I’ve been a nurse for 10 years now (WOW) and have gotten my routine down in terms of what I like to take to work with me, what I like to use when I’m off work, etc. Below you’ll find my favorite nursing resources and my favorite nursing gear to help you in and outside of the hospital.
Gear for Every Nurse
ARMRA Colostrum
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF WHILE CARING FOR OTHERS
I’ve been using Armra Colostrum for months and have noticed such a difference in my health; specifically when it comes to my gut. And as someone who has worked in the hospital setting under immense pressure, I am always striving to feel my best and take care of myself. When I learned about the benefits of colostrum, I immediately started to research and found that Armra aligned best with my beliefs around health and wellness. Use code “KYLEENELSON” for 15% off your order!
Minimal Nurse T-Shirts
THE MOST COMFORTABLE (& CUTE) T-SHIRTS FOR LONG SHIFTS
Not only do I love supporting nurse-owned businesses, but I extra love it when the product is something that I truly love for myself! When I first got my NICU Nurse t-shirt from the Minimal Nurse, I was shocked just how comfortable it was. If you’re able to wear t-shirts (instead of scrub tops) at work, you definitely need one of these shirts!
Sleep Mask
GET QUALITY SLEEP DURING THE DAY
I have major difficulty when working night shift sleeping during the day. That was until I found Manta Sleep masks! Manta Sleep masks are comfortable to wear, don’t fall off of your head when sleeping, and completely block light out while still allowing you to open your eyes. Manta masks have truly been life changing for me and my sleep.
Water Bottles
KEEP YOUR WATER COLD (OR YOUR COFFEE HOT)
Corkcicle is my go-to water bottle when I’m working a shift at the hospital. Not only do they hold a lot of water (there’s a variety of sizes to choose from), but the water bottle keeps your drink cold for hours! And if you’re not looking for a water bottle, they also have coffee mugs that keep your coffee hot for hours too!
For more helpful nursing resources, don’t miss…
Resources for the Travel Nurse
Housing Resources for Travel Nurses
THE BEST RESOURCES FOR FINDING HOUSING AS A TRAVEL NURSE
Finding housing is one of the more stressful things about travel nursing. Here are a few of my favorite resources to make your journey as easy as possible!
- Extended Stay America (ESA) – ESA is a hospitality company that owns hotels across the United States where you can stay for an extended period of time; which is great if you’re a travel nurse! You don’t have to worry about dealing with a landlord or something happening to your rental property. You know you’re moving into a hotel that will be fully furnished and that you’ll have a front-desk in case anything were to go wrong or to hold your packages for you. With over 700 properties, no matter where you’re traveling to, you should be able to find an option using ESA. (Read more about why travel nurses should stay at Extended Stay America here).
- Hello Landing – Also known as Landing”, this has been one of my more favorite housing finds. Not only are the prices affordable (Landing has two different pricing tiers… one where you can choose a more affordable rental using “standby” or a more standard rental price using “standard”), but the apartments are also nicely designed, comfortable, fully furnished, and you can find Landing’s in almost every city throughout the US. Also, if you’re new to Landing you can use code “PassportsandPreemies” for $250 off your first STANDARD stay. (Read more about why travel nurses should use Hello Landing here).
- VRBO – I tend to gravitate towards VRBO more than Airbnb due to issues I’ve had with Airbnb in the past plus high service fees and poor customer service. (Read more about why travel nurses should book with VRBO here).
For more housing information, don’t miss…
- How Much of Your Travel Nurse Housing Stipend Should You Spend on Rent?
- The Best Travel Nurse Housing Sites
Recruiters/Companies for Travel Nurses
MY GO-TO COMPANIES AND RECRUITERS
I’m a firm believer that every travel nurse should have 2-3 quality recruiters from different companies working to ensure that travel nurse gets the best contract possible. Even though I have my main, “go-to” recruiter, the reality is – she isn’t always able to place me for every single assignment. That’s why I work with another recruiter to ensure that I’m landing my dream assignment every time I’m looking for a job. Below you’ll find my two favorite companies to work for.
- Fusion Medical Staffing – It’s no secret that my go-to recruiter works with Fusion Medical Staffing (I literally talk about her all the time and have become obsessed with her in my past 7+ years as a travel nurse). She’s organized, hard-working, and I trust her with every fiber of my being. If you wanted to be connected, fill out this form and Jess will contact you!
- Host Healthcare – Host Healthcare is a quality healthcare staffing agency that I not only love, but is successful at placing travelers in all 50-states. If you want to be connected with a senior level recruiter at Host, fill out this form and someone will contact you with 48 working hours.
Read more about travel nurse companies/recruiters…
The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle
LEARN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOING FROM STAFF NURSE TO TRAVEL NURSE
I created The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle to help other nurses transition from staff nurse to travel nurse. This guide is over 60 pages and features every single thing I’ve learned from 7-years travel nursing. I created this guide with my travel nurse recruiter (to work with my recruiter, fill out this form) back in 2021 and update it every year with any changes in the travel nurse world.
Resources for the NICU Nurse
NICUity
THE BEST LEARNING RESOURCE FOR NICU NURSES
My brilliant friends, Tori and Tia, created an incredible course (NICUity) on everything you need to know about working in the NICU. They’ve partnered with Dr. Prem Fort, a neonatologist who has been practicing for over 17 years, to bring you the most up to date information on the world of the NICU. The best part is, they offer courses for every type of nurse whether you’re brand new, a couple of years in, or you’re an experienced nurse transferring from a different unit. Check them out…
- New to the NICU: Experienced Nurse Essentials
- The NICU New Grad Miniclass
- The NICU Essentials Masterclass
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you. Passports and Preemies is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.
