American Traveler had the pleasure of checking in with a new member of our travel nursing staff, Cindy Burbatt, R.N. who shared some of the details of her first travel nurse job in Kansas City, Missouri. We talked with Cindy on the eve of her birthday. She was full of excitement for the road trip planned the following morning, departing from North Carolina en route to the heart of the Midwest. As the mother of three grown children, Cindy decided it was the right time to change up her 16-year background as a permanent staff telemetry/med surge nurse by accepting a travel nurse job in America’s heartland.

While the truck she drives may not be anything that unusual for a R.N. moving to Kansas City, one standout detail is the 17ft. long trailer attached. It accommodates her longstanding and beloved pets, George and Ash; these are Cindy’s horses, and during the car trip to Missouri they’ll be staying in farms sprinkled throughout various states—places Cindy found through an online network called Horse Motel. When they arrive in Kansas City, Cindy will take up residence in a townhome, compliments of American Traveler’s private housing arrangement. George and Ash will live in a stable close by, on hand for Cindy to ride in her time off from the hospital.

How Did She Work Out a Travel Nurse Assignment that Suits the Whole Family?

While admitting to being an adventurous and take-charge person, Cindy credits her consultant, Jennie Rayner with convincing her how rewarding and fun the travel nurse lifestyle can be; in fact, at the end of Cindy’s nursing job in the Show Me State she hopes to go further west in her travel nurse pursuits, exploring Utah travel nurse jobs. With her bright smile and self-admitted “hippie cowgirl” approach to things, Cindy should be a wonderful addition to that landscape, and we’re looking forward to hearing how she fares in the Midwest too!

Are you on the fence about leaving your permanent R.N. or therapist job in favor of the travel nurse lifestyle? We look forward to hearing more stories like Cindy’s: about skilled R.N.s adding their talents to hospitals, clinics, out-patient centers and home health jobs across America—sharing their positive attitude along the way. It should be as Cindy says: “not so much about leading your life, but letting your life lead you—to see where you can go!” Call 1-800-884-8788 or apply online today to start your own travel nurse adventure!

Learn more about a travel nurse lifestyle – What’s a travel nurse

It’s catching on as quickly as a smoking habit itself: more hospitals in more states putting an end to hiring registered nurse smokers. So far, Pennsylvania and Georgia, Missouri, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Texas lead the pack. Others are expected to follow.

“Hospital administrators say it’s about improving worker productivity, reducing healthcare costs and promoting healthy living,” said Clinical Account Manager, Deborah Bacurin for American Traveler Staffing Professionals, a leading provider of Florida nursing jobs.  “We’re getting more calls for travel nurse nicotine screens and the buzz nationwide is to expand the practice.”

In a readers poll conducted by media giant, Tribune Company, more than half of 522 respondents said healthcare employers should ban smoking. Thirty-nine percent answered “no way,” it’s a violation of smoker’s rights, and five percent were undecided.*

Cleveland Clinic director, Paul Turpeluk, told the New York Times** earlier in the year that his organization had received numerous requests in recent months from healthcare employers looking to transit to non-smoking environments. Cleveland Clinic stopped hiring smokers in 2007, pioneering a contagious movement to cut costs and improve employee performance. On average, smokers cost healthcare employers almost $3,400 more per worker per year for lost productivity and health care, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Though worker’s rights groups like the National Workrights Institute and American Civil Liberties Union object to smoking bans at hospitals, saying the practice discriminates against smokers and those who use “lawful products” – it’s unlikely either will win this battle, Bacurin said. There are simply too many proven health risks, including cancer and death, associated with smoking.

Join the Great American Smokeout

Every year on November 17^th, the American Cancer Society holds the Great American Smokeout, a day dedicated to encouraging smokers nationwide to quit and to live healthier lives. Now in its 36^th year, the saying for the day is “Help create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.”

While some healthcare employers will celebrate the Great American Smokeout for just one day, others will ban smoking permanently, and even more will ask for nicotine screens in travel nurse drug tests.

Want to learn more about Travel Nurse Jobs, Nursing Jobs in Florida, or other spectacular communities? Call American Traveler at 800-884-8788 or apply online today.

Read about living longer and happier as a travel nurse

American Cancer Society Guide to Quitting Smoking

*Poll: Should hospitals ban smoking? Sun-sentinel October 18, 2011. Results not scientific.

