TNS Blog

New Mindfulness Program Effective for Healthcare Professionals - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT

New Mindfulness Program Effective for Healthcare Professionals

Posted September 9th, 2020

Stress is common among healthcare workers. The rising levels of burnout in doctors and nurses have raised concerns about how to best support these key members of society.

Most healthcare stakeholders agree that it is important that we improve the quality of life and job satisfaction in people working in healthcare, especially healthcare providers who content with some of the more stressful work environments.

Research into the impact of mindfulness has revealed in recent years how effective this technique can be in reducing stress. Even in healthcare workers, who have particularly stressful jobs, mindfulness has been shown to successfully improve symptoms of stress and anxiety. However, because mindfulness programs are often quite time-consuming, many healthcare workers are unwilling or unable to pursue this type of stress management approach.

Scientists behind a new study, published in JAMA Network Open, have investigated the potential of shorter mindfulness interventions that require less of a time commitment to improving stress and anxiety in healthcare professionals. For their study, researchers put 43 healthcare workers through 7.5 hours of mindfulness training – across 5 separate sessions. To understand the impact of the mindfulness intervention, they compared their results with those of 35 healthcare workers who did not go through the mindfulness program and therefore served as controls.

The data the researchers collected demonstrated that the mindfulness program was associated with reduced stress and anxiety. Compared to those who did not practice mindfulness, those who did displayed lower levels of stress and anxiety.

The participants in this study ranged in age from 23 years old to 48 years old, and only 17% of those in the study were men. More research is needed to corroborate these findings as well as to explore whether this type of brief mindfulness program is as effective in other age groups and to ensure that it is as effective in men and it is in women. Nonetheless, these new data provide a promising perspective on our ability to provide healthcare workers with a much-needed practical strategy to manage work-related stress.

Reference

Ameli, R. et al. (2020). Effect of a brief mindfulness-based program on stress in health care professionals at a US biomedical research hospital. JAMA Network Open, 3(8), e2013424.

Categories:

A Quick Guide to Starting a Rewarding Career in Nursing - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT

A Quick Guide to Starting a Rewarding Career in Nursing

Posted September 9th, 2020

Whether you’re choosing a college major for the first time, thinking about going back to school, or the coronavirus crisis has inspired you to pursue a rewarding career in healthcare, this short guide will introduce you to the requirements you’ll need to meet in order to land the nursing job of your dreams.

While some colleges are waiving certain nursing school admission requirements amid COVID-19, you’ll typically need to earn a degree in your chosen career path, obtain clinical experience, and become licensed in the state where you live. To learn about the schooling and training requirements you’ll need to meet to pursue a rewarding career in healthcare, read on!

Types of Nursing Careers

If you’re ready to embark on a career in nursing, you’ll first need to explore the different types of job opportunities requiring a nursing degree. With a degree in nursing or healthcare, you could work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN), or an Advanced Practice Nurse such as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), or Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). Other possible career paths include nursing administration and nursing informatics.

When choosing the right nursing career path for you, you’ll want to consider things like annual pay, job outlook, work environment, and schooling and training requirements. Registered Nurses earned a median salary of $73,300 in 2019, but you’ll earn the highest salary if you work as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, General Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, or Certified Nurse Midwife. However, these career paths require more schooling and certifications than other nursing careers do.

Schooling and Training Requirements

For most jobs in nursing, schooling and training requirements vary by career path. However, you’ll typically need a Nursing diploma and an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). Advanced nursing careers often require a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) and/or Doctoral degree.

If you’ll be working toward your college degree while continuing to work full-time, an online bachelor’s or master’s degree program in nursing or healthcare could be right for you. Online degree programs provide you with the flexibility to complete your coursework as your schedule allows, and you’ll learn everything you need to succeed as a healthcare worker. Through schools like Western Governors University, for instance, you can earn a nursing degree online and obtain the skills and credentials you need to make a positive difference in the lives of your patients and the local community.

In addition to these schooling requirements, you’ll need to undergo clinical training as part of your education program, become licensed in your state of residence, and complete one or more nursing examinations. Depending on your chosen career path, these examinations include the:

National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).
National certifications under the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or American Nurses Credentialing Center.
National certifications under the American Midwifery Certification Board and/or National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.

Land a Rewarding Job in Nursing

Once you’ve obtained the schooling, training, and certifications you need to pursue a career in nursing, you can begin to utilize nurse staffing agencies and online job boards. Some of the best job boards for nurses include NurseJobz, RNWanted, NurseFinders, and Healthecareers. If you love to travel and welcome the opportunity to work in new and interesting places, a job as a traveling nurse can be a great choice once you have one to two years of experience, but you can use this time to develop and grow in your career. Traveling nurses can work around the country, with additional perks like great pay and extra bonuses. Agencies like Trusted Nurse Staffing can put you on the path toward a rewarding travel assignment.

To find the most rewarding nursing job for you, take the time to think about your greatest interests and passions before you start applying for available positions. Nursing is a stressful field — especially in the age of COVID-19 — and it’s important to choose an area you’re passionate about to prevent burnout and be the best healthcare worker you can possibly be.

If you’re ready to jump into the healthcare field, earning a degree in nursing can be an incredible way to make a living and make a difference in the lives of others. Get started today so you can take your career to new heights!

