Travel Nurse Jobs Blog » Ashley

Can You Hear Me Now?

Ashley — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:27:36 +0000

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.

What is Travel Nursing?

Ashley — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:16:37 +0000

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.

Cirrus Medical Blog Contest

Ashley — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:34:09 +0000

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.)

Green with Envy?

Ashley — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:33:19 +0000

Green is an ugly color when it comes in the shade of Envy. Many travelers experience envy from staff members at some point in their career. Remember that you shouldn’t discuss your pay with them. It’s general knowledge that a travel nurse makes 25% more than a staff RN. Some units may not be as friendly as others due to this knowledge, but with a little extra effort on your part, you can still make friends and have a great experience on your assignment. Don’t flaunt or boast your salary, this is not the way to make friends. Also remember that you don’t have to answer their questions about how much you make. Politely tell them that you don’t discuss that and change the subject to something more interesting such as asking for the best restaurants or shops in the area. Your co-workers may be jealous not because of your pay but that you travel to different places while they are working at the same hospital all year round. Encourage them to try travel nursing even if it’s within a shorter distance. The biggest thing to remember is that no one envies an envier…so point out your envies first and stop the gossip before it happens.

Want a position they can envy you on? Here are this week’s newest travel opportunities.

CVOR in Phoenix, AZ

ICU in Galesburg, IL and Brattleboro, VT

ER in State College, PA and Rancho Mirage, CA

Step down in Toledo, OH

Surgical Oncology in Greenville, NC

MS in Canon City, CO

Tele in Salem, MA

CVICU in Fort Pierce, FL

Luck of the Irish

Ashley — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:06:44 +0000

Grab a four leaf clover or find your pot of gold this Saint Patrick’s Day! Are you feeling lucky? Cirrus Medical Staffing has a bonus for that! Select from a number of Cirrus assignments, work for 2 consecutive assignments and receive a $1,000 Trooper Bonus. Here are just some of the new jobs in for you to choose from.

Peds in TX, CO, CA

Cath Lab in CO, CA, FL, AL, RI, TX

For a full listing of positions by State, please visit: www.cirrusmedicalstaffing.com/opportunities-by-state

Be Careful!

Ashley — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:18:01 +0000

High heels are proving to be no match for snow and ice on the ground this year. Emergency Rooms are experiencing more slips and breaks as Winter is wrapping up. Cirrus Medical Staffing has seen an increase in ER travel assignments and this will continue to grow as we head into Spring and cold seasons. Operating Rooms are seeing more patients so far in 2010 than 2009 with more patients returning for elective surgeries; OR and ICU/PACU assignments are also increasing. Business is increasing for everyone and so are the travel nursing jobs. Spring is traditionally a busy time of year for the travel industry and start making your plans now in order to grab one of our best assignments!

OR – Portland, OR

Peds – Portland, OR

ICU/TELE – Galesburg, IL

CVOR – Cabrini, LA

Cath Lab – Numerous locations

ER – Ranson, WV

OH nurses for most specialties

ER – Ketchikan, Ak

ER – Tyler, TX

PCU – Asheboro, NC

Are Jobs Picking Up?

Ashley — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:51:42 +0000

This is a question recruiters receive almost on a daily basis. The answer is yes but we’re steady. Right now the best metaphor relates to the Tortoise and the Hare story. Slow and steady ended up winning the race and that is our current pace for travel nursing. Everything revolves around a nurse being flexible for location and having a “go getter” attitude to sell yourself during the interview and obtain extra credentials if necessary. The good news is that we have seen jobs open in the past week in several locations that were dry in 2009. This proves that we should continue to be optimistic. Cirrus Medical Staffing will continue to provide updates to our travelers with changes in the industry but currently, any specialty working with children will have positions open at least through Spring.

