Need A Change Of Pace? Try Behavioral Health!

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Luke Hewitt

Behavioral health nurses discussing notes

If you’re starting to feel burned out in your current work setting, or want to open yourself up to rewarding opportunities in a different aspect of your career, it may be time to check out Behavioral Health!

TL;DR

Nurses who work in Behavioral Health jobs are typically more admired and respected by patients than other fields of nursing.
It is easier than ever to work in this field thanks to temporarily reduced certification requirements
EmpowerCare can help you experience the rewards of working in Behavioral Health on a short term assignment so you can decide if the field suits you.

Valued For Your Service

Sometimes in nursing it can feel like your efforts are taken for granted, which can be a catalyst for burnout. Anyone who has worked in a medical surgical setting knows this can be especially true.

Behavioral Health settings—which can be in a hospital psychiatric unit, but also in an outpatient or community setting—are however quite different in regards to patient appreciation.

Patients remember the nurses who care for them in these settings. This is largely due to the sense of entitlement that has accompanied the advances in western medicine. When people get hurt or sick, many expect to get better. This mindset views nurses as a means to an end on their path to healing.

People who struggle with mental or emotional issues usually don’t see things this way. Many know they are sick, and have tried to get better on their own. There isn’t always a clear path or pill to get them well again, which can leave them without hope.

When hope is harder to come by, people are incredibly grateful to anyone who can provide it.

A Rare Opportunity

As of this writing (March 2022), nurses have a rare opportunity to “try before you buy” so to speak when it comes to pursuing careers in Behavioral Health settings.

Typically, one would need additional certifications to work in these types of settings. However, many of those restrictions have been temporarily lifted.

This is due in part to the nursing shortage that’s currently taking place, but it’s also for a more uplifting reason. The stigma that surrounded mental health issues in the past is steadily fading. People feel much more comfortable seeking help than they used to.

On the flip side of this coin, the work can be more demanding. More patients + less nurses = a problem on the surface. Deep down however the fulfillment you’re looking for may be through that open door right in front of you.

A Day In The Life

Working hours is an important factor in the quest to achieve a favorable work-life balance. Most (certainly not all) assignments or jobs in a Behavioral Health setting are provided in a community setting with hours that mirror typical business hours.

The nurse’s role is to walk alongside patients on their road to recovery, which involves you in every aspect of care. This also means you would work with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. This can include doctors, OTs, PTs, social works, and psychiatrists.

On a typical day, you will care for some of the most vulnerable people you’re likely to encounter. The people receiving your love and care will be suffering from things like anxiety and depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, mental or psychiatric disorders, etc. It is highly unlikely that two patients will be exactly the same.

Your job will revolve around making connections and building relationships with your patients, and their family, friends, and other support systems. You don’t always get to do that in other nursing disciplines.

A Growing Field

United States mental health & substance abuse centers have grown 3.8% on average per year between 2017 and 2022.

It’s not that people are getting sicker, it’s that people are finally receiving care. Federal funding for Medicaid and Medicare has increased during this time, and it’s estimated that reimbursements pay for 51.5% of all care in the industry. Best we can tell, it looks like this trend is likely to continue.

The point is this: working in a Behavioral Health setting may just be the change of pace you’re looking for. High levels of job satisfaction and personal fulfillment are usually discovered when we learn what we’re made of; when we find ourselves in challenging scenarios that on the surface may even look like adversity.

If you don’t know if a move into Behavioral Health nursing is for you, EmpowerCare can help. Reach out to your recruiter and ask about our travel contracts and local per-diem assignments in the field.

Who knows, you might just find exactly what you’ve been looking for.

The Importance of Networking in Healthcare

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Luke Hewitt

Team of healthcare professionals working together

Networking is the process of making connections and building relationships with other people. Understanding the dual-sided nature of networking will help you advance in your career and personal life.

