When you’re traveling from city to city, taking care of all types of patients, and working alongside different units, you’re bound to learn so much as a travel nurse. Along the way, you’ll also learn the language all travel nurses speak. Below are important terms all travel nurses should know. 

General Vocabulary

Regardless of where your next assignment takes you, everyone will know these foundational terms:

• Travel Nurse

  – When healthcare facilities need short-term staffing needs, they hire a nurse who will take on the assignment. While the average assignment lasts 13 weeks, travel nurses can work anywhere between four to 26 weeks.

• Tax Home

  – Think of your tax home as your home base. Once you finish your assignment, your tax home is where you’ll return to. Your tax home is also connected to legal documents, including your driver’s license, mail delivery, and voter registration.

• EMR Project

  – It’s common for facilities to put out Electronic Medical Record (EMR) conversion projects when they need extra support updating their medical records. Travel nurses with EMR experience are often contracted to help make those conversions.

Contract Vocabulary

The more contract vocabulary you know, the better. Get to know the following so you understand what you’re getting into at the start of each assignment: 

• Guaranteed Hours

  These are the hours you know you’ll be working and getting paid for. 

• Required Hours

  At minimum, you need to work these hours each week. Required hours can range anywhere from 24 hours to 48 hours every week. Sometimes, required hours can even go beyond 48 hours.  

• Approved Time Off

  When you request days off in your contract for vacation, appointments, or anything else, those days and hours count as approved time off. If you know you cannot work certain days or hours in a week, give a heads up to your recruiter to make sure those days are included in your contract. 

• Per Diem Nursing

  Meaning “per day” in Latin, this is a subset of travel nursing where contracts offer temporary work for one day or several days. 

Pay Vocabulary

Payment is much different as a travel nurse than it is in a more permanent position. Learn these terms so you can make the most out of your financial situation:

• Stipend

  An essential part of travel nurse pay, stipends are reimbursements for housing expenses, if you qualify. 

• Per Diem

  Different from Per Diem Nursing, per diem payments, also known as Meals & Incidental Expenses, or M&IE, cover the cost of food and other essentials you need when you’re away from your tax home. Though it’s likely you’ll get quoted per diem as a monthly or weekly rate, the amounts will always be based on daily costs. 

• Travel Reimbursement

  Your contract may specify what an agency needs to reimburse you with when traveling to and from your destination, if you qualify. 

• Base Hourly Rate

  Think of this as your hourly wage. Your base pay is what you earn for each hour you work. 

• On-Call Rate

  You’ll get an hourly rate when you’re called in to work. 

• Missed Hours Penalty

  Every agency and facility has a different policy on any potential missed hours. Check in with yours to learn them. 

Got questions? Ask your recruiter

If you’re unsure about any other travel nursing terms, whether they come up in your contract or in conversation, the recruiters at HealthCare Support can walk you through them all. HealthCare Support is a national staffing agency that helps passionate healthcare professionals find roles they love. Our team is dedicated to supporting and teaching you everything you need to know so you can best set yourself up for a life of success.

To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

When you land a travel nurse assignment, most times, you’ll have two housing options: company housing, which is when the agency you’re working with takes care of all your housing needs, or a housing stipend, which is when you’re responsible for securing and paying for your temporary home. 

Housing stipends, also known as housing reimbursements, are sums of money that support travel nurses’ living costs while they work. If you’re a travel nurse or are interested in becoming one, take a look at what you need to know about housing stipends. 

Who Decides the Housing Stipend? 

Your travel nurse agency will refer to stipend rates decided by the General Service Administration (GSA), an independent agency of the U.S. government that manages and supports how federal agencies run. 

On top of many other government-related responsibilities, the GSA takes care of travel nurses’ per diem rates, which are rates that account for the daily cost of lodging. These rates are allotted to employees on official travel and based on the different costs of living across the country. Therefore, your housing stipend will be dependent on the location of your assignment. To better understand the varying cost of living expenses across the nation, take a look at the GSA’s per diem rates. 

Why Are Some Areas More or Less Expensive than Others? 

In addition to costs of living varying across the country, pricing will fluctuate depending on your living arrangement. For example, a furnished apartment can sometimes cost more than a non-furnished one. 

