Travel Nurse Safety: Use technology and other tactics to stay safe while on assignment

Luckily, headlines earlier this week reporting Travel Nurse Andria C. Terrell missing were followed quickly with updates that she had been found safe and in no need of assistance whatsoever.

Terrell is from Georgia and on assignment in Eugene, Oregon. She was traveling to check out Crater Lake when her family reported her missing because they hadn’t heard from her and weren’t able to reach her by cell phone. It’s always better safe than sorry, so good on her family for being proactive, but I was relieved to hear she was just fine, traveling with a friend, and had simply encountered a bad patch of cell service.

Travel Nurse safety is pretty much the same as your safety concerns when you’re not on assignment. When traveling, it’s highly likely you’ll be more concerned with patient and clinical safety — or safely securing your life jacket to go on a boating adventure! — than worried about your personal safety.

But, like Terrell’s family, you’re always better safe than sorry, so here are a few tips for Travel Nurse safety:

Check in with Friends and Family Often

This is easy, as you’re likely to want to reach out and tell them all about the fun you’re having on assignment anyway! You could even designate a person or two with whom you will make a point to check in with at regular intervals. You should also have a safety buddy in your current city — a colleague, neighbor, or friend more geographically near that you can reach out to if necessary.

Use Technology to Stay Safe

With advanced technology there are a variety of ways you can reach out: text, email, phone call, Skype, social media, and other means. There’s a great, free app called bSafe that tracks your location and lets you have a friend virtually walk you home, sends an alarm to someone you designate if you are danger, has a flashlight — it will even make fake phone calls to your cell to interrupt a bad date or meeting! Also, always make sure your “Find My Phone” feature is enabled.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Get your housing address as soon as you can and do a little research on your new neighborhood as well as the area your facility is in. It’s also a good idea to know where the nearest police station or other emergency resources are — knowledge you might take for granted back home. Always walk with purpose and keep an eye on everything going on around you. When parking, avoid shady looking areas and situations, opting for well-lit, higher traffic areas. You should also always check the weather report to stay aware of any environmental safety concerns.

Travel with Safety Measures

Always travel with a roadside emergency kit (click here to learn more about vehicle safety) if you’re driving. If you’re on foot you can carry a whistle and/or pepper spray, in addition to tools like the BSafe app. Also, taking an introductory self-defense class can give you confidence and easy-to-learn maneuvers.

Again, anybody anywhere can benefit by following these safety precautions. You shouldn’t be especially concerned for your safety while traveling — really no more than usual.

Do you have any additional tips or thoughts to share about Travel Nurse safety? Be sure to share in the comments!

Ask a Travel Nurse: How do I know if I’m ready to try Travel Nursing?

Ask a Travel Nurse Question:

I’ve worked as an RN going on four years — one year on medical-surgical and now going on my third year in ED. In the last two years I’ve really considered Travel Nursing, but fear of the unknown and wondering if I’m ready is holding me back.

How do I know if I’m ready to try Travel Nursing?

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

Judging when you are ready to start Travel Nursing that has to be an individual assessment. However, there are some things you can ask yourself in deciding.

Are you pretty independent in your practice? Do you take the initiative in directing your patient’s care, or do you simply let things unfold? Are you proficient in your basic skills such as IV, Foley, and NG/OG insertions? Do you feel as though you have good organizational skills, or are you always one of the nurses who is staying behind an extra 15-30 minutes to get things done? Do you still seek out others for a second opinion on what is going on with your patient or if you should call the doctor?

You must be VERY independent as a Travel Nurse because the facilities are expecting a proficient nurse who can hit the ground running. For some people, this is not anything over which to be concerned. For others, it may be a little too uncertain an environment.

If you’d like to test yourself, I always tell nurses to apply at a local agency or registry and pick up a few extra shifts at other hospitals in the area. If you can go in and function independently as an agency nurse, then Travel Nursing shouldn’t be an issue (because at least with Travel Nursing, you are most likely in the same unit throughout your contract, unless of course you take a float position).

I’m sorry to say there is not any concrete way of knowing when you are ready. But feeling confident enough in your practice as a nurse, is likely half the battle.

