Travel Nurse Blog – OnwardHealthcare.com

Travel Nurse Checklist Helps RNs Prepare for Assignments

Steve Dobrowski — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:44:00 -0400

When embarking on a rehab or travel nursing assignment, you want to make sure that you are well suited to live comfortably for a period of 13 weeks or longer. Unfortunately it’s not possible to pack up your entire home and take it with you, especially when flying to your new location. So how does one go about deciding which items are essential and which ones are just taking up space? Onward Healthcare has developed a travel nursing checklist to help nurse travelers make such decisions.

The Onward Healthcare travel nurse checklist was designed as a packing guide for travel nurses preparing for the typical 13-week assignment. With the help of many of our experienced nationwide nurse travelers, we have compiled an easy to follow list of everything a nurse might need while on the road.

The travel nurse checklist details clothing, toiletries, apartment amenities and miscellaneous items that one might need on a travel nursing assignment or any standard vacation. While you may need to bring some additional items based on your arranged accommodations, forecasted weather and planned activities of your destination, this list is the perfect resource to ensure you have all of your standard items for day-to-day life.

Visit the travel nurse checklist page and download a packing list before your next travel nursing assignment or family vacation.

MikeReinold.com - PT Blog

Steve Dobrowski — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:21:00 -0400

As a follow-up to our recent post on the Top 51 Physical Therapy websites, Onward Healthcare would like to offer additional recognition to Dr. Mike Reinold, whose blog MikeReinold.com was left off our list. Obviously this was an oversight on our part, as the respect for Dr. Reinold spans throughout the industry. Such admiration was demonstrated by his colleagues such as Dr. Jason Harris, who recognized his website's placement on the Top 51 PT sites on his Evidence Based Rehab Blog, but also pointed out the absence of Dr. Reinold's inclusion.

So to all of our PT audience, we would like to take the time to spotlight mikereinold.com.

Dr. Michael M. Reinold, PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS is considered a leader in the field of sports medicine and orthopedic rehabilitation and specializes in all aspects of care of shoulder, elbow, and knee disorders. Dr. Reinold is currently the Rehabilitation Coordinator & Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Boston Red Sox and also Coordinator of Rehabilitation Research and Education of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine Division, of Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Sports Center in Boston, MA. In addition, he is Adjunct Faculty at Northeastern University in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. Dr. Reinold has published over 50 journal articles and book chapters in publications such as AJSM and JOSPT and is on the International Review Board of the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies and the review boards of 4 journals.

His Blog focuses on the discussion of current concepts and recent advances in orthopedics and sports medicine for physical therapists, athletic trainers, and other rehabilitation specialists and can be found at MikeReinold.com.

Onward Announces Top 51 Physical Therapy Resources on the Web

Steve Dobrowski — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:56:00 -0400

Following the recent success of our Top 101 Travel Nursing Links, Onward Healthcare is once again excited to announce our list of the Top 51 Physical Therapy Resources on the Web. The list was developed by Onward's marketing and recruitment staff with the help of many of our nationwide physical therapists.

The top physical therapy resources differs slightly from the travel nursing list in that it focuses entirely on industry specific sites for physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, physical therapy job seekers, PT students as well as travel physical therapists. The list was broken down into eight categories, which range from informational sites, interactive resources, PT Blogs and social media sites, as well as an extensive list of nationwide physical therapy organizations and sections of the APTA.

We hope that this list proves to be a valuable resource to the physical therapy community, and will act as a one-stop web page to bookmark and come back to for your physical therapy news and needs. For those travel physical therapists looking for additional information on relocation, we encourage your to visit our Top 101 Travel Nursing Websites and check out the last nine categories, which focus on travel, housing, getting settled and staying connected to family and friends.

Click here to view the Top 51 Physical Therapy Resources on the Web.

If your organization was named as one of the Top 101 PT Resources, please visit the page to find out how to download an award's badge to place on your website.

