Why take a travel nurse job?

Why not?  People all over the US do it, and as long as you take your travel nurse job through Cirrus Medical Staffing, then you have little to worry about.  Check out our website www.cirrusmedicalstaffing.com to see why we are consistently rated among the top organizations in the country.

It’s just the same as taking a temp job; the only difference is that the job is in another city or state!  Obviously it’s a big step to move somewhere else (especially on a temporary basis), but people go to work around the United States all the time these days! And with fewer guarantees than travel nurses have!

How do you get a travel nurse job?

Simple…Speak to a recruiter at Cirrus Medical Staffing and complete our simple online application at www.cirrusmedicalstaffing.com.  From there, we will be able to help you out with the specifics of your assignment.

When you apply, Cirrus Medical Staffing will have their recruiter call you to discuss destination options and possible start dates, etc. They also arrange a contact within your destination hospital so they can interview you and you can find more about the assignment before you accept it!

What about the cost of traveling?  And salary?

Your Cirrus Recruiter will offer a set rate (or can give you an approximate rate) and can help out with travel expenses, as well as providing accommodations to match your needs.  We offer an extensive benefit package that includes but is not limited to health, vision, dental and life insurance, paid time off, 401K with generous match and affordable pet insurance.  Cirrus also has a great wellness and rewards program.

How long are travel nurse job assignments?

Depends on the contract, the destination hospital and Cirrus, but usually between 13 weeks!

Getting a travel nurse job can be a great way for people to see the country and broaden their experience. If you have any other questions, contact us today!

Can I have paid insurance through Cirrus Medical Staffing?
Does Cirrus Medical Staffing pay for your malpractice insurance?  In addition to malpractice insurance, Cirrus will also provide LIFE, MAJOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION, ADD and LONG TERM DISABILITY.  We put it in writing.  You also want to know if your benefits will start on day one of your assignment.  Can Cirrus do this?  YES WE CAN!

Other questions you will want to ask are:

1. Can you offer me supplemental benefits and bonuses? 

2. Can Cirrus enroll me in the 401(k) program with a company match?

3. What about rewards for loyalty?

4. Can Cirrus reimburse me for continuing education or travel?

5. Can Cirrus reward me for completing my assignment?

6. Can Cirrus provide a larger bonus for staying longer in one assignment of for hard-to-fill positions?

7. Can Cirrus offer bonuses for sending the agency referrals?

8. Does Cirrus provide travel rewards or paid vacations?                                                                                                                            

9. Can Cirrus offer a reasonable pet insurance for my traveling companions?                                                                                     

10. Can you help me stay fit and healthy with a Wellness Program?

Make sure you know everything you can about an agency and assignment before you make the type of commitment required to be a travel nurse.  If the agency cannot say “YES WE CAN” to all these questions, then it’s not Cirrus Medical Staffing!

On Thursday, President Barack Obama rallied House Democrats around the healthcare bill and an economy that he says will improve as they head into a midterm election campaign.

Obama said that the legislation Congress passed since he became president is moving the economy forward and that Republican opposition to the healthcare bill will buoy Democrats in November.

“Let me tell you something, if Republicans want to campaign against something by standing up for the status quo and for insurance companies over families and businesses, that is a fight I want to have,” Obama said.

“If their best idea is to return to the bad policies and the bad ideas of yesterday, they are going to lose that argument,” he added.

Obama spoke before the entire House Democratic Caucus in the Capitol as part of the Democrats’ jobs summit. The president and the caucus’s leaders said that the economy is in better shape than it was when Obama took office almost exactly a year ago, and that they’ll take more steps to create jobs with the unemployment rate now at 9.7 percent.

“Thanks to what you did, we can say now what we could not say a year ago,” Obama said. “America is moving forward again.”

The president’s speech launched several salvos at Republicans that Democrats will likely echo in the 2010 campaign. House Democrats are trying to buck historical trends in retaining a large House majority despite holding the White House at the same time.

Obama said that stimulus investments in education, new regulations on to protect consumers from credit card companies, a bill helping women seek for equal pay as male colleagues and other legislation passed in 2009 has helped the country move in a new direction after the Bush administration.

Image: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama

Here are a few tips to help save you money:

1. Create a budget—and stick to it! It has been proven that people who create a budget spend less than those that do not. Allow money each week for “entertainment” or miscellaneous expenses based on your past spending habits. (if you normally spend $100/week, allow try reducing that amount by 10%, and put the difference into savings)

2. Watch your pennies—it’s easy to spend money when you have cash. Start a checking account, and deposit 100% of your pay into the account. You can pay your bills electronically (I’ve been doing this for over 15 years!) and write yourself a check each week for your ‘spending money’. Watch out for the small cash purchases! You can easily spend $100-$200/week in cash if you aren’t careful.

3. Eat meals at home (including that cup of Starbucks coffee!) While it’s convenient to buy /breakfast/lunch/dinner, you are paying for someone to prepare these meals for you. Grocery shop on a weekly basis and plan your meals. Buy only what you need for the week.

4. Plan your trips—gas is expensive so make sure you are only making one trip to run all your errands.

5. Put money in your 401k plan—many people think now is NOT the time to invest in your 401(k), but the reality is you want to buy LOW and sell high. Meaning, while stocks/mutual funds are cheap, buy them. (Cirrus matches 2% of your PAY, versus your contribution)

6. Keep your vehicle/house/health maintained. It costs far less to maintain these items than it does to repair them! New tires are expensive, yes….but much less expensive than repairing/replacing your vehicle due to an automobile accident caused by poor tires.

7. Pay off smaller credit cards first—getting rid of lower balances on your credit cards will allow you to eliminate a payment (or apply it to another credit card payment). Don’t allow yourself to get behind on your payments as this will increase your interest rates and cost you more each month.

8. Clip coupons—If you’re NOT doing this on a regular basis, you should be! There is no shame in shopping with or taking advantage of discount coupons. (Cirrus Medical Staffing has several discount programs available for our employees. Check with your recruiter or Human Resources for specifics) Groceries are the most common, but check with restaurants, clothing providers, cell phones, hotel/travel providers. My rule of thumb is “never pay full price for anything!” If your favorite store doesn’t have a coupon or discount program, don’t be afraid to ask for discount! (the most they’ll say is ‘no’, but you’ll be surprised how many companies will accommodate you.

I hope these suggestions help.  If nothing else, I hope you take the time to at the different ways that your money is being spent.  Remember, the first step to change is knowledge….now you know!

1. Take reusable cloth grocery bags to the store.
2. Recycle cans, bottles, and paper in your apartment.
3. Ride with coworkers or take the bus to work from your apartment.
4. Turn the a/c warmer or the heat cooler while at work to save on electricity.
5. Take your lunch to work in a reusable container.
6. Buy a dish set to take with you on each assignment instead of paper plates.

We’d like to hear from you for more tips on Going Green.

Before I reveal my findings, I’d be interested in knowing the preferences (and more importantly the reasons for those preferences) of Traveling Nurses when it comes to choosing housing options.

So, which will you choose for your next Travel Nursing (or Allied Health) assignment, and why?

A)    housing stipend

B)    housing paid for by your Nurse Staffing Agency

1.  The patient expired on the floor uneventfully

2.  Patient has left his white blood cells at another hospital

3.  The patient’s past medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 lb. weight gain in the past three days

4.  She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate direction in early December.

5.  The patient left the hospital feeling much better except for her original complaints

6.  She has had no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night