Travel nurses are needed now more than ever and with such high demand, many are feeling the negative effects of burnout. Whether you have been a travel nurse for a while or are just starting, the anxiety and long hours can take their toll.
In appreciation for travel nurses and everything they do, we have made this guide with 8 tips to give travel nurses a better experience while doing the life-saving work our communities rely on.
1. Research Your New City
One of the hardest parts of long-term traveling for your job is the change to a foreign place. There’s no place like home and your new city may initially feel nothing like it. Yet, with a little research, you may find that it has more to offer than you initially thought. Do you have a favorite type of food or activity? Your new city may have exactly that waiting for you to find. Take the time to look into what your new temporary home has going for it. You may be surprised.
2. Be Flexible
Flexibility is one of a nurse’s greatest attributes, but traveling can really test it. With so many things changing at once, it’s no wonder you may be feeling overwhelmed. It’s important to stop, take a breath, and remember your flexibility. Your housing may switch or your shifts may change. This can make or break your experience if you let it.
3. Pack For You And Your Needs
Thirteen weeks is a long time so you may think you need to pack as much as you can to have what you need. We are here to tell you that you probably don’t need as much as you think you do. Besides all the added stress of carrying it through the airport or stuffing it in the car, you may not even use half of what you bring. This is where sitting down and writing out a plan for your time in your new city comes in. What activities do you want to do, and will you actually do them? Plus, don’t forget the items you can’t live without.
4. Go Paperless
Never worry about bills or important paperwork going to an old address again. Simply opt into the paperless option with your accounts to have those documents sent directly to your email. Auto-Pay is another great way to go paperless that only requires connecting your checking account to your bills. The world is changing quickly with new opportunities for this tip around every corner.
5. Connect With Other Travel Nurses
The world of nursing is a tight-knit community, but the number of travel nurses may surprise you. With over 25,000 travel nurses in the United States, there is always someone to connect with that has had a similar experience. Facebook is a great place to start looking. Its support, networking, and social groups make it easy to make connections.
6. Stick To An Exercise Routine
We know what you’re about to say but exercising is not only good for you, it’s also a great stress reliever. Punch out your frustrations with kickboxing or run to get your mind in order before the day begins. There are unlimited ways to get your body moving. All you have to do is stick to it.
7. Know Your Worth
You work in an industry that regularly takes advantage of your trade. When traveling causes you to always be the newest nurse on the floor, you might see this more often than your peers. Remember that even though you are new to the location, you still know your stuff. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t. You wouldn’t be there otherwise.
8. Have RN Guardian Behind You
BRN investigations happen more than you think. They are such a taboo to talk about that many don’t know that their peer is struggling through one. With a membership with RN Guardian, you will never have to worry about going through that alone.
RN Guardian was established as a membership-based legal plan to allow nurses to proactively protect their RN or LVN licenses from the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) imposed discipline or revocation. The member can join RN Guardian for a low monthly or annual rate and if they ever find themselves under investigation or the recipient of an Accusation against their RN or LVN license, they don’t pay another cent out of pocket to have a legal team of attorneys jump in to handle it.
Join the team that has protected thousands of nurses from losing their licenses.
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