Being a healthcare traveler can definitely take its toll, both mentally and physically.    However, there are an astounding number of travelers and they love what they do but how do they keep themselves mentally and physically sound while on the road?  I thought I would ask a few of our travelers to share their insight or tips so I can pass it along to you in short blogs over the next couple of months. 

Catherine T., a traveling physical therapist, starts us off with some insight on what her and her husband does while on the road: 

“As a physical therapist, my job focuses on exercises to help improve the body’s function.  Exercise is better than medicine in many cases, not only for physical health but mental health as well.  While most people recognize the importance of fitness, many find it challenging to keep up with an exercise program.  In my own life I have found a few key aspects of maintaining fitness. First of all, you have to find something that is interesting to you. I enjoy lifting weights, but a lot of people think weightlifting is boring.  Hiking and outdoor activities might be more enjoyable for some.  One of the great advantages of working as a traveling PT is the variety of outdoor settings that I have been able to experience.  My husband, a traveling OT, and I have hiked in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New Mexico, and we took advantage of outdoor activities in Florida as well.  The change of scenery keeps the outdoor exercise exciting. 

Depending on your location you might have access to gyms with yoga, Pilates or other exercise classes.  The key is to find something that you enjoy, because you will be much more likely to stick with it. Another important consideration is establishing a routine.  My husband and I go to the gym every day before work because we have found the routine to be successful for us.  After work sometimes we have to go grocery shopping or run errands, so it’s best for us to get the workout done early in the day.  I usually get my workout clothes out the night before so I don’t have to think too much in the early hours of the morning.  If you are able to integrate exercise into your routine, it can become part of your lifestyle.

Accountability is another factor that influences your exercise habits. I find it very advantageous to have a husband to support me in my exercise routine.  We wake up together and go to the gym together. Even though we go our separate ways once we get to the gym, it’s still good to have a partner to help motivate me to get out of bed and hit the gym.  If you don’t have someone in your home to help keep you accountable, you could use online social networking sites to share your challenges and successes with friends and gain support. We have both benefitted from making fitness a priority in our lives.”

Catherine and her husband, Ryan, have been traveling with Aureus Medical for almost 4 years.

Sun Hui (Sunny) Snook graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Truman State University and received a Master’s in Human Services from Bellevue University. She has been in the healthcare staffing field for 11 years, first working with nurses before moving to a nationwide work strategies consultant where her key responsibilities were to coach staffers and hospital managers on effective staffing. In 2009, Sunny started with Aureus Medical as an Account Manager in the Rehab Therapy division, working with both clients and prospective employees. In 2011, she moved to Student Outreach Coordinator. Sunny was named the 2011 Employee of the Year for C&A Industries, the parent company of Aureus Medical Group. Prior to working in healthcare staffing, she served as an addictions therapist and residential treatment coordinator for five years.

Sunny Snook / 800.456.5857 ext 6578 / ssnook@aureusmedical.com / Facebook / LinkedIn / Twitter

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!

Teresa M., Polysomnographer
Teresa has been awarded the honor of Employee of the Quarter for the Cardiopulmonary Division of Aureus Medical Group. Teresa has worked for Aureus since 2007 and is currently on her 10^th assignment. She is a hard-working Sleep Tech and has been requested back by several previous clients. Her current manager said that she is “one of the best Sleep Techs” he has ever seen in the field. Teresa was asked to be our Sleep Clinical Consultant in 2010 and has done a phenomenal job as our representative. Aureus is very proud to have her as one of our employees!

Annie A., CT/X-Ray Technologist
Annie has been awarded the honor of Employee of the Quarter for the Diagnostic Imaging Division of Aureus Medical Group. Annie has worked for Aureus since 2004 and completed over 23 assignments. She is such a hard worker, putting in over 45 hours a week and working the overnight shifts. Our hospitals adore her and have provided only glowing evaluations. Annie is the epitome of a model traveler!

