Travel Nursing with a Significant Other

Travel nursing with a significant other can be one of the greatest adventures in your relationship and career. However, like most things in nursing (and life), it does not come without its unique challenges. To get all the best advice on travel nursing with a partner, we chatted with Premier RN Tess Stecker, who has been traveling with her husband and fellow RN, Kyle, for the past three years. Check out our conversation and follow Tess and Kyle’s adventures on Instagram.

How did you and Kyle decide to start travel nursing together?

All through college, we both knew we wanted to travel nurse before settling down and starting a family. When we got married and graduated college, we both started working in hospitals to gain experience. After about 2 years we were starting to get burnt out, so we decided to take the jump and start traveling!

What is the key to making your relationship work while travel nursing with a significant other?

Kyle and I both do different specialties in nursing, so that has made it slightly more difficult while travel nursing. We always look for contracts in the same city. Typically, Kyle works 5 8-hour shifts while I work 3 or 4 12-hour shifts. This can make it difficult for our schedules to align. Thankfully, I have always had great managers who let me have my days off when Kyle has off.

How do you and your partner bond/spend quality time together while on the road?

We love using our days off to explore the new city we are in. We are usually only in a new city for 13 weeks and that time flies by because of work! We always plan one night a week to go out and try a new restaurant which is a great way for us to experience new places. We also love hiking, going to museums or exploring downtown at whatever city we are in.

Where is your favorite place you have been on assignment?

Our favorite place we have been on assignment is San Diego, CA. It is such a unique city, it has the ocean, mountains, and great weather. It is a great city to live in while you’re young!

What advice would you give to clinicians who are thinking about travel nursing with a significant other?

Be patient with each other and value this time in our lives. When you’re travel nursing with a significant other, you are away from the familiar and comfortable and you really have to lean on each other. It is not always easy, and it can be lonely at times, but your significant other can provide a lot of support during the hard times. Also, really take the time to go out and have date nights. It is easy to waste your days off by sitting at home, but go explore, it’s worth it!

 

Ready to start travel nursing? Apply with Premier to get your adventure started!


Premier Nurses: Beyond the Scrubs

This Nurses Month, we want to acknowledge the incredible work our clinicians do both inside and outside of healthcare settings. Our nurses are so much more than just nurses: they are parents, small business owners, volunteers, and essential members of their communities. Here are a few Premier RNs who shared with us glimpses into their lives beyond the scrubs.

Steven K., Med/Surg RN

Job outside of nursing: Owner of Bottle Theory, a craft beer taproom.

What gave you the idea to open your own business?

I worked doubles at a restaurant to pay for nursing school. I’d been talking with one of my best friends about doing our own thing someday. It didn’t seem like it would ever actually happen, since conversations and daydreaming about a project often are satisfying enough to never actually go through the process of doing it. As I started nursing, my friend stayed in the restaurant industry forming relationships along the way; these would prove to be critical pieces down the road. A few years later, right in in the middle of COVID, he circled back with me about taking our service experience into the craft beer world. It was blowing up and Chicago had just been crowned craft beer capital of the U.S.

So, why craft beer? There aren’t many things that offer an unreal, world-class experience for $7. Craft beer does. It’s a low barrier to entry and high invitation, which is the magical combination many businesses strive toward. The flavors that brewers can pull out of simple ingredients, the constant innovation and the intoxicating artwork on the cans make it a full sensory experience. The beers are so good these days that very little needs to be spent on marketing, which makes the financials much less complicated. And, besides, who doesn’t want to hang out with friends in an exciting place with cool stuff to try? We built exactly the place we’d want to spend time at.

How do you balance your career as a nurse with running your small business?

I used to work nights, but since the business was opening very soon, I switched to days so that I could give the other 4 days a week my full attention to the shop. If I’d stayed on nights, it would’ve dragged the opening out even further, as the global supply chain issues were still a daily challenge at the time; we couldn’t afford any avoidable delays. No days off is a real thing, but to have what you want, you have to do what you haven’t been willing to do.

Having an encouraging wife is crucial. She understood the vision, its importance, and the projections. She would’ve trusted me to invest anyways, but those pieces made it much easier for her to come alongside and have an abiding interest in the business.

What advice would you give to a nurse who is looking to invest more time into their passions outside of healthcare?