TL;DR

Networking involves giving and receiving. When networking, remember to find ways you can benefit others.
Developing a friendly and helpful disposition will make networking incredibly natural.
You can be compensated up to $750 for referrals to EmpowerCare.

We’ve all heard the adage:

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”

Nothing is truer when it comes to advancing your nursing career. Any good salesperson will tell you that people prefer doing business with the people they know, like, and trust.

The truth of the matter is, all people feel that way.

Get What You Want Through Reciprocity

Most articles that discuss networking focus on what’s in it for you. It’s true, there are personal benefits to networking:

Strengthen professional connections
Get fresh ideas on how to solve problems
Find new job opportunities
Get career advice

The best way to receive a benefit from networking is to first find a way to be of benefit to others. This is true because people are hardwired for reciprocity.

You can see how prevalent this is in religion and society, and even music.

Christians call it “sowing and reaping”. Hindus and Buddhists call it “karma”. We have sayings like “you’ll get what you deserve”, and songs like “You Get What You Give” (by The New Radicals) and “What Goes Around Comes Around” (by Justin Timberlake)

People tend to repay like for like. Do someone a favor, and they’ll want to do a favor for you. Do someone harm, and watch out—you likely have animosity headed your way.

What most people don’t realize is:

“If you fail to help other people, other people will fail to help you.”

You want to reap the benefits of networking? Then do for others what you want them to do for you.

Who Should You Network With?

When you hear the word networking, most people think of shaking hands with strangers in a crowded room at a networking event.

Your pre-existing relationships are a much better place to start. Consider your:

Former colleagues
Old friends
Previous bosses or charge supervisors
Alumni or classmates
Other volunteers (if you volunteer your time)

Remember, the key to receiving favors from people is to do one for them. The simple act of offering to do a favor will position you in their mind as a helpful and generous person.

You’re probably very busy, which means you’ve lost touch with some of the people above. No problem. Just reconnect! Reach out through text, social media, or give someone a quick phone call to check in and say hello.

Additional Places To Network

Outside of your pre-existing network, you can find like-minded people in many places.

Join some Facebook groups, and be helpful in them. Do the same on AllNurses.com. It’s highly probable you have the answer (or at least some insight) into questions your fellow nurses are asking there.

Seek out professional groups, or expand your network on LinkedIn. If you’re considering a travel assignment, ask people who already work there what the culture is like.

You should also attend events. An event may present itself as volunteer opportunities. Take advantage of that. You never know who you might wind up talking to while doing community service!

Breaking The Ice

The easiest way to break the ice with someone you know is to share a memory you have of them.

It feels so good when a friend reaches out to share a memory they have of you. It means someone was thinking of you, and who doesn’t like a trip down memory lane?

So start there. Think of something you did with the person you want to reconnect with, and let them know you were thinking about it. It could be an assignment you worked on together, volunteer work, a difficult class you struggled through together. The possibilities are endless.

Once you’ve broken the ice, it’s time to ask a question.

Ask about their career goals and look for opportunities to help them reach them. If you can make a connection to someone so they can reach their goal faster, offer to do it.

Ask about any current challenges they’re facing, and offer support, sympathy, or a fresh perspective.

Ask about their family, and how the last few years have affected them.

If you can’t help with their goals or challenges, let them know you will keep an eye out for people who can. Tell them to look through your professional network and offer to make an introduction to anyone they may want to talk to.

Letting others know you are willing to assist them will make them want to do the same for you.

Make A Referral: Give What Has Been Given To You

If you work with EmpowerCare, then you know we strive to be the most convenient, personable, and responsive healthcare staffing service in Massachusetts.

Too many nurses are feeling burned out these days. Working with agencies that don’t fully disclose what they know about assignments, or don’t promptly return phone calls and emails is exhausting.

We can help! Our purpose statement is to improve lives one assignment at a time, through proper care and concern for all.

That “all” includes you. Our Referral Program pays up to $750 for referrals. You don’t even have to currently work with us to take advantage of it.

