Travel Nursing Classroom

Insurance is one of the most important, yet most questioned, topics in the travel nursing industry!  Every travel agency tells you something different and has different policies and rates. How is a travel nurse supposed to know where to turn and what to sign up for? Well you are in luck!  I recently saw one of these insurance conversations on Facebook between travel nurses.  One of the nurses, Leah Elliott, is also an expert in the insurance world!  She was more than willing to have a conversation on the podcast to help bring some clarity to this complicated subject.  Not only that, but she agreed to bring along some friends who were also experts! We cover all the basics and give you advice on health insurance, life insurance, property insurance and much more! They were also more than willing to be your direct unbiased resource with any questions and agreed to share their contact information. Leah Elliott – Currently a nurse and a property insurance agent – Phone – 260-336-1604 Email – LeahElliott81@icloud.com Melia Rogers Health Insurance Broker Phone – 208-215-5661 Facebook – “Malia Rogers Insurance Broker” Jonathan Fortenberry Life and disability agent (retirement services as well) Phone – 901-614-1057 Website – FCOinsurance.com Additional health insurance resource – usa.gov/health-insurance If you found this valuable please take a few seconds and send this to a friend! Also, make sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter so you don’t miss out on other important travel nursing resources!

Travel Nursing Taxes – Today is an extremely important episode where we talk with Joe, a travel nurse tax expert, from TravelTax.  We talk about the most important topics you need to know about as a travel professional.  Joe helps thousands of travel nurses each year with their taxes and answering their questions.  He even used to be a traveler himself! We cover some really important topics throughout this episode including… How much time you need to spend at home each year to still be considered a traveler. What the chances are a travel nurse gets audited. The “50 mile rule” (or myth) Some great apps for your smart phone that will make your travel life much easier! Expensify MileIQ GSA Much much more! We are talking about taxes here so at times the conversation can get into the weeds a bit.  But, I promise that you will find all sorts of valuable pieces of information sprinkled throughout the episode! If you think a friend or colleague would find value in this, please share it with them!  Also, make sure to subscribe to our brand new YouTube channel where we have short videos about the most important travel nursing topics. They are released weekly so don’t miss out!

This week I am sooo excited to cover some very important topics with an experienced travel nurse, Ryan, who has been to Hawaii, California, Arizona, Washington and Indiana.  We get into topics like licensure, social media and a travel nursing community he has created called “Travel Nurse Takeover”.  If you haven’t checked it, you need to get involved (as a bystander or participant) in this community. There are so many more good nuggets in this episode, I have tried listing some of them below. Hawaii – Pay, where to live, how to get around, licensure, resources if you want to travel there, pros and cons of Hawaii A resource for RN’s going to Hawaii – https://www.facebook.com/groups/HawaiiTravelNurses/ California – How long it took to get his license, getting help from your company. Travel Nurse Takeover – What is it, why is it important and how can a travel nurse benefit from it? Walk thru license – you can physically go to the state board of nursing with all of their required information and get your license almost immediately either that day or within a couple days. Negotiating – some tactics on when and how to negotiate pay. Where to live the first couple weeks of your assignment. How nurses should compare pay with each other and different assignments Does travel nursing help or hurt your resume? Other resrouces you should follow on-line if you are interested in travel nursing. Ryan’s personal Instagram account is ryanleonphoto If found just 1 nugget that might help you, please help someone else and share it with a friend!  As always, please keep your questions coming by sending them to Mike@TravelNursingClassroom.com

This episode is all about leaving on a jet plane (Thanks, John Denver) and if you can/should while on assignment.  More specifically, what you should know about companies paying for flights, and if its okay to leave in the middle of an assignment. We could talk about each of these topics for hours but we try to keep it short and to the point so you get the most bang for your buck. Have a listen if you want to hear the details, but here is a brief summary. What if I have to go home during one of my assignments?   The rule of thumb here is that yes, most of the time you can head home during one of your assignments.  Especially if you negotiate days off ahead of time (Although it may be better to work your time off between blocks of shifts or between assignments). There are of course emergencies that come up as well, so the hospital and company will understand in certain situations.  Be careful though about using the “emergency” reason too often.  The hospital, and especially the company, will be keeping tabs on you for the future to make sure they can count on you.  If you need to leave during an assignment, make sure it’s for a reason more important than “but my cat, Whiskers, has a stomach ache”. Will a company pay for my flight to get to an assignment? The short answer, most companies will if you want them too.  However, it might not be in your best interest.  This topic is similar to the question “should I take the housing stipend or the company provided housing” (We talk all about this is Episode 11 by the way). Companies will pay for things like housing and flights, but that money has to come from somewhere and most of the time it comes out of your pay.  Maybe you make $40 less per week to essentially help pay for your flight…  This isn’t always a bad thing if you like things to be convenient, but keep in mind the old saying, “nothing in life is free”. There are plenty more details in the episode!  As always, keep sending your travel nursing questions to mike@travelnursingclassroom.com  

We have an exciting announcement! We have officially launched our FREE online 3 part video training series!  If you have not seen this great free content yet, you need to go to the homepage of www.TravelNursingClassroom.com right now and sign up to get the videos!  We cover the most important topics like Pay, Housing and other frequently asked questions by travel nurses.  You will not find this anywhere online and its all for free! Almost just as exciting, we cover a couple great questions today. Question 1 – My friend and I want to travel together, is that possible? Question 2 – Which hospitals pay the most money? Or states? or recruiting companies? Enjoy the podcast and as always, please keep the questions coming!

