From a Family of Healthcare Professionals to Senior Recruiting Manager

At American Medical Staffing, we pride ourselves on the passionate and dedicated professionals who make our team exceptional. Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Sam Raab, our Senior Recruiting Manager in the hospital division. With five years of experience at AMS, Sam has been instrumental in connecting travel clinicians and allied health professionals with travel healthcare jobs that align with their goals.  Coming from a family of healthcare professionals, Sam’s passion for the field is deeply rooted and is evident in her commitment to building meaningful relationships and advocating for the best opportunities for her clinicians.    Get to Know Sam  Name: Sam Raab  Title: Senior Recruiting Manager  Division: Hospital Staffing    Sam in Her Own Words:  “My name is Sam, and I am a Senior Recruiting Manager with American Medical Staffing. I’ve had the honor of connecting clinicians with their dream jobs in our hospital division for the past five years. My passion for this field most likely stems from being immersed in a family of healthcare professionals. Building meaningful relationships and advocating for my clinicians is at the heart of what I do, and I absolutely love every moment of it!”    Fun Facts About Sam:  Family Life: Sam is all about family, spending her time with her husband and two active kids. The family recently experienced the loss of their beloved German Shepherd, Shelby, who was an important part of their lives.  Hobbies and Interests: In her free time, Sam enjoys a variety of activities, from solving puzzles to working out and indulging in true crime documentaries. She’s a big fan of Baltimore sports teams—Go O’s and Ravens! You’ll often find her exploring local breweries and working on her new hobbies of candle making and pottery painting.  Favorite Treats: If you want to win Sam over, offer her a slice of cheesecake or carrot cake. They are her ultimate weaknesses!    Why Sam Loves Working in Travel Healthcare:  At AMS, Sam excels at matching clinicians with travel nursing jobs and travel allied positions that best suit their skills and preferences. Her dedication to fostering lasting relationships and advocating for her team of healthcare professionals is what makes her a standout leader in our recruitment efforts.    Join Sam and the AMS Team!  Interested in working with passionate recruiters like Sam to land your next travel healthcare job? Explore the wide range of opportunities available at American Medical Staffing, from travel nursing positions to allied health roles. Get started on your journey today by emailing Sam at SRaab@americanmedicalstaffing.com  

Tennessee Travels: Discovering Music, Food, and Natural Beauty on Your Travel Clinician Journey

Tennessee is a beautiful state that is known for its music, food, and natural beauty. As a travel clinician, you have the opportunity to explore some of the state’s most popular tourist attractions while on assignment. Here are the top 5 tourist attractions in Tennessee that you won’t want to miss:     Great Smoky Mountains National Park: This park is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves the outdoors. With over 500,000 acres of wilderness, the park offers endless opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.     Graceland: Elvis Presley’s former home in Memphis is now a museum and popular tourist attraction. Visitors can tour the mansion, see Elvis’s cars and airplanes, and explore exhibits about his life and career.     Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: This Nashville museum is a must-visit for any music lover. It features exhibits about country music’s history and legends, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Hank Williams.     Dollywood: Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood is one of Tennessee’s most beloved theme parks. Named after country music superstar Dolly Parton, the park features thrilling roller coasters, family-friendly rides, live music shows, and delicious Southern cuisine. With something for everyone, Dollywood is a must-visit destination for tourists looking for fun and adventure in Tennessee.     Jack Daniel’s Distillery: For those who enjoy a good whiskey, a tour of the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg is a must. Visitors can learn about the history of the famous brand, see the distilling process, and sample some of the whiskey.   As a travel clinician, you have the unique opportunity to explore the beauty and culture of Tennessee while gaining valuable work experience. Don’t miss out on these tourist attractions during your assignment in the Volunteer State. Looking for your next assignment? Use our searchable map.

