Moving From an RN to a BSN

The medical profession is in a state of constant change. New information and technologies appear on almost a daily basis and the healthcare industry is having a difficult time staying in sync with all these advancements. RNs have been the backbone of the nursing industry for years, but the need for additional education to fill management and business roles has never been greater. Nurses who choose to enroll in online BSN programs are not only increasing their medical knowledge, they are immersing themselves in leadership training as well as a solid liberal arts education. A BSN opens new doors within the healthcare industry. Patients may not know the difference between an RN and a BSN, but in terms of educational advancement and employment opportunities there’s a huge difference.

In order to enroll in an online BSN program, a nurse needs an associate degree in nursing from an accredited National League of Nursing school and the nurse should have character references from reliable sources like work supervisors or teachers.

Is an online BSN or MSN worth it?

Nurses who work full time and have family responsibilities may find it hard to pursue a BSN or an MSN; there are only so many hours in a day, but the benefits of enrolling in a BSN or MSN program are well worth the inconvenience. The great part of online study is you do have flexibility in terms of time. A self-paced online program is designed for nurses who have family responsibilities and other personal commitments. The rewards of earning a BSN degree can increase dramatically if an RN is interested in business or management.

RNs certainly perform a great service and can enjoy a long-term career without thinking about a BSN, but for any nurse who is interested in a leadership position within the nursing profession a BSN is a must. Head nurses, assistant directors, directors and other management positions require a BSN. Nurses with a BSN can pursue a career in research, teaching and consulting, just to name a few. They can focus on business and manage a pharmaceutical company, a private clinic or an insurance company. Some nurses with a BSN degree manage home health clinics as well as other healthcare service related businesses. Nurses who earn a BSN degree increase career opportunities, which results in better benefits and compensation. It’s hard to put a price on the personal satisfaction a BSN or MSN degree gives every nurse who earns one.

What’s involved with online BSN programs?

Online programs can be self paced programs where the nurse studies at a pace that fits into an existing schedule or they can be structured like a traditional classroom where there is a specific start and end date. Most nurses like the self pace option for obvious reasons; time is a valuable commodity for everyone and flexibility is important tool in managing time.

The online classes are designed to be simple. A nurse logs on to the online study website with a password and then checks the latest posts that show lecture material for specific subject matter. Bulletin boards are available so the nurse can post questions and comments about the material and can interact with other nurses who are studying the same material. The instructor usually schedules a personal one-on-one chat session at certain times so each nurse is able to discuss issues and ask questions. There is a deadline established for the course work and when it’s complete it is sent to the instructor by email. The clinical work is done at local hospitals who host visiting instructors or have staff nurses who act as instructors. Most of the time a nurse can complete the clinical part of the course where they work.

Is it easy to find a BSN or MSN online program?

A recent study indicated that there are almost 700 RN to BSN programs online. There are hundreds of MSN programs as well. Most healthcare facilities offer some sort of tuition reimbursement for nurses who are pursuing advanced degrees, which is an additional incentive to further education credentials. When all the options are considered earning a BSN or a MSN is an excellent choice for an RN who wants to continue to advance in the research, business or management aspects of the healthcare industry.  For additional information on a nursing education online visit DegreeFinders.com, your online guide to a nursing job or travel nursing jobs.

By Erica Ronchetti

It’s no secret that the healthcare industry is becoming increasingly demanding for nurses and traveling nurses, who must now care for the rising numbers of aging baby boomers and other health care demanders.  In contrast, the number of prospective nurses and nursing students who will become professional nurses and travel nurses is decreasing, despite the growing community of people who require health care and medical assistance.  Travel nurse agencies have been a remedy for this widening gap between patients, nurses, and travel nurses.  They provide nursing staff for hospitals and other healthcare services, and fulfill both patients and facilities needs.

Many schools and universities are experiencing a significant shortage of students who are studying to become professional nurses.  There are insufficient numbers of these students compared to the increasing demands of the United States population and their projected healthcare needs.  Over past years, there has been little to no maintenance of nursing student enrollment levels, and now 73% of Americans acknowledge that this shortage of nurses is a concern, and one that is on the rise.

