by Tatya H.P.
To anyone who has spent weeks and even months combing the classified section of their local newspapers looking for jobs, or the person working out of a temp agency who can only find employment that lasts for a couple of days or a few weeks it seems incomprehensible that a travel nurse is able to finish working on one assignment, pack their bags, and move seamlessly onto a new assignment in a different state. A good travel nurse doesn't have to return to their home town if they time their assignments right. It might sound incomprehensible but that is what happens.
If you stop to consider the situation travel nurses aren't really employed by the hospitals and medical facilities where they are working. Travel nurses are technically employed by the nursing agency. The agency gives each travel nurse a travel allowance. They find and in some cases fund the travel nurse's housing. They make sure that the travel nurse is legally able to work in each state. Most importantly the travel nurse's agency is the place where the paychecks come from.
The nurse's agency is where the travel nurse gets their latest work assignment. Each agency has their own policy for matching travel nurses with work assignments. Some agency's match new assignments with nurses who qualify for the position and are available to take it. Other agency's post a job board on their agencies website. When it is time for a travel nurse to find a new assignment they simply have to go to the agency's job board and search available jobs until they find one that sounds suitable for them, they then contact the agency, requesting the assignment.
Once a travel nurse makes a request for an assignment the agency double checks that travel nurse is qualified for the position. Once the agency determines that the travel nurse is qualified for the position they make sure that the nurse is also legally allowed to practice medicine in the state where the assignment is located. If the travel nurse needs to have paperwork filed in order to obtain a license in the state, the agency starts working to make sure it happens as expediently as possible
Once the travel nurse has been approved for the assignment, the agency starts looking for available housing. While the agency is looking for a place for the nurse to live the nurse needs to think about their travel arrangements. Most travel nurses drive to each assignment but some prefer to fly, especially if their new assignment is located in a large city where public transportation is provided and it is difficult to keep a car.
It is imperative the travel nurse's agency make sure that their nurses have plenty of assignments and that the travel nurses they employ are happy with their assignments. The agency's only make money if the travel nurses they hire are taking lots and lots of assignments. The smoother each assignment goes the more likely the travel nurse is to take on more assignments.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Housing the Travel Nurse
by Tatya H.P.
Travel nurses travel all over the country working in various hospitals and medical facility's for short periods of time before they move onto a different job. Working as a travel nurse lets them see various parts of the country, provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience, introduces them to new friends. Many travel nurses claim that working as a travel nurse gives them a renewed sense of patient focused nursing.
One concern nurses have when they are considering perusing a career in travel nursing is housing. They want to know where they will live while they are working in an unfamiliar part of the country. They want to know how they are going to be paying for their housing. They also want to know if the housing will be safe and clean.
Normally the agency the travel nurse works for is responsible for finding the travel nurses housing. They try to make sure that the housing is close to the facility that the travel nurse will be working at. They should make an effort to find housing that is comfortably furnished and is clean. The type of housing that most nursing agencies look for is furnished apartments that are available for a short term lease.
Financing the travel nurse's housing can vary from one agency to the next. Some nursing agencies give the travel nurse a living allowance while other agencies expect the nurses to pay for their housing themselves. Travel nurses need to read their contract carefully so that they will know whether or not they have to add housing into their budget.
Before a travel nurse enters into an agreement with a nursing agency they need to talk to other travel nurses that the agency already employs. Ask the travel nurses if the agency does a good job at locating housing for their nurses. Find out if the housing is normally convenient to the work site. Is the housing normally in a nice neighborhood or do the other travel nurses sometimes fear for their lives when they return to their temporary home. Does the nursing agency find housing that comes with maid service or will the travel nurse have to clean house in addition to their work duties.
Although it is not advisable for travel nurses to bring pets with them because the pets become stressed and disoriented by the constant moving around, if the nurse absolutely cannot live without their dog or cat they are going to have to make sure that their temporary housing allows them to keep pets. Also, if you are traveling with a pet, bear in mind that a majority of the time your new living quarters will be a small one bedroom apartment. The living quarters might be tight if they include you and a large dog.
Before you accept a position as a travel nurse consider the location and what you will require in the way of amenities. If it is summer time and you will be working at a medical facility in the south you will want to make sure that your apartment has a working air conditioner. Winters in the country's northern regions are cold. Make sure your northern housing has heat, also remember that cold winter climates mean you will have to wear extra clothing, including heavy boots and bulky coats, try to request that the nursing agency finds housing that has enough space so will have a place to store your outer garments.
Travel nurses travel all over the country working in various hospitals and medical facility's for short periods of time before they move onto a different job. Working as a travel nurse lets them see various parts of the country, provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience, introduces them to new friends. Many travel nurses claim that working as a travel nurse gives them a renewed sense of patient focused nursing.
One concern nurses have when they are considering perusing a career in travel nursing is housing. They want to know where they will live while they are working in an unfamiliar part of the country. They want to know how they are going to be paying for their housing. They also want to know if the housing will be safe and clean.
