Keep Your Feet Healthy with These Compression Socks
Nurses are on their feet, all day, every day—especially travel nurses who are always going. With demanding work, long shifts, and working to get everything done, feet can suffer. Painful feet, swollen ankles, varicose veins, and even blood clots can arise from the stress. So it’s critical to take good care of your feet. A good pair of compression socks can help tremendously.
Compression socks work to alleviate the issues that nurses face being on their feet all day. The tight fabric can assist circulation in the feet and legs and help reduce pain and swelling—immensely important for the busy travel nurse. They also work to increase blood flow and oxygen, not just in your feet and legs, but in your whole body. Next to your nursing shoes, compression socks are one of the best purchases you can make for the longevity of your feet and legs.
How to Pick Compression Socks
No doubt nurses will be familiar with this unit as a measure of blood pressure through millimeters of mercury. Compression socks are categorized in strengths using this same unit—the higher the mmHg, the thicker and tighter the sock. Not including prescription-level, compression socks come in three degrees of strength: mild, medium, and firm.
Mild compression socks provide only a slight level of compression and will have an mmHg of between eight and 15. For busy travel nurses, this may not be strong enough to fight pain and poor circulation.
Medium level compression socks are what most nurses use and measure between 15-20 mmHg. This level of compression should provide a good amount of relief from long periods of standing and walk.
Lastly, a firm-level of compression measures between 20 and 30 mmHg and should be reserved for the most intense workers who need an extreme level of compression support. They can relieve moderate to intense swelling, orthostatic hypotension, and even deep vein thrombosis.
The Best Compression Socks for Nurses in 2021
Now that you know the differences and details of compression socks, you can start shopping for a good pair—or two! Below are a few of our favorites for 2021.
Figs Compression Socks
Figs is renowned for their healthcare attire, and along with their scrubs and shoes, they also make some fantastic compression socks that are functional and very stylish. Whether you’re looking for a simple single color or some socks with snazzy prints, Figs has you covered—literally and figuratively. Figs compression socks are reasonably priced too. A tall pair will run you around $30, while a plain pair of ankle-highs will set you back just $12.
Nurse Mates Compression Socks
Nurse Mates is known for making great nurse shoes. Their expertise extends into the realm of compression socks too. Their socks run the gamut of plain and professional to quirky and fun, offering nearly 100 options to choose from, including tie-dye, polka dots and stripes. Regardless of your style preference, Nurse Mates has something to fit. Nurse Mates has a huge selection of compression socks, and they start at around $9 per pair and go up to around $35.
Poppy Scrubs Compression Socks
Poppy Scrubs is another clothing company for nurses that you’ve probably heard of. They make incredibly comfortable shirts, scrubs, and, of course, compression socks. Poppy Scrubs doesn’t offer the same selection as Nurse Mates or Figs, but their socks are incredibly high-quality and durable, offering yarn-based compression socks in the firm level of compression. And at around $25 per pair, they’re affordable too!
Keep Your Feet Happy
Whether you’re a travel nurse or one of the at-home heroes, you know all too well how demanding your field is. You’re always on the go, day in and day out, and sometimes your feet can pay the price. Do yourself a favor and invest in a pair of compression socks to keep them happy.
And if you’re a travel nurse that’s on the lookout for your next assignment, don’t hesitate to search for your next position with Stability Healthcare—we’re happy to help you find the perfect position!
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Everything You Need to Know About Post Anesthesia Nurses
Post-anesthesia nurses are highly popular and needed in almost every medical environment. They’re specialized nurses providing care for patients who have gone under anesthesia. This is particularly important since sometimes patients can experience side effects of anesthesia or have trouble regaining consciousness. Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses can enjoy a long and rewarding career in their field, often finding employment in many settings. If a career as a PACU nurse intrigues you, keep reading to learn about what you need to know to start your path toward becoming one.Â
What is a Post Anesthesia Nurse?
