You’ll have to contact us to get more information on the medical facility, but here’s a bit of information on Boise that’s sure to pique your interest in this position.

Boise’s mayor, David H. Bieter, has declared that it’s his mission to make Boise the “most livable city in the country.”

Why does he think Boise has a shot at becoming this?

The city, according to Bieter, has

• “Independence and creative spirit”
• Terrific scenery
• Plentiful natural resources
• Many year-round outdoor activities

The capital of Idaho as well as the largest city in the Gem State, Boise sits on the Boise River along the Rocky Mountain foothills. Skiing is incredibly popular in the winter, as is bicycling and boating in spring, summer and fall.

Many people move to Boise because there’s just so much to do. Walk along the city’s river side Greenbelt path, walk the Ridge to Rivers path to the trailheads of several terrific hiking trails.

For art lovers, you’ll enjoy murals and public art all around the city. Visit the Boise Art Museum, Zoo Boise, the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, and many other museums and galleries.

Love the theater? Dance? You’ll enjoy watching the Boise Contemporary Theater, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Ballet Idaho, the Trey McIntyre Projects, and the Idaho Dance Theatre.

Downtown Boise is full of great clubs and other venues in which to enjoy a lively musical scene. Downtown also offers several breweries and distilleries.

Boise is the place for people who like their temperatures very hot (100 degrees is not unheard of in his high-desert metropolis in the summer) or very cold (30 degrees is the average winter temperature). It snows an average of 19 inches each winter season, but not at all once: most snow storms bring about three inches of the fluffy white stuff.

Interested in this position? Contact MedPro Healthcare Staffing today! If you’re not an OT and you’d still love to work in Boise, check out our traveling assignments for nurses, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals. We have hundreds of great travel opportunities in cities all across the country; contact us today to learn more!

According to Minority Nurse Magazine, just two percent of all RNs in the U.S. are of Hispanic/Latino heritage. And, even if non-Hispanic healthcare workers speak Spanish, cultural differences still can make communication between patient and healthcare worker difficult.

The website InterHispanica.com reported in 2010 that “[i]n just a few years, the United States will have the second largest Spanish speaking population in the world.” Mexico will be the only country in the world with more.

But before you rush out to learn Spanish, understand that bilingual healthcare workers are needed in a number of foreign languages, especially languages that hail from Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, the Phillippines, etc. ). In fact, here at MedPro Healthcare Staffing, several of the bilingual positions we fill for hospitals and other medical facilities are for those who speak Southeast Asia languages, particularly Tagalog (number one language of the Philippines).

It naturally follows that if you can speak another language, you greatly increase your chances of being hired. If you’re already a native foreign language speaker, great! If you’re wondering what career to explore, we highly recommend one in healthcare. As stated above, bilingual healthcare workers are critically needed.

But if English is your first language and you want to learn another, you have several options when it comes to learning a new language. Many medical facilities now offer what is known as “medical Spanish.” While you won’t be fluent, this can help you communicate (albeit in a fairly rudimentary) way, with Spanish-speaking patients.

Community colleges and night schools also offer foreign language classes. The going can be slow, however, and the class schedule may not be conducive to your work schedule.

There are many online foreign language learning programs, of course.

If you have the time and the funds, a foreign-language immersion course may be the ticket. Be prepared to live and sweat your new language. But the fact that these courses are so short and are so intense can mean you can learn the language quickly.

If you’re a healthcare professional who’s heard about the great opportunities working as a traveling nurse, PT, speech therapist, radiologist, phlebotomist, and more, contact a recruiter at MedPro Healthcare Staffing. We look forward to hearing from you

Why not? After all, you play an extremely important part in the healthcare of this country. You do realize that, don’t you?

If you don’t, here a few critical facts regarding the importance of nurses in the U.S. (brought to you by the American Nursing Association):

• Nursing is the most trusted profession in the country. The annual Gallup poll that asks Americans to rate different professions for their ethics and honesty found that the population ranks nurses as “very high” or “high” by more than 80 percent of those polled.
• “The public’s high regard for the profession,” the ANA says, “coupled with nurses’ education and skills, makes them well positioned to help transform the health care system into one that places more emphasis on prevention, wellness, and coordination of care.”
• There are about 3.1 million licensed registered nurses in America, with about 2.6 million currently working as a nurse.
• More than 150,000 people have joined the profession since 2004 (a 5.3 percent increase), with more than 14.5 percent (450,000) nurses receiving the first license in the U.S. after 2003.

