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As a healthcare recruiting company, we are familiar with the many options and platforms used to find housing. However, time and time again, Furnished Finders continues to be the clear winner. With its targeted approach, extensive database, and support for healthcare professionals, it’s the perfect tool for traveling clinicians looking for flexible, comfortable, and safe housing. If you haven’t had the opportunity to use Furnished Finders, see below as to why we recommend it as your go-to housing tool!

1. Flexible Accommodations – Furnished Finder understands the unique needs of healthcare professionals, including those working on short-term assignments or travel contracts. The platform collaborates with healthcare staffing agencies and employers to offer tailored housing solutions for medical professionals. Clinicians can book weekly or monthly accommodations, as well as chose between a whole unit or single room in a house. This is a great option for those traveling with family or other travelers!
2. Large Inventory – Furnished Finder has a large and comprehensive database of furnished rentals, with listings in various locations across the United States. The platform collaborates with property owners, landlords, and real estate professionals, enabling them to showcase their furnished properties. This extensive inventory increases the chances of finding suitable options in desired areas.
3. Competitive Pricing – Traveling can quickly become expensive, with housing taking over much of the budget. The travel nursing industry has even seen an influx of clinicians buying RVs and vans to cut cost. While that can be an amazing adventure, it’s not for everyone! Furnished Finder’s fair pricing gives traveling clinicians a more traditional option, while also being affordable.
4. Trusted – Furnished Finder takes measures to ensure the legitimacy and accuracy of its listings. Property owners and landlords are required to provide detailed information and photos of their rentals, giving users a clear idea of what to expect. Additionally, the platform employs a verification process to authenticate property owners and enhance trust and safety for users. Travelers will also have direct contact with property owners for quick support.
5. User Friendly – Furnished Finder’s website and mobile application are both incredibly user-friendly, making it easy for users to search, browse, and filter through available listings. The interface allows users to specify their preferences, such as location, rental duration, price range, and amenities, facilitating a more personalized and efficient search experience.

As social media becomes a prevalent part of our everyday lives, we are starting to see how different platforms can be used as a tool to promote and enhance our professional lives. This is especially true for the travel nurse industry, which has taken social media by storm and by doing so has created a community that is rarely seen in other workforces. If you are currently a travel nurse, or are interested in becoming one, see below for the benefits social media can bring to you and your career.

1. Networking: Social media platforms like LinkedIn & Facebook provide opportunities for travel nurses to connect with others in the field. You can join travel nursing groups, interact with experienced nurses, and build relationships with fellow travel nurses. These connections can be valuable for sharing experiences, seeking advice, and finding new job opportunities.
2. Job search: Many healthcare facilities and travel nursing agencies post job openings on social media platforms (including Pulse). By following these accounts and engaging with their content, travel nurses can learn about new job opportunities and potentially connect with recruiters.
3. Education and training: Social media can be a great resource for staying up-to-date on the latest healthcare news and developments. Nurses can follow industry thought leaders and organizations to learn about new treatments, best practices, and training opportunities. Instagram has a very large community of nursing accounts solely dedicated to sharing educational information for certain specialties.
4. Support and community: Travel nursing can be a challenging and isolating profession, but social media can help connect travel nurses with others in similar situations. TikTok and Instagram are especially helpful, with accounts focused on sharing tips for, housing, transportation, recreational activities, and more.

As always, remember it is important to maintain professionalism and privacy by not sharing confidental patient information while using social media. 

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1. San Francisco, California

San Francisco is a popular destination for travel nurses due to its high demand for healthcare professionals. With a diverse population and a rich culture, this city has plenty to offer in terms of food, music, and entertainment. Additionally, San Francisco is home to some of the best hospitals in the country, including UCSF Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center.

2. Miami, Florida

Because of Miami’s large population and growing healthcare industry, there is a consistent high demand for nurses. Miami is home to several top-ranked hospitals and healthcare facilities, including the University of Miami Hospital and Jackson Memorial Hospital. This can be a draw for travel nurses who want to work in top-notch facilities. Travel nurses in Miami can earn competitive salaries, and the cost of living in Miami is relatively low compared to other major cities. Miami is known for its warm, sunny weather and beautiful beaches, which can be a major draw for travel nurses looking for a change of scenery.

3. Boston, Massachusetts

For travel nurses who want to work in a historic and culturally rich city, Boston is a perfect choice! Boasting incredible hospitals such as, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston offers great clinical environments and opportunities to build your resume. Plus, Boston is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in the country, like the Freedom Trail and Fenway Park.

4. Seattle, Washington

Seattle is a great destination for travel nurses who want to experience the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Home to some of the best hospitals in the country, including the University of Washington Medical Center and Swedish Medical Center.  Seattle also offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, as well as great outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and kayaking.

5. Minneapolis, Minnesota

The demand for healthcare professionals in Minneapolis has created a competitive job market, with many facilities offering generous salaries and benefits packages to attract top talent. Minneapolis is also consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States, thanks to its high quality of life, cultural amenities, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Travel nurses are often attracted to the city’s vibrant arts and music scene, as well as its numerous parks, lakes, and bike trails. Lastly, Minneapolis is home to several renowned healthcare institutions, including the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota Medical Center.

Search Open Opportunities

1. Plan ahead: Before you embark on your travel nursing assignment, research the area you’ll be working in and plan accordingly. You’ll want to make sure you have appropriate housing, transportation, and access to healthcare services, if needed.
2. Pack wisely: If you are planning to travel frequently for different assignments, try to pack light. Pack appropriate clothing for the climate, comfortable shoes for work, and any necessary medical equipment. Also, make sure to bring your nursing license and other important documents, as well as any personal items that will make your stay more comfortable.
3. Maintain good communication: It’s important to stay in touch with your recruiter, agency, and coworkers while on assignment. Be sure to communicate any concerns or issues as they arise and keep everyone informed of your availability and plans.
4. Take care of yourself: Travel nursing can be a rewarding, but also demanding experience. It’s important to prioritize your health and well-being by getting enough rest, eating healthy, and staying active. Find ways to relax and decompress after work, whether it’s through exercise, meditation, or other activities.
5. Embrace new experiences: Travel nursing offers the opportunity to explore new places, meet new people, and gain valuable experience. Embrace the adventure and take advantage of the unique opportunities that come with travel nursing. Try new foods, explore local attractions, and connect with the local community to make the most of your experience.

1. Keep your important documents (BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC etc.) organized in a sharable folder. This will help eliminate time and confusion of what you do have and which licenses are current or need updating.
2. Keep an account with enough money to sustain yourself on the road. We will always try to accommodate travellers to the best of our ability, but it helps to have an emergency fund.
3. Establish a connection with your recruiter. You two work together as a team! The hiring process is very time sensitive, so be sure to save their contact information and be as responsive as possible.
4. Be honest about any time off you may need. Facilities take time off very serious since they’ve only contracted you for a specific amount of time.
5. Introduce yourself to your managers and establish contacts within the hospital your contracted at. We typically do not have access to your direct supervisor’s contact information. If anything comes up, it’ll be more efficient to go straight to your manager at the facility.

3/29/2023

Nurses may not be the first people you think of when you think of a profile on LinkedIn.  But it is just as valuable for nurses as it is for any business leader or rising young executive.  LinkedIn is a social network that helps people develop their professional careers. People use it to create contacts and highlight their talents and experience. Here are 5 reasons you as a nurse should create a LinkedIn profile.

1. Showcase Your Experience

A LinkedIn profile will showcase your experience in many ways.  It builds credibility and builds trust in your experience because hospital administrators and hiring managers can view your recommendations and connections, and show where you have added value. In your profile, add all employment experience and nursing practicums and any other related work you may have done including volunteer work..

Be sure to add any accomplishments, skills, professional knowledge and additional/ post graduate education received to include the highest degree attained, licenses, certificates earned and and honors and awards you have been given.

2. Exhibit Your Talents

A LinkedIn account provides several ways exhibit your talents in a meaningful way to your account viewers. Taking provided skill assessments and showing endorsements can illuminate proficiency in particular software or technical skill.When you complete a seminar, or attend a conference, post about it and share what you learned and how and why this is a valuable new skill for you to use in your nursing position. Share successes in your career!

3. Research Companies

A LinkedIn profile can help you research future employers. By following healthcare organizations and hospitals you will be able to easily gather insight on possible future employers. You will also see who is associated with these organzations.  You may even find someone you know that can provide a key introduction to your dream job. 

4. Increase Exposure

Look for professional groups to join. If you focus on specific keywords your profile will pop up in searches. For example, if you are a nurse that specializes in Oncology, use that term to describe yourself.

Using other keywords like your certifications, degrees, travel nursing, and licenses will also bring people to your profile.

Just be sure to backup the language that you use with your experience, interests and activities.

5. Network

As mentioned above, joining professional groups will increase your exposure but it will also increase the reach of your influence and those who can influence you. Connecting with leaders in the nursing industry and professional organizations is one of the biggest benefits of a LinkedIn profile.  You can find mentors who can provide leadership for your current position and future growth as a nurse.

Nursing has been described as a lifelong learning role.  Being active on LinkedIn can keep you on the cutting edge of medical research and practice.

It’s likely safe to say that just about every person in the United States has interacted with a registered nurse at some point in their life. When you’re born, when you’re sick, when there’s an emergency, registered nurses play a vital role in your care. It begs the question: Who are these registered nurses? Where did they go to school?  Where are they from? How were they hired? Are they an employee of the hospital? The answers to these questions vastly changed from 2019 to fall 2021, when travel nurse job openings increased nearly 500%. Not only are travel nurses not employed by the hospital they’re currently working in, their home may be in an entirely different state. How did this happen? And where are all the “local” nurses? Well, they’re off traveling to another state too!  

As we witnessed Covid-19’s impact on big cities like New York and Los Angeles, hospitals became overwhelmed with patients and the demand for clinical staff quickly outweighed the supply. To meet this demand, hospitals were forced to bring in out-of-state nurses. Traditionally, travel nurses are able to charge a modest premium for their services. In the woes of Covid uncertainty, hazard pay brought this premium to new heights. We’re not talking about a 150-200% increase, but a 300+% increase.  In fact, some registered nurses were offered $8,000-$10,000 per week. Numbers this high were enough to incentivize just about anyone, even the most inexperienced traveler.  

The bitter sweetness to registered nurses stepping up in a crisis situation was the void that was left in their absence. Nurses were leaving their small rural hospitals to face the pandemic head on in large cities, and for that, we are all thankful. But what about the hospitals they left? In return, they were faced with the same staffing shortage and were forced to bring in additional travelers, while still competing with big city rates. Before we knew it, the big city nurses working full time for the hospitals, not privileged to those generous travel rates, were leaving to fill the void left by the new traveling nurse. And that’s the short on how COVID-19 completely changed the nursing industry and kickstarted the travel nurse carousal.