With NASA’s Perseverance Rover landing on Mars earlier this spring, we’ve been receiving amazing images, videos, and sounds of the red planet back here on Earth. Perseverance is most certainly a stranger in a strange land, and that’s something that many travel nurses and allied healthcare professionals can relate to, as you spend a lot of time away from home, exploring new locations, and working in new facilities. In that spirit, we’d like to suggest some great Martian reads for healthcare travelers to get you into the Martian spirit and maybe even help you feel a little closer to home by comparison!

The Martian by Andy Weir

This one’s kind of a no-brainer. A fictional astronaut becomes stranded on Mars and must figure out how to survive on the inhospitable planet. If you want to get a great mental image of what it must be like for the Perseverance Rover right now, this is a great pick! If you’re more of a movie buff, this was adapted into a movie by the same name in 2015 and it stars Matt Damon in the lead role.

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

Robert A. Heinlein is frequently referred to as the father of the science fiction genre. In this unique novel, Heinlein imagines what would happen if a human child was raised by Martians and then came back to Earth. What would he be like? What would the Martians have taught him? How will he assimilate into human society?

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

Martians invading Earth! There have been countless books, TV shows, and movies based on this trope. However, it’s safe to say that this was one of the earliest. Although it was written in 1897, it reads like it could have been published this century. As proven by the movie starring Tom Cruise, it easily adapts from 1897 to our current day.

The Ender Saga by Orson Scott Card

It’s always great to get wrapped up in a series! Although not specifically “Martian,” this series imagines a universe where an alien race has attacked Earth and humans have started identifying smarter than average children to train as military commanders to use in the war against these invaders. Eventually, humans start colonizing distant planets that these alien invaders have already tamed. Again, if you prefer the movie option, the first book of the series, Ender’s Game, was released cinematically in 2013.

If you want to get into the Martian mood, you can’t go wrong with any of these picks! Snag one of these books and start to empathize with the Perseverance Rover, sitting there 38.6 million miles away (when Mars is at its closest to Earth) all alone on that dusty, red planet. That ought to help you feel a little less alone on your travel healthcare assignment!

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Knowing the answers to these questions first will help you transition to your next assignment. It will also help with knowing what to throw in the suitcase and what to leave at home.  How long is your assignment? Do you need to pack for a 4-week or 13-week assignment? You can also plan accordingly for a possible extension.

What will be provided at your housing?  

• Will there be pots, pans, plates, and silverware? Does the kitchen have an oven or stove top? You could invest in a George Foreman Grill if you like to cook at home if it is not provided with housing.
• Is bedding provided? Remember to pack your favorite pillow!
• If towels are provided, how many will there be? Always bring extra towels. Grab your favorite body wash, shampoo, etc.

Where is the nearest grocery store?

• Before leaving for your assignment, check the area you’ll be living in to see where the closest grocery store is. Bring your favorite foods in case the store doesn’t carry it. And check the store hours so that you don’t show up after a shift to discover they are already closed.

How do I handle my bills will on assignment?

• Are you set up for online payment? By doing this, you don’t have to worry about getting them in the mail.
• Another option is to have someone back home get your mail and pay the bills for you.

What if I plan on driving to my assignment?

• If you have a long trip ahead, it does not hurt to have a mechanic look over the car before you leave. The last thing anyone wants is for you to break down on the way to your assignment. Oil change, tire rotation, washer fluid, coolant, etc—make sure it is all checked before you leave.
• Make hotel arrangements if your road trip lasts longer that a day.

Hopefully the above list will help serve as a reminder for things to remember before you leave for your travel assignment. As always, if you have questions about how to prepare for your trip or what to bring, reach out to your Account Manager!

Jonny Stebbins is an Account Manager with the Skilled Nursing division at Aureus Medical Group.

The post Before You Leave on Assignment appeared first on Aureus Medical Group’s healthcare blog provides articles and information regarding careers in travel nursing, travel therapy, allied health and more..

There are so many hospitals needing employees to deliver exceptional care. The medical staffing industry is always looking for outstanding candidates to help hospital clients fill their travel and direct hire needs. The quickest way to find the next best candidate are referrals from YOU! 

It’s simple. Just provide their name and contact info to your recruiter and your work is done! Every agency is different but generally speaking, once that referral gets placed into a travel or direct hire position and works the required hours, you get paid.

I’m sure you are wondering who would be the best person to refer or asking where do you find referrals?  Here are five tips to help you out:

1) Who are the best employees you work with every day?

