Nursing Uncharted Ep 104 - The Importance of Nurse-Recruiter Relationships with Audrey Tate

Audrey Tate, Senior Travel Nurse Recruiter at AMN Healthcare, joins us to discuss the dynamics of a nurse-recruiter relationship. The conversation explores the evolving landscape of healthcare staffing, the tools available to support nurses on the road, and the importance of recognizing the unique value each traveler brings to the bedside. In this episode, nurses will gain information to build a successful career on their own terms.

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Episode Highlights & Key Themes

• The Power of the Recruiter Relationship: We discuss why the bond between a travel nurse and their recruiter is the cornerstone of a successful assignment. Trust, vulnerability, and clear communication help navigate the ups and downs of travel healthcare.
• Why Nurses Travel Today: The motivations for hitting the road are changing. We explore factors like flexibility, leadership shifts in hospitals, cost of living pressures, and maintaining financial stability.
• AMN Passport App: Discover how technology is streamlining the travel experience. We break down the features of the AMN Passport app, from finding positions to managing credentials and connecting with a community of peers.
• Valuing Experience and Certifications: A look at how specialized skills and certifications should be recognized and how they impact placement and career growth.
• Support Beyond the Bedside: How AMN supports nurses holistically, including platforms like this podcast and continuing education resources.

Timestamps

• 00:01:16 – How AMN supports nurses beyond the bedside
• 00:02:21 – Meet Audrey Tate: The role of a recruiter
• 00:04:12 – The importance of the nurse-recruiter relationship
• 00:15:38 – The financial realities and cost of living challenges for travelers
• 00:19:00 – Evolving reasons why nurses choose to travel
• 00:36:10 – AMN Passport app features
• 00:51:10 – Recognizing and valuing nurse experience and certifications

About Our Guest

Audrey Tate is a Senior Travel Nurse Recruiter with AMN Healthcare and brings a wealth of knowledge about the industry. She emphasizes the "human" side of recruiting, advocating for vulnerability and trust as key components of professional relationships.

Resources & Links

• AMN Passport App: Download the app to view available positions, manage credentials, and track your impact.
• AMN Healthcare Learning Center: Access free continuing education units (CEUs) and certification assistance. Visit AMN Healthcare
• Nursing Uncharted: Learn more about the show and past episodes.

Join the Conversation

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Nursing Uncharted on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us reach more nurses and healthcare professionals.

Transcript:

00:00:00:04 - 00:00:28:18
Speaker 1
Hey guys. Welcome back to another episode of Nursing Uncharted. I was reflecting a little bit on this episode getting ready for this recording, and I really couldn't believe that it's I'm wrapping up my second season of Nursing Uncharted. And, you know, we've we've talked about so many different things this season. Really, my focus was mental health, but I never really addressed why and how this podcast has gotten here.

00:00:28:19 - 00:01:08:07
Speaker 1
And it's because of AMN and you know, I am and have always been partial to AMN. I have been exclusive basically with them from my whole travel journey, and I'm not saying this because I do this podcast. I'm saying this because AMN made this podcast happen for me, and I'm just so grateful for that. And I want to highlight that, and I'm super excited that my next guest will be able to touch base on a lot of things that we haven't really talked about on Nursing Uncharted since I've been doing this, and it's important for me to get how I feel about AMN across to the listeners of this podcast.

00:01:08:07 - 00:01:16:09
Speaker 1
So I'm so excited to introduce my next guest, Audrey Tate. So thank you so much for being here.

00:01:16:11 - 00:01:40:14
Speaker 2
Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited to dive into everything that we're going to talk about today. And I feel so privileged and glad to be part of the AMN family, that is, and this is a theme that will be recurring today. Talking about how AMN supports Beyond the Bedside and this podcast. This platform is an excellent example of that.

00:01:40:16 - 00:01:58:19
Speaker 1
Yes. And I and I agree, and I think that's why this it made me and this just happened spontaneously right before hopping on here, I'm like, I need to like present this episode in a way that's like, this is why we're doing it. And this is like why I have a passion for it. And I'm just so grateful that I'm here hosting this podcast.

00:01:58:21 - 00:02:21:01
Speaker 1
I had no idea this is where my travel nursing journey would take me, and I'm so grateful for it. And I just want everyone to feel the way I do about Amen. So I am so excited to dive into this with you. And I always start this off with obviously, like introducing who you are, what you know, what you do with AMN for AMN, and you know something that you're just passionate about right now?

00:02:21:03 - 00:03:07:21
Speaker 2
100%. I am a travel nurse recruiter with AMN. I've been here for the last four years. I've been a senior recruiter for the last three, and I think what really pulled me in and has kept me in the travel nurse sphere these last couple of years. My fiance is an ICU nurse, so number one, I do have firsthand everyday experience with what you guys are dealing with and what you see and what the life of a nurse is like and hearing how, I mean, he's worked in some rough hospitals in the Southern California area and getting to hear his impact and what he's doing translates to me feeling even more passionate about, you know,

00:03:07:21 - 00:03:16:16
Speaker 2
providing that staffing support and helping to improve and delegate patient care. So that's why I'm here and why I love it so much.

00:03:16:18 - 00:03:42:16
Speaker 1
Well, I love that. And I'm I'm really happy to have met you. And, you know, the conversation that we had, we said this, we're like, I wish we would have just been recording on that intro call that we had because we touched on so many things that I think, and I'm hoping the conversation takes us back there, because it was a lot of important things that I want other nurses, travel nurses, people thinking about traveling, you know, to to hear because there are many different options when you start traveling.

00:03:42:16 - 00:04:08:09
Speaker 1
And I am grateful that my recruiter landed on my lap when she did, it was through a mutual friend, and it created this relationship that I never thought that I would, I would have. And yes, you know, as I said before, this podcast is only here because it is sponsored by AMA and health care. And, you know, I really want to just hit that nail on the head one last time before we wrap up the 2025 season.

00:04:08:09 - 00:04:12:10
Speaker 1
And I am just excited to get started.

00:04:12:12 - 00:04:58:14
Speaker 2
Me too. And I love that you touched on that relationship aspect, because it's important to remember as a traveler, your experience is going to be 100% individual. There is no two travelers that are going to have identical journeys as they're pursuing contracts when they're off contract, going back to staff per diem, working crisis assignments. And so finding an advocate and a recruiter in a company that supports whatever your journey may look like and is really there to help guide you each step of the way is what makes travel nursing a great career option and a great career path, so I'm excited for us to talk about that too.

00:04:58:19 - 00:05:15:20
Speaker 1
Yeah, and you know, it's so crazy. I honestly this conversation happened this morning. I am looking for new contract. And you know, I my recruiter texted me because I had a conversation with the manager and it's like, okay. But there's a certain things that we need to like try to tweak, you know, to make it work. Just perfectly.

00:05:15:22 - 00:05:37:01
Speaker 1
And the conversation I had with her, I started off and I'm like, okay, I just need you to be like my friend right now because I'm torn, you know, like, and that's that's something that I think is so valuable because I'm doing this alone. Some people have their travel partner, there are traveling couples, you know, some people are married there.