If you are a healthcare professional and need help finding the right job, or your next assignment, please reach out!

The Truth About The Congressional Pay-Caps for Travel Nurses

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Luke Hewitt

TL;DR

Rumors are speculating that congress proposed a pay cap on traveling nurse salaries
This misinformation stemmed from a letter written by congress, wanting to ensure staffing agencies aren’t unfairly profiting by inflating rates they charge hospitals during the pandemic.
Congress does not want to impose a pay cap for traveling nurses.

A Story Of Misinformation

Two congressmen, Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA), wrote a letter to the White House’s COVID-19 response team coordinator on January 24, 2022.

They were worried about rumors of staffing agencies taking advantage of the nursing shortage by increasing their rates to provide hospitals with desperately needed traveling nurses during the pandemic.

200 senators from both sides of the aisle signed the letter.

Then confusion hit. Facebook posts started to emerge and cause quite a stir. One post read:

“As of March 2020 the NFL’s minimum salary was $660,000.

The man who tattooed four letters on my wrist charged $80 for 15 minutes of time.

But according to Congress travel nurses need a pay cap.”

The post continued:

“If you support the cap, we probably can’t be friends.”

Comments like “according to Congress travel nurses need a pay cap” and “If you support the cap” imply a congressional pay cap is on the table, when in reality, it isn’t.

Misinformation is created when someone wrongly interprets what’s happening. A letter from 200 senators asking for a government official to look into rumors of illegal activity is very different from proposed legislation.

What Was Congress Really Asking About?

To fully answer that question we have to understand how staffing agencies make money.

When a hospital or healthcare facility doesn’t have enough nurses to care for patients, they turn to staffing agencies.

Staffing agencies find and hire nurses who are willing to travel usually for at least 13 weeks at a time.

The traveling nurses’ pay comes from an “hourly bill rate”, which is how much the hospital or facility pays the staffing agency for every hour worked by a traveling nurse.

The nurse’s pay isn’t the only thing that comes out of the bill rate. The staffing agency incurs additional costs, including:

Recruiting the traveling nurse
Orientation (which is sometimes unpaid by the facility or paid at a fraction of the bill rate)
Liability and insurance coverage
Credentialing
Your licensure reimbursement
The VMS/MSPs
Medical malpractice lawsuits (which are often fought by the staffing agency, not the hospital)
A Nurses Week or Christmas gift from your agency.
Your stipends and travel expenses to get to your contract.
etc.

Bill rate ≠ Nurse’s Pay

The Bill rate is a combination of three factors: 1) The nurse’s pay 2) The staffing agency’s expenses 3) The staffing agency’s profit.

Are Staffing Agencies Unfairly Profiting From The Pandemic?

Now we can address the real question congress was asking in their original letter:

Should there be a cap on how much profit a staffing agency can make on traveling nurses during the pandemic?

Commenting on the confusion from his letter, Congressman Griffith said:

“The bipartisan letter I sent to the White House asks about potential illegal practices by staffing agencies that charge high rates and then keep that money for themselves, not nurses. Rumors are that middleman staffing agencies keep as much as 40% of the money they charge for nurses instead of giving more of the money to the nurses,“

His next remarks are critically important:

“I do not and will not support legislation to cap nurses’ pay. Anything to the contrary is fake news.”

Do you see the twist?

Congress does NOT want to cap nurses’ pay. They want to make sure staffing agencies aren’t illegally lining their pockets off the risks taken by traveling nurses to provide care for patients during a pandemic.

Do Traveling Nurses Need To Worry About A Pay Cap?

In a word: no.

The demand for traveling nurses is not likely going away anytime soon. Some nurses have even commented that a pay cap would cause them to strike, or change careers.

Nobody wants there to be less traveling nurses.

What Congress wants is to ensure traveling nurses aren’t being taken advantage of. At EmpowerCare, we think that’s a good thing!