It’s simple – if they are a great employee and provide exceptional patient care, they are a perfect referral. They can be a traveler or they can be a permanent staff member looking for a change; referrals come from everywhere.

2) Who do you want to take a three month working vacation with?

You can get a two-bedroom condo on the beach or a downtown apartment and make memories, all while working a travel contract together.

3) Timing is everything for some people.

Don’t assume that if someone has a family or are happy in their current position, that they aren’t open to a change. They may be open to relocating for career advancement opportunities or may be able to travel during summer break. They also may not be able to travel but could know someone else who would be a great referral. Referrals are often times the best sources for more referrals.

4) Coming out of retirement, what?? 

Yes, you read that right. Many great referrals are actually retired from their permanent positions but continue to have that desire to work. They still have the itch and need to help patients so they come out of retirement and travel the nation. 13 weeks here, 13 weeks there, and take a few weeks or months off as they go!  It’s a great way to keep your skills sharp, enjoy retirement, and do what you love to do across the nation.

5) Share your stories.

Talk about your great travel experiences and relationships you have built with your recruiter, other travelers, and staff members. Many times, doing simply this, it can influence others to gain interest in our industry and the quickest way to get them information and a potential position is to refer them!

In closing, don’t over think it. Referrals are the people you work with side by side, every day. It’s a perfect compliment to your recruiter and agency and a great way to make a little extra cash along the way!

Jeff West is a Regional Manager for the Nursing division at Aureus Medical Group.

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Now as I’m much older (and somewhat wiser) I recognize the importance of having a plan that I can work towards. Whether that is completing a graduate degree or starting a family, keeping these goals top of mind helps me make decisions in the short term that aid in reaching them.

Each day we spend time dissecting the needs and wants of healthcare professionals that need to be satisfied in order to fulfill a contract. While a majority of these conversations touch on areas such as location, pay, shift, and work environment, it is important to take a step back and assess the big picture.

No one travels forever; in fact, most travelers hang up the scrubs after only a few years. This is why having a set goal of what you would like to accomplish in your travel career is so important. Maybe you would like to add experience to your resume to land that dream job, free up time to complete that next level of schooling, or pad your retirement savings account. Having these goals in place and communicating them with your recruiter can truly make or break your travel career.

Throughout my conversations, I hear many types of responses when I ask about short-term/long-term plans. I often hear “I’m not even sure about after this contract” or “I haven’t really thought about it”. It’s our goal as a recruiter to help you through the traveling experience and one way of doing that is developing a plan on how we can help you reach your goals. I push my travelers to assess and set goals for three areas: personal, professional, and financial.

Personal

This refers to anything relating to your work/life balance, places you would like to visit, etc. Creating a travel bucket list is a great way to stay on top of licensure and your next assignment.

Professional

This is what you would like to experience with new processes, procedures, or facilities. What position would you like to hold when you stop traveling? Let us help build your resume up to achieve it.

Financial

Let’s face it, there is a reason travelers give up the stability of a full-time position. Earning potential is a huge draw and when organized properly, it can be a huge benefit. Whether you are saving for retirement, building a child’s college fund, or catching up on bills, having a goal turns your extra income into “smart money”.

Every traveler will have a different set of goals they need satisfied. Contracting provides a unique opportunity to do just that. Some of the most fulfilling moments of my recruiting career include a traveler obtaining her NP and another who was able to purchase his first home – both of which were discussed during our very first call.

Allowing us to see the “why” behind traveling strengthens the traveler/recruiter relationship. It helps us develop a plan that leads to a very fulfilling travel career. Our goal as career consultants is for you to look back on your travel career and be happy with all that you have accomplished.

What are you waiting for? Let’s get to work!

Ryan Lamb is a Team Lead for the Nursing division at Aureus Medical Group.

The post What is your plan? appeared first on Aureus Medical Group’s healthcare blog provides articles and information regarding careers in travel nursing, travel therapy, allied health and more..

Yes, there are a ton of things to do and see up in the northeast, even in the winter.  I am not going to inundate you with places to go and things to do.  Instead I want to talk about some of the other reasons to travel up in the northeast during the winter months that you might not think of while you are considering your next travel assignment.

Snow

First, let’s talk about the snow!  Yes, you likely get to experience the snow (and lots of it). That can deter a lot of you right there, but keep in mind this area is used to snow and has processes in place to make driving possible. They handle the roads every year. It’s the states that don’t get much winter weather that have a hard time handling the snow.