You just have to do it. The only secret sauce is you have to be disturbed. Totally irritated by the space between where you are and where you wish you were. That will provide you with an unshakeable, confident answer to “what’s your ‘why?’ If you figure that out, the how and when will follow. Think about all of the people who’ve immigrated over the last couple centuries to the U.S. and turned determination and effort into family-sustaining income. Often with little to no money, little to no relationships, little to no understanding of the culture or the language. And likely a ton of resistance to push through. There’s no reason why someone like me, a formally educated person with established relationships in a country where I speak the primary language, maintains excuses for why I can’t start a business. Obviously, building relationships both organically and strategically matters. The saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is largely true. Sure, you need to know something to inform your plan, but you can’t know everything, so bringing people along who have experiences, skills, and knowledge that you don’t is not just more efficient, it’s a realistic aspect of getting a business off the ground. If nothing else, it makes the faults and mistakes along the way much softer individually and much richer interpersonally. This whole project from inception to opening and what sustains every day forward has been fueled by the desire to be in community, have a fun experience and celebrate relationships.

Jennifer N., LTAC RN

Job outside of nursing: Doula.

What inspired you to become a doula?

That’s really multifactorial. I’ve transitioned to a much more holistic mindset during my 15 plus years in nursing, and I have always been very passionate about patient advocacy, I actually became a board-certified patient advocate and built a business of which the foundation is firmly planted on advocacy and patient rights. As a mom of six and more recently, a grandmother, I have had the experience of being a patient on the maternity side of medicine and witnessed many other women in their childbirth journeys as well, and I recognized patterns and mindsets that I felt were a disservice to birthing mothers. The perception that pregnancy and childbirth are a medical diagnosis and not a life process bothers me. I recognized the increased use of interventions to suit schedules and made-up guidelines, all too often leading to further interventions and even complications. Lack of informed consent was another biggie. Being aware of the need for support, I decided to obtain Doula certification. I feel that as a nurse and a doula, I can be an informed, compassionate companion to support women in making decisions. Studies show that having a doula present during labor helps to promote patient autonomy and decreases the chances of medical interventions, which I find incredibly important. Doulas provide support, information, and emotional care throughout the entire process and empower women in their birthing journey.

How do you balance your career as an RN with working as a doula?

I think that most RNs are great multitaskers!  I only take a maximum of two women at the time that have a due date in the same month, this keeps me available for deliveries and to offer adequate prenatal and postpartum support while maintaining a bedside presence as an RN. I also offer virtual holistic prenatal support which can be scheduled around everything else going on. Funny enough, I actually connected with a doula client while working a contract, one of the physicians I was working with hired me to support him and his wife during their delivery! You just never know!

What advice would you give to a nurse who is looking to invest more time into their passions?

Give your passions priority! Especially if that passion is centered around service… there is no greater fulfillment, in my opinion, than enriching and being a blessing in another’s life.

Thomas P., Med/Surg RN

Hobby outside of nursing: Building a “Lego City” with his daughter.

What inspired you to start this hobby with your daughter? 

It began years ago as a Father’s Day gift but didn’t really take off until my daughter started to show interest because she saw a Lego city at a local toy store. Since, we go to Lego stores everywhere we go. She really enjoys the mini figures. She likes to trade, which works on her interpersonal communication and negotiating skills.

What is the most rewarding part about the process of building the Lego city?

The most rewarding part is the quality time I get to spend with my daughter. No electronics while we build except for music. It keeps her off of her phone, iPad, and TV. In addition, seeing her mind work as we plan the city layout and details of it all.

What advice would you give to a nurse who is looking to invest more time into their passions or families?

Just like your career: Do what you love. Take the time to spend it how you want with family, friends, or a great hobby.  Have fun with it.

You Make a Difference: Stories From the Field

The ANA Nurses Month theme in 2023 is “You Make a Difference,” and we can’t think of a better phrase to describe healthcare workers. We asked some of our Premier nurses about a time they felt they really made a difference, and the stories are incredible. To all nurses: thank you for making a difference in the lives of those you serve. We are so grateful to work with you!

Transplant Warriors

“I used to be a transplant coordinator for kidneys. Making that phone call to the recipient to let them know and meeting them at the hospital before their life changing surgery, seeing them thrive after their transplant and essentially go back to a normal life have certainly been some of the most amazing and rewarding moments in my life.” – Andrea C.L., Tele-Med/Surg RN

Man Celebrating Success On Top Of A Mountain Stock Photo - Download Image Now - Mountain, Success, Determination - iStock