Companies like Travel Nurse Source and other travel nursing agencies have been developed to address this growing need for healthcare professionals and provide solutions for nurses who are interested in traveling and healthcare facilities who need to fill staffing gaps. Travel Nurse Source operates with the nursing shortage directly in mind, staffing hospitals and facilities across the country to prevent the worsening nursing shortage in the USA. Travel nurse agencies are not a new occurrence; they’ve been in existence for almost two decades with the aim to solve staffing shortages, mainly in facilities that have employee and population turnover based on the seasonal changes.

In light of the nursing shortage, pursuing a career as a travel nurse or finding travel nurse employment has become a good opportunity for stability and professional growth.  Travel nurses can travel all over the US and nursing assignments last from 90 days up to six months, depending on the specific contract.  The travel nursing job can be in a variety of states or regions and facilities, and that is up to the nurse to choose.  Salaries for nurses who choose a travel nursing career tend to be on average, higher then nurses who stay in one location or healthcare venue.  Excelling housing benefits go along with the competitive salary, as well as health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits that travel nurse agencies offer.

Companies like Travel Nurse Source are indeed valuable assets for the healthcare industry.  To learn more about travel nursing jobs and travel nurse employment, visit our website!  Travel Nurse Source offers exciting travel nursing employment opportunities, such as travel nurse jobs Hawaii, California travel nursing, Florida travel nursing, New York travel nursing, and travel nursing in Alaska!

Erica Ronchetti is Account Manager for Travel Nurse Source, a recruiting company for traveling nurses.  Travel Nurse Source is affiliated with Allied Travel Careers, a recruiting company for traveling physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists.  For more information on what we do, please visit our websites.

By Erica Ronchetti

Before signing up to travel the United States as a travel nurse, there are several important things you may be interested to know. Travel nursing can be extremely rewarding as well as enjoyable; a paid vacation to the beaches of Hawaii and California is certainly appealing but before departing on your next travel nursing job, take a minute to read the following information.

Salary is very different from typical hospital employment.  Travel nurses are paid significantly higher hourly wages then staff nurses who work at hospitals.  The reason travel nurses are paid larger salaries is because of the “sacrifices” they make to uproot their lives and work away from their families and homes.   Placed in an attractive location, many nurses don’t see their travel nursing assignment as sacrifices, and many enjoy their days off enjoying gorgeous scenery, excellent weather, and interesting culture.  When negotiating salary with your travel nurse agency, make sure they are willing to negotiate the highest rate of pay before you sign any contracts to a travel nursing assignment.  Certainly don’t feel pressured to accept the first travel offer that comes your way; you may be able to find a better one.  It might be good to compare different agencies and select the one willing to assist your move, provide you with a competitive salary, and perhaps even a monthly housing stipend.

Here are some important questions to consider asking your travel nurse agency before starting a travel nursing assignment:

1.     Does the travel nurse agency I’m considering guarantee my travel assignment in writing?
2.    What hours will I be working?  Are these hours guaranteed?
3.    How often will I get paid?  (Weekly, bi-weekly, etc…)
4.    Will the travel nurse agency help me pay for my move?

Travel nurses with experience:  do you agree or disagree? If you’re an experienced travel nurse and can provide any additional information or useful questions novice travel nurses might need to know, don’t hesitate to post a response or comment.

Erica Ronchetti is Account Manager for Travel Nurse Source, a recruiting company for traveling nurses.  Travel Nurse Source is affiliated with Allied Travel Careers, a recruiting company for traveling physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists.  For more information on what we do, please visit our websites.

By Erica Ronchetti

If you’ve avoided travel nursing jobs because you were unwilling to leave your loved ones behind, then be sure to read this article.  Not only do travel nurses get to visit many exciting locations and meet new people all over the country, they can do so while earning a considerable salary.  Re-location can be pretty frequent as travel assignments typically run for about 13 weeks.  The good news is despite the relatively long  time span of assignments, many travel nurse agencies do take into account that nurses have families and are willing to work out arrangements that are accommodating.