Time of year also factors into costs, such as a summer living situation sometimes being more expensive than a winter one. Stipend ranges vary, but payments will often come in lump sum intervals. For example, if you’re working in Austin, Texas in October, your stipend can be $158 per day and can get paid weekly or biweekly. 

What Should Travel Nurses Look for in Housing? 

If you’re leaning towards finding your own place to live with your housing stipend, there are a few factors you should consider: 

• Do you need a vehicle?

  Some locations, like major cities, have reliable public transportation, while others don’t. Determine the proximity and walkability of where you’re living, working and exploring. 

• What appliances and furniture will you have?

  Your living arrangement may already have everything you need, but if it doesn’t, consider the costs of having to buy what you feel are essential to your lifestyle. 

• How long is your lease?

  Find a new home that works best with your assignment length. If you need to break your lease, remember to factor those costs into your housing budget. 

These key considerations are personal to what you want out of your travel nurse experience, but if you need professional guidance, HealthCare Support can help. 

Find Your Ideal Stipend Living Situation with HealthCare Support

HealthCare Support can help you land your dream assignment, location and housing situation. HealthCare Support is a national staffing resource that supports the professional, personal and financial goals of passionate healthcare professionals. With compassionate guidance and highly responsive support, our dedicated team can help you thrive in your new role and home. We’ll help you throughout the placement process and walk you through stipend living.

To connect with our team, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

When you’re off on a new assignment and enjoying life in your new home, you might be thinking how awesome it would be to experience it with someone else, but there are pros and cons in doing so. Read on to find out if you should take your next travel nursing assignment solo or with a friend.

Pros to Travel Nursing with a Friend 

Not everyone knows what it’s like to be away from home weeks at a time, live in a completely different city, and be the new nurse at a facility. When you have a friend with you on assignment who’s also experiencing the same changes as you are, it can be beneficial for the both of you to lean on each other for help and support. Plus:

• It’s more affordable

  When you’re sharing a living space with a friend, you can split living costs with one another. This includes rent, furniture and appliances, and groceries. Your transportation costs can also be split by carpooling and ride sharing. 

• You have a travel buddy

  What better way to make memories in a new city than with a friend? From sightseeing to eating out, you’ll always have someone you know with you to experience this time in your life. 

Cons to Travel Nursing with a Friend 

While it’s beneficial to adventure and work in a new place alongside your friend, you might not actually have that much time to spend together. For example, you could work completely opposite shifts. With one of you working nights and the other working days, your expectations on exploring the city with your friend might fall short. Other cons to take into account include: 

• You’re less likely to stretch yourself

  You’re bound to grow when you’re on your own. Rather than leaning on someone else to be there with you, working and traveling alone pushes you to befriend coworkers, go on solo adventures, or learn how to live on your own. 

• You’re limited on where you can go

  If you’re both set on getting placed in one destination, you may have to wait longer for opportunities to open up for the both of you.

Tips for Deciding What To Do

If you’re still on the fence on whether or not to take your next travel nursing assignment with a friend, we suggest the following: 

• Assess your relationship

  Traveling with your friend opens the door to living together for 13 or more weeks. If you aren’t ready to be roommates, it might not be the best idea to go on this journey together. 

• Create a goals list

  You and your friend should, separately, make a list of what you both want to experience on assignment. When you come together to share your lists, assess the similarities and differences. If you want to have fun together, traveling together may be your perfect option. If you’re more focused on experiencing a new city at your own pace, it might be better to take an assignment on your own. 

• Ask your recruiter for guidance

  Your recruiter can work with you to find opportunities in your ideal role and location with your friend. You can also ask for your recruiter’s insight on the pros and cons of travel nursing with someone. 

HealthCare Support Can Get You Where You Want To Go 

Solo or with a friend, our highly responsive, compassionate team works with you to find your ideal travel assignment. HealthCare Support is a staffing resource for the healthcare industry that places talented, passionate healthcare professionals in careers where they’ll thrive. With our national reach and vast network, you can start working in the location and role of your dreams.

To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

As people who attract talent and fill organizations with essential workers, recruiters play an integral role in moving the healthcare industry forward. It’s no wonder there’s a day dedicated to celebrating all they do. June 7, the first Tuesday in June, is National Healthcare Recruiter Recognition Day. Here’s how to celebrate. 

