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.

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.”

While you can choose to wear sweat pants and let your hair go uncombed, the phone interview is still an interview and requires you to be on top of your professional game. So whether you’re just starting out in your travel nursing career, or you want to just freshen up your interviewing skills, this list of tips will help you ace your next phone interview.

Tip #1: Do all your homework and have your notes in hand.

Prior to the interview, do some research about your potential employer and keep any notes (plus your resume) within reach for easy reference during the call. Your interviewer will appreciate that you took the time to research their facility and if you get stumped on a question, you’ll have everything you need right in front of you.

Tip #2: Let your personality do the talking.

When the interview begins, remember to take a deep breath and smile when you start talking. Your interviewer is already familiar with your skills and background, so make sure your personality and character come through. Smiling while you speak will help set you at ease and make you sound more positive to the interviewer.

Tip #3: Be informative but concise.

Striking the balance between giving short answers and long winded ones can make a huge difference during the interview. You want to give as much relevant information about yourself and your qualifications without running on too long. If each of your responses and comments focuses on why you’re the right choice for this particular travel nursing job, you won’t need to say much else.

Tip #4: Ask questions.

You may be so excited for the interview that you forget to ask questions about what your travel nursing job will entail. If the interviewer doesn’t offer you the chance to ask questions, be sure to include that in the conversation when the time is right. It will demonstrate professionalism and commitment if you ask about what to expect in terms of scheduling, operations and the environment of the assignment.

Tip #5: Conclude with confidence.

When the interview begins to wrap up, remember to thank your interviewer for their time and for the opportunity to speak with them. It’s important to conclude with a follow up question about what the next steps are in the interview process. This will show the interviewer that you are interested in the travel nursing assignment and eager to move forward in the process.

These tips, plus a healthy dose of just being yourself, will set you up for success on your next travel nursing phone interview. Best of luck!

With this in mind, Onward Healthcare is proud to introduce a brand new Healthcare Traveler Resources Page on our main website. This is a one stop source for helpful information designed to ensure you have everything you need for each of your assignments. Here is a summary of all the valuable information and resources you’ll find:

• Links to the Onward Healthcare blog and Travel Nursing Insider podcast; the two best sources of news and info for your travel nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy careers.
• A list of all the compliance forms needed for each travel assignment with Onward Healthcare.
• Convenient links to download the Onward Healthcare timesheet and the traveler expense statement forms.
• A handy list of nursing licensure and rehab licensure timeframes for all 50 states including links to the all state boards for nurses and rehab professionals.
• Information about our free private traveler housing option as well as our new “Traveler Housing Concierge Plan” that allows you to increase your base pay through subsidy, while still utilizing the services of the Onward Healthcare housing department.
• A link to the Packing Checklist for Healthcare Travelers that offers a list a thourough list of items to take with you on your next travel assignment.
• Our collections of 101 Travel Nursing Links and 51 Physical Therapy Links that spotlight the best informational sites, blogs and social media networks to keep you informed and connected on every assignment.

We think you’ll find everything you need on our new Resources Page to ease the transition process from one new travel nursing job to the next. If you’d like to see additions to the page, please let us know; we’d love to hear your suggestions!

Your first step when preparing to pack should be to check with your housing coordinator to find out exactly what’s included in your travel nurse housing package (Ex: Does the place have kitchen appliances and bedding).  You can then cross all of these items off your checklist and focus on what’s left.  A major thing to consider is the climate of your new location.  If it’s between seasons, read up on what the weather patterns are typically like; this will help you pack efficiently and accordingly.

Next, make sure all your financials are in order and that you have nationwide access to your checking account.  It’s also beneficial to sign-up with a bank that has an online bill paying system. Finally if you’re driving, make sure to have your car checked out before hitting the road and that you have flares and other roadside amenities which can also be found on our Travel Nursing Checklist.  If you follow these guidelines, you’ll prevent any nerve-wracking hiccups upon your arrival in your new city.