**A. G. SULZBERGER Hospitals Shift Smoking Bans to Smoker Ban, New York Times, February 10, 2011.

Travel nurses are busy people with places to go and people to see, but that doesn’t mean they can’t prepare, say, a pizza during a Chicago nursing job that takes its cues from Deep dish, or, during a Hawaii assignment mix things up in the kitchen with newfound Polynesian flair. With free travel nurse job housing featuring all the amenities (like great kitchens), and proximity to great shopping, R.N.s can pick up all kinds of in season fruits and veggies that make mealtime special. Just make sure the pantry isn’t lacking with this fail-safe checklist:

Must Have Pantry Items

• Sugar and flour
• Nuts (peanuts, walnuts, cashews)
• Rice (brown, white, long grain and minute rice)
• Dijon mustard, mayo, soy sauce, ketchup
• Chicken and beef stock
• Salt, Extra Virgin Olive oil
• Canned fruit and veggie goods
• Marinara and pizza sauce
• Tuna and salmon, packaged in pouches or cans
• Whole wheat bread, and pasta

Got the goods? Great! Now it’s time to get started on a delicious home cooked meal!

Five Cooking Do’s

1. Do: Save yourself time by cooking extra batches of chicken, pork or fish and store for future use. Once you seal it and freeze it, all you have to do is let it thaw, nuke it with a side of veggies in the microwave, and you’re eating in minutes!
2. Do: Wash and cut apples and other fast-oxidizing fruits, and vacuum seal them with a Ziplock vacuum starter kit.
3. Do: Try to devote one of your days off to grocery shopping and a little pre-prep. Clean and cut fruits and veggies; then refrigerate (in airtight containers) at eye-level for easy snacking.
4. Do: Store fruits and vegetables susceptible to drying out in perforated plastic bags (you can poke a plastic bag with the tines of a fork); this maintains a moist environment and lets air circulate at the same time.
5. Do: Dress up leftovers with fun and tasty accents from your pantry—a handful of walnuts can dress up a sweet strawberry salad, and splashes of soy and hot sauce recreate last night’s rice.

Five Cooking Don’ts

1. Don’t: waste money on bad knives. Every travel nurse needs an 8-inch chef’s knife, 4-inch paring knife and 12-inch serrated-edge knife.
2. Don’t: Use more than 2 tablespoons of regular butter or olive oil for sautéing; save Extra Virgin Olive Oil for yummy, subtle salad dressing.
3. Don’t: get a skillet that’s too small; a good rule of thumb is to use a 12-inch cast iron pan.
4. Don’t: hesitate to substitute ingredients—it could work out even better than you thought.
5. Don’t: miss an opportunity to take cooking shortcuts. Watch cooking experts like Sara Lee in Semi homemade, that show you that you don’t have to wipe down mushrooms one by one!

At American Traveler, our registered nurses are right at home in travel nurse jobs that span all 50 U.S. States; with free private housing that includes all the amenities, there’s no excuse not to enjoy a little home cooking in states that inspire with their delicious reputations: New Hampshire nursing jobs, California and Colorado, we’re looking at you! Call 1-800-884-8788 or apply online today to get your nursing career cookin’ NOW!

For Maine travel nurses, it’s a very patriotic summer indeed in the blueberry capitol of America—a wonderful place for waving red, white and blue, taking in the fireworks and statewide festivals. Here are just a few state highlights.

Start Your Fourth of July off with pancakes and fun in Bar Harbor

If you’re a travel nurse with a hankering for flapjacks and sausage, get yourself down to Bar Harbor, Maine for their 4th of July pancake breakfast and festival—an all day affair that begins at 6am and includes a full day of crafts, lobster races, seafood, fireworks and band concert. Fireworks will be shot over Frenchman Bay at 9:15 p.m. Get starting times and exact locations for all activities planned by calling 800-288-5103. You may also catch a whiff of pancakes coming from Thomaston, Maine on the 4th of July; call 207-354-8763 for more information!

Maine Fireworks and Festivals

Perhaps one of the biggest to-dos is “Heritage Days” in Bath, ME. Starting July 1st and culminating in a lovely display of 4th of July fireworks over the Bay Waterfront (9:15pm), this is one of the best places to be in New England this summer. Events include a rotary BBQ with entertainment under a gazebo, carnival and boat parade on the Kennebec River, as well as a Chili Chowder fest among some of the area’s finest restaurants. Travel nurses will want to bring their appetites and eye for fine art and crafts—there’s Art in the Park!

And for the largest Celebration in Maine?

For travel nurses near Eastport, ME, the 4th of July is all sewn up.  Come out and enjoy a Grand Independence Parade, fireworks over the bay, free entertainment at Overlook Park, antique car show and more—you may even get to take a tour on a U.S. Navy ship! Visit www.eastport4th.com to plan your day.

