What’s the difference between a VMS and an MSP facility? Hospitals and healthcare facilities fill open staffing positions in different ways, and they rely on agencies to help them. For travel nurses seeking open positions, it’s worth knowing what goes on behind the scenes and how each procurement method affects contracts.

Self-care is more than a buzzword. It’s more than a treat. It’s something every person should practice each and every day. For nurses especially, it’s vital to reduce stress, tension, and anxiety, and treat your mind and body right. The quality of care you’re able to provide is directly tied to your own wellbeing. Here are a few tips for practicing self-care at work, in little doses throughout the day.

The more we learn about COVID-19, the more it becomes increasingly apparent that healthcare workers face a much higher risk of exposure — even with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Travel nurses and other medical professionals need to stay diligent in their self-evaluations and make sure they’re not coming to work if they’re showing symptoms of the virus. Travel nurses must safeguard their own health before they can deliver life-saving care to others. Sometimes, that’s as simple as staying home when symptomatic.

It’s amazing how much anxiety is lifted when you don’t have to worry about where your next paycheck is coming from. Even better is having an emergency fund you can rely on for unexpected struggles. For travel nurses especially, it’s important to have an emergency fund to support you between assignments and in the event of an early termination. Here’s what you need to know about building an emergency fund the right way.

Repetition and routine are part of what make nurses comfortable in high-stress positions. The trade-off for this consistency is a lack of exposure to new situations and scenarios; and it’s precisely for this reason that many travel nurses opt to get outside their comfort zone with a float position. Float positions come with broad opportunities to learn new skills and work in new areas. For many nurses, it’s one of the quickest, most exciting ways to build out their capabilities and grow professionally. Is a float position right for you?

You wouldn’t classify nursing as a traditional manual labor job, like you might construction, carpentry, or mining. But nursing definitely takes a toll on the body! Nurses are prone to foot, back, and neck pain – problems that only get worse if they’re not properly addressed. Listen to your body and provide the support and relief it needs to keep you active, agile, and pain-free on-the-job! You might be surprised to find out it’s as easy as buying the right shoes and stretching every now and then.

Taxes are complicated and few people look forward to doing them. That feeling of dread only gets worse when you find out that you owe taxes! It’s why many travel nurses hand off their taxes to a professional, and why establishing a tax home is so important. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, it might just be the easiest way to avoid headaches on your taxes this year and for years to come.

There are some things better left unsaid. As a travel nurse, it can be difficult to realize the difference between an offhanded comment and a one that’s perceived as rude. Conscious communication is important. Think before you talk and consider how even simple statements might come off to others. It’s the simplest way to avoid conflict with the staff you’ll be working with for the next 13 weeks.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of changes, and some things will never be the same. In the healthcare field, many of the innovations made during the pandemic will not only stick around, they’ll evolve into new practices. Amidst it all, travel nursing will play an important role in getting the healthcare industry back to some semblance of normalcy.

Not all hospital staff members are happy to get help from a travel nurse. They may see travel nurses as an outsider or an annoyance. That doesn’t change your job or your mission as a caregiver, however, but it can create friction for the duration of your assignment. Here’s how to subtly shift the perception of staff who might have preconceived notions about travel nurses, who hold a grudge, or cop an attitude without getting to know you first.