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Top 5 Online Nursing Education Resources

Health is wealth, they say—and for good reason. A healthy population is a productive population. And who better to ensure the health of a population than its nurses?

In the United States alone, there are about 4.2 million registered nurses, and over 325,000 are licensed in the United States. Statistics also show that there are four times more nurses than physicians in the United States.

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. They’re with patients day in and day out, providing care and support. They comfort the sick, advocate for the vulnerable, and teach people how to stay healthy.

So it’s no wonder the demand for nurses is high—and expected to grow. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of registered nurses will increase by 9% from 2020 to 2030.

With the demand for nurses on the rise, there’s never been a better time to enter the field. But becoming a nurse takes more than just a desire to help others. It takes hard work, dedication, and a willingness to continue learning.

If you’re thinking about becoming a nurse or are already on the path to becoming one, we’ve got some resources for you.

Why are online nursing education resources important?

In today’s day and age, it’s more important than ever to have access to reliable online resources. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have had to rely on online resources for their education and work. And nursing is no different.

While clinical experience is essential for nurses, there’s a lot that can be learned online. Between articles, videos, and courses, a wealth of nursing education resources are available online. In addition, online resources are often more affordable than traditional methods like attending nursing school.

Other benefits of online nursing education resources include:

#1. Increased flexibility:

Online nursing resources can be accessed at any time, from anywhere. As a nurse, you’ll already have a demanding job. Being able to study when it’s convenient for you will make it easier to fit learning into your busy schedule.

#2. More engaging:

Let’s be honest; not all nursing education resources are created equal. Some can be dry and boring. With online resources, it’s up to you to find engaging and interesting content. And since so many options are available, you’re sure to find something that suits your learning style.

#3. More interactive:

Many online nursing resources are more interactive than traditional resources. Through videos, articles, and forums, you can interact with other nurses and learn from their experiences.

#4. Greater variety:

When you’re learning online, you’re not limited to one type of resource. You can choose from a variety of content, including articles, videos, and courses. And if you’re struggling to understand something, you can always find another resource that explains it differently.

#5. Better preparation for the real world:

You can get a head start on your nursing education by taking advantage of online resources. After all, you’ll be using technology in your everyday work as a nurse. Familiarizing yourself with online resources now will help you in your career later.

Five Top Online Nursing Education Resources

Now that you know the benefits of online nursing education resources, it’s time to find some good ones. Here are five of our favorites:

1. The American Nurses Association (ANA)

The ANA is the largest and most influential professional organization for nurses in the United States. They provide numerous nursing resources, including publications, continuing education courses, and a job board. Their website also serves as a go-to repository for information on nursing education.

As part of their commitment to nursing education, the ANA also publishes three nursing periodicals:

  • The American Nurse
  • American Nurse Today
  • OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing.

These medical journals cover various topics relevant to the nursing industry and are a great way to stay up-to-date with the latest news, research, and developments in the field.

Some of the resources available on the ANA website include:

  • Professional development courses
  • Online conferences and events
  • Webinars
  • Podcasts
  • Nursing news and articles
  • Forums
  • Nursing books selections
  • Fact sheets
  • And more!

2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Nurses play a vital role in disease prevention and health promotion. And the CDC is a go-to source for information on these topics. From their website, you can access a wealth of resources on everything from immunizations to food safety.

This nursing resource center is excellent for nurses who want to stay up-to-date on the latest public health information. Many of the resources available on the CDC website include:

  • Publications
  • Guidelines
  • Data and statistics
  • Educational materials
  • Training opportunities
  • News releases

We consider the CDC website is a great nursing education resource for nurses for several reasons:

It’s a reliable source of information:

The CDC is a government agency, so you can be confident that the information on its website is accurate and up-to-date. After all, it’s their job to provide the latest public health information.

It’s easy to navigate:

You can find what you’re looking for quickly and easily on the CDC website. The site is well-organized and user-friendly, so you won’t waste time searching for information.

It’s packed with valuable resources:

Yes, the CDC website contains a lot of information. But it’s all relevant and valuable for nurses. From publications to educational materials, you’ll find everything you need to stay informed about the latest public health threats.

It’s free:

One of the best things about the CDC website is that it’s free to use. You don’t have to pay anything to access the wealth of information and resources available on the site.

3. National League for Nursing

The National League for Nursing (NLN) is a professional organization for nurses that promotes excellence in nursing education. They offer a wide range of nursing resources, including networking opportunities, professional development resources, and research grants. NLN also provides accreditation for nursing programs.

Some of the resources available on the NLN website include:

  • A job board
  • Continuing education courses
  • Webinars
  • Publications
  • Research grants

In addition to the resources available on their website, the NLN also offers certification exams for nurses. These exams are a great way to show employers that you’re knowledgeable and skilled in your field.

4. DailyMed

With more than 20,000 drugs available in the United States, it can be challenging to keep track of them all. That’s where DailyMed comes in.

This website provides information on most drugs available in the US, including their labels and FDA-approved uses.

DailyMed helps nurses who want to stay up-to-date on the latest drugs and their uses. Using the website, you can discover drugs that are not FDA-approved, as well as those with warnings or labeling changes.

Some notable features of DailyMed include:

A searchable database of drugs

  • Information on active and inactive ingredients
  • Label type
  • NDC code
  • FDA-approved uses
  • Warnings and precautions
  • Changes in labeling

It’s important to note that DailyMed is a resource for information only. You should always consult a healthcare professional before starting or stopping any medication.

5. Nurse.com

Nurse.com is a leading resource for nurses, offering education, news, and career resources. They have an extensive selection of online nursing courses, as well as a job board and career advice section.

Among the many resources available on Nurse.com, you’ll find:

  • Online nursing courses
  • A job board
  • Career advice
  • Student news

For nurses who are looking to further their education or advance their careers, Nurse.com is a great resource. With its extensive selection of online courses and career resources, you’ll be sure to find everything you need.

As a nurse, staying up-to-date on the latest news, information, and resources is crucial. These websites are a great way to do just that. Whether you’re looking for continuing education courses, job resources, or simply want to stay informed, these websites have everything you need.

So bookmark them today and check back often!

Already a Nurse looking to brush up and get traveling?

We have jobs available here as well as our own friendly recruiters that you can call.

How to choose the best travel nursing recruiter for you

Travel Nursing Recruiter – How to Choose the Best Recruiter for You

A good recruiter will make the travel nurse processes seamless and easy for you

Choosing a travel nurse recruiter is not a task that can be done at the drop of a hat. It requires careful consideration, planning, and vetting to ensure that you are getting the best travel nurse recruiter possible. After all, the success of your medical travel task hinges on nailing your recruitment process. To aid you in this task, we’ve prepared some wisdom from experienced professionals to help you get started on your travel nurse journey.

Find a Marvel Medical Staffing Recruiter now!

Give us a call or see what jobs we have.
Check out our job board

Qualities of a good recruiter for medical travelers

Medical recruiters may use standalone or combined websites, apps, and social media pages as their advertising mediums. There is no definite formula that a recruiter of medical travelers should follow, but there are some qualities that are an absolute must! Highly skilled recruiters have the ability to create strong paths to qualified candidates. They take into account both the working requirements, needs, and personal aspirations of travel nurses. This increases their chance of filling vacancies and retaining staff members in the ranks.

They have a good reputation

This probably sounds like a no-brainer. Reputation can fast-track your decision-making process. You wouldn’t want a recruiter who has been known to flake or who has leveraged favoritism in the past. You want a recruiter who has a proven track record of several successful clients, at the very least.

But don’t base everything on reputation. It’s quite possible that a skilled recruiter went through a rough patch and left some bad impressions in the past. As long as they’ve trended in the right direction, grown and learned from all types of feedback, and delivered positive results in recent times, you should be good to go.

They keep it real

There is nothing worse than a travel medical recruiter (or any recruiter, really) who has their head in the clouds. They may set unrealistic deadlines and goals or exaggerate their progress to try to look like they are on top of things. These sorts of fantasies can distort your picture of how everything is going and, even worse, mislead you  into a false sense of security. This isn’t necessarily a trust issue because some recruiters may just be overly optimistic and still have the best intentions at heart.

They are trustworthy

Every so often you may have some red flags that lead you to question a recruiter’s trustworthiness. Perhaps their other clients have talked about flaky tendencies, or maybe you learned that they recruited some poor performers. Perhaps they aren’t backing up their statements in writing. Perhaps you simply don’t get a good “vibe” from them and catch them in small white lies during the interview/onboarding processes.

Don’t hesitate to cut ties or request a new recruiter if you feel that there is a trust issue. You don’t deserve to be double-crossed or misled, and you especially don’t deserve to be up-charged over silly things.

They are open to questions

A competent and honest travel nurse recruiter would be more than happy to answer your questions truthfully and patiently. They should be able to carry themselves well and maintain a professional temperament while they interact with prospective candidates. The most excellent recruiters may be honest, ethical, passionate and proactive individuals who have an eager interest in helping travel nurses on the move find an ideal assignment and keeping nurses in touch with the latest assignments abroad.

