This does not even begin to explain everything a nurse is or does!

All across the country this week (May 6-12), hospitals, clinics and the like will do all they can to recognize and thank the millions of nurses that do their very best each and every day to save lives, heal wounds, and rehabilitate patients.  No thank you card, duffle bag, or coffee cup could ever fully explain the amount to which we lean on these professionals in one of the most intense and demanding fields.  We at Aureus would like to thank each and every one of you for your dedication, perseverance, and caring hearts.  Thank you.

Brannen Betz, General Manager - Aureus Medical Nursing Division

Brannen Betz is the General Manager for the Nursing division at Aureus Medical Group. He started with Aureus in 1999 as a Recruiter. He worked his way up to Branch Manager in Allied Health in 2002. He stepped into his current role as General Manager for Nursing in 2003. Brannen was born and raised in Denver, CO. He attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he played collegiate baseball. Brannen has two children, daughter Ellee (10) and son Nate (8). He spends his free time coaching youth sports, playing hockey and wakeboarding.

BBetz@aureusmedical.com / 800.856.5457, ext. 2210 / www.aureusmedical.com

1. Fill out your W-4 correctly.
Even though you may be working outside your state of residency, you may still be obligated to pay state tax in your working and primary state.  Some states have reciprocal agreements with each other and some do not.  The safest approach is to speak with your tax advisor ahead of time.  If you find yourself in a state that does not have an agreement with your home state, he or she may advise you to withhold additional monies for each state, so you are covered come April. 

2.  Track your expenses.
This is an absolute must. Rest assured if the IRS audits your file, they would need documentation of the expenses, when they occurred, and where they occurred.  So, keep your receipts as proof of payment.  Here are some means to achieve that:

• Keep a folder for each assignment and place ALL your receipts in there. Your tax preparer can go through them and let you know what you can and cannot deduct.
• Use a single credit card dedicated solely for expenses on your assignments. You will then have one place you can access all your expenses. Online statements are a click away and you can go back quickly and view a long amount of time and transactions.  
• Keep track using a spreadsheet.  This method requires some time for input, but can be an effective way of tracking all your expenses. Again, keep your receipts; a simple spreadsheet is not documentation of expense, just a helpful tool for organization. 

3. Enjoy your deductions.
As a travel nurse, there are many. That’s the great news. Cell phones, excess mileage costs that exceed what your company reimburses you, uniforms, license fees, and many more may be deductible.  

Although the above are absolutely great strategies to prepare for the tax season, there is one important piecing that ties this altogether, a CPA.  Unless you are a traveling CPA (and yes they do exist), have your taxes prepared by a professional.  We’re not talking turbo tax or another online service. Although those are great tools for lots of people, your situation is not common. Try to find a CPA that has experience working with traveling contractors. The difference may amaze you.

For a few more helpful tax sites, click here. Good luck and happy tax season!

1. Make them realistic. It can be difficult to stick with a resolution if it is something that is very hard to accomplish.  Make sure to keep it reasonable and don’t set too many resolutions at the same time.  No matter how simple it is, if it betters you as a person it’s a step in the right direction.

2.  Write it down. Putting it on paper makes it official and gives you something to look at as a reminder.  Put it on your mirror to look at when you get ready in the morning and at night.  You can also write down a plan of action if it is going to take steps to accomplish.  This will make it easier to follow on a day to day basis.

3. Include your friends and family for encouragement. Make sure to let people know what you are trying to accomplish so they can support and encourage you along the way, it’s a great way to keep yourself accountable.  You can also set a team resolution by including family or friends to do it with so you can support each other.

4. Set goals and reward yourself during the year. Just saying you want to do something for the entire year can be daunting. Try to set goals throughout the year and decide on what you can do to reward yourself along the way.  Shorter term goals may be easier to accomplish and it will be more fun!

5. Don’t let a minor setback derail your resolution. Give yourself a break.  Resolutions can be difficult because you are trying to do something you have previously failed to do.  If you happen to have slip ups along the way don’t let that ruin your resolution.  It’s never too late to start over or begin again anytime during the year.

We hear it from all sorts of candidates, from OR Techs to travel nurses to Allied Health professionals.  We even hear it from travelers who tell us that they never take time off!

With all of the holiday festivities, vacation planning, and family time, people can find themselves with too much to do and not enough time to be responsive to companies looking to hire them.

But we would advise otherwise. We encourage you to use this time to your advantage. Rather than allowing your holiday schedule to get in the way of you having a job, and potentially providing for yourself and your family, make an extra effort to be proactive this year instead of waiting until January.

Hospitals’ needs for healthcare professionals do not slow down during the holidays. Recruiting efforts do not decline. If anything, there is actually a push to get people in the door before the holiday rush. And if you can be that available candidate, your responsiveness can make life easier for a hospital desperately needing your help over the holidays.  And you’ll be that much more likely to land something before the end of the year; therefore avoiding the scramble for a job after the holidays.