Starting a Cycle of Kindness

“I remember a time I was working in an environment with people that did not work together to help one another. One morning I realized the nurses I would be reporting to did not have a tech to help them that day. I knew it was going to be a rough day. I rallied my fellow co-workers, and we began completing tasks that would help the next shift’s day start a little smoother. When the day shift nurses arrived instead of being overwhelmed and frustrated, they were moved by our thoughtfulness and kindness for them. When I returned to work that night, I was greeted with the same fate as the previous shift. The tech scheduled for that night had called in and there wasn’t anyone to replace them. Surprisingly, the day shift crew had followed our example and completed the same act of kindness for us. Uniting together as a body for the common purpose of meeting patient needs and not viewing tasks as shift specific became the new normal. I realized being kind and compassionate towards your co-workers can have as big of an impact on patient care as any one act you do as an individual.” – Jackie S., LTC RN

Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation | American Nurses Association

Connection During COVID

“The time in my career when I felt I made the most difference was the 1st year of the Covid pandemic. I was working on a trach unit and the facility was on lockdown. Absolutely no visitors, which meant that my patients who couldn’t speak were unable to see the people who loved them. I had 3 patients whose families visited all the time before Covid who couldn’t see them now, and that bothered me. I used my personal cellphone and FaceTimed with those families every shift I worked. That made me, my patients, and their families a little more comfortable with not being able to physically see their loved ones. For me, that was the most difficult time because while I was doing everything I could to keep them alive, patients on the other units were dying. My patients’ families were so grateful and thankful to me. I am the voice for the voiceless.” – Shirley W., Respiratory Care

Your patient and separation during COVID-19

Bonding Over Breakfast

“At this hospital I worked at a few years ago we had a patient who was considered a ‘frequent flyer.’ He was a 97-year-old man who was set in his ways, he was always setting off the bed alarms and didn’t care for the staff to help him. He was in and out of the hospital from the nursing home he resided in. After a very long night shift of chasing this patient, before day shift arrived, I sat the patient up in his chair next to the window and opened the blinds so the sun was shining on him. He started to tear up and said that he has lost everyone in his life: his wife died a few years ago, his parents were gone, friends were gone, and this was his life now. I asked him what his favorite memory of him and his wife was. He said they would always go get breakfast throughout the week at Cracker Barrel. He thanked me for actually sitting down and letting him talk to someone for a change. I went to Cracker Barrel that morning and got this patient his favorite meal and brought it back to him. He was so happy, he cried happy tears. Just because some patients can be hard to work with doesn’t mean it’s because they just want to be difficult, it can be so much deeper than that.” – Blake O., Tele-Med/Surg RN

The Christmas Gift of Care

“Even though I have only been a nurse for a short time, I have learned that the smallest actions make the biggest impact. Being in the hospital is always a challenge for people, but being hospitalized during a Holiday can make things even worse. Christmas day of this past year, I spent the holiday working, but my patients spent their day being sick and away from their families. I had completed my morning work and was finishing up some charting when my charge nurse asked if I could pass some meds in one of her rooms so she could go help another nurse. This particular room was a man whose family just made the very difficult decision to place him on hospice cares and he was waiting to be transferred to a hospice facility. When I went into the room, I was chatting with the patient while scanning in his meds and asked if I could get him anything to drink to take them with. He started telling me about how he wished we had Coke because it was his favorite drink. Being a religious Diet Coke drinker myself, I knew the struggle of being in a Pepsi based hospital, but I also knew of the few vending machines that carried Coke. I told the man that I would be right back and quickly went to go buy him a Coke. When I came back with his soda, he was so happy. We chatted a bit more and he stated how he didn’t feel like himself having not have shaved in a few days. So of course, I said I would shave him! I spent the next half hour shaving his face and chatting with him. This was a man who no longer could remember the day of the week or what year it was, but he knew himself and his habits. For Christmas, the least I could do was to give a dying man the gift of familiarity and care. I think about that patient a lot, knowing that he is probably no longer on this earth. He taught me a great lesson on how it’s ok to take a little time to go the extra mile. And I hope he is well, wherever his spirit may be.” – Lauren K., Med/Surg RN

All Will Be Well In The End Stock Photo - Download Image Now - Hospital, Holding Hands, Patient - iStock

 

Ready to make a difference as a Premier nurse? Apply below!


Nurses Month Discounts 2023

It’s May, which means it’s officially Nurses Month! It goes without saying, but here at Premier, we are big fans of our nurses. To kick off Nurses Month 2023, we’ve rounded up the best deals and discounts for healthcare workers to use in May. Whether you’re in the market for a new pair of nursing shoes for a steal, a free Cinnabon, or a super-discounted new mattress, we’ve got all the best Nurses Month deals to share with you. Treat yourself and enjoy!