They are accessible

You have piqued the interest of a highly talented travel nurse recruiter, or you’ve sought them out yourself. Great! However, you realize that they are taking too long to respond to messages or seem to have limited availability due to other commitments. This likely won’t fly with you because you want someone who will help grow your career. You want them to be invested in you as much as the other way around. If you can’t get that, you may have to settle with someone who is a little less accomplished but can give you the comprehensive work you need.

Find a Marvel Medical Staffing Recruiter now!

Give us a call or see what jobs we have.
Check out our job board

How to find the best recruiter for medical travelers

Now that you’ve identified what it takes to find a good travel nurse recruiter, it’s time for you to figure out how to go about actually doing it. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that your process is as painless as possible.

Shop around and make a shortlist

Start by doing research on travel healthcare recruiters – if you want something more localized, consider focusing on regional agencies instead of national ones. Consider your scope, budget, ability to travel, experience level, certifications, and so forth – you may want to keep things regional at first.

Your second step will be to hammer out your pay package structure, which will change depending on the agency. Elements such as benefits, hourly/salary rate, fees, weekly compensation, location, and stipends must be well-rehearsed. Some flexibility and compromise might be needed if you find a good recruiter or decide to branch out into a wider radius. Make sure you have as many benefits as possible – they will often be more valuable than a small pay increase.

You also want to consider how many contacts you want. Do you only want a single contact, or are you willing to juggle multiple? Sometimes simplicity is best.

Check their reviews

Some agencies and recruiters are very clever about masking their red flags or inflating reviews. You can never be too careful. Sometimes word of mouth is the best way to get the full picture. Look online for their reviews. Check a variety of sites to ensure you get the full picture – not just sites that they may be promoting on their own page(s). Get a comprehensive look before you initiate contact.

Check their experience

Beware of an inexperienced travel nurse recruiter. They may not be a no-go zone, but you do want to make sure they have the quality and willpower to do a good job. The field has a lot of turnovers, and you don’t want your recruiter to quit halfway through your assignment! Don’t hesitate to hook up with a new recruiter if they are giving you good vibes in other areas. Just make sure you give the experience the proper weight it deserves when considering your options.

Find out which provides the best offers

No one wants to connect with a recruiter who will give you bad pay and benefits in exchange for their reputable service. You deserve more. Find the best balance between compensation and experience, and look for recruiters who need travel nurses urgently: they’ll pay more due to the low supply and high demand.

Look at their websites

Some recruiters may come across as highly reputable and clever, but it’s all smoke and mirrors if they don’t have the reputation to back it up. Look for false promises, inconsistent information, poorly written content, or anything else on their website that indicates a lack of attention to detail or passion for their field. You should question whether or not they are using a cheap generic web template with canned responses and other clichés. Their website should serve as a highly impactful first impression that is handcrafted and customized as much as humanly possible.

Ask them relevant questions

If you’ve been doing research and still have questions, don’t be afraid to pitch some hardballs. Here’s a list of some great questions you can ask:

  • “How long have you been in the travel nurse recruiter field?” 
    Ideally their answer will be consistent with other information they’ve provided. Some embellishment may be okay, but ideally, you want someone who has been around a lot, and, if not, will be brutally honest about their newness.
  • “What is the culture of your agency?”
    This is key, and it goes beyond the rapport between you and the recruiter. The entire culture has to be considered since you will be working with the people in this agency fairly frequently. Having a good vibe and rapport with the whole agency will enhance your reputation even more and prevent sticky situations in the future. If the culture is too laid back, and you are a go-getter (or vice versa), consider another agency.
  • “What differentiates you from other travel nurse recruiters?”
    A    llow them to market themselves, as you may find out more information about their benefits package (or catch them waving a red flag, in which case it’s better to have discovered this now).
  • “What makes you the best travel nurse recruiter for medical workers like me?”
    This is a bold question, but don’t be afraid to ask it. You are the prize here, and as long as you aren’t being arrogant or pretentious, you are entitled to bluntly ensure that the fit will be good.
  • “What if things go wrong in the field?”
    There’s always a chance that the worst-case scenario could play out. Even if you’re the best travel nurse with the best travel nurse recruiter, you can’t predict the future. Make sure you are comfortable with how they’ll handle emergencies and how the communication process will occur.
  • “How many clients do you have at any given time?”
    Recruiters or agencies with a full plate aren’t necessarily a red flag, but you want to make sure they can give you as much attention as you need whenever you need it. Otherwise, you may need to reconsider the terms or find someone else.

Ask them about housing and maintenance

Free housing would obviously be a huge perk that would change your entire outlook, even if the pay is lower. Weigh this into your decision. And if you’re too busy to maintain your space, you may be able to get help with that. Ensure that you are taken care of, especially if you are accepting less than what you think you deserve.

Ask for recommendations for other traveling medical professionals

Some agencies and recruiters are very clever about masking their red flags or inflating reviews. You can never be too careful. Sometimes word of mouth is the best way to get the full picture. Visit forums frequented by travel nurse professionals to get a good picture of the best agencies and recruiters around. Watch out for shills, of course.

Key takeaways

We get it: there’s a lot to take away from this article, and we’re really only scratching the surface. It can be really daunting to remember all this the next time you’re looking for an agency or recruiter. Here are a few key points that we’ve covered.

You ideally want the best travel nurse recruiter possible, one who:

  • Has a good reputation, verified by online reviews, word of mouth, and other sources.
  • Keeps it real by being honest and upfront, without hiding contractual details or pretending to offer benefits that they don’t.
  • Is trustworthy enough to give you a sense of security.
  • Is open to hard-hitting and illuminating questions, such as “What is the culture of your agency?” and “What makes you the best travel nurse recruiter for medical workers like me?”. Interviewing is a two-way process!
  • Is accessible enough to attend to your needs, ensuring that you won’t be flaked upon or pawned off to a bad agency.
  • Has a personality that meshes with yours (to avoid conflict, misunderstandings, breaches of contract, or other uncomfortable situations).
  • Offers a great compensation package: e.g., excellent pay, benefits, housing/maintenance options, and an agency with a good culture to boot. Compromise only if you must!

Once you get a good grasp of these key points, you should be well on your way to finding the best travel nurse recruiter in your area. So, get out there and start the process before you miss that excellent opportunity.

Find a Marvel Medical Staffing Recruiter now!

Give us a call or see what jobs we have.
Check out our job board
Managing Mental Health

Managing Mental Health While On a Travel Assignment

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Research shows that 92% of nurses suffer from various forms of stress, ranging from moderate to very high. Furthermore, travel nurses have their distinctive forms of worries in addition to those borne by standard nurses.

Nurses are also human beings, and they can also suffer from mental health problems. Nurses need to manage their mental health while on an assignment, as it can impact their ability to provide care for patients.

Mental health is a broad term that includes our emotional, mental, and social well-being. It impacts our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It also helps decide how we manage stress, connect to others, and make decisions.

Emotional wellbeing is essential at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. If you experience mental health problems throughout your life, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected.

Whether it is because of Covid or any other work/travel related stress. Managing your mental health is a must while you are away from home and on assignment. 

 

Factors Contributing to Mental Health Problems

Many factors contribute to mental health problems. Below is an elaboration of some of the common contributors;

1. Biological Aspects, Such as Genes or Brain Chemistry

Biological factors happen in our bodies that we cannot control. They may be inherited or result from a chemical imbalance in the brain. Some people are born with a greater risk for mental health problems due to their genes or brain chemistry.

As much as most biological factors are out of our control,  we can take steps to protect our mental health by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing stress. You can attain this by eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep.

2. Life Experiences, Such as Trauma or Abuse

Childhood trauma is a risk factor for developing mental health problems later. Traumatic experiences can include physical or sexual abuse, witnessing violence, or losing a parent to divorce or death. Unfortunately, trauma can catch up with you at any age.

If you have experienced trauma, it is important to seek help from a mental health professional or support group. Talking about your experience can help you process the trauma and begin to heal. It is never too late to get help, regardless of when it happened.

3. Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is another common factor that can contribute to mental health problems. When people abuse substances, they are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Substance abuse can also make existing mental health problems worse.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, it is important to seek help from a mental health professional or support group. Getting treatment can help you recover and heal. Substance abuse is relatively complex and challenging to overcome, but it is possible with the right help.

4. Cognitive Factors, Such as Negative Thinking Patterns

Cognitive factors are how we think about ourselves, other people, and the world. Negative thinking patterns can contribute to mental health problems. For example, if you have a negative view of yourself, you may be more likely to develop depression. If you have a negative view of other people, you may be more likely to develop anxiety or paranoia.

Cognitive factors are not set in stone. You can change how you think about yourself and the world around you. If you are struggling with negative thinking patterns, seek help from a mental health professional. They can help you learn how to change your thinking and improve your mental health.