I hope this helps you decide.

David
david@travelnursesbible.com

Stay so fresh and so clean with these 13 ways to keep your scrubs looking great.

Hi there, it’s Natasha from Tafford. We are so excited that the guys at Travel Nursing Blogs asked us for some advice about keeping scrubs looking great! If you haven’t heard of Tafford, we’ve been selling scrubs since 1986 and are known for the first retailers for selling holiday print scrubs. So you might say we know a thing or two about caring for your scrubs.

Scrubs are not just the essential nurse’s uniform, they are meant to be clean and sterile at the beginning of each shift for the safety of our patients. Use these tips for 13 ways to keep your scrubs looking great:

1. Start with high quality scrubs. While it is possible to find scrubs at bargain basement prices, chances are you will get what you pay for. To avoid having scrubs that fade and wear out quickly, purchase a great product to begin with.
2. For the most convenient and easy care scrubs choose those with a high polyester content. WonderWink 4-Stretch scrubs go from washer to dryer and look great all day long.
3. Look for scrubs with a soil release finish. The Tafford Essentials Collection offers a durable fabric that will help to make it easier to get that stain out.
4. Get them off to a good start. When you purchase a new set of scrubs, wash them in cold to warm water with an added ½ cup of vinegar for their first wash. This helps to set the color and help your scrubs last longer
5. Wash your dark ground prints in color water … the colors will stay vibrant and cheerful for longer.
6. Keep your scrubs at work. If your scrubs are kept in your locker or cubby at work, you will be less likely to wear them other places where they can pick up stains and germs that should not be brought into a medical facility. Store them in clean plastic bags to be sure that they remain sterile.
7. Whenever possible hang your scrubs to dry.  This will prevent wrinkles and will keep your scrub looking crisp.
8. Turn them inside out. When you wash your scrubs, use a sanitizing cycle to disinfect and turn your scrubs inside out to avoid unattractive piling.
9. Use a hot iron. Not only does this give your scrubs a more professional appearance, it also helps to kill any germs that may remain within the fabric.
10. 10. Wash scrubs separately from other clothing. Your scrubs require special care, and they are more likely to receive it if they are not thrown in with the rest of your family’s laundry. Depending on what area you work in, combining laundry may not be safe.
11. 11. Pre-treat stains quickly. Stains are more likely to come out of your scrubs if you soak them in a stain removal solution before washing.  Try using hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, or baking soda. Consider keeping a stain remover pen or stick on hand.
12. 12. Consider white scrubs. Colors and patterns can be cute, but if your scrubs frequently require stain treatment you may be better off with white. The ability to soak in bleach can be a worthwhile tradeoff.
13. 13. Inspect before moving to the dryer. Stains will set and become almost impossible to remove if they make their way into the dryer. Inspect your scrubs while wet to confirm that stains are gone before putting into the heat of the dryer.

What are your tricks of the trade? We’d love to hear your scrub care tips in the comments! If you liked these tips, check out Tafford’s blog where we highlight scrubs styles, industry information, and much more.

Give a Helping Hand: Create a quick video to help inspire future nurses!

I recently got the awesome opportunity to see actor Kevin Spacey speak — he was hilarious, inspiring, and informative. One of the coolest things he said had to do with helping people that come behind you in your profession. Spacey’s own mentor, the famous Jack Lemmon, told him:

“If you have done well, it’s your responsibility to send the elevator back down.”

What a great sentiment! As a nurse, you obviously care a lot about your profession. You care about patients and the delivery of healthcare, so of course you’d want to help others learn to be great nurses just like you are! Sharing your knowledge with aspiring nurses allows them to learn from your triumphs and mistakes.

Spacey has written that Lemmon taught him “that one of the most satisfying things in the world is helping others learn to do their work.”

Want in on some of that warm, fuzzy, Oscar-winning feel-good energy? Perfect timing, because Travel Nursing Blogs and Medical Solutions would like to ask you to send the elevator back down to aspiring nurses!

Simply record a 30-second or less video sharing any tips, wisdom, or inspiration you have to offer today’s nursing students, then send the video to feedback@medicalsolutions.com.