If you know of a traveling nurse worried about a pay cap, please reassure them not to worry, and share this article with them.

What Job Seekers Need in a Recruiter

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Luke Hewitt

Job Seekers and Recruiting.

Imagine you decide you want a change in your medical career. Maybe you are looking for new RN jobs near you, or want to try a travel nurse job for a chance of scenery. Then you want to work with a staffing agency to help you find the right position for you and your current needs. Now though, how do you pick the right recruiter for you? There are certain traits you should look for when trying to find the right recruiter for your present and future needs that we will go over now.

Knowledgeable Expert

Having an expert in the recruiting field is crucial when looking for the right recruiter for you and your needs. You want a recruiter who understands the healthcare industry. They need to know current healthcare trends, current facilities and what openings would work best for you. To have someone on your side who can explain the different types of CNA jobs near you, or the different nursing salaries available at your experience level, is invaluable. You must have confidence in your recruiter to make sure you have everything you need to find your next role.

Personalized and Friendly Attitude

A positive recruiter attitude is crucial, as they’re not just a recruiter but also your trusted friend. They build a personalized, trustworthy relationship and advocate for you. With a “glass half full” approach, they recommend you for roles that align with your specific needs.

Strong Communication Skills

The details matter with a recruiter. They need to be able to communicate quickly and efficiently with you, the internal team, and the facilities you could potentially work with. Following up and following through is vital to make sure all the intricate parts are completed on time. Your recruiter needs to take the time needed to make sure you understand the process and to keep you informed every step of the way.

Realistic Expectations

When it comes to your career, you want someone who listens to your concerns and will not sugarcoat things. They need to be realistic and set goals for the candidates they are working with. This is from the initial contact with the recruiter all throughout the new placement and beyond. They need to have clear foresight and planning all while being able to be proactive.

At EmpowerCare, we trust our recruiters to find our candidates the best fit positions with all the above traits. If you are ready to have a recruiter that you can trust and work with, contact us today.

Visiting Massachusetts in the Fall

Posted on September 4, 2021 by Luke Hewitt

Fall foliage over a lake in Massachusetts

Visiting Massachusetts

Fall is my favorite time of year with all its beauty and changing of colors. It’s just magical. Massachusetts is one of the few states that can be explored within a weekend while enjoying everything that the fall season has to offer. From drives to an entire city dedicated to the holiday season, Massachusetts is a must visit state in the fall. EmpowerCare has a few top-rated events you can’t miss we want to share with you in hopes that you too will be visiting Massachusetts soon.

Walking the Freedom Trail

Take advantage of the cooler temperatures and spend some time walking the Freedom Trail located in downtown Boston. You can explore it on your own or you can book a tour where a guide will educate you about the history of the area as well as the sixteen official sites on the trail.

Food Picking

No matter where a person is, during the fall picking apples and pumpkins are a staple in the fall season. In Massachusetts, there are lots of fun and unique farms to visit depending on what area of the state you are in. Most places have their own websites showing their schedules and if reservations are required so be sure to explore it before heading out. While traveling to these unique farms, you will get to experience all the fall colors on the scenic drives.

Tangerini Farm in Millis is a great choice for families, they have a restaurant and an ice cream stand. Belkin Lookout Farm in Natick is another one of our favorites, they offer a fabulous, outdoor restaurant with their own beer and hard cider. Another family favorite is Honey Pot Orchards in Stow has the largest edge maze in North America, hayrides, and farm animals.

Visit Salem

The historic town of Salem is home of the Salem Witch Trials and is a great place to visit in the fall – especially in October. They offer all sorts of spooky and fall related activities including outdoor markets, magic shows, haunted houses, tours, and ghost hunts. So many events are happening you will not get bored during your visit.

While you are in Salem, you can also visit the Peabody Essex Museum, the Salem Witch Museum, the House of the Seven Gables, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, and more. Salem is my favorite destination in October.