Leave a Review

Recruiters are there to support you in your career. To support your recruiters in theirs, take the time to write a thoughtful and positive review on your experience working with them. From Facebook ratings to Google My Business, a review is an easy and accessible way for your recruiter to get the recognition they deserve on how they helped you be successful. This can help your recruiter work with more candidates, earn praise from their team, and grow at their company. 

Say Thank You

In finding talent, juggling the demands of different facilities, and aligning each individual to the perfect role, recruitment can get challenging and overwhelming. While recruiters aren’t doing their very best for a “thank you,” it certainly makes the job more special when a “thank you” is delivered. Whether it’s a phone call, email, or even a handwritten note, expressing your gratitude goes a long way in letting your recruiter know what they’re doing matters.

Be Happy In Your Career

Of course, the best way to let recruiters know you appreciate them for what they do is finding fulfillment and joy in the job they helped you find. Recruiters want the best for you, so when they see you thriving, that success lets them know they’re making a real difference in their candidates’ lives and in the healthcare industry. 

Work with Recruiters Who Care As Much As You Do 

Recruiters love working with people who care about the healthcare industry as much as they do. Together, you have the opportunity to make a real difference in healthcare. That’s our goal at HealthCare Support. As a premiere, national staffing resource for the healthcare industry, our team is dedicated to moving the industry forward by placing compassionate talent in jobs they love. 

To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

One of the greatest benefits to taking on a travel nurse assignment is gaining valuable experience all over the country, though sometimes, those experiences are negative. If you’ve found yourself dreading your next shift, take a step back and assess what it is you don’t like about where you are. Once you’ve found your pain points, you can decide what to do. Here are some tips on how to navigate some of the most common circumstances travel nurses experience when they dislike their travel nursing assignment.

You and Your Coworkers Aren’t a Good Match 

Are the people you’re working with not the type of people you want to be around? Whether it’s unprofessionalism, cattiness, or misalignment on goals and values, at some point in your career, you may work with people who make each shift difficult. 

If this is what you’re up against, try to remember there’s more to this assignment than the work. You’ve landed a role in an entirely new city, so focus your energy on creating plans to explore where you are before or after your shift or even on your lunch break. 

Your Assignment Isn’t What You Expected

If, for example, you were expecting to work in a brand new unit and you found yourself working somewhere old and run down, then it’s completely fair for you to not be excited about heading into work. Your expectations weren’t met, which is why it’s so important to get all your questions answered at the interview stage before you accept your role.

If you can, power through the circumstances and make the best of it. Despite your situation not being up to par with what you envisioned, the experience can still be incredibly valuable if you see past the negatives. 

You Feel Homesick

Even if you add pieces of home to your current living space, such as photos and furniture, it still gets tough to be away from where you love, but try sticking it out. As time passes and you spend more time in your new city, you may be surprised by what elements of your new home will grow on you. 

If being homesick still outweighs wanting to experience a new city, restructure your schedule to plan a trip home. For example, if you’re on schedule to work three 12-hour shifts at the beginning of the week, you have four days to make the trek back home for a quick visit. 

You Don’t Feel Like You’re Set Up for Success 

Whether you’re handling more patients than you’re used to or you’re too overwhelmed to juggle all your responsibilities, you may feel like you aren’t prepared to make it through your shifts. If this is the case, talk to management and ask for support. You and your manager can work through your obstacles together so you can make the most of your time at your new assignment. However, if the circumstances make you feel like your license is on the line, then call your recruiter about backing out of your assignment. 

Your recruiter should support you as you take your next steps in your assignment. Be clear about what it is you’re experiencing so they can help you move forward. An honest conversation now can best set you up for your next placement down the road.

Land Your Ideal Travel Nurse Placement 

Wherever you are in your travel nurse journey, our recruiters will be there to help you move forward and find a role you love. HealthCare Support is a national staffing resource for the healthcare industry that helps talented, passionate healthcare professionals like you find an ideal career path and workplace. Our network is vast, and our highly responsive team will help you get to where you’ve always dreamed of working. 