National Nurses Week in its present incarnation got its start in the mid-1950s. It took several years for the recognition to become national, but the week now is celebrated in communities and in medical facilities all over the country. Here’s a very brief history of National Nurses Week.

• What we now call National Nurses Week got its start in in 1953 when a member of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Dorothy Sutherland, asked President Eisenhower to proclaim “Nurse Day” for October 1954. The president didn’t make the proclamation, but the ANA observed a National Nurse Week from October 11-16, 1954.
• President Richard Nixon in 1974 finally issued a proclamation that designated National Nurse Week.
• The ANA started “National RN Recognition Day” on May 6, 1996.

The ANA recommends the following activities for National Nurses Week.

• Sponsor health fairs, organize a walk-a-thon, conduct preventative screenings. This helps promote a positive image for nurses.
• Invite a politician to follow a nurse around during the work day. This helps our lawmakers understand how critical nurses are to successful patient care.
• Talk to your newspaper about asking its readers to submit stories about how a nurse has helped improve their lives and/or provided above-and-beyond care at a critical time.
• (For more ideas, check out NursingWorld.org’s list of suggestions.)

If you’re an RN with an itch to see the country, honor your contribution to your own contribution to the welfare of the United States’ citizens and contact MedPro Healthcare Staffing about our many traveling nurse assignments. See the country while bringing your critically needed skills to medical facilities desperate to have them. Contact us today!

And now, with the summer fast approaching, why not find an assignment on the coast? Or, for a less-traditional “summer vacation” spot, why not work near the mountains of Montana, the gorgeous coast of Maine or Oregon or, yes, if you must, the terrific beaches of South Carolina.

For example, Billings, Montana, the largest city in Big Sky Country, offers you the opportunity to go rock-climbing, hunting, fishing, hiking and many more outdoor activities.

Billings is near Yellowstone National Park, the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, the Beartooth Highway, the Pictograph Cave and so much more.

Do you love to swim, sail, picnic along or otherwise enjoy gorgeous lakes in the summer? Consider a summer travel nursing assignment in Michigan. Port Huron, Michigan, is located on the southern end of Lake Huron (one of the five Great Lakes), and offers you the chance to enjoy a variety of water activities. You also may cross the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River and visit Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

As for other things to do, visit the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, the Great Lakes Maritime Center to learn more about the shipping history of the Great Lakes. On your days off, go for a sail on Lake Huron.

If you love rivers, your summer destination should be Portland, Oregon. This über environmentally aware town is located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. The Willamette, in fact, runs through Portland’s center. The city is known for its pedestrian friendly ambience, as well as the many parks, gardens and green spaces Portlanders enjoy year-round.

Speaking of rivers, Augusta, Maine (the state’s capital city), is located on the Kennebec River and is surrounded by gorgeous hills covered with forest. If hiking’s your love, you’ll love it here. In addition, you can walk, run or cycle along the six-mile Kennebec River Trail. Enjoy canoeing, swimming, water skiing, sailing, boating, and white-water rafting on your days off.

Many of us don’t think summer is summer without spending time on a beautiful beach. If this is you, consider spending your summer working at an assignment in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Known the world over for its gorgeous wide beach (there’s 60 miles of the sandy stuff here), Myrtle Beach also offers great golfing, the chance for thrills at its fabulous amusement parks, plenty of shopping at flea markets and outlet malls (and more), deep sea fishing and, well, there’s just too much to list here.

And let’s not forget the boardwalks. Grab an ice cream cone, set yourself on a boardwalk bench and just watch the (summer) world go by. Free entertainment at its finest!

Whether you want to spend the summer near a beach in California, the winter skiing in the Rocky Mountains, or enjoying the leaves turning in a forest in the fall in Vermont, there’s a travel work assignment with your name on it. Contact a recruiter at MedPro Healthcare Staffing today to learn more!

1. You can choose to live in the apartment we find – and pay – for you while on assignment. These are apartments in safe areas near your assignment facility. They’re usually furnished and include amenities such as a fitness center, pool and more.
2. Or you can decide to take the sizable stipend we provide and find your own accommodations. Professionals who have families often choose this option.

