Wednesday, March 04, 2009 #

Career Changes Healthcare Professionals Can Make

Although many Americans dedicate most of their career working to a single employer, it is fair to say that career moves are changing and the employer devotion is becoming rare, specially in the private sector. Based on statistics, the average, the U.S. job length is only about three-and-a-half years.

Healthcare professionals might shift roles in their profession as they can advance into management positions. Or nurses may leap into a new branch of their career without the need of any extra training, such as a travel nursing career or Corporate Nurse Career.

Here is some information that makes for easy transition, from a traditional nurse job to a different setting:

Travel Nurses
Experienced nurses don’t need to jump in to new career, as many other professionals do along with training, at mid-life for a career that reflects their true passions. As a matter of fact, many aging nurses decide to take on travel nurse jobs because they wish to continue working and want life enhancing benefits such as flexible schedules, education incentives, retirement plans and three day work weeks. So, healthcare professionals are the lucky ones when you hear that about seven in ten Americans admit that they'd change jobs tomorrow if only they could.
Well, they can by getting new training, but nurses can have a travel nursing career that offers scheduling flexibility, allowing them to travel the country without slowing down and making money while doing it. Some employers, such as American Traveler, 50 States Staffing, or Travel Force Staffing will even reimburse travel nurses on assignment for their unlimited CEU classes to help them stay updated with licenses and any other needed career training.

Clinical Coordinators
Clinical Coordinators often begin their careers as floor nurses. Nurses earn good wages and have plenty of job options from which to choose. But some either burn out from stress or want to earn more as health care managers; being a Clinical Coordinator is a welcome career change for tried RNs. Many nurses choose this career path when the physical demands of hospital nursing become heavy. A combination of long hours, health conditions, advancing middle age, or family needs often are responsible for nurses working in a hospital setting to transition their skills and experience to a rewarding nursing career in the corporate world.

Read about Deb Bacurin and how she transitioned from a hospital nurse job to a Clinical Coordinator.

posted @ Wednesday, March 04, 2009 5:07 PM | Feedback (0)

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 #

Tips for Living a Long Healthy Life

Today I have a few tips about staying healthy and extending your life a few more years. As I read the paper this last weekend, I found this interesting article by Jennie Chin Hansen, the president of AARP, and registered nurse living in San Francisco; which by the way is a great place for California travel nurse jobs . So, Jennie says that to live longer you must take control of your own health and try to follow all or at least half of these healthy living tips:

  1. Make a list of your pills – keeping a medication record and can help you avoid expensive physical and financial health costs. It was reported, by the Institute of Medicine, that 1.5 million preventable errors and harmful interactions occur annually, due to medication mismanagement. So, managing your medication the proper way cannot only save your life but also time and money. Also, stay in touch with your doctor and pharmacist; consider them your heath team.
  2. Exercise regularly! We all know about this one but don’t usually make the long time commitment. In 2008, The Washing Post reported that physical exercise may protect your blood from the aging process, which in turn will help slow the “maturing” process! So, just keep on moving. Plus, if nothing else, exercising keeps your mind healthy and active, take out the daily stress and fell better about yourself.
  3. Balance?? I didn’t know abut this one either. But, apparently walking in astronaut shoes will help people 65 and older avoid fatal falls. A MIT graduate invented a new technology to help returning astronauts regain their balance on Earth. This new technology is called “iShoe”; which gives health providers vital balance information about the person wearing the “iShoe”. As any new technology, it’s a bit high, about $100. But, it measures pressure patterns of people who have balance problems and, in turn, it gives health professionals the ability to correct problems and avoid fatal falls.
  4. Home care high-tech gadgets can help you monitor health indexes, such as blood pressure and glucose levels. In 2008, the FDA approved a care-management tool called Intel Health Guide. The data from this device is reported to health professionals in a hospital or clinic; at home, the patient can get feedback via video-conference or email for any needed adjustment; this was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
  5. Puzzles!! That sounds fun and my grandmother always has her puzzle book in her hand. I wondered why she liked cross-puzzles so much and she told me “it keeps my mind busy and going.” Well, grandma, you are right! According to a recent study from the University of Illinois, with people in their 60s and 70s, the first time after playing video games the brain not only remains more agile but memory and reasoning ability improve. And, my granny is 87 and still can take really good care of herself, cook, and do her puzzles a few times a day.
  6. Keep your bones strong; if you are a woman age 40 or older, whatever ethnic background, ask your doctor for a bone density scan to prevent osteoporosis.
  7. Get help from health cue cards. Usually, most of elderly patients forget anywhere from 40% to 80% of the doctor’s advice after leaving the office. To help prevent this problem, the American College of Physicians Foundation produced “Health Tips” cards. These cards are easy to read and provide advice on specific medical conditions and suggest questions to ask the doctor. Anyone can get free cards by asking your doctor or go to http://foundation.acponline.org/hl/htips.htm.