If you have any suggestions for additional physical therapy websites, please email us or leave a comment below.

3 More Travel Nursing Websites

Steve Dobrowski — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:36:00 -0400

We would like to thank all of the nurses and organizations who took the time to give us a pat on the back regarding the recent release of our 101 Best Travel Nursing Websites. As part of the initiative, we encouraged our readers to email in any sites our team may have overlooked during the process. Below are three sites that we feel are worthy additions to the list.

TravelNursingBlogs.com is full of travel nursing advice and resources, whether you're just learning about travel nursing or you're a travel nursing pro.

Note: Kudos to TravelNursingBlogs.com who were quick to name themselves as the 102nd Best Travel Nursing Website following the release of our list. After seeing their immediate reaction to news in the travel nursing industry, we now can't help but agree!

Ultimate Nurse is all encompassing travel nursing site offering the latest nursing news, as well as forums, photos and videos for the travel nursing community.

The TravelNurseSource.com Blog offers extensive content on all things nursing as well as featured content by registered nurses directed toward the travel nursing community.

Keep them coming! If you know of any other websites that should still be added, please email us with your suggestions.

And stayed tuned for our upcoming 51 Best Physical Therapy Websites!

Onward Announces 101 Best Travel Nursing Websites

Steve Dobrowski — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:22:00 -0400

Onward Healthcare is excited to announce our list of the 101 Best Travel Nursing Websites. The list was broken down into 20 categories and voted on by members of the Onward Healthcare staff with the help of some of our travel nurses. We hope this proves to be a valuable resource to all travel nurses.

The links range from nursing specific sites and organizations to online communities in which to meet new people in your area and find local clubs, groups and social organizations. Click on the link below to view the entire list.

View the 101 Best Travel Nursing Websites.

If your organization was named as one of the Top 101 Travel Nursing Websites and you would like to download an awards badge for your site, please click on the link below.

Download your winner's badge as one of the best travel nursing websites.

Integrating Nurse Travelers into your Facility

Steve Dobrowski — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:06:00 -0400

Nurse travelers who successfully integrate into hospital environments make for happy travelers. And when travel nurses are happy, it reflects in the quality of patient care and the relationship between the traveler and the permanent staff, which results in a better work environment for all involved. Happy travelers might even elect to become permanent staff or tell their friends about their great experience with both their facility and their agency.

So what is the key—taking simple, but deliberate, steps with travelers can make all the difference, experts say. The work toward integrating this new member of the team starts before that travel nurse sets foot on the unit floor, says Deb Shea, Onward Healthcare’s vice president of travel nursing.

Shea, who has 12 years experience in the travel nurse industry, says the reality for nurse travelers is that they are often expected to be independent on the floor within a couple of shifts. "The hospital wants to hire a travel nurse with little orientation, having them up and running as quickly as possible, so the floor can operate like a smooth running machine," Shea says. "While the traveler is a big part of that equation, the nurse manager and staff also help to fuel or dampen that traveler’s ability to do a good job."

Shea recommends that nurse managers keep these best practices in mind when integrating nurse travelers:

Choose a travel nursing agency that recruits nurses with the travel mentality
Onward’s nurse recruiters are trained to look for nurses who have the right mentality for travel assignments.

"To be a traveling nurse, you need to be flexible. You have to be willing to float, and be willing to go into an environment, accepting that environment for what it is," Shea says. "The nurses we hire to work for client hospitals have to be ready to jump in, steal a piece of the unit and pretty much do what they are told. They march to a beat at one assignment and march to a different beat at the next."

Nurses with the right attitude in travel nursing can dock without that anchor of permanency, according to Shea. Without that attitude, it is almost impossible for a client hospital to begin the integration process because the traveler will inevitably buck the system.

Be upfront
Honesty begins during the interview. Be candid about the good, bad and ugly of your work environment. Travel nurses often respect the manager who is transparent; as a result, the traveler walks onto the floor knowing what to expect. It’s the surprises that cause many nurse travelers to think twice about their assignments.