Medical Solutions will extend your excellent, expert advice by sharing these video contributions with a group of nursing students at the 12th Annual UC Davis Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professions National Conference, October 11-12, 2014.

Nurses like you are truly the experts on what it takes to make it through nursing school, choose a specialty, pass the NCLEX, and launch a successful career in nursing that serves both you as a nurse as well as your patients, their families, and communities.

What do you wish you’d known when you were in nursing school? As Mr. Spacey would advise, send that elevator back on down and help inspire future nurses!

Ask a Travel Nurse: What questions should I ask my Travel Nurse recruiter?

Ask a Travel Nurse Question:

What questions should I ask my Travel Nurse recruiter that I probably wouldn’t know to ask?

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

There is no “set” list of questions you should ask, other than those on which you feel you need more information. If you don’t understand what a “tax advantage program” entails, how the company handles your housing, if they match anything for their 401K plan, basically anything on which you lack knowledge, feel free to ask.

Your recruiter should be your resource in the company and should be willing to spend the time with you to answer all your questions. This is also a good assessment tool in knowing how good a recruiter you may have been paired with, as those who do not have much experience may not know the answers, fumble through them, or even grow impatient with having to answer them. As much of your travel experience is dependent on having a great recruiter, you will want to assess this any time you begin with a new company. Whether or not you are with a good “company” is only half the battle — a recruiter matters a lot!

If you’d like any assistance with getting paired up with some great recruiters, feel free to email me at david@travelnursesbible.com

Hope this helps.

David
david@travelnursesbible.com

I’ll Take Two!: Coffee can be a Travel Nurse’s best friend when it come to re-energizing.

To state the utterly obvious, nursing is exhausting work! And, as a Travel Nurse, you’re often just as on the go on your days off — out exploring the world and all the cool stuff to see and do around your current location. So how can a Travel Nurse keep his or energy up with everything they’ve got going on, both on and off the job?

Here are 4 ways Travel Nurses can keep their energy up:

Eat Right

I know it’s hard when you’re so busy, but try to make time to eat right and you’ll notice a payoff when it comes to your energy levels. Your body needs fuel to run, just like a car. And if you don’t eat enough or give it the right nutrition, that’s like putting sugar in the gas tank, so to speak. Think nuts — walnuts or almonds are great, whole grains, and protein. Also, don’t skip meals and make sure you get plenty of water to stay properly hydrated!

Exercise

I know you get plenty of exercise walking around on the job, but dedicate some time for yourself to exercise that’s just about you. It sounds counterintuitive when all you want to do is crash on the couch, but exercise is proven to help maintain overall energy levels. And it’s great mental exercise to be able to move your body when your brain isn’t focused on patient care. It’s a great time to take stock of your life or let your mind wander — it can be almost meditative. Whether you hit the gym, trail, or just take a stroll around your neighborhood, we promise you’ll feel better!

Coffee!

Tell me something I don’t know! Right? Most nurses have a close personal relationship with their java. Plus, every other study that comes out says coffee is good for your health. So, you’ve got about a 50/50 chance that you’re benefitting your health while also reviving yourself to take on the day (or night)! Can’t drink coffee? Try green tea. Most varieties have a lighter dose of caffeine and it’s a great option for those who are sensitive to coffee.

Chat With a Friend

Whether by phone, Skype, or in person, connecting with a friend is a great way to energize your mind and spirit — which also has a physical impact. Get in touch with someone you love, have a laugh, and catch up. Just connecting with someone else who gets you can be a real boon for your energy levels. No frenemies or toxic people — that will only backfire.

Do you have anything else to add to our list of 4 ways Travel Nurses can keep their energy up? Please share anything that works well for you in the comments!

Ask a Travel Nurse: What can I expect for Travel Nurse housing?

Ask a Travel Nurse Question:

I am planning to start Travel Nursing soon and I have no idea what to expect or ask about when it comes to housing. What can I expect for Travel Nurse housing?

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

Hopefully before you sign anything, you are told what to expect in the form of housing.

While many companies will provide a one-bedroom apartment, free of charge, there are companies out there who utilize extended stay hotels to save money on housing. So, you will want to discuss this up-front with your recruiter and it should be specified in your contract.