00:05:37:01 - 00:05:57:00
Speaker 1
You know, they have their friends with them. I'm alone a lot of the times making the decisions that I'm making. So I rely on my recruiter to to be my friend. And, you know, it may sound corny and it's like, you know, at the end of the day, it's a business, whatever. But you know, that relationship and I we've talked about this, I actually had my very first recruiter come on.

00:05:57:02 - 00:06:19:14
Speaker 1
But like, amazing. It's so, so important. And I just want to like drill that into travel nurses, potential travel nurses heads to be like this. If you invest in the relationship, it will pay off. Because yes, I needed a friend. I needed an opinion to be like, what do I do? You know how to like, what should I do?

00:06:19:14 - 00:06:30:00
Speaker 1
And it was just so nice to have a real conversation, and I felt like it was honest advice and that's something that I truly value. And I don't know if I would find that anywhere else.

00:06:30:02 - 00:06:50:08
Speaker 2
Oh my gosh. Yeah. I mean, think about the ask that we as the staffing agency are asking of you guys, leave your home, travel across the country a lot of times solo to a brand new city, a brand new state. You get 1 to 3 days to orient and then there you go. Please work and do a great job.

00:06:50:14 - 00:07:10:17
Speaker 2
Yeah, it's so much. So that initial hurdle of is travel, right for me requires a lot of communication between the two of us to decide, is this you been in an environment that you feel like you could thrive in now? I am always an advocate for giving it a try because you don't know for real until you do it.

00:07:10:23 - 00:07:32:04
Speaker 2
But learning about what types of environments you feel most comfortable in in terms of patient care, learning what you like to do when you're off because on an assignment, you're only working three days out of the week. I want to make sure that you're going and you can make friends wherever you're at, and that you feel that you can build a community in that assignment.

00:07:32:05 - 00:07:56:14
Speaker 2
And all of that information helps us put together those curated recommendations and makes it to where, when you're on assignment, even if the work is hard, which 99% of the time it's very hard. That's the reason why the travel job is posted in the first place. There's some sort of staffing gap that needs to be filled, so we expect it to be difficult.

00:07:56:16 - 00:08:13:01
Speaker 2
I need my travelers to feel 100% supported, and that they can come to me with any concerns if I'm going to expect them to do three months on an assignment. And that comes from trust and communication that's barebones. What? We got.

00:08:13:01 - 00:08:31:04
Speaker 1
Access. Yeah. And I think like and we I feel like I have we have talked about not you and I but like in the past I've talked about this even with other travel nurses. Yeah. You know, on and off this podcast about the relationship and trying to explain why that's why that's important. But it is and it's easy.

00:08:31:04 - 00:08:53:08
Speaker 1
It's just like any other relationship you invest in, you know, and we've talked about if it doesn't work it doesn't work. Yeah. That conversation. And let's connect with someone who maybe you vibe with a little bit more there. Just you have common likes interest, you know. And I always say I've always say I'm lucky. But then I think and I'm like, how have I been lucky?

00:08:53:08 - 00:09:16:20
Speaker 1
I'm on my third recruiter. Not because of my choice. It's because of advancements in careers, you know, other, other choices. But I like I've been assigned now three different recruiters and I've had the same relationship, obviously not the same relationship, but the same feelings about the relationship. And that has a foundation of what AMN is. And that's what, you know.

00:09:16:20 - 00:09:23:22
Speaker 1
That's what I really want to get to the get to the, the core of and like why, why that's that way. You know.

00:09:24:00 - 00:09:47:08
Speaker 2
Absolutely. I think honestly it comes to there's a level of vulnerability required on both sides and that can be uncomfortable. Initially. We're meeting you over the phone. We're not necessarily getting to meet or chat in person. And you, as the traveler, are making such a huge step with your personal life and your career to decide to leave home and go out.

00:09:47:10 - 00:10:23:22
Speaker 2
And the best way for us to help you with that choice and with that process is to know more about you. And as the traveler gets more comfortable sharing that kind of thing, talking about the hard stuff us as recruiters will too. I think of most of my travelers as good friends in addition to our professional relationship, and I love hearing about stuff beyond just work because I want to know if you've got, you know, kids that have awesome school things coming up that triggers to me, looks like we're going to be staying close to home for the next couple of months.

00:10:24:00 - 00:10:49:15
Speaker 2
If you've got a spouse who just had a crazy career change and you guys are having to uproot your whole life, what can I do to find you? Employment that feels a little bit more stable while your spouse is in a state of transition and flux, those details go such a long way in me, providing the best and most personalized recommendations that will meet you where you are, wherever that may be.

00:10:49:17 - 00:11:07:06
Speaker 1
Yeah, and you know that going back to what you said, your your passion was like the nursing experience on and off contract. That's reality. We're not going to be back to back to back contracts. You know, like I mean maybe you are. Maybe we are. Maybe we're going to extend we're going to stay at a place for a year.

00:11:07:06 - 00:11:37:19
Speaker 1
Great great great. But I don't think that's the norm. That's not been my norm. So there have been lulls in between my travel assignments. And it's like, what what do I do between those assignments, you know, how do I continue to cultivate that relationship or still feel like a member of the Am and team? You know, in between those assignments, you know, and how how does that work and is always such an interesting thing for me because I'm the, you know, I'm on the nursing side of it and then, you know, you're on this side of it.

00:11:37:19 - 00:11:42:23
Speaker 1
So what does that look like for you? Like when a traveler is between assignments?

00:11:43:01 - 00:12:03:15
Speaker 2
Yeah, I think this brings into a whole area of our business that is still very much being worked on. And there's so many ideas going around of of how we can make it even better. But number one, we have different divisions where if full time travel is not the move for you right now, we can staff you local.

00:12:03:19 - 00:12:32:10
Speaker 2
We can staff you per diem. If you're looking for stuff that's more short term and requires something that's a little bit more flexible, we staff crisis. We can meet all of that there. But beyond work assignments we're going to talk about passport a lot. But the passport brings in a community aspect. You can whether you're on contractor off, you can see what's going on in your area or what's maybe going on somewhere that you want to be.

00:12:32:12 - 00:12:57:13
Speaker 2
You can see traveler experiences again, whether you're on assignment or not, engaging with those blogs, community stories, information about different assignment locations. And then in addition to that, we've got amends driven community engagement. So if you're looking for more mission style work, we just we worked with the Esperanza Project a couple of weeks ago out in Guatemala.

00:12:57:13 - 00:13:16:15
Speaker 2
We've been doing that for years. So if you're looking for something to fulfill you, that's beyond just a contract. So much to offer. So, so much to talk about, so much to share. And all of those things are life and experience enriching. And I think they're so, so valuable.

00:13:16:17 - 00:13:35:05
Speaker 1
They are. And I learned, you know, I just I just recorded an episode reflecting on Travel Con and, you know, I was with Nicole and she has actually gone to Guatemala and I'm all right. Yes, yes. I like a little bit, I was like, wait, squirrel, is that right? And I didn't know. I really didn't know much about that.

00:13:35:05 - 00:13:54:08
Speaker 1
I've heard other nurses talking about going on nursing like mission trips, and I didn't know that, you know, and had that involvement to allow me to maybe have that outlet to, to go. So, you know, it's I'm I'm still learning. I've been doing this now six years. It's like my six year anniversary, oddly enough, this week. That's crazy.

