The Travel Nursing Jobs Guide is built upon a survey of over 200 of Onward Healthcare’s nationwide travel registered nurses. Their responses about professional motivations, favorite career perks and various job experiences make this guide an reliable source of real-life information about what it’s like to work as a travel healthcare professional.

Onward Healthcare is proud to be the leading provider of educational materials in the travel nursing space, and invites all members of the travel nursing community, as well as those who are interested in starting their own travel nursing career, to check out and share the new Career Guide to Travel Nursing Jobs!

New on the Onward Healthcare Blog – Saving Money On The Road

When you’re traveling between assignments, moving into new places, and getting comfortable in your new facility, the last thing you want to worry about is breaking the bank on the road. With these useful and easy Thrifty Travel Savings Tips about Saving Money On The Road, you’ll be saving money like a pro, no matter where you assignments take you, or how you get there!

New Resource Article – Questions to Ask Your Travel Recruiter: Part 1

For those who are brand new to Travel Nursing and aren’t sure where to start, or even what questions to ask, this handy Healthcare Traveler Tips article is the perfect career resource. Part 1 of Questions to Ask Your Travel Recruiter offers the top 10 must-ask questions that you should cover with your Travel Recruiter as you set off on your exciting career as a travel nurse.

New Travel Nursing Insider – Top 5 Travel Nursing Specialties

The latest episode of the Travel Nursing Insider brings you insight from Onward Healthcare’s Director of Travel Nursing, Lindsay Francis, and Senior Recruiter, Suzanne Johnson, about the top 5 specialties in travel nursing. Tune into this episode for great tips on how you can leverage this demand to land awesome assignments all over the country.

Marketing Director, Steve Dobrowski

Our newest episode of Travel Nursing Insider from Onward Healthcare explores the best ways to work a job fair or exhibit hall at a nursing conference with Job Fair Tips for Travel Nurses.

Getting the most out of  nursing job fairs and conferences is important to the success of your travel nursing career, so Onward Healthcare Marketing Director Steve Dobrowski (pictured) joined host Peter Clayton to share his advice and tips for networking success at your next event.

Steve highlights value of mapping out a game plan before the conference or job fair so you arrive with resume in hand and a list of companies and people you want to connect with. Once you’re there, making the best impression is important, even if you don’t have a formal interview scheduled. Arriving prepared will help you appear more professional, organized and approachable to everyone you meet.

Peter and Steve wrap up this great episode with helpful tips on organizing all your conference takeaways, solidifying the connections from the show and what shows Onward Healthcare will be participating in over the coming months.

To listen to the show, visit the Travel Nursing Insider home page or click the link below to find it on iTunes.

National Nurses Week kicked off on May 6th and extends through this week to May 12th, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale. Nurses are the backbones of support at care-based facilities ranging from emergency rooms and hospitals all the way to schools and homeless shelters. This is a wonderful week to thank and honor the nurses in your life, so please join us all at Onward Healthcare as we celebrate talented nurses across the country!

If you would like to join our nation’s celebrated community of nursing professionals, contact an Onward Healthcare recruiter today about starting your career in Travel Nursing!

Congrats to the Onward Healthcare, Livingston, NJ Office on their award!

We are proud to announce that the Onward Healthcare, Livingston, NJ office has been selected for the 2010 Best of Business Award in the Healthcare Staffing category by the Small Business Commerce Association.

The SBCA Award Program recognizes the top 5% of small businesses throughout the country. Using statistical research and consumer feedback, the SBCA identifies companies that it believes have demonstrated what makes small businesses a vital part of the American economy.

“We are extremely pleased to be recognized within our community,” stated Kim McCabe, branch manager for Onward Healthcare’s Livingston office.  “At Onward Healthcare, we pride ourselves in providing the New Jersey market with the best-of-the-best healthcare professionals are excited to be recognized by the SBCA.”

Congratulations to the entire team of the Livingston, NJ Onward Healthcare office on being recognized for providing outstanding service and exemplifying what makes small businesses great!

We encourage all attendees to visit members of the Onward Healthcare team at booth #708 to learn about the nationwide career opportunities we have available, as well as some of the most sought after OT jobs at leading facilities in the greater Philadelphia region. In addition, the team will have plenty of giveaways, as well as multiple raffles for $100 AmEx gift cards.

Between the excellent line up of expert speakers and the wide variety of educational sessions, this conference offers something for everyone in the occupational therapy field. You’ll find more helpful information on the AOTA’s Conference webpage, including registration details and event schedules.

Twitter is a great way to network with hospitals, staffing agencies, and fellow travelers.

Whether you use it or not, you’ve probably heard what a powerful tool Twitter can be when it comes to boosting your career. Even travel nurses can leverage this micro-blogging platform to expand their professional network and broaden their career horizons.