Footwear Discounts

25% off – New Balance

20% Off Orders $49+ for Nurses – Chaco

20% off – Keds

20% off – HEYDUDE

40% off – Asics

20% off – Merrell

50% off – Reebok

20% off – Rothy’s

You Can't Knock a Classic: the New Balance 574, Reviewed

Apparel & Accessories Discounts

20% off – Calvin Klein

25% off – Dockers

15% off- Lululemon

15% off – Ray-Ban

20% off – Under Armour

30% off – Adidas

25% off – Carhartt

15% off – Madewell

5 Services That Let You Try on Clothes at Home for Free

Food & Grocery Discounts

10% off entire check – Outback Steakhouse

15% Off and Free Shipping – KIND

Free Membership – Thrive Market

Free Classic Cinnamon Roll, Minibon, or 4-count Bonbites – Cinnabon

50% off your first box and 10% off ongoing boxes – Home Chef

55% off your first box – Hello Fresh

$110 off and first box ships free – Blue Apron

Free 6-pack of Classic Cookies with a $5 in-store purchase – Insomnia Cookies

Free cookie or drink with entrée during Nurses’ Week (May 6-12) – Potbelly’s

Freshly Shuts Down—But Here Are 9 Other Great Meal Kits To Try

Home Essentials Discounts

40% off mattress discount – Nectar

30% off mattress discount – Dreamcloud

25% Off Sitewide + Free Shipping – Brooklyn Bedding

Extra 10-20% Off – Mattress Firm

20% off – Corkcicle

20% off – Stanley

20% off – Yeti

15% off – Tuft & Needle

15% off – Gravity Blankets

20% off – Ring

25% off – Huffy Bikes

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress | 365-Nights Trial | Forever Warranty

Electronics Discounts

25% off unlimited plans – AT&T

Welcome Unlimited for $20/line per month for 4 lines – Verizon

Fios Internet for as Low as $34.99/Month – Verizon Fios

Save 60% on 6 months of language lessons – Babbel

Savings Up to 40% Off + Free Shipping – HP

Special Discount on orders $199+ – Bose

30% off – Samsung

25% off – Phillips

15% off – Sonos

5% off – Lenovo

HD wallpaper: man listening headphones near transit, people, guy, sound, music | Wallpaper Flare

Travel Nurse Interview Advice from Premier Recruiters

Job interviews are always a source of stress among applicants, and as a travel nurse, you’ll have more than your fair share of them. If you struggle getting through those tough intro calls or meetings with recruiters, don’t worry! We’ve got your back. Here is some of the best travel nurse interview advice straight from our very own Premier recruiters.

Be Well-Prepared

The travel nurse interview advice that popped up most often when we asked the Premier recruiters was be prepared. Recruiter Dominick says: “Have questions prepared ahead of time that you would like the facility or recruiter to answer. Be prepared to take them through a brief description of your work experience and cater it to what the job responsibilities are in the job posting.” Furthermore,  Leigh advises: “Have a list of questions ready to go on a file in your phone so you are always ready. Make sure to take a look at them from time to time to edit them.” It can’t be stressed enough that the more prepared you show up for an interview, the smoother it will go. Always research the staffing agency beforehand so you know all about the company and their core values- it will demonstrate your genuine interest in landing a contract.

The Science Behind Why Writing Things Down Makes You More Successful – The Paper & Plan Co

Ask Questions!

One of the most important pieces of travel nurse interview advice we’ve all heard before is to have questions prepared for your interviews. Some great options of questions to ask your recruiter during your interview are:

  • What would my housing situation look like on this travel assignment?
  • How long have you been staffing at this facility?
  • What’s different about working with your agency than other staffing firms?
  • Is there anything I can clarify for you about my qualifications or experience?
  • What are the next steps in the hiring process?
  • What is your favorite thing about working at this staffing agency?

Asking questions during an interview is a great way to start building a rapport with your recruiter. Your queries will often turn an interview into a conversation rather than a bland Q&A session.

3 Steps to Nail the “Over The Phone” Job Interview

Be Honest and Direct

Being honest is great advice for life in general, but it is especially good travel nurse interview advice. Premier recruiter Lauren K. says: “Be honest and transparent to save everyone’s time.  Let the recruiter know what the top three things you are looking for in an assignment.” Director of Recruitment, Russ, says: “If you want something, ask for it. Looking for a specific shift, setting, location, or pay package? The more direct you can be in your communication; the better chance your recruiter can help you find a great job match.” When hiring, recruiters want to make sure that the candidates they choose are honest and straightforward in their work ethic, and they expect to see that come through in interviews as well. So don’t hold back on what you’re looking for and be upfront about your preferences in order to land a placement that fits exactly what you’re looking for.

