Featured Nursing Forum Topic

Going Back to School

I currently have a BA in a non-nursing field. I am wanting to go back to school to work on being an RN. My intentions are to continue on to get an MSN, perferrably as an NP or CNS. Since my intentions are to pursue an MSN, does it make a difference whether I have an ADN or BSN. Will not pursuing a BSN affect me? I would appreciate any recommendations.

Quote

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”  ~Mark Twain

Featured Travel Nurse Jobs 

Contact your recruiter or call Access Nurses at 1-866-687-7390 to inquire about the following travel nurse jobs!

Boston, Massachusetts
Dialysis
Positions: One
Shift: 10-hour days
Start Date: ASAP

Boston, Massachusetts
NICU
Positions: Two
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Sonora, California
L&D and OB
Positions: One
Shift: Nights
Start Date: ASAP

Santa Maria, California
Med Surg
Positions: One
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

San Jose, California
ICU
Positions: 18
Shift: Days and nights
Start Date: October 6

Anaheim, California
ICU
Positions: Two
Shift: 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Fountain Valley, California
ICU
Positions: One
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Fall River Mills, California
LTC LPN
Positions: One
Shift: Rotating
Start Date: ASAP

Mesa, Arizona
ER
Positions: Three
Shift: Days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Phoenix, Arizona
OR
Positions: Two
Shift: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Start Date: ASAP

Tucson, Arizona
Med Surg
Positions: One
Shift: Days
Start Date: ASAP

Kayenta, Arizona
Outpatient
Positions: Three
Shift: Days
Start Date: ASAP

Springfield, Missouri
OR
Positions: Three
Shift: 8-hour evenings
Start Date: ASAP

Sioux City, Iowa
ER
Positions: One
Shift: Days
Start Date: ASAP

Omaha, Nebraska
Tele
Positions: One
Shift: 12-hour nigthts
Start Date: ASAP

Chicago, Illinois
Med Surg and Tele
Positions: One
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Washington D.C.
MICU, SICU and PACU
Positions: 15
Shift: 8 and 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Williamsville, New York
ER
Positions: One
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Denver, Colorado
Endoscopy
Positions: One
Shift: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Start Date: ASAP

Salt Lake City, Utah
OR
Positions: Two
Shift: Variable days
Start Date: ASAP

Panama City, Florida
NICU
Positions: One
Shift: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Start Date: ASAP

Fall in Love with a New Season for Travel Nursing!

There is a moment when you just know the fall season has begun—the temperature cools, the sun sets a little earlier, you start craving the taste of pumpkin pie and you can’t wait for the holidays. That time has arrived! Yes, summer has ended and it’s time to experience the joys of travel nursing in fall. With a new season comes a new opportunity for travel nurses to try something different and reenergize their career.

Here are Access Nurses’ top picks for travel nursing destinations this fall season:

Historic New England in Boston, Massachusetts

New England is the epitome of fall season splendor. Travel nurses can enjoy all the best aspects of the season in Boston as they wander the historic, cobble-stoned streets while admiring the vibrant orange, yellow and red-hued foliage. Take on Boston by foot with guided tours throughout the year highlighting everything from the city’s architecture to its heritage. Plus, sporting events are huge in Boston in the fall—from the Red Sox baseball to the Patriots football. Learn more about fall travel nurse jobs in Massachusetts.

Harvest Season in San Francisco, California

California is a long-time favorite destination for travel nurses, and San Francisco offers the best of the fall season for travelers. The city is a wonderful medley of picturesque sights, vibrant sounds and diverse cultures. Appreciate the mild fall weather with a picnic in Golden Gate park, a bike ride through Marin County or a day of shopping in Haight-Ashbury. And with the harvest season in full bloom, travel nurses will be glad they’re just a short drive from wine country. Learn more about fall travel nurse jobs in California.

Fall Festivals in Austin, Texas

This southern beauty will help travel nurses soak up a little more sunshine since it has sunny skies throughout much of the fall months, but you’ll still get to see the leaves change colors. And autumn is a season to celebrate in Austin. From street fairs to music festivals—the city is ready to play. Favorite fall fêtes include: Old Pecan Street Fall Arts Festival (September 20-21) and the Austin Film Festival (October 11-16). Learn more about fall travel nurse jobs in Texas.

Colorful Foliage in Portland, Oregon

Pack your favorite jacket and enjoy the small-town charm combined with world-class entertainment in the city of Portland. Travel nurses seeking a mix of metropolitan and outdoor lifestyle will feel right at home here. The city has more than 70 miles of lush green hiking and cycling trails, an award-winning public transportation system and an array of leisure activities such as fall music concerts, art walks and Saturday street markets. Learn more about fall travel nurse jobs in Oregon.

