And, as you reflect on the past year, also think of the new one to come.

Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life.

Happy New Year to all of our travel nurses, travel therapists, friends and family!

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

Looks like you just landed a new travel nurse or travel therapy job. Congratulations! Your next step is to pack light and relocate to your new city. You brought your skills, bright smile and determination; your consultant at American Traveler is handling the rest, and will soon send a detailed driving route and other vital information to make your assignment worry-free and the ultimate healthcare travel job experience!

Travel Nurse Housing Essentials

For a complete pack list, click on up-to-date Suggestions for Completing Your Apartment, and be sure to bookmark the American Traveler Housing Tips page for future reference. Here are the basics!

• Kitchen: A good set of kitchen knives, complete set of cutlery, silverware tray, waste basket, coffee maker & mugs,  toaster oven, veggie peeler, can opener, cork screw, strainer, cookie sheet and frying pan. Don’t forget to pack or purchase, a dustpan and broom, and all the bowls & plates you’ll need during your travel nurse assignment.
• Electronics: Your important electronic possessions may include a T.V., DVR , cell phone, PC or laptop,  printer, alarm clock, iPad, stereo system. Bring all that apply, and don’t forget the phone charger, spare package of batteries and/or battery recharger.
• Bedroom: With furnished apartments, the only things you need are a bedspread, blankets, pillows and pillow cases, queen sized fitted sheets and flat sheets.
• Bathroom: A bath mat, bath towels and linens, shower curtain, liner and the hooks to hang them. You can buy the cleaning supplies later, and pick up a small waste basket if you didn’t pack one already; these small bins are a nice way to transport smaller odds and ends.

We Work Closely With Our Travel Nurses

Your consultant helps set your mind at ease when you move into, or out of travel nurse housing, and are on call 24/7 should you have a question about moving. The following is a shortlist of the things we advocate for every Traveler embarking on a new travel nurse job:

• Of Upmost Importance: a walk-thru before moving in. Document and submit to the landlord and the recruiting agency anything in need of repair; retain a copy for yourself. When traveling with American Traveler, we ask you when possible, to submit before and after pictures to our housing department at housing@americantraveler.com
• We also recommend—especially for travelers with pets—arranging a “Condition upon Departure” walk through when you move out of travel nurse job housing.
• Create checklists that help you clean every room thoroughly, including the inside of the oven, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, drawers, carpets and/or tile floors.
• Remember to return all door keys, fitness room keys, mailbox, storage, and gate keys to the rental office before you leave your travel nurse housing

Make American Traveler Your #1 Nursing Career Resource!

Got a question? Go ahead and ask it! We enjoy getting to know you, and want to see you succeed in all your travel nurse jobs. Whether you are wondering whether or not it’s okay to bring your pet? (it definitely is!), have specific concerns about a first floor apartment, a certain amenity, or have questions regarding a housing stipend, filling out a “Got a Quick Question” form on our website is a great help, or email our travel nurse housing department. You can also call 800-884-8788 or apply online today to expedite travel nurse jobs and their exciting possibilities in all 50 U.S. States! We hope to see you soon!

Related Page: Traveling Nurse Housing Tips

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

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!

Director of talent management at the Cleveland Clinic, Lois Bock, told Hospital & Health Networks that during the first two months of 2010, the Clinic filled 500 physician and RN jobs, along with numerous clinical support positions.

Hospitals doing well as the economy recovers will be ones focused on quality patient care, said Deborah Bacurin, clinical coordinator for American Traveler Staffing Professionals, a leading employer of ER and med/surg nurses. With healthcare reform’s emphasis on performance and efficiency, Bacurin said, hospital’s looking for maximum reimbursements can’t afford to cut back on staff, as fewer nurses can lead to increased medical errors, a breakdown in patient-doctor communication and a drop in positive outcomes.

At University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, patient admissions are up by 14 percent, prompting the hiring of 50 new nurses in recent months, reports the Iowa City Press-Citizen. UI vice president for medical affairs, Jean Robillard, “attributed the rise in patient admissions to declining unemployment rates in the region.”  Find Iowa nursing jobs

A look at hiring in the south, Tift Regional Medical Center in Georgia has hired more med/surg nurses and ER nurse jobs specialists to keep up with demand, as nearly 3,000 more patients visited their ER this fiscal year over last. Moving even farther south,  Florida gained more than 22,000 healthcare jobs over the past 12 months, trumping the state’s standout industry, construction, which now employs about the half the workers it did during the boom times.