00:13:54:08 - 00:14:15:20
Speaker 1
I just realized that. But, Wow. Yeah. So it's it's just nice that I continue to learn more opportunities. And there's not always that big stress, like, okay, my assignments ending in two weeks. What do I do? What do I need to do? And the whole her DM aspect, you know, I was able to utilize that within my first year of with AMN.

00:14:15:20 - 00:14:34:09
Speaker 1
And I was like, wait, this is an option? Like, this is so cool. And, you know, gives you that that freedom and that flexibility, but still allows you to be like, well, if I need to get a paycheck, I can pick up some shifts, you know? And I think that those are really amazing options that I don't know, everyone knows about.

00:14:34:09 - 00:14:45:09
Speaker 1
You know, if I'm still learning about it. And I feel that I've fully invested in and and then, you know, I'm still learning about that. I feel like a lot of people probably don't know that these are options.

00:14:45:11 - 00:15:05:23
Speaker 2
100%. And that's an area of opportunity for us as well. Is that visibility aspect because we want you guys to be engaged and involved with that. And I have to say, Nicole is my director and she's awesome. I loved her episode. She's amazing. I got to go to Trav Con, not this past year, but the year prior.

00:15:06:01 - 00:15:38:04
Speaker 2
Oh no, I loved it. So much fun. Like, I what an insane conference with so many fun things for you guys. But just the networking opportunities are insane. But the the community aspect, the additional projects, the per diem you guys having access to, again, what sorts of opportunities. And I'm not even going to limit it to work, but what sorts of opportunities that will meet you where you're at, because we can get real and talk about the state of the world for a second.

00:15:38:06 - 00:16:00:08
Speaker 2
Things are expensive. Cost of living is crazy. I have multiple travelers that to make ends meet. Right now they have to hold down multiple jobs, and sometimes that does not mean that a single travel contract is going to do it. So being able to support and I'll add in, in case you didn't know, you can do per diem and travel at the same time.

00:16:00:10 - 00:16:21:00
Speaker 2
You can do them concurrently. Being able to to help you guys and support with that financial element and the scheduling flexibility is what we're about. And again, we really want to make that process as smooth as possible. So more developments and improvements to come over time with that.

00:16:21:02 - 00:16:41:20
Speaker 1
I love that I actually didn't when you said maybe you didn't know this, I'm like, yeah, I knew that. And then I'm like, wait a second. No, I actually didn't know that like to be able to work, which is crazy because if you get a per diem at a hospital, you can't work out of the hospital within their system right, full time and then have a per diem at a different hospital.

00:16:41:20 - 00:16:52:13
Speaker 1
They don't. A lot of hospital systems don't allow that. So that's actually a really nice opportunity that you can do. You can do. So yes, I knew that. But no, I didn't know that, if that makes sense.

00:16:52:13 - 00:17:06:16
Speaker 2
Yeah. Since you're since it's agency like since we're the employer, you're the staffer. Oh, you don't have an internal relationship whether you're per diem or not. So you're basically just doing contracts in the area, and that's what it is.

00:17:06:18 - 00:17:31:19
Speaker 1
You, like just kind of blew my mind. And I'm like, why did that just blow my mind? They feel like. I feel like I knew that, but no, you're it's almost like not a loophole because I don't like that word and that analogy. But it is a way for you to kind of get everything you want without having, you know, the compete or sign with non-compete or whatever it's called, or, you know, and that that's what's crazy is like the hospital system that my per diem is in.

00:17:31:19 - 00:17:55:20
Speaker 1
I love it, I'm happy there. I'm like, I really grateful for it, but it limits me where I can go because now they have a very large hospital system that I can't work anywhere else but it. But I was previously that was my first, per diem travel agent. So awesome was through the hospital and I did take a travel assignment, but I didn't work.

00:17:55:20 - 00:17:58:00
Speaker 1
I didn't work them.

00:17:58:02 - 00:17:59:08
Speaker 2
At the same time.

00:17:59:10 - 00:18:10:04
Speaker 1
Yeah, but it was. But it was. Yeah, but but I, I don't know if I knew I was allowed to. So that's a really I'm glad you said that because. Yeah a really good point. It's no go back to your recruiter.

00:18:10:04 - 00:18:12:10
Speaker 2
It'd be like, hey, in the future.

00:18:12:12 - 00:18:39:05
Speaker 1
Yeah. No, that's actually really good to know because I was thinking if I, because I was looking into that now with, you know, we talk about the, the where the world is now and, you know, it's it's expensive. And I was just so crazy that all these conversations happened and we're recording this. But yesterday I was having a conversation with a doctor and he was saying that he's looking to get credentialed elsewhere because he needs to have he meet.

00:18:39:05 - 00:19:00:21
Speaker 1
I shouldn't say need. I'm putting words in his mouth, but he's looking to, you know, get a second job. And I'm like, what is this? Like, how are we not able to work a full time job and afford to live in the area where these hospitals are? That is mind blowing to me. Like, so, you know, it's it's it's crazy.

00:19:00:21 - 00:19:19:16
Speaker 1
And this was something that was at the top of the list that I wanted to talk about that we haven't really hit on right now. But why are nurses traveling right now? Because even that has changed. You know that that whole world is not what it was even pre-COVID. But we're not in the same world that we were pre-COVID.

00:19:19:16 - 00:19:26:19
Speaker 1
The rates that were pre-COVID supported the cost of living. Yeah. And now we're not really seeing that.

00:19:26:21 - 00:19:48:10
Speaker 2
Yeah, I definitely think and there's going to be outliers in every situation. Right, right. Hey is not the biggest driver anymore. And it hasn't been for years at this point. What I am hearing and what I'm experiencing is, number one, I still have a ton of travelers who love the flexibility. They don't want to be tied down to a staff job.

00:19:48:12 - 00:20:19:06
Speaker 2
And with Covid, there were tons of health care systems that saw massive leadership changes that resulted in, you know, policy and staffing changes at the lower level that, you know, my travelers didn't love it, didn't feel safe or sustainable for them anymore. And so travel became a way to still have that employment option, still be networking, but not necessarily tied to a one year or two year contract somewhere that they didn't have management support.

00:20:19:08 - 00:20:44:13
Speaker 2
So that flexibility is still a huge piece. And then I have lots of travelers who their home base is maybe in a higher cost of living area, and they are trying to make that dollars go further. So they're taking assignments in, you know, locations like the East Coast or the South East where expenses are a bit more manageable and regardless of what the rate is in that area, it's going further for that.

00:20:44:16 - 00:20:46:16
Speaker 2
It just balances out a little bit better.

00:20:46:18 - 00:21:04:20
Speaker 1
That's a really good point, because that's kind of where I'm at right now. Like the the conversation, like I'm kind of torn between, you know, I kind of got offered a position to be a little bit more than per diem. Then it's so exciting. And then when they offer you that position, you're like, wait, wait, what do I do?

00:21:04:20 - 00:21:26:14
Speaker 1
I, I don't I can't just leave when I want to. Wait, wait. Hold on. So it's terrifying. So like that's a really good point that, you know, you can even like if I'm looking to travel, but I still my, my home, my home base, that's expensive, you know, going elsewhere for a travel assignment that may not be the best money.

