Are you thinking about becoming a preceptor? Have you been offered the chance to take a preceptee under your wing? If you think preceptorship might be in your future, take a closer look at why it’s worth pursuing.

What Is a Nurse Preceptor?

Preceptors are experienced nurses who help train and support student nurses in the classroom and recent graduates on the job. Serving as a mentor, preceptors typically work with preceptees in a one-on-one relationship — full-time, part-time, or as a volunteer. After establishing expectations and getting introduced in an orientation, preceptors start taking on a number of new responsibilities:

• Introducing a nurse to the practice or certain specialties
• Supervising and offering feedback on a nurse’s performance
• Communicate with the preceptee and answer questions
• Encourage time management and decision-making skills

Becoming a Nurse Preceptor

The path to becoming a nurse preceptor looks a little different for everyone. While the requirements to apply for this type of position will vary by state and setting, there are a number of courses and a plethora of literature for aspiring preceptors. If you have specific questions or need advice on how to prepare for the role, consider reaching out to preceptors in your community.

Top 4 Benefits of Precepting   

Students and new nurses seek out preceptorships to learn, find support, and get advice, but preceptors themselves have a lot to gain from the relationship, too. Here are four benefits of precepting.

1. Leadership skills

   As a preceptor, you’ll educate, guide, and support your preceptee, which will certainly enhance your confidence as a leader.

2. Resume building

   The skills and experience you acquire as a preceptor make for a great addition to your resume.

3. Ongoing education

   Taking on a preceptor and teaching them about the practice is a great way to sharpen your existing skills.

4. Long-term relationships

   By helping a new nurse assimilate, understand their role, and find a work/life balance, preceptorship creates strong professional bonds.

Your Path to Preceptorship

Leaders and teachers, preceptors are an integral part of the nursing practice. Breaking into the role of preceptor might seem intimidating, but our team of healthcare recruiters at HealthCare Support are here to help. We have the experience and professional network to help you find openings where you can take on preceptorships and mentor other healthcare professionals. If you have any questions about our hiring process or want to join our talent network, contact HealthCare Support today at 888-219-6285.

Along with all of the experience and education you’ve garnered as a nursing student, you’ve also incurred quite a bit of debt. Furthermore, the options available for paying off that debt might look a little different for you than they do for other nurses. Factors like where you live, when you graduated, and where you work all play a part in the types of programs you may be able to benefit from.

Top 3 Loan Forgiveness Options for Nurses

Whether you’re approaching the end of your post-graduate grace period or years into making payments, here are three student loan forgiveness programs you may have heard of.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program is a popular option among nurses working full-time for government organizations or nonprofits. Candidates must make 120 qualifying payments on their loan before they are eligible for PSLF.

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

Available to RNs working in critical shortage facilities such as public hospitals and free clinics, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (NCLRP) repays up to 85% of nursing student loans for qualifying applicants. Candidates must work two or more years in a critical shortage facility to qualify.

Perkins Loan Cancellation

Nurses with a Perkins loan may have a unique opportunity to have their debt fully forgiven. The program that provided Perkins loans ended in 2017, and nurses that obtained Perkins loans before 2017 and have worked for five or more consecutive years may qualify for partial or complete loan cancellation.

Other Ways to Pay Your Nursing Student Loans

On top of looking into the loan forgiveness options mentioned above, check to see which specific opportunities are available in your state. You might qualify for loan forgiveness if you work in a shortage area or commit to a specific amount of service. If you aren’t eligible for any student loan forgiveness program or are searching for a different financial option, you may want to consider refinancing and securing a lower interest rate.

Find Your Perfect Career Match

Next to paying off your student loan debt, your top goal as a nurse is finding fulfilment in your work and your place of work. If you’re trying to qualify for a specific loan forgiveness program and need professional help finding the right nursing openings, join the HealthCare Support talent network. Our team of healthcare recruiters work day in and day out to match candidates with the right opportunities and offer continual career support. To get in touch with a healthcare recruiter, contact HealthCare Support today at 888-219-6285.

Similar to most clinical careers, the road to becoming a physician assistant (PA) is a fairly direct one. However, there are a handful of opportunities to personalize your experience and find the right specialty along the way. If you’re seriously thinking about becoming a PA, here are five steps to follow.

