Healthcare Blog

February Nurse of the Month

molly.eubank@ingenovishealth.com — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:38:26 +0000

February 22, 2023

Fastaff nurses are rewarded and recognized for the experience, skills, and dedication they bring to each travel nursing assignment. This nurse is someone who exemplifies the Fastaff values. Read below to learn more about Sarah Sumrall.

Name: Sarah Sumrall
Specialty: Labor and Delivery
Number of assignments: 10
Number of years with Fastaff: Four

Why do you love working with Fastaff?

Fastaff is my favorite agency to work for. I love how consistent, responsive, and personable the staff is. Their timeliness and knowledge goes a long way in making the transition into travel nursing a smooth one. Their benefits are very good as well.

What do you love about nursing?

I love advocating for my patients and delivering high-quality care. It is so rewarding to leave a shift knowing that my kind words and actions have impacted patients during one of the most vulnerable and emotional times in their lives.

Along with the emotional satisfaction that comes with a job well-done, nursing provides the job security and benefits that are an essential part of adulting.

My very favorite part of nursing is all of my wonderful friends I have made in the field. We bond intensely in such an intimate setting where effective teamwork is so essential to good outcomes. I find that I enjoy my coworkers so much that they become family to me!

What makes travel nursing rewarding for you?

My favorite part of travel nursing is having so many miniature lives all over the place. I experience little blurps of what life is like all over the country, and the contrast in settings is a great way to be challenged and grow from those challenges, both personally and also professionally. I believe that travel nursing is a unique opportunity to avoid stagnation in life. I can be a city girl, a rural hiker, a desert dweller, a New Yorker, and a Midwesterner, all while keeping my favorite identity- as a Floridian!

Tell me about a time when you felt more valuable/respected because of the experience and knowledge you gained from your Fastaff assignment.

As nurses, it is almost too easy to slip into the mindset of, "that's how we have always done it." The vast experience in a variety of types of clinical settings from critical access all the way up to high risk facilities has really molded my critical thinking skills as well as my ability to think outside of the box. I have learned that, although I highly value following protocols and current practice guidelines, there are many ways to accomplish those same goals. I believe that approaching each assignment with a balance of being knowledgeable, humble, flexible, and open-minded is a necessity for any successful travel nurse. Every facility has something they do really well and something that could be improved upon. Travel nursing has been a great way to build confidence in my capabilities and share my experiences. I feel respected as a valued team member when I can merge my knowledge base with new approaches to deliver safe and personable care to my patients.

What has been your most challenging Fastaff assignment and how did you feel that impacted your worth as a nurse afterward?

I think that the culture shock of going from a high risk facility full of personnel and access to care to a critical access facility with extremely limited resources forced me to examine my comfort zones and fix the areas I identified as deficits. Honestly, in some ways, staying in one type of facility doesn't push me as much to reach my potential. It impacted my worth as a nurse in that it helped to develop assertiveness and confidence in my skill sets, which I then carry forward into my next assignment.

Describe the most miraculous or impressive thing you’ve witnessed or been a part of during your time as a nurse with Fastaff.

Since I work in labor and delivery, isn't EVERY DAY full of tiny miracles?

How have you accomplished some of your personal and professional goals by traveling with Fastaff?

Travel nursing has absolutely changed my life. Living a debt-free lifestyle while still pursuing bucket-list dream items is so fulfilling on a personal level. I could never have accomplished my financial goals without making the switch from staff nurse to travel nurse. Professionally speaking, traveling has opened my eyes to new processes and has challenged me to become a better, well-rounded nurse who can jump in and help out right away.

January Nurse of the Month

molly.eubank@ingenovishealth.com — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 17:55:49 +0000

January 27, 2023

Name: Trina Eisenberg
Specialty: Critical Care
Number of assignments: 12
Number of years with Fastaff: 3

Why do you love working with Fastaff?

I enjoy working with FASTAFF because my recruiter is quick to respond and great to work with! I appreciate the ease of the onboarding process and the fast start dates.

What do you love about nursing?

I love being able to help people as a nurse. Service is one of the most valuable traits but the hardest to portray.

What makes travel nursing rewarding for you?

Travel nursing is rewarding because I am able to fill a need in an underserved area. I am able to bring my skills an knowledge to an area in need that values my experience. I also enjoy learning about new places and new people.

