Category: Current/Future Nurses

Travel Nursing: What I’ve Learned in My First Year Pt. 1

There has undoubtedly been a surge in the number of nurses making the leap into travel nursing since the beginning of the pandemic. Travel nursing can be a very lucrative way for nurses to make competitive salaries without obtaining an advanced degree. I think the pros of travel nursing are very clear, but there are some things every nurse should know before signing their first contract.

The more nursing experience you have before traveling, the better.

It’s not impossible to get a contact as a novice nurse, but it is very ill-advised. Although the money can be enticing, there are certain aspects of nursing that new nurses just don’t have. When you become a travel nurse, facilities expect you to hit the ground running with little to no orientation. You are an aide to the facility, so you’re expected to be an expert in your respective field, possessing the confidence and critical thinking skills needed to independently care for your patients.

Have money saved up before you travel

While this is not completely necessary, I wouldn’t recommend leaving your staff job without at least 3 months’ worth of bills saved up. From the time you sign a contract, to your actual start date is about 6 weeks to complete the onboarding process. You want to have savings in case your start date gets pushed and/or your contract is cancelled for any reason and your job search restarts.

Rates fluctuate, so be prepared to negotiate

More than once, I’ve found myself negotiating my rate with my recruiter. Once you begin your travel nurse journey, you may find yourself wanting to negotiate for a higher rate. I can’t count the times I’d signed a contract, then found another agency offering a higher rate for the same job. To negotiate, I would contact my recruiter to discuss the other agency’s rate and see what could be done to adjust my rate.  I’ve only been unsuccessful once, due to the facility not being willing to budge.

I’m excited to share what I’ve learned during my travel nurse journey, but I’d love to hear your experiences as well! Feel free to leave a comment below and subscribe to my email list so you don’t miss parts 2 and 3!

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Interview Tips for Remote Nursing Jobs

Due to the recent pandemic, there has been an influx of nurses looking to leave the bedside. Work-from-home positions have become more appealing to expert and novice nurses alike.

Let’s face it, bedside nursing isn’t for everyone. Even nurses who love the bedside have become burned out due to the working conditions during the pandemic.

Whatever the reason, it’s never too late to switch gears and try something new!

I’ve been a bedside nurse, case manager, and utilization review nurse. I don’t regret any time spent at either position because the knowledge I’ve gained has made me a better nurse.

Lately, I’ve gotten a lot of questions surrounding the interview process for work-from-home nurse positions.

Whether you’re applying to a hospital, insurance company, or an agency for a remote position, the interviewing process is virtually the same.

When interviewing for any remote position, you will either have a phone interview or a video interview through web-ex, skype, etc.

These positions can sometimes be difficult to come by, as a lot of employers require previous experience in the field to be considered.

         Read Getting Experience Without Experience to learn how I was able to get my foot in the door.

Below you will find tips on how to ace your phone/virtual interview and make yourself stand out to employers!

Phone/Virtual Interview Tips & Tricks:
1. Be in a quiet area away from distractions (no kids, pets or TV on)
2. Have the questions you want to ask the interviewer ready and in front of you.
3. Stand while on the phone (helps with confidence and concentration)

4. Smile while talking (you can hear a smile!)

5. Have a pen and notepad in front of you, along with your resume!!

6. Create a checklist. Review the job posting and make a list of how your qualifications match the hiring criteria (Have the list available so you can glance at it during the interview).

Phone/Virtual Interview Do’s & Don’ts

• Do smile. Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice. It can also be helpful to stand during the interview since this typically gives your voice more energy and enthusiasm.

• Don’t smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink.

• Do focus, listen, and enunciate. Be sure to listen to the question, ask for clarification if you are not sure what the interviewer is asking, and speak slowly, carefully, and clearly when you respond.

• Do take your time — it is perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to collect your thoughts.

• Don’t interrupt the interviewer.

• Do take notes. It’s hard to remember what you discussed after the fact, so take brief notes during the interview.

• Do have questions to ask the interviewer ready.

• Do remember to thank the interviewer at the end of your conversation and ask when you can expect to hear back.

Important to know:
– interviewers will want to get to know you. (They will ask some informal questions)
– They will want to know your work history – please study your resume.
– They will ask behavioral based questions (standard interview questions)

Questions to be prepared for:

  • Why do you think you would be a good fit?
  • How did you handle change in the workplace?
  • Tell me about your experience working with healthcare members & providers.
  • Can you tell me a little about yourself?
  • What do you know about the company?
  • Why do you want this job?
  • Why should we hire you?
  • Tell me about a challenge or conflict you have faced at work, and how you dealt with it.
  • Why are you leaving your current job?

Great questions to ask the interviewer:

  • What kind of company culture do you have?
  • What is the training process for this role?
  • What does a typical day look like?
  • How have successful employees managed to stand out in the past?

These tips come from personal experience I’ve learned along the way, as well as directly from managers of big-name insurance companies such as Anthem, Aetna and Humana. I hope these tips provide some insight in the work-from-home interview process and help you land the job!