Most people would say you should rent a campervan before you decide to live in one.
This is definitely some good advice... but we sure didn’t. We’ve been known to do some “crazy” things from time to time – AKA go with our gut vs. doing exactly what society expects of us. We knew deep down that we were meant to be vanlifers. So when the travel physical therapy market crashed because of the pandemic in 2020, we knew it was our time. Our only problems were....
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For traveling therapists, there are three main considerations when choosing a contract: Pay, Location, and Setting. The first two considerations are going to depend more on your personal preference, but for Setting, there are several factors to consider. First, which settings can you work as a traveling therapist? Here is a list of the main ones for OT’s, PT’s, and SLP’s:
Travel is often glamorized on social media, especially in the last couple of years after COVID began. Pay packages began to skyrocket (finally getting the pay we deserve!) and it started seeming like it was the mass Exodus of any nurse with over two years of experience in every unit across the country. I personally have been a travel nurse for the past 4 years, and I can vouch that it’s one of the best jobs out there. What other industry can you be so in control of your own schedule, make great money, and still have fulfilling work caring for others? Sometimes, I come across nurses who would love to become a travel nurse, but they could “never” do it. A lot of the fears I hear about have to do with the fear of being away from family and friends, and the fear of being alone. I think putting yourself out there in a new state, new hospital, new unit filled with all new coworkers can be a really scary thing for some people. I also think it has changed me as a person, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! You’ve just landed your dream assignment on the beautiful island of Maui but have no idea where to start. What part of the island do you live? Do you ship your car? What is there to do? Maui is literal heaven on earth and for the purpose of this blog I will share my insider's tips & tricks to help you make the most of your assignment.
Imagine waking up each day not being able to see properly and having no access to an eye doctor or the means to purchase a proper pair of prescription eye glasses. Imagine having a bad headache or becoming sick with the flu and not having access to basic medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen that most Americans always have stocked in their cabinets. Imagine never seeing a doctor your whole life for a check-up or having the most basic medical care available to you. These are things that we can’t imagine living in the United States and many other privileged countries in the world, but in many underdeveloped and underserved regions of the world these simple things would be considered a luxury.
The Vanlife/RV living experience is about escaping the ordinary and bringing the outdoors into the forefront of your life. This lifestyle provides a consistency in travel nursing where you have "your space" no matter where you may land. For those who are able to take a leap of faith it holds endless opportunities and room for experiences and exploration. Choosing where you land to drink your coffee every morning is incredible. Being a traveling healthcare professional is fun. It’s exhilarating. It changes lives. It puts people out of their comfort zone. It opens up minds. It creates lifelong friendships. It presents a multitude of unimaginable adventures. But overtime, it can lead to a lack of an overall sense of belonging and even accelerate burnout.
After 4 years of travel nursing, I decided it was finally time for me to stay in one place for a bit, have a stable long term job, and buy a house. For the purpose of this blog post, I am going to list some reasons that you as a traveling healthcare professional should be looking for if you’re wondering: should I plant some roots? “I can’t be a travel nurse, I have a dog.” I’m here to bust this myth! Not only can you be a travel nurse with a pet, it can actually enhance your experience. I have been a travel nurse for the past year and a half and my dog Joni comes with me on every contract. There are so many perks to having your dog with you as a travel nurse. Bringing your best friend with you on a contract can add a sense of companionship if you get lonely. Having your dog can make you more social, I know I strike up more conversations with fellow dog owners! There are definitely some things that can be harder, but I’m here to walk you through my best tips and tricks to travel nursing with a pet. So you want to be fit, happy, and healthy while working those tough 12 hour shifts, but don't know where to start? It's not always easy, but it is entirely possible. For the purpose of this blog, I will be sharing my workout routine and give yall some pointers on how to keep up with your fitness while being a traveling healthcare professional!
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