recovery.  Along with patients, physicians, hospital administrators and insurers – travel nurses have a vested interest in a “healthy” healthcare system. After all, thriving medical facilities mean more travel nurse jobs, often among the first positions to be re-instated.

NPR reports that a Milwaukee hospital has just made the transition to Electronic Medical Records.  Says one of the physicians involved in the transition, “If you want to practice medicine in the not-so-distant future and you don’t want to use the EMR, you will not be practicing medicine. That’s the way it is.”  This means that travel nurses who are comfortable with online medical systems offer an increasingly valuable skill to employers. If you’re familiar with a widely installed system, make sure potential healthcare employers know about your skills. And if you encounter a new system, see if you can master that one, too! (Silver linings are everywhere, right?)

How Do I Qualify? RNs, PTs, OTs, and SLPs with a completed online application at American Traveler and who are eligible & qualified to work in the USA are qualified to enter the Drawing.

The winner will be awarded a $200 US Apple Store gift certificate. The iPhone is valued at $199 US.

Click here to learn more about iPhone contest with American Traveler

In an effort to keep experienced nurses in the workforce, more travel nursing agencies are catering to late-career RN’s — also known as “Baby Boomer” nurses. Travel nursing benefits like flexible schedules, education incentives, retirement plans and three day work weeks are particularly attractive to these valuable members of the profession.

With America’s nurse shortage becoming more critical, accommodating seasoned practitioners is vital. Fewer nurses are entering the profession than exiting, and travel nursing is an attractive choice both for Baby Boomer nurses who wish to continue working, and for healthcare providers in need of their expertise.

“Travel nursing careers promote a healthy, stable alternative to leaving the profession,” says Clinical Coordination Manager, Deborah Bacurin R.N., who points to surveys published by the Urban Institute. These studies suggest that Baby Boomer travel nurses are willing and able to work through their 50s and 60s, as long as employers are willing to furnish health and retirement benefits and a platform for professional development.

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