Its been a while, but we are back and better than ever!  We have some exciting announcements including the launch of our Free Training – 3 part video series!  Although its been a while since we released a podcast, we have been busy working on some big things behind the scenes. If you like our episodes and the questions we talk about, then you are guaranteed to love this 3 video free training about Pay, Housing and travel nurses most frequently asked questions. To sign up, just go to the main page of the website, www.TravelNursingClassroom.com In today’s episode we talk about some great topics! Question 1 – Dani asks, “What if I dont like my recruiter? Is it rude to ask for a new one? or should I just switch companies?” Question 2 – Brittany asks “Why wont a recruiter tell me about all the details of most jobs?” Enjoy the episode and if you want to have your own question answered, just send us an email to Mike@travelnursingclassroom.com

This episode is a good one as we answer 2 questions that every travel nurse has certainly asked at one time or another.Michael asks – Should I negotiate pay with my recruiter?Jessica asks – How many companies should I work with?If you haven’t left us a review on iTunes quite yet, please go over and do so!  We rely on you to make this show possible!

Today is a short episode where we cover 1 question instead of the normal 2 questions, but its a very important topic about housing and if you should take the company provided housing or the housing stipend.We also have a free giveaway guide all about housing if you sign up for our email list!  You can sign up at the very top of this page on our website. 

On today’s episode we cover 2 important topics and have a free giveaway that outlines all of the benefits you should know about as a travel nurse.Question 1 – Should I rent a car while on assignment?Question 2 – What benefits should I consider when looking for a travel company?We have also included a list of benefits that we mention on the show and for you to check off on.  Please let us know if you have any other questions!Description of service Notes/Comments/Things to ConsiderMedical Insurance(dependent coverage, type of plan, premium, Day One)Dental Insurance(dependent coverage, type of plan, premium)Short-term disability coverage(Is this important to you?)401k w/company match(Vesting period? How big is the match?)Clinical Support staff(Do they have a RN that can understand & assist you if there is a situation on a shift)Documentation Specialists/Support staff(Will you receive help with all the paperwork required? Will it cost you?)Affiliated/sister companies(How big or small is the company?)License reimbursement(License fee, overnight mailing fees, license verification fees, etc.)Certification reimbursement(Will they pay for certs? How many and when?)Travel stipend(Do they offer a stipend? How is it figured? Do they comply with GSA.gov?)24/7 access to agency representative(Do you have your recruiters cell phone number?)Weekly pay(How often do you get paid?)Flight booking service(Will they plan your travel?)Car rental(Do they provide a car or a reimbursement?)Loyalty program(Do they incentivize you for staying? How often? How much?)Tax advantage compensation plan(How do they handle stipends and tax free money?)Single point of contact(Will you be passed to a different department depending on your needs?)Cancellation/missed shift policy(Will you get charged if you miss a shift for any reason?)Company-provided housing(What is included-furnishings, utilities, pet-friendly, etc.)Onboarding costs reimbursed/covered(Are there out of pocket costs for health testing requirements?)Online agency reviews(Have you googled this company to see if they are in the news or other reviews?)Positive social media following(Have you looked at Facebook and other social media about this company?)Traveler referrals/recommendations(Can the recruiter provide you with references from other travel nurses?)Geographic presence(Do they have jobs historically in the areas you want to travel? Where do they recommend traveling to?)Agency size/structure(How big are they? Dedicated recruiter? How long have they been around?)Joint Commission certification or NATHO membership(What accreditations does the company have?

This is a fantastic episode with 2 great questions that every traveler should think about before committing to a travel nursing assignment.  The 2 questions are…From Donna – Do all travel assignments require call?From Brent – Do travelers have to work days more than nights or vice versa?If you found this information valuable, please share the love forward this onto a friend!Thanks for listening!

Today we talk about 2 of the most common questions that every nurse interested in travel nursing has asked at one time or another.The first – “How much experience do I need to be a travel nurse?”The second – “How do I get experience on other units as a travel nurse?”If you would like more detail on How much experience you need to be a travel nurse, Click this great article!We also asked the viewers a question… We are interested in what you have to say and want to make a video addressing your biggest obstacles in travel nursing! (Don’t worry you can remain anonymous).  So here is the question… What is your biggest struggle or pain point, either as a current travel nurse or if you are thinking about travel nursing as an option.  Simply email your answers to Mike@TravelNursingClassroom.com.