As their name states, post-anesthesia nurses care for patients who have gone under anesthesia. They observe and treat patients post-operation to make sure they safely awake from anesthesia. PACU nurses care for vital signs, measure consciousness levels, and ensure sedation is wearing off properly.Â
Unlike operating room nurses, PACU nurses take care of patients once they leave the operating room. Similarly, PACU nurses are not mistaken with nurse anesthetists, who have specialized and advanced nursing degrees.Â
National average salary: $94,966 per year
Job outlook: 12% increase by 2028
Where Do Post-Anesthesia Nurses Work?
Post-anesthesia nurses work in the post-anesthesia care unit in hospitals. While this is a critical care unit, patients here have gone under anesthesia but do not need close monitoring like in an ICU. Sometimes PACU nurses can find employment in other medical facilities that provide treatments that require anesthesia, such as testing facilities and ambulatories.Â
What Kind of Patients Are in a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit?
Patients in the post-anesthesia care unit aren’t in any danger. These patients have gone under anesthesia and are transferred here for close monitoring until they’re fully awake. These patients haven’t undergone any major surgical procedure that requires intensive care. Otherwise, patients would be transferred to the ICU instead.Â
What Does a Post-Anesthesia Nurse Do?
PACU nurses work in the recovery room, becoming one of the first people they see after a procedure. Because some patients experience side effects such as nausea, fear, agitation, and difficulty breathing, post-anesthesia nurses are there to care for and monitor their progress. Sometimes, PACU nurses may also be responsible for helping patients stand and completing the discharge process.Â
Post-anesthesia nurses provide comfort and assurance. They explain to family members the anesthesia side effects and answer any potential questions. This close connection to patients and families means PACU nurses need to be understanding and compassionate.
Most responsibilities include:
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and make quick critical decisions
- Respond to complications administering medications and assisting in other procedures as needed
- Monitor post-operative patients’ levels of consciousness
- Measure and record patients’ vital signs
- Treat pain, nausea, and other post-operative symptoms of anesthesia
- Provide comfort and reassurance to distressed patients
- Educate patients and family members on post-surgery care
How Do You Become a Post-Anesthesia Nurse?
Like other nursing specializations, the journey to becoming a PACU nurse starts with getting certified as a registered nurse. Gaining experience in the post-anesthesia care unit is enough to start carving a career in this field. However, you can also further your education by becoming a certified post-anesthesia nurse (CPAN).Â
Common certifications:
- Certified post-anesthesia nurse (CPAN)
- Certified ambulatory perianesthesia (CAPA) nurse
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
What Skills Do You Need to Be a Post-Anesthesia Unit Nurse?
Most PACU nurses handle between one to two patients at a time, so it’s considered a less stressful nursing job. Still, it is paramount that good PACU nurses have strong nursing skills and make quick decisions about their care. Compassion, communication, and collaborative skills are crucial in this position. PACU nurses often are part of a larger team and must work in a group environment.Â
Most common skills or post-anesthesia unit nurses include:
- Experience in intensive care unit or post-anesthesia care unit
- Proficiency in electronic hospital management systems
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skillsÂ
Starting Your Post-Anesthesia Nursing Career
Many consider a post-anesthesia nursing career the stepping stone to reach more highly specialized positions. Obtaining experience in the post-anesthesia care unit can prep nurses to assist in the operating room or even become anesthetic nurses in the future. If a nursing career in post-anesthesia care interests you, these steps will help you position yourself as a great candidate.Â
At Stability Healthcare, we place nurses in hospitals across the United States, helping them find tremendous opportunities in various fields, including in the post-anesthesia care unit. If you’re ready to kickstart your career, search for your next placement and set up an interview today.Â
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Stress Reducing Tips for Nurses
While nursing is one of the most rewarding professions, it is also one of the most stressful. For nurses, stress can lead to critical errors in patient care and even increased mortality rates. Stress can be caused by a myriad of reasons including (but not limited to) understaffing, overworking, difficult patients, issues with coworkers, a nurse’s personal life, the list goes on and on. Just because the work can be stressful, doesn’t mean that you’re stuck being stressed forever. Managing stress is essential to prevent burnout and provide your patients with the best care. We’ve got some tips and tricks to reduce stress, keep reading to find out.