5. Environmental Factors, such as Poverty or Social Isolation

Environmental factors are things that are happening in the world around us. They can include poverty, social isolation, or exposure to violence. These factors can contribute to mental health issues.

The factors impact differently according to individual experiences, beliefs, and values. It is important to remember that no one factor causes mental health problems. Many factors can contribute to mental health problems. If you are struggling with mental health issues, it is important to consult a professional. They can help you understand the factors contributing to your mental health problems and develop a plan to address them.

6. Psychological Factors, Such as Personality or Coping Styles

Psychological factors are the way we think, feel, and behave. They can include things like our personality, coping styles, and how we deal with stress. Psychological factors can contribute to mental health problems.

If you are struggling with psychological factors affecting your mental health, seek help from a mental health professional. They can help you learn how to cope with the factors affecting you and improve your mental health.

7. Family History of Mental Health Problems

Family history is another factor that can contribute to mental health problems. If you have a family member with a mental health disorder, you may be more likely to develop a mental health disorder yourself.

If you have a family history of mental health problems, it is important to be aware of the factors contributing to your mental health problems. Seek assistance from a mental health experts if you are struggling with mental health issues. They can help you understand the factors contributing to your mental health problems and develop a plan to address them.

Mental Health Problems in Nurses

There are a variety of mental health problems that nurses can suffer from. Some of the most common include stress, sorrow, and burnout.

  1. Anxiety

Anxiety is a condition that causes feelings of worry, fear, and unease. Nurses may experience anxiety due to the high-stress nature of their job. Common anxiety symptoms include feeling restless, irritable, and on edge.

Anxiety can be treated with medication and therapy. If you are grappling with anxiety, it is recommended that you consult a mental health professional. A professional stands a great chance of helping you understand and manage your anxiety.

  1. Depression

Depression is a condition that causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. Nurses may experience depression due to the high-stress nature of their job. The common signs of depression include feeling tired, losing interest in activities, and changes in appetite.

The affected person may fail to realize that they are depressed. Its symptoms don’t manifest physically, so people shrug it off. Depression can be treated with medication and therapy. There are several ways to deal with depression, and a mental health professional will know which treatment is best for you.

  1. Burnout

Burnout is a form of  tiredness that causes feelings of exhaustion, cynicism, and inadequacy. Nurses may experience burnout due to the high-stress nature of their job. Some of the common symptoms of burnout include feeling overwhelmed, detached, and uninterested.

It is important to prevent burnout from worsening, like depression. There are multiple techniques to deal with burnout, but the common thread is to find ways to reduce stress. Taking a rest, talking to a therapist, and changing your work schedule are all ways that can help reduce stress.

  1. PTSD in Nurses

PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a condition that causes feelings of fear, anxiety, and flashbacks after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Nurses may experience PTSD due to the high-stress nature of their job. Some of the common symptoms of PTSD include feeling afraid, avoiding certain places or people, and having nightmares.

PTSD is more severe than most people think. Unfortunately, many people who struggle with PTSD don’t know where to go or what to do. A mental health professional can help you understand and manage your PTSD. There are also support groups available to help you cope with your PTSD.

 

Tips for Managing Mental Health While On an Assignment

Below are some tips for managing mental health while on an assignment;

  1. Make Time for Yourself

Creating time for yourself is important while on an assignment. This time can be used to do things that make you happy and help you relax. It is important to balance work and take care of yourself.

Creating time is relatively easy as long as you are intentional about it. You can use your lunch break to walk around the block, read a book, or call a friend. You can also use your free time to take a yoga class, go for a run, or watch a movie.

  1. Stick to a Schedule

Sticking to a schedule is important while on an assignment. This will help you stay on track and avoid getting overwhelmed. A schedule will also help you make time for yourself.

Sticking to schedule requires you to do some things. For example, ensure you know what is due and when. You can also create a to-do list for each day. By doing so, you will see what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.

  1. Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries is also essential while on an assignment. This will help you manage your time and energy. It is important to consider your work, personal life, and health when setting boundaries.

Some things to consider when setting boundaries include;

  • How many hours are you willing to work?
  • What days are you available to work?
  • What is your ideal workload?
  1. Find a Support System

A support system is a group of people you can rely on for help and support. This could be family, friends, co-workers, or a therapist. For example, it helps you develop coping skills and strategies when on an assignment. They can also provide support, and you can rely on your support system for help with childcare, transportation, or to talk to when feeling overwhelmed.

A support system is important because it can assist you when needed. They can also offer you emotional support when things get tough. If you don’t have a support system, consider finding one.

  1. Seek Help When Needed

There is no shame in seeking help when needed. If you struggle to manage your mental health, consider reaching out to a therapist or counselor. They can help you built coping mechanisms and provide support.

You are allowed to seek help at any time. If you feel overwhelmed, consider reaching out to a therapist or counselor. It is best to do that as soon as possible because it can help prevent things from getting worse. Reaching out for help is a strength, not a weakness. So, if you require assistance,  please reach out.

  1. Get Enough Sleep

Enough sleep is essential when you are looking to manage your mental health. This is because sleep helps reduce stress and anxiety. It is also important to get enough sleep to focus on your work and be productive.

There are a few steps you can make to ensure you get enough sleep. First, establish a bedtime routine and stick to it. The routine can be simple to follow, making you feel relaxed. Second, avoid using electronic devices in bed. Electronic devices can distract you and make it harder to fall asleep.

Another thing to do is create a comfortable sleeping environment that is dark and quiet. You can also try to avoid caffeine before bed. Caffeine is a stimulant and can make it harder to fall asleep. Lastly, try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation if you have trouble falling asleep.

  1. Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet is critical for managing mental health. This is because a healthy diet helps reduce stress and anxiety. It is also important to eat a healthy diet to focus on your work and be productive.

One of the easiest things to start with is ensuring that you eat breakfast every day. Breakfast is an essential meal because it helps you wake up and start your day. It is also important to eat breakfast because it provides energy and nutrients. Another thing you can do is to make sure you are eating regular meals throughout the day. This will help you avoid getting too hungry, overeating, or making unhealthy food choices.

It is also vital to ensure that you are eating various healthy foods. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. These nutrients are essential for your mental health. Lastly, try to avoid processed and sugary foods as much as possible. These foods can lead to a sugar crash, making you feel tired and irritable.

  1. Exercise

Exercise is important for managing mental health. This is because exercise helps minimize stress and anxiety. It is also important to exercise to focus on your work and be productive. There are various exercises you can do to help reduce stress and anxiety. Some exercises include walking, running, yoga, and Tai Chi.

You can also try different types of exercise to see what works best for you. If you are a beginner in exercise, start slow and gradually increase the intensity. Exercise is a great way to manage mental health. However, it is important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard.

  1. Take Breaks

Taking breaks is important when you are looking to manage your mental health. This is because breaks help reduce stress and anxiety. It is also important to take breaks to focus on your work and be productive. There are various ways you can take breaks throughout the day.

One way is to take a few minutes to yourself every hour. It can be used to do something you enjoy, such as reading, listening to music, or taking a walk. Another way to take breaks is to take vacation days. That can be used to relax and rejuvenate. Lastly, try to avoid working overtime. This can lead to burnout and make it harder to focus on your work.

  1. Connect With Others

Connecting with others is important for managing mental health. This is because social support helps reduce stress and anxiety. It is also important to link with others to feel connected and supported. There are various ways you can connect with others.

One way is to join a support group. This can be used to share your experiences and connect with others going through similar situations. Another way to connect with others is to volunteer. This can be used to help others and feel good about yourself. Lastly, try to spend time with family and friends.

Key takeaways

There are multiple factors that contribute to poor mental health of travelling nurses. They range from biological, life experiences, to environmental. Although these problems be overwhelming, there are multiple ways of overcoming them. Here, we’ve explored some techniques of managing your mental health, including:

  • Support from family: You can also find support from family and friends or a support group. Getting help is the first step to managing your mental health.
  • Seek medical help:Mental health problems are common, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t serious. If you are struggling with emotional wellbeing, seek help from a mental health professional. They can help you manage your symptoms and get on the path to recovery.
  • Create time for yourself: you can utilize the time to engage in activities that make you happy.
  • Stick to schedule: this helps you to be focused and creating time for yourself.
  • Physical exercises: these comprises of various activities like jogging, walking, and dancing, which help in minimizing stress.
Nurse Week 2022

Celebrating National Nurses Week

In 2020, the COVID pandemic changed our world in ways we never imagined experiencing in our lifetime. Employment, education, exchange of goods and services, and social structures were all altered in the name of safety. And changed the world in ways that still affect employment, the supply chain, and everyday activities. 

Most people have since eased back into their jobs and lives, transitioning to new electronic means and from-home models, slowly returning to more normal classrooms, shopping, and recreation.

But the healthcare system hasn’t had the luxury of easing into or out of any part of the pandemic. It was upon us before we could prepare, changing everything. What nobody could have predicted  was how long the struggle would last and how much would be demanded of our nurses. 

