A travel therapy podcast dedicated to helping rehab professionals with the job search process.

Onward Healthcare is thrilled to announce the launch of Travel Therapy Career Cast, a brand new podcast just for travel therapists!  Travel Therapy Career Cast follows in the footsteps of Onward Healthcare’s award winning Travel Nursing Insider podcast, and is a part of our ongoing efforts to inform and educate the rehab / therapy community of the benefits of a travel career.

In the inaugural episode, “Travel Therapy 101“, Onward Healthcare’s national director of recruitment services, Heather Markelz, describes what it’s like to work with a healthcare staffing company. More specifically, Heather talks about the steps involved in a starting a travel therapy career, what a typical assignment entails, as well as why many therapists choose to travel.

Future episodes of Travel Therapy Career Cast will touch on topics ranging from choosing the travel therapy job that’s right for you, tips for the interview process, career facts vs. fiction, and much more!

You’ll find all the Travel Therapy Career Cast episodes available on the Onward Healthcare Travel Therapy Podcast page and free through the iTunes store by searching keywords “Travel Therapy Career Cast.”

When choosing a travel nursing job, there are many questions to ask yourself.

With so many different opportunities out there for travel nurses, it can be difficult to identify exactly which travel nursing jobs will be best for your career and your lifestyle. While your dedicated Onward Healthcare recruiter will guide you through the process, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind with each and every assignment you come across.

Whether you are just starting out or you’ve been a travel nurse for years, here’s a list of questions our recruiters suggest you keep in mind to help you choose the right travel nursing assignment.

1) How long is the assignment?

This is an important question because the answer directly affects your personal comfort and what your resume looks like.  Moving around between a variety of assignments is one of the best perks of a travel nursing career, but it might leave you feeling worn out and travel weary. Conversely, you might get bored in an assignment that lasts longer than the typical 13 weeks. Either way, you must consider your personal comfort no matter how appealing an assignment is.

2) Where is the assignment?

While Hawaii and Key West might be at the top of your assignment location list, you’ll probably have to consider assignments that take you to regular metro or suburban areas first. The trick here is to think about what the area offers in terms of climate, transportation, local cuisine and regional entertainment. The time you spend outside of your travel nursing assignment is important too, so make sure you pick locations that cater to your personal comfort as well as your professional goals.

3) What’s the pay?

As a travel nurse, you know you’re receiving a higher salary and better compensation options than most non-travel nurses, but did you know your take home can also depend on a number of other factors? For example, there are certain parts of the country where you’ll make a higher salary simply because the cost of living is higher there and paychecks are higher in general. Travel nurses also enjoy the option to pocket their housing subsidy if they want to take care of their own housing needs or tax free per diem depending on the location of their permanent residence.

4) Where will you be living?

A career in travel nursing comes with a variety of housing options that can fit just about any lifestyle, so where you call home during your assignment is completely up to you. When the housing is set up for you, you’ll start your assignment without the worry of finding a rental or lining up furnishings. On the other hand, if the assignment is in a city where you have friends or family you can stay with, or if you may just want to find your own place to stay and use our housing concierge program.

5) What will this assignment do for your career?

Perhaps the most important aspect of your next assignment to consider is how it will benefit your career in the long run. You should be matched up with opportunities that are perfect for your skill and experience level, but also offer you a chance to grow professionally. Your next assignment might offer you the right type of challenge that will push you to the next level and help you build your resume to get the next opportunity you are looking for.

Before you sign up for your next travel nursing assignment, ask yourself these questions to make sure it’s the right assignment for you, and don’t forget to check in with the dedicated recruiters at Onward Healthcare. They’re always willing to answer your questions and offer you the guidance you need in your travel nursing career.

The theme of this year’s convention, “Leadership into New Frontiers”, calls attention to the impact speech-language-hearing professionals have on the lives of those they serve and the potential they have to lead and inspire others every day. During this 3 day event, more than 300 companies and organizations will gather to showcase their products and services to the more than 10,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. This is a valuable opportunity to develop lasting industry connections, learn about the latest research and clinical procedures, and listen to innovative speakers.

Onward Healthcare is proud to be exhibiting at booth #950 where you can visit with members of our National Travel Allied Recruitment team, and our local Philadelphia recruitment team. We’re looking forward to meeting you so don’t forget to stop by and say hello.

