10 Tips to Maximize Your Experience as a Travel Nurse

by Tera Tuten on April 9, 2013

If you’re heading to a new job as a traveler, you may feel excited and a little apprehensive. Although it is an exciting adventure, starting a new job in a new area can make anyone a bit nervous. But there are several things you can do to make your experience great. Consider some of the 10 tips below.

  1. Learn a little about the area before you arrive. Gather a little information about activities, community events and places you want to make sure you check out. While you don’t have to plan everything, knowing a bit about what you want to see will get you started.
  2. Join in. Now is not the time to be a wallflower. Make the most of your travel experience by getting to know neighbors, coworkers and people in your community. Consider joining a church, fitness center or hobby club.
  3. Make the first move. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to your new coworkers and neighbors. Of course, always keep safety in mind and always use good judgment.
  4. Ask about classes. Find out when your hospital or facility has in-services or continuing education classes. You may be able to learn about equipment you are not familiar with or learn how to do a new procedure.
  5. Give it time. You may not feel at home immediately at your new job. It takes a little time to get used to new surroundings and a new home. Don’t worry if you are a little homesick at first. Homesickness will likely pass once you make a few friends and get adjusted to your work environment.
  6. Go with the flow. Keep in mind, some hospitals may do things differently than where you have worked in the past. There is often more than one way to do something. Keep an open mind. You may learn something.
  7. Travel off the beaten path. Ask your coworkers or other travelers which restaurants are the best, or what shopping spots have the best deals. Tour books may be a good place to start, but people living in the area are a great resource for must do activities and fun places to visit.
  8. Immerse yourself in the culture. If you’re in an area, which is rich in a certain culture, try to take part. For example, if you are living in a primarily ethnic neighborhood, learn about traditions, eat the foods and attend community events.
  9. Keep communication open. If something is not going well with your assignment, don’t be afraid to speak up. For instance, if your living arrangements are not working out, talk to your recruiter to see if something can be done.
  10.  Keep perspective and enjoy yourself. Every day may not always seem like a vacation, but keep in mind all the perks of working as a traveler. You have a unique opportunity to combine work with seeing another part of the country and meeting new people. Your travel job may be a once in a lifetime experience. Take the time to enjoy it.
Submit to StumbleUpon

{ 0 comments }

Nursing Pay Rates, Explained

by Tera Tuten on April 2, 2013

An online medical content web site lists the average 2010 pay for nurses in Massachusetts at $23.38/hour (or $48,630 annually.) YET, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in May 2009, registered nurses in Massachusetts earned an average hourly wage of $39.32/hour ($81,890 annually.) Did pay rates for nurses in Massachusetts really drop 50% in one year?

Over the last few years, we’ve looked at nursing pay rates, America’s nursing shortage by the numbers, and which states need the most nurses in 2013 and beyond…But what’s the final word on how (and what) nurses actually get paid under various circumstances? [continue reading…]

Submit to StumbleUpon

{ 1 comment }

Driven to Heal: The Dedicated Doctor Infographic

by Tera Tuten on March 26, 2013

No one ever said becoming and remaining a doctor was a walk in the park. Years of school and residency may seem daunting, and illustrate how intense a doctor’s dedication is to their profession. But what does it take to attain that lofty position?

Specific requirements vary by medical school, but the basics are a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with courses in science, and at least a 30 on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). In 2011, the average score of the 20,000 people admitted to medical schools was 31.1

The intense standards aren’t the only thing driving admissions. Women, now more than ever, are getting into the medical field. Since 1982, female applicants to medical schools grew 77.9%, and women made up 48.4% of the 2011 graduating medical class.

As of 2010, more than 850,000 physicians were licensed to practice. But even with the army of doctors, projections call for as many as 130,000 new physicians by 2025, thanks to the soon-to-be retiring Boomer generation and the 32 million newly insured Americans thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

The need for doctors is only going to increase. Employment opportunities for doctors are expected to expand 24% by 2020. To learn more about how you can become one of the many dedicated doctors in our country, read more about Soliant Health physician careers and opportunities.

The Dedicated Doctor

Copy & Paste The Code Below to Share This Infographic

The Dedicated Doctor

Submit to StumbleUpon

{ 0 comments }

The Dedicated Doctor

by Tera Tuten on March 21, 2013

The career choices doctors make affect the lives of every patient they treat. Like anyone, doctors sometimes discover they’re not on quite the right career path, while some just take time to find the specialty that suits them best. Either way, without doctors and the knowledge and skill they provide in caring for their patients, many people would suffer the effects of illness more acutely, and our lifespans would be dramatically shortened. Dating back to 1933, Doctors’ Day gives patients and their families the chance to show their appreciation for the people who spend their lives helping and healing others.