The Mohawk Trail

This trail is New England’s first official “scenic tourist route”, and it does not disappoint.

It is a 63-mile stretch of road in Western Massachusetts. Along this route, you’ll find beautiful views of the fall foliage, antique shops, state parks, museums, and more. Spend your day driving and taking in all the scenic colors and towns. It is sure to relax you and make your heart feel warm and happy for the season.

Whatever your favorite fall activity is, our small state has it and more. From vibrant foliage to cozy autumn festivals, the options for enjoyment are endless. EmpowerCare offers job opportunities throughout Massachusetts and New England, ensuring you won’t miss any of the season’s beauty, if you choose to come here on a travel nurse job.

Connect with one of our recruiters today to secure your new position before the fall colors peak. Don’t wait – experiencing Massachusetts in the fall should be the top of your bucket list this year!

Why We Don’t Offer 1099 Contracts

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Luke Hewitt

EmpowerCare gives nurses the power to choose when, where and how often they work, usually right in the palm of their hands by our easy-to-use app. When one of our talented nurses works a CNA job, LPN job or RN job, they are their W-2 hired employee. We have chosen not to offer 1099 options to our healthcare workers and here are 3 main reasons why.

1. 1099 contractors must manage their payroll taxes.

When you choose a staffing agency that does 1099, you’re responsible for managing your payroll taxes throughout the year. That means your weekly/biweekly checks will be bigger in size, but at tax time you will need to pay all the taxes that would usually have been taken out in a lump sum. This could be a problem if you don’t correctly estimate your taxes or if you don’t set money aside for your taxes. Being a W-2 employee, you don’t have to do any of this. Your employer withholds a specified amount, which you determine, from each one of your paychecks to cover your taxes. Making it easier to manager.

2. W-2 employees can have access to company benefits

Being a W-2 employee, you will have access to the company benefits such as health insurance, life insurance and paid time off, as well as your travel nurse salary. These are additional benefits that you can access and use when needed. Having a benefits package, you can fall back on is so important. It shows that the employer is invested in not only you, but your future and happiness as well.

3. W-2 employees are protected

W-2 employees are protected by laws covering minimum wage, workers’ comp, unemployment, and overtime. 1099 contractors must handle their own insurance, meaning there is less protection for you in your RN job.

At EmpowerCare, we prioritize your security and benefits, choosing W-2 over 1099. Join our caring team for the best possible work experience.

Block Booking

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Luke Hewitt

Full time stability with per diem flexibility

When our CEO founded this company back in 2005 as a Registered Nurse, it was to help nurses combat burnout and get more autonomy in their careers. We understand more than most staffing agencies how fast the industry can change. One significant shift we are seeing right now is the rise of block bookings.

What is block booking? It empowers you to schedule shifts at you preferred facilities as if you were a full-time employee, while still enjoying the flexibility of Per Diem jobs. Essentially it’s the best of both worlds! EmpowerCare is excited to offer block bookings to our healthcare professionals.

More control of your own schedule and time

Being able to take a shift when you want to at different facilities is the amazing benefit of working as a per diem RN. With block booking, you will still be able to do that but you can simplify your life even further by creating a more consistent schedule that you can plan around.

If Christmas is coming up and you need to work more hours than usual, so you can afford to spend the holidays with your loved ones, block booking in your answer!

Have a once in a lifetime vacation happening next month and won’t be working? Pick up extra shifts this month to make up for it!

More consistent income

Now that block booking is being offered at EmpowerCare, you can rest easy knowing that you can have the shifts you need booked and out of the way in advanced, instead of trying to find shifts last minute. There is nothing worse than deciding you want to work one day and seeing that all the open shifts have already been taken by other per diem CNAs or per diem RNs. T

Saved and guaranteed hours

Everyone wants some more free time, right? Block booking can give you just that by being able to provide you saved and guaranteed hours. Gone will be the days that you spend time searching and worrying if you are going to be able to work the right number of hours that you are needing each week. Once block booking is happening, we can guarantee you the hours that you need each week going forward. If you want to be able to use more of your time the way you want to use it while knowing you have the hours you need to work, block booking is right up your alley, and you should make the switch today!