We know it’s a challenge during the holiday season, but the best gift you can give yourself and your family is a position that sees you happy and content in the New Year.

Click here to search Aureus Medical’s latest jobs. Good luck with your search!

New York City, NY
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 
November
This fantastic Parade takes place in November and attracts millions of fans both locally and also those tuned in on the television. It is the most popular Thanksgiving holiday celebration in the world. It is a three hour parade all around the city of New York. Bring your hat and gloves for this event for sure!

Washington D.C.
National Christmas Tree Lighting & Pageant of Peace
December
For 85 years, the American tradition of lighting a national Christmas Tree has continued, interrupted only briefly in its history during moments of great national travail. The tree itself is a live 40-foot Colorado blue spruce transplanted from York, Pennsylvania to its present site on the Ellipse in 1978. The Pageant of Peace includes live performances and the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. Each night during December, musical groups perform free concerts for the entertainment of visitors to the Ellipse.

Coeur d’Alene, ID
Coeur d’Alene Resort Holiday Light Show
November / December
Featured on Good Morning America in 2007 as one of the nations best holiday light shows, the Holiday Light Show at the Coeur d’Alene Resort features over 225 holiday displays ringing the boardwalk plus a memorable “Journey to The North Pole” attraction to visit Santa himself! More than a million lights sparkle across Lake Coeur d’Alene at the largest on-the-water resort holiday light show in America. Cruise boats offer a close-up view of the animated light displays and holiday scenes

Chickasha, OK
Festival of Light
November / December
This holiday extravaganza draws more than 300,000 visitors from across the USA. A thousand local volunteers come together to create the over-3-million-lights spectacle in 43-acre Shannon Springs Park. Carriage rides provide the best views. Other attractions include one of America’s largest Christmas trees, 100 Lakeside Displays, trees and walkways, the Crystal Bridge of 75,000 lights, holiday music, concessions, Santa, and shopping.

In addition to work experience, obtaining and maintaining the correct certifications can put you at the top of the candidate list for that next assignment.  We have provided some DOs and DON’Ts for obtaining or renewing your certifications and licenses:

• DON’T assume every facility will accept your certification(s). Each facility has different requirements you must fulfill before starting your assignment. Your Aureus Account Manager will inform you of any and all certifications you will need prior to starting. In addition, we can help you get those certifications and provide reimbursement!
• DON’T always believe everything you see on the Internet.  Googling “BCLS” may not get you the appropriate website that provides the correct AHA information.  A lot of websites will “say” they are AHA certified, but be sure to read the fine print.  Signing up for an online class only will not give you the complete training you need to obtain a valid AHA card.
• DO be sure to go to these official websites in order to get the appropriate classes to obtain/renew your cards:
  American Heart Association
  American Red Cross
  American Safety & Health Institute
  Military certifications (no website, but all branches of the military administer these certifications)

• DO go online, to the official licensing website of the state in which you would like to travel next.  It will provide you with all the necessary information to obtain your license in a timely manner, prior to your start date.
• DO contact your Aureus Account Manager to ensure you have ALL the details on how to go through the entire process quickly and efficiently.
• DON’T assume that because you have a compact license you can automatically work in another state.  You must confirm that your active license is officially a compact license and meets that state’s requirements.  Your Account Manager can walk you through this process and guide you to NLCA’s website that lists all of the compact states and their criteria:  https://www.ncsbn.org/nlc.htm

Venturing to a new location for your next assignment is always exciting.  Your Aureus Account Manager is more than happy to guide you through the proper channels to ensure you have the correct information in getting your next certification and license.

What brought my attention to this article was not that the economy continues to sputter, or the staggering job market, but the fact that despite all of this temporary and consulting positions are on the rise.  Here are a few things to consider:

• 66 percent of the employment today falls in 6 major sectors – Health Care, business services, leisure and hospitality, construction, manufacturing and retail.
• It’s estimated that 70 – 85 % of job growth in the next decade will come from these sectors
• Despite the last two recessions Health Care has steadily grown adding 3.7 million jobs between the years 2000 and 2010.
• Of the 6 major sectors Health Care has been the more reliable than any other sector when it comes to job growth
• The largest areas of growth within the last decade was in Nursing, residential care, social assistance and home health care services.
• 58% of employers say they will hire more temporary and part-time workers.

So despite the grim outlook on the economy, and the job market, many things point to the stability of Health Care and continued growth.  This also reflects in Health Care staffing companies who have seen an increase in needs for qualified health care professionals. 

So whether you are considering searching for a staff position or adventure as a contract traveler, do not fear as our mission is to be the staffing provider and employer of choice by helping people and companies achieve their goals.  Whatever your goal may be, don’t hesitate to call an Aureus Medical Representative to discuss it today.