Holiday Season Stress Management for Nurses

molly.eubank@ingenovishealth.com — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 21:33:13 +0000

December 29, 2022

The holiday season can be a joyous time for many. It is a time to reset and enjoy your family and friends. However, for many healthcare workers it is the exact opposite. The hospitals are full of patients relying on them to get through the next day. Healthcare workers can’t just turn it off and relax by the fire with a hot cup of cocoa. In fact, the holiday season for nurses can be extremely stressful.

While patients often long to be with their families on the holidays, nurses may also have that same desire. Yet, they will be there bedside with their patients. Spending long hours in the operating room or days with their patients, may cause nurses to neglect their own mental health. As caregivers, it is imperative that nurses maintain good mental health practices in order to care for others.

Tips for Managing Mental Health during the Holiday Season

Listen to your body. The holiday season can bring more challenges, which causes more stress. It is important that you listen to your body during this time. If your body needs to rest for 5 minutes – take the 5 minutes. You won’t be able to help others if you don’t help yourself. Regulating your breathing, taking deep breaths, and meditating are all good practices to maintain your stress levels. Staying active, well rested, and hydrated is key to surviving the holiday season.

Be mindful. During the holiday season there is so much going on. The winter months are the peak season for cold and flu patients. With that, an influx of patients will enter the hospital. There will be a greater need for nurses during this time. Although picking up extra shifts may be enticing, you must be mindful of your body and your limits. Make sure to listen to your body’s needs, so that you may fulfil the needs of others.

Find a day to celebrate. If you are unable to celebrate on the actual holiday, find a different day to celebrate. It is important to make the most of your time.

Although the holiday season can be stressful, it is important to keep in mind that it only lasts a few weeks. When you begin to feel overwhelmed, remember to take a deep breath.

November Nurse of the Month

molly.eubank@ingenovishealth.com — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 23:58:19 +0000

November 30, 2022

Name: Ariana O’Neal
Specialty: ICU/CVICU
Number of assignments: 14
Number of years with Fastaff: Since March 2016

Why do you love working with Fastaff?

Fastaff provides a lot of transparency with their rates and opportunities. I like the "what you see is what you get" sort of honesty that Fastaff embodies. Travel nursing is changing, and I can rely on Fastaff to provide me with good-paying, solid opportunities in the job market. My recruiter, Jess, and I have been working together for years. I know I can count on her to find a job for me that is a good fit. And sometimes, I bring the jobs to her!

What do you love about nursing?

I love celebrating wins with my patients and watching them improve. I am a big proponent of education and I like to teach; helping demystify concepts can sometimes make the difference in a patient's outcome.

What makes travel nursing rewarding for you?

Naturally, being able to travel to different locations, experience the city and all it has to offer, check out local destinations, work with a new team, and not be committed to bad weather when the seasons change!

Tell me about a time when you felt more valuable/respected because of the experience and knowledge you gained from your Fastaff assignment.

I am constantly learning, and always on the hunt for new information. Every assignment has taught me new things, and new methods for achieving a positive outcome. I worked in Coeur d'Alene for one year with Fastaff and have since returned multiple times. Every time I go to Kootenai, I am learning new things, challenging my methods, gaining new insights, and becoming a better nurse.

What has been your most challenging Fastaff assignment and how did you feel that impacted your worth as a nurse afterward?

Working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic was, without question, the most enduring and challenging experience. We had heavy patient loads, very sick patients, we were working without all the necessary tools, working with untrained staff, and our patients didn't get better. The pandemic created a perfect storm of stress and burnout. I questioned my abilities as a nurse many times throughout the pandemic. I wondered if I was doing enough, when in honesty, there was too much demand and not enough supply, on all fronts. There wasn't enough of me, or anyone, to go around. I couldn't do things for my patients that I normally would have. The pandemic made me question myself and my abilities.

Describe the most miraculous or impressive thing you’ve witnessed or been a part of during your time as a nurse with Fastaff.

Any time a patient gets better, or is able to leave the ICU, and bounces back. I've had a couple of patients who, at first glance, did not appear to be making any strides in the right direction. Timing of intervention and perseverance, I watched these patients walk out of the ICU.

How have you accomplished some of your personal and professional goals by traveling with Fastaff?

