Platchat

Finding and setting up lodging is never a quick task. . . . . especially if you don’t know the area.  Most of the time if you set it up yourself vs having your recruiter do it the traveler gets to pocket a little more cash :)  I have found that Craigslist is a great resource but I would definitely double check to make sure the person and place you are inquiring about is legit.   There could be some scammers out there!  The first place I call is the city’s Chamber of Commerce or Visitor Center.  They are usually the best source for me to help guide me to the correct contacts for places in the area that will do short term leases. 

 Anyone else have other helpful tips when a traveler sets up their own place?

With all of the driving healthcare travelers are doing these days, it’s only practical to know the fastest, shortest, most visually appealing route possible when planning our trips.  There are many new devices out there to choose from, so here are a few websites to aid you in your search.  Let’s all be safe and smart on the road. Happy traveling!

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-gps/

http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/GPS-Navigation/2716/subcat.html

http://www.thegpsstore.com/

For those of you traveling over the weekend to your next assignment or driving back and forth daily here is a website with some great tips in order to save money on gas!  Check it out!  

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/fuel-efficient/5.asp

This summer, you may want to get up north to escape the heat.  Places like Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon and Colorado are all great states to escape to during the hot seasons.  Not to mention, these are all states that have openings regularly in the therapy world this time of year - so check them out!   These states are filled with outdoor activities and great scenery - so you may want to visit them before they are buried with snow again

I am sure everyone of our employees read and devoured the latest edition of the Platinum Newsletter (Slip past your notice? Ask your staffing specialist to email you a copy). But one of our very own Blogging Divas, Veronica, had a very interesting article on “Travel Tips”. The only criticism I can find is that it was too short (which I am sure was due to space limitations). So, I thought we could expand on the topic here.

I can’t think of advice off the cuff but I am a great Googler so here are some great sites I found:

The website for the Home and Garden Channel has a extensive area on topics related to traveling:http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_travel/article/0,,HGTV_3214_2111012,00.html

Tips on eating healthy: http://nutrition.about.com/od/foodfun/a/healthyeating.htm

There are so many more sites and tips but that’s all the time I have. Anyone else?

V- Where did you find your great tips?

For those of you who like to set up your own lodging and pocket your per diems instead of having your recruiters set it up. . . .below is great link from Healthcare Traveler that offers websites and articles to help you on your way.  It has info on vaca homes, airfare prediction, local restaurants and shops in the area where you are headed etc. . . .Check it out!

http://healthcaretraveler.modernmedicine.com/healthcaretraveler/DOT.com/Websites-for-savvy-travel-nurses-and-traveling-the/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/494768?contextCategoryId=2150

I recently read an interesting article in the March edition of the Healthcare Traveler magazine regarding the Performance Based Development System, more commonly referred to as the PBDS test, that many hospitals are administering to all travelers (and permanent staff) before they begin working at their facility.  The article caught my eye because as a recruiter, I have actually had nurses tell me explicitly that they would not consider an assignment that required them to take this test.  In my experience, the nurses that I have talked with about the test were mainly concerned with the possibility of not passing the test and all of the consequences that come along with that; definitely a legitimate concern.  I’m interested to hear if anyone has had any personal experiences, good or bad, with the PBDS test.  Come one, come all; let’s hear it folks!

Hey guys, all of you know that we just went through the process of changing our insurance coverage over to Great West, so I just wanted to get some basic info out there that may be useful for you.  First, deductions are now weekly, so instead of us taking a big lump of money at the end of each month, we’ll be making smaller, weekly deductions to your checks to take care of your monthly premiums.  Secondly, our insurance is now a combo plan with medical, dental, and life insurance all packed into one, so you’re well covered across the board!  Lastly, make sure you all keep on working your full-time hours, because insurance is only offered to those employees that are full-time, and the last thing we want to have happen is for you to lose your insurance coverage due to a lack of hours.

If you want to hop online and check out the vast array of doctors that are covered under your plan, get on www.mygreatwest.com  If you have other questions about the insurance, call your recruiter and they’ll do your best to help out, otherwise they’ll get you to someone who can!  Let’s all stay healthy out there

Along with recruiting I also attend various trade shows for allied health.   I’m interested to know what people’s main purpose is in attending a major trade show. . . . .is it the networking, classes, random pens and crap the vendors in booths hand out?  What is it? 

 On this same note, another colleague and I are headed to Los Angeles tomorrow for the AOTA Conference held in Long Beach this weekend. . . if anyone is going, reply and let me know!  We are having a networking event before the conference starts and if you are going to attend the conference or are in the area you are most definitely invited :) 

I just wanted to write about one of my great travelers, an OT, who just arrived out in Calistoga, CA for an assignment. She is from Colorado, and she says that this area of California is a little piece of heaven.  It’s right smack in the middle of wine country, and she says the weather is”crisp but perfect.”  Isn’t this really what being a traveler is all about?  After listening to her I want to plan to take my husband to this area soon, so we can drive down the winding roads through the vineyards.  I guess my point in all of this is that if you are lucky enough to be a traveler, take a chance every once-in-a-while and go somewhere that may not have been your #1 choice.  There are a lot of beautiful and exciting places out there, and yes, they may be further than 100 miles from your home, so live a little and step out of your own state!  I would if I could!