7 Essential Questions To Ask In A Job Interview - Work It Daily

Confidence is Key

Going into an interview with confidence can feel tough at times, especially when you’re nervous. Keep in mind that mustering up confidence, even if you have to fake it, is a piece of travel nurse interview advice that should not be skipped over. Premier recruiter Lauren P. says: “Be yourself. Have confidence!” Letting your true personality show during an interview will help put you at ease and appear more confident. Make sure to talk about your past nursing experiences with the same passion you’ll bring to your future travel nurse contract. This will help you open up and start building a positive relationship with your recruiter. Premier’s Director of Recruitment, Russ, advises: “Having a great relationship with your recruiter is vital. It will play a huge role in your enjoyment of both the job search process and ultimately your travel healthcare assignment.”

Self-Confidence ‒ A Key Success Factor In A Job Interview

Be Flexible and Open Minded

While it is super important to be direct and upfront about your preferences, Premier recruiter Lauren K. says it is equally important “to be open minded and flexible when considering options for an assignment.” Don’t get discouraged if during your interview, your recruiter mentions that they currently don’t have a job open that fits your exact criteria perfectly. Be curious and inquisitive about the opportunities they do have available because you never know if it could be a great fit for your needs after all. Life as a travel nurse is full of adventure, and you should always be open to opportunities that could enrich your career.

How To Become a Travel Nurse: Location Independent Nursing Career

Looking to work with of our awesome Premier recruiters? Apply here!


Financial Tips for Travel Nurses

Between saving lives, squeezing in some much-needed R&R, and figuring out your next contract, managing money might seem low on the priority list for a travel nurse. However, it’s never been more important for nurses to be financially literate. If you have no idea where to start when it comes to making money moves, we’re here to help. Here are our top financial tips for travel nurses.

Set Clear and Realistic Financial Goals

Having clear goals is one of the most important financial tips for travel nurses. Whether you’d like to put some money aside for that dream vacation, pay off your nursing school loans, buy a new car, or even save up for a downpayment on a house, be super specific about your objectives. You’ll want to make sure your goals are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely (learn more about financial SMART goals here). Write your financial goals down, and from there, articulate the steps you can take to reach them on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. This is a great way to start building a clearer roadmap that’ll guide your financial decisions toward your ultimate destination.

The Importance of Setting SMART Goals

Create a Budget

One of the first moves for becoming more financially literate is creating a budget for your life as a travel nurse. As with any other sort of budget, make a list of everything you spend money on in a given month. As a travel nurse these expenses may include: plane tickets, furnished housing, licensing fees, gas mileage, or necessities for your furry travel companion. You can even use a budget tracking app to do this and stay on track with your spending. A good budget will help you get a picture of how much money is going out versus how much is coming in and will show you areas where you can start saving.

As you’re setting up your next contract, be sure to talk to your recruiter about opportunities for travel or housing stipends. If you can manage to have all or part of those major expenses covered while being a healthcare worker, you’ll be left with a higher income surplus to allocate elsewhere in your budget.

How To Budget When You Absolutely Hate The Idea Of Budgeting | HuffPost Life

Keep an Emergency Fund

Keeping an emergency fund of a few thousand dollars is one of the best financial tips for travel nurses. It’s always a good idea to have savings put aside in case of emergencies. Let’s say your car breaks down on the way to your next contract location, your dog swallowed a thumbtack and needs surgery, or you need to fly home for a family emergency. You’re going to want to account for any and all of these unknowns in travel nursing, and an emergency fund will get you out of a bind when you need it the most.

Emergency Fund: How to Start one to Help Prevent Debt | Credit.org

Take Advantage of Discount Programs to Save Extra Cash

Did you know that nurses get exclusive discounts on hundreds of top brands? A great way to save a little extra dough (especially for all the shopaholics out there) is to utilize these discounts when on your next shopping spree. Just a few of the brands that offer nurse discounts are: Samsung, Underarmour, YETI, Adidas, Hello Fresh, Ray Ban, and Verizon. Check out the full list here!

5 Best Discount Strategies + Examples (2022)

Invest Your Savings Wisely

Wondering how to optimize and grow your money as a travel nurse? Saving a portion of your income should be a top priority for you. While you’re free to save as little or as much as you’d like, experts recommend setting aside about 20% of your earnings. So, if you’re bringing home $1,500 each week, $300 should go elsewhere for safe keeping. Investing your savings is definitely among the top financial tips for travel nurses, and you should consider storing your saved earnings in places such as:

  • A high-yield savings account for emergency funds or future purchases.
  • Stocks or ETFs (exchange-traded funds).
  • A Roth IRA (individual retirement account) account.
  • A 401K account.