By Julia Merrill

BeFriendYourDoc.org

Categories:

The Evidence for How Mask Wearing is Protecting Healthcare Workers - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT

The Evidence for How Mask Wearing is Protecting Healthcare Workers

Posted August 26th, 2020

As research on COVID-19 and its transmission has accumulated, more stringent guidelines around mask-wearing have come to the fore. The impact of masks on preventing COVID-19 infection was initially debated, but the data show that masks are likely effective in preventing droplets containing the virus from entering our respiratory systems. What does this mean for healthcare workers?

With healthcare workers on the frontlines, caring for COVID-19 patients, many people have worried that these vital members of the medical community will suffer due to a lack of sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE). Luckily, the evidence is pointing to masks as a successful preventative measure that can keep healthcare workers from getting sick with COVID-19.

This new research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), has demonstrated how mask wearing has been associated with reduced numbers of COVID-19 infections amongst healthcare workers in the Boston area. The data come from 12 hospitals that reported COVID-19 test results and mask wearing behavior of around 10,000 healthcare workers.

Before mask-wearing became mandatory across these hospitals, positive COVID-19 test rates drastically increased from 0% to over 21%. However, once mask-wearing was universally implemented across these hospitals in late March, the rate of positive tests decreased.

According to the authors of the new research letter, this new evidence highlights the value of masks both in and outside of hospitals for preventing the spread of COVID-19, particularly in places where people cannot adequately engage in social distancing. However, given that one of the barriers for mask wearing appears to be that masks can be uncomfortable – especially when worn for long periods of time – experts are also calling on innovators to help identify ways to make masks more wearable so that people are more willing to wear them.

While healthcare workers are critical for helping those affected by the pandemic, healthcare workers themselves are also susceptible to this virus. More research into the influence of specific measures against COVID-19 should help us better understand how we can protect our healthcare community while treating those afflicted with COVID-19.

Reference

Brooks, J.T., Butler, J.C. & Redfield, R.R. (2020). Universal masking to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission – The time is now. JAMA, doi:10.1001/jama.2020.13107

Categories:

Top States for Travel Nursing in August 2020 - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Top States for Travel Nursing in August 2020

Posted August 26th, 2020

Travel Nursing is a great way to see the entire country while also earning premium wages. It can be exciting but also overwhelming to decide where you might want to go to work.

One of the inconveniences of travel nursing is that you need to be licensed to work in each state. Thus, it is not always easy to jump from state to state due to licensure restrictions. When asking yourself about the top states for travel nursing, you may want to consider getting a compact license so that you can work in all compact states without having to worry about going through the licensure process for each state individually. There are many deciding factors that go into choosing which state to work in including; highest pay, desirable location, or close to family/friends. This post is all about which state nurses should be looking into right now!

Virginia

Virginia is one of the top states for travel nursing for several reasons. The state has seen steady job postings recently especially with the rise of COVID-19, so there are plenty of openings across all different specialties. Virginia has a vast and diverse area to work from such as the large metro area outside of Washington D.C., mountainous terrain of the western part of the state, and coastal towns. Travelers can find any type of environment they desire in the state of Virginia.

Another reason to travel here is that Virginia is a compact state, so if you are a compact license holder you will not need to worry about the licensure process to be able to make this move. The state also has a quick turn around for obtaining a single state license. A Virginia license should be processed in 10 business days once all required documentation is received. Check out the Virginia board of nursing website for additional details.

Arizona

Arizona is another great state for travel nurses to consider. Geographically Arizona offers mountains, desert, and mild weather 9 months out of the year. Because snowbirds (people moving to warmer climates in the winter months) tend to flock here, there is a steady need for travel nurses and other healthcare professionals in the winter months. Winter is a great time to be in Arizona with mild temperatures present in most of the state and compared to other states there is a relatively low cost of living. Also, housing can typically be found for less in Arizona than in other parts of the country, which increases your net pay while on assignment! Arizona is also a compact state, again which makes the move very simple for compact license holders and a single state license for Arizona typically takes 2-4 weeks to obtain.

Alaska

While Alaska should be a bucket list state for everyone, it is definitely one of the top states for travel nurses to consider. Travel nurses and other healthcare professionals have the amazing opportunity to live, work, and be part of communities in popular travel destinations and Alaska would provide a very unique experience. It is the largest of the U.S states and would meet the goals for anyone who is seeking an adventure. Many travelers will choose to take the once in a lifetime road trip from the “lower 48” to Alaska and take in the breathtaking views and unparalleled scenery. During this trip, travelers can travel the famous Alaskan- Canadian Highway and have a gorgeous view of the mountains and even see a random caribou or sheep near the road.

In the summer you can find salmon runs, gorgeous hikes, wildlife, and wildflowers. In the winter months, you can have endless fun in the snow and see the coveted northern lights. No matter what time of the year you go, travelers won’t be disappointed. With so much nature to explore and plenty of opportunities to social distance in the wilderness, Alaska is an ideal state to work in during the pandemic. An Alaska license can take a bit of time, with an average turnaround time of 8 weeks. so, if you want to get to Alaska give yourself plenty of time to get licensed! While you are waiting for your license you can plan out all of the adventures you plan to have and all the sites you will need to see during your trip.

The top states for travel nursing are always changing and there are plenty of places to work across the U.S, so make sure to talk to a recruiter at Trusted Nurse Staffing today!

