MedPro

You always knew that nursing was a great career and the Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as U.S. News and World Report have been reporting so for several years now. Healthcare positions often top the charts of “best jobs.”

This year is no different as USNews.com once again lists nursing as the number 1 “Top Job 2012.”

A February 2012 article at USNews.com predicted that the job growth for registered nurses “should see significant growth over the next decade.”

Based on BLS data, USNews.com the article went on to say that “registered nurse employment growth of 26 percent between 2010 and 2020, adding 711,900 more positions. Solid employment growth and a wide range of job prospects help make registered nursing a top healthcare job, as well as the No. 1 career on our list of The Best Jobs of 2012.”

The article states that the “best-paid 10 percent” of nurses made a bit more than $95,000 annually, while the “bottom 10 percent” made a bit more than $44K. If you want the big bucks, look into personal care nursing or pharmaceutical or medical device companies. As for where you’ll make the most in salary, the article cited the cities of San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco.

The article recommends that RNs “[l]ook beyond the hospital. Nurses are fanning out into a host of jobs, ranging from rehab and long-term care facilities to nurse-run community clinics, schools, or corporations where preventative care and wellness are becoming a bigger focus—and a bigger source of jobs.”

Speaking of a “bigger source of jobs,” check out work as a traveling nurse. You’ll hone and improve skills – and very likely learn new ones – all while traveling to different cities and healthcare facilities throughout the country. Contact MedPro Healthcare Staffing today to learn more about these terrific opportunities.

Travel nursing can take you places—this week we’re highlighting a top destination with ample opportunities available for MedPro candidates: Colorado. For cities large and small, here is the scoop on things to see and do on your latest adventure:

Denver

First up is Denver: the capital and most populous city in the great state of Colorado. As a major U.S. city, Denver is chock full of sites and scenes for a traveling medical pro to take in. Located just east of the Rocky Mountains, the Denver skyline is hard to beat. And with 14,000 acres of mountain parks, it’s a dream come true for nature lovers who want the opportunity and diversity that a big city offers. Expect cold winters and plenty of snow—but also enjoy legendary live music venues like Red Rocks Amphitheater, nationally recognized museums, and a few pro sports teams you may have heard of like the Broncos.

Montrose

From Denver, we’re heading over the mountains and through the woods—literally—down to Montrose, where we have several open Occupational Therapy positions. Montrose is southwest of the vast Gunnison National Forest, and is the perfect location for those that prefer to live a bit off the beaten path. With a population of between 15,000 and 16,000, Montrose features a drier climate, with little snowfall and hot summers. Nearby recreation includes hiking in the Black Canyon, and ski trips to the San Juan Mountains to the south.

Lone Tree

For those that like a slower pace, Lone Tree may be for you. With a population of around 5,000 and several nursing opportunities available, Lone Tree is located in the south Metro area of Denver—a bit away from the hustle and bustle but still within striking distance for day trips to the city. Golf lovers will appreciate the challenging 18-hole Lone Tree Golf Course.

Holly

If the rural life is for you, Holly should be at the top of your list. On the far eastern border of Colorado, Holly has a population of just around 1,000. At such a small size, Holly will definitely give you a taste of small town life. Bring your banjo: each June, Holly hosts the Holly Days Blue Grass Festival, a three-day outdoor live music event.

These are just a few of the Colorado destinations MedPro candidates can choose from. Ready to start your Colorado adventure? Contact MedPro today!

How to Address Issues with Your Healthcare Staffing Agency

So you’ve packed up and headed out on an exciting new assignment—chances are you’re acclimating well, taking in your new surroundings, and getting to know your co-workers and patients. But every once in a while, you may encounter unforeseen problems, or—worst-case—find yourself stuck in an assignment you are having second thoughts about. Here are a few tips for dealing with bumps in the road on your healthcare journey:

Avoid Problems Before They Arise
It might not seem helpful if you’re already stuck in an assignment you’re unhappy with, but many problems can be avoided by taking the time to fully understand an assignment before you agree to it. Get all the details you can about the type of facility you’ll be working in and tasks you’ll be expected to perform. When talking with your recruiter, share any misgivings you have. Most importantly, take time to self-assess and make sure this is the right assignment for where you are in your development.