Daphne P., Medical Technologist
Daphne has been awarded the honor of Employee of the Quarter for the Medical Laboratory Division of Aureus Medical Group. Daphne has worked for Aureus for over three years and completed many assignments. She is a wonderful representation of our company with her attitude and work ethic.  She handles working in the busiest labs with a smile on her face.  Once client even requested her back around Christmas as they considered her family and wanted to make sure she was there for the holiday party. We are truly lucky to have Daphne as part of the Aureus Medical team!

Kimberly P., RN (ICU)
Kimberly has been awarded the honor of Employee of the Quarter for the Nursing Division of Aureus Medical Group. Kim has worked for Aureus since 2007 and has completed 10 assignments during that time. She is consistently asked to extend at our facilities, in addition to being asked to return year after year to seasonal hospitals. Some positive comments made on her behalf by Kim’s managers include, “outstanding”, “great to work with”, “very pleasant and helpful”, “great nurse and very dependable”, “great people skills”, and “an asset to your company.” She is a pleasure to work with over the phone and her patients are fortunate to be able to receive her care in person. Kim is the consummate professional and Aureus is proud to have her as part of the Aureus Medical team.

Jennifer D., Physical Therapist
Jennifer has been awarded the honor of Employee of the Quarter for the Rehabilitation Therapy Division of Aureus Medical Group. Jennifer has worked with Aureus for over three years and is on her 6^th consecutive assignment with us. She has been at her current assignment for over a year. She demonstrates dependability, reliability, and flexibility and goes above and beyond in every situation she is presented with. Jennifer has been a standout employee and has set a standard for exceptional patient care. One of her reviews stated, “I have received outstanding feedback from several patients/family members on her clinical skills and rapport with our patients. She has also been requested by name by patients and family members.” Jennifer is a shining example of an outstanding employee and one we are proud to have representing Aureus Medical.

Zella M., Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Zella has been awarded the honor of Employee of the Quarter for the Advanced Practice Division of Aureus Medical Group. Zella is a very experience NP and has worked at her current assignment since December 2010.  This client continually asks for her to extend. Working with a variety of mental health illnesses, she is always friendly and professional with patients and families. Aureus is very thankful for all the hard work and dedication Zella puts into her career.

•  Nursing – East Branch devoted time to help the Salvation Army with Toyland, a program to assist qualified parents in selecting toys for their children for Christmas. The team split into two groups and served as personal shoppers for the parents, helping them pick out the perfect gift for each of their children.

• 

  Serving dinner for the Common Table Outreach Program.

  Nursing – California and Southwest Branches combined forces to provide Christmas dinner and act as hospitality volunteers for families through Common Table on December 19. They provided meals for over 125 people. As hospitality volunteers, they welcomed the guests and spent time talking with them during and after the meal. Common Table is an outreach program that supplies a meal for the impoverished and homeless people of Omaha. 

•  Nursing – Mountain West and Central Branches joined together to sort, box and shelve food for the Food Bank for the Heartland. Each of the 15 people from the two branches donated 2.5 hours of their time. Erin Anderson, Central branch manager, said, “Everyone really enjoyed being able to give back.”
• Various Medical (Nursing & Allied) employees stepped in to help when an email was received about a family in need. Five children had been removed from their mother’s care and placed with their 24-year old aunt. Social services informed the aunt that if she could not find appropriate sleeping arrangements for the kids they would be placed in separate foster homes. Employees started organizing how to get them bunk beds as well as donated toys, clothes, and gift cards for the family. The family wanted to pass along how extremely appreciative of everything they were.

Second, I learned that adventure is around every corner.  I have been traveling quite a bit this past year and have seen some great places.  Seeing our nation’s monuments for the first time were beyond words and just as humbling as seeing a blue whale off the coast of Long Beach, CA.  From our beautiful Lady of Liberty to the sunny shores of California, my trips have led me to meet some of the most warm and unique individuals and of course, interesting locations.  No matter where I was, there was fun to be had and of course, shopping to be done. 

