NurseZone Blog: Ask The Expert

Finding Services and Travel-Related Resources

2009-05-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

I want to try travel nursing, but I am nervous about leaving home. If I go somewhere new, how will I know who to trust for my repairs and services?I know where to go for everything that I need. I have spent a long time figuring out what companies are reliable, who to take my car to for repairs etc. Any advice?I know this sounds scary, but you may find that you won’t actually need that many

Do I Really Need to Use an Accountant to do my Taxes as a Traveler?

2009-04-06T11:04:00.001-07:00

From my experience as a traveling nurse, I have learned that taxes for travel nurses are a lot different to taxes of a non-traveler. The first year I worked as a travel nurse, I didn’t use an accountant and, as a result, I was not aware of all the extra benefits and deductions that I was eligible for. I ended up regretting that I didn’t go to an accountant because I would have done things

What if I Don’t Know Where I Want to Go?

2009-03-25T09:24:00.000-07:00

Q: I am considering working as a travel nurse, but what if I am unsure about the places I want to travel to? Do I need to have specific locations planned out for months ahead of time before I start traveling? A: One of the greatest things about working as a travel nurse is that you can be spontaneous and make decisions on the go. You don’t need to have your destinations planned out months in

Should I Accept Company-Provided Housing or Should I Find my Own?

2009-02-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

As with most things, there are pros and cons with both. If you select the company-provided housing, you have the advantage of not having to do anything. Your travel nurse company will do all the work for you, including arranging for furniture delivery and getting the utilities set up in advance. They even pay the rent directly. All you have to do is show up and unpack! Most company-provided

What is it Like to Work in Different Areas? Are the Patients Different?

2009-02-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

Yes, as you travel from region to region as a travel nurse, you will notice that some things are the same and some things are different. For example, a broken bone is a broken bone, a telemetry patient is a telemetry patient, but depending on where you are working, you may notice some changes in the patient population and the kinds of illnesses that are most prevalent. Patients will vary

Dealing with Generational Differences

2008-10-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

I recently got asked by a younger nurse how she could avoid dealing with older nurses when she travels from one facility to the next. She said she found them difficult and wanted suggestions on how best to deal with getting along with them. When I was younger, I used to think that I had to quit nursing by a certain age to avoid turning into an older nurse with an attitude! However, now that I am

How Do Travelers Develop Professionally?

2008-10-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Travel nurses have the unique experience to develop professionally in a variety of ways throughout their assignments. From working with many different experts around the world to learning new techniques and skills, travelers have ample opportunity to develop professionally on each and every assignment. They are also exposed to all types of technology utilized in their field across the United

How Can I be Sure that I’ll Get Good Housing on my Travel Assignment?

2008-10-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

Feeling comfortable, secure and happy in your new residence is important. You want to feel that you have a nice place to retreat to at the end of your shift, where you can relax and not worry about anything. The good news is that most travel nurse companies go to great lengths to find comfortable and secure housing for their travelers. However, they may not be able to go to all of these places in

Are You Allowed to Bring Pets When You Travel?

2008-08-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

You’ll be surprised by how many travel nurses take their pets with them on the road. It is becoming more and more common, and travel nursing agencies are very accustomed to finding accommodations for nurses who bring their furry (or feathery) companions with them from one assignment to the next. Be sure to tell your travel nursing agency about your pet companions before you take an assignment, so

Has the high cost of traveling affected the travel nursing industry?

2008-08-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

That is a really good question and considering the state of the economy and the all-time high gas prices, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to believe that travel nursing jobs have been affected, tooHowever, the nursing shortage continues and that is what drives the demand for travel nurses. I haven’t seen any decrease in travel nursing jobs and I know that several of the larger travel

Is it True That I Can Make More Money as a Travel Nurse?

2008-08-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

In general, traveling nurses do often make good money and have more opportunities to get ahead financially. Their willingness to be away from the comforts of home is considered warranted for a higher wage. However, it’s not just the hourly rate that is better. Traveling nurses who maintain a permanent residence are also entitled to many additional tax benefits that can really add up. Being

Travel Nursing as a Relocation Tool

2008-07-25T11:34:00.000-07:00

Our society is so mobile nowadays that more than likely most of us have moved at least a few times in our life. However, I am sure many of us can also think of times that we didn’t move because we weren’t sure of what to expect. Is it really too rainy in Seattle for me? Is New York too busy and crowded? Would I be able to handle living in snow? Am I too liberal to live in more conservative areas?

My Orientation Experience in Hawaii

2008-07-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

For all you travelers out there who go through numerous orientations, I thought I would share my latest story with you about my orientation in Hawaii.I started a new job in Hawaii—a place that takes some adjusting to if you come from anywhere else in the world, where things are dictated by the clock. In Hawaii, everything gets done on their own timetable. If you have an appointment, you will

I Want to Work at Reputable Facilities as a Travel Nurse. Do You Have Any Suggestions?

2008-07-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

I have a little two-sided advice for travelers who are looking to work at the most prestigious facilities in order to advance their reputation while traveling. First of all, if you want to know what hospitals are considered reputable, you can go to the U.S. News and World Report. Many of these top-rate facilities may have good reputations in the medical community for various reasons, but that

What if I go to an Assignment and I Just Don’t Fit in?

2008-04-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

It’s always scary going to a new place and to adjust to a new work environment where you’re surrounded by people you don’t know. However, from my experience as a travel nurse, it usually didn’t take long to find people that I felt comfortable with who helped me get up to speed quickly. However, if you continue to feel that the assignment is not a good fit for you, it isn’t that bad because you

Feel Like You're in a Rut? Travel Nursing Could be the Answer

2008-04-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Travel nursing is definitely a great way to get out of a rut. As a travel nurse, you will be on the road to a world of new adventures and opportunities, and will get to see places you never imagined . With travel nursing, everything changes. Your work place, technology, culture, living space, colleagues, daily routine, activities—even your drive to work— all change at the same time. It’s

Is Travel Nursing Best Suited to Any Specialty?

2008-04-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

Nurses are in demand across the country and that includes travel nurses in practicalluy every specialty, including areas such as the ICU, ER, OR, telemetry, labor and delivery, progressive or step-down care, the neonatal unit, pediatrics, post-anesthesia care, med-surg and oncology. Dialysis is also a specialty that has seemed to flourish over the last few years. The nurses that sometimes have

Is Travel Nursing a Stable Career Option?

2008-03-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

I am glad this question has been asked. Since travel nursing is basically a temporary job assignment within a facility, travel nursing itself has also been viewed as temporary. However, a strange dichotomy exists here. Although the assignments are temporary, the number of travel nursing assignments in the United States is constantly growing. Why? The nursing shortage that is predicted to be

Make Sure Your Licensure is Current Before Traveling

2008-02-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

I get a lot of questions regarding licensure and traveling. It is vital that your licensure is current before taking an assignment.Currently, I don’t know of any companies that will send you on a travel assignment with elapsed time on your resume. I know it seems like those five years of experience should count for more. Granted, they do help your resume look better when being considered for a

Travel Nursing to Help You Get Organized

2008-02-11T09:47:00.000-08:00

Travel nursing is an excellent way to improve one’s organization. Someone who starts a traveling career often gets better over time and more organized naturally. A traveler learns the best agencies to work for, what to negotiate for and how to negotiate, more and more tax advantages and how to pack for their next trip. As you travel, you get better and better and therefore, most of the time, your