Posted by: rrleavitt | July 26, 2010

New Haven, Connecticut

New Heaven, orrr you mean New Haven??

A quiet refuge for the weary soul body.  A sanctuary.  This fittingly describes New Haven.  A haven for those tired feet and exhausted minds.

New Haven has four distinct seasons. New Haven’s situation on Long Island Sound means that Winters are milder with less snow accumulation than inland, and Summers are typically warm and humid. The coldest month is January with temperatures of around 35F (2C) and Summers averaging 77F (25C).  Due to the warm Summer weather, there are a lot of things you can do, you can rent cycles and find out about community rides at Devil’s Gear Bike Shop. By also having a short bike ride or drive from the city center, you may enjoy visiting their local beaches that provides additional recreational opportunities.

New Haven is the second-largest municipality in Connecticut and the sixth-largest municipality in New England with a core population of about 124,000 residents. Situated on Long Island Sound about 75 miles from New York City, New Haven is both a manufacturing and educational center for Connecticut. Neighboring Waterbury is 21 miles from the City and situated on the Naugatuck River.

New Haven was dubbed the Elm City when the first public tree planting program made it a home for many mighty American elms. In the mid-20th century , Dutch elm disease later destroyed the elm population, but a number of American elms in the city mysteriously have continued to thrive, even without pesticide treatment to prevent the attack of the beetles that carry Dutch Elm Disease. Two of these trees are on Bishop Street in the East Rock neighborhood.

Do you know which university in Connecticut has produced many notable alumni? Well, it’s the Yale University, the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Yale University which is a private research university has produced five U.S. presidents, seventeen U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and several foreign heads of state. The University is an integral part of the city’s economy, but health care (hospitals & biotechnology), professional services (legal, architectural, marketing, & engineering), financial services, and retail trade also help to form an economic base for the city.

For your next travel nurse assignment consider visiting New Haven, CT!

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Posted by: twecker | July 2, 2010

You’ve Come A Long Way…..

This is a Nurse job description from 1887. My personal favorite is #8.

Enjoy…

In addition to caring for your 50 patients, each nurse will follow these regulations:

1.Daily sweep and mop the floors of your ward, dust the patient’s furniture and window sills.

2.Maintain an even temperature in your ward by bringing in a scuttle of coal for the day’s business.

3.Light is important to observe the patient’s condition. Therefore, each day fill kerosene lamps, clean chimneys and trim wicks. Wash the windows once a week.

4.The nurse’s notes are important in aiding the physician’s work. Make your pens carefully; you may whittle nibs to your individual taste.

5.Each nurse on day duty will report every day at 7 a.m. and leave at 8 p.m. except on the Sabbath on which day you will be off from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

6.Graduate nurses in good standing with the director of nurses will be given an evening off each week for courting purposes or two evenings a week if you go regularly to church.

7.Each nurse should lay aside from each pay-day a goodly sum of her earnings for her benefits during her declining years so that she will not become a burden. For example, if you earn $30 a month you should set aside $15.

8.Any nurse who smokes, uses liquor in any form, gets her hair done at a beauty shop, or frequents dance halls will give the director of nurses good reason to suspect her worth, intentions and integrity.

9.The nurse who performs her labors and serves her patients and doctors without fault for five years will be given an increase of five cents a day, providing there are no hospital debts outstanding.

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Posted by: Ashley | June 29, 2010

Can You Hear Me Now?

Our office building recently moved to a new location downtown.  Great views of downtown and the stadium, and a really nice building but of course it couldn’t be THAT easy.  Over the past week, we’ve been practicing for the next Verizon commercial with “Can you hear me now?” being repeated over and over.  It’s quite comical while we do feel bad for the person trying to understand us on the other line.  All in all, if that’s the worst thing we endure during this move, we came out on top. 

As travel nurses, you guys move ten times more than we do.  Share some of your funniest or worst moves you’ve experienced.

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Posted by: Chad | June 11, 2010

What In The World Are You Waiting For?

How would you like a career that allows you to spend January basking in the sun at the beach in Miami, hitting the slopes at Vail in March and set sail in July for a month-long cruise of the Alaskan coast? Are you looking for variety in your life as well as your day-to-day job? Are you happiest when you’re immersed in new adventures? Are you a nurse, or thinking of becoming one? Then you just may find that Cirrus Medical Staffing has the ideal career choice for you.

Travel nursing is reclaiming its level of being the hottest trend to hit the profession in years. The nursing shortage that is sure to rise due to the expansion of healthcare will hit the nation hard, forcing medical facilities to get creative to fill positions to care for rising census numbers. For many of them, the real challenge is in finding a nurse who can take on a temporary position. What do you do when there are barely enough local nurses to fill the permanent positions? For many hospitals, the solution is turning to organizations like Cirrus Medical Staffing that places quality travel nurses – which are credentialed nurses who are willing to relocate for periods no less than thirteen weeks.

If just the travel is sounding good to you, take a look at the rest of the Cirrus Medical Staffing package. Here’s what traveling nursing professionals can expect when they sign up with Cirrus that specializes in travel nursing.