00:21:26:14 - 00:21:42:14
Speaker 1
It's still more money than you would be making as a full time. A lot of the times. Yeah. And you're not going to spend as much where you're traveling to. So that. Does that make sense. Yeah. Yeah. So it's like why the you're like making the math. Math right now.

00:21:42:16 - 00:22:09:14
Speaker 2
And it's that's the thing is everyone's reason is, is it's it's so personal. And there's not a single recruiter. There's not a single agency. There's not even another single nurse that can tell you whether traveling is right for you or not. That is 100% personal. The best thing that I can do is give you all of the information and resources possible, and talk you through what those different options would look like, and see if it makes sense.

00:22:09:16 - 00:22:30:06
Speaker 2
And I think one thing that our team does really well, and something that I strive to do with every single person I connect with, is you can tell me, hey, this is not the move for me. Within the next six months, it just it's not quite the right time. If you call me six months later, you can guarantee I'm going to pick up and we're going to figure it out.

00:22:30:08 - 00:22:44:18
Speaker 2
Like, yeah, that time spent away. Whether you're traveling or not, I am still 100% here to again meet you where you're at and make sure we're finding the best opportunity for you at that time.

00:22:44:20 - 00:23:06:10
Speaker 1
Yeah. And that, I mean, to make this go full circle, that just goes back to the fundamentals of that relationship and understanding and like not throwing every single job option with the traveler. Right. Like, you know, you know, your boundary is just like any relationship. You know, you set boundaries and it's basically what it is. And that's that's what keeps someone there.

00:23:06:11 - 00:23:34:09
Speaker 1
That's what that's what has kept me here to be completely, fully transparent, which I try to 100% be on this podcast, maybe sometimes a little too much, but that really is that really is why I say because it's like that. Like that is something that I have not been able to match. And, you know, I and you know, again, I say I'm lucky, but I think that every travel nurse out there has that opportunity to have that same relationship.

00:23:34:14 - 00:23:52:04
Speaker 1
And feeling about the relation ship as much as I do, you know, that is something that everyone should, should be able to feel. And, you know, I think I've talked about it before, but I think we're hitting things a little bit differently that I hope will make it make sense to the people that that are listening.

00:23:52:06 - 00:24:19:14
Speaker 2
I hope so too. I'm. And that's why I'm, I'm so glad that we have this platform for you to talk about and talk about your personal experiences. And again, kind of pull back the curtain on what being a traveler is. The good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. And just kind of shed some light on that because it's such it's a massive personal and professional commitment that could pay off.

00:24:19:16 - 00:24:50:04
Speaker 2
I mean, reaping rewards over and over and over again. The networking, getting your foot in the door with the top health care systems across the country, being able to to revisit those. And it just we're even achieving career milestones. You know, if being in R.N. is not the long term plan and your goal is to go back to school, get an advanced degree, or go the nursing management route, we have options, teams and divisions to support you.

00:24:50:07 - 00:24:51:18
Speaker 2
Each step of the way.

00:24:51:20 - 00:25:11:01
Speaker 1
Right? Which I you know, we will definitely get into that a little bit a little bit more. But that you know, that's that's huge. You know, it's not just okay I can bounce from you know, this company to this company to this company. There's longevity here. You know, there's there's that, you know, like longevity. There's no other word.

00:25:11:01 - 00:25:26:19
Speaker 1
That's really what it is, you know, and and that the capability of being able to do that. And I think that's I had this conversation with my recruiter today. You know, we talked about she was like, I'm generation X, not me. She was saying that she's generation I think I'm I'm a millennial. I don't know, I'm old at this point.

00:25:26:19 - 00:25:50:07
Speaker 1
I don't who cares? I'm not Gen Z or whatever. So, you know, she was saying when like our parents, you get a job, you stay with that company, you invest in that company because that company invests in you and you work, you retire, you get your pension and you're happy. That's like not the world that we live in right now, unfortunately.

00:25:50:09 - 00:26:12:02
Speaker 1
So the opportunity right, right. And especially as nurses, things are really hot right now. I won't touch on why it's really hot right now, but things are hot here in California right now. And it comes down to just that value. And we're losing, you know, I think as health care providers in all aspects of what that is, we're losing that feeling of being valued.

00:26:12:06 - 00:26:33:00
Speaker 1
And like what we do is like is meaningful and purposeful. And it is like you can't have a country without hospitals, without health care, without people with compassion that care about you as a person, not just a patient, but you as a person. And how do you expect people to show up when you're not showing up for that?

00:26:33:02 - 00:26:53:20
Speaker 1
And that's sad. And that's, you know, kind of the turmoil of of health care in, you know, in the world. Right now. I mean, I can speak for America, but I'm sure things are elsewhere not, you know, not like it used to be. And I think that the longevity you have being able in with Amnh is is huge because there is investment on both sides of that.

00:26:53:20 - 00:26:57:19
Speaker 1
And I think it's an opportunity that people should take advantage of.

00:26:57:20 - 00:27:25:13
Speaker 2
Oh my gosh. Yeah. It makes me on on a weekly basis. At this point, I'm having some sort of conversation where I'm so disappointed with the treatment and just kind of sometimes the general attitude towards health care professionals as a whole, but especially nurses. I hear it from my fiancé on the, you know, staff permanent side and then I spend hours every single week talking to travelers.

00:27:25:15 - 00:27:58:22
Speaker 2
And I just can't believe that we have. And I say we lose sleep because it's definitely above our heads. But that there is this system error in the ways that there's this system in place that is taking for granted what you guys are doing and the sacrifice and how much you put out. Again, whether you're traveling or not, caring for people's family members and working these insane hours and not being able to take breaks all the time and having these insanely high expectations.

00:27:58:22 - 00:28:24:20
Speaker 2
And if things go wrong, you're the first one that they're going to. I just I hate that part of it. And so being able to try and pivot that and, and take that nurse who's feeling undervalued or not appreciated and put her somewhere where she can see every single day that she's making a difference is what clicked for me with this job.

00:28:24:22 - 00:28:47:20
Speaker 2
And that was that was the whole turning point. And so I want to continue to do that every day and being able to support them again, you know, whether you're still a nurse right now and that's what you want to do or wanting to move beyond that and develop their skills professionally. I love that I'm part of a company that supports that.

00:28:47:22 - 00:29:06:20
Speaker 1
Yeah. And that has that opportunity. I mean, it's yes, it's huge. And I think we you know, we definitely deviated from where we wanted this conversation to go. But I love it because, I mean, I think that what that story of my life, I think that I have like I, my friend had this note in her phone that says squirrels in Mexico from like when we went to Vegas.

00:29:07:00 - 00:29:23:13
Speaker 1
And she's like, what did this mean? And I'm like, because we kept squirreling. We're like, why don't we just go on vacation to Mexico? And then it turned into let's be squirrels in Mexico. It was like crazy. But that's just a story of my life. So that's that's why these episodes, it's like, oh, I try to keep myself in line, you know, have my little bullet points, but it just it's going to go.

00:29:23:13 - 00:29:45:14
Speaker 1
And that's what I love about it, is that these conversations become real conversations. I actually forgot we were recording for a second, because I just feel like our conversation is like it's just a real life conversation. And, you know, just the key points of what you just said is like the appreciation and respect that I feel from my recruiter, because that's how I deal with most of the, you know, most of the time.