Theme-Graphic-Chapters

For nurses and travel nurses, the pandemic profoundly changed their careers, lives, health, and for many, their faith in our healthcare system. Through change, loss, fear, and uncertainty, nurses – already the backbone of our healthcare system – responded with compassion, commitment, and the strength that nurses are known for.

That strength will be needed in the days ahead in a world forever changed by the health, social, and financial crisis of the COVID era.

Nurses are no strangers to change and adversity. The nursing field was founded on strength, innovation, courage, commitment, and a fighting spirit.

This year’s AACN National Nurses Week theme is Rooted in Strength, a theme honoring and celebrating the nurses before us who fought for our profession and made significant contributions to healthcare and patient rights, and for those who figuratively don the nurse’s cap today and continue the fight for a better future for nursing and healthcare professionals.

The History of Nurses Week

Nurses Week was first held in 1954 to honor the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s work training nurses during the Crimean War. “The Lady with the Lamp,” as she was known, worked with strength and determination to reform healthcare, championed the health benefits of hand washing and hygiene, established the Nightingale Training School for Nurses, and improved the quality of care for patients in the 19th and 20th centuries. She is recognized as the founder of modern nursing due to her revolutionary work.

In 1993, the American Nurses Association Board of Directors designated a permanent date for modern National Nurses Week each year. Beginning with National RN Recognition Day, May 6, the week ends on Florence Nightingale’s birthday – May 12.

Each year, National Nurses Week honors Nightingale’s legacy while her commitment, compassion, and strength live on in nurses worldwide every day, including over 4 million RNs and nearly 1 million LPNs/LVNs in the U.S.

Yesterday’s Nurses Changed Healthcare

It seems nursing has always been a profession of struggle. Historically, nurses have fought for respect, equality, education, and opportunity for the profession while always fighting for better patient conditions and care. In Florence Nightingale’s time, nursing was considered a lowly profession. Hospitals then lacked staffing and supplies, and were described as unsanitary to inhumane.

The wartime hospital where Nightingale began her fight to improve healthcare had patients lying in filth with bugs and rodents. Infected injuries and infectious diseases were rampant. With the help of able patients, Nightingale and her nurses cleaned the hospital and cared for the patients, saving countless lives. They reportedly reduced the death rate by an astounding two thirds. Her fight for proper ventilation and sewage removal, hygiene, and hand washing revolutionized healthcare.

Nightingale also instituted cooking for special dietary needs, laundry for hospital linens, as well as education and entertainment for patients – amenities we take for granted in today’s hospitals. Her influence in healthcare reached all the way to the Americas and encouraged education to those providing nursing care during the Civil War.

Like Nightingale, who turned away from a privileged life to elevate standards of care in England and around the world, nursing pioneers in America had to fight against societal stereotypes and expectations to earn their place in healthcare. Poverty, gender inequality, healthcare disparities, racism, and stereotyping were common barriers.

Some of the most significant milestones in healthcare were the result of the strength and commitment of those nurses, including:

Medical care for immigrants.

Lillian Wald, concerned about unsanitary living conditions and lack of medical care for immigrants, founded a visiting nurse service to care for the poor and underserved in Manhattan. They are considered the first public health nurses.

Pioneered rural healthcare.

Mary Breckinridge brought visiting nurses to the underserved, isolated population in Kentucky’s Appalachian Mountains. Her efforts significantly reduced the area’s maternal and infant mortality rates.

Reformed America’s mental health system.

Dorothea Dix did extensive research on mental health conditions and treatment, which she used to request a state-funded mental hospital. Her advocacy helped change mental health treatment, offering health care when previous models were simply to imprison the mentally ill.

Fought for education for African American women.

Sojourner Truth, women’s rights activist, abolitionist, evangelist, and author born into slavery, also advocated for nurse training programs for African American women.

Disaster relief assistance for Americans.

Clara Barton, abolitionist, advocate for women’s rights, and Civil War nurse, founded the American Red Cross after learning about the International Red Cross while in Europe.

Fought influenza.

The 1918 influenza outbreak struck while the U.S. was at war and quickly spread through military camps in the states and Europe, and then across all of the U.S. Nurses, trained and untrained, worked in overcrowded hospitals, tent hospitals, and private homes to care for patients and save lives.  

How familiar some of those issues still look today!

Today’s Nurses Carry on the Tradition

Many nurses and travel nurses today have felt the weight of many of the same issues as their predecessors, picking up the mantel with the same kind of strength and commitment. Healthcare disparities, racism, unsafe working conditions, natural disasters, war, and now even a global pandemic have challenged modern healthcare and demanded a new kind of strength from our nurses.

Today’s nurses still fight against systemic inequities and for underserved populations. Yet their responsibilities have expanded exponentially from the housekeeping focus of the past to highly technical tasks and medical responsibilities that were formerly the domains of physicians.  

While tackling growing educational requirements and increasingly technical healthcare, today’s nurses are also facing life-changing issues in the workplace, like:

Inadequate staffing. A shortage of educators, an aging population and workforce, and nurse burnout are contributing to nursing shortages. Inadequate staffing poses health and safety risks for patients and nurses, as overworked nurses are more prone to fatigue, injuries, and mistakes.

Workplace violence. Nurses are especially vulnerable to workplace violence, bullying, and incivility, which has become a widespread, worldwide problem. A 2019 study reported that over 89% of nurses had been victims of at least one type of workplace violence. Verbal threats, sexual misconduct, and physical abuse are common. The main perpetrators are patients, their visitors, and coworkers.

Workplace safety issues. The long hours, broken working environment, and significant physical and psychological demands of nursing can lead to musculoskeletal and other bodily injuries, infections, and mental health changes. They can also have a long-term effect on gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and other systems. The American Journal of Nursing reports that healthcare settings have high rates of workplace injury and illness compared to other settings.  

Burnout. With long hours and strenuous work, nursing burnout isn’t a new issue, but the pandemic took burnout to a new level. Staffing shortages, mandated overtime, emotional exhaustion, and the acuity of patients during the pandemic have drained nurses of their physical energy, resilience, emotions, compassion, and confidence in the healthcare system. A 2021 literature review of nurses’ risk factors during the pandemic found that over 34% of nurses reported emotional exhaustion.

Changing education delivery methods. Online classes are not new, but the pandemic pushed most learning online. Hands-on training is often replaced with virtual simulations or skills lab mannequins. Will new graduates have the skills they need with less clinical site training? A 2021 study cited in the Journal of Nursing Practice found that nursing students felt online learning was stressful, reported low satisfaction with it, and it negatively affected their academic performance.

Fighting for equality, safety, better working conditions, and education is nothing new for nurses.

How Will the COVID Pandemic Affect the Future of Nursing?

As we move into another year of the COVID pandemic, the long-term effects on the American healthcare system, and its nurses, remain to be seen. Nurses and travel nurses have been on the front lines of patient care, sacrificing time with their own families, sleep, breaks, and their own health to fulfill their mission of caring for others. 

Nurses were the backbone of our pandemic healthcare through unprecedented equipment and PPE shortages, surging cases and acuity, quarantine restrictions, staff shortages, the uncertainty of prevention and treatment protocols, the high death toll, and extreme emotional and physical stress.

As the world returns to pre-pandemic life, what’s next for our nurses?

The pandemic highlighted social determinants of health, staffing shortages, limits to technology, and opportunities to improve how and where healthcare is provided and managed. It also highlighted the critical role of nurses in healthcare and the consequences of taking essential healthcare staff for granted. According to one report, 32% of registered nurses in America are considering leaving direct patient care. Our healthcare system can’t afford to lose our nurses.

Moving forward, nurses have an opportunity to advocate for change to retain qualified nurses, educate new nurses, ensure fair compensation, minimize workplace violence and injury, fix systemic inequities, redesign processes and roles that aren’t working, and design a healthcare system that better serves patients and supports healthcare workers.

If history is any indication, nurses and travel nurses worldwide will face these and future challenges like they have in the past – with caring, commitment, empathy, endurance, integrity, and most of all, with strength.

After all, nursing is rooted in strength.

National Nurses Week is May 6-12. If you work with a nurse, love a nurse, or know a nurse, thank a nurse! Your appreciation is important now more than ever when we’ve all been isolated and separated for so long. Nurses may seem like superheroes when they’re working, but every one of them is a parent, child, grandparent, sibling, spouse, friend, neighbor, or mentor. A thank you, smile, or cup of coffee can mean more than you know to a nurse.

Best Healthcare Traveler discounts

The Best Discounts for Healthcare Workers 2024

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Here are some of the Best Healthcare Discounts 2024

To show appreciation, companies are offering discounts and freebies to healthcare workers and we want you to take advantage of them!  We created a list of some of the best healthcare discounts of 2024 offered to healthcare workers, first responders, military, and teachers all around the world. 

Looking for more helpful info? We have you covered!
Check out our Resources for travel Nurse, CNA, PT, OT and more.

Shoes and Apparel Discounts

Show up on your first day and show off the amazing savings you made with these discounts!