The ASHA Annual Convention is being held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, November 18 – 20, 2010. You can find much more information about the event here on the ASHA website. Hope to see you there!

Marketing Director, Steve Dobrowski

In the tenth episode of our Travel Nursing Insider podcast, marketing director Steve Dobrowski (pictured), discusses the effect that social media sites have had on the travel nursing industry. He gives his first hand account of which sites are most prevalent amongst the travel nursing community and how nurses can utilize them to stay connected to family and friends while on assignment, as well as get the latest news and offerings from a variety of different travel nursing agencies. Finally, he touches upon how social media has revolutionized the job search process for travel RNs and where they should go to look for the latest and greatest travel nursing assignments. To listen to the show, visit the Travel Nursing Insider home page or click the link below to find it on iTunes.

via Travel Nursing Jobs Can Change Your Life : Geo Travel Blog.

One of the under looked perks of a travel nursing job is the ability to continually build your resume as you move from assignment to assignment. Sure it’s tempting to travel to a beach front location in the summer or choose that assignment paying $55/hr in the winter months. But many RNs benefit from travel nursing jobs by finding the assignment that will best help them the best in the long run.  This may involve taking a low paying assignment in a prestigious teaching hospital or working as part of a team to open a new unit at a hospital.  Having this experience on your CV when you are looking to finally settle down in a perm nursing job will often give you a leg up on the competition and land your ideal dream job.

WHEN:

Wednesday, June 30th
4:00pm – 8:00pm

WHERE:

Calabria’s Restaurant
585 South Livingston Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039

RSVP INFO:

Phone: (866) 696-8773
Email: alliedliv@onwardhealthcare.com

Hawaii Travel Nurse Jobs are currently available and in high demand.

As the cooler weather approaches, and summer comes to an end, heading to the tropics on a travel nursing job is starting to sound more and more appealing. And why wouldn’t it be? Cool, crisp nights on the beach and beautiful horizons are enough for me to buy a plane ticket right now.

With this in mind, one must wonder if there is a better place to visit than the islands of Hawaii on a travel nurse job. Although traveling to Hawaii for three months may just be a pipe dream to a marketing guy such as myself, Onward Healthcare travel nurses are much more lucky! Onward currently Hawaii travel nurse jobs for specialty RNs in the country’s most breathtaking state.

Apply for a Hawaii Travel Nurse Job

“It is difficult to explain in words how amazing Hawaii is, and pictures do not do it justice either,” said one travel RN. “The water is so blue/green and clear. The land is very lush and green with palm trees. The people are extremely welcoming and friendly.”

It is no surprise that location is a key component when considering a travel nursing assignment. In a study conducted by Thompson Medical Economics, an overwhelming majority of nurses indicated that the opportunity to visit new places is the most appealing aspect of a travel nursing job. With this being said, it is very important to do your homework and research the places that you have the opportunity to visit.

Becoming familiar with the culture and environment will enhance your travel experience all the more. For example, in Hawaii, there are many activities, and they vary from island to island. Some include water sports, hiking, shopping, museums, and fabulous restaurants. It is also great because it is very easy to visit each island as each have some individuality to them. Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor & Hanauma Bay are but a few of the myriad of area highlights to visit on a Hawaii travel nurse job.

Before you know it, the fall and winter will pass, as will this wonderful professional opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful places on earth. Take advantage of it before it is too late. Call 1-800-278-0332 to speak to a recruiter about the Hawaii travel nurse jobs currently available or email nursejobs@onwardhealthcare.com.

So what does this mean for RN travel nurses? According to the travel nurse recruitment staff at Onward Healthcare, it doesn’t have to mean much if you play your cards right. Here are four tips for finding a travel nursing job you want in today’s economic market courtesy of our travel nurse recruiters:

1. Be Flexible – From Suzanne Haar, Nurse Recruiter
“Decide what factor is most important to you on your next assignment and make that your focus. If you are set on a particular destination or facility, you may have to be a little flexible with your pay rate, however if you are open to a handful of locations you can still earn a great hourly wage for those hard to fill positions.”

2. Have Licensure – From Catalina Vady, Nurse Recruiter
“Always be sure your current state nursing license is up-to-date and stockpile additional ones when possible. If you know the location you want to go on your next travel nursing job, obtain the licensure for that state midway through your current assignment so that you will be ready to hit the road when the time comes.”