If you have children, you can still be a successful travel nurse. There are even advantages to travel nursing that will positively affect your children’s lives, such as providing them the opportunity to experience many parts of the country.  While your children get to travel, your successful nursing career will provide you with an excellent salary and benefits.  Travel nursing salaries are usually 10%-15% higher than typical pay of regular staff nurses. In addition to the higher salary, recruiting agencies are sometimes able to provide free housing for your family, or assist you in locating additional rooms or alternative housing for family members.

Other agencies try to provide travel nurses with placements customized to their individual lifestyles and requirements, such as flexible shift times that allow them to spend more time with their families.  Often times travel nurses choose to home school their children and married couples who both travel have the option to arrange their work schedules so that one of them is home to take care of kids while the other is on a travel nursing assignment.  There are even some travel nurse jobs that last up to 9 months so that a child would be able to attend the same school for an entire year.  It’s possible that with some research and scheduling, a traveling nurse can have a great career while raising their family.

Due to the ongoing nursing shortage, there is a huge demand for qualified nurses nationwide. Many healthcare staffing agencies and travel nurse recruiting agencies are looking to hire qualified travel nurses to fill in staffing positions, and finding adequate housing for nurses and families is not a difficult task.  Extra needs and requirements, such as pets and larger spaces can easily be accommodated.  Don’t hesitate to learn more about travel nursing and the great benefits that go along with it:  great compensation, excellent health care coverage, and many others.  If you’re currently a travel nurse or would like to find out more information about travel nursing jobs, now is an excellent time to pursue this fast growing and popular health field.

Erica Ronchetti is Account Manager for Travel Nurse Source, a recruiting company for traveling nurses.  Travel Nurse Source is affiliated with Allied Travel Careers, a recruiting company for traveling physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists.  For more information on what we do, please visit our websites.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Contrary to popular belief in nursing, there are job opportunities for practical nurses (LVNs and LPNs) outside of nursing homes. This is not to “bash” nursing homes in any way.  My first nursing job was in a nursing home and it was an amazing learning experience that prepared me for the jobs that followed.  My point is that practical nurses have similar opportunities as RNs, and that includes travel nursing.

Similar to traveling RNs, traveling LPNs can also work in nursing assignments from sunny California to scenic New England.  Working as a practical nurse is also a smart way to experience the ins and outs of the nursing field step by step, rather than all at once as a new graduate RN.  Those who transition from LPN can solidify their practical nursing skills first and then build on those with RN training later on.  As a traveling practical nurse, you also have the advantage of learning skills in a national training environment, versus in just one local facility. Another perk of working as a traveling LPN is the higher pay than most LPNs normally make in a staff position.

As with travel RNs, traveling LPNs should do their research and find an agency that best suits their salary expectations, career goals (especially in regards to further education), benefits, standard contract terms and referral bonuses. It’s also a good idea to find out which travel agencies have the most assignments in the region of the country you are most interested in being assigned to.  For those who do their research, are persistent and allow themselves to dream big – opportunities await.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Perhaps it was last week’s tea parties or possibly the recent message by radio and television personality Glenn Beck that we’re not alone and “we surround them” (referring to the political decision makers). Or maybe it was the recent associated press article discussing how the massive group of 50 million uninsured Americans see themselves as individuals, each down on their own respective luck. Is it because health care is such a personal topic to discuss as well as how it connects to one’s financial status? Is the same true for nurses and travel nurses?

Nurses, especially travel nurses, are an excellent example of the “I’m all alone” phenomenon. Doesn’t it sometimes seem as if nurses are more prone to competitiveness than camaraderie? It is all too easy to feel alone, especially in the midst of challenging situations versus feeling connected to other people in the same situations. For instance, I have observed many travel nurses connecting by message boards to express their concerns about being replaced by outsourced foreign-trained nurses. I applaud these traveling nurses for starting this dialogue and even more so for continuing it with each other. Travel nursing is a profession where, without good support systems, a nurse might endlessly feel like the new kid on the block. Forging friendships and online connections with other travel nurses, through this site or travel nursing message boards, is a reminder that you’re not alone. There are many other nurses facing the same challenges and asking the same questions that you are. Also, in the spirit of “power through numbers”, travel nurses have an extremely loud collective voice. A picket line or elections are not the only forums for using that voice.

