by Beth Harner | Dec 4, 2021 | Uncategorized
Becoming a Travel Nurse: Benefits and Compensation
Leaving a predictable, permanent position as an RN can be intimidating. When considering the possibility of becoming a travel nurse, one of the first questions often is, “What are the benefits of travel nursing” and “What can I expect for compensation and benefits?” A good recruiter will advise how travel compensation works, answer questions that arise during your transition, and assist you at every turn of your newfound adventure.
In years past, transitioning from a permanent staff position to travel nursing came with an income boost in exchange for less stability and fewer benefits. To nurture a positive experience, the best agencies have found better ways to support their nurses’ physical and mental health, work-life balance, and the well-being of their families. Today, most supplemental staffing agencies offer competitive benefits in addition to a significantly higher compensation package.
Travel Nurse Salaries
The pandemic has significantly impacted the salary range a travel nurse can expect. The market has been tight for several years due to retirements, an aging population increasing patient ratios and several other factors. This staffing shortage has resulted in upward pressure on travel nurse demand and positively impacted wages. Add in the effects of pandemic caseloads and layoffs due to vaccine mandates and the shortage has only been exasperated. Some prognosticators believe there will be a correction coming at some point, but its doubtful wages will ever fall to pre-pandemic levels. What does this all mean for the nurse contemplating going on the road? There has never been a better time as there are no signs that demand or wages are going to subside in the foreseeable future.
One of the main benefits of travel nursing is salary. Compensation for travel contracts comes in the form of weekly pay packages. These packages are dependent on several factors, including assignment location, specialty, shift, length, and the severity of need. According to a survey of over 80,000 travel nurses conducted by Indeed, the average yearly salary of a travel nurse in the U.S. is $108,197, a significant increase from the permanent staff RN’s average yearly income of $75,330 (U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics). This equates to an additional $164,335 over a 5 year period!
The salary range can vary wildly depending on a facilities ability to pay crisis rates. Travel RNs can safely expect to exceed the national average of $2,075 in gross weekly wages on a traditional 36-hour schedule whether working for a large hospital system or a small community hospital.
Travel Nurse Benefits
Industry standard for agencies is to provide employment benefits to their travelers, so a travel nurse should be asking recruiters what benefits their company offers, not if their company offers them. An agency which values their healthcare workers will show this by offering benefits that support their employees at home as well as at work.
Uniti is traveler obsessed and we are proud to offer competitive benefits that reflect our core values. We offer health, dental, and vision insurance and cover 60% of the monthly premium. We offer basic and voluntary life insurance. Our 401(k) benefit is outstanding in the industry: our travelers’ retirement contributions are matched and vested on day one of eligibility. The first month following your contract’s start date, we match up to 4% and every penny we contribute belongs to you immediately; no years-long waiting period.
We offer another unique reward to our travelers: our newly released YOUniti app, wherein travelers can access their voluntary benefits as well as numerous perks and discounts through a carefully selected partner network. Our hope is that our app shows how valued our travelers are and supports them in creating a work-life balance. We do our best to ensure our nurses and allied health professionals are happy, healthy, and thriving to provide the absolute best patient care.
Travel Nursing: Personal and Professional Rewards
Beyond compensation, there are many other benefits of travel nursing. A career on the road can offer networking, exploration, variety and extra time off!
1.) Networking
Around here, we talk about community every day. Good recruiters value expanding their communities to include industry professionals around the country. As a traveler, a nurse has the unique opportunity to connect with colleagues from every state and from diverse backgrounds. Travel nurses can network, or grow their community, to encompass more professionals than one can hope for from a permanent staff position.
2.) Exploration
Travel nurses spend their careers gathering new experiences and seeing new places, potentially every 13 weeks. A standard 36-hour contract still leaves four days of the week for exploration. Whether an assignment is rural or in a large city, travel nurses can expect one thing to be consistent: there will always be new sights to see.