Onward Healthcare is all about giving you the best resources and information to support your travel nursing goals, so whether you’ve never tweeted before or you’re looking for the best people to follow, this guide will help you network successfully using Twitter.

1) Putting Your Best Profile Forward.

Your Twitter bio and profile are your calling card to the rest of the Twitterverse so it’s important that they share the right info about you. Choose a head shot, preferably one with a smile, as your picture to give your profile a human and approachable quality. If your goal is to connect with other travel nursing professionals and organizations, list your profession and any other industry related interests in your profile to attract like-minded followers.

2) Finding the Best Connections.

With millions of users posting hundreds of thousands of tweets every day, it may seem daunting to find other travel RNs on Twitter, let alone real people that you can connect with professionally. Use hashtags and Twitter’s advanced search options to find other travel nurses based on what they’re tweeting about and where they are located. With a little bit of searching, you’ll find yourself connected with other travel nurses and healthcare professionals whether they are located down the street or across the globe.

3) The Best Ways to Participate.

If you’re brand new to Twitter, you may wonder, “What should I tweet about?” or “How do I get started?” The best way to participate is to share your thoughts, your questions and your ideas. Honest, genuine interaction is highly valued on Twitter so you’ll find the greatest networking success comes from sharing your ideas, asking questions and just being yourself. If you focus most of your comments and questions on topics that affect travel nurses, you’ll find more connections that are relevant to your industry.

4) Your Best Network.

If you’ve been using Twitter for a while, perhaps you’re eager to expand your existing network. Along with the tips above, have you tried providing more value to your followers? By sharing the latest travel nursing industry news and developments, plus your own opinions, you’ll build an excellent professional reputation of being knowledgeable and helpful. A reputation like this will precede you and lead more opportunities to your door.

5) Be the Best Connection.

If you want to get the  most out of your network and your networking efforts on Twitter, give match-making a try. No, not the romantic kind. When you find an opportunity that might not be perfect for you, but is ideal for a fellow travel nurse, tell them about it! Both parties involved will remember that you took the time to reach out and make the connection happen and you can’t put a price on professional karma like that.

Twitter is an excellent tool to add to your professional networking strategy. Whether you’re interested in getting started or want to strengthen your connections, just be yourself, offer value to others and you’ll be well on your way to Twitter networking success!

1) Work with a Tax Advisor.

While you’ll receive unparalleled support when you’re working with Onward Healthcare, it’s always best to seek tax advice from a tax professional. They offer guidance based on your individual situation which is the best way to approach your taxes. If you’re not connected with a tax advisor already, check out the recommendations at the bottom of the Onward Healthcare Travel Nursing FAQs.

2) Ask if reimbursements are negotiable as tax-free.

Along with other negotiable elements in your assignment contracts, you may be able to negotiate terms that make your reimbursements tax-free. It never hurts to ask and you might end up with housing, travel and personal expense reimbursements that aren’t treated as taxable income.

3) Understand how your home state taxes work.

It’s best to ask exactly how your home state will tax your income since you’ll be earning it in many different locations. Questions like this are great to bring up with your tax advisor so you can both arrive at a tax strategy that works best for you.

4) Keep your records organized.

There’s nothing worse than needing a copy of an important document and not having it. Considering all the different contracts, expenses and trips you’ll amass over a given year, keeping all those records organized along the way will make them easier to review and provide to others if needed.

5) Be prepared to survive an audit.

An IRS audit doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve committed fraud or some egregious crime. Travel nurses are often audited simply because of the nature of their claims and tax situations and because IRS audits are on the rise for all professions. The trick to surviving an audit is remaining cool and having all your records and documents in order. With the help of your tax advisor and a well maintained set of records, you’ll get through the audit with no trouble and find yourself wiser from the experience.

With all the wonderful opportunities and experiences that come from a career in travel nursing, don’t let the annual tax season trip you up! Be prepared, stay organized, and if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact  your Onward Healthcare representative for help.

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.

Visit Onward Healthcare at Booth #1336.

Onward Healthcare is excited to meet with all physical therapists attending the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting this week.  Heather Markelz , National Director of Recruitment, and Jeff Errico , Client Development Representative,  will be exhibiting at booth #1336 in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Whether your specialty is Acute Care, Orthopedic, Sports or anything in between, this event offers valuable sessions and networking opportunities for physical therapists from all walks of the practice. The 5 day meeting is being hosted in beautiful New Orleans from February 9^th through the 12^th which gives you plenty of time to soak up the sessions, discuss the latest trends and products, and expand your professional network.

You’ll find more information about the CMS 2011 event, plus an enormous list of can’t-miss sessions, here on the American Physical Therapy Association’s website. Don’t forget to stop by booth #1336 and say hello to the Onward Healthcare team and discuss the numerous nationwide career opportunities that are currently available. We look forward to chatting with you about all things Physical Therapy!