Finding comfort with facilities

One last thing that shouldn’t be overlooked is the opportunity to become a regular face in facilities. This can help you build relationships, get to know your coworkers and patients more, and get to the point where you feel comfortable in the facilities you work in day to day. This helps make the days go by much faster and you get the sense of belonging that might have been missing before while working per diem shifts. Being comfortable where you work can make a huge difference in your day-to-day operations, so try it out for yourself.

Block booking has many benefits for you and your healthcare career, and EmpowerCare is here to help you make the switch. We are educated and have the knowledge needed to help you make the change fast and efficiently, so what are you waiting for? Contact us today and let them know you are looking for block booking shifts to get the ball rolling!

Being Cozy When Travelling

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Luke Hewitt

Travel nurse jobs are all the rage, and we can understand why. You get to see and experience new and exciting things while doing the job you love to do. Travel nursing inevitably involves a lot of actual traveling, which can either be a blessing on a curse depending who you ask! Personally, I love the travel aspect, especially as I have become something of an expert on finding ways to stay cozy on the go. Here, I’ll share a few of my secrets so you can enjoy a more comfortable journey on your next travel nurse job assignment.

Dress Comfy

Cotton and layers will be your best friend when it comes to traveling. Cotton is a soft and breathable fabric that keep you cozy and can help you stay relaxed on those long flights or drives. As for layers, these will allow you to increase or decrease the amount of clothing layers you have on depending on the temperature you are dealing with. Nothing is worse than sitting on a three hour flight freezing. A few other tips for comfort would be compression socks if you are prone to swelling and also one of those much needed travel pillows. All of these things will make your traveling a breeze!

Snacks and Hydration

I always overpack snacks when I am traveling, especially on airplanes. Something about being stuck somewhere for a certain amount of time makes me want to snack hardcore. Eating healthy snacks such as nuts, bars, trail mix, popcorn, fruits, and veggies are all great ideas. Try to avoid salty snacks as they tend to make you thirstier and also try to avoid super crunchy foods if at all possible. No one wants to hear a random person crunch down over and over again. Water is simple, stay hydrated and keep a reusable bottle with you at all times so you can easily refill when needed. I don’t know about you, but I absolutely hate feeling thirsty and try to avoid it at all costs.

Stretch

Did you know that you can get sore after sitting for too long? To decrease muscle soreness, you should really move around and stretch your muscles as often as possible. If you find some time to walk around, even for a minute, it will help in a big way.

Bring Things you Enjoy

Time flies when you’re having fun! Bring items you genuinely enjoy and your travel time will feel like a breeze. I always bring a book that I can enjoy, my phone loaded up with new music, and a show or two downloaded on my phone. This way I am giving myself options in what I want to do, but all of them are things I really like to do so win win win.

Buy Boujee Items

Sometimes, it’s okay to be a little extra. When it comes to my travel set up, I am usually the most extra. Invest in some items that can take your traveling experience to the next level. Here are just a few items that you could purchase hat have worked wonders for me.

Noise cancelling headphones
Face mask
Portable battery for phone
Travel packing cubes (game changer)
Phone holder for hands free holding
Foot hammock for air travel

I hope this helps make your next travel assignment easier and more enjoyable. I know personally that after I started making these changes in my travel routine, it increased my love for travel that much more. There is no reason why you should hate the idea of traveling, and these easy tips will help you on your adventure.

Per Diem Jobs – All The Rage!

Posted on May 15, 2021 by Luke Hewitt

A group of healthcare professionals taking a selfie.