Get Your Undergraduate Degree

Earning a bachelor’s degree is the first major step in the journey to becoming a PA. Not all programs require health- or science-related bachelor’s degrees — but obtaining one could certainly improve your chances of being accepted into more graduate programs. Furthermore, gearing your undergraduate degree toward a field such as nursing or chemistry could help you satisfy prerequisites required for PA program admission, including courses like:

• Anatomy and physiology

• Microbiology

• Genetics

• Biochemistry

Earn Professional Experience

Not all PA programs require applicants to have a set amount of experience. However, having some to add on your resume will certainly make you stand out. On the other hand, some programs require you to gain upwards of 1,000 medical exposure hours, which can usually be satisfied through a paying job or volunteer work. During this time, you’ll gain hands-on experience and a better understanding of which specialty you might want to pursue in your graduate studies.

Apply for Your Master’s Degree

After you’ve accumulated enough medical exposure hours, you’ll be ready to take the next step: completing a PA graduate program. Including all coursework and clinical rotations, these programs typically take candidates three years to finish. Here are a few things you’ll need to do in preparation for the application process:

1. Take the GRE.

2. Retrieve your undergraduate transcripts.

3. Ask for letters of recommendation.

4. Write your personal statement.

Once you’ve narrowed down your top programs and applied, you may be required to interview for admission. While every school has a different process for evaluating candidates, it’s wise to prepare yourself by researching each program and asking friends and family to help with mock interviews.

Take and Pass the PANCE

After studying your way through a PA program, you’ll need to study for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Broken down into five sections, this exam awards those who pass with the title of Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C). After passing the PANCE, you must obtain state licensure before you can officially start your career as a PA.

Work With a Healthcare Recruiter

While it’s not required that you use a healthcare recruiter to help find PA career opportunities, this added step will take your job search to the next level. At HealthCare Support, our team of recruiters will not only match you with relevant PA postings, but they’ll also help you prepare with resume workshops and interview practice. To speak with one of our healthcare recruiters, contact HealthCare Support today at 888-219-6285.

From when and where you’ll be working to how much you’ll earn and how often you’ll get paid, your travel nursing contract should lay out every detail regarding your next assignment. Before you accept, decline, or start negotiating, take a look at the five most important items to review in your contract.

Start and End Date

Considering the arrangements you may have to make before your assignment, verbal confirmation of the start and end date isn’t sufficient on its own. Knowing the timeframe of your contract and having it in writing can help you make necessary preparations, such as:

• Giving notice to your current employer
• Organizing family affairs
• Arranging travel and lodging

Ensure that these dates are listed in your contact according to what you previously discussed with the nurse manager.

Pay Period and Rate

When looking over your contract, check for not only the pay rate but also the pay period. Details regarding sick pay — the rate and length of availability — will likely also be listed in this area of the document. In or around this section, check for a disclosed quarantine policy to see whether you’ll be compensated if required to self-isolate at any point during your assignment.

Scheduled Time Off

Do you have a vacation planned during your contract or certain days that you will be unavailable to work? Discuss these with the hiring manager during your interview. When you receive your contract, double check to make sure the dates you requested are included and accurate.

Shift to Work

For some travel nurses, having an ideal shift can make or break contracts. Whether you’re working 12-hour nights or rotating shifts, it should be clearly defined and in writing. If the details don’t align with what you’re looking for or what you previously discussed with the nurse manager, negotiate the assignment or consider another option.

License Reimbursement

If you’re being asked to travel to a new state for an assignment, check your contract to see whether license or certification reimbursement is listed. Reach out to your main point of contact to inquire about whether it can be added if it isn’t included. Some contracts may offer a reimbursement up-front or after you incur the expense.

Healthcare Recruiters Are Here to Help

Navigating travel nursing contracts is critical but sometimes complicated. To have a professional healthcare recruiter by your side throughout the job search process, join the talent network at HealthCare Support. From the right location to the ideal pay rate, our goal is to find travel nursing assignments that perfectly match your preferences. For more information on reviewing travel nursing contracts or to join our talent network, call HealthCare Support at 888-219-6285.

While it’s uncertain what the state of the coronavirus pandemic is going to look like in just the next few months, it’s clear that the demand for healthcare professionals will continue to change as the areas of outbreak change. As a result, there has been a consistent rise in the need for specific travel nursing specialties. Let’s take a closer look at three of the travel nursing specialties that have been in the highest demand and what this demand means for travel nurses going forward.