As the uninsured and unemployed grow in numbers I can only hope they start reaching out to one another, using their collective voice as a majority and most importantly realizing that they are not alone. I hope that nurses and travel nurses continue doing the same thing. Nurses have an up close, personal view of health care that consumers, politicians and the public in general are not privy to. I learned the dangers of the word “assume” as a nursing student. Let’s not assume that we’re alone, that we have no power and that the health care industry surrounds the nurses, when it’s the other way around.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

If you’re a regular reader of the blogs here on travel nurse source, please give me some credit that I’ve been a TNS blogger for several months now and this is my first “top ten list”. During that time, I have had the opportunity to research travel nursing, speak with and receive feedback from veteran travel nurses and those who have just gotten their feet wet in this exciting area of nursing. As a result, I have devised a list of characteristics that I believe make up the perfect candidate for a career in travel nursing.

1. Clearly – a love of travel. This does not necessarily mean that you have to be a “road trip” person or an aspiring jetsetter. After all, you are only traveling between assignments, which are typically three months long. Some travel nurses prefer to life an RV-based lifestyle, meeting new people in RV communities around the country. Others prefer to enjoy the furnished housing provided by travel nurse agencies with the assignment. The common denominator is the travel nurse’s willingness to live for the experience more than coming home to the same house of “stuff” every night.

2. A flexible and understanding family. Despite the misconception that travel nursing is only for single people, there are several examples I have heard about where an understanding spouse and adventurous offspring can turn a travel nursing career into a never ending family adventure. Most families have to save up for road trips across the U.S.A. Travel nurses and their families get paid to travel.

3. A passion for experiencing new towns, suburbs and big cities (depending on your preference). During my interview with veteran travel nurse Epstein LaRue, she mentioned that the first thing that she and her husband do upon arriving in a new town is to travel one hour in each direction, exploring. I can’t say that her adventures didn’t make me a little jealous.

4. Speaking of the job part. Travel nursing assignments seem ideal for the nurse with a short attention span. If you don’t feel the need to get to know your colleagues – nurses, doctors, etc. – for more than a few months, a career as a travel nurse is ideal.

5. Love to learn? Technology, procedures and treatment techniques move so fast in health care that traveling from hospital to hospital around the country might just be the only way to keep up. Nurses are usually natural born learners and bookworms, and a career in travel nursing capitalizes on this curiosity for knowledge and new experiences.

The irony is that the list above describes many nurses currently working in permanent positions. My feeling is that most nurses, especially new graduates, either don’t realize that this is accessible to them or are weighted down with misconceptions they have heard about a career in travel nursing. In reality, a good traveling nurse agency recruiter has some flexibility in customizing a travel nurse career based on the nurse’s experience, career goals and lifestyle. This is an excellent time to contact a recruiter to discuss questions and concerns about a career as a travel nurse.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Preexisting conditions are a part of life. In fact, some say that simply being born qualifies as a preexisting medical condition. Yet it has been a traditional part of health insurance practice to charge higher premiums for individuals with any significant medical history and in some cases deny them coverage all together. This type of policy has been a long standing source of tension between insurance companies and healthcare providers. Nurses in particular are on the frontlines of some sticky insurance situations, in which delivering excellent patient care is the priority and is what they are trained to do, but the ‘red tape’ of insurance seems to be preventing them from doing their jobs. Travel nurses have no doubt seen similar incarnations of this situation from assignment to assignment throughout the country.  The good news, for staff and travel RNs alike, is that health insurance companies are finally seeing the light and indicating a willingness to change their rigid ways.

Faced with the prospect of losing customers to the “free” universal health insurance proposed by the Obama administration, major insurance providers such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield stated in a public letter recently published by the associated press, that they would be “willing to phase out the practice of varying premiums based on health status in the individual market if all Americans are required to get coverage.” I guess if it’s not possible to make patient care their motivation for this flexibility, this is the next best thing. The concept of “universal healthcare” has been touted since the Clinton administration (Bill, not Hillary), yet it is worth noting that this appears to be the first public concessionary reaction on the part of private insurance companies.