3. Maintain Relationships – From Angela Spruill, Nurse Recruiter
“Establish a relationship with your assigned recruiter. Be open to what you are looking for and any personal preferences that can help them narrow down the best assignment options for you.  The more information you can provide our team, the better job we can do of finding you your ideal travel nursing job.”

4. Be Positive – From Cassandra Lindquist, Travel Nursing Director
“Upon accepting a travel nursing assignment, keep in mind that while you are off to somewhere exciting and new that may feel like a vacation, you have also been hired to do a job.  So do it to the best of your ability!  Having good reviews from your nurse managers can be the key to getting the travel nursing job you want over another candidate the next time around.”

By following these simple guidelines, you will be able to advance you career and put yourself in a position to obtain the travel nursing job you desire.

The English Romantic poet Percy Shelley once wrote: “There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in the sky.” As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to choose which location will be in harmony with your needs.  Do you want to bask in Florida’s warm ocean breezes, soak in California’s sunshine, or revel in the vibrant palette of the Northeast’s falling leaves?

Go with the flow

Demand for travel nurses tends to follow population shifts. When snowbirds head south to warmer climates for the winter months, for example, nursing opportunities in those areas increase. In the fall, the Northeast’s brilliant, colorful foliage, and crisp, clear weather, drive tourists and part-time residents to New England. As a result, the healthcare facilities of Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont are eager to bring on additional travel nurses for the early fall.

Many hospitals in Florida, a very desirable winter location, have already begun hiring.  They need to prepare their nests for the influx of snowbirds.  As a result, they’re interested in booking nurses who can stay throughout the entire season, which ends in April.  This way, they can guarantee coverage when it’s needed most.  Several California facilities are also pre-booking for November, December and even January.

Think one step ahead

One of the most important things that you can do now is plan ahead for the winter season. Population swings can be more pronounced this time of year, which opens up opportunities for hospitals in warmer climates. If you want to head to sunny shores in December, January, and February, you must plan early.  California, Florida, Arizona and Texas tend to be popular winter destinations for nurses.  Ski resort states like Colorado and Vermont have a healthy demand, too. The jobs are out there, but they fill up quickly.

Ultimately, when you get the assignment you want, you’ll be glad you planned ahead—even if it means that you’ll be Christmas caroling with your patients.

Tips for landing one of these desirable gigs:

• Be flexible. In the fall and winter months, there are three major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. To get the assignment you want, be ready and willing to work two out of these three holidays. Flexibility goes a long way in the selection process; all else being equal, you’ll be chosen over someone else if you’re willing to be there when other nurses insist on turkey feasts, Christmas dinners, and college football bowl games.
• Be open with your recruiter. Talk to your recruiter about which factors are most important to you. It might be the money, climate, or region. Matching you up with your preferences is the key to your happiness on the job.

Top travel nursing assignments for autumn:

• CA (Northern & Southern) – Summer is over, the tourists are gone and the weather is cooler.  What better time to plan a California assignment and experience all the state has to offer. Enjoy picnics, camping, biking, hiking or any activity in which you can enjoy the clean, crisp air and take in the tidbits of autumn that Cali has to offer!
  Immediate needs for: Peds, NICU, PICU, L&D
• New York City, NY – Fall in NYC is the perfect time to enjoy the city.  The mild weather is ideal to walk around the city and discover all it has to offer.  Enjoy the buzz as the big stores begin to stock for the holidays and the city prepares for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
  Immediate needs for: ICU, OR, Tele
• Tulsa, OK – The breathtaking foliage of fall does not occur solely in the Northeast.  Fall is a great time to visit middle American states, such as Oklahoma.  As the weather begins to cool, it is the perfect time to explore the emerald hills of Oklahoma, an outdoor lover’s paradise home to more than half of Oklahoma’s state parks.
  Immediate needs for: ER, ICU, Tele
• Seattle, WA – While you may not find the foliage you will in the Northeast, fall is still an exquisite time to visit Washington and explore the beauty of its numerous parks and mountains.  Enjoy numerous outdoor festivals and wine tastings, in addition to all that downtown Seattle has to offer.
  Immediate needs for: ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Tele
• Anhorage, AK – While Alaska may not seem like the ideal fall destination, many true travelers will tell you other wise.  The crowds are gone, the animals are still out, the viewing of the Northern lights is the best it is all year!  In addition, the cost of living drastically cut, even though the hospitals are still paying top dollar.
  Immediate needs for: ICU, Med/Surg, Tele