A Travel Nurses Guide: Top 5 Things to Do in Missouri

Missouri

If you’re a travel clinician looking for your next adventure, Missouri is a state worth considering. Here are the top 5 tourist attractions in Missouri that you won’t want to miss:  Gateway Arch One of the most iconic sights in the United States, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a must-see for anyone visiting Missouri. Take a tram to the top for stunning views of the city and the Mississippi River.  Silver Dollar City This theme park in Branson offers fun for the whole family, with roller coasters, water rides, and live entertainment. It’s also home to Marvel Cave, one of the largest caves in the country.  Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum Literature lovers won’t want to miss a visit to Hannibal, the boyhood home of author Mark Twain. The museum includes exhibits on Twain’s life and works, as well as tours of his childhood home.  Lake of the Ozarks This man-made lake is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and other water sports. It’s also surrounded by parks and hiking trails, making it a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts.  Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum Learn about the life and presidency of one of Missouri’s most famous residents at this museum in Independence. Exhibits include Truman’s Oval Office and a replica of the White House.  As a travel clinician, you have the unique opportunity to explore different parts of the country while also helping patients in need. Don’t miss the chance to visit these top tourist attractions in Missouri during your next assignment. Find your dream contract with our searchable map. 

AMS Clinician Spotlight – Anne W

American Medical Staffing, AMS Clinician Spotlight

Our first Clinician to receive our Clinician Spotlight award (and gift) is Anne W.!! As part of our commitment to recognize our Clinicians and the amazing work they do, welcome to our very first “Clinician Spotlight” – a chance to highlight those who have gone above and beyond, consistently demonstrating the core values of AMS. We asked our Recruiting Managers to kick us off by nominating Clinicians who had either received a special achievement or award,  general feedback received from a client, or an interesting story of why/how a clinician choose their profession – and the response was overwhelming! We have such a great team of Clinicians, and we are excited to share their stories with you through 2023.   AMS Recruiting Manager Kacie received the following feedback from Anne’s Unit Manager, relaying a message from a patient that Anne cared for;   “I wanted to write to you about the wonderful care I received from Anne when she was floated to Unit 38 on 3/19. She admitted me and was so wonderful. She was so positive and upbeat and just really on top of her game. Even though there were some things on the med floor she was unfamiliar with, she got help when needed from the charge RN. She was an absolute delight and I’m so glad she was my first experience on 38.” We reached out to Anne to ask her some questions to get to know her better: Q: What is your nursing specialty? A: ICU, background was in Neuro ICU, then transferred to SICU/Liver Transplant.   Q: How long have you been working as a nurse? And with AMS? I have been a nurse for about 14 years and have been with AMS since March 2022.   Q: Why did you choose to become a nurse? A: I became a nurse because of an amazing RN that took care of my grandmother when she was ill. She was very caring, took the time to really get to know my grandmother and advocated for her when she needed it. That experience made me want to care for others; being there at their lowest and celebrating positive outcomes.   Q: Any hobbies/activities you enjoy outside of nursing? A: I love reading,  traveling,  and meeting people.   Q: Would you recommend AMS to other nurses? Why? A: I would definitely recommend AMS to other nurses. I have traveled with other agencies before; my recruiter,  Kacie is phenomenal! She is very responsive to questions, and makes the best suggestions and recommendations. She is always available whenever I needed information or help.   Q: Do you have any advice you would like to pass along to other travel nurses? A: My advice for nurses is to always ask the staff questions about things not understood; we always want to ensure that our patients are safe.  Nursing is inherently the same everywhere but protocols and policies differ from place to place. No question is too small or stupid to ask. Better to be safe, than sorry.   Our congratulations again to Anne on receiving such a well-deserved accolade, and showing such excellence when caring for her patients!   If you know of any AMS Healthcare Profession who deserves a spotlight, please let us know by emailing the Engagement Team at marketing@americanmedicalstaffing.com!