Regular exercise
Travel nurses often have busy schedules, so finding time to exercise may seem daunting. If you can’t fit in a full workout a few times a week that’s okay, don’t let it add to your stress! There are tons of quick workouts available online and even taking a brisk stroll around the block will get those endorphins flowing. Endorphins boost serotonin levels, which can improve mood, appetite, and sleep cycles.
Meditation or yoga
Doing a yoga class or taking some time to meditate every day is a sure way to leave you feeling refreshed and clear-minded. Try your best to let go of everything going on around in your world and focus on you and finding a moment of peace. According to the NIH, practicing yoga can lead to an improved quality of life by reducing stress, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and relieving anxiety. Whether you want a morning routine to keep you going through the day or an evening routine to unwind with before bed, we’ve got you covered. You can also download apps like the Calm to help you meditate and unwind.
Maintain a healthy diet – but treat yourself when you want to
It’s been proven that “eating a healthy diet can reduce the negative effects of stress on your body.” On a nurse’s schedule, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet can be challenging, but not impossible. One tip that can help is using one day to meal prep to keep you on track, here are three fun recipes to get you started. Another tip is to make healthy swaps. This means you don’t have to change your routine or diet, but instead of crabbing for those Doritos reach for some carrots and hummus instead. That being said, don’t forget to eat food that makes you happy, restrictive diets aren’t healthy or stress relieving. Listen to your body and what makes it feel its best.
Aromatherapy
According to a study at NIH, the “use of essential oils to decrease work-related stress among nursing staff may improve retention, workplace environment, and increase nurse satisfaction.” There are many ways that aromatherapy can be effective including candles, diffusers, lotions and body products, oils, and more. Some scents that aid in stress reduction are lavender, jasmine, bergamot, chamomile, rose, and lemon balm. Pro tip: carry a tiny satchel of lavender in your pocket and if you’re feeling overwhelmed on your shift take a deep breath and smell the pouch for a little moment of zen and rebalance.
Take a mental health day
If you’re feeling burnt out and feeling like you’re on the verge of cracking that’s a sure sign that you need a mental health day. Mental health days are just as important as taking a sick day if you aren’t feeling well. You can’t show up for your patients and deliver them the best care if you aren’t putting yourself first. Take a look at our article on signs that you need a mental health day.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for updates!
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Top 5 Travel Nursing Podcasts of 2021
You are one of the elite group of about 25,000 that can call themselves traveling nurses. And, there are podcasts made just for you!
Podcasts for traveling nurses help to provide an outlet for information to stay current and updated with changes in the profession, and also to stay entertained. Have you tuned in to some of these nursing podcasts already, or are you just starting your search? Let’s check out the top 5.
Play That Podcast
Why podcasts? Nursing is a challenging profession, and when you add in the issues of traveling it becomes even more difficult. But, it’s our lives, and we wouldn’t change it for the world.
Podcasts are a way to become educated, informed, and even unwind with content that we can tune into, pause, and restart whenever we have time. Audio allows us to listen in as we travel by plane, train, automobile (or on foot.)
Do you have stories/experiences that you would like to share? Many of these podcast hosts would love to hear from you!
Good Nurse Bad Nurse
If you are going to get hooked on a podcast, at least let it be a long-running one. Good Nurse Bad Nurse podcast host Tina describes her work as educational and encouraging material for nurses. Episodes are long (30 mins-90 mins) which is great for those days when you have the time to relax and enjoy, or for long travel days.