Categories:

Travel Nurse Requirements- Mastering Onboarding - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Travel Nurse Requirements- Mastering Onboarding

Posted August 11th, 2020

Among the long list of travel nurse requirements, most nurses can agree that the onboarding and credentialing process is the most tedious.

Kudos to you! Choosing to become a travel nurse is a major decision but you’ve decided it’s the right one for you. Now it’s time to consider the travel nurse requirements; don’t worry we’ve got your back. If you have been working as a staff nurse, the chances are that you’ve already got a majority of the documents that you will need to become a traveler.

The first thing to remember when tackling the onboarding and credentialing process is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Working with Trusted means that you have a dedicated compliance associate assigned to your file. The compliance team members are experts in their field, and have years of experience dealing with even the most unique of scenarios. Any question that you have, they will be able to help you through.

The next thing to consider is that even if you have been on multiple travel assignments, each facility is different. All too often a nurse assumes that because they have successfully completed onboarding at one hospital, that the next hospital’s onboarding will be easy breezy. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Our goal at Trusted is to make every step of the onboarding process as simple as possible for our nurses. If you follow these tips you will be able to glide through credentialing at even the toughest of facilities.

Gather Your Compliance Documents

Once you have accepted an assignment, you will be assigned a compliance associate who will provide you with a list of the facility’s travel nurse requirements. Some facilities will have higher standards and more requirements than others, especially if they are certified by the Joint Commission.

The typical list of items you will be expected to provide are:

Physical/Statement of good health within the last year
N95 respirator fit test within the last year
TB testing (PPD or IGRA Testing) within the last year
Current season’s flu shot (this is sometimes required for facilities even outside of flu season)
- Some facilities will accept a flu declination and others do not
MMR Documentation
- 2 vaccines or positive titres
Hepatitis B Documentation
- 3 vaccines, positive titres or annual declination
Varicella Documentation
- 2 vaccines or positive titres
TDaP vaccine within 10 years
Drug screen (your compliance associate should set this up for you)
Nursing License (or registration certificate depending on what state you are in)
BLS, ACLS, and other certifications required based on specialty (most facilities require these certifications to be completed through the American Heart Association. If a nurse provides a BLS, ACLS or PALS through a different organization the chances of it being rejected by the facility greatly increase. To avoid having to do double the work, choose the AHA as a best practice)
I-9 Documentation (Driver’s License/Passport and Social Security Card/Birth Certificate)

Don’t be concerned if you are missing items from the list above, most nurses are. That is why you chose to work with an agency! Any missing items will be set up for you and paid for by Trusted.

Agencies are also required to conduct a background check on you. It is helpful to have a detailed resume that provides any city and state that you’ve lived in going back 7 years. Be sure to explain any gaps of employment. Having as many of these items as possible turned in to your compliance associate upfront could significantly speed up your onboarding.

Keep a File of your Medical Documents

Once you have successfully completed the credentialing process, the best thing you can do for yourself is to create a file and keep these documents organized. As a traveler, you will be asked for these documents repeatedly, so having them all in one central location will save you a major headache on your second go around. If your agency is paying for documents, be sure to get them for your file after the service is completed.

Ways to Keep Your Own Compliance File

Pictures in a file on your phone or email
A binder containing all the documents
Google Drive or Google Spreadsheets with the “add alert” feature
Third-party apps like Nurse Backpack or CertAlert+
Manage your credentials in your Trusted Nurse Staffing profile – COMING FALL 2020

Get Organized

It is tough not to get overwhelmed when you see the list of travel nurse requirements however, it is doable. When you first obtain the list, go through and send in everything that you already have. These are items like your driver’s license, social security card, nursing license, etc. Begin working on the list again.

Now, discuss with your compliance associate which items will take the longest to complete and get started on them right away. Multitasking is great but if you can chip off smaller pieces and keep your sanity it could be worth it. You should complete your drug screen and any medical requirements in the first few days. There are sometimes forces beyond your control such as delayed blood work testing or a lost drug screen specimen that can really create a ripple in the process.

You should also take note of how much facility-specific testing or paperwork is required as soon as possible. Many nurses wait until the last minute to work on these items and end up realizing they are more time consuming than they originally thought.

Be Flexible

One of the most frustrating parts of travel nursing is the credentialing process. Even if you do everything right, there is still a chance that the facility will have a last-minute change, or even reject some of your documents based on a technicality. The best thing that you can do in this situation is be flexible. Understand that everyone is just doing their jobs and their ultimate goal is to get you to work! Is it frustrating that travel nurses have to get several PPDs a year while staff nurses only need one? Of Course! But take the bad with the good, you are considered an expert in your field to be hired as a travel nurse and sometimes that means dealing with higher standards. A positive attitude can make the difference in having a pleasant onboarding experience.

Communicate with your Compliance Associate

100% of successful onboardings have one thing in common. The nurses and the compliance team are in constant communication. Your associate should be reaching out to you at least 3 times per week however, they are there for you EVERY DAY!

The smoothest onboardings happen when not only is compliance communicating what they need to, but when the nurses are not afraid to ask questions.

You are NEVER a bother to your associate when asking them questions about the onboarding process, even if it feels like you are reaching out to them 3 times a day, I promise you, they love it! The more you speak with them, the less chance there is for anything to sneak up and surprise you.