Competition

Secondly, you will be competing against fewer applicants for the same job. Fewer applicants means better odds of you being the one selected. Imagine how many travelers are being submitted in Arizona or Florida this time of year.  And the pay is always great up in the northeast!

Planning ahead

Maybe you think the northeast would be great to visit in the springtime. You are not alone with that thought. Come spring, there are more travelers who want to head up there. Now imagine that you were one of those travelers, but instead of waiting until more people wanted the same area you decided to come in the winter months for a contract. It’s getting close to spring and instead of the hospital posting the opening for your current position, they just ask you to extend and you get to enjoy the beauty of springtime in the northeast without having to compete with other travelers.

Hopefully this has helped some of you and given you a different perspective about the northeast during winter!

Ryan McAllister is a Team Lead in the Nursing division at Aureus Medical Group.

The post Working a contract in the Northeast in the winter months? appeared first on Aureus Medical Group’s healthcare blog provides articles and information regarding careers in travel nursing, travel therapy, allied health and more..

Eat well

Some days as we get busy running errands, Christmas shopping, or watching all the Home Alone movies, it can be easy to run through a drive-thru or eat an entire package of Oreos. Rather than binging on junk food and fast food burgers, try a healthy alternative. When in a hurry, try grabbing a salad bowl from Chipotle or a grilled chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A. While Netflixing, try a bag of popcorn, a protein shake, or some cookie dough humus. Feeling well starts from the inside out!

Stay hydrated

Drinking water has so many health benefits. It boosts skin health, helps regulate your body temperature, and helps flush body waste. Most health experts recommend drinking eight glasses of eight ounces per day, or 64 ounces of water every 24 hours. This can seem daunting, but by keeping a water bottle within reach, this is easily accomplished. If plain ol’ flavorless water isn’t your thing, you can always get a little creative! Try adding lemon, cucumber, grapefruit, or lime to give your water a little flavor and variety.

Take your vitamins

In a perfect world, we’d eat a balanced meal three times a day, pet lots of dogs, drink plenty of water, and log 10,000 steps a day. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always allow for such consistency, so we can help balance things out by taking a daily multivitamin. Just like drinking water, taking vitamins consistently gives your body the fuel and essentials it needs to be healthy.

Stay active

You don’t need a gym to get moving. Take a walk around your block to admire the Christmas lights, stretch, have a snowball fight, build an igloo, or arm wrestle your brother for the wishbone at Thanksgiving. All of these things can lead to immediate and long-term health benefits.

Get enough sleep

Lights out! Pick a good bedtime that works for you and STICK WITH IT. We all know it’s easy to start watching The Office with intentions of only one episode…and suddenly you’re six episodes deep and it’s almost midnight. While sleep needs vary from person to person, most experts recommend 7-9 hours. By planning accordingly, you’ll feel well rested in the morning, alert, and ready to tackle your day.

Remember: You only get one body and it’s so important to treat yourself well.

Amanda Briardy is an Account Manager with the Cath Lab team in the Nursing division of Aureus Medical Group.

The post Avoiding the Winter Bugs appeared first on Aureus Medical Group’s healthcare blog provides articles and information regarding careers in travel nursing, travel therapy, allied health and more..

Here are some tips to consider for the holiday season:

Everyone wants time off.

So that means everyone after the New Year will be searching for a job. This means more competition! If you are on contract, a good idea would be to see if the facility will allow you the time off for the holidays and EXTEND through the New Year. This would ensure you won’t have to fight for a job in January.

Be open and flexible about working holidays.

Travel nurses are expected to be flexible and reliable. You will get holiday pay, which is an added bonus to your paychecks. If you cannot work holidays, try to be open to working one major holiday and then off for the other if the facility would allow it.

Consider location.

Maybe you’d like a warmer location such as Florida, Arizona, or South Carolina. Or maybe you’d rather be in a location with beautiful snow, skiing, and colder climates. Vermont, Colorado, and Northern California are great places to be to enjoy the snowy outdoors. This makes for a wonderful winter!

Contact your recruiter or account manager to discuss your options through the holidays.

Whitney Hall is a Team Lead for the Skilled Nursing division at Aureus Medical Group. 

The post Traveling through the holidays appeared first on Aureus Medical Group’s healthcare blog provides articles and information regarding careers in travel nursing, travel therapy, allied health and more..