This week’s new jobs include:

ER in Hilton Head, SC

MS/TELE in Tampa, FL

ICU in Jacksonville, FL

L&D in Modesto, CA

CVICU in Wilmington, NC

OR in Portland, OR

OB/Nursery in Shiprock, NM

PICU in DC

Peds in Dallas, TX

Jobs are Picking Up

Ashley — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:33:21 +0000

I wanted to share the good news about numerous new travel assignments that have opened this week. Some locations such as North Carolina, won’t stick around for long so don’t wait to call or email us about these positions. We also want to know if you know of anyone that would be interested in a travel nursing career! Refer someone today and you will receive a $500 bonus!

New Positions include the following:

Cath Lab in TX, FL, DC, RI

ER in AZ, NM, NV, OH, SC

CVICU in AZ and NC

OR in WY, OR, LA, MN

ICU in DC, OH, FL, WA, CA

MS/TELE in AZ, WY, CA

NICU in CO

PICU in OK, CT, TX, MD

PEDS in CO, TX, OR, CA

For a full listing of Cirrus’ jobs visit our website at www.cirrusmedicalstaffing.com

This Might be Your Last Chance

Ashley — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:02:42 +0000

This may be your last chance to get in a ski trip before the warm weather hits or to beat all of the Spring Break tourists in Florida and California. Don’t miss out on these perfect Winter to Spring locations for your travel nurse assignment.

CVOR in Plattsburgh, NY: Did you know that Plattsburgh is near Whiteface Mount where the 1982 Olympics were held?

OR in Wenatchee, WA: You can take a day trip to see some of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

PEDS in Denver, CO: Some of the best skiing areas around!

Cath Lab in Key West, FL: Take a beautiful short term cruise to the Carribean!

PICU in Tampa, FL: If you like the beach, then visit this almost secluded areas before the tourists visit in June!

For a fully updated list of Cirrus Medical Staffing’s travel assignments, visit us at www.cirrusmedicalstaffing.com or contact your Recruiter.

Be Cirrus’s Valentine!

Ashley — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:03:13 +0000

Love it or hate it, we’re 4 days away from Valentine’s Day. While no one knows for sure the story with Saint Valentine and how this day started, Americans have been practicing this holiday since the early 1700’s. The Cirrus Medical Recruiters wanted to share some of our most memorable Valentine’s (good or bad). Share with us some of your best or worst stories!

JL – I had a relatively new boyfriend at the time and had bought him a very nice cologne set (well nice for 1990’s). When it came time to exchange gifts, I realized that he hadn’t bought me anything! In a panic, he ran out to find me a gift and came back with a single pearl on a gold chain. Now before anyone says “awww” we’re not talking about a real pearl on a real gold chain…..probably one of the worst presents I’ve received in my adult life.

SS – I got married on Valentine’s day to my second husband. It was a very sweet ceremony with my 7 year old daughter as my maid of honor and his 5 year old son as the best man.

SG – It was my first (although I didn’t remember him at the time) Valentine’s with my now husband. We met in January and I honestly didn’t remember him by the time Valentine’s came around but I received this card in the mail from him. The card said “take your right hand and put it on your left shoulder and take your left hand and put it on your right shoulder…now squeeze! It’s a hug from me to you.” I thought he was absolutely crazy! Who is this guy and how did he get my address! Well that led to a phone call and now 10 years later, we’ve been married for 7 years and have a beautiful little girl. Maybe he’s not so crazy.

CM – Last year while my wife was out of work I took the day off and decided to surprise her. I showed up at home and rang the doorbell with a bouquet of roses in my hand. I had the roses in the peep hole so that she wouldn’t know who it was and she was so surprised!

MG – I took my girlfriend to a very nice restaurant downtown. The place wasn’t crowded at all and we were seated upstairs all alone next to the window where we could hear the jazz band playing on the street. She always knew that if and when I proposed it would be to the song “Wonderful Tonight.” Well of course that song started to play and I thought it would be funny…so I started to get down on one knee as a joke and then started laughing. She started crying immediately! Now looking back I realize how horrible of a thing that was to do.

AP – My best Valentine’s day was years ago. I showed up at my boyfriend’s house and there was a rose on the doorstep with a note. This led me to another room with another note and so the scavenger hunt began. It led me to a gorgeous diamond and sapphire bracelet and then he played a song that he had written just for me!