If you follow these tips, you will be able to master the onboarding process. You will be able to start your assignment with a clear mind, and be ready to do what you do best!

Categories:

Tips for Finding Travel Nurse Housing - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Tips for Finding Travel Nurse Housing

Posted July 28th, 2020

Finding Travel Nurse Housing can be one of the most challenging aspects of taking on a travel assignment.

It can be difficult to find short term furnished housing that’s not outrageously priced and it can take a few assignments to really get the hang of how to find housing. Here are some tips to find housing for your next travel assignment!

Do Your Research

When you are a travel healthcare worker your pay consists of an hourly rate and various tax-free stipends. The stipends usually include one specifically for housing (which is sometimes the largest chunk of where your take-home pay comes from). As long as you qualify, housing stipends are tax-free. If you do your research, you can almost always find cheaper housing than your housing stipend, making that extra money equal cash in your pocket. Thus, finding inexpensive housing is a good way to increase your income while on assignment.

Decide Which Option Is Best For You

Finding travel nurse housing can be overwhelming. You’re probably wondering what’s the best way to go about it? Typically when you travel around every three months, it is not ideal to travel with furniture. Thus, most of the time you will need a furnished apartment/hotel that allows you to stay short term.

A short term lease and rent furniture

Many apartment complexes have short term leases. It can be a bit more difficult to find less than 6 months but they are out there. Look for apartment complexes close to your next assignment and call.

Do not just depend on what it says on the website, always make a call and ask to speak with the owner/ building manager. Sometimes apartment complexes won’t advertise short term leases and will run 3-month leases if they have several vacancies.

If you are able to find a short term apartment, you can then rent furniture. This can be done at places like Cort or Aarons. Another inexpensive option is to buy cheaply and resell/donate when you leave. Check out local thrift stores, Facebook market place, and Craigslist for inexpensive furniture to use during your temporary assignment.

Private short term rentals

The next option is to try and find privately-owned short term furnished housing. Similar to vacation rentals, this could be a privately-owned condo, a room in someone’s home, an entire house, or even an RV. Travelers can usually contact owners directly through the website they were found on.

Check out these commonly used resources:

Craigslist: This site can be taboo but it really is the go-to for most landlords. Always try and talk on the phone with the landlord or even face time/zoom. Be cautious of any housing scams and never give out your personal information or a deposit until you are certain that the apartment/space is legitimate. Travelers may also have success by placing their own “housing wanted” ad on Craiglist, and then having landlords contact them.

Airbnb: This is a great resource for travelers to find housing. If you are a traveling professional, hosts will be more likely to want to rent to you and see you as a responsible tenant. If you can commit to three months, hosts are also sometimes willing to give you a discounted rate as Airbnb is mostly based on a per night basis. Make sure you message the host and ask before you book directly through the site.

Furnished Finder: This is a website that was created for travel nurses! (and other traveling healthcare professionals) This is a great tool to use because all landlords understand what travelers go through and what their needs are. On this site, you will find a plethora of short term furnished rentals, with reasonable cancellation notices.

VRBO: VRBO stands for Vacation Rentals by Owner. These can be expensive per night but sometimes you will find landlords who will provide a discount for monthly short term rentals, similar to Airbnb.

Extended Stay Hotels

Travelers do not always think of hotels as a place where they could live for 3 months at a time, but it’s actually a great option for finding travel nurse housing. Many extended stay hotels will offer discounts to travel healthcare agencies so that their employees can live affordably during their assignments. They can also come with insanely awesome amenities such as free breakfast, full kitchens, wifi, tenant mixers, swimming pools, and gyms. If you think this could be an option for you, ask your recruiter if they have a list of hotels in your area that are doing traveler rates.

Use Your Recruiter

Chances are you will not be the first traveler to go to your travel job location. Your recruiters will have ideas of where past travelers have stayed in that city and can sometimes get you connected to other travelers for references. They may even be able to connect you with other responsible travelers who are looking for roommates, which could ultimately help you save money on housing. Recruiters also have the inside scoop on whether or not the hospital you will be working at offers housing for it’s travelers and they can connect you with someone who would be in charge of that.

In conclusion, it can be stressful and confusing finding travel nurse housing for your new assignment, but as long as you do your research, know which option is best for you and use your recruiter as a resource you will find something every time!

Categories:

New Data Shows How E-Cigarettes Harm Oral Health - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT

New Data Shows How E-Cigarettes Harm Oral Health

Posted July 14th, 2020

Since e-cigarettes were introduced in 1990, healthcare professionals have worried that advertising claims that these products offer a healthier alternative to cigarettes may be misleading. Specifically, there has been concern that consumers may have false beliefs about the safety of e-cigarettes.

Of the 6% of electronic cigarette-using Americans, 3 million are high school children, so parents are also interested in understanding the health implications of e-cigarette use. Research into e-cigarettes and their impact has picked up in recent years as more and more people have begun using these products.

A new study, published in Science Advances, has contributed new knowledge on what effects e-cigarettes have and how they lead to these effects. To investigate the influence of e-cigarettes on people’s health, the researchers studied genes in people with distinct smoking habits.

