TravelingbeebryantRN & Flicks_withNick

We made it to Chicago last night! We were able to visit the bean last night and get some deep dish pizza. We debated if the bean was better at night or during the day. What are your thoughts?

If anyone doesn’t know, my husband has his sports all wrong. He’s a huge Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Lakers fan. He blames Dan Marino and Kobe Bryant. He fell in love with a specific athlete and just continued to love the team.  His only normal team is routing for the Boston Red Sox. Last night, he dragged me to this pizza place. He tells me it has really good reviews and that’s why he picked it out. Meanwhile after dinner,  I walk by Shaq’s Laker shorts framed on the wall. That’s the whole reason why we went to this dinner place. Apparently he went to eat at this pizza joint, and changed before he ate some pizza, and forgot his shorts. The place ended up framing his shorts and the rest is history. Anyways, the deep dish pizza ended up being great at Lou Malnanti’s so it worked out. If anyone wanted to know, the shorts are real, but the story was made up. I have no idea how Shaq’s shorts ended up there, but that’s what I thought of. Nick had no idea about the shorts, it was just a coincidence.  I thought it was funny.

I’m gonna continue with my animal facts. This one is a little complex, but is too good to share. I’ve learned to just tell the truth.I did a nurse residency program in Nashville TN as a new nurse. I didn’t know anyone at the time, so I started some online dating. My mom hated it. She hated it to the point where every time I went on a date she panicked. I decided to not tell her about my online dating experiences. Fast forward to moving back to Portland, Maine. I moved in with my best friend at the time, her boyfriend, and his dog. I started online dating again and regularly took her dog on walks. Unfortunately, the poor dog got sprayed by a skunk that week. At that time I started going to the gym regularly. I decided to tell my mom that I went on a date that week, but that I met him at the “gym”. Not thinking about the fact that I smelled like a skunk, until my mom reminded me… I thought this guy was going to be a casual date, but a year later he proposed and we were planning a wedding. I had to tell her that we didn’t meet at the gym smelling like a skunk and I really swiped right for him and a dog that wasn’t his. Let’s just say, she wasn’t pleased!

The Unknown: Pro and Con

My next contract is twelve weeks long. Typically when I am 8 weeks in, people start asking what’s the next step. They start asking if you are planning to extend, or where you are planning on going next. If you are not planning on extending, you can’t start applying for a new contract as it’s too early. You can’t start applying for contracts until approximately three weeks prior to a new start date. The unknown feels daunting. Will I get a job? What if no one hires me? What if I don’t find something? What if I have to settle for a lesser play, or a less desired location?  On the other hand, I could be accepting an assignment that’s making more money, or a place we’ve always wanted to go. You can make the decision to take some time off to see family in between contracts, take an assignment closer to family (hi North Carolina family!), or even take an assignment closer to friends (goal with Brad and Tori)! The decision is really up to you at this point. So is the unknown a pro or a con?  

Time Off/PTO/Sick Time: Pro and Con

Flexibility is a huge perk of travel nursing. It allows you to take time off between contracts to spend time with your family and friends, or even go on a vacation. This past contract we were able to take time off in between contracts to see friends and family over the holidays, and also go to Mexico. You definitely have to plan ahead, as during this time you aren’t being paid. As a staff nurse, this was a huge problem. I’d have PTO to use and I’d ask to use it. They’d either say “there’s not enough staff to cover you at this time” or “other nurses are going during this time”. I remember being very frustrated. Travel nursing allows me to be flexible with my schedule, and gives me control. Most companies don’t give PTO. Luckily, I’m with a company that allows travelers to accrue PTO after a certain amount of time. This PTO is not to be used for vacation but to be used for when you are sick. I was able to use this time when Covid hit us in October. If I didn’t have PTO, I would have had to apply for workers comp or not get paid. You have to have money saved up for these types of circumstances. 

Benefits/Short Term/Long Term Disability: Con

Travel companies offer health, eye, and dental insurance. They can be pretty expensive. Some travelers choose to go privately, or get insurance through their spouse. I choose to get insurance through Nick. The unfortunate thing is this insurance doesn’t cover short and long term disability. This is a major con of travel nursing. The benefits that the travel nursing company offers also doesn’t offer this perk. This puts travel nurses at a loss. This is part of the reason they make more money than others, along with duplication of expenses and travel expenses. It’s expected to save money for circumstances of problems. Fortunately, Nick and I have decided this is not long term, and we don’t have kids or a home. The pros still outweigh the cons. 