Cover all the bases
Tell your travel nurse what he or she needs to know about the job and community before he or she arrives.

Here is a checklist of must-cover topics for the interview. Tell your travel nurse:

What shift they will need to work.
What your expectations are about holiday and weekend work.
Whether they might have to change shifts during their assignments.
What type of clinical experience they will need in order to be up and running on the unit.
Whether they will need to float to other units.
What type of charting you use.
What your nurse-to-patient ratio is.
How long your orientation for travelers is and what it entails.
Whether there are other travelers on the floor.
About the community--its nightlife, populations served, etc.

"If you cover these bases, the nurse understands your expectations and is more likely to stay if he or she accepts the assignment," Shea says.

Treat the traveler as you do your permanent staff
Hospitals that welcome nurse travelers into the "family," reap the benefits with nurses who are best able to deliver quality of care.

"Some hospitals have higher expectations of the travelers than of the permanent staff," Shea says. "If they have their permanent staff work every other weekend, for example, they might have travelers work two weekends, one on and one off. That creates animosity."

It is important that the leader—the nurse manager—treat the nurses equally. The staff will then most likely follow. Rather than focus on what types of nurses you have, focus on the fact that all the nurses are charged with providing excellent patient care and all need the socialization and clinical tools to do that.

Include the traveler, socially
Hospitals that reach out to their travel nurses help to make those travelers feel more comfortable in the environment. One example: If you have a social event for your regular staff, include your nurse travelers.

Consider a traveler buddy system
Some hospitals assign a nurse to be the traveler’s "buddy," charged with answering questions and even being available after hours by phone for a few days to help get the traveler acquainted with his or her new surroundings. This helps to make the integration more seamless for the traveler and involves the staff in reaching out to their traveler team members.

Stay connected
Most problems with nurse travelers and newly assigned hospitals surface in the first two or three weeks of the assignments. It is important for nurse managers to check in with the travelers during the first or second week and ask them if they need help. This can help to smooth out difficulties before they become full-blown trouble.

Take a few minutes to participate in Onward’s performance evaluation
Trained members of Onward Healthcare’s Quality Assurance Department call nurse managers a few weeks into each assignment to do a performance evaluation. The five-minute survey can alert Onward about issues early in an assignment. Onward follows up by counseling the nurse to smooth out the issues; so, it helps the hospital better integrate that traveler.

As busy as the hospital environment can be for nurse managers, taking the five minutes to do the survey can save time, prevent nurse travelers from wanting to leave and could boost the chances that the traveler will want to stay on for additional assignments, Shea says.

"In the end, it’s all about taking simple steps toward optimum patient care," Shea says. "Most hospitals have a consistent need for travel nurses. Being upfront, covering the bases and providing the traveler with an equal playing field go a long way to create a win-win-win for nurse travelers, hospitals and patients."

By Lisette Hilton, Featured Contributor

Staying Fit on your Travel Assignment

Steve Dobrowski — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:18:00 -0400

With the New Year having just passed, millions of Americans have just made commitments to better themselves in 2009. According to a survey by Enhanced News Online on the Top New Year’s Resolutions for 2009, ‘Lose weight’ ranked #2, while ‘Develop a healthy habit’ ranked #3.

As a travel nurse or allied professional, you’re one of the marathon runners of healthcare. You work long hours, and are away from home for months at a time. Since even a little sniffle can throw you off your game, you owe it to yourself and your patients to stay in tip-top shape. Unfortunately, maintaining good health on a travel assignment takes more than a daily dose of vitamin C—you have to care for your mind, body, and spirit to minimize the probability of getting weighed down by stress, illness, or lack of motivation. Here are some tips on staying fit on your travel assignment.

Common sense

Washing your hands frequently is the oldest health advice in the book, and it’s because it works. Take the extra effort to scrub up now and again with a little antibacterial soap.

