Six Qualities Every Travel Nurse Should Have
We think travel nurses are superheroes–they can do it all! From administering medical care to educating family members about proper patient care, they get through whatever challenge might present itself next. Thinking of becoming a travel nurse? Want to know how to be better in your profession? Check out our list on the qualities every travel nurse should have.
Open to new changes
Travel nurses are used to a constantly changing environment. Whether it’s the changing atmosphere of patients in a medical office, or falling asleep to the sounds of a new town or city, a good travel nurse is excited for whatever change is around the bend.
Adaptable
With new changes always presenting themselves, good travel nurses are constantly having to adapt. Everything from policies and procedures, to supervisor and coworker names shift from facility to facility. Good travel nurses can easily adapt to such changes on new assignments.
Organized
Because things often change on the job, it’s crucial to be well organized. Good travel nurses are exceptionally organized and therefore can make adjustments or changes with little transition time. Organization is what makes a good travel nurse so stellar.
Good communication
As a good travel nurse, you’re required to be a strong communicator. You’ll need to communicate with patients, fellow nurses, doctors, and other facility staff. Having great communication skills will allow you to communicate seamlessly with a variety of people on the job.
Love of adventure
Good travel nurses seek new adventures. They love to explore new places and seek out new activities, even when not on the job. They’re always on the hunt to try a new regional food dish or cross off a new item off their bucket list.
Passion for nursing and caregiving
At the end of the day, nurses are drawn to their profession out of a desire to help others. Good travel nurses want to make a positive impact on humanity in a truly personal way. Their desire to care for others is what gets out of bed each and every morning.
Think you have what it takes to be a good travel nurse? Check out our current job postings and reach out to your trusted Stability recruiter for more information!
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Finding the Right Work/Life Balance as a Travel Nurse
With all of the flexibility that being a travel nurse provides, it makes the perfect opportunity to have an exciting life outside of the hospital. Whether it’s having the time to take an overnight trip to a nearby national park or taking a few days to go to a local music festival, the opportunities are truly endless.
When starting a new rotation in a new city, work may become your main focus, but it is equally Twelve-hour work shifts can be tolling on the mind and body, and having a healthy lifestyle to balance out the stresses that can occur at work will keep you feeling good. Not only will maintaining a good work life balance keep you healthier, but it also has been proven that it increases work productivity.
Making sure you are living your best life outside of work is actually made easier as a travel nurse. There may be fears of not having friends in the city you choose and worrying you may start to feel alone, but we’ve put together some helpful tips on how you can make the most of your time outside of the hospital.
Join a club, volunteer group or organization
Every city or town you work in is guaranteed to have some sort of club or organization that you can join. Joining a group that has a common interest with you will give you the perfect opportunity to be around like minded people and will make for the perfect opportunity to make connections you can utilize outside of the group. Not only will this get you around some good people, but it also will give you something to look forward to from a weekly meeting to a group event. Check out sites like meetup.com for fun group activities.
Take advantage of travel nursing Facebook pages to find other travel nurses in your community
One of the many great things about Stability is our ever growing community of travel nurses. Liking our page, and joining our Facebook group is a great way to find other nurses in your area that are in the same boat as you are. The best part about that? They are new to the city too and are probably willing and ready to explore everything that the city has to offer, even those cheesy tourist things that locals may overlook.
Don’t be scared to do things alone
While hanging out with others, and making great connections with people in your area, it is important to remember that being alone is ok too! There tends to be a negative stigma around doing things alone, but in reality it is actually so important to be able to get out there and do things independently. Becoming comfortable with doing things alone will make settling in anywhere a lot easier and will let you do everything that you have on your bucket list without having to worry about if you can find a friend to check out that new restaurant on the corner near your apartment.
Make a bucket list for each placement
As mentioned in the following blurb, make a bucket list! This is a great way to make sure you are maximizing the opportunities wherever you are. From attending a professional sporting event to trying the special latte at that one coffee shop, write it all down and check things off as you go. That way, you are filling your off time with meaningful activities and you won’t leave missing out on anything that you really wanted to do or see.
