bbarr

A travel nurse is no stranger to phone interviews. Interviews for travel nurses are frequent and can range anywhere from a quick, 10-minute conversation to a 1-hour, full-fledged, formal interview. Regardless of the length or detail, most facilities are generally looking for the same information.

RESUME ACCURACY

Past Facility Information. Your resume needs to stay current and accurately reflect your experience. Include as much information as possible to better sell yourself. If you worked at a teaching facility that had a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:4 and 35 beds on the unit, you need to include that on your resume. This allows the client to better understand where you come from and what you’re used to when it comes to patient care.

The interviewer will have reviewed your profile before calling you, so the more detailed you are, the more they have to discuss with you which creates a better and more in-depth conversation about your nursing experience.

Up-to-Date Skills Checklists. Facilities read through these and look for specific skills that their units require.  Keeping your skills checklist up-to-date will provide a great representation of what you have to offer.  If you have the skills, they will most likely bring them up in the interview and discuss them further.

PREPARE

When you ask to be presented to a facility do a quick Google search.  Where is the town located?  How big is the facility?  How big is the unit?  What is the patient population?  If you can’t find all of this on the website, these are great questions to ask in the interview and shows you are engaged in the process.

Almost every interviewer will ask, “do you have any questions for me?” Your answer should always be “YES!” Be prepared with your interview questions and show them you are engaged. Print several copies of your questions and have them available wherever you are.

SPECIAL REQUESTS

Time off, block scheduling, shift preferences, etc. These are all important things to discuss in an interview.  The facility needs to know these things up front so they can assess their needs and make sure they are able to accommodate your requests.

AVAILABILITY

Typically, when managers are calling to interview you, they have already gathered a stack of 15-30 profiles and start making calls down the line. If you don’t answer, they will likely leave a message and move on through the stack. If the next candidate answers, they may interview and be offered the position before you have even had the opportunity to call them back. It’s heart wrenching when this happens. Obviously, you can’t be available all the time, but it is so important to call back ASAP.

PERSONABILITY

Be yourself! It sounds so simple but it really is the greatest advantage you have in an interview.  Be positive, be thorough, and be willing to talk and to listen. Most importantly, RELAX and be confident!

 

When it comes to preparing for your first travel nursing gig, there’s a lot of moving parts. We’ll be the first to admit this. There’s paperwork and licenses. Readying your home to leave it behind. Packing what you’ll take with you on your next adventure. Packing is one of the last things you’ll do before heading out to your new city. We’ve gathered up tips, plus other hints from our expert traveling nurses to make sure you’ll have everything you need.

Keep Your Files Handy:

Keep it old school with all of your records on paper, YES paper. And digital files too, of course. One of our travel nurses tells us, “I carry a beautiful folder PPR gave me with all my previous records so I can send them as needed in prep for the next contract.” If everything is already in paper format, it’s also very easy to find a copying machine to provide paperwork to a facility that may request it.

Heartfelt Items:

It can be easy to forget about the things that make you feel at home when packing up your home. Pack up a small set of cooking utensils, one pan of each size, etc., but don’t forget photos or special items from home that can make your stay cozier. Photos, small pieces of artwork, or even a few knick knacks can make all of the difference when a couple hundred miles from home.

Furry Friends:

Did you know you can pack your pets, too! When you travel with PPR, your pets can always accompany you on your next adventure! We want you to be as comfortable as possible, and we know the last thing you want to do is leave your furry best friend in the care of someone else while you’re away.

Electronic Essentials:

Setting up cable, and internet services can be time consuming and the fees can add up depending on how many travel nurse assignments you take in a given year. When bringing your laptop or iPad, our travelers recommend bringing a jet pack or internet hotspot to save the headache of setting up internet multiple times in a near. Check with your cell phone carrier for plans. It may be something you consider using while home, too. That way you’re not pay for a service that isn’t being used.

While packing up your closet, be sure to pack more than one pair of work shoes. Your feet will thank you when you’re not wearing the same shoes every day. This one seems obvious but don’t forget your underwear! While you could easily purchase more on assignment, avoiding that shopping trip right when you arrive in your new city will save you added stress.