Contract cancellation- con

The dreaded contract cancellation. I always tell people this and they are so confused about this. I am at will and can be let go at any time. If the hospital census is low, or the hospital feels like I’m not a good fit, I can be let go. This puts us in a bad place. The company that I travel with is supposed to help you find a contract in a timely manner. Typically you have savings for a circumstance like this, and you try to find a contract immediately. You read reviews on hospitals, and see if hospitals have a tendency to cancel nurses. Honestly… you hope for the best. I know that doesn’t seem like the right answer, but that’s all I can say. 

If it’s not in your contract, forget about it! – Pro and Con

This really can work in your favor if you are smart about it. You learn to be smart after you are dumb once. You start to learn that what people say doesn’t matter… It matters what’s in writing. I had a contract in North Carolina and it was talked up. I showed up thinking I’d work every third weekend, would have four patients, and it would be the best experience. Let me tell you… I got my schedule, and it was a rude awakening. When I brought it to the assistant manager’s attention, she said, “I’m not sure why the manager would tell you that in the interview. What’s it said in your contract?” Of course, my contract mentioned nothing of weekends. Going forward, my contracts stated what was expected of me. Along with parking reimbursement, and scrub reimbursement. I was no longer playing around! This benefited my favor in New Jersey. They asked me to work more, and I mentioned that it unfortunately wouldn’t work for me, and it wasn’t a part of my contract. Saying no is not a bad thing. You need to do what’s best for you and your family, along with your mental health. 

Money and Travel expenses- pro and con

People often travel nurse for the money. They often forget about travel expenses and duplicating expenses. Companies reimburse nurses for relocation, but often not enough. Catch my budget reimbursement on my tips and tricks for new and old nurses blog! Catch my future blog about duplicating expenses. 

Stigma- con 

There’s a lot of stigma that travel nurses just get a contract for money, and they don’t care about their patients. I think people are almost surprised when some travelers show up to work hard, and are happy to help. A lot of hospitals always think their hospital is the only way of doing something. A travel nurse shows up and has to learn their way of doing something. They also have to learn their policies and procedures in a very short amount of time. This puts them at a disadvantage. Often other staff look down on travelers for not knowing all these policies and procedures. I always like to try to tell myself a nurse is a nurse. We are all trying to reach the same goal, and provide quality compassionate care. 

The experience- Pro

So far I’ve worked in three different hospitals as a travel nurse. These three hospitals were so different in terms of nursing, and the hospital population that I cared for, and worked with. It was honestly a privilege to work in all three hospitals, as I think it made me a better nurse and person. The experience of travel nursing has allowed me to explore the beauty of the world, and also discover the beauty of nursing again. 

Life goes on when you are home and not home- con

I always feel absurd when I go home and I have 4 appointments in a day. Unfortunately as a travel nurse, you still have to make all the dental, nutritionist, and doctors appointments. Life doesn’t stop just because you are on the road. Your health is important! You also have to learn you can’t come home for everything. This one is hard for me. You might look at flights for that family party going on and they are $350 dollars and you have to say no!

People will just not agree or get it- pro and con

Honestly this last one is a huge one. I think it’s a big negative for me, but I can also find the positive in it. No one needs to understand why you are doing this, and how you are doing this. I have learned in the past year that people will judge how much travel nurses get paid, and how much time they take off in between assignments. I have also learned that I don’t spend time judging other people’s lives, so why do I need to worry about other people judging my life? I’ve also learned that anyone can do what I’m doing. Everyone has choices and this is our choice. I’ve learned to choose happiness. How about you?

The happiness has brought us through Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska today. You know what we saw today?

Yes, that’s about it. Windmills and fields. That’s about it. At least we made it to Lexington, Nebraska. We made a stop in Omaha, Nebraska. We saw some cool murals, and had some delicious ice cream in 10 degree weather at a local spot. Coneflower creamery was definitely worth stopping in Omaha.

Tomorrow we have another long drive. Luckily we started a good podcast today that kept us busy. Has anyone heard of it? Check it out!