Doctors’ Day

(Image Credit: wavebreakmedia)

In the 1840s, laughing gas (ether) parties became popular. Dr. Crawford W. Long noted that people who had used ether felt no pain when they fell down. He thought it could be used to numb patients for surgery. Dr. Long first used surgical anesthesia in the form of ether on March 30, 1842. During the first surgery, he removed a cyst from James Venable’s neck in Jefferson, Georgia.

Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, first conceived of a special day to honor doctors. Her idea was officially adopted by the Barrow County Alliance in Winder, Georgia. The first Doctors’ Day was observed by the Barrow County Alliance on March 30, 1933—the anniversary of the first use of surgical anesthesia. Just a few years later, Doctors’ Day was adopted by the Georgia State Medical Alliance and Women’s Alliance of the Southern Medical Association. It wasn’t until 1990 that Congress passed S.J. RES. #366 and President George H. W. Bush signed it into law. Public Law 101-473 made National Doctors’ Day official beginning March 30, 1991.

The first Doctors’ Day was celebrated by sending cards to doctors and their spouses. Flowers were placed on Dr. Long’s grave and the graves of other deceased physicians. Red carnations became a symbol of Doctors’ Day, so they may be the first choice when choosing flowers for a doctor’s gravesite. People may send flowers or cards to their doctor’s office to say thank you. Many hospitals have award ceremonies for doctors or commemorative services for deceased doctors on Doctors’ Day.

Dedicated Doctor

Frank Cook, M.D., Wayne Memorial Hospital (Image Credit: Soliant)

Some doctors might bemoan their decision to enter the medical field, but not all of them. Frank Cook, M.D., a hospitalist at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Jesup, Georgia says, “I love hospitalist work; I wish it was around 30 years ago. I enjoy working in the hospital more than I enjoyed my private practice. I just wish that I had found my niche sooner.” When choosing a specialty, it’s important to consider whether you’ll be happy with everyday aspects of the field.

Job prospects for future doctors are brighter than ever, too. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) expects a shortage of 90,000 physicians in seven years and 130,000 by the year 2025. Their data showed just a 1% shortage in 2008. In 2020, about half the shortfall will be positions for primary care physicians (an estimated 45,000), while the remaining 46,000 will be positions for surgeons and medical specialists.

For those doctors who want to be able to help more than one hospital, locum tenens positions are an option. By using temporary staff, hospitals can cover these kinds of shortfalls, and locum tenens physicians can try a hospital on for size before making a long-term commitment. Some doctors make careers out of locum tenens assignments, adopting a lifestyle that allows for travel and professional challenges that allow them to use a wider variety of skills.

To combat the shortage, the AAMC has also called for 30% increase in medical school enrollment. Schools are ready to meet that goal by 2016. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment for doctors to increase 24% by 2020. The aging Baby Boomer generation is one reason for this expected disparity. The BLS also predicts that the most needed specialties will be ones catering to illnesses of the aging population, like cardiologists and radiologists. From ether to radiology, the medical field will continue to grow and adapt with new technology, but one thing will remain constant: dedicated doctors will continue to save lives.

Submit to StumbleUpon

{ 2 comments }

The Reality of TV Portrayals of Doctors and Nurses

by Tera Tuten on March 19, 2013

Whether you can’t get enough of them or whether you never watch them (“who wants to stress out more about patients after work” and “they’re so fake!” are frequent refrains), medical dramas have started to shape public and medical professionals’ perception of the healthcare industry.

But just where do TV medical shows cross paths with real life careers of doctors and nurses (and where don’t they?)

A 2004 study published in the Journal of Surgical Research found evidence to suggest that TV shows like ER and Grey’s Anatomy affected surveyed medical students’ decisions to enter surgery.

Some of the students interviewed in the study basically thought surgeons were self-absorbed jerks, who either didn’t have families or had horrible relationships with them.

But how close are these TV-based perceptions to reality?

Here’s a look at five portrayals of life as an intern, resident, and first-year nurse on TV, as well as how closely they line up to reality: [continue reading…]

Submit to StumbleUpon

{ 0 comments }

5 Technologies That Will Change Medicine in the Next 5 Years

by Tera Tuten on March 12, 2013

Advances in medical technology over the past 5 years have been impressive. But even more impressive: the widespread adoption of a scant few of those technologies.

While we could list dozens of future healthcare game-changers, the picks below are five we think actually stand a chance of being adopted soon, dramatically changing the way medicine is practiced: [continue reading…]

Submit to StumbleUpon

{ 1 comment }