2013 Theme: Delivering Quality and Innovation in Patient Care As a registered nurse among some 3.1 million R.N.s in America, you can always count on National Nurses Week as a time that brings pleasant surprises to the workplace—like a guest speaker who is a big advocate for nurses, commemorative luncheon or party, or other appreciative gesture made by your hospital employer. While it’s a time for some well-deserved celebration, countess registered nurses look forward to this week in May for its outreach potential as well. Whether it’s nominating a colleague for a special award this week, or winning honor and recognition personally, National Nurses Week is something to look forward to, as hospitals across the United States focus not just on thanking hard working R.N.s in staffing jobs and travel nursing jobs, but on patient advocacy and innovation in times of healthcare reform and a nursing shortage. Besides wearing an official "RN Pin" this week, these are some other things nurses can do to celebrate the profession in ways highlighted by the American Nursing Association. Be an innovator: Innovative thinking helps patients find solutions to their most troublesome problems; innovation can also reduce fall rates [+]

In the summer of 2001, it was a pleasure to meet Michael, an OR nurse. Back then, he was looking for a seamless way to go from New York back to his southern roots. This is his story of working on and off with American Traveler over the course of many years.

American Traveler: We really appreciate you sitting down with us—especially since you just started your new travel nurse job in Virginia. It’s great to have you back! Mike: Thanks, I remembered how wonderful the American Traveler team was, and knew that working with you again was a no-brainer, given that I needed to relocate. American Traveler:  Can you tell us if your recruiter, Elizabeth Russell has helped you with this goal, and why you had to move from Indiana to Virginia? Mike: Elizabeth has been just great! My wife, Amy, whom I met during my first travel nurse assignment, accepted an R.N. job in Virginia, and Elizabeth understood my urgency in following her out there. American Traveler: Working in Virginia is going to be a big change! Take us back 10 years to when you began working in Ft. [+]

Staffing consultants and job boards are lighting up now with more opportunities than lighting bugs in a mason jar! The days are lasting longer and travel nurses are fitting more outdoor activities in their time after work. They’re motivated to find ideal nursing and therapy jobs—ones that will carry them into the summer. That’s why it’s important to post your job openings now, with a trusted name in healthcare staffing. Our recruiters work closely with each candidate, bringing talent and clinical expertise to your hospitals, outpatient centers and skilled nursing facilities. Says Debbie Bacurin, RN, Clinical Account Manager at American Traveler, “We are seeing a lot of early postings from Maine to Georgia—in Wisconsin and Michigan, too. Our nurses and therapists know that the best hospitals are posting their job openings right now. If you’re a healthcare facility looking for the best talent out there, post your openings now to find top candidates seeking spring and summer assignments.� That being said, healthcare employers should know R.N.s and therapists have, when it comes to job searches, an understanding that: Hospitals post positions today for late spring and summer. Job candidates are now getting their state licensures ready for summer [+]

 "Running into seasonal Maui residents like Steve Tyler is just another day in the life of this travel nurse!"

When nurses consider joining forces with a healthcare staffing agency that could land them in any one of the fifty U.S. states, visions of Hawaii might not be the first thing that occurs to them; yet it is a vision that became OR nurse, Kim J.’s reality when she began her travel nurse job in Maui in the Fall of 2012. American Traveler got in touch with Kim, so she could share her story about living and loving life in one of the world’s most enchanting places. AT: Hi Kim! Thanks for agreeing to do this interview. Kristin Zandee, your travel nurse consultant said that when asked if you’d be open to chatting with us you said, "Why not? I am only sitting on the beach listening to the waves lap on the shore today." Do you have lots of days like that? Kim: Yes, this Hawaii travel nursing jobs has been wonderful enough that I just started my second assignment here in Maui. I work [+]

Social media today emboldens staffing agencies to use Facebook, Twitter and other SM mediums to communicate with, reach out and recruit healthcare candidates for open positions. Strategies include creating new and interesting healthcare content for social media platforms, sharing pictures and stories of nursing and therapy jobs candidates,  promoting hard-to-fill positions, and other calls to action that connect with candidates directly. Healthcare clients rely on staffing partners to engage with candidates via cyberspace since only 16% of hospitals, in the United States, are reported to be active in social media. This is a trend hospitals can easily improve by partnering with American Traveler, a healthcare staffing agency that is highly successful matching candidates with hard to fill jobs through our active social media presence and engagement with our Facebook fans and Twitter followers. At American Traveler, clients top best hospitals lists in U.S. News & World Report. We staff these facilities with cutting edge nursing and allied healthcare talent; the continuous and on-point social media that goes along with that is simply a byproduct of our staffing services. With a purported 51% percent of consumers claiming that a hospital’s social media presence [+]