The scientists found that those who use e-cigarettes have a specific protein expression pattern that differs significantly from that of both cigarette smokers and controls. The differences in these groups was big enough that when the researchers applied a machine learning technique to their genomic data, the machine learning approach could correctly identify whether a person was an e-cigarette user or not at least 90% of the time.

The effects of e-cigarettes on the immune system were highlighted by this study, which showed that e-cigarette users displayed higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines than people who had never used these products. The stress of e-cigarettes on the areas underlying the gums led to physiological changes that, according to the authors, are consistent with severe periodontitis.

The researchers of this study asked even more specific questions about the mechanisms by which e-cigarettes harm parts of the oral cavity. While their findings begin to uncover these mechanisms, more research is needed to determine exactly what happens to our health when we use e-cigarettes.

This information should and will help to inform policies around appropriate advertising for e-cigarettes and also equip nurses and other healthcare workers to educate patients on the realities of e-cigarettes.

Reference

Ganesan, S.M. et al. (2020). Adverse effects of electronic cigarettes on the disease-naïve oral microbiome. Science Advances, 6: eaaz0108

Categories:

Travel Healthcare - Is it Right for You? - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Travel Healthcare – Is it Right for You?

Posted June 24th, 2020

Deciding on a travel healthcare career can be a big decision. I have been working as an Occupational Therapist for about 7 years now, and I LOVE being a travel therapist. For healthcare professionals, there are two main routes you can take in your career. One is the traditional full-time permanent position, the other is a non-permanent, contracted position. Technically speaking, a travel position IS a temporary contracted position. This means the healthcare professional is contracted to work for a set period of time at a facility/organization either independently or through an agency, such as Trusted Nurse Staffing.

There are pros and cons to each type of career path. I’ve been a travel Occupational Therapist for most of my career and as of now, due to my current goals and priorities, travel therapy is the best fit for me. A traveling healthcare career is possible for many different healthcare disciplines including nurses, therapists, techs, and more. Here is why a career in traveling healthcare may be best for you!

You get to Travel

As a healthcare professional you are eligible to work in any state you are licensed. Deciding where the best place to go is up to you and your recruiter. It’s always a great idea to speak to a recruiter, to see what areas are trending and where you are likely to get a travel position you need. Most agencies have a job board where you can see what positions they have open and in what states. Once you are licensed in a state you are able to work there temporarily.

If you love exploring new places this may be a great career for you. It’s a more viable experience to actually live and work in a community instead of just visiting. A traveler can really learn about the community and have time to explore all a place has to offer. As a travel OT, I have lived in Maryland, Texas, California, Arizona, Alaska, and New Mexico!

Flexibility

A travel healthcare position offers a lot more flexibility than a permanent position. A permanent position typically has set days off for an employee. With travel healthcare, you have the luxury to work when you want. I often take one or two weeks off between jobs to take long road trips between locations as well as to visit friends and family. When I work as a travel OT, I work on average 10 months a year and make more money than I would working the whole year at a permanent position.

It’s also important to know as a traveler there is no paid time off. However, I’ve discovered the “no work, no pay” part of travel healthcare, is made up for by the increase in pay when you are working.

More Money

Working less and making more money is appealing to me, as I am sure it is to most. When you are a travel healthcare professional you are in high demand, which drives up your salary. Since you are a traveling employee you are entitled to nontaxable stipends; including housing, meals, and travel. The hourly salary for a traveling healthcare professional is actually lower than a permanent position but the nontaxable stipends are how travel healthcare professionals end up making more money.

Less Drama

When you are a travel healthcare professional you are needed and expected to work very hard. However, there is a positive outcome to that mentality that I have found, which is fewer meetings and less drama. Every workplace has drama and when you are a temporary employee you tend to be left out because “oh you’re leaving in a few weeks.” When I am working as a travel OT, I rarely attend meetings because no one wants to pay me to sit and not see patients.

I go to work, provide my patients with skilled treatment, give them my undivided attention, and then I go home. Yes, I work very hard and at a much faster pace than I needed to at my permanent gig, but I feel like I am 100% more effective as a therapist. I find work a lot less stressful when I get to avoid all the drama and politics of the workplace.

Even though I don’t participate in meetings and other non-patient care tasks and work, I still always feel part of the team. I often make most of my friends at work during travel assignments.

The Opportunity to Help Communities in Need

There tends to be a pretty steady need for nurses (as well as many other healthcare professionals) across the U.S. simply due to the fact that there are more jobs than there are professionals (yay, job security!). However, some communities suffer more due to the lack of available healthcare professionals in their area (i.e. underserved and rural areas).

For example, a facility in need in San Diego is going to have a much easier time filling a position than Barrow, Alaska. Travel allows you to temporarily work at a place in need and to be able to help underserved communities. Healthcare workers provide a public service to which, unfortunately, many residents in the U.S. have very limited access. Travel healthcare positions allow these communities to have access to health services that are desperately needed.

If traveling, flexibility, more money, less drama, and helping communities in need sounds appealing to you, then you might want to consider a traveling healthcare professional career. If you are still not sure if you are cut out for the gig, you can see if you share the same traits as the best travel nurses in the biz here. I took a break from travel therapy for 15 months and I found myself counting down the days until I could get back into traveling therapy. I truly am happy I decided to take a chance on travel therapy.

by: Sarah Taggart

Sarah is the founder and creator of tinyvanbigliving.com. She is a travel Occupational Therapist and has been traveling for almost 7 years!