After the fallout of the pandemic, people have reassessed what is important to them and their work/life balance. We are seeing that many nurses would prefer to have a flexible schedule that fits their needs more than other benefits. Per diem work is when work hours for a person can very from week to week depending on the employer’s needs and how much the employee is wanting to work each week. There are many benefits of working per diem jobs, and we are going to highlight 3 of them right now.

Enjoy the Ideal Work-Life Balance

Everyone has their ideal work-life balance in their head. Whether it’s working night shifts 4 nights a week to be at home with your kids during the day, or working in the morning for half the work week so you can concentrate on your second job the other half of the week, per diem jobs can be the easiest way to get you to where you want to be. You get to decide how often and when you will be working. This also means you could pick up more shifts if you wanted to from week to week. The schedule is really up to you and your needs.

Work at more than one place

Another great opportunity that per diem jobs provides is the ability to work at multiple facilities at the same time. This would be great if you wanted to explore a variety of clinical settings or maybe if you wanted to have additional shifts that just one facility could offer you.

Multiple specialties

Per diem positions are also able to hone their skills in a variety of different specialties. While in the healthcare field, you can try different specialties and make choices that will improve your resume as you work. This can in turn help you figure out what specialty you truly enjoy.

Are you interested in a better work-life balance than what you’ve previously had? Then you should really consider looking into per diem work. In our opinion, the benefits clearly out way the disadvantages and per diem work never goes away. We are always looking for new and excited candidates to join our team and if you choose to work with us, we could have you at your 1^st shift in less than a week. Contact us now to learn more about everything we have to offer.

Travel Nursing Just Got Easier

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Luke Hewitt

If you have a lust for adventure, seeing new places, and meeting new people while helping people who need it, a travel nurse job might just be for you. With the travel nursing life comes income fluctuations as well. Budgeting your income is important all the time, especially when it comes to travel nursing. It might seem like a daunting task, but we’re here to share our top five budgeting tips that can help make the adventure that much better!

1. Create a Budget Breakdown

This is the first step in learning how to manage your money. The main goal for this step is to figure out how much you spend on a monthly basis for your bills, food, entertainment, and other activities. Establish your needs versus your wants and think about how much money you need to set aside for each category. There are plenty of apps out there that can help you achieve this first step fast and efficiently.

2. Utilize the 50/30/20 Rule

The 50/30/20 rule is a staple when it comes to budgeting. First, you need to calculate your monthly income after taxes have been taken out. Next, divide your income into three segments—50% of your income should go toward needs, 30% on wants, and 20% will go to savings or paying off debt. This method ensures that your needs and wants are met while still setting money aside for your savings account.

3. Research Free Things to Do

While on a travel nursing assignment, one of the best ways to save money is to find activities that are free to do during your time off! Honestly, there are so many options out there and most people have no idea! Parks, museums, hiking trails, and local events are always fun options and are typically free or have a low cost to them. This will help you save money while also experiencing things you might not usually experience. Natural beauty is everywhere, and it’s usually free to experience, so go out there and explore!

4. Learn How To Cook

Some of us spend more money on eating out at restaurants than we’d like to admit. I am especially guilty of this when I’m away from home. If you’re joining the travel nursing community, you will be away a lot, so best learn to cook! It will save you so much money and you will be gaining cooking experience as well, so two birds with one stone with this one. Pinterest, TikTok, Google, and Facebook are all great tools to find great recipes with step-by-step instructions to follow.

5. Talk To Locals

Locals are a great resource for spending your money wisely. These people know where and how to get the most out of your budget and can provide information that can save you money in the long run. From weekend entertainment to the best grocery store for your dollar, the locals can fill you in on what’s worth spending money on. Along with this, you can happen across some great friendships along the way.

Travel nursing with your favorite healthcare staffing agency, EmpowerCare, gives you the opportunity to advance your career, develop new skills, and experience new things. Let us help cure your Wanderlust. Talk to one of our recruiters about our open travel nursing assignments and start exploring the country today!