3.) Refresh with Every Contract
Burnout is a significant problem in the nursing profession, and the problem grew exponentially with the pandemic. The community depends heavily on nurses and their compassionate, demanding work. It is a lot of responsibility and pressure to shoulder, and hospital politics can often compound matters. A new contract, new hospital, and new coworkers come with every assignment. It is one of the best preventative medicines for burnout, second only to our impressive benefits offerings and caring, supportive recruiters.
4.) Time Off Between Assignments
In today’s healthcare climate, it is challenging for both travel and staff nurses to get their requested time off granted. Travel nurses enjoy the benefit of being able to choose when they pick up their next assignment. Upon completion of their contract, a travel nurse can immediately start a new assignment, extend their current assignment, or take time off before pursuing another travel position. There is no requesting approval or any work obligations to consider. Travel nurses are in full control of how much time they take off between assignments.
Should You Become a Travel Nurse?
The benefits of travel nursing are endless. Getting into the industry, whether you have got two years under your belt or 20, can be intimidating and confusing. The industry is filled with misinformation, particularly on social media platforms. The most important part of becoming educated about travel nursing is finding a patient, caring recruiter who is willing to take the time to support you and answer your questions. It is common and encouraged to work with 1-3 recruiters, particularly with your first contract. This will keep your options open and allow you the freedom and exposure needed to select a recruiter who values you, understands your work, and reflects your own values. If you are interested in travel nursing and have questions, please contact us and ask for one of our nurse recruiters. Pack your scrubs! We’ll take care of the rest!
by Beth Harner | Oct 14, 2021 | Uncategorized
Recruiting Resources – Our New Partner
Introducing the newest addition to the Uniti Med Partners family, Recruiting Resources! Our new partner will expand our staffing solutions to CRNAs and Anesthesiologists. Before we get into the details of our exciting new capabilities, we want to pull back the curtain and share how and why we have started this new partnership.
A History of Recruiting Resources
Recruiting Resources launched 18 years ago with a single desk, a phone, and a vision – to find a better, more efficient way to match CRNA and Anesthesiologist professionals with healthcare facilities seeking their services. They have been doing great work for their traveling anesthesia professionals ever since, growing their footprint across the Midwest.
“For 18 years, we’ve worked hard to establish good partnerships with our providers,” founder Christi Richardson says. “When we help anesthesia professionals with their job search, we’re not just helping them. They have families, and when we hear that they love their new job, and their families love their new community… it’s so rewarding. And that’s how we have built long-term relationships and friendships.”
But they’ve also got bigger goals – to connect more and more CRNAs and Anesthesiologists with jobs around the entire country, while maintaining their commitment to always putting their locums and permanent job seekers first.
Recruiting Resources has come a long way from that lone desk and is a perfect partner for Uniti as they continue to grow. We’re super excited to join forces with another great recruiting agency and add to the Uniti family of companies.
Uniti immediately knew this anesthesia staffing company was the right partner because they share our dedication to creating great experiences for their travelers – and we have the same philosophy!
“Recruiting Resources has an impressive reputation in the marketplace, and they’ve had it for 18 years,” said Rich Andersen, founder at Uniti Med Partners. “But more importantly, they have high standards, high integrity, and great relationships with both medical facilities and their locums.”
What does this mean for Recruiting Resources? Primarily, they are thrilled to have more resources at their disposal. For instance, a brand new logo and website were launched as part of the rebrand. In addition, several new team members were added to expand capabilities to a national level. For Recruiting Resources’ current CRNAs, Anesthesiologists, and facility partners, nothing changes. They can expect to keep getting the same excellent service they’ve come to expect.
We are excited about this new chapter, and we can’t wait to share more with you. If you are a CRNA or Anesthesiologist interested in learning more, Recruiting Resources offers a $750 referral bonus upon placement. Contact one our our talented recruiters today!
by Beth Harner | Aug 27, 2021 | Uncategorized
The Uniti Med team sends traveling nurses and Allied professionals to premier healthcare facilities across the country. In this ongoing series, we do a Q & A with our travelers to learn more about their unique experiences and adventures from wherever they are. Today, we are spotlighting Sydney, one of our Physical Therapist Assistants. If you’re getting the itch to join these nomads, reach out to one of our recruiters today!