Shoes & Apparel
Adidas Logo
Adidas 30% Discount

Adidas offers an exclusive discount to our verified medical professionals, first responders, nurses, military members, and teachers. You can now enjoy a 30% discount when shopping online and in-store, and a 20% discount at factory outlets.

To receive your discount, you will be required to confirm your eligibility through ID.me.

Shoes & Apparel
Reebok Logo
Reebok 50% Discount

Reebok offers 50% off for active and retired members of the military, nurses, physicians, hospital employees, teachers, government employees, and first responders.

Reebok uses ID.me to verify for this discount so don’t forget to confirm your status!

Apparel
Levi's Logo
Levi’s 15% Discount

Levi’s offers 15% discount to first responder and medical professional clothing discounts include all Levi clothing categories including ,but not limited to, jeans, tees, shirts, accessories, pants, shorts, outerwear and more.

Confirm you medical professional license through sheerid.com.

Apparel
Calvin Klein Logo
Calvin Klein 20% Discount

Calvin Klein offers a 20% Discount to Most types of medical professionals and first responders are eligible including doctors, nurses, technicians, medical researchers, EMTs, firefighters, and more.

Their discount can be used twice every 30 days too!

Verify through ID.me to get on this deal.

Glasses
Glasses.com Logo
Glasses.com 60% Discount + FREE Shipping

Glasses.com is one of the leading online retailers of prescription and non-prescription glasses and sunglasses. They are offering 60% off AND free shipping to hospital employees, medical providers, and nurses!

Verify your license on ID.me

Shoes & Accessories
Crocs
Heydude 

Heydude offers 20% off regular priced footwear & accessories for nurses, first responders, and medical providers. We hear these shoes were a game changer for nurses. Give them a try and let us know if you agree!

Confirm your license on ID.me to get your Heydudes.

Shoes
Crocs
Crocs 15% Discount for
Healthcare Workers

Crocs offer 15% off full-priced styles for healthcare workers. This discount cannot be used with other promotions so use whatever is best.

Verify your healthcare worker status on, you guessed it, ID.me!

Shoes & Apparel
Under Armour Logo
Under Armour 20% Discount

Under Armour is offering 20% off for First Responders & Healthcare Workers and active Police, Fire, Nurses, Doctors, and EMT customers.

First Responders: Police, Fire, Nurses, Doctors, and EMT

ID.me powers discounts and special offers for the following communities.

Shoes & Apparel
Puma Logo
Puma 20% Discount

Puma offers to doctors, nurses and first responders for 20% off their order.

Verify your license through ID.me

Glasses
EyeBuyDirect Logo
EyeBuyDirect 20% Discount

EyeBuyDirect offers a 20% discount for nurses, first responders, and medical providers. Feel refreshed on your next assignment with some new glasses. EyeBuyDirect offers discounts all the time so keep an EYE out!

Verify your license on ID.me

Shoes & Apparel
Lululemon Logo
Lululemon 15% Discount

In honor of your support, Lululemon offers 15% off to Military members and First Responders in the US.

First Responders: Includes firefighters, law enforcement, search and rescue, EMT’s, medical doctors, and licensed nurses.

Partnered with SheerID, you can verify for 15% off your online purchase at Lululemon.

Shoes & Apparel
Nike Logo
Nike 10% Discount

Nike is offering a 10% discount for eligible first responders and medical professionals in the United States. You can verify your status with SheerID.

Shoes & Apparel
Asics Logo
Asics 25% Discount

Asics offers a 25% discount to both medical professionals and first responders. This discount is for qualifying full-priced products online and in retail stores.

Verify your medical license on SheerID.

Apparel & Shoes
Carhartt Logo
Carhartt 15% Discount

Carhartt offers a 15% discount to First Responders, Nurses, and Medical Providers. Prepare for the cold or doing some handiwork? Take advantage of this discount through ID.me with a valid medical license.

Apparel
Hanes and Champion Logo
Haynes – Champion 10% Discount

Save 10% on your next Haynes order. This offer is available to nurses, first responders, and medical providers alike. 

Verify your profession on ID.me for this.

Connecting You with an Expert Recruiter for Your Ideal Travel Healthcare Career!

We are dedicated to helping you find the perfect match for your travel healthcare career.Our professional recruiters will work closely with you to find the right fit and make the process as smooth as possible.

Get Connected with a Recruiter Today!

Home & Food

Spruce up your living space or take care of yourself with these discounts.

Accessories
Stanley Logo
Stanley Discount

20% Off for Hospital Employees
Up to 5.0% Cash Back

Exclusive Discount Offered to Nurses, Teachers, and Students.

In appreciation of their work, Stanley offers a discount to hospital employees, medical providers, military personnel, first responders, teachers, and students. To take advantage of this exclusive offer, simply verify your eligibility through ID.me.

Home Goods
Sam's Club Logo
Sam’s Club 60% Off Club Membership Discount
*for new members

Have you been thinking about joining Sam’s Club? Well if you are a Nurse, First Responder, or Medical Provider then take advantage of this discount!

Use ID.me to verify and get in on this great discount!

Home Goods
Yeti Logo
Yeti Offers Select Discounts

YETI offers discounts to both Nurses and First Responders. Gain access to these discounts at YETI’s checkout.

Verify through ID.me and see what savings you can find!

Home Goods
iRobot Logo
iRobot Offers a 15% Discount

Tired of cleaning around the house? iRobot offers 15% off select robots to help deal with those floors for you while you’re out on assignments!

Verify your license on ID.me whether you are a First Responder, Nurse, or a Medical Provider.

Skincare
MANTL Logo
MANTL Skincare 25% Discount

MANTL offers a 25% discount for their skincare products. MANTL is a very progressive and forward thinking skincare brand that has great practices alongside those thoughts.

Check them out and use ID.me to take advantage of their discount!

Food
Hello Fresh Logo
Hello Fresh 60% Your First Box

Looking for some fresh new food ideas? Take 60% Off 1st box + First Box Ships Free and 15% Off x 51 weeks for Nurses, First Responders, and Medical Providers.

Verify through ID.me for this discount.

Home
Ring Logo
Ring 20% Discount on Select Purchases

Ring offers discounts to Medical Providers, Nurses, and First Responders. This offer is verified with VerifyPass. Sign in to receive this offer. Shop from this list of eligible products.

Food & Supplements
Beam Logo
Beam 25% Discount

Beam Offers 25% off your online order. Beam is another forward thinking company that believes in helping you sleep. They are clinically tested and helped 93% of people improve their sleep.

Give them a try and get some well needed rest between your next assignments!

This offer is valid for Nurses, Medical Providers, and First Responders. Verify on ID.me to take advantage of this discount.

Home Improvement
Lowe's Logo
Lowe’s Discounts & Coupons

Lowe’s Offers a ton of discounts and Coupons for Medical Providers. The Discount can only be applied to eligible purchases. It applies to most full-price products. It cannot be used on any sale item or with any other discount. 

View their offers here and Verify through ID.me.

Food
Home Chef Logo
Home Chef 50% Off Your First Box

Get 50% Off your first box & 10% Off ongoing boxes from Home Chef. This applies to Nurses, First Responders, and Medical Providers alike! 

Take advantage of this discount through ID.me 

Bed
Plank Mattress Logo
Plank Mattress 30% Discount
Plank Mattress offers a 30% discount to Nurses, Medical Providers, and First Responders. Plank Mattresses have two unique firmness levels in one flippable mattress. Find out what level you like to sleep on!
 
Verify on ID.me to get this offer!

Here is a list of some of More Healthcare Discounts 2024: 

  • Amazon – Need a refresher on medical terms? Are you trying to study for an upcoming exam? Kindle owners can access and download hundreds of free books about nursing! 
  • Bose – Bose offers medical workers a discount on full-priced products online or in-store.
  • Brooklyn Bedding – After a long shift on your feet, the one thing you probably look forward to most is your bed! Brooklyn bedding is offering 25% off and FREE shipping for all healthcare professionals.
  • Calvin Klein – Calvin Klein offers 20% off on select items for medical professionals.
  • Keds – 20% and more off online U.S orders for travel nurses and healthcare professionals.
  • Mazda – Mazda has launched its Essential Car Care program to provide free enhanced cleaning services and standard oil changes to all U.S. healthcare workers. 
  • Outback Steakhouse – After a long day of work, the last thing you want to do is prepare yourself a meal. Outback is offering 10% off the entire check all day, every day. Be sure to bring your valid medical ID. 
  • Overstock.com – First Responders, medical providers, and nurses can join Overstock.com’s club for FREE! Memberships usually cost $19.9 per year.
  • Purple Mattress – Nurses can save 10% off a brand-new purple mattress.
  • Rothy’s – 20% off select styles for all medical professionals including doctors, nurses or hospital staff. 
  • Therabody- 20% off a regularly priced Theragun or TheraOne CBD for Medical Providers.
  • Vera Bradley – Nurses can receive a 15% discount on luggage, bags, and other items!

Those are our picks for Best Healthcare Discounts.