Assuming your company does provide a one-bedroom, after you have signed your contract, contact your company’s housing department and ask where they normally house travelers in the location to which you are headed. They will likely already have a complex that they use in the area.

Then you may look it up on a site like rent.com or apartments.com and see the amenities and check out the part of town in which it is located. If there are any issues, contact not only the housing department, but also your recruiter. Your recruiter should be your “problem-solver” at the company and follow-up on anything related to your contract.

Sometimes, you may not realize issues or problems until you arrive. While this is not the norm, I have been greeted by trashed apartments and one complex in which the police LITERALLY had guns drawn on a suspect laying down in the courtyard outside my apartment (THE FIRST DAY I ARRIVED!), your travel company should solve those issues for you. You may need to be very proactive in some instances (in the aforementioned situation  I found a safe complex and told my travel company, “I want to stay here. Work it out!”).

Good communication is key in knowing what to expect in the way of housing and make sure anything promised is in your contract.

Hope this helps.

David

david@travelnursesbible.com

Thank you Freedom Summer nurses!

As Summer 2014 draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to remember Freedom Summer nurses.

This summer was the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, which was also known as the Mississippi Summer Project. The campaign was an effort to register African American voters in Mississippi — which was infamous for attempts at voter intimidation and exclusion during the era — in an effort to give them more say and political power within their communities. Freedom Summer also worked to offer aid to students and community members in many other capacities.

The Medical Committee for Human Rights (MCHR) included 100+ nurses, doctors, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals. While they were not licensed to practice in the state of Mississippi, they were able to deliver crucial emergency care and first-aid to activists, civil rights workers and volunteers, and community members. Their work was extremely important and needed!

In the then-segregated south, many African American patients were regularly denied treatment at certain hospitals and by certain doctors, regardless of how sick they were. For some community members MCHR even provided the first professional healthcare they’d ever had.

That refusal of treatment also extended to civil rights activists. According to Civil Right Movement Veterans, “Of those few [doctors and nurses] willing to care for African Americans, fewer still were willing to risk the wrath of the White Citizens Council and Ku Klux Klan by treating civil rights workers. It often took hours to get ill or wounded movement activists to a hospital or to a doctor who would treat them.”

As the fight for civil rights continued to rage in the Deep South, MCHR continued its Mississippi efforts and also expanded into Alabama and Louisiana. In addition to providing essential care and treatment, members of  the group supported and even marched alongside protesters.

Thanks to all of the nurses involved with the MCHR, who took on an incredibly difficult and dangerous mission!

Ask a Travel Nurse: How does car insurance work for Travel Nurses?

Ask a Travel Nurse Question:

How does car insurance work for Travel Nurses when traveling between different states? Do you have to get a new policy in every state you work in, or is there a nationwide policy?

Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:

I cannot say for certain how it works with each individual insurance company. However, I have been with State Farm forever, and the only place where I have had to change anything with my insurance was when I traveled to Hawaii.

However, when I was in Hawaii I could still be insured with State Farm, but I needed to change my auto insurance policy to a local State Farm agent on the island due to Hawaii’s insurance coverage laws being a bit different than those in the continental U.S.

I would imagine that most of your larger companies (i.e. State Farm, Geico, Nationwide, etc.), would allow you to set up a policy that would cover you nationwide.

The best advice I can give, is to contact each company through the main number they give on their websites, tell them your situation, and ask if they can give you a quote and how you would need to go about setting up a policy that would cover you throughout the U.S.

To find out which auto insurance companies are prevalent in the U.S., just type in “auto insurance companies” or “best auto insurance companies” and spend some time researching each to see which meets your needs.

Hope this helps.

David
David@travelnursesbible.com

Sweet and sassy Nurse Carla Espinoza is one of our 10 Best TV Nurses.

All the Emmy Awards buzz earlier this week got me thinking about nurses on TV. Whether drama or comedy, it’s definitely hard to capture just exactly what makes nurses so special. But when shows get it right, it can be very cool to watch.