Pops and Circumstance: Are You Working in New England Travel Nurse Jobs right now?

If the answer is yes, get ready to listen to some pops provided by a patriotic concert in Portland, Maine’s Stars and Stripes Spectacular, on July 4, 2011. Watch fireworks pop over Casco Bay, starting just after dusk. Call 207-756-8130 for more information—but, more importantly call American Traveler—with our high paying travel nurse and therapist jobs, there’s room to grow in the New England States and rest of the nation. Call 1-800-884-8788 or apply online today!

In June, the charming town of Seward Alaska, just 126 miles south of Anchorage, hosts its annual Seward’s Halibut Tournament; the event is well underway with weeks to go! If you’re an outdoor-loving R.N. working in Alaska travel nurse jobs, this is your chance to mingle with early season visitors and anglers, hop a chartered vessel and fish with the best of ‘em; there are daily and overall prizes for the largest halibut caught, with admission starting at $10 for the day and $25 for a 3-day “weekender”. Winners and the weight of their catch (some reel in whoppers over 80 pounds!), are available on the tournament website, where you can pull up directions, transportation information and entertainment offerings in Seward, known for its historic downtown district, art shops and galleries.

To the left, you see pictures of  travel nurse Amy Boersma. During her Alaska travel nursing job, Amy got close to nature and enjoyed some great fishing!

Fishing for the Perfect Summer Travel Nursing Job?

Alaska travel nurse jobs in the summertime are perfect for those R.N.s looking to commune with nature and escape the intense heat other states are known for this time of year. Averaging day-time temperatures in the 50’s, Alaska nursing jobs will have you “hooked” when it comes to fishing, nature excursions and sporting expeditions. If you’re looking for a travel nurse or therapist career in an exciting new frontier, call 1-800-884-8788 or apply online at American Traveler now! We have high paying nursing jobs in 50 U.S. states!  Wherever you land this summer, we wish a happy season to all our travelers—enjoy your place in the sun!

Memorial Day Planning Guide For D.C. Travel Nurses

What better way for travel nurses to honor courageous military than spending the long weekend exploring our Nation’s capitol? The 2011 Memorial Day event schedule for D.C. includes a Sunday (May 29th) free concert on the west lawn of the U.S. capitol. On this day, the National Symphony Orchestra will perform, as well as top-billed celebrities. Click on the Memorial Day event link to learn more about this event, as well as wreath laying ceremonies at D.C.’s best known Memorials, a GI Film Festival, marching bands, Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally and more!

Memorial Day Events For Our Florida Travel Nurses

Are you a Florida travel nurse with a taste for crab? Then take a trip to Palatka, close to the well-known destinations like St, Augustine and Jacksonville for the Blue Crab Festival, held each year on Memorial Day weekend.

Expect to find parades, concerts and other events that honor our fallen war heroes in big name cities with top paying Florida travel nurse jobs. Get everything you need to fill your calendar for Memorial Day weekend, by clicking on Florida event links for Miami, Daytona and West Palm beaches.

And on the West Coast, California Travel Nurses Find These Memorial Day Delights

Memorial Day events around Los Angeles (click on event link for times and dates) are in the most happening city in the Golden State—and set to include a seaside arts and crafts festival on Hermosa Beach, a Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade and Garden Grove Strawberry Festival on the Village Green in downtown Garden Grove; it’s time for travel nurses in California nursing jobs to travel to the city of Angels for some heavenly food and fun!

No matter where you go for your Memorial Day observances and celebrations, American Traveler—the premier agency for travel nursing jobs nationwide would like to wish our staff across the country a safe and happy holiday! Call 1-800 884-8788 or apply online today to connect with the best nursing jobs in healthcare today. Start living the American dream now!

The Travel Nurse Guide to the Kentucky Derby

Get a Taste the Derby! Famous for its signature drinks and Old Kentucky Home dishes, like Burgoo stew, the Taste of the Derby (click the event link to see a photo gallery of 2010’s amazing spread) is on Thursday, May 5 this year, and lets you sample food and drink prepared by world famous chefs. Travel nurses who are self-described “foodies” won’t want to miss this Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center event!

A “Ladies First” Race at the Oaks! Just before the big Kentucky Derby race, there’s a Ladies First event, known as The Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 6th; on this day, travel nurses can grab their best buds and enjoy the ultimate ladies getaway, in what has been billed as a “fillies for lilies” race. Travel nurses who follow and support breast cancer awareness won’t want to miss this “Get Your Pink On Event”. Because of the Horses and Hope Charity that was established as part of the Derby Oaks in 2009, you’ll see plenty of gorgeous pink hats on display, with proceeds going toward the cure.