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posted @ Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:54 AM | Feedback (0)

Monday, February 09, 2009 #

Travel Nurse Housing Tips

Travel nurses have the ability to take nursing jobs anywhere in the U.S. ; but, while exciting, the location where your are going the live for the next few months can be a little scary. First, you need to decide if you are taking a pet or family member along for the ride. If the answer is yes, then you need to do your research and ask your travel nurse job consultant about the location and surrounding areas. Below are some key questions you should ask before taking the plunge:

In case you are bringing your pet, here are a few items you need to tell your recruiter, so you can get the perfect housing location:

  • What kind of pet you are bringing.
  • Weight, breed, age, and if the pet is neutered or spayed.
  • The number of pets you are bringing.
  • What floor you would like to be housed on to make it easier to take your pet on a walk.

Other travel nurse housing tips are:

  • Make sure your travel nurse agency offers free and private housing or a subsidy instead; otherwise, look for another agency.
  • Be sure to express your feelings about your daily commute to the hospital; do you mind driving more than 10 miles to work or not?
  • If you don't want cable TV installed, inform your recruiter; otherwise you might be charged an extra fee for cable.
  • Learn about the area before you leave for a travel nurse job. Be sure to find out about the hospital, city, and what is the lifestyle around/things to do in your days off.
  • Ask as many questions as you need, about the housing and anything else you have doubts about it.
  • Check Google Earth for housing location pictures and surrounding area information.

Once you are sure about your assignment, just go for it. And, hope to have as much fun as this travel nurse did in her travel nursing career. Read A. Connell's testimonial to her travel nurse agency, American Traveler: 

I just wanted to thank all of you. I have been a travel nurse for nearly seven years, all of that time with my first and only travel company, American Traveler. When I was considering a career as a traveler, I spoke with numerous companies. When I spoke with my consultant at American Traveler she told me, "Talk to the other companies and then call me. I think you'll see a difference."

She was right. During my time with American Traveler I met many other travelers, from many other companies, and hearing some of the problems they encountered made me appreciate you guys even more.

From the start, my housing was a challenge because of my two cats. And from the time I met Kevin in 2003 (we got married in 2005), I've limited my "travels" to a very small area. Your company always found a way to accommodate me (and later, us). I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a traveler and have countless wonderful memories, both of the places I've seen and the people I met. Thank you all for giving me such a fantastic experience.

A. Connell - Travel Nurse

posted @ Monday, February 09, 2009 12:01 PM | Feedback (0)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 #

Reports Show that Healthcare Jobs still on the Rise even with Fading Economy

On Nov.10, 2008 Beyond.com, Inc. reported its Third Quarter 2008 Career Trend Analysis and Industry Outlook Reports. These reports analyze employment trends for over 25 industries. Surprisingly, despite the weakening economy, Healthcare & Medical jobs are on the rise with nearly a 3% increase from last year.

For the past several months, many industries are declining as a result of the economic recession; however, the healthcare segment remained strong and became a driving force for local employment growth in many regions nationwide. Some of the most popular states for healthcare jobs include Houston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia.

Furthermore, the healthcare industry also offer professionals options in travel nurse jobs and travel therapy jobs with

unparalleled travel nurse job benefits and high pay in prestigious hospitals across the country. The growth in healthcare jobs can also be attributed to a side effect of the weakening economy.

To illustrate, study reports that financial worries during difficult times often lead to increased nervous tension, sadness, and even mental illness; all contributing to poor health that requires treatment at a time when many people can't manage to pay for health insurance.

All of these factors combined with and the aging population, the continuing nursing shortage, and increased outpatient services require a greater number of healthcare professionals such as nurses and therapists to sustain the rising demands of the population.

 

posted @ Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:23 PM | Feedback (0)

Monday, November 10, 2008 #

Travel Therapy Jobs Nationwide

Hello therapists and welcome to our blog!

Fifty States Staffing travel therapy agency offers travel therapists limitless possibilities to work in every part of the country, from season to season. Do you want to experience warm sunny winters? Take a position in Florida, California, Arizona or Hawaii! Or how about a traveling physical therapist job in a resort ski town?

Check out some of the travel therapy jobs listed below and pick your next destination...

Hot Travel Therapist Jobs Nationwide

Specialty
Annual Compensation
City, State
Job Details
PT
$88,230
Mesa, AZ
PT
$99,997
Yakima, WA
PT
$75,400
Newport Beach, CA
PTA
$70,390
Alamogordo, NM
SLP
$93,270
Clinton , IA
SLP
$87,030
Concord, NC
RT
$64,219
Provo, UT

posted @ Monday, November 10, 2008 2:39 PM | Feedback (0)