MedPro

Would you like to live and work for a few weeks in an All-American City? If you’re an occupational therapist, check out this position as an OT in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Located 130 miles from the Atlantic Ocean in North Carolina’s coastal plains, Rocky Mount got its start in 1816 when a post office was opened at the Falls of the Tar River. The name Rocky Mount comes from the rocky mound at the Tar River’s falls nearby.

The railroad came to the area in 1845 and Rocky Mount soon became what is known as a “point of departure” on the railroad soon after.

The town incorporated in 1867 and became a hub in the tobacco industry in the 1880s.

As you explore your new home during your assignment, be sure to visit the Rocky Mount Mills Village. These homes, built between 1885 and 1940 to accommodate workers for the nearby mill, are all recognized by the National Register of the Roc Historic Places. Many of the 62 surviving homes still enjoy their original windows, hardware and doors.

On your off hours you’ll want to visit Sunset Park, which offers a lot of things to do. Enjoy the miniature trains, the historic carousel, play tennis, softball or basketball, or bring a picnic lunch or dinner.

You’ll find several malls in the area, as well as a lively antiques scene – don’t miss the Stockyard Flea Market (Fridays only) and the 301 Craft & Flea Mall.

Work in Rocky Mount April through October and you’ll want to check out the local farmer’s market on Saturdays. The market offers farm-fresh fruit and produce, homemade pickles and jams, fresh flowers and locally grown fish and meats.

The city offers a terrific program of recreational activities via the Parks and Recreation Department’s Outoor Recreation Division. Learn how to canoe/kayak, participate in a ropes course, and other outdoor programs.

Speaking of the outdoors, you can drive to the coast in less than hour. Virginia Beach is about three hours by car; Myrtle Beach is four hours.

Another “must do” is a walk along the Tar River Trail. This 3.5-mile walk crosses the Tar River via one of the longest wooden suspension bridges in North Carolina.

If you’re interested in this top job/location, contact a recruiter at MedPro Healthcare Staffing. In fact, if you’re an OT, PT, speech therapist or nurse, we have many great traveling assignments at facilities all over the country. Contact us today!

So, you’ve decided you want to give this great career path you’ve been hearing about – that of a traveling therapist – a shot. Here are some tips on how to prepare yourself.

First of all, you must be a licensed therapist. MedPro Healthcare Staffing and other travel staffing services usually place occupational, physical and speech therapy professionals in temporary assignments of (usually) about 13 weeks in length. Many can be longer, but the shortest usually is 13 weeks. If you haven’t worked as a therapist for a while and you’ve let your license lapse, you’ll need to get it again. (Important note: MedPro Staffing will pay for any licenses you need to secure in your assignment state.)

You’ll need at least a year of professional experience working in your field. (Internships while in your training program don’t count.) Two years is better.

Traveling can be great fun. It can also be exhausting. Objectively look at any and all health issues  you have and ascertain if you can really make a go of moving every three months, learning a new healthcare facility’s “way of doing things,” learning your way around a new environment, etc. Also, challenges when traveling always crop up. Are you resilient enough to overcome them and not be overly stressed when your “careful” plans go awry?

What’s your family situation?. Singletons have it easiest when traveling, but many people can and do travel with family members. But if your family can’t come with you, how will you cope? How will your family cope? (Note: we can offer short-term therapist assignments in facilities close to your home, close enough that you can a) either be home at night or b) travel back home on weekends.)

You also should consult with a tax advisor. Travel therapists work on a per diem basis. You’ll also receive a housing stipend (if you choose to find accommodations on your own, rather than live in the housing we provide.) This can have tax implications for you and we recommend that you discuss your travel plans with a tax professional.

Be prepared: Some travel assignments start within two weeks of you accepting them. You’ll need to be packed and make arrangements such as mail forwarding, school registration (for your children) and other moving tasks quickly.

Want to learn more about how to prepare for a travel therapist career? Then contact a recruiter at MedPro Healthcare Staffing today!

Once you’ve accepted a travel assignment you may be wondering how you’re going to make new friends once you’re there.

Whether this is your first time traveling, or your hundredth, read the tips below for ideas on how to make new friends among a facility’s regular crew as well as other fellow “travelers.”

Check with your MedPro Healthcare Staffing supervisor to see if there are any other folks working for us on assignment at your facility. Make a point of introducing yourself to them when you arrive.

In fact, why not contact them before your arrival? You can swap “travel tales” and get tips on fun things to do in your temporary home while on assignment.

If no one from MedPro is working at your assignment facility, ask at the facility when you get there if there are other travelers on site who are there from other travel staffing services. Make a point of introducing yourself to them. Once again, you can swap tips and tales from the “travel trenches.”

Check out MeetUp.com to find groups that do the things in which you’re interested. Love to hike? We’re certain there’s a group of like-minded folks in every town. Do you knit? Love salsa dancing? Play bridge? There’s sure to be a MeetUp.com group for you!

Make a point of “doing what locals do.” For example, if your assignment has landed you in Pennsylvania Dutch country, why not enjoy one of the many festivals – and whoopee pies – that spring up in the summer? Try your hand at quilting – you’re bound to make new friends this way, and these folks will be of a different ilk than your friends at work. That’s one of the great things about working a travel assignment – you can experience many new “cultures” right here in the U.S.

You’re the new guy or gal. People are busy. They may want to be friendly and helpful, but “life” often gets in the way. Make it your mission to be the one to make offers for getting together for coffee, going to the movies, heading out on a weekend to hear a new jazz band, etc.

Many people host an “open house” when they move into a new home. Why not host an “open apartment” for your colleagues once you’ve been on assignment for a week or two? Invite colleagues (and those new friends you’ve met in your quilting class) to your on-assignment home for pizza or dessert?

We’ve placed hundreds of healthcare professionals in travel assignments at medical facilities all across the country since 1983, and we’ve learned “a bit” about making new friends from our employees who have successfully done so on assignment. Contact a MedPro Healthcare Staffing recruiter today to learn more!

Interested in a career as an occupational therapist? Read below for information on the top OT programs in the country (courtesy of U.S. News and World Report).

First, a bit of background: In order to work as an OT, you’re going to need to go for a master’s or doctorate in occupational therapy just to begin work as an entry-level OT. Both master’s and doctorate programs are exceedingly time intensive. These are not programs you can take part time while keeping a full-time job. You’ll need to pretty much dedicate yourself full time to the programs, which usually are about two years (give or take) in length.

U.S. News ranks the programs on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding). The magazine surveys deans and faculty and asks them to rank “the academic quality of programs in their field.” The magazine also surveys employers who hired new graduates from the programs.

Then, the “two most recent years’ ratings from professionals were averaged to compute those assessment scores. Statistical indicators used in these disciplines fall into two categories: inputs, or measures of the qualities that students and faculty bring to the educational experience, and outputs, measures of graduates’ achievements linked to their degrees.”

The 2012 top 10 OT programs (and their scores) are:

 

• University of Southern California, Division of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy: 4.6
• Boston University (Sargent), College of Health and Rehabilitation Sargent: 4.5
• Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine: 4.5
• University of Illinois – Chicago, College of Applied Health Sciences: 4.3
• University of Kansas Medical Center, School of Health Professionals: 4
• Colorado State University, Department of Occupational Therapy: 3.9
• Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson College of Health Professions: 3.9
• Tufts University – Boston School of Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapy Program: 3.9
• University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Services: 3.9
• New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development: 3.8

If you’re an experienced (at least one year of professional work in the field) occupational therapist and have an itch to see the country, contact a recruiter at MedPro Healthcare Staffing. We have many travel OT assignments at health and medical facilities all over the U.S. We look forward to hearing from you!