Featured Nursing Forum Topic

New Travel Nurse Specialty

I am new to travel nursing and I cannot figure out what types of floors I should be open to working on. I have two years experience on an Orthopedic and Trauma Med Surg floor. I’m thinking I should be open to working on just about any Med Surg floor aside from possibly Cardiac and Oncology. Would a Transplant or Pulmonary floor be over my head?

Any suggestions?

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“I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” 
 ~Christopher Reeve

Tips for a Long and Happy Travel Nursing Career

The secrets to success for your travel nursing career are simple, yet essential. You’ve learned how to impress during an interview; how to get the job you want; and how to make friends while on assignment—which are all measures of success for a travel nurse. But now it’s time for the ultimate secrets to all-around travel nursing success. Follow these simple six steps to set yourself up for a satisfying and successful travel nursing career.

1. Swap wishing for planning.
Larry Elder once said: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Whether you want to make more money, gain personal experience and career exposure or find adventure—figure out your top priorities for becoming a travel nurse and form a plan for how you’re going to accomplish your goals. Make sure each of your travel nursing assignments strives toward those goals and don’t settle for less.

2. Stop hesitating.
What’s been keeping you from living your dream as a travel nurse? You know your excuses. Maybe you’re waiting until your kids are grown. Or perhaps you’re afraid to travel alone or you’re nervous about living in a new city? It’s time to toss your excuses out the window and take a chance. Travel nursing caters to every lifestyle—single or married, kids or no kids, veteran or newcomer.

3. Be fearless.
Travel nurses are on the right track: travel nursing assignments every 13 weeks at different cities across the country. Changing sceneries, staffs and patients creates an exciting and constantly challenging nursing career. When you spice up your lifestyle, you are encouraging new opportunities to learn and grow personally and professionally.

4. Create a support system.
There are going to be times during your travel nursing career when you feel down. This is when you’ll need a solid support system to lift your spirits, keep you motivated and offer advice. Friends, family, coworkers and even a nurse manager can create a healthy balance of encouragement and tough love when the road to success gets bumpy.

5. Don’t live for work.
Having a life that revolves around your travel nurse job can quickly wear you down and lead to the feelings of burnout that so many nurses experience. When your life is all work and no play, you leave no time to relax and reboot. Though the occasional extra shift or overtime helps fatten your wallet, overworking can cause you to lose your drive for success due to tiredness and bitterness.

6. Remember your potential.
You are a talented, educated and capable travel nurse. You’ve proved it through your work and dedication to the nursing profession. Make that statement your mantra whenever you feel disappointed or discouraged. Too often travel nurses lose sight of why they became nurses. Hold on to this simple fact: You are making a difference and making a positive impact every day.

Travel Nursing Forum Topic

Making it Through Nursing School

I was wondering if anyone has any tips on making it through nursing school. I just finished my first semester. I am married with two kids. I do not work. I want this so bad. Thanks!

Travel Nursing Quote
 
“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.”

~Arthur C. Clarke

Travel Nursing Jobs

Contact your recruiter or call Access Nurses at 1-866-687-7390 to inquire about the following travel nurse jobs!

Phoenix, Arizona
General Surgery
Positions: One
Shift: 8-hour evenings
Start Date: ASAP

Pampa, Texas
L&D
Positions: One
Shift: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Start Date: ASAP

Lawton, Oklahoma
Nursery
Positions: One
Shift: Nights
Start Date: ASAP

Watertown, New York
PACU
Positions: One
Shift: Nights
Start Date: ASAP

New York City, New York
Med Surg and CSICU
Positions: Three
Shift: 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Bronx, New York
ER
Positions: Nine
Shift: 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Gallup, New Mexico
ER
Positions: One
Shift: Rotating
Start Date: ASAP

Los Angeles, California
Cath Lab
Positions: One
Shift: 10-hour days
Start Date: September 8

Anaheim, California
COU
Positions: One
Shift: 12-hour days
Start Date: ASAP

Bakersfield, California
L&D and Tele
Positions: Six
Shift: 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Van Nuys, California
Med Surg and PACU
Positions: Three
Shift: 8 and 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Boston, Massachusetts
Step-down and Tele
Positions: Five
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Battlecreek, Michigan
L&D and OR
Positions: Two
Shift: 12-hour variable
Start Date: ASAP

Washington, D.C.
MICU, SICU and PACU
Positions: Three
Shift: 8 and 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Worry-Free Travel Nursing with Access Nurses

There is a lot that goes into planning, packing and preparing for a successful travel nurse assignment—which means plenty of potential for worrying. You deserve a break from all the stress and angst; let the travel nursing experts at Access Nurses help ease your tension so you can just focus on having the time of your life. Here’s a list of things you can scratch from your worry list while travel nursing:

Selling Yourself in the Interview
All you have to do is answer the phone and be yourself and let your recruiter set you up for success. Your recruiter will set up the phone interview once you’ve settled on a desired location and facility and even offer interview tips so you’re sure to impress your future employer.