Your Next Shift: A Nursing Career Podcast
With almost 200 episodes, this “cutting edge” podcast informs and educates nurses so that they can show up as their best self on their next shift- as host Elizabeth Scala claims. More than just another informative podcast, Your Next Shift is thrilling and entertaining with guest nurses from all over the world telling their stories about their nursing jobs.
This podcast gives you the strength to go on when you wake up feeling like you can’t. Remember why you chose this profession, and what the benefits of traveling nursing are.
Cardium
Their motto is “getting to the heart of travel healthcare,” and they cover not only travel nursing culture but all types of traveling healthcare workers. Relatable content from professionals and fellow travelers. Hosted by former healthcare workers, Sunny and Mark.
There are about 30 episodes with a lengthy write up describing the material that is covered in each episode so that you can read through and decide if you want to listen or skip to the next one.
Nursing Uncensored
Do you want to hear real people talk about real problems? Nursing Uncensored deals with the mental and physical health issues of nurses, and tons of other subjects surrounding the realities that nurses personally face every day.
This podcast is unique in that it covers some controversial topics, not just the vanilla stuff. There’s more to love about Nursing Uncensored with Adrienne’s blog, and videos on her website.
The Happy Traveler
Nurse Kelley talks about self-care, traveling with your family, working as a nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic, and much more. Episodes are short and sweet ranging from 8 minutes to about half an hour, available on Apple podcasts.
Nursing Podcasts
To take care of others, you must first take care of yourself. That’s what nursing podcasts are there for! Tune in, and tune out.
If you are looking for a new agency or just getting into the travel nursing field, look no further than Stability Healthcare. Start your next adventure now.
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Top Benefits of Travel Nursing
Travel Nursing is a career that offers a unique set of perks. It’s one of the only jobs that gives you the opportunity to check off all of the places on your traveling bucket list. If that alone isn’t enough, keep reading to learn why you should be a travel nurse.
Live Anywhere You Want
As we mentioned before, travel nursing will have you checking places off of your bucket list left and right. With short placements, you’ll be able to experiences for just the right amount of time before you head to your next placement. If you near the end of your placement and realize you aren’t done exploring, it’s easy to extend.
Not only can you live in any city or town you want, but you can also live in any living arrangement you want. Live alone in an apartment, a house, a trailer, a treehouse, anywhere. Or even find a roommate or two! Travel nurses often times find a place together during their stays. You can learn more about finding a place to live on our blog.Â
Have Professional Flexibility + the Ability to Experience Different Work Environments
Being a traveler is great because it creates more opportunities to experience different areas of the hospital and work in different types of hospitals! As a traveler, you’ll be exposed to all types of practices and ways of doing things. Hospitals across the country vary in policy and rules but don’t worry they will fill you in and you won’t be left confused. With different hospitals requiring nurses to do things a certain way or have certain knowledge in a specific area – you’ll be growing your skills every day. If you ever return to a full-time stationary role, hospitals love seeing travel nursing roles on your resume for this exact reason.
In terms of flexibility, being a travel nurse is ideal because you can plan your placements whenever you want to. Once your placement ends at one hospital, you can wait however long you’d like until you pick up your next one. This makes it easier for scheduling off for big life moments and vacations.
Increase Your Earnings
Travel nurses typically see higher pay than the other nurses in the units, this is because a traveler is filling a role that NEEDS to be filled. On top of higher base pay, travelers will still receive the benefits that go along with being a full-time staffer.
Not only do travelers get paid for their work, but they also receive a housing stipend to go towards their living situation.
Job Security
When a hospital is looking for a travel nurse, it is because they need a spot to be filled. That’s right, travelers are always needed. This ensures that as long as your a rockstar in your role, you’re all set and don’t have to worry about facing layoffs or staff cuts. Who doesn’t love job stability 😉
Meet New People
One of the greatest gifts of travel nursing is the people that you meet along the way. Working in different hospitals and living in different places, the opportunities are endless for making new connections. Many travelers will grow out their communities and networks to sizes that they never thought possible leaving them with lifelong professional and personal relationships.