Each of these options allows you to make money on your investments, either through annual percentage yields from the bank, price appreciation of your stocks, or retirement savings that aren’t taxed upon distribution.

How to Invest in Stocks [Investing in Stocks for Beginners] - Mint

Looking for a shiny new travel nursing assignment? Apply with Premier!


Staying Positive as a Nurse

Nurses encounter many stressors in the workplace: long hours, rotating shifts, and pressure to achieve in an emotionally and physically challenging field. The American Nurses Association found that the effects of stress are among nurses’ top health and safety concerns. Cultivating positive emotions can help nurses become healthier, happier, and more resilient. Here are some ways to stay positive as a nurse, even when it seems difficult.

Begin the Day with Positive Self-Talk

Daily positive affirmations can have a significant impact on staying positive as a nurse. Affirmations can be very powerful, and they are also easy to use. For example, if you say “I am confident” or “I am strong” repeatedly (either in your mind or out loud), the message will become ingrained in your brain. You can make up your own set of custom affirmations that work for you. Some great affirmations for nurses are: “I am making a difference today,” “I am doing my best to help my patients,” and “I am proud of my work as a nurse.” You can also check out this article for more nurse affirmations. Beginning your day with affirmations can improve the way you react to your environment, patients, and coworkers. Making a habit of this can help increase self-esteem and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.

Positive Affirmations Images – Browse 10,714 Stock Photos, Vectors, and Video | Adobe Stock

Take a Social Media Hiatus

Many nurses report that their outlook skews more negative when they overuse social media and news apps. If you find yourself doomscrolling Instagram or Twitter, it may be affecting your ability to focus on the positive. According to Stephanie J. Wong PhD., doomscrolling (obsessively scanning social media and websites for bad news) triggers the release of stress hormones that can affect your mental and physical health. A key to staying positive as a nurse is limiting your exposure to social media and taking time to completely disconnect. When away from work, set a time each day to turn off your cell phone, put away the laptop, and stop checking email. These pockets of time are great for spending some time outdoors, doing something physically active, or meditating.

How to Use Time Outside for Self-Care | Ledge Lounger

Get Your R&R

Practicing daily relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing, are proven to help with staying positive as a nurse. Getting into a habit of engaging in regular relaxation time can lead to improvements in overall health and happiness. When you get home from your shift, try to use some self-care techniques like meditating, reading a good book, or even taking a bubble bath. These beginner-friendly guided meditations only take five minutes a day.

In addition, getting enough sleep every day is paramount to staying positive as a nurse. An article from health.gov discusses several benefits of sleep. This includes an elevated mood, reduced feelings of stress, improved cognitive function, and better maintenance of a healthy weight. Therefore, it’s important to make time for a few calming activities to help unwind after a stressful day.

Napping Health Effects

Surround Yourself with Positive People

You may find yourself working alongside nurses who tend to dwell on the negative. When you’re stuck in a conversation with one of them, practice redirecting the discussion to a more enjoyable subject, or simply leave as soon as you are able. Negative people consume so much mental energy that it’s easy to spend time lamenting their behaviors even when they are not around. This is why it is so important to surround yourself with people who energize, support, and encourage you. By simply being around them, positive people can help you improve your mindset and mood.

5,700+ Nurses Laughing Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free ...

Shrink Your Inner Critic

We all have one: an inner voice that expresses criticism, frustration, or disapproval about our actions. It might sound like, “why didn’t you?” “what’s wrong with you?” or “why can’t you get it together?” As a nurse, the negativity these inner voices generate can affect the way you not only treat yourself, but also your patients and coworkers.

Start shrinking your inner critic with a simple exercise: speaking to yourself like you would a friend. Challenge the beliefs that the inner critic is pushing because they are not true. You are worthy, capable, and deserving of love. Diminishing the power you give to your inner critic is essential for staying positive as a nurse.

The Compliance Process: What to Know

Congratulations, you just accepted your first contract nursing assignment! Now what? The next step in getting you ready for your contract is completing the compliance process. Healthcare staffing agencies and the facility you will work at need to make sure you meet all the basic requirements to start working with patients. What does that involve and why is it important? Our all-star compliance team at Premier is here to answer all your burning questions about compliance and give tips on how to get through this process without a hitch.