Despite the uptick in demand for nurses of all specialties, nurse graduates are not faring as well as those with ER nurse job experience or med/surg nurse credentials, positions much harder to staff, according to Diane Holmay, vice president of nursing at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, a division of the Mayo Health System.

Unfortunately for newcomers, Bacurin said, numerous healthcare markets are saturated with experienced, well-documented nurses already licensed and ready to work.

Though it’s likely that healthcare hiring has seen the bottom of the most recent recession, the need for medical/surgical jobs and ER Nurse jobs depends on how state and local hospital economies continue to recover in coming months and how many nurses laid off during the recession get their jobs back.

To learn more about ER nurse job opportunities and med/surg nurse jobs across the country call at 800-884-8788 or apply online today.

Travel nurses at American Traveler enjoy free healthcare insurance and should take advantage of that full coverage by getting vaccinated ASAP! Plug your current zip code into Take Care Clinics or your nearest pharmacy, where most insurance covers cost. Advise your friends and family that even without insurance, the price of a flu shot runs about $30—a small price to pay when you are guarding against the influenza virus, which factors into an average of 36,000 deaths a year in the United States.

Travel nurses, doctors and patients alike, this is your call to do the right thing. Get your flu shot today!

If your travel nursing lifestyle includes a dog, cat—even canaries—you’ll be pleased with American Traveler’s client support services, designed to accommodate the furry friend accompanying you on your travel nursing adventure. Here, we provide pet-lover tips and resources that get both of you (and in some cases, all of you!) off to a great start.

Bookmark these nurse career resources where you’ll find free pet sitter locaters and a “people with pets” directory that dishes on pet-friendly hotels, products and services. Remember that planning before the big road trip, in your travel nursing career or for any occasion, is critical. Each year approximately 100,000 dogs are injured or killed inside moving vehicles; pets may even fall from a car’s open window! Avoid potential dangers by outfitting your car with a pet carrier, big enough to let your dog or cat lie down. You can also shop for tethers that safely anchor your pet to the seat while permitting a near full range of motion—or shop crash tested dog car seats. See the kind of gadgets we’re talking about on this video.

These kinds of devices are particularly ideal for the travel nursing long haul. Say, for instance, you land the ultimate in California nursing jobs. While you’re more than ready for a travel nurse career in the Golden State, maybe you’re worried your Golden Retriever isn’t—that’s why we’re happy to point out appreciative feedback from registered nurses, who joined the American Traveler family with a pet.

Once you read these travel nurse testimonials, you’ll check your reservations at the door. These accounts describe the ease and convenience of travel nursing, where you’ll note a wagging tail, so to speak, of approval!

If you have a pet and are about to begin your travel nurse career, please read over this list. It will help you better negotiate the highways, rest stops, pit stops and gas stops you’ll encounter along the way.

Travel Nursing Do’s and Don’ts: a Pet Lover’s Guide

Travel Nursing Don’ts:

• Don’t let your pet hang his head out of the car window. Dust and debris can cause injury; some animals suffer ear infections from over exposure to wind.
• Don’t hold your pet on your lap while you are driving. It’s dangerous and distracting and may also lead to the animal being crushed by sudden deployment of an airbag.
• Don’t assume it’s okay for a pet to ride in a truck bed. Animals have been known to fly out of the backs of trucks or jump out. If they must ride this way, make sure they are in a carrier that is tied down securely.
• Don’t forget to attach your pet’s leash to a safe anchor point in the car when stopped. If your pet gets away from you, he could be bred by a stray animal or, even worse, run away for good.

Travel Nursing Do’s:

• Do book your hotels in advance, so as to be clear on whether or not pets are allowed.
• Do research the neighborhood where your new travel nurse career will take place, and have the name and number of its nearest veterinarian handy.
• Do take your pet to the vet before you depart for your travel nurse career, in order to get a bona fide health certificate, and proof of shots and or updated rabies vaccines.
• Do make sure the information on your pet’s tags is updated, so that you may be contacted right away.
• Do pack your pet a gallon supply of water from home to avoid the possibility of diarrhea; pack a cooler as well, with his favorite pet snacks and food.

