Author: pdrake@fidelityoncall.com

The Ultimate Travel Nursing Packing List

We are more than excited to welcome new travel nurses to the community. However, we know that packing can be stressful. What do I bring? What is essential?

It is important to note that if you are traveling out of state or far from home, you will need both the essentials and comfort items. Items that you may want or need to make yourself feel at home while living at a distance while you create a home-away-from-home for yourself.

Below are some essentials to pack with you when you travel:

  • Scrubs: We all know you can never have too many.
  • Medication: Taking care of and staying on top of your own health is important to thriving. Bringing prescriptions, stomach medication, eye drops, allergy medication, and more can help provide a comfortable traveling experience.
  • Lounge/Exercise Wear: It is important to dress comfortably while relaxing at home or exploring your new location. Being comfortable in your clothing is important to take on any changes with certainty.
  • Clothing: Depending on what time of year it is and where you will be traveling to, ensure you have the clothes needed for the designation ahead! Whether it is tank tops or thick sweaters, make sure to pack what you will need.
  • Toiletries: Bringing your favorite hygiene items will make you more comfortable while traveling and taking on a new career.
  • Comfort Items: Perhaps you have a favorite blanket, coffee mug, or picture. All of these things can be important to making sure you take this new journey with confidence.
  • Hobby Items: Of course you will have time off. You may take this time to explore the area, or sometimes you’ll want the time to decompress with your favorite things to do. Don’t forget that favorite book, the knitting project you’ve been working on, or other craft and essential supplies.
  • Other Necessities: Chargers, laptops, earbuds, phone, laundry needs, flashlight, batteries, and anything else you may need in your new home. Don’t forget, the small things can often be the most impactful.

If you need anything during your assignment, we are here to make sure that you are comfortable and successful.

Summer Is Great for Travel – As Well As Safety

Summer is just around the corner and as many of us know, it can sometimes be one of the most chaotic. Between kids being home on summer break to going on family vacations, summer is always bound to make a splash.

Summer is also a great opportunity to take on a change. Contracts may be finishing out, vacation time might be in, and the yearn to explore may be strong.

But even the most seasoned of our travel nurses may need a reminder about travel safety when exploring both within and outside of our country.

We value the safety of our travelers, both when they are at work and when they are off. Here are some travel safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe during the summer time:

  • Share Travel Plans: No matter the destination, sharing plans is a key way to make sure you are safe. Sharing with a loved one or trusted friend can be key in making sure you stay safe on your journey. Be sure to include an itinerary, the address, and a phone number. Check in every once in a while to let them know that you are safe, and everything is going as it should.

 

  • Do Your Research: It is common to want to explore a new place while on your summer vacation. While this may be fun, be sure to do your research about the place you are planning to explore. How does their transportation work? Do you need to take cash with you? If you are going out of the country, do they have an embassy or consulate you can register with as a traveler? Is there a hospital in the area? Perhaps security or local police?
  • Important Documents: If you are going outside of the country, be sure to have copies of documents such as your IDs and visas if you have them. Consider registering with the local embassy so they also have your passport information in case it is lost or stolen.
  • Be Aware: This is perhaps the most important. Be aware of your surroundings, where you are or plan on going. Keep an eye out for those you are traveling with and all belongings. Enjoy your time on vacation, but continually be aware of your surroundings.

There is much more that could be said for travel safety, but being aware of some of the basics can help to protect you when traveling and vacationing this summer. We hope your trip is amazing, and can’t wait to hear all about it!

The Spring Season – A Time for Joy… And Sickness

As spring quickly approaches, most people are overjoyed with the warmer weather, longer days, and flowering plants. After all, spring is just a hop, skip, and jump away from summer pool days. However, spring is also the time for peak-season colds, thanks to the change in the weather.

It is important to us that our travel team stay healthy as the season changes. As healthcare workers, prevention is nothing new. However, we want to give out a gentle reminder about things to keep in mind during the coming weeks to prevent as many of these seasonal colds as possible.

  • Stay Hydrated: A key to much of our health is the amount of water that we consume every day. It may seem small, but making sure you drink enough water can be a great help in making sure you stay healthy.
  • Wash Your Hands: As we all know, this is nothing new. But with the various viruses and germs making their way around, this is a simple way to keep from catching anything that could be spread around.
  • Exercise: This is a great way to manage stress. Taking a daily walk, doing some stretching, or getting in the weight room is a good way to keep your body moving and endorphins pumping. Stress can be a quiet influence to causing a cold, and doing what you can to reduce that as much as possible can help in prevention in so many ways.
  • Rest: Making sure to get plenty of sleep every day is perhaps most important. Not getting enough sleep can quickly run down your body, and cause many other issues, including an open invitation to an uninvited virus.

Our traveler’s health is important to us, and we want to make sure we are doing our own part, and we encourage you to take the precautions available to do so as well.

How to Reach Your Goals With Fidelity

Statics tell us that after the 3rd week in January, we have already forgotten our goals for the new year. We want to remind you that, as spring slowly approaches, the time to put your goals into action is now. Are you ready to explore a new career opportunity? Do you need more flexibility in your schedule? Are you a parent or a student? Is it time for a career change?

Travel nursing is popular for providing an opportunity to its nurses to expand their knowledge, practice, and network with peers. Beyond that, travel nursing has a reputation for creating a flexible space to create a schedule tailored to the individual nurse.

Creating a space for growth and career satisfaction, travel nursing can very well be the answer to one of your goals. One big opportunity that it provides is the ability to travel and try out new places, where a nurse, as an individual, can carve out a space for themselves. Being able to explore new options, places, and opportunities not only increases the probability of prosperity, but most importantly, it decreases the possibility of burnout.

Often, spring goals are centered around putting ourselves first.

  • Perhaps taking a new leap or facing a challenge.
  • Bettering oneself in various ways, whether it be emotional or physical health.
  • Maybe it isn’t about a change within ourselves, but a time to alter ourselves socially. From our workspace to our friends, all of which impact our moods, priorities, and everyday lives.

This is the time to create a new space for yourself within your career. Putting yourself first in your career is possible, and we are here to offer you that help and guidance in order to make your spring goals possible.

How to START your Travel Healthcare Professional Career Part 2

As we mentioned in PART ONE, thirty years in the healthcare travel industry gives our experienced, professional healthcare recruiters knowledge that so many others do not yet have.

Once you have researched agencies, connected with a recruiter, and have some clinical experience under your belt you should follow these next steps:

  • CREATE your RESUME: While you will be or should be required to complete an employment application with any reputable agency you seek, it is always a great idea to have an up-to-date resume to ship over to your recruiter to save you both time and energy. Detailed work histories are not only important in the process but required by every potential client.
  • PREPARE your DOCUMENTATION: Gather necessary documentation like transcripts, licenses, certifications, and immunization records. Every facility has unique requirements for a traveler to work in their facility, but the above items are wanted by every facility. The rest will come when the onboarding and credentialing team know the location selected.
  • Location and Housing Options: Perhaps you wish to start traveling locally or at minimum in the same state. Discuss what you need for housing and what is available. Perhaps you wish to work housing out on your own. You may also want to use the agency housing specialist to set it up on your behalf.

Now is the time. Reach out to one of our experienced recruiters to get all your questions answered. Leave us a message or call (309) 691-1500. You can also check us out and chat with us on our social networking sites.