We have a bonus question on this episode!  We talk about 3 main topics includingHow to stop the dozens (or hundreds) of recruiting calls that Andrea is getting from recruiters day and night because she signed up for what she thought was a travel nursing job.  You have to be careful where you put your information online.  If you are getting a ton of calls, there are basically 4 options you have to make them stop!Is there a best time of year to travel?  The answer is yes and no!  We give Cara some advice on what the industry norm is, and what she should probably do before making any decisions.Should I get a bonus if I work some holidays?  This is a great question and something that you need to know about during the negotiation phase of a travel contract.  Be prepared so you aren’t stuck working holidays with no incentives!As always, if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a nurse or a friend!  Also, please keep the questions coming by sending an email to Mike@TravelNursingClassroom.com.  This show wouldn’t be possible without you!Safe travels!

On this episode we cover some very common questions and discuss travel nursing with pets and how to choose a recruiter.  Here are some specific topics and some notes from the show…A pet friendly hotel chain, Extended Stay America.  You have heard us talk about why extended stays work so well with travelers, and this is just another reason.Dogs that are tough to travel with – There are plenty of articles on this and the top 10 dogs that are tough to travel with is pretty unanimous.  Here is a good list to go by.Small tips that you probably haven’t thought about to prep your pet for the trip.Our #1 tip when choosing a recruiter (and company)If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to share this with your friends!  Maybe some fellow nurses?  This show wouldn’t be possible without you, so thank you for your support!

In this episode we get in the head of Tammy, an ER nurse manager in NY state that hires travel nurses.  To my knowledge this is the only recording anywhere online where you will get invaluable advice directly from a unit manager that actually decides whether or not to hire travel nurses!  She has been a travel nurse herself so offers great insights on both sides of the travel nursing world.  This episode is packed with content from beginning to end and here are a few of the things we cover in this episode.The toughest parts about being a travel nurse.Characteristics that a good travel nurse should have.As a manager, what does Tammy look for in a travel nurse?Does Tammy hire first time travel nurses?What’s Tammy’s top tip for a travel nurse or a nurse thinking about traveling?She recommends a great online nursing program. (http://www.wgu.edu/)A story as to why a BSN or higher is mattering more and more these days.Talks about orientation and the skills needed to be a travel nurse and a strike nurse.How many travel nursing companies you should work with.Fringe benefits of being a travel nurse.Should you finish your contract if something goes wrong?What happens when a manager doesn’t think a travel nurse will work out?What happens when a nurse wants to go full time after a travel assignment?Enjoy and dont forget to check out our nursing resources page!

On today’s episode we answer two great questions from Amy and Trish.1. Amy – How do I choose a (travel nursing) company to go with? There are so many. 2. Trish – I have heard I can make almost $100 per hour as a travel nurse, how much can I really make?In the episode we talk about a free ebook all about travel nursing pay. If you want to know more than 99% of travel nurses out there, then you need to read this short 8 page ebook. To sign up simple go to any page of our website and sign up for our mailing list. The ebook will be included in the first emails.

Today we answer a question from Candice, “What are the next steps once I decide I want to travel?”There are several pieces of advice that Mike and Adam cover for Candice today like,Where not to put your information onlineSome questions to think about before you talk to any recruitersA few other things to start thinking about before you hit the road.As always, if you have a question that you would like answered on the show, simply send us your question to Mike@TravelNursingClassroom.com.

In this episode we answer Sheela’s question “I think I want to become a travel nurse, but I am also a little nervous about the whole thing. how do I know if its for me?”This is the first episode of the Q&A show and there are going to be plenty more in the future!

In this episode we will cover the major areas of pay that you need to understand before taking your next assignment.  You will get answers to numerous questions including the following…Who Decides a Travel Nurse’s Pay?How Pay is Determined.How is Travel Nursing Pay Structured?Will More Experience Get Me More Money?Four Ways to get more money out of your next travel assignment.Finally, How Much Can I Make as a Travel Nurse? If you have any other questions about pay, please feel free to sign up for my newsletter to get a free eBook on pay, along with weekly tips all about travel nursing!

My guest today is a successful travel RN who is currently traveling and has been to several different states for travel assignments in the past year.Jaimie Snider is a successful travel nurse and has completed numerous assignments in North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island in the past year.  In this episode she gives great advice on what to expect when looking for an assignment, travel company and recruiter.  She also talks about some of the experiences that have benefited her while working away from home.  Lastly, she uncovers some of the struggles she has had along with what kind of mindset you need going into a travel assignment.I so excited for you to hear the great advice Jaimie brings to the table!  Lets go!

Congratulations!  You found the one stop shop to answer any and all of your travel nursing questions! We are here to answer any and all of your questions!In this first episode you will hear about the below:Who we are and how we plan to help travelersWhat to expect from this podcast in the futureWhy there is so much value being offered