If you decide you’d like to find your own housing, follow these tips below.

Looking for an apartment while on an assignment is very similar to apartment hunting when you’re planning on moving to a location for a longer period of time (such as a year.

There are a few differences, however. Most apartments want a year’s lease. If you’re going to stay in town for just the weeks of your assignment, you may find it more difficult to find an affordable short-term situation.

In addition, many landlords require a deposit the equivalent of a first- and last-month’s rent check. Most travel nursing assignments are about three months in length, so you could find yourself paying a hefty amount every three months (as you move to another assignment and pay another first- and last-month’s deposit).

Not that we want to discourage you from finding a place on your own. Many of our professionals need accommodations different than the usual furnished one- or two-bedroom apartment we provide.

If you’ve decided to find an apartment on your own, check with us first. We have connections with apartments and landlords all over the country and we may be able to help you find a great short-term rental.

You might want to look into what is known as “corporate housing.” These are apartments that, according to a website that helps you find accommodations (www.corporatehousing.com), such as “extended stays at hotels, corporate apartments, furnished apartments for rent — even privately-owned houses, condos and vacation properties.”

In addition, check out the website Sublet.com (www.sublet.com). This site caters to individuals looking to rent for a short time as well as landlords looking for a short-term tenant. You can search the database.

You also can call a large real estate company in the area of your assignment and ask about short-term rentals of furnished houses for sale. Many homeowners often are worried about leaving their home empty and having someone stay in the house while it’s on the market is attractive to them. You may have to sign an agreement about keeping the house “show worthy” while you’re there.

You also could call a vacation rental company in the assignment area to see what type of rentals they offer. Be aware, however, that “vacation” rentals can cost more to rent.

Whether you’re keen on renting your own place or you’re happy to take us up on our offer of a furnished, paid-for apartment while on assignment, contact MedPro Healthcare Staffing. We’re eager to speak to professionals about our long- and short-term travel assignments at medical facilities all over the country with a critical need for your skills. We look forward to speaking with you!

Many working RNs want to earn a bachelor’s in nursing due because opportunities tend to be greater for those with the BSN, according to BestOnlineColleges.com.
“RNs looking to move into an administrative position, do research, consult, or teach are frequently required to have a BSN or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited nursing degree program,” the site says in regards to its own Top 10 Online Bachelor of Nursing (RN to BSN) Degree Programs of 2011-2012.
What are some of the benefits of pursuing a BSN online? There are several:

• Students can still work as an RN while earning the degree.
• They can study while still living at home, rather than pulling up stakes and moving to the BSN program’s locations
• Students may have to travel to the program’s campus, but only about two or three times a year over a long weekend.
• A student’s preceptor easily could be a manager or supervisor at his or her current employer, negating the need to travel to another site for the clinical and practicum portions of the degree.

BestOnlineColleges.com rated its top 10 RN to BSN programs “based on publicly available data evaluated according to several different criteria, including reputation, accreditation, student satisfaction, ratio of students to instructors, and cost.”
The top programs are:
1.    Sacred Heart University
2.    Florida College of Health Sciences
3.    Seton Hall University
4.    University of Kansas
5.    University of Illinois at Chicago
6.    Drexel University
7.    Indiana State University
8.    Kent State University
9.    Saint Peter’s College
10. Anna Maria College

The cost per credit hour for the top 10 schools ranged from $795 (Seton Hall) to $282 at the University of Kansas for in-state residents (the per credit hour cost is $353 for non-residents).

If you’re an RN researching the possibility of earning a BSN but are concerned about cost, check with your employer. Many hospitals and medical facilities are covering tuition for degree programs.

Whether you’re an RN with a bachelor’s, master’s or “just” that RN licensure, MedPro Healthcare Staffing wants to hear from you. We literally have hundreds of travel nursing opportunities at hospitals and medical facilities all over the country. Satisfy your itch to travel while providing critical nursing services and contact us today!

Pharmacology

Pharmacology turned up as 5^th in the list of all college majors that have the lowest unemployment rates—with effectively 0% unemployment for those studying pharmacology. Talk about recession proof! There are two major areas that pharmacology majors can go into: research and clinical. Clinical pharmacologists work in pharmacies (of course), hospitals, and clinics; research pharmacologist work behind the scenes, in labs or private institutions.  Both areas are experiencing excellent job growth, making a degree in pharmacology a great choice for those ready for a challenge.