Categories:

The Silver Lining: How COVID-19 Will Improve Support for Nurses - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT

The Silver Lining: How COVID-19 Will Improve Support for Nurses

Posted June 10th, 2020

The U.S. deaths related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surpassed 100,000 just over a week ago.¹ While much of the focus has been on those infected with the virus, there has also been widespread appreciation for the nurses and other healthcare workers who are courageously caring for those with the disease.

Importantly, the medical community has also begun to address the need for more support for these healthcare workers. Researchers, administrators, and policymakers – recognizing the psychological toll of caring for COVID-19 patients – are beginning to work together to develop strategies to help mitigate the negative effects that this and future outbreaks.

Researchers have identified specific psychological effects of outbreaks on nurses

Previous research has shown that caring for those in times of turmoil increases the risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other types of anxiety and depression.²^–⁸ More than 30% of the U.S. nurses who served in the Vietnam War suffered from symptoms of PTSD, and the symptoms persisted even when many of these nurses were evaluated 2 years after the war had ended.^9,10 Similar results have been observed in response to outbreaks. It has been shown, for instance, that 1 in 5 of healthcare workers exposed to the avian flu has suffered symptoms of PTSD.¹¹

The research on the psychological impact of infectious disease outbreaks on healthcare workers has shown that, compared to physicians, nurses tend to be more psychologically affected by these outbreaks.¹² For instance, one study showed that while 30% of physicians had developed a fear of avian flu, 42% of nurses were afraid of this flu.¹³

COVID-19 has presented some unique stressors

While COVID-19 is leading to the same types of anxiety in frontline workers as has occurred with other unexpected stressful events and pandemics, including fear of contracting and spreading infection, the nature of COVID-19 is associated with additional psychological distress.¹⁴ Nurses are, for example, suffering from guilt from watching COVID-19 patients die alone and due to breaking bad news to loved ones through technology instead of through in-person interaction.^15,16

Many nurses have also suffered from a sense of helplessness both in and out of work. Many nurses have not had enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves while working with COVID-19 patients, while almost all nurses have lost parts of their personal support system as social distancing policies have been put in place.¹⁴

Healthcare leaders are developing recommendations to support nurses

In response to the stress that COVID-19 has placed on nurses, the healthcare community has quickly begun to mobilize research findings to determine the best ways to mitigate the negative psychological impact.^17,18 They have pointed, for instance, to the positive psychological effects of demonstrating support for healthcare workers through concrete protection efforts. These efforts include implementing measures to control the spread of infection in the workplace, minimizing work intensity by reducing work hours and arranging for sufficient PPE, and providing practical instructions and guidance on how to care for COVID-19 patients.¹⁹

Luckily, the commitment to nurse’s psychological well-being does not appear to stop at a theoretical discussion on how best to prevent or treat mental health issues in this population. Instead, researchers are now creating tools to support the mental health of healthcare workers who have cared for COVID-19 patients.²⁰ The hope is that these tools will not only help the nurses who have cared for COVID-19 patients but will also provide a framework for providing much needed and deserved support for nurses going forward.