00:29:45:16 - 00:30:19:12
Speaker 1
But even like I, I had a bad experience on, you know, too, I mean, multiple assignments, let's be honest. But like, I had a really bad experience and I couldn't believe what the hospital was doing to me. And I mentioned something in it, just a transient way to my recruiter. And she, like, took it upon herself to get me on the phone with someone that listened to me, heard my story, knew what happened, was wrong and fixed it, or maybe not fix me, but like made it right.

00:30:19:14 - 00:30:43:10
Speaker 1
And I'm like, who would do that? Who has to do that? No one has to do that. There's heart, you know, and there's heart in the company and there's heart in the employees of that company. That's what makes success. And that's what that's what has kept me here and brought me in. So I, you know, I just again, I got just say it over and over, but like it's, it's it's true life things that happened.

00:30:43:15 - 00:31:14:07
Speaker 1
And even when I tell what happened I have to be careful because I don't, you know, I don't want to say exactly like what happens in everyone's mind that people are going to run with it and say, well, whoa, whoa, whoa. But, you know, like what? I want people to understand that. Like, you're not alone. And if you truly are feeling alone, pick up the phone and have a conversation because pretty sure if you're feeling that way and you did the right thing, that you know you're going to have someone in your corner that, you know, sometimes the hospitals are just going to be like, nope, no, go whatever.

00:31:14:07 - 00:31:31:02
Speaker 1
But like is you, you still feel valued at the end of the day with whatever the result of that would be. You know, that's that's what I value. And I think a lot of nurses would say the same thing. I'd rather do you get in trouble for doing the right thing than fly under the radar by doing the wrong thing.

00:31:31:04 - 00:32:00:15
Speaker 2
Oh my gosh. Yeah. And being number one brave enough to have those conversations with your recruiter is amazing like that. That again speaks to a level of vulnerability and trust that is huge. And our team members, I mean, your recruiters, obviously, your main point of contact, but our clinical managers are the ones who are. Oh yeah, that has they're amazing and they are bombarded with questions from us all day long because, I don't know, some people may or may not know this.

00:32:00:15 - 00:32:14:22
Speaker 2
Most recruiters do not have a clinical background. So I didn't you know, I didn't go to nursing school or anything. I tried. I did two years as a bioassay major, discovered that I just, you know, wasn't built for that. And that's okay.

00:32:15:00 - 00:32:20:12
Speaker 1
Good for you knowing that, though. I mean, that takes a lot of courage to know that's not the right fit.

00:32:20:14 - 00:32:26:05
Speaker 2
Yeah, I think the the transcripts and the grades coming back are what told me, hey, I don't think this is the best fit.

00:32:26:05 - 00:32:28:13
Speaker 1
For, you know.

00:32:28:15 - 00:32:49:05
Speaker 2
That's that's all right. I now I feel like I'm in a role that's much better suited to my strengths, but we we lean on our clinical team for that on assignment support because we're. I'm in a home office. I can't get, you know, out to the East Coast or to the Midwest to say, yeah, don't you dare treat my nurse like that.

00:32:49:05 - 00:33:16:11
Speaker 2
This is what we're going to do. So we have that liaison in that help. And ultimately at the end of the day, it does me as the recruiter. It does us as a company. No good if you hate your job and if you're every single day there's anxiety and stress around reporting to work, that doesn't help anybody. So those conversations are huge in feeling like, let's talk about what has gone well, what hasn't gone well.

00:33:16:17 - 00:33:35:16
Speaker 2
Let's keep that in mind, log that away for future assignments, and let's talk about what's going to make you feel the most comfortable moving forward. And it is always and should always be like a solution oriented conversation. And I do feel like our team really, really excels at that.

00:33:35:18 - 00:33:55:20
Speaker 1
Yeah. And it's something I've had conversations with the clinical team, you know, when I've had, you know, specific issues. And it's so funny because I tell my recruiter I'm like, this happened. And then g-tube and then this, and then they had a pneumo and then they got intubated and then and they're just like,

00:33:55:22 - 00:33:56:06
Speaker 2
You know.

00:33:56:06 - 00:33:58:02
Speaker 1
And then I get on the.

00:33:58:04 - 00:34:04:01
Speaker 2
Big some of it up. But most of the time I'm like wow that what. Oh my gosh that sounds crazy.

00:34:04:03 - 00:34:27:02
Speaker 1
What a rough day. Yeah. But like with the clinical team I don't know if this. And you can maybe you can answer, maybe you can't. But do do you, do they get assigned, you know I'm NICU so like are there like maternal child health clinical people that get assigned to those as like those nurses? Because I feel like every time I talk to someone, they know exactly what I'm talking about.

00:34:27:02 - 00:34:34:01
Speaker 1
And I'm like, well, I'm in the NICU. Oh, yeah, I've, I've worked in the NICU, I've worked here and there. And I'm like, Like how like, you know.

00:34:34:01 - 00:35:08:05
Speaker 2
Because under assigned by hospital or by health care system or sometimes by region, but these are two to get in that role. These are nurses and NPS with decades of experience. Cumulatively a lot of them have traveled themselves. So and some of them were even travelers where you guys are on assignment now. So they really have been foot in the door on the ground and can relate in a way that even the best recruiters who we will do our best and we'll listen to everything that we just can't in that exact moment.

00:35:08:10 - 00:35:14:01
Speaker 2
And so they are excellent partners for us to be able to lean on when it comes to helping you guys.

00:35:14:03 - 00:35:29:01
Speaker 1
Oh, that's that's good to know. That's actually really good to know that it's, you know, that a lot of them have that travel experience because that's like that. You're able to relate. And I feel like every conversation I had, I was like, oh my gosh, this person hears me. They understand. Yes. Like, you know, and that really, really makes a difference.

00:35:29:01 - 00:35:41:17
Speaker 1
So I like that that extra step is like thought about when getting those individuals into those positions. I think that's that's nice to know because I was like, maybe I'm just maybe I'm just lucky again, right?

00:35:41:19 - 00:35:47:04
Speaker 2
No, this is all carefully put together to make sure that it was exactly what you like it that.

00:35:47:06 - 00:36:10:18
Speaker 1
Okay, so before like, I feel like we I really wanted to get into we really covered a lot about the relationship. More than I was even expecting to get into. And thank you for, you know, sharing all of that, because I think that, you know, this is a good, vulnerable conversation between both of us to just hit on those things that I think all of these thoughts go through the travelers minds and nurses minds thinking about traveling and just nurses in general.

00:36:10:20 - 00:36:39:18
Speaker 1
But something I really want to touch on is the Am passport. I haven't been able to do that on an episode and you have a passion for it. I have a passion for it. So like let's kind of break that down. And you know, something that I'm going to start with this, even though I was going to end with it, but I think it's a good place to start is you use the term like passport champion and like that just kind of like really motivated me to like, open it up and go through it and like, really understand what the passport is.

00:36:39:20 - 00:37:02:14
Speaker 1
And, you know, I have access to another like app. And the passport is so different than any other app that I've, I've seen because of the things that you touched on the community engagement, the impact that you have on the communities that you serve as a traveler, the blogs from other other travelers, like there's so much to it.