Normally the agency the travel nurse works for is responsible for finding the travel nurses housing. They try to make sure that the housing is close to the facility that the travel nurse will be working at. They should make an effort to find housing that is comfortably furnished and is clean. The type of housing that most nursing agencies look for is furnished apartments that are available for a short term lease.
Financing the travel nurse's housing can vary from one agency to the next. Some nursing agencies give the travel nurse a living allowance while other agencies expect the nurses to pay for their housing themselves. Travel nurses need to read their contract carefully so that they will know whether or not they have to add housing into their budget.
Before a travel nurse enters into an agreement with a nursing agency they need to talk to other travel nurses that the agency already employs. Ask the travel nurses if the agency does a good job at locating housing for their nurses. Find out if the housing is normally convenient to the work site. Is the housing normally in a nice neighborhood or do the other travel nurses sometimes fear for their lives when they return to their temporary home. Does the nursing agency find housing that comes with maid service or will the travel nurse have to clean house in addition to their work duties.
Although it is not advisable for travel nurses to bring pets with them because the pets become stressed and disoriented by the constant moving around, if the nurse absolutely cannot live without their dog or cat they are going to have to make sure that their temporary housing allows them to keep pets. Also, if you are traveling with a pet, bear in mind that a majority of the time your new living quarters will be a small one bedroom apartment. The living quarters might be tight if they include you and a large dog.
Before you accept a position as a travel nurse consider the location and what you will require in the way of amenities. If it is summer time and you will be working at a medical facility in the south you will want to make sure that your apartment has a working air conditioner. Winters in the country's northern regions are cold. Make sure your northern housing has heat, also remember that cold winter climates mean you will have to wear extra clothing, including heavy boots and bulky coats, try to request that the nursing agency finds housing that has enough space so will have a place to store your outer garments.
Destination Anywhere! The Traveling Nurse
by Tatya H.P.
A traveling nurse has much control over their life. They choose where they want to work and what assignment they want to work for, but do not let that fool you. There is a process to being accepted for the assignment you want to obtain.
Once you have joined with an agency that you feel suits you best and have been hired by the agency you will be assigned a personal recruiter who will help you obtain the assignments that you wish to be employed for. Discuss with your recruiter exactly what you are looking for in an assignment and the destination where you want to be employed. It is your recruiter's job to help you obtain those assignments. She will then match you with the best assignments suitable for the skills you have already obtained and the choices that you have stated.
When choosing your destination your possibilities are endless. If you are looking for warmth and beaches you can ask for destinations to be along the west coast or if you are looking for snow, skiing and the mountains you can request specifically by state and request that your assignment be in say Colorado. If you are more of a country girl at heart you can ask for assignments in rural communities and small towns or if you want nightlife, glitz and glam your choices are endless with the
top biggest cities that our country has to offer.
After your recruiter has found you an assignment that you feel will suit yours wants and desires you will then do a telephone interview with the hiring facility. Your recruiter should help you prepare for your telephone interview to help you obtain the assignment that you have chosen. Your recruiter will help you so that you will be prepared and have the best chance to obtain this assignment.
Once the facility has accepted you for the assignment the fun begins! The next step will be for you to obtain any of the licensure process or credentialing requirements that you may need for your assignments state. Most states offer a temporary license that is fairly easy to obtain quickly. Remember your travel nurse agency has been working with nurses, facilities and different states for as long as they have been in a business and the top agencies will know exactly what you need to do and how to go about getting the work done so that you will have no problems in obtaining your license in the state of your assignment.
After your acceptance your housing will start to be worked out so that when the times comes for you to go on to your new assignment your utilities will already be on and your new home during the assignment will be ready for your occupancy. Your travel nurse agency will help you with any details or problems that you will have a long the way to make sure your move into your new assignment goes as smoothly as it possibly can.
Along the way your private recruiter or someone from your agency will be keeping in touch with you to make sure everything is working out smoothly for you. Remember you are not a long and your agency is always a phone call away.
A traveling nurse has much control over their life. They choose where they want to work and what assignment they want to work for, but do not let that fool you. There is a process to being accepted for the assignment you want to obtain.
Once you have joined with an agency that you feel suits you best and have been hired by the agency you will be assigned a personal recruiter who will help you obtain the assignments that you wish to be employed for. Discuss with your recruiter exactly what you are looking for in an assignment and the destination where you want to be employed. It is your recruiter's job to help you obtain those assignments. She will then match you with the best assignments suitable for the skills you have already obtained and the choices that you have stated.
When choosing your destination your possibilities are endless. If you are looking for warmth and beaches you can ask for destinations to be along the west coast or if you are looking for snow, skiing and the mountains you can request specifically by state and request that your assignment be in say Colorado. If you are more of a country girl at heart you can ask for assignments in rural communities and small towns or if you want nightlife, glitz and glam your choices are endless with the
top biggest cities that our country has to offer.
After your recruiter has found you an assignment that you feel will suit yours wants and desires you will then do a telephone interview with the hiring facility. Your recruiter should help you prepare for your telephone interview to help you obtain the assignment that you have chosen. Your recruiter will help you so that you will be prepared and have the best chance to obtain this assignment.
