Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - (Page 32)

The current economy of a factor. There were individuals who would willingly drive from the East Coast to the West Coast and back again for various contracts. But that is not as popular anymore.” The situation for nurses seems to be somewhat less affected.“We have not seen much change in the number of nurses who travel distances for assignments compared with those who prefer to stay local,” says Beth Machado, senior vice president of recruitment for NursesRx. “However, I do not see gas prices as a direct cause. Rather, I think some clinicians choose to be near their families, or just may not be ready to venture far away when they first start off in this career alternative. Still, we did raise our gas benefit last year to support the increases.” Another phenomenon at play is that not all cities and states are affected to the same degree. Some local economies are in better shape than others, and this is influencing where travelers choose to go, or where they wish to leave. “Places like California, Colorado, and Hawaii have always been among the more frequently requested locations,” says Denese. “But we have noticed therapists are not accepting these opportunities as often because the cost of living and gas prices tend to be higher there. There are also states that are not rebounding very well, and we are hearing from providers who want to leave those areas and practice elsewhere. This is all on a state-by-state basis.” Home values Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions a person will ever make. For many, it is their most valuable investment. So, when people’s subprime mortgage loans hit that 3- or 5-year mark and payments skyrocketed, an economic crisis started brewing. In essence, people could not make their monthly installments anymore and loans defaulted. Recent reports tally the damage at $945 billion. The repercussion was a lowering in home values, and the real estate industry slowed to a near halt in some regions. With fewer people buying houses, the rental market was flooded with applicants, which has had an impact on healthcare staffing companies. “There are fewer apartment vacancies in some areas,” states Beth. “But we’re always able to come through for our travelers.” » Circle Career Card No. 627 32 Healthcare Traveler May 2008 www.healthcaretraveler.com http://www.nursefinderstravel.com http://www.nursefinderstravel.com http://www.healthcaretraveler.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Traveler - May 2008

Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 Editor's Desk Contents In a Flash Paws for Thought Field Notes Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers The Current Economy Clinical Tips Drug Update On Assignment Name It When In Advertisers' Index Good for You Tax Facts Big Deals Contest Rules Starter's Kit Going the Distance Tales from the Road Allied Corner Classifieds

Healthcare Traveler - May 2008

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