To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

Packing for any trip can be a hassle because you never want to pack too little or too much. However, packing for your first travel nursing assignment can be very stressful because you’ll likely be gone and living out of your suitcase for an extended period of time. To figure out what you need to bring and avoid leaving essential items behind, here is a travel nurse packing checklist you can reference before hitting the road.

Items to Bring on Your Initial Travel Nursing Assignment

Personal documents

Official identification documentation is essential when traveling. Without them, you may risk a delay in your starting date. Before heading out to your first assignment, you should check with your travel nursing recruiter to find out what exact documents you need. For instance,  you will probably need to bring some or all of the following: 

• Driver’s license
• Certifications 
• Proof of vaccines
• Social security card
• Proof of your physical exam from the past year
• Front and back copies of all your active professional licenses as some states haven’t gone paperless
• Proof of car insurance and registration, if driving
• Contact information for the travel nurse company you work for

Electronic devices

In this day and age, fewer people forget their electronics at home. However, when you’re rushing out of your home to catch a plane or get on the road, you can easily overlook these essential items. Make sure you pack your cell phone, laptop, camera, or tablet and all their respective chargers in your bag.

Household items

Some temporary housing will provide you with a short supply of the household items you will need, such as cleaning supplies, silverware, pans, and bedsheets. However, these items will vary from location to location. It is important to ask what items your housing will provide so that you can bring or buy what you need for your temporary home.

Clothes

The scrubs you bring are just as important as your regular clothing items. Check with your recruiter to see if the facility you go to will require specific scrubs you need to purchase or if what you have is good to bring. Aside from scrubs, pack clothes appropriate for the climate of the state you are traveling to. Make sure you pack a good mix of casual and formal items, but not too much so that it weighs down your luggage.

After a few travel nursing gigs under your belt, the packing process will be a breeze. To get started on your path to becoming a successful travel nurse, contact the professionals at HealthCare Support.

Prepare for Your First Travel Nursing Assignment With Us

If you are thinking of pursuing a career as a travel nurse, HealthCare Support is here to help you unlock your potential and place you in the ideal situation for your career. We are a premier national staffing resource for the healthcare industry, interested in supporting passionate healthcare professionals. Our professional network is vast, and our dedicated team of subject matter experts provide customized staffing solutions, dedicated advocacy, and compassionate guidance. 

To learn more about our open jobs and services, please call us at 888-219-6285.

Rotating schedules can have you wondering whether it’s time for your shift or time for bed. Within a week, you can be working 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. one shift and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. another. 

While rotating schedules give you the opportunity to learn what the job looks like at any time of the day and night, they can take a toll on you, especially if you’re a travel nurse living and working in a completely different location than you’re used to. Here are some tips for working a rotating schedule. 

Create a Pre- and Post-work Routine 

A solid routine can help you fall asleep or wake up. To keep your mind and body in good shape, we recommend incorporating the following into your day or night:

• Move your body – From full workout routines to simple stretches, regular movement is essential to your wellness.
• Be mindful of screen time – If you need to fall asleep at a good time and limit yourself from any distractions, use the do not disturb feature on your phone and unplug from the digital world by a certain time in the day or night. 
• Tune into a good show, movie, game, or book – Whatever it is that gets your mind out of work mode, enjoy it.
• Explore the city – Take a walk, try a cafe or restaurant, and enjoy the time you have as a travel nurse in a new city. 

Practice Your Non-Negotiables

As you figure out a solid routine for yourself, incorporate any necessary self-care and recovery activities. Whether it’s eating all your meals, working out a certain number of times a week, or carving out time to enjoy what you love to do, your non-negotiables are what you must do to take care of your body and mind. They’ll be what keeps you energized and ready to take on your upcoming shifts. 

Stick to a Sleeping Schedule That Works for You

To best take care of your patients, you need to take care of yourself. That includes getting enough sleep throughout the week, so set up hard rules around your sleep schedule. For example, if you operate best on seven hours of sleep, keep your body and mind used to those seven hours, even when you aren’t working or if you need to sleep during the day. 

As a travel nurse, you’ll likely have to go through your own adjustment period, whether it’s you getting used to a different time zone or home. To best help you get the hours of sleep you need wherever and whenever, invest in a good sleep mask, fan, and earbuds.