- Generous Pay Scale
The hourly rate for travel nursing assignments varies from locale to locale, but you can expect competitive hourly rates with a guarantee of 36-40 hours per week.

- Housing Provided
Most agencies will provide you with a free one bedroom private apartment, with basic utilities paid for the length of your stay in the assignment. All the arrangements will be made for you before you arrive.

- Health, Vision Dental Insurance
In most cases, your health, vision and dental insurance package will be completely paid for by Cirrus Medical Staffing. This will also include basic life insurance, ADD and Long-term disability. These along with 401K start on day one of your assignment.

- Varied Assignments All Over the Country
There are thousands of medical facilities around the country that regularly employ travel nurses for their nursing needs. Most assignments run from 13 to 26 weeks, and many can be extended for more than one assignment period. You’ll work with your Cirrus Medical Staffing recruiter to choose where you want to work and the kind of work you want to do. From small-town and rural settings to the glittering lights of the big city, from chronic care retirement communities to the most renowned research facilities in the world, you’ll have your choice of workplaces and specialties.

- Flexible Schedule
Since you choose your assignments, you always have the flexibility to take some time off, or schedule an assignment close to home if you want some family time. The medical world has always depended on temp staffing to help fill slots. Travel nursing is the logical extension. You can work three months and take three months off, or choose to stay in one city for a year or more. The choice is ultimately up to you.

- Career Advancement
Travel nursing offers almost unlimited opportunities to expand your resume and add to your professional experience.

Travel nursing may be the best way to expand your professional experiences—and your personal ones as well. If you think that you have what it takes to travel the country practicing your profession, what are you waiting for? The world is waiting for you!

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Posted by: Ashley | June 9, 2010

What is Travel Nursing?

According to Webster, the definition of “travel” is to go on or as if on a trip or tour or to move or undergo transmission from one place to another.  So what is the difference between local travel and traditional travel nursing?  Local travel is within a limited distance and usually requires the RN to belong to a float pool that travels among 2+ hospitals in a defined (usually less than 50 miles) radius.  Traditional travel nursing is living in Georgia and going on an assignment in Colorado.  There are benefits to traditional traveling with IRS provided tax free advantages for housing and meals/incidentals but you must travel over 51 miles from home to qualify.  Also consider that many facilities have mileage restrictions of 50+ miles to be considered a traveler.

Many recruiters are facing difficult conversations right now and having to turn away very qualified RN’s who are really looking for local travel and not traditional.  Recruiters are in this business to help medical professionals find jobs that are satisfying and enhancing to their career, and to tell someone that you can’t help them find a position (because they are only looking for something in their home area) is heartbreaking.  As a RN looking for a job, it is important to determine what you are really looking for, do you want to travel and see friends, family members, new places, or do you really need a local position?  Then do the research on agencies that can best help you with your career goal.   This will save you and your recruiter a difficult conversation.

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Posted by: Ashley | June 8, 2010

Cirrus Medical Blog Contest

Attention traveling nurses; we want to hear all about your funniest travel tales! Submit to us (as a comment to this post) a job-related memory, anecdote, or adventure. The story can be about you, your co-workers, a boss, or even a patient (please use pseudonyms for privacy). The more eccentric, silly, or downright hilarious, the better.  The person with the most wild and entertaining story will win a $50 American Express Gift Card!

Let us know and good luck!

(When submitting your comment, please include your full name and a valid email address where we may email prize redemption details.  Your email address will not be published as part of the comment.)

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Posted by: Chad | June 8, 2010

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up???

On some levels working as a professional travel nurse looks like the ideal job to answer that age-old question. It provides nurses with an opportunity to live and work in different parts of the country. They can interact with new people and learn new cultures. Travel nurses can make an excellent salary. They can make friends all over the country. They can move South in the winter, and North in the summer. If they feel like taking a few months off, they don’t have to worry about explaining things to their recruiter, they just give themselves a few months to improve their mental health before they accept a new assignment.  Nurses have excellent health, vision and dental benefits. Who wouldn’t want to be a travel nurse? 

When you are considering a life as a Cirrus Medical Staffing travel nurse, you have to ask yourself if you really like to travel. The life of a travel nurse is serious, hard-core traveling. Travel nurses are constantly on the move, going from one state to another, taking assignment after assignment, some great and some not so great. All the moving around eventually takes a toll on the body and soul.  The beauty of being a Cirrus Medical Staffing travel nurse is that we provide paid time off programs to assist with your personal needs. 

Bear in mind that travel nurses are working, this is not an extended family vacation, they aren’t back packing across the Rockies. While they are on an assignment travel nurses are on a schedule. They are expected to report to work, on time, at the beginning of each one of their shifts. While they are working they are dealing with sick and injured people. They are expected to give one hundred and ten percent of themselves while they are working. Cirrus Medical Staffing travel nurses go away to work, not to party.

Do you have an easy time making new friends? Travel nurses are constantly going to cities and towns where they are strangers. They don’t know anyone in these places. In order for their experience to be positive they must have a talent for turning complete strangers into close friends.

