It’s that time of year again! U.S. News & Report has just released its top ranking hospitals for both rehabilitative care and pediatrics—some of the names on this list are our trusted affiliates. American Traveler is proud to have staffed over 75% of the facilities ranked “AMERICA’S BEST HOSPITALS” By U.S. News & World Report.  Our nursing jobs and therapist jobs are offered nationwide and you might just find yourself working in one the America’s best hospitals!

Whether or not your workplace appeared in 2011-12 rankings, we congratulate all our R.N.s and therapists on a job well done. It was a banner year for high quality healthcare and we hope we see more of your good work in years to come.

When it comes to name recognition and prestige, PICU jobs from the Northeast to the West Coast and the Midwest region in between are HOT!   American Traveler is proud to offer Pediatric nursing jobs in a wide variety of high-paying and rewarding specialties. Call 1-800-884-8788 or apply online today for your pick of flexible nursing jobs in all 50 U.S. states. We provide comprehensive benefits and your chance to “make the list” in your nursing career this year!

Sign up for email alerts and get them on your mobile phone. You won’t need to be sitting at your computer to view the latest opening for travel nurse jobs, physical therapy jobs, occupational therapy jobs and more.

Select your specialty below and get started now!

Nursing Jobs

• Sign up for ER Nurse Jobs
• Sign up for Labor & Delivery Nurse jobs
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• Sign up for NICU Nurse jobs
• Sign up for Operating Room Nurse jobs
• Sign up for PICU Nurse jobs
• Sign up for Critical Care Nurse jobs
• Sign up for Telemetry Nurse jobs

Therapist Jobs

• Sign up for Physical Therapist jobs
• Sign up for PTA jobs
• Sign up for Occupational Therapist jobs
• Sign up for COTA jobs

According to a 2010 review of nearly 150 independent studies on social ties the answer is a resounding “Yes.” Not only do close friends result in greater physical and mental health, say experts at Johns Hopkins University, supportive relationships help stave off memory loss, reduce stress and boost immunity – all factors associated with aging.

In fact, people with strong social ties had a 50 percent better chance of survival regardless of age, sex, and health than those with weaker ties, one study found.

Meeting new people and making friends is high up on the list of why RNs choose a travel nurse career. Countless have reported falling in love while on assignment and others traveling with soul mates and spouses say the experience is more enriching when someone comes along for the ride.

In terms of physical health, nurses often embark on travel nurse careers to get away from stressful permanent positions that result in burnout, less quality time with loved ones and personal and professional dissatisfaction. These nurses turn to social media tools such as Facebook to post pictures, send notes and stay connected with family and friends on assignment. American Traveler maintains an active Facebook page where nurses and “Friends” log on regularly to share stories and photos.

Doctors have equated the health risks of having too few “good” friends akin to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Others say having no friends at all is worse than being overweight in terms of shaving years off your life.

Close friends keep us sane and balanced. Travel nursing is a way to meet new people and make new friends. If you’re an experienced RN and you’re not already a travel nurse then give us a call. If you’re presently an RN travel nurse and looking to switch travel nurse agencies; some say American Travelers are the happiest around. Call 800.884.8788 or apply online today.

If you have questions about travel nurse careers, Just Ask Kristin, a senior consultant and travel nursing blog contributor who stands ready to assist in any way she can.

Related travel nurse friendship articles

• Friends Make Great Travel Nurse Referrals!
• Travel Nursing in Hawaii with friends

Fourth Quarter Gains in the Healthcare Sector “Zero in” on Best Regions for Nursing Jobs

Job growth statistics for November of 2010 also cited big numbers for nursing jobs in hospitals and in ambulatory care; in fact, Bureau of Labor Stats for healthcare professionals at large, show that their employment figures remained high throughout the entire fall season of 2010. The HWS Labor Market Pulse Index (LMPI) has determined where job demand is highest for healthcare workers. It includes Florida nursing jobs, near the Tampa Bay area, and Arizona nursing jobs near Phoenix, both regions ranked very high in the 4th quarter for job gains.