00:37:02:14 - 00:37:09:15
Speaker 1
So I don't know where you want to start, but I know you love it so much to so open that up for me.

00:37:09:17 - 00:37:33:09
Speaker 2
Yes, I think the first and most important thing that I want to add is that this app really was built and developed by travelers. For travelers, so much initial. There were focus groups and panels and feedback and that's one of the beautiful things about passport, is that it is updating and changing all the time because we're we're hearing that feedback.

00:37:33:09 - 00:37:57:15
Speaker 2
We're hearing what's going well. We're hearing what maybe needs to be tweaked, and we want it to be a one stop, full service stop for you guys. Again, whether you're traveling or in between or looking for a different kind of gig, passport will meet you there. The things that I love most about it are, number one, the visibility aspect.

00:37:57:17 - 00:38:24:04
Speaker 2
You can view all available positions. You can see pay information, you can see location and scheduling. And that is huge. I don't know, you know when you're on like indeed or LinkedIn or something and you have to apply to get compensation details that just number one takes so much time and it doesn't serve you. When we're in a market that's very competitive and jobs fill so quickly.

00:38:24:06 - 00:38:50:14
Speaker 2
So I love that piece of it. I love that we have integrated the credentialing and compliance element so that you've got one platform where you can upload your credentials and communicate with all the team members that will kind of have a hand in your file. And then again, that community engagement aspect, you get to actually see your impact based on the assignments that you've done.

00:38:50:14 - 00:39:03:00
Speaker 2
You get to see how many patient lives you've touched. And I, I mean, what better way to generate value and pride in what you guys are doing than actually getting to see it and having that be visible?

00:39:03:02 - 00:39:21:07
Speaker 1
Yeah, I think that's a really interesting thing. And I found that I would say a couple of years ago and I was an impact, what's my impact? And I clicked it and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is actually really interesting. And it is it's not okay. People be like, well, why do I need to see that? But it just it's like, oh my gosh, like, this is what I've done over my six years of traveling.

00:39:21:07 - 00:39:24:06
Speaker 1
You know, that's pretty it's pretty impressive.

00:39:24:08 - 00:39:47:13
Speaker 2
Yeah. It feels I mean, you can see it when you're working your shifts and and you can feel what you're doing. And you guys make connections with patients and you'll you'll get references and you'll get referrals and you'll get all of this. But this is a data landscape to show literally what you being on contract, what that did for that community, for that area, for those patients.

00:39:47:15 - 00:40:21:03
Speaker 2
And I it just again brings to the top what kind of difference you guys are making. And I want you to feel that pride when you're on assignment with me beyond just okay. I completed my contract and passport being an ever developing platform, we're still absolutely working to show that, you know, if you're doing that per diem, either at the same time or in between making that a super seamless transition so that, yeah, you and your recruiter get to talk about all the fun stuff in the credentialing.

00:40:21:03 - 00:40:26:03
Speaker 2
Nitpicky whatever can be done 100%, you know, independently.

00:40:26:05 - 00:40:48:11
Speaker 1
And it is nice too, because you can, you know, I can actually get on there and see when my licenses expire. I'm because that's huge, you know, and you carry multiple licenses, which unfortunately, I'm, you know, my home state is not a compact state, so I have to carry a lot of them. You get kind of lost. And I thought, oh my gosh, my license is going to expire at the end of September.

00:40:48:14 - 00:41:09:06
Speaker 1
And then I looked on there, I'm like, oh no, I'm good till next year, you know. So it actually it helps to keep me kind of more organized. And all of your, all of your health documents are there. Like I scrolled through again, like when we had our initial initial meeting, I opened it up and was looking and I'm like, oh my gosh, this goes all the way back to when I started doing this.

00:41:09:12 - 00:41:31:09
Speaker 1
And it has all my like, vaccination records and like all of that stuff. And it's right. It's literally right there, which is super helpful even if you're, you know, applying for a different job, like a per diem job somewhere, like a permanent position, like you have all of that stuff in a, in one spot, which I think is extremely helpful.

00:41:31:11 - 00:41:51:01
Speaker 2
It's 100% accessible for sure, because you're right, you guys are responsible for and I mean, these boards of nursing with the different requirements. And this license expires on your birthday. This license expires 72 days after your birthday every three years. Oh my gosh, I how how do you.

00:41:51:01 - 00:41:52:15
Speaker 1
Yeah how do I keep track.

00:41:52:17 - 00:41:59:09
Speaker 2
Yeah. So having one single place where you can view all of that is, is massive.

00:41:59:11 - 00:42:31:13
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah. And I, you know, I, I've done a couple little videos for like social about like my favorite feature of passport and something I think that's funny is you saying that it is ever changing. I was in my favorite feature has like changed multiple multiple times because I said the one time oh is like the resume because it'll build you a resume that you can export out of the app to have, which I think is super cool and super helpful, because when you're going through and you have to list every single hospital that you've worked at, that takes a lot of time.

00:42:31:17 - 00:42:59:23
Speaker 1
So when that done for you, the dates, all of that stuff, it's it's super helpful. And then the next time it's the auto submission because my specialty is not it's a small community of us and there's not many jobs and there's a lot of us. So having your preference and preferences set up to, you know, just auto submit to these places eliminates that time that you could have potentially lost the job.

00:42:59:23 - 00:43:13:23
Speaker 1
If you're waiting for, you know, your recruiter to reach out to you or you open the app and scroll through. You know, I do think it's ever changing. And I've I've seen that I've experienced that over the six years, I think. How old is the app? Do you know.

00:43:14:01 - 00:43:22:15
Speaker 2
Oh my gosh. I think its initial release was around Covid time. Like the platform as we recognize it now. Yeah.

00:43:22:17 - 00:43:54:04
Speaker 1
Because I look I don't remember that. Yeah I don't remember having it when I started. But I feel like I remember being like, oh, there's an app now. And I'm like, well, yeah. And using it. But it has, it has changed and it has just continued to get to get better. And yes, I also love the community engagement and like or the or the blogs, you know, like seeing everyone else's experience, you know, and I, we joked and I'm like, it would be nice to be able to connect with people that have potentially traveled to that hospital in your department to, like, connect with them.

00:43:54:04 - 00:44:20:03
Speaker 1
So maybe we can manifest that for the future, because to get real insight, you know, you have your Facebook pages, you have, you know, your communities of of people that you've met along your travels that you can reach back to you. But it would be kind of nice to get that firsthand, you know, experience from someone of like, what it's like or like, how do I find housing, you know, all of these different things, I think I think it's I have good feelings.

00:44:20:03 - 00:44:21:17
Speaker 1
It's it's going to come soon.

00:44:21:19 - 00:44:42:11
Speaker 2
I love it. We have so many things on the list of ideas. Again, on how to make it better. I love the idea of a chat feature because I think especially if you're, I mean, really at any point in your travel career, but especially when I'm talking to first time travelers who are feeling very nervous about the whole thing.

00:44:42:13 - 00:45:01:05
Speaker 2
I love trying to connect them with travelers that are on assignment there currently or in the area, and saying, yeah, you can reach out if you want to, but if you need a community, if you need people that are in your shoes and are going to be they had their first day, you're going to have your first day.