Why is the compliance process important for a clinician?

“Compliance ensures that both Premier and our clients receive a clinician who is competent, safe, effective, and up to date on all their requirements in order to do the job,” Premier Compliance Specialist Tim S. says. “Compliance works as the bridge between potential and opportunity. It is a vital piece of the process for all involved.”

How a staffing agency manages its compliance impacts employers

How long does the compliance process take?

“The compliance process takes around 10 days, but it depends on how quickly the clinician gets us everything we need,” Compliance Specialist Rebecca D. notes. Tim adds, “Everyone’s compliance process may be more or less involved. Especially if they have an extensive travel background or limited time to do Occupational Health. I like to say, you never really know a clinician until they hit compliance.”

During the compliance process, the staffing agency will complete a background check, verify all your education and work history, check your certifications and licenses, as well as contact your references. This all can take a while, so staying patient during compliance is necessary. Our compliance specialists work hard to ensure they are sending the best of the best to clients.

December 2021: 9 Consecutive Days of Palindromes - Farmers' Almanac - Plan Your Day. Grow Your Life.

Tips to ensure a smooth compliance process?

“Having a nursing resume that is up to date without unaccounted-for gaps is key,” Tim points out. “Be available for your appointments (drug screen, physical, and other testing) at the earliest opportunity ensures we have the time to obtain the results for compliance.” Rebecca adds, “Have vaccine records on hand!”

Communication is super important during the compliance process. Make sure you are consistently checking your email for updates from compliance. If you have issues completing your compliance to-dos, please reach out to your compliance specialist! They are there to help, but they need you to keep them in the loop.

To learn more about your compliance checklist, check out our blog post here!

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Anything else you’d like prospective employees to know about compliance?

“We are here to work with and for you,” says Tim. “Although sometimes it seems like compliance is always pushing and hassling to get something done, or redone, it is 100% for the benefit of getting a clinician in the right shape to succeed in their role. I want clinicians to know we are their assistants at the ready to help them grow their experience and careers with Premier.”

Ready to start your contract nursing journey with Premier? Apply today!


Best Advice for New Nurses

Your first couple of years provide huge growth opportunities for anyone in the healthcare field. Gearing up for your very first RN position is bound to carry a lot of excitement, but also lots of unknowns. Find out what experienced Premier clinicians wish they knew when they first started out. Embracing their advice for new nurses will help you start out on the right foot as you begin your nursing career.

Ask Questions!

The best way to build your confidence as a new nurse is to always ask questions. Premier RN Andrea C. says: “Always ask questions, look things up that you haven’t seen or heard before.” The reason why asking questions is some of the best advice for new nurses is because many fresh-faced RNs are afraid that asking for help will make them look inexperienced. Don’t be embarrassed if you encounter something you haven’t seen or heard before- real life nursing is going to be full of new experiences. Plus, your more senior nurses all remember those first few weeks on the job- your questions will make total sense.

Common Nursing Interview Questions and How to Answer Them | Aspen University

You Are Your Most Important Patient

One of the best pieces of advice for new nurses doesn’t have to do with nursing at all. That is: take care of yourself. It’s common for new nurses to experience overwhelm,  anxiety, and even burnout during their first year working, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Common self-care pitfalls for new nurses include not getting enough sleep, not eating well, and not focusing on mental health. If you are struggling to catch sleep as a new nurse on the night shift, make it a priority to figure out solutions. If you are struggling to catch sleep as a new nurse on the night shift, make it a priority to figure out solutions.

And  most importantly, give yourself grace as you adjust to your new life as a nurse. Being kind and gentle to yourself if so important.

Read all about self-care tips for nurses here.

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Find a Mentor

As you start to make acquaintances on the unit, you will inevitably meet people you “click” with right away. Try to find at least one seasoned nurse or team member who are eager to guide you. Think of them as mentors and utilize them accordingly. You’ll not only grow a strong personal and professional bond with them but, you’ll also become a much stronger nurse as you proactively seek guidance throughout the first year of your nursing career.

Benefits of a Nurse Mentorship: Why Nurse Educators Matter | Duquesne University

Always Advocate for Patients

Premier RN Jennifer N. advises: “Advocate for patients, not administration.” This is so important to remember as a new nurse because in the hustle and bustle of a hospital system and navigating a new environment, it’s easy to forget that helping patients is the reason many become RNs to begin with. Being a patient advocate is the most important hat you wear as a nurse. The sheer amount of time that you spend with your patients affords you a unique opportunity to build trusting relationships and good rapport. This is how nurses change the lives of patients and their families every day.