Some travelers will even form a pod and pick up assignments in the same cities so they can all live and experience new cities together.
Finding a Job is Easy
Finding a job is simple at Stability Healthcare. Stability offers an extensive list of travel nursing jobs. All it takes is one click on our website to get started!
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Tips for Making Your Temporary Housing Feel More Like Home
As a travel nurse, you’re used to being on the road. While everyone goes about it a little differently when it comes to moving and packing, there is one thing that most travel nurses have in common: you have to pack light. You may have seen our tips for finding housing or how to pack, but with the cold months approaching we want to talk about feeling cozy and comfortable in your temporary housing.
Making your temporary housing feel cozy is so important, especially in the midst of a pandemic when we’re spending a lot of time at home. Home should be a place where you feel most comfortable. With these simple tips, you’ll be snuggling up in a homey environment in no time.
Plants
Who can deny that a plant suddenly transforms a space. They naturally filter air pollutants, they’re calming, stress-relieving, and overall provide a wonderful mood boost. Plants can absorb harmful gases through the pores in their leaves, filtering the air in your room. Keep an eye on our blog later this month for a guide to which plants are the best, but for now to keep it simple here are some of the easiest plants to keep alive while traveling from place to place: succulents, snake plant, and aloe vera.
BlanketsÂ
As children, everyone had their favorite blanky. It brought comfort, safety, and familiarity. It doesn’t hurt adults to have a favorite blanket that you keep with you to snuggle up with. A nice blanket, whether it be a fun fleece print that you love, something your grandma handknitted for you, or just something so soft you can’t resist, is a guaranteed way to cozy up a space and make it feel more like home.
CandlesÂ
Did you know candles can increase focus, improve your mood, and even help you remember positive memoreis? Finding a scent that is familiar and reminds you of home is the perfect way to transform any sort of temporary housing you may be staying in into your home. Plus, there’s no better way to set the mood for an evening of relaxation after a long shift.
Photos
We can’t forget photos! Nothing beats a photo of a pleasant memory to boost your mood. Print up a handful of your most favorite moments that have been captured and bring them with you on all of your placements. You can hang them on a wall, spread them out on a dresser, or even just have them sitting in a stack on your bed side table. These physical momentos will bring you joy when you need it most. 
ArtÂ
While some people may find it a bit extreme to travel with art, it can actually be the key to transforming a space. Find one or two pieces of art that you love – a print by your favorite illustrator, an old movie poster you found at a flea market, something that used to hang in your childhood home. When you go from place to place, find a new spot for your art and it will feel right at home and provide a sense of consistency and familiarity.
Ready to embark on your next adventure? Vist Stability Healthcare to book a travel nursing placement today!
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Job Highlight: NICU
There’s nothing easy about being a nurse – you knew that going into nursing school, or you learned it quickly when you had your first practical experience. And while being a nurse in any capacity has its challenges, being a NICU, or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse may be one of the hardest subsets of nursing there is.
We don’t say that to discourage you – fifteen percent of the people you know were NICU babies, and would not be here today without the help of NICU nurses.
Here’s what to expect, both realistically and emotionally, when signing up to be a NICU travel nurse.
NICU Nurse Hours
When it comes to shifts and work schedules, NICU nurses are not unique. They have the same long hours as other nursing sub-specialties, and often have to work nights, holidays, and weekends.
With that said, those long shifts allow you to really get to know each (tiny!) patient, their families and provide the level of care that parents of NICU babies remember for a lifetime to come.
The Salary
Salaries depend on where you are, what hospital you work at, what you’re willing to do as a nurse (like travel!), and state taxes. That said, the average salary estimate for a NICU nurse is between $50,000 – $80,000 a year.
That’s more than enough to pay off your nursing school loans if you budget well – and that doesn’t include the benefits.
Essentially your job is to provide hope and save lives, which in the end, is priceless.