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

Planning ahead

Even without any unfriendly island inhabitants, the task of acclimating to a new community in a short period of time can be overwhelming for a travel nurse or therapist. Once you arrive in town, you typically have only a day or two before you report to the hospital for your assignment. For that reason, it’s important to do a little research before you arrive.

There are many approaches to exploring a new city.  Start by exploring the local Chamber of Commerce website, just to get a feel for the area. Investigate the city on Wikipedia, or visit its official website. Any information you can find on weather patterns, traffic, and local lifestyle will prepare you for what to expect. AAA TourBooks are another great resource to have on hand; they contain local and regional maps, area descriptions, and listings for restaurants and recreational activities.

“When I’m traveling to a new city, the first thing I do is check out the area to make sure I feel safe,” says Karen Wise, an Onward Healthcare travel nurse. “When I recently accepted an assignment in Maryland, I checked the satellite picture of my potential residence on Google Earth.  I could tell it was a tall hi-rise, which I would feel comfortable at, since there’s only one way in and one way out.”

Getting around town

Initially, you won’t have time for casual exploring and sightseeing when traveling to a new city. Cassandra Lindquist, Travel Nursing Director for Onward Healthcare, advises her staff to focus on the basics in those first few days:

• Hunt for the nearest grocery store and pharmacy. Drive up and down the streets in the immediate vicinity of your apartment, noting street names, landmarks, and any unusual traffic patterns (like one-way streets or traffic circles).
• Take a practice drive. “Know how to get specifically from your apartment to the hospital,” Lindquist says, “and consider what the traffic is going to be like.”
• Keep your eyes peeled for Internet hot spots. Starbucks, Panera Bread, and many sports bars offer free Wi-Fi connections. If all else fails, ask a neighbor for directions to the closest public library.
• Pick up a newspaper and any local magazines you can find at the grocery store. Hotels are a great source of information, too; they often stock free publications and brochures that detail the city’s dining, shopping, and entertainment areas.

Making new friends

Speed up the acclimation process by comparing notes with your fellow nurse travelers, colleagues and hospital employees. (Remember, you’ll be attending orientation with other travelers and your new employees also looking to make friends.) That gives you a great opportunity to strike up some conversations about what’s around town, and where to find essential services. Once you’ve began your assignment, you can also chat with your local co-workers—and don’t worry, they’ll be a lot nicer than those wicked island inhabitants on Lost.

By Barbara Eisner Bayer, Featured Contributor

Desiree J., RN – PICU Travel Nurse currently on assignment in Arizona

“In my 6+ years in the travel nursing industry, Desiree is truly is one of the best travelers I have ever worked with. She came to me as a first time traveler in November of 2007 and has been working with Onward Healthcare ever since. She is one of the best nurses I’ve ever dealt with in regards to having her compliance in order for each assignment and she carries that sense of responsibility and work ethic to the hospital as well. Desiree consistently gets awesome references from every facility she works with and gets an awesome one from me as well!”

Submitted by: Stacy B., Travel Nurse Director, Encinitas

Maria J., Occupational Therapist – Travel OT currently on assignment in Michigan

“Maria has been with us for almost a year now and has been an absolute joy to work with! When she first contracted with us, she dealt with long commutes at two different facilities, but chose to stay with us due to her great sense of loyalty. Maria is an absolute team player and it consistently shows from the feedback from her managers. Maria has gotten rave reviews and extension offers at each facility she’s been with. We’re extremely glad she has continued to work with Onward!”

Submitted by: Darius F., Travel Allied Recruiter

The Onward Healthcare travel nurse checklist was designed as a packing list for travel nurses preparing for the typical 13-week assignment.  With the help of many of our experienced nationwide nurse travelers, we have compiled an easy to follow list of everything a nurse might need while on the road.

The travel nurse checklist details clothing, toiletries, apartment amenities and miscellaneous items that one might need on a travel nursing assignment or any standard vacation. While you may need to bring some additional items based on your arranged accommodations, forecasted weather and planned activities of your destination, this list is the perfect resource to ensure you have all of your standard items for day-to-day life.

Visit the travel nurse checklist page and download a packing list before your next travel nursing assignment or family vacation.