Good nutrition goes a long way, too. A balanced diet of lean proteins with lots of fruits and veggies, along with some healthy fats, will help fuel your body through stressful times. Make things easier on yourself by stocking up on grab-and-go foods like nutrition bars, carrot sticks, berries, and apples. Prepare as many meals at home as possible. Not only is it healthy—it’s also cheaper.

Try to get several hours of uninterrupted sleep. Eight hours of shut-eye might seem like an impossible dream, but at least make time for power naps. Lack of sleep leaves you less resistant to illness and negatively affects your mood and your ability to make quick, sound decisions.

Get the blood flowing

Regular exercise is one of the major keys to good physical health on a travel assignment. “When I relocate to a new city,” says Tonya W., an Onward Healthcare traveler, “I get out and start walking within a quarter of a mile radius to where I’m living. Not only is the exercise great, but I check out local boutiques, and search for little cafes nearby where I can sit on my days off.”

Most apartment complexes also have on-site gyms, but if they don’t, make it a priority to locate one nearby. Investigate local facilities that may offer short-term or trial memberships, including the local YMCA. Another option is to purchase a regular membership at a national chain with reciprocal privileges, like World’s Gym, Curves, or 24-Hour Fitness.

Managing stress

Keeping your stress level under control can be one of the most challenging aspects of your job. Physical exercise helps in this regard, but consider taking up yoga, meditation, or deep breathing techniques to stay relaxed and strengthen your immune system. Cassandra Lindquist, a Corporate Trainer and Recruiter with Onward Healthcare, recommends that nurses travel with a portable DVD player and a collection of yoga videos. Another trick to travel nurse fitness is to load relaxation audio sessions on your MP3 player; download a free program at www.lifelines.com to see if this technique might work for you.

Always make time for the things you enjoy on your travel assignment. Marathon runners break up their grueling training schedule with massages and relaxing baths. Travel nurses and allied professionals deserve the same indulgences.

By Barbara Eisner Bayer, Featured Contributor

Top Travel Nursing Assignments for Autumn

Steve Dobrowski — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:43:00 -0400

The English Romantic poet Percy Shelley once wrote: “There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in the sky.” As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to choose which location will be in harmony with your needs. Do you want to bask in Florida’s warm ocean breezes, soak in California’s sunshine, or revel in the vibrant palette of the Northeast’s falling leaves?

Go with the flow

Demand for travel nurses tends to follow population shifts. When snowbirds head south to warmer climates for the winter months, for example, nursing opportunities in those areas increase. In the fall, the Northeast’s brilliant, colorful foliage, and crisp, clear weather, drive tourists and part-time residents to New England. As a result, the healthcare facilities of Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont are eager to bring on additional travel nurses for the early fall.

Many hospitals in Florida, a very desirable winter location, have already begun hiring. They need to prepare their nests for the influx of snowbirds. As a result, they’re interested in booking nurses who can stay throughout the entire season, which ends in April. This way, they can guarantee coverage when it’s needed most. Several California facilities are also pre-booking for November, December and even January.

Think one step ahead

One of the most important things that you can do now is plan ahead for the winter season. Population swings can be more pronounced this time of year, which opens up opportunities for hospitals in warmer climates. If you want to head to sunny shores in December, January, and February, you must plan early. California, Florida, Arizona and Texas tend to be popular winter destinations for nurses. Ski resort states like Colorado and Vermont have a healthy demand, too. The jobs are out there, but they fill up quickly.

Ultimately, when you get the assignment you want, you’ll be glad you planned ahead—even if it means that you’ll be Christmas caroling with your patients.

Tips for landing one of these desirable gigs:

Be flexible. In the fall and winter months, there are three major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. To get the assignment you want, be ready and willing to work two out of these three holidays. Flexibility goes a long way in the selection process; all else being equal, you’ll be chosen over someone else if you’re willing to be there when other nurses insist on turkey feasts, Christmas dinners, and college football bowl games.
Be open with your recruiter. Talk to your recruiter about which factors are most important to you. It might be the money, climate, or region. Matching you up with your preferences is the key to your happiness on the job.

