Did you know? There is an annual conference for travel nurses (and travel medical professionals). If you haven't heard about it, you are missing out and seasoned travel nurse Candy Trest aka "The Gypsy Nurse" is here to give you the "low-down" on it!

What is the Travelers Conference?

According to the official website: “The Travelers Conference is held annually and has grown into the largest single gathering of healthcare travelers in the United States. Organized by volunteers who are themselves current or former travelers, the sole purpose of this event is to provide a relaxed setting that gives travelers an opportunity to network with other travelers and industry insiders, earn some excellent CEUs, meet agency representatives in a relaxed, low-pressure setting, and just plain enjoy a tax-deductible Vegas trip.”

The Travelers Conference is now in it’s 6th year and will be held October 28-29th.  It is growing in recognition throughout the Travel Staffing Industry, mostly through word of mouth.  The Travelers Conference is highly supported by Industry Experts such as PanTravelers, TravelTax, Highway Hypodermics as well as (you guessed it…) The Gypsy Nurse.

Who attends?

The Travelers Conference is attended by Nurses, Physical Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Nursing Students, and what I like to call “Dreamers” those that are in the medical field and exploring the idea of traveling for a living.  The majority of the attendees are female and nurses which is representative of the industry demographic as a whole. Age ranges of the attendees is varied across a wide range from early to mid-twenty’s to those nearing retirement. Travel Medical Professionals and anyone interested in learning more about this unique specialty are all welcome to attend.

Why is it important to the industry?

The Travelers Conference is an important asset to the Travel Medical Staffing Industry.  Not only does it allow for travelers to connect, share information, meet and develop a peer network, it’s important for the educational value provided.  Being a travel medical professional is a unique specialty within nursing or therapy positions.  No only do you need to know your job as a nurse or therapist, there are many other skills and modalities that play a major role in a successful career as a traveler.

Some of the topics covered in previous years have included:

 • The real scoop on what is involved in becoming a traveler

 • Tax basics for travelers

 • Traveling in an RV…is it right for you?

 • Standards of practice for travelers

 • Financial Planning

 • New resources available for travelers

 • Travel Healthcare Industry Update – Where Are We Going?

 • Apples to Apples – Choosing the Right Company

 • Contract Negotiation – The Nuts and Bolts

 • The Power of Choice – A Personal Story (Reon Schutte)

 • Hawaii…How to succeed..

 • How Is The Money Allocated? Travelers Want To Know…

 • License and Record Management

 • Mission To Honduras:  How One Traveler Can Make a Difference

 • Housing-Know all your options

 • PanTravelers – A Resource for Travelers

As a travel nursing educator, Candy Treft aka Gypsy Nurse, RN has worked in healthcare for nearly 20 years. During that time, she has worked up the ranks from CNA to LPN to RN. For nearly nine years, she’s worked as a travel nurse, allowing her to practice and live in 15 states throughout the U.S., and even one year in Germany for the Department of Defense. She regularly shares advice for those interested in travel nurse jobs on her website at: www.thegypsynurse.com. This article was re-published from her site.