I have a team of great people I work with and I feel we are great at what we do. We go above and beyond to ask the next question, the question that will bring us insight as to who you are. Our teams take the time to listen and set ourselves apart from the others.

We don’t listen just to answer, but listen to hear and absorb. Our recruiters want to know what you are doing today, this weekend, and in the next three years. This helps us suggest what the best contract would be for you and your lifestyle. We want to hear your joy from working on the floor and love hearing how happy you are with the area and the new adventures you are encountering.

The joy I see in the pics people send me make all of the difference. I know that I was able to get them a contract and make a difference in the life of my traveler. That means the world to me. So the next time you talk to your recruiter, remember that we can’t wait to help you shape your next great story.

Ted Anderson is a Team Lead for the Nursing division of Aureus Medical Group. 

The post What Can You Expect From Your Aureus Recruiter? appeared first on Aureus Medical Group’s healthcare blog provides articles and information regarding careers in travel nursing, travel therapy, allied health and more..

Remember to listen

Many times, conflict can mask itself simply as a misunderstanding. Take a minute to reflect on the situation independently and then approach the other party. Ask them to verbalize their side of the argument and make sure that you are actively listening to their complaints. After listening, again take a moment to process the information before responding.

Remain professional.

When tensions are high, it is easy to get worked up and passionate about issues, especially when it could be related to your work performance. It is paramount that at all times you remember to represent yourself in a professional manner. You do not want to ruin chances of an extension or a return contract by acting on your emotions. Avoid profanity at all times. If you feel yourself becoming agitated, take a moment to walk away from the situation. Count to 10 before returning.

Be willing to compromise.

Once both parties have identified the issues and you are comfortable discussing solutions, consider a give and take strategy. If a coworker is upset that you had a lower patient ratio, offer your help once your patients have been cared for. It can prove beneficial to your long term relationships with coworkers if they are aware that you are willing to meet in the middle.

Ask for help.

If your attempts at a resolution have failed and you are still facing adversity, do not hesitate to get a third party involved. Whether it is another coworker, manager, or even administrative staff, remember to use your team as a resource if you feel like you cannot solve the situation on your own. Allow them to be an objective third party and weigh in on ideas that will help end the disagreement.

Being a traveler in a new place can be stressful and having work-place conflicts can make that stress worse. It is important to know that conflict is normal and unavoidable, but also to feel comfortable in your ability to navigate those tricky situations.

Mandy Winterstien is an Account Manager for the Skilled Nursing division of Aureus Medical Group.

The post Handling conflict as a traveler appeared first on Aureus Medical Group’s healthcare blog provides articles and information regarding careers in travel nursing, travel therapy, allied health and more..

How do I know if I have an active compact license?

There are a few elements to consider when determining whether your license is actively a multi-state license. First, if you are licensed in a state that is currently a member of the NLC, you need to determine if the multi-state status is applied to all licenses within that state or if you have to apply for the compact status. Even though you live in a state that’s a member of the NLC, do not assume that you carry the multi-state status. Some states apply it to all licenses and others will only add multi-state if it’s applied for directly. You can determine this by looking at your licensure paperwork or by calling the Board of Nursing for your state.

Second, your multi-state status is only active if you reside in that state (Primary State of Residence). For example, if your driver’s license and home address is in Ohio (non-NLC) but you have a Kentucky (active NLC) license, you DO NOT have a valid multi-state license. There are many facilities that will require documentation to prove that you live in the state of your multi-state license as a part of their compliance process.

My state is going compact in July or January – is my license automatically compact?

No. You will need to apply for the compact status to be added to your license. Be prepared. There may be an additional cost and paperwork required for this to be completed. As a member of the NLC, your state is agreeing to the NLC Guidelines on backgrounds, fingerprints, education, etc. and therefore you may be required to provide additional information in order to meet those guidelines. Also, you will not be able to apply for the multi-state status prior to it going into effect. (e.g. your state is enacting the compact status July 1 – you cannot apply until July 1.)

The NLC is a terrific way for states to enhance access to care for patients across the country while maintaining standard requirements for Registered Nurses. This is an evolving and constantly changing enhancement. Find the most up to date information, please visit https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm or reach out to the Board of Nursing for your state.

Ashley Peterson is an Account Manager for the Nursing division of Aureus Medical Group.

The post Nursing Licensure Compact Update appeared first on Aureus Medical Group’s healthcare blog provides articles and information regarding careers in travel nursing, travel therapy, allied health and more..