Top travel nursing assignments for autumn:

CA (Northern & Southern) - Summer is over, the tourists are gone and the weather is cooler. What better time to plan a California assignment and experience all the state has to offer. Enjoy picnics, camping, biking, hiking or any activity in which you can enjoy the clean, crisp air and take in the tidbits of autumn that Cali has to offer!
Immediate needs for: Peds, NICU, PICU, L&D
New York City, NY – Fall in NYC is the perfect time to enjoy the city. The mild weather is ideal to walk around the city and discover all it has to offer. Enjoy the buzz as the big stores begin to stock for the holidays and the city prepares for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Immediate needs for: ICU, OR, Tele
Tulsa, OK - The breathtaking foliage of fall does not occur solely in the Northeast. Fall is a great time to visit middle American states, such as Oklahoma. As the weather begins to cool, it is the perfect time to explore the emerald hills of Oklahoma, an outdoor lover's paradise home to more than half of Oklahoma's state parks.
Immediate needs for: ER, ICU, Tele
Seattle, WA – While you may not find the foliage you will in the Northeast, fall is still an exquisite time to visit Washington and explore the beauty of its numerous parks and mountains. Enjoy numerous outdoor festivals and wine tastings, in addition to all that downtown Seattle has to offer.
Immediate needs for: ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Tele
Anhorage, AK – While Alaska may not seem like the ideal fall destination, many true travelers will tell you other wise. The crowds are gone, the animals are still out, the viewing of the Northern lights is the best it is all year! In addition, the cost of living drastically cut, even though the hospitals are still paying top dollar.
Immediate needs for: ICU, Med/Surg, Tele

Onward for a Cure: Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Steve Dobrowski — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:26:00 -0400

This October, organizations across the country will follow in the footsteps of the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation and bring the fight against breast cancer to the forefront of our society. This year, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign celebrates 23 years of educating the population about the awareness and prevention of the disease.

Since our inception in 2002, Onward Healthcare has devoted much our our corporate charity efforts to the fight against breast cancer. For the forth year in a row, members from Onward’s corporate offices across the country, as well as many of our nurses and allied health professionals, will take part in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks to raise money for education and research. Making Strides is a series of nationwide noncompetitive walks, which raised over $50 million towards the fight against breast cancer in 2007.

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and rapidly increasing causes of death among women, as well as a rising number of men. Each year, roughly 203,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, while 40,000 will die.

If detected early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients exceeds 95%. While mammograms continue to be the best early detection method, over 13 million U.S. women 40 years of age or older have never had one. Thus, we encourage all of our healthcare professionals to stress the importance of early detection to your family, friends and colleagues through mammography screenings, clinical breast examination, and self-examination.

Of course, while breast cancer education is emphasized throughout the month of October, ongoing prevention is critical to the all-around health and wellness. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and a smoke-free lifestyle are all key factors to avoiding breast cancer. However, a healthy lifestyle is not the only key to prevention. Regular visits to your physician, as well as a thorough understanding of your family’s history with breast cancer are also important factors in fending off the disease.

We encourage all readers to visit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides site, to learn more about the walks in your area. Or, if you would like to make a contribution to the Onward Healthcare team, please visit our Onward for a Cure page.

Getting Acquainted with a New City

Steve Dobrowski — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:11:00 -0400

In the television series Lost, a group of plane crash survivors are confronted with polar bears and jungle creatures on a mysterious South Pacific island. Thankfully, those things won’t happen to you—the challenges you’ll face when learning a new city will be far more mundane.

Planning ahead

Even without any unfriendly island inhabitants, the task of acclimating to a new community in a short period of time can be overwhelming. Once you arrive in town, you typically have only a day or two before you report to the hospital. For that reason, it’s important to do a little research before you arrive. Start by exploring the local Chamber of Commerce website, just to get a feel for the area. Investigate the city on Wikipedia, or visit its official website. Any information you can find on weather patterns, traffic, and local lifestyle will prepare you for what to expect. AAA TourBooks are another great resource to have on hand; they contain local and regional maps, area descriptions, and listings for restaurants and recreational activities.