Online Job Postings for Nursing and Therapy Jobs Are a Huge Factor in Employment Growth

Nurse staffing agencies that post job openings for every stripe of registered nurse—those interested in both permanent jobs and travel nursing jobs—hold a big stake in these statistics, in that they provide instant, 24/7 access to nursing jobs in some of the highest ranked USA hospitals—where additional job gains numbering in the tens of thousands were also posted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; nurses in home health jobs have reason to be greatly encouraged by these numbers as well, in that thousands of home health jobs were added, including a big leap in job opportunities for physician’s office and nursing home jobs.

American Traveler is proud to staff rewarding nursing jobs and therapy jobs in hospitals, outpatient care centers and clinics in all 50 U.S. States—don’t miss your chance to be more than just a spectator in this upward trend for healthcare workers across the board. Call 1-800-884-8788 or apply online today for the perfect springboard to launch your nursing career!

Fortune Magazine, well-known throughout the business world, has published this year’s results for the top 100 best companies to work for; not surprisingly, it includes 11 different hospitals and health systems across the United States—this is fantastic news for a leading nurse staffing agency that fills travel nursing jobs from coast to coast, and even better news for R.N.s who come to work for us!

Our healthcare staff enjoys luxury private housing and other comprehensive benefits with some of the best travel nursing locations in the country as the backdrop—and the cherry on top? American Traveler is proud to be affiliated with America’s best hospitals, ranked year after year by U.S. News & World Report and frequent spot-holders on Fortune’s annual list.

Need a Quick summary of Fortune’s list? Then feast your travel nursing eyes on this!

Several of the hospital systems that made the cut are in coveted U.S. travel nursing locations, spanning the sunshine state—where Florida nursing jobs employ tens of thousands of registered nurses —to the west coast, where California nursing jobs are also known for high rankings; but let’s not forget the American Midwest and Old West, where Ohio nursing jobs and Texas nursing jobs are setting blazing career paths that light up Fortune’s list this year! Get in touch with American Traveler today to make sure you climb the right ladder, and be sure to know all there is to know about great spots for R.N.s by checking in with our related blogs about travel nursing locations !

Travel Nurses Who Sign On at Top Rated Hospitals “Make the Honor Roll”!

Like the professionals who helped develop the tradition of listing the 100 best places to work, American Traveler also believes the foundation of every great workplace is trust between its workforce and management. Our recruiters work 24/7 to ensure that the candidates we hire for top jobs in all 50 U.S. states live a life of positivism, awesome productivity and great patient outcomes! Apply online or call 800-884-8788—it’s high time you made the honor roll!

Footnote: Click on Great Place to Work Institute to view a complete list of best companies to work for in 2011. Interested travel nurses may also visit this site to invite their employer to compete for a spot next year!

Registered nurses interested in landing the best travel pediatric nursing jobs in the country—at  teaching hospitals, magnet nurse facilities and large medical centers with cutting edge PICU jobs that treat critically ill newborns—are well advised to pay attention to this Years Honor Roll for Best Children’s Hospitals.

Leading travel nurse staffing agencies put Peds nurses and NICU nurses on the map for award winning pediatric care. What about you, personally? Will your next travel nurse job be at a top ranking facility for children with life-threatening or rare conditions beyond the capabilities of most hospitals? Read on for a clearer picture of which medical centers rank the highest in nurse-patient ratios, access to specialists and top notch quality of care in every pediatric specialty.

Pediatric Nursing:  Get high ratings for nurse –patient ratio’s

The U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll distinguished the best 62 medical facilities (ranked high in at least one specialty) out of more than 5,000 hospitals reviewed— the Best Children’s Hospitals rankings are facilities that treat children with cancer, cystic fibrosis, defective hearts and more, demonstrating superior care and are rated high for surgical volume, nurse-patient ratios, programs for children with terminal or life-limiting conditions, and number of bone marrow transplant services offered.

The Best Children’s Hospitals in the United States
These top 8 healthcare providers excel in all 10 pediatric specialties, with some on the list receiving a #1 ranking in the country for a specific Peds specialty.

• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is ranked #1 for Gastroenterology.
• Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC: this hospital excels in all 10 pediatric specialties and received recognition for cutting edge approaches in treating brain tumors.
• Children’s Hospital Boston: Massachusetts nursing jobs aspire to the excellent quality of service provided at this Boston hospital, ranked #1 for 3 specialties that include kidney disorders, heart and neurosurgery
• Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: this hospital, located on Sunset Boulevard is known for raising millions to benefit cancer research.
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Ranked #1 in the 3 pediatric specialties of Neonatology, Diabetes &  Endocrinology and Pulmonology
• New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell: this hospital, in the heart of New York City, returns to the Honor Roll in a consistent show of excellent healthcare
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: located in Memphis, TN, St. Jude is ranked #1 in the nation for treating kids with cancer.
• St. Louis Children’s Hospital-Washington University: this hospital, founded in 1879, has provided a full range of pediatric services for generations.
• Texas Children’s Hospital: this Houston based hospital is proud of its Top #3 national ranking for pediatric heart surgeries.

American Traveler, accredited by The Joint Commission, maintains a healthy business relationship with elite institutions in healthcare, like the ones mentioned above. During the last decade, we have staffed over 75% of the best hospitals nationwide. Registered nurses looking for jobs in some of these prestigious facilities can call us at (800) 884-8788 or apply online; we’ll match your talents with the top institutions in healthcare today.

‘Anything’ and ‘everything’ are meaningful words for Case Mangers in travel nurse jobs; though, they are expected to wear many hats, most CMs welcome the challenge of residing at the nerve center of today’s health care delivery system.

Nursing Case Management jobs exist not just in hospitals, but in rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, or any medical facility in which the managerial talents and strong personal ethics of RNs and/or social workers are required.

RNs in case management jobs  are frequently assistants in placing patients in extended care, hospice and other specific treatment programs. Travel nurse jobs that attract talented case mangers expect these professionals to rise to the occasion—of thoroughly reviewing all medical documentation and testing, lucky enough to cross their path.

When the i’s are all dotted and the t’s crossed, test results and hospital billing tend to be far more accurate. And thanks to effective case managers, patients are winners too; they are given a sense of empowerment; they can answer yes to a list of quality care questions like these:

• Was the medical care and treatment provided appropriate, necessary and affordable with my insurance coverage?
• Were the attending staff and facility chosen for my treatment capable of handling emergencies unique to my case?
• Was my family kept in the loop and my privacy respected?

The list could go on…patients aren’t the only ones grateful for conscientious and skilled RNs in nurse management jobs; hospital administrators need them too—to help bridge the gap left by the nurse shortage and high turn over in hospitals. When nursing staffs are stretched too thin, RNs rely even more on open lines of communication with case managers, who may catch an oversight in patient care.

It’s not just the nursing shortage that makes nursing case manger jobs so invaluable; it’s also an increased need for their organizational and leadership skills in a healthcare landscape drastically changed since the Health Care Reform Act passed Congress in early 2010. Travel nurses can read more about how it’s changing, in particular, cardiology— and how case management jobs are key in making a smoother transition.

You can support your professional development in this field by reading up on current trends in The Case Management Society of America.

Do your homework and learn everything you can about this enormously rewarding career.  Apply for case management jobs at American Traveler today!

With that in mind, the folks at AfterCollege.com have put together a list of the Top 25 Metro Areas for Physical Therapists.  It contains great info about each area, from employment rates to expected salaries to average rents. Though the article is aimed at new grads trying to identify where to go for their first job, it’s highly useful for everyone looking for the best physical therapy jobs!

These 25 metro areas are some of the most desirable locales in the country. And, guess what: American Traveler has PT jobs ready and waiting in several of these markets!  Check them out on our physical therapy jobs page; or, better yet, subscribe to our  Physical Therapist Jobs RSS feed and be updated regularly on all the hottest new therapist job offerings.

Here are some destinations for physical therapists to consider:

The great state of Texas

• Dallas/Fort Worth (No. 1 on the list): Typical salary for physical therapy jobs is $72,546; while the average rent is $760 per month
• Austin (No. 19):  Physical Therapist salary: $69,634; $1,004 rent

Arizona in the Southwest

• Phoenix (No. 5): $70,131 salary; $664 rent.

Sunny Florida

• Fort Lauderdale (No. 16): $71,878 salary; $1,201 rent.
• Daytona Beach (No. 18): $65,771 salary; $716 rent
• Fort Myers (No. 25): $67,902 salary; $617 rent

Note that these figures are average physical therapist salaries and rents for these metro areas. As an American Traveler physical therapist, you’ll be in an even better position to take advantage of these choice locales. That’s because our high rates of pay and excellent job benefits package, which includes free private housing, will make your physical therapy income stretch even further!