There is a feeling of helplessness that overwhelms parents when their child is admitted to the hospital as well as a feeling of hope that the NICU, PICU, and Pediatric nurses will nurture them back to health. Steps are being taken, however, to make this traumatic experience more comfortable for the patient and their families. With the help of the non-profit group, Facilities Guidelines Institute, several hospitals have invested to upgrade their children’s facilities in order to accommodate parents and elevate the healing process of children. One may think of it as holistic medical treatment for the entire family. Children’s Hospitals are Evolving In June 2012, Nationwide Children’s Hospital located in Columbus,Ohio opened a $783 million facility that provides private rooms for everyone, an atrium full of giant carved animals and a clubhouse for siblings and parents. A recent report focused on the physical environment of a hospital and warned that the noise and confusion can increase stress and anxiety. Noise reduction solutions helps to alleviate some of the problem and a proper interior design involving colors, furniture and carpet can actually promote the healing process by creating a safe and soothing environment. While physical changes are costly and parental involvement can be cumbersome, [+]

From Coast to Coast - Top Nursing Job Locations For many years now, states with the greatest job shortages have been offering the highest nursing salaries in the country. Because of dense Baby Boomer populations, and these states’ appeal to retirees, nurses will always be welcomed with open arms in certain places. So get ready to bookmark where these states are and what they have to offer! If you’re a travel nurse, poised to take your career anywhere, the following U.S. states offer the highest paying R.N. jobs in the country! Here’s what hourly mean wages were in 2012 and what you can expect in 2013. Below that, is a quarterly breakdown of where in the U.S. to find the best nursing jobs. California nursing jobs offer $42.06/ an hour and higher, plus benefits that let you make the most of the Golden State. Florida nursing jobs not only average $30.29 per hour, but some hospitals there are offering huge sign-on bonuses for R.N.’s with specializations. New York nursing jobs put R.N.s in the high earning Tri-State are, averaging $35.58 per hour or more. Texas nursing jobs have a lower cost of living than [+]

Read her story about flexible travel nurse jobs and where they are taking her Ask travel nurse Linda DeLeon if she’s curled up with a good book lately, and the ER nurse is likely to tell you that yes, she’s been reading and writing her own literature to pass the wintry nights. In addition to being a busy R.N. travel nurse book signing in Delaware, the Louisiana native has also managed to pen, since 2010, two vampire novels with a third on the way. American Traveler caught up with Linda on an evening shortly before Christmas to talk about her books, Veil of Time and Fall Into Darkness; these tales of immortal love that span the 17th Century and into present day are part of a series, featuring a love triangle between James, a history professor, Vanessa and the enigmatic Claire, the protagonist in all three stories who Linda says is a character derived from her own life. And what a life! Linda has been a travel nurse before, but her current assignment is her first nursing job with American Traveler. She and her husband, who met in Las Vegas across a black jack [+]

Learn about what to do in your travel nurse assignment city Travel nurses get to experience new places and different hospitals, which can definitely be exciting. Another great thing about travel nursing is the new scenery and finding out what the assignment city has to offer. A great way to begin to explore is to utilize Online Resources. Travel nursing is an exciting journey, and there is always something to look forward to. Visit this information packed online nurse career resource to get all career related links that you need for your next travel nursing job. In addition, you can discover great restaurants, entertainment and meeting new people in your city by consulting these additional online resources: Yelp is a great website that is based on user submitted reviews.  There are reviews on restaurants, salons, museums, gyms, and more.  The best part about these reviews is that they are submitted by people that have already been to that place.  A best rule of thumb about Yelp is to read these reviews with an open mind because everyone has a different experience. The website Meetup is a place where you can meet other [+]

American Traveler recommends that traveling nurses have their vehicles inspected for safety and proper working order in preparation for winter. Follow these 5 easy-to remember tips to ensure your vehicle starts in winter and gets you to travel nursing jobs safely. Though bringing your car, truck or SUV to a certified mechanic may cost you a few bucks, the life you may save in the process is priceless. Have your brakes checked. Have this done by a certified mechanic. If you’re new to a traveling nurse job then find one by asking fellow nurses or by searching the Internet for a nearby franchise that guarantees their work. Check your tires for tread. Too little or no tread on your tires is dangerous and increases the chances of sliding on ice and hydroplaning in the rain. Remember to check tire pressure regularly (spare tire too!) all year. Request an engine diagnostic. This will ensure your motor is running on all cylinders and will start when temperatures drop. Ask to have heaters, defrosters and cold weather electronics inspected for working order. Pack a motorist safety kit. No traveling nurses leaves home or work planning to breakdown [+]