Contact Your Recruiter
When things aren’t going as expected, make sure to contact your recruiter immediately—don’t let problems get worse before you make your concerns known. Also, your recruiter may be able to help rectify the situation, and give you valuable advice for overcoming challenges in a new assignment. Be patient and don’t make any rash decisions.

Give Feedback
It’s important to share your experiences in a completed assignment with your recruiter. Being upfront about problems or stress you encountered in an assignment will help your recruiter select future assignments more appropriate and enjoyable for you. If you have negative experiences with an assignment, don’t be afraid to share them. Help your recruiter help you.

Stay Positive
While following the above tips, there still may be times when a traveling healthcare pro will encounter difficulty in an assignment. It is important to treat each assignment as a learning experience—you’ll gain valuable experience and be better prepared for both avoiding and anticipating problems in the future. Stay positive, and keep things in perspective!

 Interested in working with a travel healthcare staffing agency?
MedPro is one the nation’s leading travel healthcare staffing agencies.  We offer outstanding travel nursing jobs, travel therapist jobs and travel allied healthcare jobs.

As we wrap up 2011 and get ready for 2012, we decided to look back at our top blog posts from this year. It’s our privilege and pleasure to provide you with the tools and tips you need to reach your career goals. Whether you are a travel therapist or a travel nurse, we are here to help you reach your goals!

Here is a rundown of our top posts from 2011:

Top 10 Physical Therapy Schools in the U.S. – Being a physical therapist is one of the top 50 careers, according to US World News & Report. To help you find the right school for launching your therapy career, we reviewed a list of the top 10 schools for physical therapy.

Five Great Locations for Travel Nursing - Travel nursing offers unique rewards versus a traditional nursing career. One of the biggest rewards is the ability to travel. In this post, we highlight five great destinations for travel nurses.

Your Career as a Pharmacy Technician – What You Should Know – Careers in pharmacy are expanding rapidly, and an emerging area is that of pharmacy tech. If you’re considering a career as a pharmacy technician, this post will give you the information you need to get started.

AAIHR and MedPro Staffing  Joined With Latham & Watkins to Secure Victory for Physical Therapists Educated in Philippines, India, Pakistan and Egypt - MedPro Staffing was instrumental in lifting a ban on hiring therapists from the Philippines, India, Pakistan and Egypt. This blog examines the decision and journey in more detail.

The RN Safe Staffing Act – What You Should Know -  The RN Safe Staffing Act has been reintroduced into Congress, and can have a dramatic impact on nurses and healthcare organizations across the country. The post contains essential information you need to know.

Looking for an assignment to kickoff 2012?
Search our available healthcare, nursing, and therapy travel jobs today to get started!

Happy Holidays!

 

As 2011 draws to a close, the entire MedPro team would like to wish you and your families a warm, happy and healthy holiday.

Whether you’re traveling far from home, enjoying the holiday’s with family, or enjoying your time in the comfort of your own home, we hope you have a safe and joyous holiday season!

Best wishes for 2012 and beyond! And if you’re looking to get a jump on your first assignment for the upcoming year, search our job postings to get started.

 

Feeling lonely this holiday season? If you’re on assignment and unable to travel home for the holiday, you may be feeling a bit down. Travel healthcare careers offer great opportunities, but the holidays can be difficult.

You can have a great holiday while on assignment!

Although you may not be able to share the holiday at home with your family, you can still share in a warm, healthy holiday. Here are some tips to help you get the most from your holidays this year:

Gather with your coworkers. Chances are you work with other traveling professionals who are unable to return home for the holidays. Invite them over to your home and suggest a pot luck holiday. Everyone brings a traditional dish from their families’ holiday fare, and you can enjoy the holidays with others who are away from home.

Volunteer at a soup kitchen. One of the best ways to warm your heart at the holidays is to help others. Find a local soup kitchen serving holiday meals to the needy, and offer your services. If only for an hour or two, you can make a positive difference in someone’s life, and share in the warmth and health of the holidays.

Use technology to be “with” your family. Technology these days is quite advanced. So advanced, in fact, that you can be “with” your family, even if you are thousands of miles away! If you have a laptop or other camera-equipped mobile device, you can share the holidays with your family via Skype, or another peer-to-peer video call system.  Depending on how tech savvy your family is, you could even be “placed” at the table for the holiday meal! While it can’t replace the feeling of physically being with your family, it can go a long way toward helping ease the disappointment of not being home for the holiday.

Looking for your next assignment?
We have assignments with healthcare organizations across the nation. Search our available travel healthcare job postings to get started.

For some, the impending arrival of winter is one to dread. Cold, wet snow…shoveling…scraping ice off of the car.

For others, winter is an opportunity to hit the slopes, go snowboarding, build a snowman, or relax with a warm cup of hot chocolate.

However you fall on the winter-appreciating spectrum, MedPro has great travel healthcare jobs to help you maximize this winter! Here are our top 5 destinations for winter assignments:

Orlando, Florida
Home of Mickey Mouse, the Orlando Magic (if the NBA ever decides to start this season!) and an average monthly temperature of about 60 degrees in the winter. Orlando also has a bustling arts scene, top-notch shopping…oh, and it’s within an hour of some of the best beaches in Florida. Whether you prefer to hit the Space Coast and the Melbourne area, or head down to St. Petersburg and Clearwater, all a little over an hour away, Orlando is right in the heart of Florida – and offers you a prime location for some of the best beaches and activities available.

San Diego, California
Sports fans can enjoy football this winter in San Diego – instead of sitting in sub-zero temperatures to enjoy an NFL game, you can sit in the average temperature of about 65 degrees this winter. Or, you can head to the world-famous San Diego zoo. Or maybe you can forget all of those activities and just relax on the beach. Surfing, volleyball, or just good, old-fashioned relaxing, San Diego’s beaches are some of the best in the country.

Aspen, Colorado
If beaches bore you and you’d rather be out on the slopes, Aspen, Colorado may just be your next great temporary home. With four world-class mountains, Aspen offers some of the best skiing opportunities in the country. And when you’re done on the slopes, enjoy upscale dining and shopping opportunities in this tourist-friendly town.

Salt Lake City, Utah
There are no fewer than 14 ski resorts within an hour of Salt Lake City International Airport – take your pick! Whatever your skill level, you can find ample opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous ski resorts of Utah. After a long day enjoying nature, enjoy some of Salt Lake City’s bustling nightlife, and enjoy a night on the town!

Las Vegas, Nevada
You may think of gambling first…maybe broadway-caliber shows next, but if you enjoy relaxing on the beach, Las Vegas may just be your next travel healthcare destination! Whether you choose to enjoy the man-made beaches and pools at the luxury resorts along the famous Las Vegas strip, or you take a short drive to some of Southern California’s famous beaches, you’re sure to find enough sun and relaxation to drum away the winter “blahs”.

Looking to get away this winter?
Here at MedPro, we offer a wide range of travel nursing and healthcare travel jobs across the country! Search our available jobs to get started.

Travel nursing offers unique opportunities to achieve your personal and professional goals. But, the small details associated with a traveling healthcare career can be a bit tedious – and also overwhelming.  To help you find the information and resources you need in your travel nursing career, we’ve compiled a list of helpful online resources.  Have any other suggestions for online resources? Feel free to share them in the comments section!

Where to go?

The following links will help you decide on your next travel nursing destination:

Best Places – Sperling’s Best Places compiled real estate, school, climate, crime, cost of living and other moving factors into one place. Compare between cities, or research your city of choice. The information on this site is sure to help you make your decision.

City Data – City Data covers some of the same information as Best Places, including crime and pricing information, and adds information like local news links, local government information, natural disaster information and more. The City Data forums offer an opportunity for you to ask locals in your areas of interest questions about life in their cities, which could prove helpful as you decide where to pursue your next assignment.

How to move?

It’s universal – physically moving your belongings from one city to another can be a pain. Ease the pain and make moving just a bit easier with these resources:

Moving Center – Compiled by apartments.com, the Moving Center has compiled a wealth of resources into one main page. From auto and renter’s insurance to setting up your utilities, you’ll find a great deal of information here, designed to help you get situated in your new home.

Mini Moves – A national company focusing on small moves, Mini Moves can help you find a reasonable rate for moving your necessary belongings to your next travel assignment. Get a quote, book your move, and find out more information at the Mini Moves website.

Advancing your career.

MedPro Staffing! – Please pardon us a little self-promotion, but we are proud to offer a range of resources and help for travel nurses who are looking to advance their careers. From comprehensive job postings across the country, to professional development and certification information – to this blog! – the team at MedPro is here to help you achieve your short- and long-term career goals.

Looking for your next travel nursing assignment?
Search our currently available traveling nurse jobs to take the first step.

 

This month, MedPro is featuring an opportunity for an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse in Charleston, South Carolina.

This 12-week assignment is available for any shift, and the facility is looking for a nurse who can begin immediately.

As the weather turns chillier in many parts of the country, escape the snow and cold for historic Charleston, SC.  With fine dining, historical landmarks, and sunny beaches, Charleston offers a little something for every taste.

Looking for a little shopping? Charleston offers high-end shopping on King Street, a shopping and dining district in the heart of historic Downtown Charleston. Or, for more eclectic finds, tour Market Street, and its bustling vendors.

Charleston is a short drive away from other popular southeastern cities, including Savannah, Georgia and Raleigh, North Carolina. Weekend getaways are also made easy by the wide range of flights available through Charleston International Airport, a short drive from most parts of the city.

To apply for this, or any of our available jobs, visit the MedPro Staffing job board today!

 

Recently, the Health Resources and Services Administration released the findings of a large-scale survey of registered nurses. Identifying key trends and statistics in nursing today, the survey is the largest survey of registered nurses in the United States. Full results of the survey are available at the HRSA website.

Top 3 Key Trends

1. The nursing workforce is growing. As of the survey, there were more than 3 million licensed, registered nurses in the United States. This number has increased 5.3 percent since 2004 – a growth of more than 150,000 RNs. Nearly 450,000 RNs received their first license (in the U.S.) during that span, so nearly 300,000 nurses allowed their licenses to expire, in all likelihood due to retirements.
2. Nurses are finding work. An estimated 2,596,399 RNs were employed in nursing when the survey was conducted – nearly 85% of the workforce. This rate is the highest since the survey was first conducted in 1977. Another promising sign – there has been an increase of approximately 5% in nurses who are employed full-time. This is the first time that has happened since 1996!
3. Nurses are happy with their work. More than 80% of RNs reported that they were extremely or modestly satisfied with their primary nursing position. Since the previous survey, that shows a marginal increase of about 4%. The highest rate of satisfaction was shown by RNs working in academic education programs.

Nursing Fast Facts

Considering a career in nursing? These fast facts from the HRSA may help you with your decision:

• The number of licensed RNs in the U.S. grew by 5 percent between 2004 and 2008 to a new high of 3.1 million.
• The number of RNs under the age of 30 increased for the first time in three decades.
• Registered nurse salaries increased nearly 16 percent since 2004, slightly outpacing inflation.
• Employment in nursing rose to almost 85 percent of RNs with active licenses – the highest since 1980.
• Workforce diversity is up – in 2008, 16.8 percent of nurses were Asian, Black/African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and/or Hispanic; an increase from 12.2 percent in 2004.

Searching for nursing career opportunities?
Contact MedPro! We work with some of the most-respected healthcare facilities across the country, and we’ll help you find the right position to reach your career goals.