Once the facility has accepted you for the assignment the fun begins! The next step will be for you to obtain any of the licensure process or credentialing requirements that you may need for your assignments state. Most states offer a temporary license that is fairly easy to obtain quickly. Remember your travel nurse agency has been working with nurses, facilities and different states for as long as they have been in a business and the top agencies will know exactly what you need to do and how to go about getting the work done so that you will have no problems in obtaining your license in the state of your assignment.
After your acceptance your housing will start to be worked out so that when the times comes for you to go on to your new assignment your utilities will already be on and your new home during the assignment will be ready for your occupancy. Your travel nurse agency will help you with any details or problems that you will have a long the way to make sure your move into your new assignment goes as smoothly as it possibly can.
Along the way your private recruiter or someone from your agency will be keeping in touch with you to make sure everything is working out smoothly for you. Remember you are not a long and your agency is always a phone call away.
Choosing the Right Agency: Travel Nurses
by Tatya H.P.
When its time to choose the right agency to which you will become employed with what exactly do you look for? First look for an agency that has the values you want to instill in your nursing career. It's most important to make sure the agency you are working for treats there employees good and is there for their employees when there employees need guidance. Look for an agency that offers 24 hour support for any of your possible needs that may arise.
You will also want to make sure the agency you choose is well known and respected and those they have a viable databank of jobs available for you to choose your assignments from. You want to make sure the benefit packages that the agency offer are competitive to what other agencies are offering.
Does the agency offer medical malpractice insurance? Is it free? Do they offer you sign on bonuses, medical benefits, travel reimbursement? Travel reimbursement is one of the top things you will want to look for since this can be come costly to pick up and move when your assignment is over and move on to the next one.
First you need to ask yourself what exactly are you looking for the agency to offer you as an employee from there you can
make a list and then start to research into different agencies and find the one that best suits your needs and desires.
When contacting agencies never be afraid to ask them certain question you feel may be important. If an agency is not willing to respond to your questions or give you the time of day before you are hired that is a big indicator that you could have trouble down the line with this agency when you may truly need guidance and help. You may at that point want to keep looking into other agencies.
Choosing the right agency is essential as you plan for successful and fruitful career in becoming a traveling nurse. You can also ask an agency if they would be willing to put you into touch with other nurses who work with their agency to see if travel nursing is the way for you to go. Then you can talk to other nurses and see if they are comfortable working for the agency and ask them how any problems have been handled.
If an agency acts in a professional helpful manor the whole time this is a good indication the agency cares about their employees and will do what is necessary for you.
Other important information is to find out how long the agency has been in business, do they carry any awards or licenses?
How do the facilities that use them regard the agency? Ask to view a contract before you agree to any hiring process. You may also want to find out how your personal information is treated and will you be dealing with a team of people or will you have more interaction with say just a few people. Sometimes the more individual treatment is more important to some then to others.
When you feel fully comfortable that you have found the right agency for you then comes the time to sign up and begin your rewarding journey into becoming a traveling nurse.
When its time to choose the right agency to which you will become employed with what exactly do you look for? First look for an agency that has the values you want to instill in your nursing career. It's most important to make sure the agency you are working for treats there employees good and is there for their employees when there employees need guidance. Look for an agency that offers 24 hour support for any of your possible needs that may arise.
You will also want to make sure the agency you choose is well known and respected and those they have a viable databank of jobs available for you to choose your assignments from. You want to make sure the benefit packages that the agency offer are competitive to what other agencies are offering.
Does the agency offer medical malpractice insurance? Is it free? Do they offer you sign on bonuses, medical benefits, travel reimbursement? Travel reimbursement is one of the top things you will want to look for since this can be come costly to pick up and move when your assignment is over and move on to the next one.
First you need to ask yourself what exactly are you looking for the agency to offer you as an employee from there you can
make a list and then start to research into different agencies and find the one that best suits your needs and desires.
When contacting agencies never be afraid to ask them certain question you feel may be important. If an agency is not willing to respond to your questions or give you the time of day before you are hired that is a big indicator that you could have trouble down the line with this agency when you may truly need guidance and help. You may at that point want to keep looking into other agencies.
Choosing the right agency is essential as you plan for successful and fruitful career in becoming a traveling nurse. You can also ask an agency if they would be willing to put you into touch with other nurses who work with their agency to see if travel nursing is the way for you to go. Then you can talk to other nurses and see if they are comfortable working for the agency and ask them how any problems have been handled.
If an agency acts in a professional helpful manor the whole time this is a good indication the agency cares about their employees and will do what is necessary for you.
Other important information is to find out how long the agency has been in business, do they carry any awards or licenses?
How do the facilities that use them regard the agency? Ask to view a contract before you agree to any hiring process. You may also want to find out how your personal information is treated and will you be dealing with a team of people or will you have more interaction with say just a few people. Sometimes the more individual treatment is more important to some then to others.
When you feel fully comfortable that you have found the right agency for you then comes the time to sign up and begin your rewarding journey into becoming a traveling nurse.
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