In-Demand Travel Nursing Specialties

Below are a few of the travel nursing specialties experiencing the highest mid-pandemic demand.

Intensive care unit (ICU)

The critical care units that needed additional nurses at the beginning of the pandemic and the ones currently experiencing a higher patient load are, for a large majority, in entirely different locations — which means the need for ICU travel nurses has not slowed but shifted.

Emergency room (ER)

In areas with higher infection and hospitalization rates, ER travel nurses are in high demand to support the needs of incoming COVID patients as well as emergency trauma victims.

Medical-surgical/Telemetry

Because many facilities require med-surg and tele travel nurses to be cross-functionally proficient in the same skills, these highly similar specialties are both on the rise as more and more patients recover from critical COVID illness.

How Else Has Travel Nursing Changed?

The pay for travel nursing positions is typically higher than the salaries of permanent ones. However, this gap has widened significantly during the pandemic — with travel nurse pay rising by 76%. In outbreak areas, some travel nursing positions are offering anywhere from $4,000 to upwards of $5,000 weekly.

Healthcare Recruiting for Travel Nurses

Whether you’re a recent nursing graduate or an experienced nursing professional, the healthcare recruiters at HealthCare Support can help you transition into travel nursing. Closely following the travel nursing job market and the demand for specific specialties, we’ll match you with compatible travel nursing assignments and job opportunities that match your wants, needs, and interests. To learn more, contact HealthCare Support today at 888-219-6285.

When applying for a travel nursing job, you are not only competing with other applicants, but also trying to attract the attention of a hiring manager who regularly sifts through an ocean of resumes. That is why it is important to customize your resume to help it stand out amongst the rest.

Here are some tips on how to make eye catching travel nurse resume.

Show Off Your Education and Certification

One of the most important things to include on your resume are your degrees and certifications. Your education is not only something to be proud of, but it is also what proves that you are qualified for the position. Furthermore, any specialty certifications may be of interest to the hiring manager even if they aren’t directly applicable to the job. Be sure to include each state that you are currently licensed to work in, as well.

Include All Professional Travel Nursing Experience

If you’ve been told in the past to keep your resume to one page, this may seem like an impossible task. However, in the healthcare industry, it is important to list all of your professional experience. A travel nurse hiring manager is going to be most interested in all of the places you have worked and what you did there. Be sure to include the specifics of your past positions such as what type of unit you worked in.   

List Your References

While it may be appealing to save space by writing “references upon request,” it is important that you list your references on your resume. This way, the hiring manager can easily contact them and expedite the hiring process. Sometimes, hiring managers will turn away a resume simply because they have to take the extra step to contact you about your references.

Tailor Your Travel Nurse Resume to the Specific Position

Resumes should not be one-size-fits-all. For highly desirable positions, tailoring your resume to the specific position can make a big difference. This will show the hiring manager that you took the time and care to specifically apply for this travel nursing job. You can customize your resume by adding applicable keywords from the job description under the skills and experience section of your resume.

Supporting You on Your Healthcare Journey

Following your travel nursing dreams and achieving your goals does not have to be a solo effort. At HealthCare Support, we are dedicated to helping you take the next step in your healthcare employment journey, whether that means helping you land the perfect career or a short-term job. With a knowledgeable staff and a vast professional network, we can provide you with the tools and expertise you need to get to where you want to be in your career.

To learn more about our services, call us at 888-219-6285 today.

In any healthcare position, it is important to set and accomplish professional goals. However, it can be difficult to figure out what those goals are without firsthand experience. That’s what makes travel nursing such a great entry into the field of healthcare. By starting off in this exciting position, you can explore and experience different aspects of the industry firsthand while you assess your career goals and priorities.

Here are some of the ways you can help launch and grow your healthcare career as a travel nurse.

Understanding Your Priorities

When considering how best to grow as a healthcare professional, it is important to understand your priorities. Are you more money-driven, or are you looking to grow your resume? Are you yearning for your next adventure, or do you need benefits for your family? Travel nursing can be a great way to determine your long term path as a healthcare professional because your experiences, both good and bad, will inform your list of priorities and goals.

Increasing Your Professional Value

Travel nursing is a wonderful profession that looks great on a healthcare resume as it allows you to rack up a wide range of experiences in separate states with different licensing. When applying for jobs, make sure you well represent your unique career by listing all of the places you have worked, including all of the states that you are licensed to practice in.

Strengthening Your Soft Skills

There are many hard skills that are vital to being a healthcare professional, but there are also many soft skills that are incredibly important as well. Being diligent, patient, and respectful, among others, are all characteristics of a good healthcare worker, and you can hone these skills as a travel nurse. Be honest with yourself about what soft skills you have down and which ones you struggle with and practice them while both on and off the clock, as they will benefit you outside of work and online as well. That way, when you’re ready to take the next step in your healthcare career, you’ll be a well-rounded candidate thanks to your time as a travel nurse.

Setting Up a Healthcare Career Timeline

If you’re worried about not advancing beyond a travel nurse or not accomplishing your goals in a timely manner, consider making a timeline of the steps needed to achieve them. Consider where you want to be in five years and what you need to set in motion to get there. While it may take you a few years to reach your career goals, by planning them out, you can maintain a strong sense of where you are in your career at any given time and what you should be working on to get you to the next level.

Consult With Experts in Healthcare Career Growth

When it comes to growing your career in healthcare, it is vital that you communicate your goals to a healthcare recruiter so they can help match you with the best assignments to advance you closer to your career objectives. At HealthCare Support, our dedicated, resourceful, and talented team of healthcare industry staffing experts will utilize our vast professional network to customize a staffing solution that best achieves your long term goals and needs.

Take the next step in your career and learn more about our services by calling us today at 888-219-6285.

Rewarding and full of adventure, travel nursing is one of the most exciting jobs in the healthcare industry. The position allows you to experience new locales and provide care to people in many different walks of life. However, as fulfilling as it can be, the career can come with its own challenges. Below are five common obstacles in travel nursing and how to overcome them.

Dealing With Distance 

Many travel nurses choose to experience new places together with their families by road tripping from city to city and homeschooling their children. But for the traveling nurses with one home base, it can be difficult to be away from friends and family for extended periods of time. It’s part of why finding support throughout your placement experience is key. Whether that support comes from new nurses you meet or your recruiter, while you’re busy working and looking forward to the days you’re back home with loved ones, you’ll have someone rooting you on as you do your job.

Landing the Ideal Travel Nursing Contract

Not every job placement will be ideal, but as you land more placements and experience different regional and facility cultures, you’ll learn what feels best for you. Keep an open mind at what will help you thrive in your career and communicate your needs to your recruiter. With open and honest discussion, your recruiter can help make the placement process as easy and ideal as possible. 

Meeting State Travel Nursing Qualifications 

As you travel more, you may run into licensing challenges. Laws and regulations vary state to state, and depending on the capacity of the licensing staff, getting your license for that state can take longer than usual. For easier travel, consider getting your Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) license. The NLC license is a multistate license that gives you access to practice nursing in 34 NLC-practicing states. 

Remaining Flexible

With so many opportunities in so many locations, choosing the right contract can be overwhelming to say the least. Understanding your priorities and what you’re really looking to get out of an assignment is key when determining which jobs to apply for. Are you wanting to experience a new location that you’ve always wanted to visit? Looking to partner with high level trauma facilities and build up your resume? Or are those high dollar contracts calling your name? Whatever your preference, know that you may need to flex on that day-shift requirement in order to secure a contract that’s a great match overall, especially if you’re in a specialty that fluctuates throughout the year. And above all else, make sure you have a recruiter who understands your travel goals and will make your priorities their own.

Working With the Right Travel Nursing Recruiter 

Unpredictability comes with the job. To best prepare for your success as a travel nurse, working with the right recruiter is key. Your recruiter should take the time to know you and connect you to places that align with your goals as well as support you before and throughout the placement process. Furthermore, after learning about who you are, your recruiter should also give you insight on the location information, facility details, and contract nuances that you may not have considered to help you make the best decisions.  

Travel Easy with HealthCare Support 

Wherever you go, HealthCare Support will be there with you to overcome any professional challenges. We’re here to make traveling as easy and as streamlined as possible so that you can land your ideal assignment and focus on your work as a travel nurse. Our passionate team is ready to support you as you help heal communities all over the nation. To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

Nursing careers can take on many different paths, and when the right moves are made, promotions, special project selections, managerial positions, and more are possible. Here are three ways you can advance your career as a nurse.

How To Advance Your Nursing Career

1. Seek Opportunities

   According to a study on multigenerational nurse leadership, 50.2% of registered nurses were born between 1946 to 1965. Since these baby boomers are approaching retirement age in the next decade, opportunities will increase exponentially. As veteran nurses, many of these baby boomer nurses hold shift leader and charge nurse positions. Once they retire, these positions will open up.

   Additionally, with new positions coming into existence as the healthcare industry adapts to new changes, openings in case management, infection prevention, quality improvement, and more will become available.

2. Be Prepared

   Do your research to learn what is needed in the next step of your career. What new skills do you need to learn to do your best? Are there any necessary certifications you need to earn? Would more schooling help your understanding of the role?

   Answering these questions can better prepare you for what’s to come. Remember, moving up the ranks can be competitive. When the time comes to advance your career, know that many other individuals in your specific field will be looking to do the same. To take advantage of these opportunities coming your way, and get ahead of the competition, preparation—especially for an interview—is key.

   For example, in the event that an internal promotion opportunity is available within your company, don’t rely too much on your reputation as a long-time employee. While you may be staying in your same place of work, you’re filling a new role with new responsibilities so support those needs with your own specific examples. In your interview, share how you solve problems in relation to the mission of the hospital and emphasize the value you bring to the space. Your unique experiences will make you stand out, so prepare yourself as much as you can to land the position.

3. Know That Timing Is Crucial

   Timing can play a big role in taking the next step in your career. A position can open up and you may not have the necessary experience to take it on, or you may have all it takes to move up in your role and a position may not be available. Whatever the circumstance, readiness and availability can weigh into career mobility.

What To Do When You’re Ready To Advance Your Career 

If you want additional help to move up in your career, HealthCare Support is here. We support talented and passionate professionals in their careers with job placement services. To learn more about our dedicated team, professional network, and available jobs, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.

It’s rare to find a career that’s as rewarding as it is exciting. From working in different facilities and specialties to working in entirely new locations, it’s easy to see why there’s a demand for travel nursing. If you’re still wondering whether this profession is right for you, here are five benefits you’ll want to think over. 

Opportunities to Explore 

For most, the biggest draw to travel nursing is traveling. As a travel nurse, you have the option to choose from contracts all around the country. The length, setting, and type of contracts available will fluctuate by demand, but there certainly won’t ever be a shortage of selections to apply for. 

Eligibility for Permanent Staffing 

While some nurses lean toward travel nursing because of the opportunities to explore, others might sign a contract with the hopes of finding their dream location or healthcare center. That’s because many travel nursing assignments also give nurses the option to sign on permanently. So, if you want to settle but don’t know exactly where, make a list of your top destinations and start searching for contracts in the areas and facilities that you rank highest. 

New Ways to Network 

Each travel nursing assignment comes with its own unique benefits. But something you’re certainly going to want to take advantage of no matter where your contract takes you is the chance to network. The people you meet in any given contract can be pivotal to your career path, helping you unlock opportunities you might not have been able to as permanent staff. 

Exceptional Pay Rates and Benefits 

Travel nurses often earn as much or more than salaried nurses. Moreover, most travel nursing positions include the same or similar benefits and allowances given to permanent staff. If you aren’t happy with the pay rate or benefits in a contract, however, you have the option to either negotiate or start looking into other assignments. 

Experience for Your Resume 

Choose your contracts carefully, and you can use travel nursing to achieve your largest professional goals. If you have a long-term dream of working in management, for example, you can seek out contracts in high-profile hospitals. Or, if you want to build a top-notch resume that will make you a stand-out candidate for certain specialties, you can work with a healthcare recruiter to find the right assignments. 

Interested in Travel Nursing? 

For anyone seriously considering travel nursing, talking with a healthcare recruiter is the first step in finding contracts. At HealthCare Support, our talent network is filled with healthcare professionals around the country — and our staff’s goal is to assist them with resume building, interview prep, and negotiation. To talk directly with a healthcare recruiter and learn more, contact HealthCare Support today at 888-219-6285.