BOCA RATON, FL (PRWeb), Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:30:01 EST -

Just about everyone in America rubs elbows with healthcare. And now with federal healthcare reforms aimed at granting millions of Americans improved access to quality care, American Traveler healthcare employers from hospitals to home health are on the hunt, once again, for skilled RNs. Good news for nurses looking for RN jobs and even better news for Registered Nurses looking to connect with travel nursing jobs.

Raed the entire Healthcare Jobs on the Rise Press Release

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

‘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!

According to a recent story in the New York Times, “the American Academy of Family Physicians projects a shortfall of 40,000 physician generalists — family practitioners, pediatricians, general internists and geriatricians — by 2020, even without significant changes to the current health care system.”

This shortfall, experts predict, will increase the importance of the nurse practitioner — because nurse practitioners will be needed to do even more of the tasks now performed by physicians.

The nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has received specialized education (usually, a master’s degree) in a selected field.  These positions offer the chance for work in health education, counseling and customized care.  Nurse practitioners’ duties vary by state depending on regulation; but generally, they include diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering tests, prescribing drugs and making referrals to specialists.

Nurse practitioners typically work in primary care, whereas physician assistants generally work for specialists.  But either way, these specialized areas of the nursing profession are going to be in high demand. (And, even more so, considering the projected shortfall of all types of nurses will be 260,000 in the next 15 years.)

Therefore, it makes sense to get as much additional training and education as possible to increase your potential worth as a registered nurse.  See our recent blog with suggestions on what advanced nursing certifications and credentials to pursue.

And, the good news is, there may be money coming from Uncle Sam for some of this education. Says the Times:

“The health care bills moving through Congress contain provisions that would increase funding for nurse training programs, including one aimed specifically at raising the number of advanced practice nurses, which include nurse practitioners.”

Registered nurses, if you are thinking about advanced specialized training or you are currently enrolled, please share with us your comments or recommendations!

“Hospitals are looking for candidates with the most up-to-date and advanced certifications,” notes Deborah Bacurin, RN, clinical resource manager at American Traveler.

By pursuing advanced nursing training by earning additional credentials and certifications, you are proving yourself as a motivated individual who cares about keeping on top of the latest trends and education – and therefore, a top candidate for American Traveler’s travel nursing jobs.

This goes double for new grads and nursing students, who are finding that it is somewhat difficult to find the ideal job right out of school with basic nursing skills. Get as many certifications and credentials as you can, as soon as possible, advises Bacurin.

Also, do not expect the employer to reimburse you for this nursing job training (although it never hurts to ask!); view these credentials as prerequisites for top RN jobs.  The more certifications the better – and the more advanced, the better.

Here are Bacurin’s suggestions for certifications in their specialty that RNs should pursue:

• ED: PALS, NRP, ENPC, TNCC, CATN, CEN
• Critical Care: PALS, NRP, TNCC, CCRN
• Tele: PALS, TNCC
• Peds: NRP, PALS, ACLS
• M/S: ACLS, PALS, TNCC

For those looking to change nursing-job specialties or increase your skills:

• M/S to Tele, ED or ICU: Go for the trauma certifications (TNCC, CATN); plus  advanced-life support certs such as ACLS or PALS
• L&D or M/B: Go for AWHHON, NRP or S.T.A.B.L.E.

For more information on these and other licenses and education programs, see our Nursing Professional Resources page; also, you can always discuss your options with your American Traveler consultant.

Meanwhile, share your nursing-training experiences with fellow travelers. What certifications and credentials have you found to be most valuable in advancing your travel nursing career?

However, more and more hospitals have embraced the idea of adopting competency assessment models for their medical personnel;  and thus, they are requiring travel nurses to pass certain nursing tests after being hired. These tests, administered on-site, can often be quite grueling– requiring comprehensive proof of a range of skills, from medication dosages to care of patients depending on their medical diagnosis.

Facilities are getting stricter about the rules, too: Nurses must pass these nursing tests by a certain percentage (which can vary by hospital) on their first try — or they lose the RN job.

One test that travelers are likely to encounter is the Performance Based Development System, or the PBDS test – which is being used in more than 500 hospitals to assess new RN hires, both permanent and traveling. The multi-part PBDS test evaluates three areas of skills: interpersonal (customer relations, conflict resolution, team building, etc.);  critical thinking (med-surg, critical care, neonatal ICU, and OB); and technical (creating and following a care plan for patients with various disease entities).

Another test that travel nurses accepting RN jobs might expect during their orientation is a medication administration exam. (And you thought you were done with those in school, right? Wrong!)  Hospitals administering these nursing tests will usually allow the use of a drug-reference book and a calculator; but it’s up to the travel nurse to be on top of these skills in order to assure on-the-job success.

Here are a few Web sites that might help you study for these nursing tests:

• Brush Up On Your Drug Calculation Skills
• Dosage Calculations Tutorial
• Useful Abbreviations

“It is always a good idea to review the most common drugs used in your specialty,” advises Deborah Bacurin, RN, clinical resource manager at American Traveler.  “Critical care nurse? Review your arrhythmias before going in on the first day.  Remember the basic testing tips:  a good night’s sleep, confidence and be ready for anything!”

As a Joint-Commission Certified travel nursing agency, American Traveler is devoted to matching each client’s skills and talents with the most suitable RN jobs.  Your American Traveler consultant will walk you through the specific nursing tests required at any facility where you might be assigned.  Once you know what will be expected, you can arrive well-prepared for your travel nursing jobs.

We look forward to hearing your comments, suggestions and tips on how you prepare to pass tests when arriving at a new travel nursing job.

This development presents two types of opportunities for the travel nurse. First, nurses between assignments may choose to do a volunteer stint in Haiti.  American Traveler has seen many of its RNs volunteer over the years, and encourages those who wish to serve in Haiti to do so.

The second opportunity involves travel nursing jobs that will become available to fill the temporary absences.  These are likely to be opening up all across the country; check our rn jobs list often for new travel nursing assignments.

In Florida, there has been a particularly large response from volunteers – and thus a looming shortage of licensed nurses. That means there’s a good chance that there will be many excellent Florida travel nursing jobs opening up.

To make it even easier and more desirable for a traveling nurse to take a temporary nursing job in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist has passed an emergency executive order to expedite the process for licensure by endorsement of nurses holding a valid license to practice in another state.