Lastly, and probably the most important, all of these experiences made me better at what I do.  Being the Student Outreach Coordinator, I not only grew as a recruiter and as a career counselor, but it made me realize that all of us have a role (big or small) in this healthcare world.  We may accomplish different goals but the reality is that for most of us, our hearts are in the right places.  Before closing on my reflection, I wanted to say thank you to a few people:

• Thank you to our SLP, Sharon, who makes me laugh and take risks whenever I am out with you.
• For making me excited to do this job and for the future of healthcare, I want to say a big THANK YOU to the students I visited either for lunch or fairs at Marquette University, Des Moines University, Northwestern University, College of St. Mary, Creighton University, University of Missouri- Columbia, St. Louis University and Southwestern Baptist University. 
• Thank you to Elizabeth (PT) and Nicole (OT) for showing me that humor and confidence will let you accomplish many things, even when you are picking up and starting new. 
• Thank you to Wes and Rebecca for giving me an opportunity to share my thoughts on Healthcare Travelbook.
• A huge thank you to Callie W. for allowing me to come into your classroom to teach a leadership class to the OT students.  The experience was beyond words and something I can mark off my “bucket list” and I look forward to more of these opportunities this coming up year. 

I want to end with a heartfelt wish for a safe and happy holiday season to everyone and thank you all for taking a moment to read my blogs.  Happy Holidays!

Sun Hui (Sunny) Snook graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Truman State University and received a Master’s in Human Services from Bellevue University. She has been in the healthcare staffing field for 11 years, first working with nurses before moving to a nationwide work strategies consultant where her key responsibilities were to coach staffers and hospital managers on effective staffing. In 2009, Sunny started with Aureus Medical as an Account Manager in the Rehab Therapy division, working with both clients and prospective employees. Most recently, she moved to Student Outreach Coordinator. Sunny was named the 2011 Employee of the Year for C&A Industries, the parent company of Aureus Medical Group. Prior to working in healthcare staffing, she served as an addictions therapist and residential treatment coordinator for five years.

Sunny Snook / 800.456.5857 ext 6578 / ssnook@aureusmedical.com / Facebook / LinkedIn / Twitter

One option you might have is to request the time off prior to starting your assignment. Now not every facility will agree to this, but it depends mostly on your approach.

Let’s say you were offered an assignment starting in mid-January. You might be able to say, “Yes, I would like to accept the contract, but I have already planned time off to spend with my family in early February.” It would then be the facility’s job to decide whether or not this was a deal breaker.

Now if you do take this approach, be aware that some facilities will not go for this and might even rescind an offer. However, if it is approached right, it’s rare that you will encounter problems.

The best time to mention that you need specific time off is in the interview before the hospital makes an offer. This way, you can often feel them out about the possibility of having that time off. If you mention it and their response is “that’s no problem at all”, then you are good. If you mention it and they hesitate and say something like, “I don’t know if that would be possible”, then you have to decide how important it is to you.

If you do have an agreement with regard to any time off, always have it written into your contract.

Another option to allow for time off on a holiday is to work a half shift with someone (if the facility permits this). One person will cover from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then go home to spend the holiday with their family, while the other person comes in to cover from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Shifts that are “halved” like this often need to be approved by the manager or staffing office, so plan ahead.

Make sure to speak with your Account Manager if you should have any questions or concerns about requesting time off.

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.

1.  Turkey – If you stick to white meat and peel the skin off, you’ll save hundreds of calories.

2.  Sweet potatoes – If roasted, sweet potatoes provide fiber, vitamin A, potassium and phytochemicals.

3.  Cranberries – Cranberries are loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants. Their fiber content also helps lower bad cholesterol levels.

4.  Stuffing – While stuffing is generally one of the most fattening dishes, a few changes to the ingredients can make a big difference.  Pack the stuffing with nuts, dried fruits, carrots and celery, and you’ll benefit from fiber and a range of vitamins.

5.  Collard greens – Collards are ultra-healthy except when sabotaged by greasy fat sources.  If you prepare these leafy greens in a steamer, you’ll leave out the unnecessary calories and gain a ton of vitamins and antioxidants. 