The Kentucky Derby! On May 7th, 2011 who knows how many traveling R.N.s—some from as far away as North Carolina nursing jobs and other states that are a car trip away from Kentucky—will be among the spectators cheering on the most famous horse races on earth. Past guests have included everyone from the Queen of England to Tom Cruise. Click on the Derby event link to preview a complete event line-up, photos and buy tickets now!

A Tip of the Hat to Travel Nurses at this Year’s Derby and Springtime Events Nationwide!

Wherever your travel nurse lifestyle takes you this Spring, American Traveler hopes you find joy and satisfaction from the clinical experience while exploring the special delights each location holds. Call us at 1-800-884-8788 or apply online today, and start enjoying the great benefits, salaries and travel adventures we offer in all 50 U.S. States! A tip of the hat and happy Kentucky Derby to you all!

Arizona Travel Nurses Flock to the Festival Chihuahua Races!

If you’re an R.N. working in Arizona nursing jobs, this is your chance to root for the underdog! The charming Chihuahua races are coming back to historic downtown Chandler, AZ—just south of Phoenix. Give your pipes a workout, cheering for the winner on Saturday, May 7th, 2011, from 10am to 7pm.

Denver Nursing Jobs Deliver Mile High Expectations—Especially During Cinco de Mayo!

It’s a fact that Denver nursing jobs put R.N.s in the heart of a vibrant Latino population that’s more prominent and fun than ever come Cinco de Mayo. Come revel in the fun of one of Denver’s most impressive events, May 7-8, 2011. More than 400,000 attendees are expected! Witness Mariachi, Cumba, Salsa, Norteno and many other genres of Latino music and dance—plus tons of superb Mexican food offerings. Denver travel nurses may click here to view the Cinco de Mayo event site.

Nevada Travel Nurses Will Be Impressed by this Huge Festival!

The Cinco de Mayo Festival at the Reno Grand Sierra Resort is northern Nevada’s largest annual celebration of Latino heritage, boasting 2 days of live entertainment, hundreds of vendor booths, Mexican dancing horse performances and food from Big Daddy’s Barbecue and other sponsors. Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free! Check the official Cinco de Mayo Festival website for more important event details.

On Cinco De Mayo, Texas Travel Nurses Can Dance the Night Away!

Like instructional workshops in sala? Would you love to see over 1,000 professional dancers take to the stage? At the 2011 Capital City Salsa Festival, R.N.s working in Texas nursing jobs can enjoy all this and more in Austin, TX during Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Travel Nurses Live Large on On May 5th and the Other 364 Days

Experience the travel nurse lifestyle, and celebrate the diversity of different cultures in any one of 50 U.S. States! American Traveler offers high paying travel nurse jobs in some of the most exciting tourist destinations in the country. Apply online or call 1-800-884-8788 today!

Florida Spring Appreciation Party Video Gallery, March 23, 2011

We invite travel nurses in all 50 states to click the video link and see pictures of their colleagues kicking up their heels in Florida. It was a night of sharing stories and fun from the nursing career path, over cheese & crackers, pizza, sandwiches and more. Camaraderie hung in the Spring air, thanks to our mix of impressive professionals, ranging from R.N.s new to travel nursing and on a first assignment, to Travelers logging ten years and counting with the company. More fun ensued when guests flirted with the chance to win an iPad2 for referring a qualified friend.

Vice President of Company Recruitment, Mary Kay Hull, was impressed by the high morale at the March party, which put “a spring” in every guest’s step. She later commented: “It was so nice to meet so many of our Travelers and to spend time socializing and getting to know them. Hearing about their various geographic and career backgrounds made for a very interesting evening.  We very much appreciate all that they do.  We are so proud to have them represent us.”

Mary Kay has expressed American Traveler’s sentiments exactly. Since Spring is the season of new beginnings and moving forward, we felt lucky to assemble our amazing Florida travel nurses and encourage them to keep up the good work! As a premiere travel nurse agency, it is our constant goal to continue striving, improving and exceeding the standard in all 50 states! Check out our travel nurse jobs, generous benefits and handsome referral bonuses! Apply online or call 1-800-884-8788 today! You can also fan us on Facebook and see travel nurses living large for yourself!

You may not be ready to practice on another planet, but in case you want to travel on this one, we’ve got rewarding travel nurse and therapist jobs across the US. You can also read more about nurse licensing and state boards here (on Earth).