Nurse-Patient Interaction

Remember Why You Started

Premier RN Stephanie V.’s best advice for new nurses is: “Always remember why you decided to be a nurse. You are an inspiration to many people even on your bad days.” Remembering your “why” is key to getting through the tough times as a nurse. Nursing is stressful, but also rewarding. Thinking about who or what inspired you to become a nurse will help give you a boost when you’re struggling.

Nurse Burnout: Risks, Causes, and Precautions for Nurses

Are you looking to land your first contract RN job? Apply with Premier!


Understanding and Navigating the Nurse Shortage

Why is there a nurse shortage?

It’s no secret that the healthcare world is experiencing a shortage of one of its main resources: nurses. While it’s tempting to think of COVID-19 as the key driver of the nurse shortage, that’s not the whole reason. The high stress of working during a pandemic has certainly exacerbated the problem, but the nurse shortage was already a concern well before COVID-19 hit the United States and will likely continue to be a concern for years to come. There are a number of factors driving this shortage, including a retirement boom, lack of educators, and of course, burnout.

5 Factors Impacting the Nursing Shortage | HealthStaff.org

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The retirement boom

The retirement boom among older nurses has created thousands of job openings in nursing. The massive increase in job openings has coincided with an increase in the number of patients seeking healthcare, and there simply aren’t enough new nurses entering the workforce each year to keep pace with these rising rates.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the RN workforce to grow by an average of 30,000 new nurses per year from 2019–2029, which is nowhere near enough to meet the Bureau’s projection of 175,900 openings each year over the same time period. Studies have projected that 1.2 million more nurses will be needed by 2030 in order to keep pace with this high demand, creating a nurse shortage.

Shortage of nursing educators

The nurse shortage is a big enough problem on its own, but there is an underlying factor that has exacerbated the issue: a shortage of educators. Nursing schools across the country are experiencing a faculty shortage, which limits the number of nursing students schools can accept.

A report from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing found that in 2019, U.S. nursing schools turned down 80,407 qualified applicants for nursing programs. The main reasons were insufficient numbers of faculty members, not enough clinical sites or classroom space, and budget constraints. A separate survey found that nursing schools not only needed to create more faculty positions to accommodate demand, but that they were struggling to fill existing faculty vacancies.

Job stress and clinician burnout

Nursing is a high-stress profession under the best of circumstances, and burnout is definitely a driving force behind the nurse shortage. Nurses not only have to deal with an increasing workload, but they have to do it while also dealing with human suffering and loss of life on a regular basis. On top of that, because nurses interact directly with patients more than any other provider, they are at the highest risk of workplace violence of any healthcare professional, causing many nurses to discontinue practicing. Nurses universally agree that theirs is an incredibly rewarding profession but can be an unforgiving one.

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The impact of the nurse shortage

Patients and their families are definitely feeling the impact of the nurse shortage, as it affects the quality of care they receive. At the heart of it, a nurse shortage means there are fewer nurses caring for an increasing number of patients. Fewer nurses means a higher risk of adverse events that are commonly associated with overworked and under-supported nursing staff within a healthcare organization including: medication errors, negligence, even patient death.

Solutions for the nurse shortage

Having a better understanding of the problem is an important first step toward solving it, but what can actually be done to reduce the nurse shortage in healthcare organizations? Here are a few key solutions that could help bring this problem under control.

Strategic workplace accommodations

It’s an inescapable fact that nurses are overworked. 83% of nurses cited poor work/life balance as the main reason that hospitals and healthcare organizations are losing good nurses. Healthcare organizations and leaders may not be able to do much to reduce nurse workloads, but there are things they can do to help make life a little easier for overworked nurses in the meantime.

Healthcare leaders should consider implementing strategic workplace accommodations to help nurses more effectively manage job stress. These accommodations can vary depending on the specific needs of an organization’s nursing staff, but examples include allowing nurses additional break time during their shifts to de-stress or holding group sessions to talk about mental health . Healthcare organizations can also create physical space where nurses can go to take a breather when things get hectic.

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Workforce solutions & flexibility

Additional flexibility also goes a long way toward restoring work/life balance for an organization’s nursing staff. The easiest way for leaders to provide that flexibility is to actually listen when nurses voice concerns about high patient loads or feeling overwhelmed and do everything they can to reduce those stressors. Effective staffing, technology, and workforce management can be a great way to build in this flexibility without increasing the workload for other nurses. It is imperative that we make our clinical settings less stressful in order to remediate the nurse shortage.