How to Become a Travel Nurse with American Medical Staffing

American Medical Staffing, women in scubs with stethoscope and clipboard

Thinking of becoming a Travel Nurse? Are you looking for additional resources? We look at how joining American Medical Staffing can make it a simple, and enjoyable process. RNs, LPNs, and allied health professionals love working for AMS because we understand what it’s like to work in healthcare today. We’re here to make your job easier. To support your emotional well-being. To help you focus on what you really want to do…provide care. Great jobs. Even better recruiting support. Our healthcare recruiters can be your career partner. We’ll connect you with fulfilling jobs. Simplify onboarding and credentialing. And provide you with an exceptional work experience. The Resources You Need It can be a challenge to find everything you need online especially when it comes to authentic nursing information, so we’ve compiled some helpful travel nurse FAQs Concerns about the consistency of work (When the contract ends will there be another one for me?) American Medical Staffing has an industry-leading retention rate of 87% of our Healthcare Professionals. Our goal is to be the employer of choice for our clinicians and to provide options for your next contract well before your contract end date. You can expect to start talking with your Recruiting Manager about opportunities when you are about halfway through your contract. Did you know… we have benefits! Yes, we have a full suite of best-in-class benefits! Benefits are effective on the first day of employment. The plans are very diverse (4 different health insurance plans, 3 different dental plans) and affordable. We also offer supplemental benefits such as short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and much more. See them here. How do Travel Pay Packages “actually” work? To be eligible for any travel compensation, you must be duplicating living expenses – maintaining two households, during your assignment with AMS. Based on government guidelines, we calculate your MLA by determining the number of days per week you duplicate living expenses and the location of your temporary work assignment. Here is a link to the government website that outlines these rates: www.gsa.gov Does AMS provide housing? Although we can certainly recommend and advise you on housing options on your behalf, most travelers find the best fit for housing when they secure it directly, including deciding personal trade-offs that enable them to maximize their take home pay. We can also offer assistance for travel relocation or other arrangements – just ask your recruiting manager. Want to read more about Housing Options and Resources? See our other blog. Working as an agency nurse – when to contact AMS and when the contact the facility As your employer and career partner, we always recommend that you touch base with your recruiting manager first and then formulate the next steps from there. This puts us in the best position to be able to support you. We have an Employee Resources sheet that consolidates our department information and useful contacts. Other examples include: When requesting time off, your Recruiting Manager will collect all the details before the start of your contract. Moving forward, as things come up, you would arrange time off with your direct supervisor/scheduler with as much notice as possible. Come back to us to inform. Call outs – reach out to your direct supervisor first, and then follow up with your AMS Recruiting Manager or our off-hours team. Questions about your paycheck Questions about your benefits Will clinicians be trained prior to their expected start date? American Medical Staffing takes care to place healthcare professionals in the setting, unit, or specialty where they have clinical experience. That means AMS HCPs can start their position with confidence knowing they are skilled to treat patients/clients in the setting they will be working. Most of our client facilities require contract healthcare professionals to have at least 2 years of experience in their specialty. Our client facilities and school districts offer orientation and training to AMS staff for policies and procedures, EMR (electronic health record), and unit-specific preferences. The time allotted for training varies by client and can range from 1 day to 1 week; your Recruiting Manager will discuss these details with you for your specific contract options! Advice for nurses thinking they can try out a new specialty with an agency. As a Joint Commission accredited staffing firm, American Medical Staffing is committed to patient safety and our team member’s successful contract placements. As such, we place healthcare professionals in the setting, unit, or specialty that aligns with their clinical experience. Most of our client facilities require contract healthcare professionals to have at least 2 years of experience in their specialty. Cross training as an agency nurse is not applicable with most specialties. However, are there circumstances where one specialty compliments another? Yes! For example, positions in a Correctional Healthcare setting often accept clinicians with ER, ICU, or Psych experience. This of course is client-dependent, and our Recruiting Managers act as your career advocates and will work tirelessly alongside you to ensure you have a good match, and all expectations are aligned.   Trust American Medical Staffing, a leading agency for healthcare jobs nationwide, for your job search in nursing, allied health, and other healthcare fields.