The Travel Nurse's Guide to Memphis
Why Memphis - Tennessee?
Memphis, Tennessee, is perched up on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River, giving rise to its old nickname of the “Bluff City”. It’s a city rich in history and culture, and almost everywhere you go, you’ll hear music in the air. Memphis is also a major medical center, providing care for people
from three Southern states (Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas). And as you might expect, Memphis always needs travel nurses. Here’s your chance to take a travel nursing assignment in an exciting place where your knowledge and skills will be appreciated.
Lifestyle Benefits
Talk to any experienced travel nurse, and they’ll be sure to tell you about one of the biggest benefits of traveling: the paycheck. You can make an excellent living as a well-compensated travel nurse. Since your housing is also paid for (more on that in a minute), you can sock away some of that money for a rainy day.
Other benefits of taking a travel nursing assignment in Memphis:
- You’ll never have to look for entertainment. Outdoors, indoors, or a little of both? Live music,theater, sports, neighborhood festivals, fine dining, casual eats, and more: Memphis has it all.
- You’re in charge of your schedule. Do you like a more traditional work schedule, or would you be amenable to stacking your workdays together, leaving you a larger block of time for exploring? You have lots of options here for maximizing your off-duty time.
- It’s easy to plan future vacations around your job. It’s super easy to carve out time for that big road trip or family vacation. You can arrange to leave a couple of weeks or even a couple of months in between travel nursing assignments to give yourself some time to travel just for fun.
- You can return to Tennessee for future assignments. More than 30 other states including neighboring states like South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, Tennessee participates in the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). The eNLC is an arrangement that allows nurses to get a license to provide care in any of the states that are members of the compact. Once you have a license to practice in Tennessee or any other compact state, you can easily and efficiently book future travel nursing assignments in those states. For more about compact licensing, check out our resource, “How the Nurse Licensure Compact Benefits Travel Nurses”.
Facilities
When you consider taking a travel nursing job, one of your first priorities may be choosing the type of healthcare facility where you want to work. For example, if you’ve been working at a large teaching hospital, you might want to pursue travel nursing assignments in similar types of facilities.
American Mobile typically has travel nurse job openings in the following types of facilities:
However, those are just some of the types of facilities with job openings for travel nurses. When you drill down,you can look for more specific details about the facilities, too. For example, you’ll find that some hospitals boast a Level 1 trauma center or a primary stroke center. Some are in the heart of the city of Memphis itself, while others are situated in the suburbs or beyond.
You can also search our job database for jobs for very specific nursing roles, including the operating room, the Labor and Delivery unit, the Post- Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), the cardiac catheterization lab, the telemetry
unit, the dialysis unit, and more. There’s sure to be an opening that’s right for you.
Ultimately, you can boost your career by taking an assignment in a Memphis-area hospital or healthcare organization. The experience will make you a more desirable candidate for future jobs, wherever you go.
Things to do
Ready to get to know your new home-away-from home? No matter what appeals to you,Memphis offers a myriad of great opportunities for fun. Want to go hiking or biking? You can do that. Want to try some of the food that Memphis is famous for? You can do that, too. In fact, you might want to do both of those if you make the latter a habit.
(Word to the wise: Graceland was narrowly edged out and didn’t make this list, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go see the Jungle Room for yourself.)
1. Barbecue
No one is more passionate (and opinionated) about barbecue than the people of Memphis. Everyone has a favorite barbecue spot, and they’ll be happy to tell you why it’s the best one ever and you must try it out right
away. And since Memphis is packed with barbecue joints, that’ll keep you busy for a while. Our recommendation: start with Central Barbecue and the Bar-B-Q Shop. Others will put in a plug for the Rendezvous, a historical spot in downtown Memphis that’s famous for its dry-rub ribs, or the Commissary in Germantown. (Pro tip: Memphis-style means slow- cooked and smoked, usually but not always pork, and available with sauce (wet) or without sauce (dry).
2. Beale Street
Beale Street is Memphis’ answer to Bourbon Street in New Orleans: drinks, eats, music, and spectacle. Grab some barbecue and beer at Rum Boogie Cafe or Blues City Cafe, listen to music at B.B. King's Blues Club, and shop for Memphis memorabilia and vintage treasures at A Schwab, a store that defies easy explanations. In nice weather, you can also catch a free outdoor concert at W.C. Handy Park (look for the iconic statue). And if you want to go old school, drop by for a deep-friend hamburger at Dyer's Burgers (just don't ask too many questions about how they're cooked).
3. Big River Crossing
At nearly a mile long, Big River Crossing is the longest public pedestrian bridge spanning the Mississippi River. That's right, you can actually walk (or bike!) across the entire Mighty Mississippi. And you should: the view alone is unparalleled. Plus, you can impress your friends with pictures of yourself "in the middle of the Mississippi River."
4. Burke’s Books
If you love a good independent bookstore, make time to go browse at Burke's Book Store, home to an eclectic selection of new, used, and rare books, including many books by Southern authors. And since you'll be in Memphis for at least a few months, there's a good chance you can catch a famous author who has dropped by for a reading and autograph session.
5. Crosstown
A few generations ago, the Crosstown Concourse building was home to a Sears Roebuck and distribution center—and you'll still hear a few older Memphis refer to the converted facility that way. (Just as a heads up in case someone gives you directions that way.) Today, however, Crosstown Concourse is a vertical village of restaurants, pubs, galleries, artists'; workshops, a brewery, a 417-seat black box theater, and more. Some people even live in apartments there! Plan a visit to catch some live music, see a play, try the amazing cuisine at the Global Cafe or hear a talk from one of the resident artists.
6. Local Breweries and Taprooms
Memphis may be famous for barbecue and blues but add another "B" to that list: breweries. Check out Grind City Brewing, which has a largeoutdoor space for hanging out, Wiseacre Brewing, or Hampline Brewing Company (p.s. trivia night is big at Hampline). If you go to one of the taprooms for Ghost River Brewing Co, try a beer named after the Zippin Pippin, the old wooden roller coaster at the old Memphis amusement park Libertyland.
7. Muddy’s Bake Shop
Are you in a peanut butter pie mood, or do you feel more like a blueberry crumble? Red velvet cupcake or grasshopper cupcake? Jammy bars with sweet apricot preserves or key lime pie? Local favorite Muddy’s Bake Shop in the Broad Ave Arts District has a rotating array of treats to tempt you. Or for more interactive fun, grab a few new friends or coworkers and take a baking class. More of a classic donut person? Head on out to East Memphis and check out Gibson's Donuts, a Memphis institution since it opened in the late 1960s.
8. National Civil Rights Museum
People come from all over the county to visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. Located at the site of the assassination of the civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the museum offers the chance to learn more about the struggle for civil rights in the United States–and how that movement has shaped the drive for freedom and equality around the world. The museum offers a historic collection of memorabilia, interactive exhibits, films, and speakers to provide a top-notch educational experience that you'll recommend to others.
9. The Peabody Hotel
The Peabody Hotel is a beautiful old hotel in the heart of downtown Memphis. But that's not why its famous-and that's not why you need to visit. No, the reason you need to visit the Peabody is this: the Peabody Ducks. Every day at 11 a.m., a family of ducks march proudly through the lobby to the majestic fountain, and every afternoon at 5 p.m., they march back to the elevator to return to their home, the Royal Duck Palace on the rooftop. Speaking of the rooftop, you should make it a point to catch a Rooftop Party and watch the sun set over the Mississippi; the Peabody hosts one of the best parties in town on its roof on Thursday nights from April to August.