References

United States coronavirus (COVID-19) death toll surpasses 100,000. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s0528-coronavirus-death-toll.html. Published 2020. Accessed June 7, 2020.
Chong M-Y, Wang W-C, Hsieh W-C, et al. Psychological impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on health workers in a tertiary hospital. Br J Psychiatry. 2004;185:127-133. doi:10.1192/bjp.185.2.127
Gregory J, de Lepinau J, de Buyer A, Delanoy N, Mir O, Gaillard R. The impact of the Paris terrorist attacks on the mental health of resident physicians. BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):79. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2058-y
Lee SM, Kang WS, Cho A-R, Kim T, Park JK. Psychological impact of the 2015 MERS outbreak on hospital workers and quarantined hemodialysis patients. Compr Psychiatry. 2018;87:123-127. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.10.003
McAlonan GM, Lee AM, Cheung V, et al. Immediate and sustained psychological impact of an emerging infectious disease outbreak on health care workers. Can J Psychiatry. 2007;52(4):241-247. doi:10.1177/070674370705200406
Mealer M, Burnham EL, Goode CJ, Rothbaum B, Moss M. The prevalence and impact of post traumatic stress disorder and burnout syndrome in nurses. Depress Anxiety. 2009;26(12):1118-1126. doi:10.1002/da.20631
Lu Y-C, Shu B-C, Chang Y-Y, Lung F-W. The mental health of hospital workers dealing with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Psychother Psychosom. 2006;75(6):370-375. doi:10.1159/000095443
Goulia P, Mantas C, Dimitroula D, Mantis D, Hyphantis T. General hospital staff worries, perceived sufficiency of information and associated psychological distress during the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic. BMC Infect Dis. 2010;10:322. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-10-322
Paul EA. Wounded healers: a summary of the Vietnam Nurse Veteran Project. Mil Med. 1985;150(11):571-576.
Abu-El-Noor NI, Aljeesh YI, Radwan AS, et al. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Health Care Providers Following the Israeli Attacks Against Gaza Strip in 2014: A Call for Immediate Policy Actions. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2016;30(2):185-191. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2015.08.010
Tang L, Pan L, Yuan L, Zha L. Prevalence and related factors of post-traumatic stress disorder among medical staff members exposed to H7N9 patients. Int J Nurs Sci. 2017;4(1):63-67. doi:10.1016/j.ijnss.2016.12.002
Huang JZ, Han MF, Luo TD, Ren AK, Zhou XP. [Mental health survey of 230 medical staff in a tertiary infectious disease hospital for COVID-19]. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2020;38(0):E001. doi:10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20200219-00063
Tzeng H-M, Yin C-Y. A crisis: fear toward a possible H5N1 pandemic. J Nurs Care Qual. 2008;23(2):177-183. doi:10.1097/01.NCQ.0000313768.17514.a3
Santarone K, McKenney M, Elkbuli A. Preserving mental health and resilience in frontline healthcare workers during COVID-19. Am J Emerg Med. April 2020. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.04.030
Straus SE, Wilson K, Rambaldini G, et al. Severe acute respiratory syndrome and its impact on professionalism: qualitative study of physicians’ behaviour during an emerging healthcare crisis. BMJ. 2004;329(7457):83. doi:10.1136/bmj.38127.444838.63
Styra R, Hawryluck L, Robinson S, Kasapinovic S, Fones C, Gold WL. Impact on health care workers employed in high-risk areas during the Toronto SARS outbreak. J Psychosom Res. 2008;64(2):177-183. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.07.015
Walton M, Murray E, Christian MD. Mental health care for medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eur Hear journal Acute Cardiovasc care. April 2020:2048872620922795. doi:10.1177/2048872620922795
Spoorthy MS. Mental health problems faced by healthcare workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic-A review. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020;51:102119. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102119
Khalid I, Khalid TJ, Qabajah MR, Barnard AG, Qushmaq IA. Healthcare Workers Emotions, Perceived Stressors and Coping Strategies During a MERS-CoV Outbreak. Clin Med Res. 2016;14(1):7-14. doi:10.3121/cmr.2016.1303
Blake H, Bermingham F, Johnson G, Tabner A. Mitigating the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers: A Digital Learning Package. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(9). doi:10.3390/ijerph17092997

Categories:

Two Nurses Describe Their Experience During The COVID-19 Outbreak - Trusted Nurse Staffing

Trusted Nurse Staffing — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Two Nurses Describe Their Experience During The COVID-19 Outbreak

Posted March 30th, 2020

As the Coronavirus disease continues to accelerate, New York State has over 32,966 reported cases. The virus which is now considered a global pandemic has completely changed the structure of the world we live in. Many people have lost their jobs due to government shutdowns, and others have been forced into isolation and remote work for their own protection.

While many Americans have the opportunity to work from home and stay clear of the disease, our healthcare professionals on the front lines are out there continuing to sacrifice their health and safety for the greater good. Healthcare workers are facing hazardous conditions daily including fatigue from long hours, mental distress, pathogen exposure and a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We sat down with two of our nurses and spoke to them about their experience and what they are going through during this unprecedented situation.

Amy

Registered Nurse for 9 years, ER and ICU
Monroe County, NY

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us Amy. We know you are busy and wanted to also say thank you for continuing to go to work each day and put your patients first especially during these uncertain times.

What was it that originally attracted you to become a Nurse? – “I had a really difficult labor with my son and the nurse was phenomenal, she made me want to become a nurse.”

So, are you a labor and delivery nurse? – “No ha-ha, I work in the ER and ICU. I actually used to work a step-down unit, and I had floated down to the ICU. The things they were doing down there were really cool. I liked the way they were treating people and using ventilators, it all just set off something inside of me. So, I put in a transfer and got reassigned down to the ICU and I’ve been there for almost two years.”

What is the current situation like in your hospital surrounding COVID-19? – “They set up tents outside to test for COVID-19. It’s my understanding that if they [patients] are just sick, but can manage their symptoms at home, they are tested and released. If they require higher levels of care, they are tested and admitted. Last I heard, they had cleared out one unit and could possibly clear out another unit to be able to dedicate that to COVID rule outs and positive patients. In all honesty, it seems like people are heeding the advice [of Governor Cuomo] and they are staying home. So, what I am noticing right now, is we are not getting any boarded patients because they are going straight upstairs to the open floors. In the meantime, I’ve been in the main ER just helping the nurses with their tasks.

Have you seen many cases in your hospital, or do you know anyone who has personally contracted the disease? – No, so far, we have only had one patient who has been tested that needs to be ruled out. However, I suspect this is the calm before the storm and the other nurses agree, we are going to get a huge wave of people who are going to be COVID positive very soon.

Is there a supply shortage in your hospital? – What’s happening right now is that each nurse is given a pair of nice, solid plastic goggles. Unfortunately, you only get one pair, but this is fine because they can be sanitized. At the beginning of every shift, we go over to where our charge (nurse) sits to get our mask for that shift. We only get one per shift which is not great. You should not be wearing one mask all day, but unfortunately that’s where we are right now. As far supplies, they are feeling like we are okay. The hospital has reached out to the community to get any available PPE equipment that they can. Luckily, they do at least have some resources to draw from, but that’s our current situation.