I have a lot of liberty, personal and financial freedom. I also have a lot of opportunities I would not otherwise have if I weren't a travel nurse. Taking extended time off to see family or going to camp in a National Park on a whim is not a luxury I would experience as a staff nurse.

Ingenovis ACT Program Supports Healthy Heathcare Heroes

molly.eubank@ingenovishealth.com — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 21:53:16 +0000

November 01, 2022

Healtlhcare professionals are the heart of Ingenovis Health, and your wellbeing, career satisfaction, and mental health come first in the Ingenovis family of healthcare brands. To solve a need in the industry to take care of our healthcare heroes, the Ingenovis Health ACT Program was created. The program offers extensive resources for your mental health and personal wellness, such as:

Wellness Coaching with Rally Health & Wellness provides access to expert coaches and digital tools to help you reach your health goals. It’s all about getting and staying healthy — your way — anytime.
Weight loss coaching with Real Appeal provides the support to help you lose weight through online coaching, a Success Kit delivered to your door and a community of members to keep you motivated.
Quit smoking program Quit For Life® has helped 4 million enrollees quit smoking or using tobacco. It provides the tools, 1-on-1 support and a personalized plan to help you quit your way.
Veterans and first responders struggling with PTSD are qualified to apply to Warrior PATHH by the Boulder Crest Foundation.

Effective November 1, 2022, all Ingenovis Health employees will have access to a Benefits Concierge Center at no cost. The Benefits Concierge Center serves as your personal benefits advisor and benefits experts can assist you with your questions.

In January 2023, Ingenovis employees and all travel nurses on assignment will see a change in healthcare benefit providers, from United Healthcare to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The Anthem healthcare plan includes their own mental health benefit program called Total Health, Total You, with personalized support and resources to help improve your health and well-being. Through this plan, you’ll also have access to a team of health professionals, such as nurses, social workers, dietitians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, exercise physiologists, and health coaches.

The Ingenovis Health ACT Program is a continuously-evolving collection of mental support resources that healthcare professionals can use in their arsenal of tools that contribute to being the best version of themselves. View all ACT updates on Ingenovis Health: https://www.ingenovishealth.com/ACTprogram

October Nurse of the Month

molly.eubank@ingenovishealth.com — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:48:07 +0000

October 28, 2022

Name: Dennis Middleton
Specialty: Emergency Room
Number of Fastaff assignments: Completed 10 Assignments with many extensions.
Number of years with Fastaff: Fastaff traveler since March of 2016

Why do you love working with Fastaff?
Great pay! Easy to work with and love traveling.

What do you love about travel nursing?
Fast pace of the ER and the challenge of each new patient.

What makes travel nursing rewarding for you?
Getting to see new places and work at different hospitals.

Describe a time where you felt more valuable/respected because of the experience and knowledge you gained from your Fastaff assignment.
Current assignment is rewarding and I feel valued because of my many years of nursing experience and travel experience.

What has been your most challenging Fastaff assignment (a difficult case, surgery, patient illness, etc.) and how did you feel that impacted your worth as a nurse afterwards?
Worked in New Orleans in March 2020 when COVID was just emerging and the entire assignment was challenging in so many ways.

Describe the most miraculous or impressive thing you’ve witnessed or been a part of during your time as a nurse with Fastaff.
Recently cared for a patient that was being seen for an ATV accident but had symptoms of an allergic reaction, turns out they had cleaned their wounds with betadine and did not know they were allergic to it. The symptoms did not match the injuries and it took some more extensive questioning to determine what was happening to them.

How have you accomplished some of your personal and professional goals by traveling with Fastaff (i.e. family life, financial freedom, more personal freedom, etc.)?
Yes! It has allowed my wife who is a former nurse to stay home and focus on our dairy goat farm so that we can both eventually work on our farm full time!

Real Nurses, Real Life: Healthcare Professionals Share Their Experiences with Pandemic PTSD & COVID Burnout

molly.eubank@ingenovishealth.com — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 18:31:24 +0000

October 28, 2022

Two and half years after the shutdown, the Covid-19 pandemic has left almost half of the nurses who served in critical care and intensive care units at a higher risk for PTSD than current military veterans[i].

According to Lydia Mobley, former Fastaff traveler now serving as the Clinical Engagement Partner for Ingenovis Health, Fastaff’s parent company, care-giver burnout and compassion fatigue were already prevalent for her and other healthcare professionals before COVID-19. For those working in trauma units and ICU units, that burnout was felt twice as much.

Anxiety, depression, and PTSD are presenting more now in nurses after the last two-and-half-years than before and is more widespread in nurses v.s. other healthcare providers. Both travel and staff nurses who were in COVID ICU and CCU units for long periods of time and who experienced longstanding extreme or traumatic stress are at high-risk for or already experiencing PTSD[ii].

In one study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, extreme workload, frequency of death and mass amounts of death, isolation from family/loved ones due to fear of infecting them, extreme fear of dying from infection, and lack of support from management and corporations were all listed as contributing factors to a nurses’ likelihood of having PTSD.

During the Spring of 2021, Lydia worked in Manteca and Modesto, CA in COVID ICU units. She discussed how the morgues and makeshift morgues were full, therefore a freezer truck was parked in the employee parking lot. Everyday walking past that truck was a reminder of how many people were dying each shift. According to Lydia, in a single night shift, three people died in the first four hours. And the hospitals Lydia worked for in the Fall of 2020 through the Spring of 2021, ran out of body bags.

Lydia reported seeing more death in the winter of 2020 through the spring of 2021 than she had ever witnessed prior in her nine years of previous nursing experience. “We were just stacking bodies all winter long,” Lydia said.

By the fall of 2021, a new layer to the pandemic added a new layer to the traumatic stress. Vaccines were widely available and many patients that Lydia worked with came in requesting the vaccine or asking if it was too late to get the vaccine. Or patients were presenting in the ICU with symptoms caused by dangerous remedies that patients self-medicated with because of false information. “These deaths were so much harder, because they were preventable,” Lydia said.

She began to have nightmares that either she or someone she loved was coding. She also began drinking more, crying more, and feeling intensely angry over small things.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can present itself in many ways. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, symptoms of PTSD can be anything from flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance of things that remind you of the event, to having more negative thoughts, abusing substances, and feelings of helplessness--as though you could have done more for the patient.

“Both institutional support and self-care strategies are important,” according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, in order to maintain a healthy and emotionally stable healthcare workforce for the remainder of the pandemic.

One way to practice self-care strategies is to talk to other healthcare providers who went through a similar experience. Lydia reported not being able to discuss her experiences with family and friends because she didn’t want to burden them with all that she had gone through. However, she did have another nurse that she worked with, Alex Stow, who she could connect with and communicate her experiences with.

Lydia also recommends therapy for those who are feeling as though the stress is affecting their lives and abilities to continue the job due to flashbacks, anxiety, excessive anger, or any other problematic symptoms, etc.

Ingenovis Health has launched its new ACT program (Advocacy, Career, Tools) with extensive resources available to help with health and wellness, as well as other mental health resources, such as TalkSpace. TalkSpace offers COVID-19 frontline support on anything from a 16-day program to help with fear and anxiety surrounding the virus and therapy lead Facebook groups, to on-going support from therapists.

At Fastaff, we see the entire nurse – both as an excellent caregiver but also as a human who’s dealt with heavy circumstances. Through your assignments and the challenges, we’re here for you. We live it, side by side with you.

National Library of Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9050623/ and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8223933/
What the VA has to say about PTSD and COVID https://www.ptsd.va.gov/covid/COVID_healthcare_workers.asp
The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/19/healthcare-workers-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-pandemic-covid

[i] The Guardian and the National Library of Medicine

[ii] National Library of Medicine

August Nurse of the Month

molly.eubank@ingenovishealth.com — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 20:48:33 +0000

August 24, 2022

Name: Cindy deCormier
Specialty: Emergency Room
Number of Fastaff assignments: I have done so many assignments that I have lost count.
Number of years with Fastaff: Since January of 2011

Why do you love working with Fastaff?

I love working with Fastaff because I am constantly learning new skills that help me be a better nurse. My last assignment I was assigned several medical students to teach them IV placement.

What do you love about nursing?

I love meeting new people and having new experiences. I have met some of my closest friends from traveling. I also have visited some amazing cities and had wonderful day trips.

What has been your most challenging Fastaff assignment and how did you feel that impacted your worth as a nurse afterwards?