See something missing?

Give us a shoutout on our Facebook page about any other discounts you might be searching for!

Explore Your Options in the Travel Medical Field

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at our extensive job board to find the perfect fit for your career aspirations. Alternatively, connect with one of our recruiters today who can guide you through the process of starting your next travel assignment.

travel-nurse-commute

How much does Travel Nursing pay?

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The pandemic launched travel nursing from a specialty to a major player in healthcare staffing. In 2020, travel nursing industry grew by 35% over 2019, driven by the growing nursing shortage, increased staffing needs as COVID surges cycled throughout the country, and skyrocketing pay rates.  

Pre pandemic, pay for travel assignments was typically higher than for permanent staff. Now moving into year three of the pandemic, travel assignments boast wages over $100 an hour in some areas.

By one report, average weekly pay in 2019 was around $1600. That number had risen to over $3500 one year later. According to TravelNursing.org, the average travel nurse salary in 2021 was $108,070.

If you’re comfortable leaving your home for weeks at a time, travel nursing can be a very lucrative career. Exactly how lucrative depends on a number of factors.

Factors That Affect Pay Rate

If you’ve even casually looked for travel nursing assignments online, you’ve probably noticed some wildly different pay rates. Each assignment is unique and has multiple factors that determine the pay rate.

When you understand why pay rates differ, you can make more informed decisions about which assignments to take. Let’s take a look at some factors that affect those rates.

Location

Pay rates depend on the cost of living in any given area. You’ll earn more in some areas simply because they have higher demand. Other areas may hire more at certain times of the year.

The top rates aren’t always where you expect them to be. According to Ziprecruiter, the ten highest paying cities in the US are San Jose, Oakland, Hayward, and Vallejo, California; Tanaina and Wasilla, Arkansas; Norwalk, Connecticut; Summersville, West Virginia; and Jackson, Wyoming.

Typically, lower-paying assignments tend to be in the south, where the cost of living is lower, and in popular destinations. You might daydream about working in a location like Hawaii, for example, but may find the weekly pay is lower than less dreamy locations.

Specialties

Nurses in highly specialized fields or with specialized skills are harder to find, which can equal higher pay rates. Currently, ICU, Pediatric ICU, and Operating Room travel nurse positions pay 14-23% more than a typical travel nurse assignment. Other high-paying specialties include critical care, ER, labor and delivery, PACU, NICU, and orthopedics. Non-specialty assignments like Med/Surg will generally pay less.

Shift

Like full-time nursing jobs, travel assignments tend to pay higher rates for night shifts. If you’re a night owl, you can make some extra cash choosing night shift assignments.

Crisis or Rapid Response Assignments

Pay tends to be higher in hospitals or geographic locations in a time of crisis, like a natural disaster or unexpected surge in the patient census. COVID is currently the driving factor in crisis pay, and it’s possible to find assignments offering as much as $10,000 per week in high-demand areas. In 2020, when COVID was beginning to spread across the US, we saw busloads of nurses traveling to the critically affected states to support those communities.

Crisis or rapid response assignments typically need nurses to start quickly, within a week or two. Assignments are often shorter than the usual 13-weeks. Other reasons for rapid response assignments are unit openings, EMR upgrades, and staffing shortages, to name a few. If you’re flexible and your paperwork is ready to go, rapid response assignments can be lucrative.

Bonus Pay

There are several types of bonus pay you may earn taking travel assignments.

Hospital bonuses are usually paid at the completion of your assignment as a lump sum. They are separate from your base pay rate.

A referral bonus is a “finder’s fee” for referring other nurses to the agency. It should not affect your pay rate.

Strike Assignments

If a nursing union goes on strike, travel nurses are usually hired to cover the striking nurses temporarily. These assignments tend to pay more due to the urgent need to fill positions quickly.

masked travel nurse leaving subway with coffee

Why Does Your Paycheck List a Different Hourly Rate Than Expected?

Those ads or texts you get offering $100 per hour sound like amazingly lucrative positions, and they are, but that hourly rate isn’t as simple as it looks. A pay package is a complex combination of several variables that affect your bottom line.

Looking at Your Pay Package

If you’re used to the standard full-time paycheck, your first travel nursing paycheck might look a little confusing. Instead of the simple salary or hourly rate of a full-time job, your travel nursing paycheck will have compensation listed for several variables.

You may also notice your pay rate is lower than those ads and job postings you may have seen online. There’s a very good reason for that. As a travel nurse, some of your pay is taxable, and some of it is non-taxable stipends and reimbursements. The rates you see advertised typically show you a rate based on all those added together, called your variable wage. Your hourly pay rate is only the taxable portion.

Some variables you might see on a travel nursing paycheck include:

  • Taxable base pay (pay rate) – Your hourly wage. Different agencies calculate this differently. The same role may appear to have vastly different rates at competing agencies, but the rate is only part of the equation. A company offering a lower rate may also be offering incentives that other companies are not.
  • Taxable overtime rate – Check into your state’s laws about what is considered overtime.
  • Lodging stipend
  • Meal stipend
  • Mileage or Travel stipend
  • License reimbursement
  • Sign-on bonus (or others)

Think of your pay package as a pie chart. Each “slice” adds up to your complete pay package. If you only focus on the base rate, you may overlook the value of the incentives that go with it. For example, a large lodging stipend might more than make up for a slightly lower hourly rate compared to a job with a higher rate and a smaller lodging stipend.

Always look at the value of the whole pie.

Travel nurse budgeting


How Do You Know if You Qualify for Tax-Free Stipends?

Travel nursing taxes can be confusing because of the multiple variables included with the pay package, especially stipends. In general, stipends are considered non-taxable reimbursements. However, that may depend on whether you have an eligible tax home.  

What is a Tax Home?

To be eligible for tax-free stipends, you must claim a permanent tax home. Your tax home is the location of your regular place of business or the home where you regularly live while not traveling on assignment.

Someone who doesn’t meet the requirements for a tax home is considered an itinerant worker. Their tax home is wherever they’re working at the moment. That’s because stipends are considered reimbursements for expenses when traveling away from home for work. Because an itinerant worker doesn’t have a tax home, their stipends are not reimbursements. They are taxed as income.

It can be very confusing.

The IRS uses three factors to help decide if your declared tax home truly qualifies as a tax home:

  1. Whether you complete some of your business in the area of your tax home and live in your tax home at the same time.
  2. Whether your living expenses are duplicated when you travel for work.
  3. Whether you have not abandoned your tax home. This depends on how often you use your tax home for lodging and whether you have family members living there.

For example:

Tax home: You have a home you always return to when you’re not on assignment. You rent or own it.

Not a tax home: You have a room at your brother’s house between assignments. You don’t work in the area or pay your brother to live there. You are considered an itinerant worker.

Tax home: You work as a school nurse during the school year, then take travel assignments over the summer. You stay with your parents September through May but don’t pay rent. Your tax home is the location of your school nurse job.

Not a tax home: You own a home that you rent to tenants while you travel year-round. You rarely visit the area. You are an itinerant worker.

In short, housing and per diem stipends are tax-free if you have a tax home, and tax-free pay increases your take-home pay. But if you don’t have a tax home, you’ll be taxed the same way a staff nurse would be.

The IRS has very specific rules about how to determine your tax home. For more detailed information about tax homes, see Publication 463 on the IRS website.

 

Tips for Strengthening Your Ties to Your Declared Tax Home

Being away from home for long periods can muddy the tax home question. You can take some steps to strengthen your ties to your home while traveling:

  • Return home between assignments and whenever you can.
  • Use it as your official mailing address. Don’t use assignment addresses.
  • Use your tax home address on your driver’s license.
  • Open a bank account in your tax home and use it.
  • Keep all vehicles registered in your home state.
  • File your taxes correctly as a nonresident in assignment states.
  • Be involved in your community when you’re home.
  • Don’t take travel assignments in the same area for an extended period, or you run the risk of the IRS considering that your new tax home.

When in Doubt, Seek Professional Help

The tax implications of travel nursing can be tricky at first. It’s always a good idea to talk with a tax advisor for tax planning and preparation. 

If you’re new to travel nursing, or have questions before you take the first step, our recruiters are happy to answer your questions and help you.


Be sure to check out our frequently posted jobs on Marvel Match as well!

Travel nurse looking for housing options

What Housing Options do Travel Nurses have?

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Housing Options for Travel Nurses

Travel nursing is exciting. There’s nothing like visiting and exploring a new city! Before you can explore, though, you may need to find housing. Some agencies provide housing, and some provide a housing stipend. If you have a stipend and need to find housing on your own in a strange city, it can be overwhelming at first. You don’t know the area, where to find the necessities, or how to get around the city. And you don’t know how expensive housing will be from assignment to assignment.  

On top of the unknowns, your contract length can make it challenging to find housing, as many landlords aren’t willing to rent for a short time. Along with the length of stay, here are some other options to consider when looking for your temporary home:

  • Closeness to the job
  • Appliances and amenities
  • Local transportation, or is the area walkable?
  • Are there stores or a gym nearby?
  • Is it a safe neighborhood?
  • What are the parking arrangements?
  • Are pets allowed?
  • Are there local attractions and activities nearby?