We trust you won’t forget Honeybee’s toys, grooming materials and other comforts of home. Once you’re settled in your new travel nurse career, you and Toto will be saying there’s no place like a new home!  Call American Traveler at (800) 884-8788 or apply online 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!

Its been said there’s more than one way to skin a cat. The same might be true of seeking licensure as a registered nurse; those on track to a permanent or travel nursing career can achieve success in several different ways—the interesting part of that statement being, no matter your chosen path to licensure, the examination at the end of your nurse training is exactly the same.

The options for students interested in nursing jobs break down into these avenues: you can get a four-year nursing degree, or bachelor of science (in nursing) and be deemed a “professional nurse”; you can get an associate’s degree, which takes two to three years—or you can go to a diploma school for about three years.

It so happens that community colleges produce more than half of the country’s new nurses; not surprising considering it’s the fastest and least expensive way to become an RN; should you go this route, you are deemed a “technical nurse” and may not get the same preferential treatment in hiring as professional and graduate nurses. The encouraging news for those new to a permanent or travel nursing career is this: starting pay is about the same, no matter your educational background. RNs should note, however, that pursuing higher/continued education that culminates in nurse licensing (in a specialty), leads to promotions in your permanent or travel nurse jobs.

But there may be a more compelling reason than this for future registered nurses to graduate from a 4-year college. Legislation has been introduced in New York and New Jersey that requires nurses to get a bachelor’s degree within 10 years of licensing; this new academic criteria is commonplace in Pennsylvania, too—where nursing leaders are discussing how to help registered nurses move up the educational ladder more easily.

Studies at the University of Pennsylvania may be part of the reason, showing that registered nurses with higher degrees produce better patient outcomes; healthcare officials and hospitals attribute this to stronger critical thinking and social skills learned in college, suggesting also, that a 4-year degree is the most ideal preparation in an industry that grows more high-tech in its hospital equipment and treatments with every passing year.

In today’s healthcare landscape, registered nurses work with increasingly complex machines to treat patients; they also engage in more sophisticated team-building with their co-workers. Hospitals’ demand for bachelor’s degrees in nursing staff is further fueled as they move toward evidence-based medicine, which requires RNs to translate new trends in healthcare—basically, to think fast on their feet at patients’ bedsides.

But beyond speculation, The Center for Health Outcomes Research at Penn’s nursing school is putting real numbers behind its demand for registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees, concluding in one study that a 10-percentage-point increase in the proportion of RNs with bachelor’s degrees is associated with a 5% drop in patient mortality.

Is the competitiveness of insisting on a 4-year-degree contributing to the nurse shortage?

Chief Nursing Officers at urban centers of hiring in New York nurse jobs and New Jersey nursing jobs report that competition remains intense, with anywhere from 300 to 600 degreed nurses on waiting lists for less than one hundred job openings.

For those RNs who obtained nurse certification in a two or three year program at community college or diploma school, the legislation coming out of New York and New Jersey is nothing so much as frustrating. The good news is, a technical nurse vs. a professional one with bachelor’s degree, is still in high demand in more rural parts of the country. Travel nurse jobs are an ideal way to fill these positions.

Whatever your educational journey in your nursing career, remember that registered nurses are constantly learning, and education is at a premium always; we leave you with this and a footnote from Debbie Bacurin RN, Clinical Coordinator at American Traveler.

Footnote: Debbie weighs in:

“A hiring strategy that consists of only utilizing BSN graduates would create a formidable staffing challenge for many facilities.  However, hospitals that create incentives for higher educational standards will reap the benefits of future leaders in healthcare. The key to creating an ‘all college grad’ nursing staff in my opinion, would be to do so in steps—hospitals can accomplish this by helping RNs meet the cost of BSN and MSN educations. This strategy will get nurses on the fast track to climbing the career ladder, and in doing so, add prestige and increased economic viability to hospitals and healthcare systems.”