“When I investigate a new city,” says Karen Wise, an Onward Healthcare travel nurse, “I research its safety record. When I recently accepted an assignment in Maryland, I checked the satellite picture of a potential residence on Google Earth. I could tell it was a tall hi-rise, which would be safer for me, since there’s only one way in and one way out.”

Getting around town

Initially, you won’t have time for casual exploring and sightseeing. Cassandra Linquist, Travel Nursing Director for Onward Healthcare, advises her staff to focus on the basics in those first few days:

Hunt for the nearest grocery store and pharmacy. Drive up and down the streets in the immediate vicinity of your apartment, noting street names, landmarks, and any unusual traffic patterns (like one-way streets or traffic circles).
Take a practice drive. “Know how to get specifically from your apartment to the hospital,” Linquist says, “and consider what the traffic is going to be like.”
Keep your eyes peeled for Internet hot spots. Starbucks, Panera Bread, and many sports bars offer free Wi-Fi connections. If all else fails, ask a neighbor for directions to the closest public library.
Pick up a newspaper and any local magazines you can find at the grocery store. Hotels are a great source of information, too; they often stock free publications and brochures that detail the city’s dining, shopping, and entertainment areas.

Making new friends

Speed up the acclimation process by comparing notes with your fellow travelers and hospital employees. (Remember, you’ll be attending orientation with other travelers and your new nursing manager.) That gives you a great opportunity to strike up some conversations about what’s around town, and where to find essential services. Once you’re on the floor, you can also chat with your local co-workers—and don’t worry, they’ll be a lot nicer than those wicked island inhabitants on Lost.

By Barbara Eisner Bayer, Featured Contributor

Travel Nurses: Interview Like a Pro

Steve Dobrowski — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:25:00 -0400

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once compared job interviewing to dating—two high-pressure, high-tension situations (except a job interview doesn’t last all night!) The good news is that interviewing doesn’t have to be as stressful as a date. All it takes is a little preparation and the right mindset.

As a travel nurse, your interviews will generally be conducted by telephone. This presents its own challenges, but the preparation is just like a face-to-face meeting, except you’ll save a small fortune on hair, make-up, dry-cleaning, and gas.

Prepare like a pro

Have you ever finished a job interview only to realize that you never mentioned your most important skill or relevant experience? An easy and essential preparation is to make a list of your specialized skills, and attach it to your résumé. Keep these documents in front of you during phone interviews, so you can quickly refer to them. This way, nerves won’t get the better of you when you’re asked a challenging question. This simple technique will relax you, bolster your confidence, and help you shine.

Twenty questions

Naturally, the position you’re discussing should be a good fit for both you and the hospital. “You should interview the interviewer as much as she interviews you,” says Erin Klarsfeld, a Travel Nurse Recruiter for Onward Healthcare. “Make a list of questions to ask—this conversation may be your only chance to evaluate this opportunity.”

Your goal should be to learn all you can about the facility’s management style, its scheduling and floating policies, the patient mix and population, its policies pertaining to travelers, and, of course, the job’s responsibilities. Ask about the shifts you’ll be working and the nurse-to-patient ratio. Try to get a feel for the needs of the patients that you’ll be working with. Your Onward Healthcare recruiter can help you by providing you with a list of great questions to ask. Keep a notepad handy, with the name of the position and facility written at the top, and jot down pertinent information.

Asking questions gives you a chance to define yourself, without having to rely on canned job interview statements like, “I’m dedicated and hard-working.” Showing a sincere interest in the position, the facility, and its patients earns you high marks for enthusiasm and professionalism.