Dealing with Paperwork, Licenses and Documents…Oh My!
Is the paperwork daunting enough to make you want to pull your hair out? Access Nurses travel liaisons are here to help. They take care of notifying you of the necessary licensure and documentation for your travel nurse job so you’re fully prepared and start on time.

Relocating for 13 Weeks
It may just be a 13-week assignment, but it’s more than a vacation, it’s your new home. Access Nurses’ housing conveniently comes fully equipped with furniture and other house wares. Plus, if you don’t want to travel alone, Access Nurses can easily accommodate any of your travel companions—from a pet-friendly apartment to a two-bedroom place for family or another travel nurse companion.

Making Friends in a Strange Land
All alone in a new city? Don’t worry for a moment about meeting new people. Travel assignments are a great way to meet new friends around the country. And Access Nurses can help by suggesting great cities for meeting people (San Francisco, San Diego and New York are some favorites) and connecting you with other Access Nurses travelers in the area.

Getting Started on Time
A late start date is the epitome of starting a travel assignment off on the wrong foot. Access Nurses is two steps ahead, ensuring that you get begin your assignment on time. They are available to answer any questions or concerns. Plus, they have copies of all your documents, tests, licenses and agreements (as should you), and are in contact with the facility about all the details of your assignment.

Benefiting While on Assignment
No more waiting for health benefits during your travel nurse assignment. Unlike with some travel companies, Access Nurses has the option of coverage starting on day one of your travel nursing job. They work with a large network of facilities and doctors to provide medical, dental and vision insurance. You will also have 401k, life insurance and family plan options.

Conquering the Great Unknown
When you begin a new assignment, sometimes it feels like the city will swallow you whole with its grandness; everything is unfamiliar. But just take it one step at a time. Ask your recruiter or travel liaison for suggestions about sights, restaurants and entertainment. They are well educated about your location and can offer some great tips. Turn this challenge into an opportunity for growth and adventure.

Featured Travel Nurse Destination

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is the capital and the most populous city in Arizona. It’s big on culture—with dozens of museums, an amusement park and city zoo—and fanatic about sports—with four major teams sporting jerseys from the city. More than a big city, Phoenix is also a natural wonder. It’s home to many parks, a botanical garden and gorgeous, scenic mountain ranges.

Weather: Summer: High: 99, Low: 74 Winter: High: 74, Low: 50
Population: 1,475,834
Nearby Cities: Mesa, Wickenburg, Globe

What Every Travel Nurse Should Bring on Assignment

Preparing for a 13-week travel nursing assignment can seem overwhelming, even if you’re a veteran travel nurse. There is so much to pack and bring—clothes, toiletries and not to mention the rest of your belongings. You want to plan well and be fully prepared for every occasion. Access Nurses helps with furniture (phew, one less thing to bring), but what about everything else you’ll need for the next three months? We’ve compiled a list of don’t-leave-home-without-it items for every traveling nurse:

• Capture Every Moment: Your camera should be at the top of your list next to clothes and your toothbrush. After all, memories are priceless, and you don’t want to forget a single one. Also, bring an extra memory card, plus the necessary cords to upload your pictures to a blog or email for your friends and family to stay updated on your travels.
• Be Your Own Handy Man: Skip the power drill, saw and wrenches, all you need is a travel size tool box containing the most basic tools—hammer, screwdriver, nails, etc.—for quick fix-it and decorating projects around your travel nurse apartment.
• Gain More Space: You can eliminate any outlet dilemmas (too few, not in the needed spot) by packing power strips and extension cords for your travel nursing assignment. These lightweight and portable items and will allow you to always have enough space for all of your needed items—from a cell phone charger to a toaster to a curling iron.
• Never Feel Stranded: Sure, you have all the necessary numbers in your cell phone, but what happens if it breaks or gets lost? Keeping an address book can save you from the panic of losing your main connection to friends, family and recruiter. It’s a helpful backup system, plus you can also keep addresses and important dates in it as well.
• Find Your Way Around: Not only will you know where to go during your travel nurse assignment, but you’ll know how to get there by investing in city guidebooks and a GPS navigation system. Guidebooks offer great tips for newcomers, from tasty restaurants, family-friendly sights and the best nightclubs. GPS systems are an investment, but a practical one for travel nurses moving to a new city so often.
• Create a Home Away From Home: Make your new apartment feel like home by bringing some personal and fun items to decorate. Framed pictures, refrigerator magnets, inexpensive artwork and rugs are all very portable and easy to take with you to each travel nurse job.
• Say Goodbye to Boredom: Whether it’s your favorite books, movies or CDs, be sure to bring them with you during your travel nurse assignment for those times when you just want to stay at home and relax, but still be entertained. A radio is also a great item to pack. You can keep up on the news, listen to music and use it as an alarm clock.
• Keep Cool For Less: Bring a small, easy-to-carry fan with you on your travel nursing assignment. Not only will you feel the breeze immediately with a fan, but you’ll save on electricity by using a fan to cool you off instead of central air conditioning.