Last year Travel Nursing Blogs covered the MTV reality show “Scrubbing In,” which followed Travel Nurses at work and at play. We even got the chance to speak with Nurse Tyrice, and whether you loved or hated the show, it was definitely something to see …

That said, we decided to exclude reality stars from our 10 Best TV Nurses list. Check it out, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments!

In no particular order, here are Travel Nursing Blogs’ 10 Best TV Nurses:

Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), “Scrubs”

Her eye-roll is so on point! It’s obviously perfected from years of suffering through her husband, Turk, and his best friend J.D.’s wacky antics. Reyes’ sister, a real-life licensed RN, is said to have inspired her performance, particularly Nurse Espinoza’s sass and devotion to her patients.

Nurse Epiphany Johnson (Sonya Eddy), “General Hospital”

Originally almost too stereotypically tough-as-nails, Head Nurse Johnson has softened over the years. She’s still not one to mince words, but she’s now portrayed with more humanity, and whoa boy can she sing — as evidenced by her Nurses Ball performances.

Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia), “Heroes”

A hospice nurse turned hero, Nurse Peter Petrelli, is sensitive, compassionate, and able to take on the powers of others. Like so many nurses, he has superpowers and is truly a hero.

Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan (Loretta Swit), “M*A*S*H”

Literally born in an Army hospital, Nurse Houlihan is as brash and by-the-book as she is skilled at nursing — not to mention her knack for speaking out against sexism amid a sea of squirrely male colleagues. Over the show’s 11-year run, Swit was able to create a more multi-dimensional character. Actress Sally Kellerman played Houlihan in the film version.

Lieutenant Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delaney), “China Beach”

Growing up with five brothers primed Lt. Colleen McMurphy for the boys club that was serving in the Vietnam War, however her background as a Kennedy-era Camelot Catholic from Kansas also made the atrocities of war a rude awakening. Delaney won two Emmys for her portrayal of McMurphy, a composite based on several real-life Vietnam War nurses who displayed everything that noncombatant personnel face, and the unending grace and courage they must display.

Carol Hathaway (Juliana Margulies), “ER”

Nurse Manager Hathaway once told an arrogant surgeon, “… if you would step off your pedestal maybe you would realize it’s the nurses that make this place run and not you.” Bam! We’d also be remiss not to mention two other incredible “ER” nurses: Sam Taggart (Linda Cardellini) and Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney).

Jackie Peyton (Edie Falco), “Nurse Jackie”

Nurse Jackie is a fan-favorite with, um, other habits besides great patient care … But, while Jackie’s personal life may be a mess of pills and infidelity, she’s devoted to providing great patient care in the ER. While the character has been criticized for her violation of nursing’s code of ethics, she also showcases how deftly nurses navigate chaos and juggle everything on their plates.

Helen Rosenthal (Christina Pickles), “St. Elsewhere”

Embodying the popular trope of the blunt, no-nonsense Head Nurse, Helen Rosenthal kept things afloat through various crises — from staffing shortages to a chronically whack computer system. She famously called doctors by their first names, was married four times, and, after a breast cancer diagnosis and dramatic accompanying storyline, Rosenthal had a mastectomy, which was TV first in its time.

Julia Baker (Diahann Carroll), “Julia”

Premiering in the late 1960s, Julia centered on a young, widowed, single mother and nurse. After losing her husband to the Vietnam War, Julia works to maintain her career and raise her son, Corey. While not without some critical derision, the show is credited as the first weekly series in which an African American lead female character was portrayed in a non-stereotypical role.

Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones), “Parks and Recreation”

It’s hard to think of her without hearing Rob Lowe perkily and incessantly repeat her full name. Nurse Ann Perkins acts as an excellent comedic straight (wo)man to best friend Leslie Knope. From Galentine’s Day to “ovaries before brovaries” and beyond, the duo’s sweet, hilarious, best friendship is everything.

Honorable Mentions: Christina Hawthorne (Jada Pinkett Smith in “Hawthorne”), (Mercy), Kitty Forman (“That ‘70s Show)”, Dell Parker (“Private Practice”), Rory Williams (“Doctor Who”)

So, what do you think about our choices for the 10 Best TV Nurses? Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments.