Darren Parks sees his career in nursing as the best of both worlds where leadership and clinical work combine. A long time RN, he began seeking new challenges and opportunities to grow in his nursing practice, his skill set, and on the floor. Today, he travels for interim assignments as an experienced Nurse Leader. Darren talks about his journey, what it takes, wearing many hats, and what’s most important.

Heather Suchocki has taken assignments in hospitals of all sizes. As a travel nurse, she’s nearly seen it all. But this labor and delivery RN is especially drawn to rural and small community hospitals. What makes them so special and unique? On this episode Heather gets candid about how rural hospitals differ from their larger counterparts. She talks about what to expect, getting acclimated, onsite dynamics, and finding joy in small town life. www.cardiumpodcast.com

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has gripped the nation. As hospitals experience a surge of patients, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals are on the front lines. On this special episode we talk about the impact of traveling healthcare professionals and what they’re faced with during this pandemic. We’re joined by Melissa Nguyen, Clinical Nurse Manager of Medical Solutions, whose educational background includes public health and infectious disease. Long-time...

The rollout of PDGM, the new Medicare reimbursement model for home health, means big changes for therapists. How does the new Patient Driven Groupings Model impact PTs, OTs, and SLPs? What does it mean for the therapy profession, the availability of jobs, therapy services, and patient care? We uncover what you need to know now and going forward with PDGM expert Ellen Strunk and Reid Johnson.

The rollout of PDGM, the new Medicare reimbursement model for home health, means big changes for therapists. How does the new Patient Driven Groupings Model impact PTs, OTs, and SLPs? What does it mean for the therapy profession, the availability of jobs, therapy services, and patient care? We uncover what you need to know now and going forward with PDGM expert Ellen Strunk and Reid Johnson.

How do you respond and move forward when faced with a natural disaster? Amy Riley is a Polysomnographer Technologist who, along with her husband and children, evacuated their home during the Camp Fire of 2018 that swept through Paradise, California and the surrounding area. The hospital where she worked at the time was destroyed. Amy shares her personal story, from moment of realization and evacuation to her life and her career today. www.cardiumpodcast.com

When you’re traveling as a nurse, therapist, or in another allied health field that requires a license, you know it can get complicated when you’re working in multiple states. Application requirements vary, licenses in some states take longer to process than others, and there’s a lot to keep track of and consider. Your license is also your livelihood. How do you be proactive in protecting it? Annie Elliston and Jeff West join us to talk about all things licensure. www.cardiumpodcast.com

What’s it like to live the tiny house lifestyle as a traveler? Let’s be clear; we’re talking really tiny. Dr. Liam Kavin, PT, DPT joins us to tell us all about the space he custom built that gets him to and from assignments and serves as his home away from home. He shares what motivated him to scale back and live simply, advantages to small space living, and challenges he runs into with weather, mechanics, and basic life stuff. www.cardiumpodcast.com

We’re in the social media age. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are part of us. They help us stay connected, in the know, showcase parts of our lives, and can even help travel nurses and allied health professionals in the job search. But there can be pitfalls, too. Social media experts Beth Harner and Betsy Martin share dos, don’ts, and best practices. www.cardiumpodcast.com

What’s the state the healthcare job market really? What’s the demand in nursing and allied health, what are the trends impacting your field, and what’s the next big thing? We may not have a crystal ball but we do have an expert in Amy Chang of Staffing Industry Analysts. She gives us the real deal on what’s happening now and what’s predicted going forward through the decade. If you’re a travel nurse, a PT, or are working in any healthcare specialty this is your episode.

There is no one size fits all in travel healthcare. Some go it alone, some travel with a friend, and others bring the whole family along for the adventure. Cardium welcomes Natasha Stevens, RN, who shares what it’s like to live the travel nursing lifestyle with her husband, two children, their dog, and an RV. She talks about the rewards of seeing the country as a family, discoveries they’ve made, and the experience of parenting and educating while on the road. www.cardiumpodcast.com

When disputes between a hospital or healthcare system and its labor union are unresolved, the situation may escalate to a strike. What happens to patient care in the case of a strike? Hospitals turn to contract staff – traveling healthcare professionals – to step in for the days or weeks of its duration. What’s different about working a strike assignment? What should you know before you sign on? Seasoned recruiters Tom Hamilton and Kent Johnson have staffed many of them. They join us to get...

Healthcare professionals take care of others. It’s your life’s work and your purpose. At the same time, giving so fully of yourself each day can lead to stress at varying levels and compound other issues. So often those practicing in healthcare are the most reluctant to practice self-care. But it’s critical to do so. We’re joined by Julia Hebenstreit of The Kim Foundation who joins us for a heart to heart talk about mental health and the travel healthcare professional. www.cardiumpodcast.com

The number of hospitals and healthcare systems that have adopted a Managed Services Provider model for staffing continues to surge. MSP, the third party that manages agency relationships for the hospital, is the future of healthcare staffing. It’s here to stay. So, what are the advantages to the traveler in an MSP situation? What’s different that travelers should be aware of? Eddie Parizek of HealthTrust Workforce Solutions joins us to talk about it. www.cardiumpodcast.com

You’re ready. You’re excited. And you’re feeling those first-time jitters. You’ve signed your contract for your first travel assignment, so now what? You're not alone. We've got you. We’re joined by long-time respiratory therapist Bev Berger who shares her tools of the trade for new travelers and wisdom for any healthcare professional who lives the mobile lifestyle. Because no matter what point you're at in your career as a travel nurse, therapist, or other allied health professional, there’s...

The move toward the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) for skilled nursing facilities is in effect, shifting the focus of Medicare reimbursements from minutes and hours of therapy services to patient characteristics and outcomes. Learn more about Cardium and this episode at www.cardiumpodcast.com.

The move toward the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) for skilled nursing facilities is in effect, shifting the focus of Medicare reimbursements from minutes and hours of therapy services to patient characteristics and outcomes. The roll-out of this model, which has been years in the making, means significant changes are in the here and now for facilities and therapists. What's different and what remains the same? How does PDPM impact PTs and OTs from a clinical standpoint and a...

Three guests share their personal stories, insight, and lessons learned from their journeys as healthcare professionals and through their experiences traveling in their field. What led them to take this road in their career? What have been their highs and lows? What’s next? And as we’ll ask all of our guests in future podcast episodes, what’s their “why”? We have some laughs and share some poignant moments while we talk with two veteran travel nurses and an occupational therapist, a recent...

You’re currently on assignment with a hospital and you’re faced with a situation that compromises patient safety, professional ethics, or your personal well-being. What do you do? Who do you turn to and when? Annie Elliston, RN and Director of Clinical Operations with Aureus Medical Group, poses scenarios that can potentially surface in the healthcare setting, also your workplace, while working on a travel contract. Nurses, PTs, OTs, and healthcare professionals of all other specialties will...

Three guests share their personal stories, insight, and lessons learned from their journeys as healthcare professionals and through their experiences traveling in their field. What led them to take this road in their career? What have been their highs and lows? What’s next? And as we’ll ask all of our guests in future podcast episodes, what’s their “why”? We have some laughs and share some poignant moments while we talk with two veteran travel nurses and an occupational therapist, a recent...

You’re currently on assignment with a hospital and you’re faced with a situation that compromises patient safety, professional ethics, or your personal well-being. What do you do? Who do you turn to and when? Annie Elliston, RN and Director of Clinical Operations with Aureus Medical Group, poses scenarios that can potentially surface in the healthcare setting, also your workplace, while working on a travel contract. Nurses, PTs, OTs, and healthcare professionals of all other specialties will...

Hosts Sunny and Matt welcome listeners to Cardium, a podcast especially for healthcare professionals of all specialties with a focus on travel careers within the industry. What’s it like to work in one facility for 13 weeks or more then move to a brand new community for the next assignment and adventure? There’s a lot to love, a lot to know, and always more to learn about this unique and rewarding career that’s more than a job, it’s a lifestyle. Getting to the heart of all things travel...