00:45:01:07 - 00:45:34:12
Speaker 2
I love the idea of of getting you guys connected because then you develop, you know, professional relationships, friendships. But you can also just get your bearings. And it's another element of making sure that you feel not alone on these assignments because it's a lot. It's a lot to be away from home and family and be somewhere new. And your mental and physical well-being is just as important as like your clinical competency and where you're at, it's just as important and it should go hand in priority.

00:45:34:14 - 00:45:34:23
Speaker 2
Yes.

00:45:34:23 - 00:45:51:05
Speaker 1
I mean, like you said, if you're walking in and this happened to me, I walked in every day dreading to go to the job. It's not a good fit. No, it's not a good fit, you know. And that's okay. It may not be a good fit now. It doesn't mean forever, but like, you know, it happens and you're not going to be the best version of yourself.

00:45:51:05 - 00:46:13:00
Speaker 1
You're not going to be able to put your your best foot forward because you're not feeling 100% you and 100% yourself. So, you know, I think I think it's okay to talk about that and to like that be, you know, the scenario. And I love I love the idea of like a mentor ship. Sorry. I'm just like manifesting things right now.

00:46:13:05 - 00:46:33:05
Speaker 1
Like, you know, I'm I'm trying to build my position within. And it's. But, like, you know, there there are times when I'm just like, I need I need to talk to someone that gets it, you know? And you have your clinical managers, but they're they have other duties, too. They can't just, like, hop on the phone and have that phone call.

00:46:33:05 - 00:46:49:18
Speaker 1
But, you know, it would be it would be a really nice thing. And I do think the recruiters are good about that. You're going to, you know, or you you guys are close enough. It is funny like sorry squirrel going to travel con everyone knew who everyone was. And I'm like, how many recruiters are there? How do you know everyone?

00:46:49:20 - 00:47:08:19
Speaker 1
So like obviously you're getting to know someone's going to know someone that can connect you with that with that person. And I think it's I think it's a good point to point out that, you know, that option is, is, is there you don't have to do it. But like, if you're really feeling a certain way, you know, someone else may be like, heck yeah, let's get them on the phone.

00:47:08:19 - 00:47:25:17
Speaker 1
I help them, you know, or oh, they they haven't been able to make any friends or they're feeling lonely. Come on over like, let's go have dinner. You know, it's I think that I think that that's a good thing. And I love that you do that. And I think that every recruiter I've dealt with or talked to has seemed to be the same type of person that would do that.

00:47:25:17 - 00:47:41:12
Speaker 1
So, you know, that's also nurses listening have those conversations, you know, and and yeah, I did connect. Right. Because there is it's a big company. But at the core it is kind of small. So you know you are able to connect with with everyone.

00:47:41:14 - 00:48:05:05
Speaker 2
Yeah. You're your group. You're assigned you know, a group of people maybe a little bit different contract, a contract, but you are going to have a core knit of like this is who you communicate with. This is who you talk with. And being connected with travelers in the area doesn't even necessarily have to be about establishing, you know, friendships or community for assignment related questions.

00:48:05:05 - 00:48:33:08
Speaker 2
But if you're struggling to find, you know, housing or you're looking for ways to a, you know, a adjust those housing costs or share that, that could be a great way for us to get you connected. We can talk about transportation. If you're looking for a mentor to help with advancing your career, depending on certifications or obtaining new licenses, those connections are valuable.

00:48:33:09 - 00:48:49:12
Speaker 2
And right now, the online resources for that kind of thing are a little bit confusing and not always easy to navigate. So having a real person that you can talk to via a platform hopefully would be, amazing.

00:48:49:14 - 00:49:21:20
Speaker 1
Yeah, I agree, and you know, I think I think you saying on, you know, advancing your career, you know, I want to circle back to that. I want to go back to that, you know, infamous, infamous saying that has been said to me all throughout this year. And I have been wanting to talk about this on, on an episode, and I don't fully understand it, but I you have touched on so many things today that like, now I'm understanding it and you've explained it really well, but it has been said multiple times by multiple people.

00:49:21:22 - 00:49:33:03
Speaker 1
I want to start and end my career with an end, or the goal is to start and end your career with Am. And what does that mean? What does that look like?

00:49:33:05 - 00:50:04:21
Speaker 2
I love it, I love it. Well, I'll start first. You know, typically travel is not necessarily going to be the environment for new grads, right. Typically you guys you should have established skills and experience as you're going on and you're not getting a lot of training. That being said, we have absolutely staffed in the past new grad opportunities that allow fresh baby nurses to dip their feet in and learn on the job skills with a full, you know, support and education opportunity.

00:50:04:23 - 00:50:32:20
Speaker 2
Then when it comes to travel, we're talking about contracts. We're talking about development. We we work with, you know, teaching in magnet hospitals all across the country. So that ability, the skills that you can acquire there, the network that you're building, we're helping support you to become a more well-rounded health care professional. Through passport, you can also access our learning center, which has those free use and certification help.

00:50:32:22 - 00:51:10:08
Speaker 2
So if you're looking to either renew something for a license or you want to try something new, obtain a new certification, obtain a new skill again to develop and to round out your professional scope, we have options to support you with that. And I have a ton of ideas that we have talked about in regards to incentivizing and rewarding travelers that prioritize that sort of development because, yeah, AMN, we pride ourselves and our goal is always to be presenting the best possible candidates for these jobs.

00:51:10:12 - 00:51:38:14
Speaker 2
And we do. We have the highest quality nurses on the market. And for everyone that is going that extra mile and is really wanting to put their best foot forward, you guys should be recognized for that. And I, I know that we have a supportive environment that encourages it, and I think there's opportunities for us to get even one step further so that you see that value and that value comes back to you.

00:51:38:16 - 00:52:00:23
Speaker 1
Yeah, we I, you just reminded me, we talked about that. We talked about like, aren't my RNC, I have my certification for NICU and it's like I go to these hospitals and these nurses are wearing pins. They're wearing their badges celebrating that they're a certified nurse or they're RNC Nikki, or, you know, NCC like you or whatever they have.

00:52:01:01 - 00:52:21:16
Speaker 1
And it's like as a traveler, you're like, well, yeah, I have that too, you know, you know, and it's it's like so I do, you know, I, I love that and I love that that passion is there, that acknowledgment is there, the racking like you're recognizing it. And it's a work in progress right now. But like those are things that, you know, you work really, really hard.

00:52:21:16 - 00:52:31:14
Speaker 1
I mean, I didn't tell anyone I was taking that exam because it was hard and I didn't want to fail. And if I failed, I didn't want anyone to know I failed. So, you know.

00:52:31:16 - 00:52:33:00
Speaker 2
Thankfully I did not.

00:52:33:00 - 00:52:52:23
Speaker 1
I passed, but, you know, it's it's it's a lot you invest a lot of your time. You invest a lot of money. These aren't cheap. The education like I went to, you know, I went to education reviews. I you know, you pay for your your study materials. It's expensive. You add in, you invest yourself, you invest your money, you invest your time, you invest all of these things.

00:52:53:01 - 00:53:11:18
Speaker 1
And then you go travel. And it's like, okay, cool. You know, and it's it's weird, you know? And so I love that you brought that up in our first conversation. I'm so glad you remembered it again because I it slipped my mind. But, you know, I think that those those things are huge. And I think that I'm excited to see what's to come with that.