Emotional Considerations
While being a nurse will always involve some level of grief, including coaching your patients through their own, being a NICU nurse has a higher level of emotional turmoil than say, a general clinic nurse does.
Not only will you have to see the suffering and illness of tiny babies, but as one nurse says, you have to watch every parent grieve the idea that they’re not going to have the quick delivery and coming-home experience they were imagining with their baby.
It can also be harder to see those infant patients pass away, as they had such a short and unlived life. Each day is truly an emotional roller coaster.
You’ll Be a Ray of Hope
Not all NICU journeys are bad. Yes, no parent wants their child to have to be in the NICU, but there are plenty of happy stories – even miracles – that you’ll get to experience alongside your patients. Many NICU parents remember their nurse’s names for the rest of their lives, which shows that you can truly make a difference in the world!
Finding the Perfect NICU Nurse Position
If none of that scares you, but rather excites you, then you’re the perfect fit to become a NICU nurse. Want to still keep a sense of adventure while being a nurse, providing for yourself, and paying off student loans?
Look into travel nursing! Our agency will work with you from step one (learning what travel nursing is), to finding you a job, to making sure you get paid what you deserve.
Search our site to take the next step in your nursing career, today!
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A Fall Day Off in NYC
Are you currently working in or around NYC? Do you want some inspiration for your next placement? If the answer is yes to either of those questions, then this article is for you! Here are our top November activities in and around NYC:
Wander Around a Museum
Just in time for fall, most museums are reopening with additional COVID guidelines and limited capacity. Don’t miss some of our favorite exhibits, “The Nature of Color” at the American Museum of Natural History and “Studio 54: Night Magic” at the Brooklyn Museum. Tip: make you book a reservation ahead of time!
Visit Storm King Art Center
Hop on the Metro-North or drive a car about an hour north of NYC to visit Storm King Art Center – an outdoor sculpture museum sprawled across several acres of land. Take a look at one of their current featured exhibits, “Outlooks” by Martha Tuttle, which “comprises a series of human-made stone stacks or cairns, built of boulders gathered at Storm King, and molded glass and carved marble stones, which the artist created by hand during the winter and spring of 2020.”
Explore Central Park
The iconic Central Park is at it’s prime in the fall. With the leaves changing, the park is a glorious fall escape from city life. Pack a picnic and make it a day-long excursion or spend multiple trips exploring the 840 acres that make up the park.
Take A Drive
Once you get out of the city, New York is filled with scenic tree-filled routes. Make your best fall playlist, hop in the car, and go explore upstate New York. While apple picking season has mostly come to an end, there are still lots of farms and shops you can stop at along the way.
Scope Out Vintage Finds
With the cold just around the corner, you’ll want to cozy up your space. Spend the day browsing vintage shops to find little pieces that make your place feel warm and comforting. Take a look at Mother of Junk in Williamsburg and Dobbin St. Vintage Co-op in Greenpoint. Keep an eye on our blog later this month for some tips on how to cozy up your space!
See a Drive-In Movie
While not many good things came from COVID, one positive is the increase in outdoor movies. Cuddling up with your favorite blanket and a surplus of snacks to watch a movie under the stars has never sounded so good. Check out Skyline Drive-In in Greenpoint or the Belair in Astoria. If neither of those work, there are locations across all of 5 boroughs.
Discover the Botanical Gardens
Head to the Bronx’s for The New York Botanical Gardens. You’ll see a collection of roses, daylilies, hydrangeas, water lilies, and lotuses, and more. If you can’t make it, you can explore their online exhibits like “Black Botany: The Nature of Black Experience, which seeks to acknowledge the complex relationship between enslaved Black people, nature, and the colonial environment and reconsider the conscious omission of Black knowledge of the natural world.”
Nurses Guide to Properly Preparing for Retirement
Travel nursing is a rewarding career and many individuals choose it for a variety of reasons. Like most health professionals, nurses spend the majority of their time taking care of others and not themselves.