Pharmacology Education

Pharmacists who are trained in the United States must earn a Pharm.D. degree from an accredited college or school of pharmacy—the program typically lasts about 4 years, often with 1-2 additional years of residency. Pharmacology students can choose from a wide variety of specializations.

Medical Technology

For those looking to work in allied health, a degree in medical technology is another can’t lose: med tech majors are estimated to have an unemployment rate of 1.4 %. Those with med tech degrees often work in laboratories, performing complex medical testing, working with state-of the-art equipment. They may work in large hospitals or private laboratories—the flexibility of the degree accounts for its excellent job outlook.

Medical Technology Education

In contrast with pharmacology, a 2 year associate’s degree is the typical education of an entry level medical technologist, with advanced education opportunities available all the way up to the doctorate level. Advanced education specialization areas include hematology, immunology, genetics, computer science, lab management, and education, making medical technology a flexible profession with room for advancement.

These are just a few of the healthcare careers that offer great job security. And as a healthcare professional, partnering with MedPro for travel assignments can help you gain valuable experience at premium wages. Contact MedPro today and find out more about travel opportunities for pharmacologists and allied health professionals.

USNews.com has once again comes to the rescue with its objective (in that it’s not trying to entice you to sign up for any one program) 2012 “best” nursing programs listing.

The 10 best nursing master’s programs are:

• Johns Hopkins University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Washington
• University of California, San Francisco
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Duke University
• Oregon Health and Science University
• University of Pittsburgh
• Yale University

(Note: Duke, Oregon, Pitt and Yale tied for 7^th)

USNews.com reports it conducted surveys in fall 2011. The results, it says:

…”are based solely on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators, and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline. All schools surveyed in a discipline were sent the same number of surveys. Respondents rated the academic quality of programs on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding). They were instructed to select “don’t know” if they did not have enough knowledge to rate a program. Only fully accredited programs in good standing during the survey period are ranked. Those schools with the highest average scores appear in the rankings.”

Thirty-three (33) percent of the 467 master’s nursing programs contacted for the survey responded to it. All programs were either accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

If you’d like to explore the terrific world of the travel nurse, contact a recruiter at MedPro Healthcare Staffing. We have literally hundreds of travel nursing assignments at hospitals and healthcare facilities all over the country. We look forward to hearing from you.

Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals whose education includes the study of human growth and development with specific emphasis on the physical, emotional, psychological, sociocultural, cognitive and environmental components of illness and injury. Occupational Therapy was officially recognized in the U.S. nearly a century ago with the founding of the Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy, now the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Growth in America’s elderly population has kept the demand high for Occupational Therapists and in 2012 it was ranked as #7 best job by U.S. News Best Jobs. Here at MedPro we see a huge increase in needs and we try every day to bring more therapists into our growing family. MedPro has Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants working across a broad spectrum of society, from schoolchildren to elderly patients in long term care facilities.

We would like to take a moment to recognize the significant impact these individuals make in our lives and thank them for their dedication and caring.

This week, it’s a 13-week assignment for a night-shift labor and delivery nurse in a hospital in San Jose, California.

As a labor and delivery nurse you’ll help women before, during and after they give birth to their children. You’ll monitor both mother and baby’s health during the birth process. You’ll probably assist doctors and other nurses to administer pain medication and perform epidurals, episiotomies and C-section deliveries, and more.

The city of San Jose is located about an hour or so south of San Francisco, offering a warmer (less foggy) climate than its bay side sister. San Jose is located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay and only a short drive away from the Santa Cruz Mountains. While there, be sure to take advantage of all culture, sporting events, shopping opportunities.

While in San Jose, you won’t want to miss the San Jose Flea Market, the Lick Observatory, Raging Waters, The Tech Museum of Innovation, the Winchester Mystery House, Japantown of San Jose. These are all great places you should explore during your downtime.

Why should you take this assignment?

Your skills are much-needed to our hospital’s staff, as well as their expectant mothers and newborn children. Contact a MedPro Healthcare Staffing recruiter today to learn more about this and other great travel nurse opportunities.