Report:  http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/us_jobs/pdfs/MGI_us_jobs_full_report.pdf

In this age of technology there are many ways to get to know your new home.  There are several websites that can help you find an affordable massage, discounted tickets to an upcoming concert, or even 50% off dinner for two!  Websites like Groupon and LivingSocial offer discounts of up to 90% off everything from haircuts to fresh seafood delivered right to your door.  Signing up for offers from these sites is free and you are informed of new deals on a daily basis.  Groupon offers discounts in 184 cities in the United States and LivingSocial can not only get you that massage for cheap, it can help you plan the beach vacation you are going to need after a tough assignment.

Another great way to get to know your new locale is to look for free entertainment magazines.  Most offer printed versions as well as accompanying websites. The Riverfront Times, published in  St. Louis, MO, for example, offers news, upcoming concert info, restaurant reviews, and coupons and discounts for local eateries and events. These can usually be found at the grocery store, in the Sunday edition of the local paper, and some are distributed like the newspaper – at the corner newsstand.

If you have a smart phone there are hundreds of free apps that can help you navigate your new surroundings, help you find the grocery store, and keep you from getting lost on your way to work.  Try ‘MetrO’ for public transportation information for 400 cities worldwide. ‘Yelp’ will give you reviews on beaches, salons, museums, and it will give you local’s opinions on the best pharmacies, doctors, and dentists in town.  ‘Skype’ can be downloaded for free on most smart phones and it’s a great way to keep in touch, face-to-face, with family and friends in other cities and states.  ‘Urbanspoon’ and ‘OpenTable’ will help you find the perfect place for sushi or burgers, whatever your taste may be.

All in all, making your new city feel like home is important, and saving a few dollars while getting to know the lay of the land is certainly a bonus.

Don’t Forget Cardio!
Cardio activities help burn the fat that covers your muscles, especially in the belly area. Combining aerobic exercise with strength training can give you a more slimming look.  Even 20 minutes a day can make the difference!  Walk around the hospital or outside the parking lot during your break or jump on the treadmill at your housing property for a half hour. It will pay off!  Persistence is key.

Never Skip Meals.
I know…easier said than done, right?  When you’re working a 12 hour shift and struggling to find a break, this can be difficult.  However, experts say that eating six small meals a day can help you avoid blood sugar “spikes” and help curb your desire to binge.  If you feed yourself well throughout the day, you’ll learn to understand when your body really needs food.  If you starve yourself, you will not make good choices for your next meal.  Make time to snack on healthy items throughout the day.

Sleep Tight….
It’s important to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night.  A recent study from Case Western Reserve University found that, on average, women who sleep for 5 hours or less per night are 32% more likely to gain weight than those that get at least 7 hours of sleep.  If you work nights, do whatever it takes to maximize your sleep time.  Cover the windows with blankets, wear ear plugs, have some “white noise” going on the background…whatever it takes, don’t deprive yourself of much needed sleep!

Drink More Water!
Studies show that drinking 16 ounces of water at a time can increase your metabolic rate by 30%, burning an extra 24 calories.  Cool water is recommended because the body uses more calories warming it up to your body temperature.  If you aren’t a big fan of water, spice it up a little!  There are plenty of products on the market now that are flavored and contain hardly any calories or sodium at all. 

Control what you can Control.
Take time out for yourself, manage your free time wisely, and only commit to those events that you can.  It’s okay to say no sometimes!  This will help you keep your stress levels down, if you only take on only what you can handle. Many studies have found a link between high stress levels and weight gain.  We are more prone to eating more when we are stressed out.  There are plenty of de-stress exercises out there that do not take up a lot of time.  And remember……BREATHE!!

For the past 11 years, I have been witness to countless times that our Nurses have placed their own wants to the side in order to make sure someone gets the attention they need. Picking up an extra shift, mentoring a new grad that just walked out onto the floor that day, taking on an extra patient even when their work load is already bursting at the seams…the examples are endless. 

It is during this dedicated week that we all need to take a step back and reflect on those times that a Nurse has made an impact in our lives – be it a healing touch, a comforting word, or during a life and death situation. Thank you to all that have dedicated themselves to this profession.  We greatly admire your passion and skill!   

Brannen Betz, General Manager - Aureus Medical Nursing Division

Brannen Betz is the General Manager for the Nursing division at Aureus Medical Group. He started with Aureus in 1999 as a Recruiter. He worked his way up to Branch Manager in Allied Health in 2002. He stepped into his current role as General Manager for Nursing in 2003. Brannen was born and raised in Denver, CO. He attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he played collegiate baseball. Brannen has two children, daughter Ellee (9) and son Nate (7). He spends his free time coaching youth sports, playing hockey and wakeboarding.

BBetz@aureusmedical.com / 800.856.5457, ext. 2210 / www.aureusmedical.com