It can be difficult to find the answers to those questions and more from a distance. Fortunately, there are some helpful options for finding housing and for vetting your options from afar.

 

Vacation Rental Sites

Vacation rental sites are popular and familiar and tend to have a wide selection of rental options. From locations to amenities to home type, you can find almost anything you’re looking for on vacation rental sites. Two of the most popular sites are Airbnb and VRBO.

Airbnb

Airbnb is a popular vacation rental site that allows you to search by location and rental dates.

They have a wide variety of rentals, from luxury homes to off-grid homes and everything in between. They even have a “Unique Stays” category if you’d like to stay in a unique home, like a vintage Airstream or a treehouse.

The “Amenities” section in the listing will indicate if a home is available for long-term stays. Many renters offer discounts for extended stays, but you may need to communicate with the owner for details.

Keep in mind that there are cleaning and service fees with each rental. Fees are noted on the listing.

The Airbnb website also has local information and activities for many areas.  

VRBO

VRBO is a popular vacation rental site that allows you to search by location and rental dates, as well as particular circumstances like pets-allowed rentals or homes with swimming pools. According to their website, VRBO has over 2 million rentals listed. Chances are good you’ll find something you like!

The listings are very detailed, noting the type and size of each bed, the setup of each bathroom (tub, bidet, and so on), and utensils provided in the kitchen, as well as nearby attractions.

Keep in mind that there are cleaning and service fees with each rental. Fees are noted on the listing.

VRBO offers booking protection and 24/7 customer support.

Extended Stay Properties

Extended stay properties are hotels that include a kitchenette in the room. It’s an option that allows you to have the amenities of a hotel in a more apartment-like setting. Not all extended hotels are alike, so it’s always a good idea to verify the kitchen features before booking if you plan on cooking in your room.

Many extended stay options have swimming pools, gyms, house cleaning, complimentary breakfast, and more. Some have a nightly happy hour with snacks for guests to mingle.

Extended stays generally don’t ask you to sign a lease, so you have more freedom to come and go if your contract changes than with private rentals.

You can search for extended stay hotels on the internet or use a website like Travelocity to search. Some well-known extended stay hotels are Extended Stay America, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites.

travel nurse housing - RV options


RV Rentals

An unusual option for the more adventurous is an RV rental. Rentals can be by the month, come fully furnished, and can be parked just about anywhere. RVs for travel nursing became especially popular during the pandemic, as nurses traveled to COVID hotspots as staffing needs changed. RVs also became isolation homes for healthcare workers who did not want to take their COVID unit home to their families at night.

RVs are great options for small, rural areas where there are few options for furnished rentals. They’re also convenient, as many RV owners will deliver them to your campsite and set them up for you. Some hospitals even allow travel nurses to park RVs onsite but may not have adequate water and electrical hookups.

Other nurses may prefer an RV park or campground where they can enjoy the camplike atmosphere and sightseeing.

Another option is to tow your own and take your home with you on every assignment – a true adventurer!

Travel Nursing Websites

Travel nursing websites are dedicated to helping travel nurses find housing while on assignment. Because they’re specifically focused on travel nursing, they weed out the housing options that aren’t agreeable to the unusual scheduling of travel contracts. Two popular sites are Furnished Finder and Tripping.com.

Furnished Finder

Furnished Finder is a web service designed specifically for traveling nurses and other professionals. Its focus is on 30-day minimum stays. The website allows you to search by destination and maximum monthly budget.

Furnished Finder will locate rooms, houses, cottages, apartments, condos, and even hotels, saving you from searching multiple sites.

Listing descriptions include any minimum stay requirements, utilities, if pets are allowed, and other amenities.

The site also has a map option so you can view each option in relation to your job site or other local features.

There are no booking fees, and you book directly with the owner. You can request Owner Verification from the site. Hosts must pass background checks to be listed.

The Furnished Finder website has extensive FAQ’s to answer all your questions.

Tripping.com

Tripping is a vacation and short-term rental search site. It finds and displays housing from other websites based on your search criteria. It allows you to compare options from multiple websites at once, saving you from searching numerous sites. According to the website, Tripping has access to listing for 12,000,000 properties worldwide! It also lists activities and attractions in the surrounding areas.

Many of the listings have discounts listed. Booking is through the listing site.

Vetting Your Options When You Can’t Check Them Out in Person

When you’re far away from your next assignment, it can be challenging to choose a rental if you’re not familiar with the area. Before you sign a rental agreement, use these sites to check out the neighborhood:

Google maps – To see what’s nearby.

Google earth – For a bird’s-eye or street-level view of the area.

AreaVibes – Type in an address, and AreaVibes will show you information about the area, including safety and a livability score.

WalkScore – Type in an address, and WalkScore will give you details about the area, including nearby attractions as well as how bike- and walk-friendly it is.

Always Be Safe

While you’re looking, keep an eye open for red flags that might indicate a scam, like:

  • Too good to be true price
  • Hard to contact property manager
  • Property manager using a Google Voice number
  • The area code of the manager doesn’t match the property area code
  • The property manager or owner won’t meet you in person
  • Odd behavior (extreme urgency, emotionally invested in your rental)
  • Requests to wire money through untraceable apps

How Much Should You Be Prepared to Spend?

The cost of housing will depend on several factors, including:

Location – Pay attention to the cost of living in your assignment area. Your stipend should account for that, but you may still be surprised by the cost of living in larger cities.

Time of year –Taking an assignment in a popular vacation area in-season or a warm state in the winter may be more expensive than doing the opposite. Research your location before you go so you’ll be prepared for seasonal cost-of-living changes, lack of housing, or an influx of tourists.

Type of housing – The size, type, and location of your temporary home will affect the price.

Enjoy Your Adventure!

Travel nursing can be rewarding and exciting! You have a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and explore the country one assignment at a time. But one thing you don’t want to turn into an adventure is finding a safe place to stay. Follow the tips above to make your temporary home search easy and enjoy your adventure!

Be sure to check out our frequently posted jobs on Marvel Match as well!

Pay Packages Explained

Understanding Pay Packages for Traveling Nurses 2021

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Understanding Travel Nursing Pay Packages Taxed Wage, Variable Wage, Stipends... We're here to break it all down.

Updated July 21, 2021

Tax Free Stipends (Per Diem)

When you first start out on your traveling career, you may find yourself confused by the way travel nursing pay packages break down.

Taxed hourly, variable hourly, stipends, travel reimbursement…there are a lot of factors that come in to play when figuring out how much you will be paid weekly.

Sample Breakdown of a Travel Nursing Pay Package


What you hear: $47.92/hr variable.What your contract shows:
Taxable Hourly: $18/hr
Housing Per Diem: $770/wk
Meal Per Diem: $427/wk
Guaranteed: 40 hours a week

It’s easy to understand why there could be some confusion seeing $18/hr on your contract when you remember hearing $47.92/hr from a recruiter.  That’s where the variable rate comes in to play (taxed + untaxed hourly wage variable together.).  Here’s the formula to find your variable hourly rate.

Taxable Hourly * Guaranteed Hours = Taxed Weekly Income
Housing + Meal Per Diems = Untaxed Weekly Income

Now we have our Taxed Weekly Income and Untaxed Weekly Income, let’s add them together.

Taxed Income + Untaxed Income = Weekly Gross Income
Weekly Gross Income / Guaranteed Hours = Variable Hourly Rate.

To figure out your variable rate for the example contract above we would follow the same formula:
$18 * 40 hours = $720 Taxed Weekly Income
$770 + $427 = $1197 Untaxed Weekly Income
$1197 + $720 = $1917 Weekly Gross Income
$1197 / 40 hours = $47.92 Variable Hourly Rate.

So now you know how the contract breaks down, but why do the contracts work this way?

Taxable Wage - $18/hour

Let’s start with the basics, and something we’re all familiar with – Taxable Wage. This is your base pay, and is used in tandem with your tax free stipends to create your variable wage.  This is the only portion of your wages that you will be paying taxes on.  Typically this will be lower than what you are used to seeing from local/perm positions.

Tax Free Stipends (Per Diem)

Traveling medical professionals are provided with tax free monetary incentives in the form of housing, meals, and incidental stipends.  These stipends are not technically classified as income, but rather reimbursements, which means they are non-taxable.

Other Reimbursements

Stipends are just one of the multiple ways nurses and other medical professionals are incentivized to travel.  Other common incentives are travel reimbursement, sign on bonuses, referral bonuses, continuing education credits, and so much more. 

All of these factor in to how much you’ll make on your assignment, so they should all be taken in to consideration when looking for a good fit.  Be sure to check out cost of living in your area, decide if you’ll be flying or driving, and work with your recruiter to find the best contract for your situation.

Discover available travel nursing positions today!

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Want more excellent resources on Travel Nursing Pay Packages?