Add any of these items to your shopping list and you’ll spend more time with friends and family and less time sleeping on the couch! Happy eating!

• Make time!  A job isn’t going to land in your lap so make sure to take at least 15 minutes out of your day to work toward your career goal.  Update your resume, check on your online profiles or if working with a recruiter, call in to check on progress.
• Sell yourself!  You know you better than anyone so make sure you are putting your best foot forward.  Your resume should have your accomplishments and outline your best attributes.  Make sure to point these out to your recruiter so he/she is marketing you to the fullest. 
• Stay positive.  Looking for a job can be tiresome but also draining.  Keep your outlook in the right direction, meaning that you know the right job will come eventually.  A positive attitude shines through and people, even hiring managers, are drawn to that type of appeal.
• If looking on your own, check local newspapers, web ads, and online communities.  Networking is huge so don’t neglect to make connections where you can.  Be careful of putting your resume out on various job boards or search engines as that may lead to constant barrage of unnecessary phone calls or emails, even spam.
• Attend job fairs.  Research who will be there and make a point to visit their booths.  Some fairs can be overwhelming so targeting those you want to make an appearance to is essential.  When there, make sure to ask questions and to set up a follow up time in which you and the person can speak further.  Be careful of “over marketing” yourself and make sure to be selective as to who receives your resume.  If wanting to use a recruiter, make sure you understand their processes because the last thing you want is for someone to blindly submit you everywhere. 
• Be organized.  Know who you have spoken with or applied to and keep a list.  Have a portfolio with your resume and references ready to go, especially when attending fairs.   Keep a list of your accomplishments and certifications on your resume.  If there are quite a few (good for you!), select the most important and relevant and leave the rest on a separate list. 
• When working with recruiters, make sure to have a frank discussion on the ground rules of the relationship.  Talk about how often and what type of communication is preferred, but more importantly, make sure your recruiter understands what you are looking for, your needs and overall, who you are.  Make sure that your recruiter provides you with the information you need to know of the company you are being submitted to and more importantly, make it clear that you want to know where your info is going prior to it happening.  On the flip side, your recruiter also needs to know where you have applied.
• Know your requirements and be flexible.  Try this math:  # of students graduating in your program + # of students graduating in another nearby university’s program + # of those already looking= total # of those looking for a J-O-B.  The number one statement I make to students all over the country, “your degree does NOT guarantee you a job in the place YOU want to be”.  You may be in a great field but needs are relative to the job market and to the supply.  I suggest looking at where you want to be, outline the universities within that area, and then apply outside of that radius.  Usually aiming for 50 miles out is a good rule of thumb, but keep in mind, this is just a suggestion.  This is where having a recruiter can come in handy because if he/she is good, you will know what your chances are in finding a position and what steps you need to take.

The job search can be arduous but with a little patience and research, you’ll soon get results.  Over the years, you will probably look for a job at least once or twice for various reasons, learning some basics now will stick with you.  If choosing to work with a recruiter, make sure that you develop a very collaborative relationship.  Your recruiter should understand what you are looking for and what your needs will be on the job. 

Good luck on your search and if I can be of any assistance, you can reach me at ssnook@aureusmedical.com.

Sun Hui (Sunny) Snook graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Truman State University and received a Master’s in Human Services from Bellevue University. She has been in the healthcare staffing field for 11 years, first working with nurses before moving to a nationwide work strategies consultant where her key responsibilities were to coach staffers and hospital managers on effective staffing. In 2009, Sunny started with Aureus Medical as an Account Manager in the Rehab Therapy division, working with both clients and prospective employees. Most recently, she moved to Student Outreach Coordinator. Sunny was named the 2011 Employee of the Year for C&A Industries, the parent company of Aureus Medical Group. Prior to working in healthcare staffing, she served as an addictions therapist and residential treatment coordinator for five years.

Sunny Snook / 800.456.5857 ext 6578 / ssnook@aureusmedical.com / Facebook / LinkedIn / Twitter