Details, details

Do your interview in a relaxed environment, so you can focus and be calm. Just before the appointed time, take a moment to remove distractions. (If your dog barks incessantly, put her in the backyard.) Then, make the call from a reliable phone line that won’t be interrupted by call waiting.

Once the conversation begins, let the interviewer take the lead. Keep your answers direct, thorough, and relevant. And don’t forget to ask your questions! Express your interest in the job, and thank your interviewer before hanging up. This phone meeting is like a first date—enthusiasm works for you, and indifference works against you. If you want the relationship to go further, it’s wise to communicate that when you have the chance.

By Barbara Eisner Bayer, Featured Contributor

Six Essentials for your Next Travel Assignment

Steve Dobrowski — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:55:00 -0400

Much longer than a vacation and shorter than a relocation, hitting the road with everything you need for a successful 13-week travel assignment requires planning. Make sure to include these on your list of must-haves.

#1 - Go with an open mind.
A flexible attitude will get you through those unexpected and inevitable challenges that come with any adventure.

“I always tell people getting into the travel profession that while they can count on Onward to back them when they need it, they should understand that there will always be something that doesn’t go 100% the way they want it to go. The people who have that flexible mindset often have great travel experiences, despite any hurdles they may encounter,” says Onward Healthcare Corporate Trainer Cassandra Lindquist.

#2 - Be comfortable in your own skin.
It takes time to become part of an established nursing team and social network; so, travelers should be prepared for some alone time.

“Travelers need to be able to operate without a lot of assistance, whether it’s on the job or during their off time. Those self-starters do well, versus people who thrive on immediate attention or appreciation,” Lindquist says.

#3 - Find out what’s included and what’s not in your housing, and pack accordingly.
Housing in an extended stay type environment includes household items, such as pots, pans, forks and drinking glasses. But housing in an apartment usually does not. Ask your recruiter whether you need to bring a blender, microwave, garbage can, alarm clock, hair dryer, etc. If you don’t want to bring everything with you, consider purchasing household odds and ends and gadgets at a discount retailer when you arrive. Some travelers purchase these items when they arrive on assignment and donate them before they leave to get the tax-deduction.

(Don’t worry about furniture. Most housing comes with all the furniture you’ll need, as well as a television. But you’ll need to bring bed linens, towels, hangers …. Don’t forget the cell phone, computer and consider bringing a scanner, which allows you to send time sheets to your recruiter without the hassle of finding a local fax machine.)

#4 - Keep personal paperwork within reach.
Lindquist tells travelers that they should bring copies of what they’ve submitted to Onward, including medical documentation and licensure, in case a hospital requests it. It’s also good to bring other personal information, such as bank statement documentation.

#5 - Have cash on hand.
You’ll want to bring cash along, just as you would for any long vacation. Lindquist recommends that travelers consider banking with national banks, so that they have better access to their money and ATMs from most travel destinations.

#6 - Be prepared with the essentials.
Ask your recruiter about the weather conditions at your travel destination and pack clothing that will keep you appropriately warm, cool and comfortable. If you’re driving, prepare for the road. Keep up on your vehicle’s maintenance and prepare for changing weather conditions by getting all-season or all-weather tires.

Most of all, pack a good dose of excitement for your upcoming journey!

By Lisette Hilton, Featured Contributor

Maximize your Travel Nurse Salary

Steve Dobrowski — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:57:00 -0400

Income potential is among the lures of travel nursing. But you may not realize that hourly rate is only a part of the money-making equation. These are some of the many ways travel nurses boost their take-home pay:

Turn unused benefits/perks into cash.
Some travel companies, including Onward Healthcare, offer flexible option benefit packages, allowing travelers to pick and choose those benefits they need, while getting cash credit for those they don’t. Travelers who don’t need the housing, health insurance or travel reimbursement offered by their travel company, can turn these benefits into pay raises. Some travelers find less expensive housing and pocket what’s left of the travel company’s allowable housing expense.

