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

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!

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!

For the first time, the list of nominees for Best Picture has been expanded to 10.  The choices for voters in the Academy run the gamut from serious drama to big-action sci-fi to whimsical animation.

With so many nominations, the chances are pretty good that the RN who loves movies has seen (or will see) a good number of these films.  The winner will be announced during the 82nd Academy Awards ceremony on March 7.

Meanwhile, which movie do you think deserves Oscar glory? Vote in our poll below.