COVID was a very difficult time for me as a nurse. It was heartbreaking watching people pass without their families. I would hold the patient’s hand and talk to them and try to make them as comfortable as possible. As hard as COVID-19 was I think it helped bring nurses together in all aspects.What makes travel nursing rewarding to me is being able to work with a diversity of people and know that we are all aiming for the same goal; treating and making patients feel better. I am also able to benefit in learning how different organizations operate. Also, meeting new people and gaining new friends.

How have you accomplished some of your personal and professional goals by traveling with Fastaff (i.e. family life, financial freedom, more personal freedom, etc...)?

I truly feel honored to be associated with Fastaff. I think it's one of the best agencies out there. Being a single mother of three it has allowed me financial freedoms and has allowed me to take my children on vacations that normally I could not have afforded.

Ingenovis Health Establishes Clinician Support Program

emily.white@fastaff.com — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 12:22:37 +0000

August 02, 2022

We know that the last few years have caused unprecedented burden and stress on healthcare workers in America, even to the point of driving some out of the profession. At Ingenovis Health, the parent company to Fastaff and U.S. Nursing, we are committed to being part of the solution to keep clinicians in the field.

In response to this national healthcare crisis, we launched the Ingenovis Health ACT program to raise our level of care for clinicians and healthcare providers.

The ACT program (Advocacy, Career, and Tools) is a commitment to providing you with the tools and resources you need to grow, thrive, and advance in your career. It was developed with insights from frontline healthcare workers and is designed to support the emotional well-being and career advancement of our clinicians, as you continue to go to the frontlines for patients.

Why? Because you can’t pour from an empty cup.

We have already launched some new benefits for travelers, but today is just Day 1. Over time you will see ongoing development of tools and resources that will better prepare you for and support you in your travel assignments, as well as helping you advance to the next level in your career, or even take breaks when needed. We will continue to expand benefits over time, and with your input, always with the intent to offer comprehensive mental health and well-being resources, career advancement tools and opportunities, and more.

You can learn more about the ACT program here, contact your recruiter, or call us at 800-736-8773 for more information.

Thank you for all you do,

Fastaff Travel Nursing, U.S. Nursing & Ingenovis Health

June Nurse of the Month

emily.white@fastaff.com — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:51:28 +0000

June 30, 2022

Name: Corinna Ramirez
Specialty: Emergency Room
Number of Fastaff assignments: 12+
Number of years with Fastaff: Since January of 2016. Completed six assignments with many extensions.

Why do you love working with Fastaff?

As a travelling nurse I have worked at six different hospitals all in the emergency room. Although over the past 13 years of traveling, I continued to renew my contracts at each of those different hospitals.

I love working with Fastaff because I have not had any issues with getting assignments. I also have an awesome recruiter who I am able to communicate with pretty much anytime and she is always able to answer my questions I may have. Fastaff provides me the benefits I need.

What do you love about nursing?

I love nursing because I have always had the passion in caring for those who are in need. Throughout my working career I have been involved in the medical field, I started out as a nurse aide and then progressed to patient care tech and eventually a registered nurse.

What makes travel nursing rewarding for you?

What makes travel nursing rewarding to me is being able to work with a diversity of people and know that we are all aiming for the same goal; treating and making patients feel better. I am also able to benefit in learning how different organizations operate. Also, meeting new people and gaining new friends.

Describe a time where you felt more valuable/respected because of the experience and knowledge you gained from your Fastaff assignment.

Working in New York during COVID was probably the most valuable and most challenging experience I have had while working with Fastaff. I felt the most valuable/respected during COVID because these patients were looking to us nurses to help them survive and give them reassurance.

It was also the most challenging because of the volume of patients that were being seen and knowing that some of the patients would not be going home. Watching patients struggling to breathe and knowing that I was doing everything possible in order to keep them alive. After COVID, nurses were considered superheroes. I did not feel that I was a superhero, I feel being a nurse was my calling in life and I was just doing my job taking care of people to the best of my ability.

Describe the most miraculous or impressive thing you’ve witnessed or been a part of during your time as a nurse with Fastaff.

I think the most impressive thing I witnessed was the teamwork and unity the nurses had during covid. We all helped each other out, making sure that fellow coworkers were ok throughout the day, having each other's backs and surviving the shift.

How have you accomplished some of your personal and professional goals by traveling with Fastaff (i.e. family life, financial freedom, more personal freedom, etc.)?

I have been able to complete my BSN while travelling with Fastaff.