Vote for your Favorite Access Nurses Recruiter!

Healthcare Traveler magazine is accepting nominations for the “best of the best” recruiters from travel nurse staffing companies.

From now until October 1, 2008, you can nominate your favorite Access Nurses recruiter for the “Recruiter of the Year” award. Cast your ballot online at www.HealthcareTraveler.com.

Each traveling nurse may nominate one recruiter. The recruiter who receives the most votes will appear within the “Recruiters of the Year” showcase in the December 2008 issue of Healthcare Traveler.

Now Playing on NurseTV.com 

Nurses with Heart Nurses at Camp del Corazon volunteer their time to keep an eye on their special campers—children will all forms of heart disease. WATCH IT NOW!

Travel Nursing Featured Destination

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is more than the nation’s capital—it’s its own little state. The District is home to numerous national landmarks and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. With such attractions as the White House, the Capitol buildings, Lincoln Memorial, National World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, you can examine the course of American history and heritage. And there’s no shortage of arts and entertainment in the District. The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Studio Theatre and National Theatre make the city a hub of theatrical amusement.
Weather: Summer: High: 80, Low: 53 Winter: High: 61, Low: 38
Population: 588,292
Nearby Cities: Reston, Baltimore, Falls Church

Travel Nursing Jobs

Contact your recruiter or call Access Nurses at 1-866-687-7390 to inquire about the following jobs!

Washington, D.C.
MICU and SICU
Positions: 13
Shift: 8 and 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Ganado, Arizona
ER
Positions: Two
Shift: 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Start Date: ASAP

Sitka, Arkansas
ICU and L&D
Positions: Three
Shift: 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Las Vegas, Nevada
L&D
Positions: One
Shift: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Start Date: ASAP

Nashville, Tennessee
Med Surg
Positions: Two
Shift: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Start Date: ASAP

El Paso, Texas
L&D
Positions: One
Shift: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Start Date: ASAP

Grand Junction, Colorado
CVOR
Positions: One
Shift: 8-hour days
Start Date: ASAP

Lone Tree, Colorado
ER Holding
Positions: Five
Shift: Days or nights
Start Date: September 22

Watertown, New York
PACU
Positions: One
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Kenmore, New York
ER
Positions: One
Shift: 8 and 12-hour evenings and nights
Start Date: ASAP

West Burlington, Iowa
ER
Positions: One
Shift: 10-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Fountain Valley, California
DOU Stepdown
Positions: Four
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Indio, California
PACU
Positions: One
Shift: 8 and 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Escondido, California
L&D and Post Partum
Positions: One
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: September 1

Escondido, California
ICU
Positions: Four
Shift: 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Burlingame, California
ICU and Pediatrics
Positions: Eight
Shift: 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: ASAP

Lowell, Massachusetts
L&D
Positions: Two
Shift: 8 and 12-hour evenings
Start Date: ASAP

Boston, Massachusetts
Dialysis
Positions: One
Shift: 10-hour days
Start Date: ASAP

Boston, Massachusetts
NICU
Positions: Two
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: September 22

Santa Fe, New Mexico
ER and ICU
Positions: Four
Shift: 12-hour variable
Start Date: ASAP

Travel Nursing Forum Topic

Interview Process

I will be graduating from a nursing program in December ‘08. I’m very excited. I am actually interviewing for University of Maryland’s R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Next week, I will interview with the nurse managers.

I am looking for some advice for the interview, maybe thoughts from those who know about the shock trauma units. Any advice on this process or the first year would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Travel Nurse Quote

“With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity.”

~Keshavan Nair

Travel Nurses Take Their Last Assignment Before Summer Ends

Summer is almost over, but there is still time for a travel nursing assignment that with make you great money and further your career. Take advantage of a beachside travel nurse job in California or Florida or enjoy summer in the city in New York.

Access Nurses can help you plan your next great travel nursing adventure. You will relax knowing that we take care of the details for you, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to enjoy that last weeks of summer fun.

Travel assignments are available from coast to coast with immediate start dates. Discover somewhere new before summer 2008 ends.

Call us at 866-687-7390