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Key Women in the History of Nursing
In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8) and March being Women’s History Month, we are going to share some of the incredible women that have shaped the nursing field into what it is today! From the nursing curriculum, the right to birth control, the founding of the American Red Cross, racial diversity, and more, nursing wouldn’t be where it is today without the women that laid down the track.
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Two Very Affordable Cities for a Travel Nurse on a Budget
Travel nursing is a fairly lucrative job, but that doesn’t mean everyone wants to blow their entire paycheck just to pay rent or sacrifice your lifestyle choices just to live in an expensive city. There are plenty of ways to build a savings while you are on a travel nursing placement, and picking an affordable city is a great place to start. That’s why we’re sharing with you some of our top picks for affordable cities for your next placement.
Tulsa
Photo via blog.urbanoutfitters.com
Tulsa is Oklahoma’s second largest city, filled with a variety of different districts. From the Entertainment District where you can enjoy Tulsa’s nightlife to Utica Square where you can get your retail fill. Tulsa is great up and coming city, making it the perfect place to take a travel nursing placement.
While it doesn’t have the speed and rush of a bigger city, there is never a lack of things to do. They have a booming music scene with famous venues like Cain’s Ballroom. Tulsa is filled with all sorts of delicious food and drinks. There’s Hodge’s Bend for coffee and cocktails and a delicious, swanky brunch at the Tavern on Brady .
According to US News, the average income spent on living expenses is only 26.54 percent, leaving lots of money to save and spend on activities and that latte you know you need to fuel you through your shift. And the best part…there are tons of travel nursing placements in Tulsa and they all pay pretty well compared to the cost of living. Hillcrest Medical Center, Saint Francis Hospital.
Grand Rapids
Photo via travelandleisure.com
Grand Rapids, Michigan lies east of Lake Michigan and sits on the Grand River. Travel & Leisure named Grand Rapids one of America’s most underrated cities and we couldn’t agree more. The city is rich in culture and has enough museums alone to keep you busy on your off days. There are many draws to this city, especially including the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The gardens include art from several famous artists including Ai Weiwei and Henry Moore.
The Fulton Street Farmers Market is filled with an array of options from handmade crafts to fresh fruits and vegetables, making it the perfect place to spend your Saturday morning. Spend your Saturday night exploring the nightlife in Grand Rapids has to offer. It is best known for its many breweries scattered around the town. Breweries, farmers marketing, and history aren’t all this town has to offer, because just a short drive outside of the city there’s Millenium park where you can hike, lounge by the beach, or explore one of the several lakes.
According to US News, the average income spent on living expenses is only 25.36 percent, making this city not only a great place to live, but also an affordable one. The placements in Grand Rapids offer a good sized weekly pay that won’t have to get eaten by bills every month.
If you feel like trying out city life for a few weeks, head to stabilityhealthcare.com to request a quote and see what placements are available.
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Tips and Tricks for Budgeting as a Travel Nurse
Travel nursing can be one of the most fun experiences of your life, but it is easy to forget about budgeting when you are trying to take full advantage of the new city you are living in. We’ve put together some tips and tricks to make sure you are keeping track of your financial responsibilities and still able to have a good time.
Take the time to find discounts
There are countless websites that offer all sorts of coupons and ways to save money. Finding the best deal is always in your best interest when you are trying to maintain a healthy budget. There are places you can find deals on just about everything. Here are some of our favorites:
- For travel costs: Hopper, Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kiwi
- For activities: Groupon, Living Social
- For shopping: Coupons, Retail Me Not, Hip2Save
Keep an emergency fund
You never know what can happen in life, so it is always good to set aside a chunk of money so you don’t have to stress if something goes wrong. Pick an amount you think is a valid emergency fund and add a bit of money from every paycheck until you hit the goal.
Set a leisure budget
When you set out to experience a new city, it can be easy to forget how much you actually spend on activities and experiences. Before your placement set a goal of how much you want/or are willing to spend on experiences. Once you are at your placement keep track of how much you spend to make sure you don’t go over your limit.
Cook meals at home
Nursing schedules can be sporadic and random- this means you don’t usually have a set in stone eating schedule. Eating out starts to become the easy and convenient option, but that is most definitely not the cost effective option. It is amazing how much money you can save by eating and preparing meals at home. Check out these quick and easy snacks you can make a home to fuel you through your shift. Of course this doesn’t mean you have to forgo the food culture of the city you are in, but being smart with when you eat out will allow you to spend more on the food that is worth it!
Savings
Your savings account is so important. With a lucrative job like travel nursing, you will be able to put a percentage of every paycheck into a savings account for safe keeping. Putting just a little in every paycheck will add up and you will thank yourself later.
Choose the Right Agency
Choosing a travel nursing agency like Stability will ensure you get the bang for your buck. Not only do they find the highest-paying placements, but the agents also help you find affordable housing and insurance packages. Find an agency that will take care of the major details so you don’t have to.
In the end, it is all about being aware of where your money goes. When you have a big paycheck every month, the easy option is to not think about how much you spend, but before you know it your savings account will have a lot less than you planned. Budget yourself so you can enjoy your traveling lifestyle and take full advantage of your new home.
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Compare For Cash- Compare Your Current Rate with Stability’s for $10 Cash
Who doesn’t love getting paid? Stability Healthcare knows we aren’t the only source for nursing careers, which is why we’re here to prove we have some of the best rates on the market. This month, Stability is running Compare for Cash, a campaign where you compare your current salary or competitor’s quote with us and we will send you 10 dollars!
With travel nurses in high demand, travel nursing salaries are often higher than the salaries of the permanent hospital staff. If you want to fill your wallet and your desire for adventure, travel nursing might be the right fit for you. When picking a travel nursing placement, salary is one of the main considerations for a lot of people because no one wants to be financially stressed on top of moving to a new city.
Stability makes travel nursing easy for you; just pick your destination and we’ll sort out the details.  Not only are you getting the base salary advertised, but, typically, you will receive additional benefits through the Stability Healthcare Nursing Agency. The benefits vary from placement to placement, but the agency assists you with housing, travel reimbursement, licensing support and fees, bonuses, incentives, benefit packages, and retirement needs.
Think you are ready to learn more about the competitive wages that travel nursing offers? Go compare your rates with Stability. All it takes is some basic information about your current position, and not only will we compare your rates with the desired Stability placements for free, but we will also send you $10 just for doing so!
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Top 3 Big City Placements Right Now
Craving the hustle and bustle of the big city? Stability is here to help you find a travel nursing placement that will give you your fill of art, incredible cuisine, music, and culture.
Spread out all across the US, are cities that are rich in culture in opportunity. We’re here to highlight a couple of cities off of Travel + Leisure’s list of the Top Cities in the US from 2017. Read more to learn about Austin, New York City, and San Francisco, and hopefully get some inspiration for your future nursing placements!
Austin
Lying in the heart of the Lone Star State, Austin combines classic Texas with a hip and trendy twist. The residents of Austin make sure the city stays true to its motto of “Keep Austin Weird” by straying away from what one might expect to see when they visit Texas. The city is made up of several different neighborhoods that each hold their own reputation. Some of our favorites are South Congress, home to public art displays and hip coffee shops, and University of Texas, home to of course UT and also a strip of hip bars and 24-hour diners. If you want to learn more about the neighborhoods, Thrillist compiled a complete list of the different neighborhoods that will give you the inside scoop.
Food will be a recurring theme on this list because, let’s face it, a city isn’t that great if it doesn’t have the food to back it up. Austin is a food lover’s dream… from barbecue to Mexican, there’s something everyone is bound to enjoy in the city. You can even combine the two at one of Austin’s many taco joints like Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, where you can get smoked carnitas, pulled pollo, and smoked brisket tacos.
You can’t mention Austin without taking note to its famous music scene. The city is home to festivals like South by Southwest® and Austin City Limits. The city truly comes to life through its live music culture. Being in Austin during SXSW or ACL is guaranteed to satisfy any music lover’s wildest dreams. Not to worry, even if you aren’t able to line up your placement with that timeline, there are countless venues and live shows happening every night.
Photo via minitime.com
 New York City
A list of some of the best cities to live in wouldn’t be complete without New York City. It is the picture that everyone thinks about when they think of what a city should be- yellow taxis honking through the overflowing pedestrian groups making their way to the subway stations, walking through Times Square at night with billboards flashing after attending a famous Broadway play, and of course the picturesque NYC skyline.
If city life is what you are yearning for, then NYC is guaranteed to give you your fill. The city is made up of 5 different boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Each borough is known for its own unique history, but the most popular is of course Manhattan, closely followed by Brooklyn. Manhattan is full of skyscrapers and luxurious neighborhoods from Wall Street in the South to Central Park in the North. You could spend your entire placement on Manhattan and still not get around to seeing and doing everything. Brooklyn is more neighborhoods and parks, a slower pace than Manhattan with artsy neighborhoods waiting to be explored.
As the melting pot of America, you can only imagine the diversity of food that you can find in the city. Try some authentic Chinese food in Chinatown or head to Eataly for some world class Italian food. If you are feeling really adventurous you can make your way to Brooklyn to try the famous Unicorn Bagel or try cereal milk ice cream at Momofuku Milk Bar.
With the flexibility of your hours as a travel nurse, you will have plenty of free time to really enjoy the city. Especially when the rest of the city is stuck in their 8-6 jobs, you will have the freedom to relax and take a stroll around central park or cruise your way through the MET.
San Francisco
On the opposite side of the country lies the coastal city of San Francisco. Known for its place in the tech scene, the Golden Gate Bridge, and its booming popularity. With its mild and gloomy temperatures, this is a city for someone who isn’t looking for a hot summer or a freezing cold winter. People from all over the world migrating to this growing city, has led to the city gaining a reputation of rent prices as steep as the city’s streets. Lucky for you, travel nurses in San Francisco make anything from $1,400 to over $2,300 a week so money won’t hinder your experience. Â
Even though this is a huge city, there’s still a decent amount of nature surrounding it. From Golden Gate Park to the San Francisco Bay, this city never makes you feel like you are trapped in a concrete jungle. Some of the more natural highlights of the city include hikes around Land’s End and Telegraph Hill’s garden-lined stairway walks.
This city is home to some of the world’s most famous restaurants. The city is best known for its sourdough bread and fresh seafood, but has so much more to offer than just that. According to Lonely Planet, San Francisco is home to the most restaurants and farmers markets per capita in North America, making this city one for any food lover. Exploring the neighborhoods of San Francisco will lead you to finding a new favorite spot on every corner.
The great part about travel nursing is that it is just a six-week placement. It is the perfect amount of time to go and experience a new city and what it has to offer without having to commit to living there full-time. Who knows maybe you’ll fall in love!Â
If you feel like trying out city life for a few weeks, head to stabilityhealthcare.com to request a quote and see what placements are available.
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Sand, Sunshine, and Your Next RN Placement
Travel nursing is the best way to take a vacation, but why not get paid to do what you love and fuel your travels. We’ve narrowed down some of the best beaches that you can spend your time at when you aren’t on the clock. Read more to learn about some of the best places you can be a nurse and stick your toes in the sand with the help of Stability.
Honolulu
When you close your eyes and envision a beautiful sunshine-filled beach stretching across the turquoise ocean, Waikiki Beach in Oahu is likely almost an exact replica of what you are imagining. Stretching two-miles of white sand coast, Waikiki is one of the world’s most famous beaches. Not only does this beach offer typical beach activities like swimming and surfing, but because it is right along the city of Honolulu, the opportunities are endless. From the Waikiki Aquarium to incredible restaurants, this beach is sure to work for whatever mood you may be in.
Honolulu has been named the best beach in the USA and the best island in Hawaii by US News. The best part is, there are plenty of nursing placements available in Honolulu including The Queen’s Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, and more. Honolulu offers the perfect blend of urban landscape and activity filled beaches.
And of course Waikiki isn’t the only beach in Honolulu, so taking a placement here would give you plenty of opportunities to explore what Oahu has to offer.
Photo via gypsealust.com
The Florida Keys
Having one of the longest coastlines in the country (second to Alaska), everyone knows that Florida is home to many beach lovers. Some of Florida’s best beaches lie in the southern part of the state. Stability has a variety of Southern Florida placements from Boca Raton down to Key West.
Home to miles of uninterrupted coast, we find our favorite Florida beaches at the most southern point of the state in Key West. Travel Channel named Key West one of Florida’s best beaches and we have to agree! The Florida Keys are home to many islands and sandy beaches. Our favorite beach, located conveniently minutes from the airport, is Smathers Beach. This is the most popular beach in Key West, and rightfully so. This sandy beach is the perfect location for a day lounging by the sea or a day full of activities. If you’re feeling adventurous you can go parasailing or kayaking to see the beach from a new perspective.
Flying under the radar, Little Torch Key is an island off of the main part of Key West, which makes for the perfect day trip to relax and enjoy some tranquil beach time on your day off. Travel nursing provides the perfect opportunity to explore with a flexible work schedule.
Photo via jetsetter.com
Santa Cruz
Last but not least, is Central California. Many people think that Southern California is home to all of the Golden State’s best beaches, but the beautiful spots don’t just end there.
With placements sprawling all along the California coast, Santa Cruz is the perfect place for someone seeking regular trips to the beach. Because Central California has a more rocky coastline, many popular beaches are tucked in the nooks and crannies of the cliffs. Panther Beach is one of the Coast Dairies State Park beaches and is a great beach for hanging out with friends and enjoying the sun. It is a little tricky to get to, but is well worth the trek because at low tide another beach called Hole-In-The-Wall becomes accessible through an opening in the rock wall on the south end of the beach.
Santa Cruz alone has over 30 beaches and if that isn’t enough to fill your beach needs, there are plenty more options up and down the coast if you don’t mind a little driving. One of the most beautiful coastal spots in California is Big Sur, and it is a perfect place to take a day trip on your day off.
Photo via hejdoll.com
If escaping for a few weeks to the beach sounds like a good idea, head to stabilityhealthcare.com to request a quote and see what placements are available.
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How You Can Turn Your Grey’s Anatomy Dreams into Reality With A Seattle Travel Nursing Placement
photo via entouriste.com
Do you ever spend your days dreaming about what it would be like to spend a day in the life of a nurse on Grey’s Anatomy? Considering that it is a fictional tv show, that might be impossible, but taking a travel nursing job in Seattle might be the next best thing.
A city fueled by coffee, umbrellas, rock ‘n roll, and lately a booming tech scene, Seattle is one of the most desirable cities to reside in according to Niche. It’s filled with quirky neighborhoods and picturesque Pacific Northwest views. The city is home to several major hospitals including Harborview, Swedish, Providence, Northwestern, Virginia Mason, University of Washington Medical Center, and a couple more making this an ideal option for travel nursing.
The University of Washington Medical Center is a large draw for many nurses. It has been ranked nationally in several categories by US News and has been designated an Aetna Institute of Quality for Cardiac Medical Intervention. Their large focus on cardiac cases makes Seattle an especially great fit for those who specialize in this area. With its connection to UW as a teaching hospital, it is a great place to work. It allows you to both share your wealth of knowledge and learn more in your specialty.
The average weekly payment for a travel nurse placed in Seattle can range anywhere from $1,300 to $1,800. Check out placements on Stability to see more! These competitive wages make both living in the city possible and allow for some extra cash to take advantage of the city’s amazing food culture and other activities.