However, if you are a travel nurse, it’s essential to start retirement planning as soon as possible. At the end of your time in the workforce, you want to make sure that you have enough funds to enjoy your retirement after many years of hard work and dedication to patients.
With that said, if you’re looking for retirement resources, this article is for you. Continue reading to learn more about nurse retirement and what you can do to secure your future finances.
Understand Your 401k Options
When it comes to retirement planning, one of the primary problems that travel nurses face is setting up a 401k. As you know, travel nursing usually involves working for various employers, which makes setting up a 401k difficult.
Since travel nursing isn’t a conventional job, some companies may not offer investment plans. Thankfully, nurses who work through Stability Healthcare don’t have to worry about that.
Once you’ve worked with us for one year, we’ll provide you with the details on our 401k plan and how you can enroll through our partner ADP. We have an incredible selection for you to choose from and we want all of our employees to secure their monetary future.
Retirement Planning for Travel Nurses
Now that you know that we offer 401K plan options to our employees, you can take the proper steps towards implementing your retirement financial planning.
Although we require one year of work before you can enroll into our 401k, there are other things you can do to ensure that you are protected financially. Below are a few suggestions:
Save 15% of Your Income
Even without a 401k, there are ways that you can jump-start your retirement planning. One of the smartest things to do as an employee is to pay yourself. Saving 15% of your income ensures that you’re putting away a nice nest egg.
In addition to a 401k, using a Roth IRA allows you to invest money that grows tax-free. The good news is, you won’t be taxed once you take the money out for retirement either.
Your objective should be to continually invest for retirement, even while you concentrate on other financial obligations— like paying off your mortgage. By implementing financial strategies that work in conjunction with one other, you can create a stress-free life after nurse retirement. Therefore, after 20 to 30 years of working, you could have a home that is paid for and a hefty retirement savings.
Tax-Deferred Retirement Plan: Yes or No?
When starting your nurse retirement plan, one of the primary decisions you’ll have to make is whether or not you want a tax-deferred benefit. Basically, Tax-deferred means that you won’t pay taxes on your income right now.
However, you will have to pay them on the funds once you withdraw it. It’s a big decision to make, but it’s one that you’ll have to choose carefully. If you believe you are in a position to pay taxes right now, then do so. That way you won’t have to pay the money after retirement.
On the other hand, if you have lots of financial obligations, you might benefit from saving money on paying taxes and waiting until you have a larger lump sum after retirement.
Retirement Financial Planning: Invest Long-Term
Retirement planning takes a lot of patience and willpower. One of the biggest challenges individuals face when trying to secure their financial future is the impulse to withdraw money from their 401k.
Things happen in life, and when they do most people panic and become riddled with fear and anxiety. In this state of mind, you might decide to pull all the money out of your 401k, which interrupts the consistency of your retirement planning.
It’s important to remember that investing is a marathon, not a sprint. So before you go tampering with your retirement money, make sure you have other savings funds set aside to help you in case of a financial emergency occurs.
Monetary difficulties are examples of situations when saving 15% of your income comes in handy.
Use Professionals to Help With Nurse Retirement
Sometimes it helps to have an expert financial advisor to assist you with your retirement planning. One of the biggest misconceptions is that financial professionals are only helpful to individuals with large salaries. However, people of all tax brackets can benefit greatly from a monetary advisor.
If investing and retirement planning is too big of a task, let an expert assist you. By doing so, you can ensure that you’re set at the end of your working years. Plus, it’ll provide you with someone who holds you accountable.
A financial professional can also offer tips on what you can do in the event of a monetary setback.
Travel Nursing Made Easy
Retirement planning is essential for securing your financial future. But if you’re at a crossroads in your career and need to find your next nursing job, Stability Healthcare can help.
Our free job search platform allows you to view jobs that pay your preferred rate. You’ll get interviews quicker through our platform and begin a rewarding travel nursing assignment in no time.