Here is the entire list of 25 metro areas:

1. Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
2. Baltimore, MD
3. Cleveland, OH
4. Chicago, IL
5. Phoenix, AZ
6. Newark, NJ
7. San Francisco/Bay Area, CA
8. Atlanta, GA
9. Washington, DC Area
10. Boston, MA
11. Detroit, MI
12. Columbus, OH
13. Cincinnati, OH
14. Syracuse, NY
15. Albuquerque, NM
16. Fort Lauderdale, FL
17. Los Angeles, CA
18. Daytona Beach, FL
19. Austin, TX
20. Lehigh Valley Area, PA
21. Inland Empire, CA
22. Charlotte, NC
23. Orange County, CA
24. Birmingham, AL
25. Fort Meyers, FL

There are great physical therapy jobs with American Traveler waiting in these markets. So, what are you waiting for? Pick your favorite destination, apply online, and pack your bags!

American Traveler also reached out into the social media networks with an active presence and interaction in  Facebook and Twitter communities, which are both growing daily with new healthcare job seekers fans and followers.

More details about these enhanced features are available in the latest American Traveler press release. 

Read entire American Traveler Healthcare Job Search Press Release.

Karen Murphy, Ph.D.

Pennsylvania, birthplace of American independence is famous for other things too, like the Pennsylvania Dutch and Liberty Bell; it’s also the childhood home of our sitting Vice President, but there are other Pennsylvania fixtures, CEOs, like Karen Murphy, R.N., Ph.D. who make their mark—using extraordinary education, talent and skill —on the great Steel State.

Dr. Murphy’s career began in surgical nursing, when, in 1977, she received her diploma from the Scranton State Hospital School of Nursing. Soon after, she earned an MBA at Marywood University and, eventually, a doctorate in Business Administration from the Fox School of Business in Philadelphia.

To say the least, Dr. Murphy has enjoyed a long and prosperous career, but her achievements are far from over. She has, as of this January, been selected as CEO of The Moses Taylor Health Care System. Read more about Dr. Murphy’s latest accolade here.

It’s no wonder her nursing career is making headline news. Dr. Murphy is living the American Dream, a career idol and inspiration for all healthcare professionals, especially women in RN jobs. Balancing work and home life, Dr. Murphy has it all: with two grown children, she and husband, Martin reside in Clarks Summit, just Northwest of where her nursing career began in Scranton 33 years ago.

Part of the healthcare system Dr. Murphy inherits from her predecessor Harold E. Anderson, is the Moses Taylor Hospital, a top-notch facility relied upon by northeastern Pennsylvania since 1892. Dr. Murphy’s vision and ability to face challenges match the hospital’s mission statement: to provide continuously improving, cost effective care.

Dr. Murphy’s position as CEO commences in October of 2010, giving nurses who hold similar career aspirations reason to work hard, remain optimistic, and, most importantly of all, stay the course.

And what is that course? The top post for an RN is generally Chief Nursing Officer; now a rung above that, Dr. Murphy’s career ladder is tipping toward the sky and there’s no reason a talented, dedicated nurse following in her footsteps couldn’t hope for the same one day.

Adds, Debbie Bacurin, RN and Clinical Account Manager for American Traveler, “Dr. Murphy took the time to speak to me about the nursing profession. We had a wonderful conversation about her accomplishments and experiences as a nursing advocate—basically, we’re both in agreement with the Nursing Consortium—that it’s imperative to continue mentoring nurses into management positions.”

Dr. Murphy and Debbie are right. There are many hospitals and nursing groups (ANA, ENA SFONE) who are working towards creating programs for mentoring nurses into future leadership roles; critical in future years, when a majority of leadership nurses retire.

If you know someone who shares Dr. Murphy’s ambition and foresight regarding contributions RNs can make in the healthcare industry, please leave a comment. Until then, stay the course. Dr. Murphy agrees that getting promoted to a management position is a lot of hard work, but, like her, if aspiring RNs remain focused and driven, they’ll be just as proud as Dr. Murphy is right now.