00:53:11:20 - 00:53:39:09
Speaker 2
Oh, 100%. We brought it up in a meeting recently, and I think it's a huge area for us to focus on because again, like you said, it's such a massive investment of your guys's time, effort, resources, money. And that should be recognized and celebrated whether you're a traveler or per diem nurse or a full time nurse. Like you took that extra step and and there should be recognition for that.

00:53:39:11 - 00:53:54:11
Speaker 2
And I love the idea of passport being a way to include that recognition. I think in our first meeting, we had talked about the idea of like passport badges and recognizing those advanced occasions.

00:53:54:13 - 00:53:54:20
Speaker 1
Yeah.

00:53:55:00 - 00:54:21:04
Speaker 2
Another thing that I am hearing from my travelers when they're going on a contract is a lot of times they're getting there and they are the senior most nurse on that unit. They're working with a bunch of newbies, and that could be an excellent learning opportunity. I definitely think there's some pros there. But when you sign up as a traveler, you're not you're not necessarily going in to be a preceptor or an educator.

00:54:21:06 - 00:54:48:06
Speaker 2
And for travelers that have that experience and feel comfortable taking that on, that should be recognized as well. And that should be celebrated because you are at that point going above and beyond the terms of your contract as a travel nurse. Yeah, it's such an important and integral role, you know, if these hospitals are going to adjust their staffing situation and get it.

00:54:48:08 - 00:55:05:20
Speaker 2
I mean, it's it's hard because it's a full cycle thing. We want travel to be around forever. But the goal is that hospitals are so well staffed and everything is so great that travel isn't needed. And to get them on that path, we got to train new nurses. We got to get them ready and develop those skills.

00:55:05:20 - 00:55:12:17
Speaker 2
And you guys that have been doing this for so many years can be a great way to achieve that as well.

00:55:12:19 - 00:55:30:11
Speaker 1
Yeah. And, you know, one of the assignments I was on, it was a new a newer unit that opened. There was a new manager and she kind of was left a unit that wasn't really tucked in. And her and I worked together. I was there almost a year. It was I when I reflect back, it's probably one of my favorite assignments.

00:55:30:15 - 00:55:50:12
Speaker 1
I had the most issues on that assignment, but like the people I worked with and what I was able to do because I think something I want to preferences first before I tell this story is, as a traveler, sometimes you I do. This is a personal feeling. I feel unappreciated from the fellow nurses just because it's like they don't know you.

00:55:50:12 - 00:56:07:19
Speaker 1
So like of course you like you can't. I can't walk in there and be like, here's my resume, treat me that way, because here's my resume. Like I give you kind of have to earn that respect a little bit. But, you know, I come in with a huge skill set and I'm, I'm not a cocky person, but I'm very confident in the hard work that I have put into my career.

00:56:07:21 - 00:56:28:22
Speaker 1
And I will stand on it. And, you know, it's so discouraging sometimes as a traveler to feel like, okay, like they don't even think I can put an IV in a kid, you know? And I was I was a transport nurse. I was intubating babies, like, you know what I mean? It's just like, so crazy to me that, like, I have to constantly prove myself and that can be exhausting.

00:56:29:00 - 00:56:53:09
Speaker 1
But on this travel assignment, they recognize that about me. I created an entire onboarding process for all of their new staff. I oriented every single traveler that came in, but like, they didn't really need orienting. But there was a newer nurse like a year experience. And, you know, I kind of helped her, like, showed her what I could, and then all of their new hires I like.

00:56:53:09 - 00:57:11:17
Speaker 1
Wow, I oriented them as a traveler and they were so appreciative of it. You know, I found, you know, an error in their system with a, with a TPN ordering that, you know, was system wide. And I was like, wait a second. This doesn't make sense. And, you know, they reckon I mean, I got like a great catch award.

00:57:11:17 - 00:57:33:07
Speaker 1
I got like a parking spot. It was a whole big thing, you know. It was great. It was great. But like, love that I, I love that there are those opportunities in travel assignments where, you know, just like you said, you walk in, you're the most senior. I was probably one of the youngest age wise to work there, but they were newer to the NICU and I was able to like pass it on.

00:57:33:07 - 00:57:51:20
Speaker 1
And like, that's so fulfilling as a nurse. And I think that, you know, a lot of nurses will feel that if not every nurse wants to feel that to like, spread your knowledge and share what you have to like, make everyone you know a better, a better nurse at the end of the day. Like, I love that. And it was such a rewarding opportunity and I wouldn't have had that as a staff nurse.

00:57:51:20 - 00:58:00:12
Speaker 1
That's something that was just a really amazing opportunity I had as a travel nurse to do, and I still talk to every single person at that hospital. And like I said, I this.

00:58:00:12 - 00:58:01:16
Speaker 2
Was a hospital.

00:58:01:18 - 00:58:21:13
Speaker 1
That I was one of the worst things that ever happened to me, happened at that hospital, but not from my peers. This happened from a system wide down, you know, and this is when I am and had my back. So, you know, it just was such a an eye opening experience and such a rewarding experience. And it would be like I felt very rewarded in that.

00:58:21:13 - 00:58:39:18
Speaker 1
And so I'm not saying I want anything else, but like it would be nice to like when things like that happen because I'm sure I'm not the only person that this has happened. Like, I'm sure there are many, many situations to have that recognition, you know, maybe that be part of like the app, like, hey, not star nurse, I hate that.

00:58:39:18 - 00:58:54:23
Speaker 1
But like, you know, look at look at this scenario that happened. Look at this situation that happened. And like, you know, kudos to this person. Yeah. You know we've like a backbone award at work. You know like those things they matter. Like it's a little pin you wear but like it's cool. Everyone wants a a a vertebrate pin.

00:58:54:23 - 00:58:55:22
Speaker 1
You know that's freaking cool.

00:58:55:22 - 00:58:57:15
Speaker 2
Oh my gosh. So like yeah. Yeah.

00:58:57:19 - 00:59:02:04
Speaker 1
Like those little things like matter and I and I love that they do.

00:59:02:04 - 00:59:02:18
Speaker 2
They do.

00:59:02:23 - 00:59:19:11
Speaker 1
Yeah I feel I feel like you and I could go on and on and on. I think we touched on so many important things. And I thank you so much for being here, being a guest, talking about these things and, you know, just really shedding light on some topics that I think needed to be needed to needed to happen.

00:59:19:12 - 00:59:33:15
Speaker 2
I agree. Thank you again just so much for having me in this. I love this platform so, so much and I can't wait to see where it goes and how it grows. And I just I had a wonderful chat with you today.

00:59:33:17 - 00:59:44:03
Speaker 1
Retail. Me too. Thank you so much. Hopefully we can do it again sometime soon.

00:59:44:04 - 00:59:46:08
Speaker 1
Thank you for tuning into Nursing Uncharted.

00:59:46:08 - 01:00:05:05
Speaker 3
You can learn more about this episode and our show on our website at AMN health care.com. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and subscribe to our show on your favorite podcast platform. You can also find show updates and nursing opportunities on our Instagram at AMN nurse. Special thanks to AMN Healthcare.

01:00:05:05 - 01:00:06:14
Speaker 1
For making this show possible.