For questions about our services, feel free to call 855-742 4767. Also, check out our nursing reviews to learn more about how we’ve helped other travel nurses.
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6 Face Masks Every Nurse Should Know AboutÂ
Wearing a face mask at work all day long has become a glum, dreaded reality for everyone, but especially for nurses. While some ERs and ICUs might require you to wear the masks they give you, a lot of hospitals and clinics are loosening to allow staff to bring in their own masks. So as we’re finally getting used to breathing through fabric all day, it’s time to invest in a mask like you would a good stethoscope or a good set of scrubs. You want a mask that’s breathable and that stays in place while you’re talking to patients (if you’re having to pull it up all day, what’s the point, right?). You want your mask to offer you the greatest level of protection, both for yourself and the people around you, because it’s unlikely you’ll be able to remain social distanced with all of your patients. And finally, you want your mask to be comfortable and as attractive as a mask can be. Like most things, if you can make it cute, you can make it work.Â
That’s a lot of requirements for a small piece of fabric, but here are five mask companies up to the challenge.Â
Mandala Scrubs
Maybe it’s because Mandala is already used to making practical items for those who work in the healthcare industry, but these masks rock! They come in lots of different solid colors, two different sizes and two different styles. They have adjustable ear straps, a wire to fit to your nose, and a pocket insert where you can put filters. Each mask comes with a pack of three replaceable PM2.5 filters, which is a six layered activated carbon filter, designed to effectively block airborne contaminants.Â
The masks are made with the same anti-microbial fabric that Mandala makes their scrubs with, so they’re sanitary and easy to breath in. And with the adjustable straps, they offer a nice clean look. You can talk all day in them and they won’t fall down your face. We recommend the pleated cloth style, as it offers a little more breathing room than the other style.Â
Price: $9.99 eachÂ
Figs
There’s no hiding how much we love Figs and to no surprise at all, they have launched a fantastic mask. Simple with pops of fun color, these masks are comfortable, breathable, and sleek. Made with both safety and comfort in mind, these masks boast features like a bendable nose wire for a close fit, a slot for replaceable filters, and soft elastic ear loops for all day comfort. Made with Figs signature FIONx fabric with Silvadurâ„¢ antimicrobial technology, four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, anti-wrinkle, and ridiculously soft properties, this mask is sure to check all of the boxes. The Medium/Large mask can even be worn over an N95 mask for extra coverage!
Price: $12.99 each
ililily Cotton Double Layer Patterned Face MaskÂ
The Mandala masks have everything….except fun patterns. If florals are really your thing, these double-cotton face masks come highly recommended by stylish doctors. They come in six different floral patterns and each comes built with two cotton layers and a washable filter in between, as well as adjustable ear straps. Reviews all say they’re cute and comfy.Â
Price: $14.99 each
Casetify Cotton Mask
If you’re looking for a more casual, athletic look in a mask, these Casetify cotton masks look simple and light, but still offer you all the protection you need. Just like Mandala masks, these come with two filter inserts. They don’t have the wire at the top of the nose, but they fit snugly enough for it not to matter.Â
Price: $12 eachÂ
Buck Mason Antimicrobial FacemaskÂ
These are made with three layers of thick cotton t-shirt material, but they’ve also been treated with an anti-microbial layer, giving even more protection from bacteria. The Buck Mason masks are unique because they tie around your head, like a real surgical mask. It gives you the freedom to tie them comfortably so they stay in place all day.Â
Price: $30 for a five packÂ
Old Navy Facemasks
For an everyday selection of face masks, you really can’t go wrong with Old Navy. They offer limitless bundles of different patterns, and all of them are three layer cloth. They have ear adjustable straps, and they’re SO affordable. You can buy a 10 pack for $25. You could wear a different mask every day of the week without having to wash. Amazing!
Price: $25 for a 10 pack
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