Registered nurses and RNs on travel assignment throughout our nation’s hospitals understand the importance of health insurance that covers patients during the time they need it the most. Ironically, or not so, it is patients with pertinent medical history such as diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions that significantly alter an individual’s quality of life, who require the most medical care. Time will only tell if a healthy dose of competition between private and government insurance will benefit patients and the dedicated nurses and travel nurses who care for them.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Following through on his numerous campaign promises to fix America’s ailing healthcare industry, President Obama kicked off his second full month in office by holding a healthcare summit at the White House. During the summit, Mr. Obama presumably received some of the same information that we in the healthcare industry along with the public by way of the media, have been hearing about for quite some time now.  For instance: there are currently 116,000 unfilled RN positions in hospitals and 100,000 unfilled positions in nursing homes*

The president’s reaction, in his own words: “alarm”.  The question he may be asking himself is: How can we promise universal healthcare for every American if there are not enough providers to deliver that care?  One concern in particular expressed by the president, was the use of “foreign-trained nurses” to fill in the staffing gaps in America’s hospitals.  This makes sense to me because of a different kind of universal care, universal standards of care that aspiring nurses learn in nursing schools across the country and are then tested on in standardized NCLEX nursing boards. There is a process, of course, that “foreign-trained” nurses must complete to get licensed in the United States.  The differences in their core nursing training remain debatable.

With an aging population of patients, and a decrease in enrollment and graduate numbers from U.S. nursing schools, it is refreshing to hear that Mr. Obama is acknowledging the connection between the nursing shortage and the healthcare crisis. This is not to devalue other mission critical items in healthcare such as physician reimbursement or the insurance mess (is there really any other way to describe a system with an apparent goal of refusing coverage when people need it the most?). However without a supply line of trained, committed professionals on the frontline of patient care, without nurses, everything else is a rather moot point.

Thankfully, the travel nursing industry has long been stepping up to the plate. Travel nurse companies assist hospitals with staffing issues while providing flexible assignments to travel nurses with competitive salaries, benefits and diverse destinations.

*Reuters

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

A nursing career in Florida holds a special place in my heart because that is where I began my career as an RN.  I can attest from personal experience that Florida is a great destination for travel nurses to add to their wish list.  As a popular place to retire, the Sunshine state is a diverse mixing pot of retirees from all around the country and from all walks of life.  The national almanac of individuals represented, makes for some excellent bedside conversations with patients.

Urban and tourism prone areas such as Miami and Orlando, offer the travel nurse opportunities to connect with patients from an exciting mix of cultures and countries. Florida travel nurse jobs are hot commodities because of the job opportunities created by this diversity along with the predominantly older age demographic of patients requiring acute care and of course – there’s the sunshine. With hundreds of miles of beaches, a wealth of warm weather and sunshine and plenty of leisure activities to keep the traveling nurse busy during days off, a travel nurse assignment in one of Florida’s thousands of hospitals and clinical settings, tops many travel RN’s wish list.

Here’s a breakdown of some of Florida’s most populated regions:

Jacksonville: View an impressive city skyline and enjoy all the arts, culture, sports and entertainment events you would expect in a metropolitan city by the sea.

Panhandle: Home of the state capital, the panhandle faces the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and includes several popular beach and spring break towns. Further south on Florida’s west coast, enjoy the perks of a city on the Gulf in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

Central Florida: The Orlando area is home to the theme park empire of a certain little squeaky voiced rodent and all the satellite theme park and entertainment destinations inspired by Mr. Mouse.

Space Coast: Perfect for fans of the space program who would enjoy balancing a work assignment in a hospital on the scenic Indian River or Cocoa Beach with viewing a live space shuttle launch from your travel nurse accommodations.

Treasure Coast: An ideal assignment for the travel nurse specializing in geriatric nursing who enjoys relaxing days off at the beach and a tasty variety of dining options.

Southern Florida/Miami: For the travel nurse who likes to let loose on days off with some of the country’s hottest night club, busiest beaches, most exclusive shopping and most exciting people watching.

Florida Nursing Facts & Resources:

• Average salary for a travel nurse in Florida is $50K

• Florida Board of Nursing

• RN Specialty Alert: Reflecting national health statistics, some of Florida’s most prevalent chronic patient conditions are heart disease, stroke and cancer; these numbers are especially amplified due to the large numbers of seniors living in the state

• Florida Nurses Association

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.