Before you sign with Cirrus Medical Staffing decide if you can tolerate moving away from your family, friends, and pets. Working as a travel nurse is going to require you to spend several months away from your home town. Carefully consider all the requirement and responsibilities expected from a travel nurse before you sign with Cirrus Medical Staffing. Qualities that a good travel nurse should embrace are a zest for adventure, a strong work ethic, confidence in their medical knowledge, and a gregarious personality.  You will be required to maintain compliance with Joint Commission standards and the requirements of your facility.  If you are a nurse with at least one year of experience working in a hospital and feel that you would make an excellent travel nurse start your application process with Cirrus Medical Staffing!

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Posted by: rrleavitt | June 2, 2010

“The Holy City” Charleston, South Carolina

Can a “Holy City” be a superb destination for your next travel nursing assignment? The answer is yes, if the city is Charleston in South Carolina. Charleston is located just south of the mid-point of South Carolina’s coastline, at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers. Charleston, which name was derived from Charles Towne, named after King Charles II of England is the largest county seat of Charleston County and was the fifth largest city in North America. The City was named “The Holy City” due to the numerous church steeples, which dot the city’s low-rise skyline, and the fact that it was one of the few places in the original thirteen colonies to provide religious tolerance to the French Huguenots as well as to Jews.

Rich in natural beauty, culture, and history, the city is rapidly growing as a popular vacation spot and as a result, Charleston South Carolina tourism is thriving. Expect to find a rich combination of hospitality and charm resonant of the “Old South” while you’re in town. Historic houses like the Heyward-Washington House or the Nathaniel Russell House (which made Charleston become such a notable location) will definitely give you a glimpse of their historical background and culture.

Eating is a serious pastime in Charleston. The fine cuisine found in the Mount Pleasant District  has been known for its fine dining whether its breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you will never get  hungry in Charleston as there are a wide variety of restaurant and dishes. You can choose from seafood to grilled meats to salads, they have it all!

Pamper yourself by shopping at the renowned King Street design district, and antique district. Or suit your taste for adventure and shop the Charleston City Market to gain a bit of history, local culture and a souvenir. Charleston is also the site of other exciting events such as the Family Circle Tennis tournament and the Spoleto Festival, one of the world’s major performing arts festivals, held annually. You may also enjoy the South Carolina Aquarium which provides an opportunity to share the story of the Appalachian watershed.

So there you go, the secret is out!  With its great coastal lifestyle and historic charm, Charleston, South Carolina is truly one of the top cities to visit in the United States.

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Posted by: twecker | June 1, 2010

Healthcare Reform and the Supply of Nurses.

What will the Presidents Healthcare Reform plan do for the Nursing industry? Well, one effect will be a planned increase in the number of Registered Nurses in the United States. According to the White House:

“The Act will increase the number of nurses in the Unites States. It takes a comprehensive approach that helps to retain nurses and to address financial barriers that nurses and nurse faculty face today.The Act awards competitive grants to nursing schools to strengthen nurse education and training programs and to improve nurse retention programs throughout the country.It increases the student loan amounts for nursing students and addresses critical nurse faculty shortages by making nursing faculty eligible for loan repayment and scholarship programs.”

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Posted by: Chad | May 26, 2010

Do YOU Have What It Takes?

So you think you have the clinical know-how, licensure and ambition to travel, but that’s not all it takes to be a successful Cirrus Medical Staffing travel nurse. Here are a few crucial skills that you should possess in order to make your travel nursing experience extraordinary with Cirrus:

Are you adaptable…
As a Cirrus Medical Staffing travel nurse you will encounter many new and different situations. Being able to keep an open mind, stay flexible and embrace the new experiences will be vital to your success.

Are you confident…
When you first arrive on an assignment you will need to be able to step in and perform without a large amount of training or instruction right away. This means you will have to be assertive and confident. You must identify your learning needs and then be able to seek out the appropriate expertise without compromising your position.

Are you organized…
Starting new travel assignments usually means dealing with paperwork in Human Resources and Credentialing. To make it easier you will need to keep all of your important papers in an organizer or filing system of some kind.  When possible have a scanned file to allow easy access and ability to email to your recruiter.  Here are some other suggestions on ways to make your travel experience a little easier:

  • Take a little piece of your home with you – pictures, books or movies
  • Invest in a laptop or home computer to stay in touch with your family and friends
  • Support your leisure activities. If you play tennis or love biking, take those things with you
  • Network with other travel nurses and your coworkers
  • Develop a system to get your mail from home. You could arrange to have it forwarded or perhaps have a family member send it weekly. Who knows maybe they’ll send you a little something extra!
  • Join the Cirrus Wellness program 

Are you friendly…
Change in work environments while being the new kid on the block requires strong interpersonal skills and an outgoing personality. Everywhere you go you will meet people who want to share their experiences and in turn you too can share your adventures. Be positive and seek out those who are also positive.

Are you eager…
Having excitement about learning new skills and gaining more knowledge will help you be successful and enjoy your travel nursing career with Cirrus Medical Staffing. There are thousands of places to go… Where’s your next stop?

Do you have what it takes?  If so, visit us today:  www.cirrusmedicalstaffing.com !

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