Here is a great sample with explanations on how pay packages work for travel nurses.

Learn how travel nurses’ taxes work and what you need to know when traveling.

Travel Nurse Housing Options, Apartments

Travel Nurse Housing Explained

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Travel nursing offers an incredible opportunity for healthcare professionals to explore new places, gain diverse experiences, and expand their careers. However, one of the key challenges that travel nurses face is finding suitable housing during their assignments. You can decide to either enjoy the housing stipend and take on the responsibility yourself or sit back and use Marvel Housing. No matter what you decide is best for you, there are many things to remember when it comes to your housing stipend and finding housing options. Let’s dive into the world of travel nurse housing and share some valuable tips to help you find the perfect place that meets your needs, comforts, and budget. 

Travel Nurse Pay Explained

Think of your bill rate as a pie, and each piece of the pie is a different classification of income. These pieces generally include the base pay rate (taxable income), tax-free housing stipend, tax-free meals and incidentals stipend (M&IE), and other benefits that may be offered as part of your contract. A housing stipend is the amount of money included in your overall pay that is meant to cover the cost of housing that a travel nurse incurs while on a travel assignment. Stipend amounts are set by the General Service Administration (GSA) of the Federal Government and are the maximum allowances that federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while on short term travel healthcare assignments. Keep in mind that rates often vary depending on the location, setting, and length of your assignment. 

For example your contract may tell you that you’re earning around $50 an hour, and they’re guaranteeing 40 hours. Great! But when you break it down you’ll see you’re actually getting a taxed hourly rate of $20, a housing stipend of $800 per week, and a meal stipend of $500 per week. What does all of this mean? What happened to the high hourly wage of $50? Don’t worry, it’s still there! An easy way to figure this is by adding your two stipends together ($800 + $500 = $1,200) and then dividing it by 40 hours ($30). Add your taxed hourly rate to your untaxed hourly stipend rate ($20 + $30 = $50) to get your total hourly rate. Since the stipends are technically reimbursements, they qualify as tax-free. Your taxable wage combined with your tax-free stipends creates your weekly gross pay. Remember, tax rates vary from state to state. It’s important that you meet with a recruiter and a tax professional to discuss payment packages in depth before signing a contract, as they can get quite confusing.

Travel Nurse Housing
Travel Nurse Housing

Travel Nurse Housing Stipends

Now that you understand the different pie pieces of your paycheck let’s explore your housing stipend options with Marvel. Opting to use your tax-free housing/M&IE stipend to cover costs of living if you chose to find your own housing is typically the most common choice most travel nurses go with. If you choose stipend compensation, you’re responsible for locating, booking, and paying for all of your own housing and related expenses. You will use your stipend to go towards short term rentals, extended stay hotels/motels, or book a long-term Airbnb, etc! This housing option allows for maximum autonomy and self-selection with your stipend. The best part? Travelers can take advantage of the housing stipend by finding a place cheaper than the allowance given to them, allowing them to pocket the extra cash; yes, it’s that simple. Add that to the money you save from the tax break, and it’s easy to see how the housing stipend can be a bonus financially.

Marvel Housing Help

Marvel Housing

Wherever you decide to go, you can also opt to use Marvel Housing provided via our in-house housing representative! Choosing Marvel Housing means less stress for you since we will do everything for you in place of receiving a stipend! Marvel’s Housing department can help you research and locate options for you to review.  Additionally, we can provide you our vetted list of preferred hotels/housing options where other traveling healthcare professionals have stayed before. We even have some housing discount codes we can provide to you! Make sure you choose a housing option that works best for you. Even if you choose to take the stipend and select your own housing, Marvel can still aid you in the process of finding housing options if you are having trouble as a FREE perk for our travelers. Keep in mind that the best housing option for you may differ from assignment to assignment.

A few contract examples:

  • Travel Nurse Contract A provides $2,000 per month for housing. If you find a place for $1,200/month, that’s an extra $800 in your pocket.
  • Travel Nurse Contract B on the other hand opts for Marvel Housing, which means there is not a housing stipend but still provides the hourly rate and meal stipend.
  • These are just two of many possible scenarios. Be sure to ask your recruiter about contract stipulations and negotiations. 

Tips to Finding Housing as a Travel Nurse

Plan Ahead: Start researching housing options in your desired location in advance. Websites and platforms dedicated to travel nursing, such as Furnished Finder, Choice Hotels, and Hotel Engine, can be great resources for finding temporary accommodations. Many housing options such as these offer benefits like discounted rates, corporate discounts, or rewards programs. You also want to plan your budget in advance so that you know your price range and other expenses when finding housing. 

Understand Your Stipend: Before embarking on your travel nursing assignment, familiarize yourself with your housing stipend. Ensure you understand the amount you will receive, the payment schedule, and refundable versus non-refundable stipends. This information will help you set a realistic budget for housing and manage your finances efficiently. If you are unsure about anything related to pay amounts, contract stipulations, or stipends be sure to call your recruiter.

Short-Term Housing: Make sure you’re looking at options that state they offer short-term or are open to term negotiations. Short-term rentals, such as apartments/condos or extended stay hotels/motels, are often the preferred housing options for travel nurses. They offer flexibility and convenience with a homely atmosphere. Websites like Airbnb, VRBO, and Travel Nurse Housing can be excellent resources for finding such accommodations. Reach out to hosts or landlords and explain your situation as they may be willing to offer special rates or extended stays. 

Furnished or Unfurnished: Decide whether you need something furnished or unfurnished first. Most travel nurses opt for furnished housing options so they do not have to bring large items while on the road. The good news, furnished housing options are very popular and findable.

Be Flexible: Being open to different housing options and locations can significantly increase your chances of finding suitable and affordable accommodations. Ask questions and do research before you decide whether you do or do not want to move forward with a housing option. The perfect place may be what you least expect! 

Ask your Landlord Questions: A few things to ask about or research when you are looking for housing options are: utilities, appliances, pet policies, cancelation/extension policies, fees, internet, and parking. Most of the time short-term rentals include these items into the cost of rent, but not always. You will need to know in advance if you will need to set up your own utilities and internet accounts/services. If you’re bringing a pet be upfront about it and know a potential housing option’s pet policies and possible pet fees/deposits so you can budget for it. Housing options that don’t include parking could mean having to park far away. As a travel nurse you know your contract can get cancelled or extended at any time! Be sure you choose a housing option that understands your situation and is willing to be flexible if needed.

Connect with Other Travel Nurses: Joining online communities or Facebook pages dedicated to travel nursing can be highly beneficial. Connect with experienced travel nurses who have worked in your target location or are currently there. They can provide valuable insights into the local housing market, share recommendations, and possibly even help you find potential roommates for cost-sharing. 

Start Your Adventure Today!
Packing Checklist for Download

Here’s a checklist for when you are ready to travel to your next assignment!

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Extending your Travel Assignment blog

Extending Your Travel Assignment

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Having the opportunity to travel and work at different facilities across the United States is one of the many perks of being a Medical Traveler.

You’re offered new opportunities routinely depending on your assignment length, and the various facilities that you encounter allow you to compare and contrast between them.

Eventually, you might find yourself very content with the facility you’re working at, or the town you live in; this is great news! By working with your recruiter, you can extend the length of your travel assignment based on the facility’s current needs and opportunities.

Check out what jobs we have here!

What does a Travel Extension Entail?

Extending your travel assignment is a very simple process. A second contract is used to update the length of your current contract.

Typically the length is the same as your first assignment, however, this can vary based on staffing needs, facility policy, or by your own discretion. There is a multitude of reasons that you might consider extending your assignment, such as the pay, the location, or maybe you have a special someone.

Keep in mind that there is also an indefinite length that your assignment can last. The IRS regulates temporary work assignments away from home to last no longer than one fiscal year. Either way, meet with your recruiter early to ensure that you can apply for the position once you’ve made your decision.

Things to consider

Once you’ve found yourself in a situation that offers a travel extension, take some time to consider a few things before you lock in your answer.

First and foremost, are you happy with your compensation? If money is a persuasive factor for you, meet with your recruiter and search for opportunities that you may find more appealing. New positions open nearly every day! Sometimes, you might also receive further benefits by extending your contract based on the facility\’s regulations. 

Secondly, is the location ideal? Maybe you’ve already decided that you want to extend your contract based on the compensation, but keep in mind your current living situation and if this will be able to support you physically and mentally for another period of time. New locations and cities can be both stressful, yet very eye-opening so it’s important to find a place that feels like home to you.

travel nurse extension

Pull The Trigger

As a Medical Traveler, there are not many ‘cons’ to extending your assignment. It allows you to gain more control over your environment and it creates a sense of familiarity, often a blessing, after years of changing locations.

Throughout your career, you are able to experience a wide variety of healthcare standards, policies, settings, etc. Be sure to give yourself this chance to explore multiple locations in order to find which one suits you best. But if/when the time comes to extend your assignment, keep all of these things in mind as you create your medical career.

Start Your Adventure Today!

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