Don’t leave home without your car.
Better yet, have you ever considered a motor home? Despite high gas prices, it’s still usually cheaper to drive your car to your travel destination, rather than relying on public transportation. This is true especially given the amount of site seeing you might want to do. Taking that thought a giant leap further, how about traveling from your very own RV? Many of today’s nurse travelers tow their cars or motorcycles and pocket much of the cost associated with housing.

Consider off-the-beaten path locations.
Travelers find the highest paying locations are generally in places that have difficulty attracting traveling nurses. Destination type places, as well as attractive academic institutions, aren’t as hungry for travelers as those out-of-the-way rural or inner city hospitals, so, it makes sense, that the “hungriest” hospitals are more willing to pay higher hourly rates.

Ask about Onward’s Rapid Response Nursing program.
Rapid Response is Onward’s way of paying extra for those travel nurses who can leave for their assignment on the drop of a dime. Nurses who have their paperwork in order and can leave for their next travel assignment with only two to three weeks notice, command high pay—with the highest hourly pay rates in the industry for assignments across the U.S.

If maximizing your pay as a traveler is one of your top goals, speak up and ask your recruiter about these and other money-making options.

By Lisette Hilton, Featured Contributor

Important Payroll Reminder: 4th of July

Steve Dobrowski — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:06:00 -0400

A Message to all Onward Healthcare Working Professionals

In order to receive your weekly paycheck on time during the upcoming holiday week, a completed timesheet must be submitted via fax to 800-970-5001 no later than Sunday, June 29th at 10:00am EST.

Hours reported after the deadline or timesheets with errors will not be processed until the following week’s payroll. Our offices will be closed on Friday, July 4. As always, we thank you for your cooperation! If you have any questions, please contact:

Adele Calbick | Director of Payroll
1-800-278-0332 x3149 | acalbick@onwardhealthcare.com

Generations of Nurse Travelers: What Motivates them?

Steve Dobrowski — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:30:00 -0400

Take a snapshot of nurse travelers and you’ll find they represent a range of ages; inspired and motivated by many factors, from the desire to see the country to making as much money as possible.

“While it’s difficult to typecast a nurse traveler according to age, there are some motivating factors that seem to consistently strike travelers in the different generations,” says Onward Healthcare Corporate Trainer and Recruiter Cassandra Lindquist.

“The newer nurse travelers, in their 20s or early 30s, are often more location driven. They might start off with an assignment that’s close to home and get their feet wet, or they might be enticed by traveling to far-away dream destinations. Some newer travelers may also be looking for that ‘resume builder’ location at a teaching or specialty hospital,” Lindquist adds. “The more experienced nurse traveler, who might be in her or his 40s, 50s and older, often has the experience, but might be looking to build up the retirement fund or pay for the kids’ college. We have lots of travelers who have left jobs they’ve had for decades because they’ve hit financial walls and want to finally earn a higher salary.”

But money isn’t always the motivator. Like their younger counterparts, baby boomers and their elders (known at the veteran, silent or traditionalist generation) get an insatiable desire to hit the road. Especially seasoned nurses who have been at the same jobs and places for too long have a tendency to want to get out and see how the rest of the country lives.

Hearing the tick of the clock motivated Tammy R., RN, BSN, Onward Traveler, to become a career nurse traveler with Onward Healthcare three years ago. At 41, this Mississippi Gulf Coast native has crossed the U.S. in her RV to travel assignments from the Northeast to California.

“The main reason that I got into travel, was not for money. I got into it because I don’t want to wait until I’m my mother’s age to retire and see the country,” Tammi says.

There is no one age or age group in which nurses are most likely to travel; rather, travelers represent an incredible mix of ages, according to Lindquist.

“Nurses, in general, are lured by the potential for adventure and money making that travel offers,” Lindquist says. “Even retired nurses are getting into travel. It helps them stay professionally stimulated. Many travel with their mates and visit friends and family members. It’s a great way to stay connected at any age.”

By Lisette Hilton, Featured Contributor