Take Breaks 

If you’re working consistent night shifts and getting ready to switch into day shifts, try to give yourself time in between to adjust. For instance, if you’re on schedule to work days after working nights, take time off between switching shifts to ease yourself into a sleeping schedule that works for you. 

Additionally, make sure you take your breaks at work. Working long shifts is tough as it is, and doing so when your routine has changed so much is even more challenging. Give yourself a mental break at work and take the time to eat a nutritious meal or go on a walk around the new city you’re in. 

Ask For Help 

Rotating shifts can get taxing on your mind and body. To avoid or minimize burnout, do the best you can to rest and recover, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help. You can ask other nurses or travel nurses for tips on working a rotating schedule. You can also reach out to your recruiter.

Lean on HealthCare Support for All Your Travel Nursing Needs 

From professional tips to support for your career growth, your recruiter can help you thrive in your travel nursing career. Our recruiters at HeathCare Support are dedicated to championing the professional, personal and financial goals of passionate healthcare professionals across the nation. Our network is vast and we’re ready to help you unlock your potential.

To connect with our compassionate and highly responsive team, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

Recruiters educate and mentor travel nurses before, during and after travel assignments, so reaching out to one is a great way to have support as you take on more assignments and grow in your career. To have a successful partnership, it’s important to learn if your recruiter and the agency they work with align with what you’re looking for. You can find out by doing your  research and asking your travel nurse recruiter specific questions that pertain to your  career.

Ask About Your Recruiter’s Experiences

You can get a general understanding of a recruitment agency through your own personal research, but what you learn online can be different from what you learn through a conversation. Asking your recruiter about the company culture, their experience and approach on placements, and any available opportunities are great questions to ask during your initial conversation. 

Learn if Your Recruiter Can Serve You

Remember, recruiters are here to support you and your career, so ask questions that will help you understand how they can serve you. When you first connect with a recruiter, consider asking these questions:

• How long have you been a recruiter with this agency? 
• What’s your experience been like?
• Do you have any testimonials from previous clients? 
• Why should I work with your agency? 
• What opportunities are available to me as a travel nurse? 
• Why are these facilities looking for travel nurses instead of permanent staff? 

Get to Know How You Will Be Supported as a Travel Nurse

If you feel you’re at a good place to move forward with your recruiter and next placement, learn what you should expect throughout your assignment. These questions for your recruiter can help you figure out what you need to know:

• How can I contact you while I’m on the job? 
• Should I expect any training before I start my assignment? 
• How will my housing and travel expenses be handled? 
• How will you work to support my goals and career success throughout the assignment? 

Discuss the Details of Your Opportunity

On top of covering the basic details of your placement, such as its assignment length, it’s important to find out additional details so you know exactly what you’re signing up for. This includes compensation, benefits, and hours you’re working. To learn more about your placement, ask your recruiter the following questions:

• What type of benefits do I have as a travel nurse? 
• What insurance is included?
• Should I anticipate any overtime pay, completion bonuses, or referral bonuses?
• Will I be earning my money through a direct deposit?
• Are there any opportunities for me to be reimbursed for my continuing education (CE) classes?

Bring Up Any Additional Concerns 

If this is your first travel assignment, don’t be afraid to share any hesitations or concerns with your recruiter. If this isn’t your first travel assignment, think back to any bumps in the road you’ve experienced in the past and ask your recruiter how they can support you if you run into any trouble. Some questions you can ask include:

• If I get sick, have an emergency, or for some other reason can’t complete my assignment, what happens? 
• What should I anticipate if I experience any problems with travel or housing arrangements?
• If another opportunity arises while I’m on this assignment, how will you support me?

Connect With a Supportive Recruiter Today

Your recruiter should champion you through your entire assignment so make sure you work with someone who’s ready to be your advocate as you grow in your travel nurse career. HealthCare Support is a national staffing resource that supports the professional, personal and financial goals of passionate healthcare professionals. With compassionate guidance and highly responsive support, our dedicated team can help you thrive in your new job and home. We’ll place you in a role and location you’ll love and be there for you every step of the way as you take on your assignment.

To connect with our team, please give us a call at 888-219-6285. 