While there’s a long list of things you’ll want to pack, there are just a few of the items that are often overlooked. What items have you forgotten? What items do you never leave for assignment without? Let us know in the comments below!

Whether you are starting back at the same school or stepping inside a fresh set of hallways to navigate, the beginning of a new year always brings excitement and the occasional challenge.

If you are a contract school therapist or psychologist, here are a few things to get your back-to-school off on the right foot.

1. Lean on your recruiter.
2. Have a positive outlook.
3. Set your goals for the year.

Lean on your recruiter

Being new means having a question or two. But a new year can mean your fellow colleagues are also busy and might not be as able to help guide you to the right place. Be sure you are working with a staffing company that is willing and happy to be with you through every step as you get settled. Your recruiter should always be available to answer your questions or help find the answer if they are unsure offhand. After all, their job doesn’t end once they find you the job, and they only find success when you do.

Get an A for attitude

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” – Winston Churchill

If you start the year off with a sense of positivity and enthusiasm for the fresh start, you’re setting the stage for a fantastic year. As a mentor to young people, you know what a driving force a positive attitude can be for overcoming obstacles and enjoying life, so it’s important to practice what you teach and see that glass as filled to the brim – because it is!

Set your intentions

Back-to-school is sort of like a bonus New Year’s. You get the chance to start anew and set your sights on what ground you want to cover over the next year. Maybe it’s building your experience with a particular condition, picking up a new hobby, completing the continued education course you’ve had on your to do list, or learning a new language.

If you are on your way back-to-school as an SLP, OT or school psychologist, then PPR has opportunities in some of the nation’s top school districts. Click here to get in touch. We’d love to be on your team.

There are many factors that contribute to the success of a travel nursing assignment. The housing situation plays a big role in the overall travel nursing experience. Most travelers prefer the tax-free housing stipend over any company provided housing. This way, they oversee where their money is going. There are great deals to be found out there for the savvy traveler. However, there are also a ton a scam artist just looking to rip you off.

With that in mind, here are a few red flags to look for in your search for housing:

• Never wire money. If they require your money to be wired, it is probably a sham.
• Be wary of high deposits, first and last month’s rent upfront, etc. This is too much for a short-term rental and is worth questioning.
• Don’t solely rely on email communication. Get a name and demand a phone conversation. If the owner/landlord refuses to provide a phone number, then you should move on.
• Do not give out your financial information. The owner/landlord will often allow the proof/terms of your travel contract to validate your ability to pay.
• If you are near the area, the landlord must be able to show you the property. If not, move on.
• If the deal seems super cheap for the area and too good to be true, then is probably is.
• If your landlord is pushy or over-anxious, you may want to proceed with caution.
• The landlord/owner must provide the actual address before providing any sort of payment. Google this address and make sure is an actual renting space and that the photos match the street view.

Trust to your gut and use common sense. Keep these guidelines in mind and the money sucking con artists will be easy to spot! Click here for some helpful housing websites.

There is an extensive need so school-based speech language pathologists, or SLPs, in schools nationwide. Speech-language deficits are one of the most common childhood disabilities. It takes a special SLP to fulfill the role of a school-based SLP.

Creativity

Kids love to explore. As an SLP, it is important to be open to new experiences and infuse the element of creativity in your therapy. Seek out new exercises that will grow as both your patient, and you as an SLP.

Organize

You sit down to write an IEP for a student you are working with. You pull out your detailed files from past sessions and come up with a plan you think fits the child’s specific needs. Imagine if you had skipped the detailed note taking and left it up to your memory to recall the specifics. It would likely be more challenging and result in a less impactful IEP. Staying organized and keeping progress notes up to date will make your life easier and your work more effective.

Motivate

School is a child’s “workplace” where they begin to learn who they are with a sense of independence. An SLP not only works on specific challenges, such as stuttering or slow vocabulary development, but at the same time builds confidence and a feeling of inclusion with the rest of the class – undoubtedly skills that will travel with them through life.

Collaborate

School-based SLPs will gather information from other caregivers such as teachers, parents, and doctors, to develop a cohesive action plan that nets the best result for the child. Strong listening skills and a team approach will serve an SLP well in any school system.

Click here for the latest exciting opportunities throughout the country.