10. The Pyramid
Next to the giant M-shaped bridge over the Mississippi River that connects Tennessee with Arkansas, the giant shiny silver pyramid is probably the most famous part of the Memphis skyline. The Pyramid is currently home to a giant Bass Pro Shops, as well as a pistol and archery range, a bowling alley, a 103-room hotel, and two restaurants. And yes, you can take an elevator up 28 stories to the very tip-top of the pyramid and gaze out over the city.
11. Shelby Farms
Shelby Farms is much beloved among Memphians, but out-of-towners might not be as familiar with it. Here's your official notice: Shelby 'Farms Park is a must-visit spot during your travel nursing assignment 'in Memphis! Located just east of town, this scenic public park is one of 'the largest urban parks in the country. It's also home to Shelby Farms Stables, if you're eager to go horseback riding, as well as opportunitiesfor kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and fishing. The Shelby Farms Greenline is a fantastic place to run, bike, walk, or just meander, and it's open 365 days a year (hint: no matter when you have time off, you can find something to do here).
12. Sun Studios
If you're a first-time visitor to town, you've probably got Elvis on your mind. Book yourself a tour of Sun Studio, which bills itself as "the birthplace of rock and roll," and see the very spot where the King recorded his very first album. Other rock and roll and blues greats who recorded at Sun Studio include B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash. And if music is your passion (besides nursing, of course), you can even book some time in the recording studio there yourself.
Why work for American Mobile
American Mobile bills itself as the nation’s top travel nursing agency, but that’s not just a slogan. American Mobile takes pride in its wide array of well-paying travel nurse jobs, its top-notch staff of recruiters, clinical experts and others who support travelers, the excellent benefits, and all the other opportunities that it offers to travelers.
Here are a few key reasons to consider signing on with American Mobile:
- We have the largest database of travel nursing jobs in the industry.
We also have exclusive contracts with a number of leading healthcare organizations, including prestigious magnet hospitals – you know, the Big Names that everyone’s heard of. - We make it easy for you. It’s easy to use the AMN Passport app to search for jobs and book assignments. Then you can use the app to manage your assignments.
- We offer 24/7 clinical support. If you run into a question about a clinical matter on the job, you can call our clinical team and receive
urgent assistance at any time of day or night. - We offer licensure assistance. Getting licensed in a new state can be a tedious and, in some cases, time-consuming process, but we strive to make it as easy and efficient as possible. This is especially useful for those of you who may not yet hold a Tennessee nursing license.
- We pay for your housing. We can find you a safe, convenient apartment that we’ll pay for, or you can take a stipend and find your own housing--whatever works best for you.
- We’ll support you the entire way. Once you give us the nod, we’re right behind you every step of the way, offering support and making sure you get everything that you need. If you have need help with housing or payroll, we have staff who can help you. If you want to talk to someone about your assignment, your recruiter will always be there to guide you, too
American Mobile also offers the best benefits in the travel nursing industry.
- Premium health benefits. Perhaps more important than ever before, our health benefits will give you the peace of mind to know that you have access to healthcare when you need it, too. Our options include PPO and HMO health benefits, as well as life insurance, vision insurance, and disability insurance – for you and your family. Plus, you don’t have to wait a month or three for these benefits to kick in. Coverage starts on Day One.
- Retirement savings. American Mobile offers a generous 401(k) matching program that will help you save money for your retirement (when you can travel even more!).
- Free continuing education. Nursing leaders will tell you that lifelong learning is a hallmark of the nursing profession. To make it easier for you to stay up-to-date on the latest evidence-based research and developments in your profession, we offer free continuing education unit (CEU) courses.
And while it might not be considered a traditional benefit, this may make your life a little easier, too: you can bring your dog or cat along, too! In fact, we encourage nurses to travel with their families or pets if it helps them feel comfortable on the road. (But if you’d prefer a little vacation from regular life while you’re on assignment, we completely understand that, too!
Interested in working in Memphis?
Contact an American Mobile recruiter to start the application process or visit our job search page to find an assignment that’s a great fit for you!