Traveler Sydney Garber with her recruiter, AJ Ellerbee, on a field trip to the Omaha Zoo.
What is your current assignment?
I am currently working at three different nursing home facilities within the same company.
Where is your assignment located?
I am living in Osceola, Iowa!
What do you like most about being a traveler?
This is my first assignment as a traveling Physical Therapist Assistant. I’m enjoying learning from different clinicians and exploring in a new town.
What’s the biggest challenge you have faced while working on the road?
So far the biggest challenge has been adjusting to being on my own with my dog and expanding out of my comfort zone.
What’s your favorite memory so far from your time in Iowa?
When I decided to come to a place where I did not know anyone I was intimidated and scared. I could have let those feelings stop me but I decided not to let them. I joined an app called “Bumble BFF” to make friends in the area. I made a great friend who has shown me Des Moines, and making memories with her has been the best part of my assignment.
How has Uniti Med supported you in your journey?
Uniti Med has been very helpful with this transition all the way through. I could not have found a better company. I have been working with AJ who has been so thoughtful and honest. I was lucky enough to be within driving distance of AJ’s hometown on this assignment, we met at the Omaha Zoo and had a blast!
What tips would you give to new travelers?
- Do your research
- Explore all you can wherever you are
- Have an open mind to new learning opportunities
If you could travel and work anywhere, where would it be?
At this point in my life I have the opportunity to be an open book. I am excited to explore, work and live in different parts of the country and beyond! This is truly a unique experience and I intend on taking full advantage of every aspect each assignment has to offer.
by Jamie Zarlingo | Jul 18, 2021 | Uncategorized
As doctors and nurses fought on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare systems began needing more qualified employees to meet demand. Demand for travel nursing, in particular, surged during the pandemic, according to Marketplace. The need continues today, and as the country transitions back to normal, it is a great time to explore new locales while furthering your nursing career.
But what’s travel nursing all about and what is a travel nursing agency? Uniti Med Partners breaks down the basics of a career transition that can take you cross-country and how a travel nursing agency can help you further your career goals.
What are the benefits of taking a travel nursing job?
Travel nursing jobs are a great way to explore your career and learn how different healthcare systems operate, all while getting the chance to learn about a new part of the country.
Elsa Meyer, Vice President of Operations for Uniti Med Partners, says she is always excited to hear about new experiences the firm’s travel nurses have before they make more permanent decisions about where they want to direct their careers.
Working in different healthcare systems in different parts of the country can help a travel nurse learn how different facility’s systems operate, and what he or she does and doesn’t want in a future employer, Meyer says.
How much travel nurses make varies state by state, but according to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a travel nurse ranges between $74,000 and $118,000, depending on where the job is located.
“It’s a good way to explore and feel financially secure while getting to experience new places,” says Meyer, who has 20+ years’ experience in the staffing industry, including seven in medical staffing and the travel healthcare industry.
What role does a healthcare staffing agency play once I’m working in a new location?
The best travel nursing agencies are there to support its nurses through every step of the process, from connecting the right employee with the right job to providing support during the highs — and lows — of a 13-week stint, which is the standard length of an assignment.
The Uniti Med Partners team places high value on respect, integrity, and maintaining long-term relationships with employees and business partners, Meyer says.
“If there’s a problem with the facility and the traveler can’t work through it themselves, then we’ll have our client managers jump in.” Uniti’s business development team of client managers is always available to provide support. This kind of support is even more critical as travel nurses and other healthcare professionals work through the lasting effects of being on the front line during the pandemic.
“You want to have someone that’s going to be able to be there for you and support you, and be your advocate for you,” Meyer says. “I think that is so important.”
Why should I use a travel nursing agency to find a travel nursing job, instead of seeking individual employment?
One of the benefits of using a travel nursing agency like Uniti Med Partners is they have existing relationships with hospitals and health care systems, which can provide better access to a wider range of open positions.
Many hospitals don’t offer direct contracts to individual travel nurses, preferring to work with travel nursing agency due to their access to larger pools of talent and liability requirements.
What sets Uniti Med Partners apart from other travel nursing agencies?
Uniti Med Partners launched in 2020, but its experienced team has more than 100 combined years of experience. Meyer says the travel nursing agency places a strong emphasis on its relationships.
“We’re traveler obsessed. We want to ensure our people have the best possible experience in each new location. We are always looking for ways to evolve as a company, and that includes adopting the latest technologies to improve the speed to market we offer our travelers. This is a competitive industry and timeliness is key.”
At the same time Meyer emphasizes Uniti maintains an old school mentality when it comes to customer service and personal relationships. “We want to pick up the phone and have a conversation with you and get to know you.”
To talk to one of our recruiters, just fill out our contact form and someone will be in contact with you shortly!
by Jamie Zarlingo | May 26, 2021 | Uncategorized
Scams, cons and fraud might feel like they only exist in the world of true crime podcasts. (And we love a podcast—there’s a whole playlist of scam stories at the bottom of this blog for your next road trip.) The problem is that scams are all too real, and anyone can fall victim to them.
Unfortunately, the medical travel community is a target for scams—especially housing-related scams. Those who wish to swindle medical travelers know we often find ourselves in new cities, and they try to take advantage of our unfamiliarity with our surroundings. They also know medical travelers can’t tour housing before moving in, so they create fake listings.
Comfortable, secure housing is one of the most important things to obtain as soon as you get a new assignment but scammers prowl through Airbnb, apartment sites and more. Most of the time, they will post fraudulent listings and ask you to wire them money up front. After you send a security deposit, you’ll never hear from them again.
You deserve nothing less than safe, reputable housing along your journey. And while there are several medical travel housing scams, it’s easy to avoid them if you recognize the red flags. Let’s talk about the signs that will tell you if you can trust a housing option or if you should run far, far away.
1. The rent is a little lower than you’d expect.
Sometimes, you land a great deal, which is a fantastic feeling. But when it comes to housing for medical travelers, be wary of the listings that look a little too good to be true. Scammers know travelers love to save money, so they’ll bait people with beautiful accommodations for a lower-than-average price.
Familiarize yourself with average rental prices in the area you’re traveling to before you inquire about housing options. Fake landlords will be well-versed in their area’s average rent prices so they can make their prices look like deals while still seeming believable.
2. You feel pressured to act fast.
While you do need to find housing soon after landing an assignment, you should never feel rushed or pressured by a landlord. Scammers will push you to put down a deposit by constantly reminding you their listing is in very high demand. They’ll make you feel like you’re missing out on a great deal if you don’t act immediately. And if you commit to a listing quickly, you’ll have less time to notice the red flags with the landlord and the property.
Alternatively, scammers will give you a dramatic story about a sudden illness, the loss of a loved one or unexpected unemployment to try to guilt you into giving them money as soon as possible. No reputable landlord would pressure a potential tenant into giving them a deposit, and they would maintain a simple, professional relationship.
3. The landlord never wants to meet in person.
Scammers usually run their frauds remotely. They will set up pretend Airbnb and apartment listings in high-demand, lucrative areas and manage them all from another city or country. If you ever inquire about meeting in person for a property tour, they’ll give you every excuse to not meet up.
Their excuses will sound just barely plausible—they’ll give you just enough to keep stringing you along. But inevitably, scammers will drive the conversation away from their inability to meet up and back to payment. It’s a huge red flag if they are persistently bringing up money and insisting you pay large reservation fees before moving in.
How to Avoid a Scam
The best ways to keep yourself safe from housing scams is to do your own research, know the signs of a scam and look for housing from reliable sources. TravelNurseHousing.com is a trustworthy source specifically designed to help medical travelers find housing that meets your needs. You can find good options on hotel and vacation home booking sites, but they don’t have medical travelers in mind, and they have a higher risk for scams.
If you think you’re falling into a scam, do some detective work to clear up any red flags. Take the address of the listing and find it on Google Street View to see if the property matches the pictures in the listing. Whenever you feel suspicious, trust your gut, stop contacting the landlord and NEVER wire money to them.
Uniti cares deeply about the safety and security of our travelers, and we’re here to help you find comfortable housing. For more medical travel tips and tricks, get in touch with our expert recruiters who can guide you along your journey.
Road Trip Ready Scam and Scandal Podcasts:
American Greed: The House Flipping Reality Star Fraudster
How a celebrity home renovator spent years running frauds and identity thefts.
Scam Goddess: The Airbnb Bamboozler with Lamar Woods
A group of scammers took advantage of Airbnb’s regulations to make thousands of dollars from fake listings.
Con Artists: Frank Abagnale Pt. 1
This teenage fraudster is the base of the film “Catch Me If You Can.”
Fake Heiress: Episode 1
How Anna Sorokin faked her way to become a New York socialite and social media star.
True Crime Obsessed: Fyre Fraud
The story behind the ill-fated Fyre Fest and the scammer who created it.
by Jamie Zarlingo | May 11, 2021 | Uncategorized
There’s one thing Ferris Bueller definitely got right: Life moves pretty fast. We only get 24 hours to work with each day, and they seem to fly faster and faster—especially when you’re traveling. It’s easy to get caught up in the blur of the medical traveler lifestyle, moving swiftly between work, travel planning, exercise, sleep, hobbies and adventures.
Medical travelers live fast-paced lives by choice and by design. But if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, do you really, truly make the most of it? Or are you putting yourself in danger of burnout?
Developing a mindful work-life balance can help you slow time down and be your best self in every part of your day. By building a schedule, setting boundaries and taking time for yourself, you can bring your A-game to work and have time and energy to soak up the perks of the traveler lifestyle.
A successful work-life balance looks different for everyone, so take our tips as guidelines that you can use to build a life where you thrive.
1. Start a morning routine and stick to it.
When you work as a medical traveler, every day can look a little different. Monday—you might be at work for 12 hours. Tuesday—you might spend the day perusing coffee shops and museums. Wednesday—you might run errands and then go to work later in the day. We can’t really keep a daily routine because every day brings new tasks and opportunities.
You can, however, begin every day on the right foot. The morning is a chance to set the tone for the rest of the day, so put aside time to do whatever will make you feel prepared to take on any day. Stretch, meditate, make coffee, check your emails, write in your journal, shower or anything else that makes you feel centered and refreshed. By starting every day with a healthy routine, you can live more mindfully with the confidence to make the most of the day’s activities.
2. Don’t feel obligated to do everything and be everywhere.
We talk a lot about maximizing the medical traveler life and squeezing all the goodness out of every moment and location, but that doesn’t mean you have to constantly go on adventures and say yes to every opportunity. It means finding what you really love to do and doing it fully.
It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to set boundaries. You’ll protect yourself from burning out by preserving your time for the things you genuinely want to do. Love cooking? Plan a day each week to try a new recipe. Trying to hike more? Invest in your endurance and make time to find new trails. When you let go of the pressure to take every opportunity that comes your way, you’ll be more fulfilled by your adventures and have the energy to get outside your comfort zone too.
3. Mindfulness and gratitude will take you far.
A perfect work-life balance isn’t always in the cards, and that’s okay. Some weeks are super busy, but the key is to recognize when you’re off balance. If you ever feel like you’re going on autopilot or getting caught up in the day-to-day, hit reset by practicing little bits of mindfulness and gratitude.
Take a deep breath, ground yourself in your present moment and pay attention to what you need. By simply giving some thought to yourself and the good things in your life, you can get better at noticing and enjoying the good things.
Medical travel is a thrilling, energetic life and our Uniti team wants you to thrive in it. That’s why we’re always here to offer advice and recommendations. Ready to make an investment in yourself? Reach out to us and we’ll get you set on the best path for you.