When you’re working from place to place as a travel nurse, you may find it difficult to figure out where you’re living next. With temporary housing, you typically have two options: allow the agency you’ve worked with to provide housing or accept a stipend and find your own place to live. Stipend sizes vary, but they’re meant to help you pay for your temporary living arrangement, which can include rent in a fully furnished apartment. 

What Are the Benefits of a Stipend? 

Going with the agency-provided living arrangement certainly makes it easier to find housing. However, you can choose your own place with a stipend, which may be beneficial if you factor commute times to and from work or adventures you want to go on that are close to home.

Additionally, the amount of money you would get on your stipend will depend on many factors, including where you live and the time of year of your assignment, but 

you can gain some extra cash from your stipend. For example, if rent costs less than the stipend, you can take home the difference. 

What Should Travel Nurses Consider in Their Housing? 

You may have to factor in a few considerations if you’re leaning towards accepting a housing stipend on your next travel nurse assignment. As mentioned earlier, commute times to work and other lifestyle activities are worth thinking about. When deciding where to live with your stipend, you may also want to consider: 

• Means of transportation – Are you bringing a car or will you be depending on public transportation or a rental vehicle? Is everything you need within walking distance?
• Appliances and furniture – If you plan on cooking often, does your new home have the appliances you need? Do you need to bring your own entertainment, such as a TV? How homey are you willing to make your own space?
• Length of the lease – Will your new living arrangement align with the length of your assignment? Can you break your lease? How much will it cost you if you do? 

How Do You Know if a Housing Stipend Is Best for You? 

If you’re still unsure about your options, or if you’ve realized finding housing on your own is no small feat, we can help you figure out the best path forward. HealthCare Support is a national staffing resource that supports the professional, personal and financial goals of passionate healthcare professionals. With compassionate guidance and highly responsive support, our dedicated team can help you thrive in your new role and home. We’ll help you throughout the placement process and walk you through stipend living if that is best for you. 

To connect with our team, please give us a call at 888-219-6285. 

You’ve turned your tassel right to left and now it’s time to trade in the cap and gown for some scrubs. While it isn’t impossible to go straight from new graduate to travel nurse, it’s much easier to pursue the competitive career path when you have specific experiences under your belt. To set yourself apart, take a look at our timeline for tips on how to go from new grad nurse to travel nurse.

First Month: Prepare for the Job Hunt

First thing’s first: Update your resume. You have a new, well-earned degree to add to your resume as well as notable in-school shadowing or volunteering experiences. As you refine your resume, consider adding the following specifics under your experiences: 

• Location, unit, and charting system of the facilities you’ve worked in
• Specifics on unit sizes and nurse-to-patient ratios
• Relevant certifications or licenses you have
• References of the charge nurses or management you’ve worked with 

First Year on the Job: Try Float Nursing

Some nurses know exactly what unit they want to work in right when they graduate. Other nurses like trying different units before committing to a specialty. If the latter sounds like you, consider floating as your first nursing role. Float nurses are nurses who move from one unit to the other. They have the opportunity to learn which units they thrive in, connect with a wide variety of patients and healthcare professionals, and gain invaluable experience by adapting to whatever units they’re assigned to work. Remember, as you float, start to land new roles, and gain more experience, update your resume.

One to Two years in the Field: Find Your Specialty  

Once you find a unit you enjoy, try to stick to it for at least two years. Travel nurses typically start their career by gaining acute care experience in units they want to work, such as the emergency room, intensive care, or cardiology units. More time in a specialty means you’re seen as an expert in that field and you’re more likely to stand out in a competitive talent pool. 

Beyond One to Two years: Make the Jump To Travel Nursing

You can typically pursue your travel nursing career once you’ve been working for at least a year.  However, many facilities prefer you to have more than a year of experience in specialty areas like the operating room, neonatal intensive care unit, or the labor and delivery unit. 

If you have the right amount of experience and you’re ready to pursue a role that lets you take care of diverse communities, work alongside healthcare professionals in a new facility, and explore a different city off the clock, we can help. HealthCare Support is a premiere, national staffing agency that helps passionate nurses like you make the transition to travel nursing. Our dedicated team will help place you in a role and location that aligns with your goals—personal, professional, and financial.

To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.