With so much to do in Seattle, there is a new way to fill every one of your days off. Seattle’s food scene is filled with all sorts of goodies– from Asian cuisine to fresh seafood. Check out Foo Lam for some of the city’s best Dim Sum and Westward for some specialty seafood dishes. There are many neighborhoods to be explored from Capitol Hill to Fremont, where you might even find a troll!
A day off in Seattle might start at Storyville for a cup of coffee to go as you hop in the car and drive out to see the picturesque Snoqualmie falls just outside the city. After a short walk to the falls, you could go hike the nearby Tiger Mountain or head back to the city for some lunch at Pike Place Market. End your day with a bang by hitting the town to see a one of your favorite bands playing a concert at Neumos.
As if Seattle and its surrounding areas weren’t enough to keep you busy, planning a weekend getaway is easy thanks to the city being conveniently located in between Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC.
When deciding what time may be best to head to the Pacific Northwest, it really just depends on how much you can handle the gloomy weather. If clouds and rain aren’t an issue for you, then its an open calendar. On the other hand, if you aren’t sure about the constant drizzle the safest time to plan your placement is probably in the summer months.
If this sounds like your type of city, head to stabilityhealthcare.com to request a quote and see what placements are available.
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Top 3 Travel Nursing Placements for Outdoor Lovers
Travel nursing provides the perfect opportunity to adventure and explore places you’ve never seen before. It also is a great way to be in a place long enough to fully grasp what a city or town has to offer.
For those more outdoor inclined, there are countless placements that will give you a chance to see what Mother Nature has to offer. From the beaches to the forest, here are some of the best cities that will fulfill your nature needs:
Denver, Colorado
Nestled in between the plains and the mountains lies the city of Denver. As Denver grows, there are ample job opportunities for nurses. Just because this city is growing in urban terrain doesn’t mean that any of the surrounding natural wonders are diminished. Within the city, the Platte river allows for access to kayaking and more water-based activities right at your fingertips. Want more? Right outside the city new adventures await in every direction.
Satisfy your nature needs
- Explore everything that Red Rocks has to offer.
- Ride the The Winter Park Express ski train to the Rocky Mountains.
- Bike, jog, or kayak along the South Platte River.
- Take a weekend trip to Glenwood Springs to experience the natural hot springs and hike Hanging Lake.
Nursing
Click here to find current placements in Denver.
Weekly Pay Estimate: $800-$1,600
Billings, Montana
The city of Billings, Montana is the ideal place for someone who wants that small town feel, but with the plethora of activities that a big city offers. Montana is a state rich in nature and history. Depending on the time of year, you could spend your days skiing, or hiking in the sunshine. Listing all of the places and things to do outside in and around Billings would require its own article, so we’ve narrowed down a few options to help you get the picture.
Satisfy your nature needs
- Take a day trip and go float or fly fishing in the Yellowstone River.
- Explore caves filled with prehistoric pictographs in Pictograph Cave State Park.
- Visit Pompey’s Pillar.
- Watch the sunrise at The Rimrocks.
- Drive to Yellowstone National Park.
Nursing
Click here to find current placements in Billings.
Weekly Pay Estimate: $1,300-$1,700
Boise, Idaho
Situated on the edge of the mountains and high desert, Boise, Idaho is a hub for all sorts of outdoor opportunities. This inland city with a population of around 200,000 is more or less a hidden gem in terms of popular cities to live in. Despite its low profile, living in Boise gives you quick access to hiking and biking trails, rivers, streams, ski hills and mountains.
Satisfy your nature needs
- Ski at Bogus Basin.
- Walk or bike along the Boise Green Belt or float by its on the Boise River.
- Hike along the foothills on The Ridge to Rivers Trail System.
- Take a scenic drive to the Perrine Bridge that spans the Snake River Canyon.
Nursing
Click here to find current placements in Boise.
Weekly Pay Estimate: $1,200-$1,600
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