What precautions are you and your fellow healthcare workers taking to protect yourselves? – Even if we are not in direct contact with a COVID patient, we are always instructed to be wearing our mask and goggles and obviously, we frequently wash our hands. Something that is kind of cool is that our pharmacy is now making their own hand sanitizer so, we shouldn’t have a situation where we run out. On rule out rooms the current recommendation is eye protection, contact precaution, meaning gown, gloves and a surgical mask. If you are intubating, then you need to wear an N95 mask. Unfortunately, my understanding is that there aren’t enough N95s to go around. With the positive COVIDs up on the dedicated floor, they are wearing the masks with the respirator and the battery packs, because everyone got trained on that.

What motivates you to continue to go to work every day during this time? Are you concerned at all for your safety? – I’m sitting here right now watching Governor Cuomo talk about the Coronavirus and looking at the numbers and I’ve been watching a lot of the specials on the pandemics that we have had around the world. Am I concerned that I’m going to get it and bring it home to my family? Absolutely, but am I going to panic? No, panic causes mass hysteria and look at what has happened already; who could have seen a toilet paper shortage coming? I didn’t go out and panic buy, so for me to go to the store and get a loaf of bread because we ran out is difficult. Right now, I just come home, I immediately take a shower and my clothes go directly into the washer. I’m always cautious and it’s always in the back of my head. It’s not whether I will be exposed at some point, it’s when and I’ve reasoned with myself that that’s the case. I am just preparing myself for when it happens. I think about the ramifications it might have on my life when I do get exposed.

What gets me through this is knowing that staying home, staying away from other people and keeping your distance actually works. South Korea seems to have done a really good job containing the pandemic using similar practices to what we are doing in the U.S. I know it’s inconvenient and I know people don’t like it, but it’s what is required right now to stop the spread. And, from what I am seeing, most of our patients are staying home. They’ve heeded the advice and hopefully we won’t be nearly as impacted as New York City.

If you want people reading this to take away one thing from this interview, what would that be? – STAY HOME AND STOP BUYING OUR PPE. Because when you’re sick, I’m not going to be able to take care of you. JUST STAY HOME. Heed the CDC’s advice and only go out for the bare minimum.

Ben

Registered Nurse for 8 years, ICU and Radiology
Westchester County, NY

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us Ben. We know you are busy and wanted to also say thank you for continuing to go to work each day and put your patients first especially during these uncertain times.

What was it that drew you to nursing? – I used to work in construction and around 2008 when the recession hit, I decided to switch my career to healthcare.

What is the current situation like in your hospital surrounding COVID-19? – So, they are getting ready to raise their capacity by 50%. Every morning at the start of my shift, I am to go in and see if I am being floated to help out during the crisis. I haven’t been floated yet, but it is supposed to start this week depending on how bad it gets.

How has the hospital been preparing for the influx of patients? – All elective procedures have been halted which is one of the reasons why I will be floating. A lot of radiology is considered elective and the need for what I normally do goes down. We also have the tents outside set up for COVID testing.

How have you personally been dealing with the whole situation? What has it been like working on the frontlines? – I would say one of the problems I’m having is trying to stay safe when we don’t have the proper equipment. It’s a big problem. Right now, we are only given one mask per week. I am trying and take it one day at a time. Obviously, I try and make sure myself and my wife both stay safe while we’re working but there are no guarantees. The only person who is responsible for my well-being is myself. When you are at a large hospital, they do what they can to keep you safe, but you need to have common sense and look out for your own well-being too.

So, there’s a supply shortage in your hospital? – Yeah, I think that’s happening everywhere, but it’s definitely a problem. So far, when we’ve had to work with COVID patients or rule out patients they have given us the N95 masks and the right equipment, but for everyday patients we just have our one surgical mask for the week.

What precautions are you and your fellow healthcare workers taking to protect yourselves? – One of the things I’m doing is trying to get my own masks to protect myself. If the hospital runs out or is unable to provide us with PPE, I need to have my own. Within the next week or two, we will see how bad it gets; it’s already started in New York City. We will definitely need those military hospitals that they will be building. I know Governor Cuomo said that if one area starts to get overwhelmed that they will be moving patients around to other hospitals in the state. I’ve seen the tent setups for COVID testing, but we don’t have any field hospitals yet.

What motivates you to continue to go to work every day during this time? Are you concerned at all for your safety? – If nobody is around to take care of people, then the problem will get even worse. If we cannot be protected, unfortunately the risk goes up. Luckily, there is hazard pay for those situations because we need to take care of the people.

Do you know anyone that’s personally been affected by the COVID-19? – Personally, yes, a couple of people. Most of them haven’t gotten the severe disease where they have required ventilators. But, I just read recently that the U.S has the most new cases, so that’s not to say that other people won’t be needing those ventilators.

Do you feel like people are taking this seriously enough? – Where I live, I am noticing that people seem to be listening and staying home. When I am out driving to work, I do notice a lot of the roads are still pretty full, and the grocery stores are still packed with people who are still too close to each other.

If you want people reading this to take away one thing from this interview, what would that be? –Even though it’s not fun to stay home, think of the people whose lives you are helping to save by properly isolating yourself. People need to take this seriously. Think of the grandmothers, grandfathers, mothers or fathers who have had cancer or other underlying health issues, this could kill any of them.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the trusted resources below:

Resources:

CDC- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

NYS – https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

World Health Organization – https://www.who.int/

Categories: