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NurseConnect

Travel nursing

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Questions? We've got answers! And if you don't find the answers to your questions here, please suggest a new FAQ on the contact us form. General Questions about NurseConnect Q: What is NurseConnect? A: NurseConnect is an online community and networking site for nurses and other healthcare professionals interested in advancing their education, careers and personal lives by sharing experiences and knowledge with others. NurseConnect is owned and operated by AMN Healthcare, Inc. Q: Who is AMN Healthcare? A: AMN Healthcare has more than 21 years of experience in the healthcare industry, providing travel nurse and allied staffing assignments, locum tenens (temporary physician) positions and permanent placement services for physicians and allied health professionals. The company offers the largest selection of positions at acute-care hospitals and other medical facilities throughout the United States. AMN Healthcare's major nursing divisions are certified by The Joint Commission, earning the Gold Seal of Approval™ two years running. Joint Commission certification acknowledges AMN Healthcare's compliance with the Joint Commission's national set of consensus-based quality standards. Q: What’s an online community? A: An online community is a website that allows you to share information, ideas and to communicate with other community members. The number of online communities—including industry-specific communities like NurseConnect—is growing rapidly. Q: What’s the difference between a professional and a social community? A: Social communities tend to be more focused on social interaction and fun than professional communities. Professional communities such as NurseConnect focus on networking, career advancement and professional development. Moderation and User Protection Q: Does NurseConnect moderate member-created content? A: We review most member-created content and images to ensure they are appropriate for the site. We may not moderate all content at all times, but we reserve the right (as part of the Terms of Use for this site) for any reason to review all content at any time—primarily to ensure high-quality, accurate and appropriate content. Q: How does NurseConnect protect my privacy? A. NurseConnect is committed to protecting your online privacy. Please visit our Privacy Policy to learn more. Getting Started in Travel Nursing Q: What are the requirements for becoming a traveler? A: In general, you must be a graduate of an accredited healthcare professional program in the United States or Canada, and it is preferred that you have at least 18 months to two years experience working in an acute-care setting. You also need good references, a valid license or certification(s) and proof of the right to work in the United States. Q: Which qualities make a travel nurse successful? A: Successful travel nurses have a positive outlook, excellent clinical skills, are flexible and have a desire for adventure. If you’re comfortable with change, are a quick learner and have good communication skills, then travel nursing may be right for you. Q: Will traveling boost my career? A: Changing locations as a traveler demonstrates dedication to your profession, adaptability and flexibility. The travel healthcare industry is generally highly regarded by nurse managers and hospital human resource professionals, so when you apply for a permanent position, your travel nursing experience will strengthen your résumé. Q: Do I need a new license for every state in which I take an assignment? A: Each state has its own rules and regulations, and these change frequently, so we recommend you contact the state nursing boards directly for the most up-to-date information and application paperwork. Q: Can I travel with family or friends? A: Generally, yes. Travel nursing is a great way to explore the country with family or friends. Let your staffing company’s recruiter know you’ll be traveling with others to ensure you’ll have the right accommodations for you and your companions. Choosing a Travel Nursing Company Q: How should I choose a travel nursing company? A: Choosing a travel nursing company is one of the most important steps in becoming a travel nurse. Each company will differ in the benefits and services it offers, so be sure to do your research. Ask each company what types of available assignments it offers, about pay and benefits—including health insurance and a retirement plan—and about housing, incentive programs and clinical support. Visit our travel partners to learn more about staffing companies. Q: Can I change companies if I'm not happy? A: If you’re unhappy with the services or assignments your current travel company offers, you should look for one that fits your needs more closely. Your traveling experience will make you an excellent candidate and finding a company that values your skills and experience will be easy. Find out what our travel partners can offer you. Assignment Information Q: How much flexibility will I have in choosing my assignments? A: Travel nursing allows you to take control of your career. Let your staffing company’s recruiter know which cities or areas you’re interested in, the types of facilities and clinical settings you’re looking for, and any other specifics that are important to you. Your recruiter will work to make sure your requests are met. Q: Can I work as a traveler at a local facility? A: Many staffing companies offer travel opportunities in your hometown. When you work as a travel nurse in your area, you can still enjoy all the benefits of travel nursing—great pay, health and retirement benefits, and typically a housing allowance—without leaving home. Whether you’re interested in trying different local facilities before making a permanent commitment or you need a change without relocating, local travel positions can be a rewarding career option. Q: What types of facilities can I work at? A: Many types of healthcare facilities use travel nurses, so you can choose from a variety of facilities, ranging from prestigious teaching institutions to small, community facilities. Travel nursing allows you to try different types of facilities to determine what you like best. Q: How will I learn about my assignment facility? A: Every facility has its own way of orienting travelers and your staffing company’s recruiter will be able to share the facility’s orientation details when you discuss potential assignments. This is an excellent question to ask during your interviews with potential assignment hospitals. Q: Where are the assignments located? A: The leading travel staffing companies offer access to assignments across all 50 states and in all types of healthcare facilities. Be sure that the travel company you select has opportunities in the areas that interest you. Q: When can I start my first assignment? A: That mostly depends on you and when you’d like to start, along with the local licensing requirements. Once your application has been accepted and processed, you will work with a recruiter to locate cities and facilities where you’d like to work. Some travelers start an assignment a week after submitting their application, while others wait a few months before they begin their travel career—it's entirely up to you. Traveling as a Nurse Q: Do I have to sign a long-term contract? A: No. In almost all cases, your contract with a travel nursing company is on an assignment-by-assignment basis. Q: What is a full-time schedule for a travel nurse? A: Forty hours per week is generally considered full time for travelers working eight- or 10-hour shifts. Travelers who work 12-hour shifts are considered full time at 36 hours per week. Q: How do I handle my mail? A: There are several different ways you can handle your mail: · Forward your mail with the postal service each time you move. · Maintain a permanent address at a friend's or family member's home and have them forward your mail to you. · Rent a post office box and have the mail forwarded to you. Q: How do I manage my banking while I'm traveling? A: Many travel nursing companies offer direct deposit service, so your pay check is automatically deposited into your bank account and you’re able to continue working with your current bank. There are also many banks that offer online services so you can handle all your financial matters easily while you’re on the road. Q: Can a friend and I take a travel assignment together? A: Yes. Many travelers choose to travel to the same location and can either work at the same or different facilities in the same city. Some travelers share housing while others have their own apartments in the same complex. Pay and Benefits Q: How much will I be paid? A: Pay rates vary depending on the facility, location and your specialty. The pay rates for RNs are typically between $22 and $40 per hour, while pay rates for LPNs, surgical technologists and respiratory therapists are usually up to $28 per hour. In addition, some hospitals offer generous completion and sign-on bonuses, depending on the assignment. Q: Are continuing education hours offered? A: Some travel healthcare companies offer free courses to their travel nurses and discounted courses to travelers who are not currently on assignment. Q: Will I receive retirement benefits? A: Many travel companies offer excellent programs and a few provide immediate eligibility and partial company matching, but 401(k) program offerings will vary by company, so check for details. Our partner staffing companies offer a generous 401(k) program with company matching. Q: Will I receive healthcare and dental insurance? A: Most travel companies offer full medical and dental coverage. Before you accept a travel assignment, be sure to find out exactly what the travel company’s health benefits are; it could help you determine which company to travel with. Q: How do I earn a bonus? A: Many travel nursing companies offer bonuses, including sign-on, completion and referral bonuses and incentive programs. Each travel company handles bonuses and incentives differently, so be sure to ask for complete details. Q: Will I receive travel reimbursement? A: Most companies offer tax-free travel reimbursement, but the amount and reimbursement policy will differ by company, so be sure to ask the travel company for their policies. Housing Q: What type of housing can I expect? A: Travelers may share a furnished two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment or condominium close to their assignment, or some travel companies, including our staffing partners, offer free, private housing. Typically the travel company arranges and pays for utilities. You may also have the option of securing your own accommodations and receiving a monthly housing allowance (called a housing subsidy). Q: If I find my own housing, will I be compensated? A: Yes. Most travel companies will provide you with a monthly housing subsidy if you arrange and pay for your own housing. Q: Can I bring my pet? A: Generally, yes. Apartment complexes often require a separate pet deposit that you will be responsible for paying. Or, you can arrange your own accommodations and accept the company’s housing allowance. Getting Started Do you have questions about the best way to use NurseConnect? Review the FAQs below to assist. Q: How do I get started? A: Once you sign up to be a member the best thing to do would be to provide a bio on yourself by going to "My Home" and selecting "Edit Bio/Picture". Here you can provide a short bio and also submit a picture of yourself or select one of your default or custom avatars. Now you're ready to begin exploring NurseConnect and all that it has to offer. Q: How do I update my profile? A: Log on to NurseConnect.com and select "My Home" from the navigation at the top of the page. "My Home" is where you can manage your NurseConnect account. On My Home, follow these steps: Select Edit/Profile Info in the navigation menu Edit your profile and click Submit Remember, the more information you provide, the more corrections you're likely to make with current, former and future friends and colleagues. Q: How do I make my profile "private"? A: Log on to NurseConnect.com and select "My Home". On "My Home" select Edit/Profile Info in the navigation menu. Scroll to the bottom of the "My Info" form and select the box "Hide Profile". From here you can change your profile from public to private. Then click Submit. Please note that by checking the "Hide Profile" box you prevent other users from seeing or searching for your profile information, although you will appear in the list of site members. Previously posted reviews and discussion board contributions will still be visible, along with your name. Q: I forgot my password and/or e-mail that I used to sign up for NurseConnect. How do I get this information? A: You can have your forgotten password e-mailed to you at anytime. At the user login screen enter the e-mail you used to sign up for NurseConnect in the Forgot Password e-mail box. Then click the Get Password button on the login screen. Alternatively, you can use this link to have your password e-mailed to you. Q: After completing all required fields on the registration form I was unable to gain access. A: Please send an e-mail to info@nurseconnect.com with the following information: Your Operating System (ex: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS X, etc.) Your Browser version (ex: Internet Explorer 7.0, Firefox 2.0, etc.) Member Profiles Q: When do others see my profile? A: When your profile has been activated, others are able to view it (All newly registered user profiles are activated by default). You can make your profile public or private at any time on the Edit Profile Info tab on your My Home page. When your profile is private, other members cannot see any of your information—except your reviews and discussion board posts. Q: What’s an avatar? A: An avatar is an image used to represent you online instead of a picture. NurseConnect offers a set of avatars to choose from if you don’t include a photo of yourself—it’s up to you. Q: When do other members see my picture or avatar? A: Whenever your profile is public, other members will see your avatar unless you have uploaded a photo. The avatar is also displayed when your picture is under review (all photos are reviewed and NurseConnect reserves the right to reject inappropriate images). Q: Why can’t I see my friend’s profile anymore? A: There are a few reasons why this might happen: Your friend may have left the community and deleted their profile. His or her profile may be under review to ensure it is appropriate for the site. When a profile is under review, it’s unavailable to NurseConnect members. Your friend may have hidden his or her profile by making it private. How to Get Connected with Other Members Q: What’s a “connection” and why would I want one? A: A connection is like a “friend” on social networking sites. You can only send messages to connected members, so the more connections you have, the more people you can network with. Connections can be broken at any time by either member. It's a privilege to be connected. We ask that you respect the privilege. Q: How do I connect with other members? A: You can request a connection to another user by clicking on the “Connect” button on that user’s profile page. The other user will then have the option of accepting or declining your connection request. If they accept, you’re connected! Q: How do I break a connection? A: You can break a connection to another user on either your connections page or on the other user’s profile page. Simply click on “Disconnect” button on the profile page, or “Delete” on the connections page, and the connection is broken. Q: How do I find other members? A: From the Community tab on the navigation bar, click "Members". On the Members page you can locate other members if a couple different ways: Enter the member's name in the "Search Members" box to quickly search for a member, or Browse through the list of members and sort by member, location and/or date. Rating and Reviewing Q: How can I rate and review content? A: You can rate any profiled entity (e.g., a city or school) by simply mousing-over the 5-star graphic on the profile page (or almost anywhere else the stars appear). You can review content by clicking on the “review” button on most profile pages. Q: How can I provide a review? A: You can review content on any profiled entity (i.e. a city, facility, school or specialty) by clicking on the “review” button on most profile pages. Here is an example of how to review a facility: To provide a review on a facility, click on "Careers", then "Facilities" Search for the facility name Once you find your desired facility, click on the headline of the facility profile you would like to review When the profile opens, click on the "Review" button, enter your comments and then click "Submit" Q: How do I post a review on a new topic? A: Please e-mail info@nurseconnect.com to suggest any new topics to include on NurseConnect. Q: What do the red and yellow stars mean? A: Red stars represent the average rating given by all members. When you mouseover rating stars and then click to set your rating, the color changes to yellow—representing your rating. You can always tell your rating from the average rating by the color. Search Q: How can I search on NurseConnect? A: There are three ways to search for content on NurseConnect. The first and most obvious is the Site Search box at the top of every page. This allows for keyword-based searches of all content on the site except reviews and discussion boards. Every profile type (e.g., Schools) also has a search of its own, allowing for a quick keyword search within that profile collection. In addition, there is an advanced search for most profile types, including members. Q: How can I optimize my search? A: In addition to basic keyword searches, you can use a few special characters to refine results: Use quotes (e.g., “sandy beach”) to get exact phrase matches Use an asterisk (e.g., sand* ) to get similar words (e.g., sand, sandy) Use “or” between words to search for multiple words (e.g., “this or that”) Privacy Q: What happens when I make my profile private? A: No one can search for or see your profile, so you can keep your account active without being visible to other members. All of your past reviews and group (discussion board) postings will remain visible. Other Features Q: What are all the numbered links on the left side of profile pages? A: The “stats box” below the colored tabs contains links to more information related to the profile. If you’re on the San Diego page, for instance, you can see links for jobs and members in San Diego, and even links about the city. Q: How can I add a group / discussion board? A: Send us a request using the contact us form. New groups may be added at any time by the NurseConnect team.