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Have you ever had a question about something but didn’t know who to ask? You have Googled and Googled your little heart out but still can’t seem to get the inside scoop?
Well guess what – there’s an internet site for that! It actually turns out there are numerous sites full of information for travel nurses who want the inside scoop.
With so many resources out there it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Lucky for you, I have narrowed the vast list down to the top five blogs based on relevant content, contributing authors and user friendliness.
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Bluepipes.com is a professional networking site that provides travel nurses with the ability to store all of their necessary paperwork including resumes, skills checklists and certifications digitally on their site. This basically replaces that pesky folder you have to carry around with you everywhere you go. They also happen to have a blog. I rate their blog #1 because the topics are most relevant to what you need to know as a travel nurse and they have a podcast as well. This site, I feel primarily focuses on the business side of things. The topics are categorized and well organized so you don’t have to scroll through a bunch of pages to get to what you want to read about. The downside to this blog is that it seems to only have one author and I’m not 100% sure he is a nurse. The guy writes really well but fails to provide a subjective side to what it means to be a travel nurse.
The Gypsy Nurse website is an online community dedicated to traveling medical professionals. The operator of this website is a former traveling nurse and her contributing authors include either former or current travelers as well as some specialty nurses. The content covers a wide variety of topics ranging from the Ebola epidemic to travel nursing lifestyle to what compression socks to buy. The content is not organized into categories but there is a search area. This website also hosts an annual travel nursing convention with an educational piece and the opportunity to network. One thing to note is that there is quite a bit of advertising on this website which may drive some of the blog topics.
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Travelnursing.org (the blog you are currently reading) is a career portal for nurses. If you are having trouble finding a company you want to work for you can apply directly through this site and they will connect you with a travel company that fits your needs. This blog has a multitude of experienced travel nurses (including myself) as well as a wide range of topics that covers both the business and lifestyle side of travel nursing. Many of the blog posts are from a personal more subjective perspective, which I tend to appreciate when it comes to certain topics. I like to know the business side but I need the raw emotional side as well. The blog is not categorized but it is easy to read and there are no advertisements.
Highwayhypodermics.com is a website that attempts to improve the connection between travelers and travel nursing companies. They don’t have a designated “blog” section but there are a couple articles a month posted on this website with up to date info on certain travel nursing companies with a few posts about general travel nursing stuff. It is written and maintained by Epstein LaRue who is a current traveling nurse supervisor. Most of the articles are written by her with a few guests here and there. Her website is well known for providing a yearly list of the nation’s top 10 travel companies.
Travelnursingblogs.com is exactly what it states… a blog for travel nurses. They cover the usual topics but only seem to have two contributing authors with only one of them being an actual nurse; the other one is a creative writer. I put this on the list because there are two sections on this site where you can “ask a travel nurse” and “ask a housing expert” where you can ask specific questions.
See the country while getting paid – find open assignments here
Just like everything else on the internet, it is important to verify your information and take other people’s experiences with a “grain of salt”. There is plenty of information out there, it’s up to you on how you want to use it.
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Travel nursing is a very exciting opportunity that attracts nurses from all backgrounds. But if you are just starting to look into it as an option you might be asking yourself, “Should I become a traveling nurse?” Let’s break it down a bit to help you get a better understanding if travel nursing is for you or not.
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There are a few universal prerequisites to becoming a traveling nurse, but requirements will vary by agency, facility, specialty, and contract. The best way to know for sure if you are eligible to begin a travel nurse career is to ask a recruiter, but here are a few basic requirements:
1. Minimum of one year experience in your specialty
One year is pretty standard, but some specialties will require up to two years’ experience. Traveling nurses need to be ready to hit the ground running and most hospitals don’t have time to train you so it is your responsibility to be confident in your skills and ability to do your job from day one.
2. Be properly licensed in the state you are seeking employment
Travel positions move quickly, so it is wise to get yourself licensed in at least a few states that you are positive you want to work in (just save your receipts for future reimbursement). Some licenses don’t take long and can be obtained after accepting a position, but many take at least a few weeks and many contracts require that you are already licensed there before you interview. If your original license is part of the compact licensure agreement then you already have a leg up, so be sure to check on that.
3. Be up to date on any required certifications
Each specialty and contract is different, so speak with a recruiter to find out what certifications are required for your specialty. If you have been working the past year or more in your specialty, chances are good you have the necessary certifications already.
4. Have the required paperwork
Typically this includes things like an up-to-date resume/application, skills checklist, physical, immunizations, and tons of other miscellaneous paperwork.
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If you have the required minimum years of experience in your specialty and you are licensed in the state you are seeking employment; you are pretty much eligible to begin traveling. What is left in deciding if this is the right career move for you is to ask yourself some questions and to analyze your life to decide if this is a good fit or not.
Think about your obligations and ask yourself if there is anything in your life that could prevent this lifestyle from working out. Some basic questions to ask are:
I’m sure there are other things I am leaving out, but just think through your life and your particular circumstances and ask yourself similar questions to analyze if there is anything that could hold you back from travel nursing. Honestly, most of these oppositions can even still be worked around if it is important enough to you.
Travel nursing certainly isn’t for everybody, so really take the time to decide if it is right for you. The good thing is that you can give it a try for 13 weeks and if you don’t love it, you don’t have to take another contract (although I have to say, don’t give up just because of one bad experience. As with any job; you will like some more than others).
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This is a self-awareness question that nobody else can answer for you, but in general there are certain personality types that might be more suited for a travel nurse career:
These personality traits probably make the transition into travel nursing easier, but it obviously isn’t a catch-all. I have met all types of people traveling, so there definitely isn’t a mold per-se. If you have the passion to become a travel nurse and are up for the challenge then you are the right personality type.
Hopefully this can help guide you to make the decision if you should become a travel nurse. It’s a big commitment that should be evaluated as such. And just because right now isn’t the right time, doesn’t mean that later things won’t pan out in your favor.
Find your next assignment here.
It is official; the holidays are now upon us. Some of you may get a warm fuzzy feeling, some of you may cringe or maybe some of you are like me in that you feel indifferent about them altogether.
I feel like us indifferent people are the lucky ones in this situation, especially as healthcare workers. The majority of my coworkers and myself have learned to plan our lives around the mandated holiday schedules and after time, having to work on them doesn’t seem so bad.
For those of you who are new to this profession or who may still be struggling, let me give you a few pointers.
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Unless someone forgot to put you on the schedule for November and December, you will most likely be working at least one or two holidays depending on how nice your supervisor is. Most of the time you will have some idea of what holiday(s) you will be working many months prior too so you can plan ahead.
I like to remind people that the most important part of the holidays is that you are spending time with your loved ones. Just because you don’t have Thanksgiving Day off doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate on another day. If you are extremely religious and working on Christmas Eve and Christmas is offensive to you, then guess what, you have two other holidays to choose from; Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
From my experience, there aren’t many people in this profession who get worked up about their holidays. I think we all understand that our noble profession calls on us to take care of people despite what day of the week it is.
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So now that we understand that no matter what, we will have to work on the holidays, why don’t we make the best of it. Every single place I have worked has some sort of potluck on the holiday that they work. Some people even do Secret Santa gifts.
Participating in your holiday party at work brings you closer to your coworkers and if you have a family like mine, you might enjoy spending time with your coworkers even more.
Working on the holidays gives you an excuse to not have to prepare an entire meal for your extended family. Instead you can just stop by the grocery on the way to work or take time to prepare your favorite side dish to bring to the party. If you’re lucky enough, the hospital might provide you with a free meal that day or night.
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I personally prefer to work on the holidays and celebrate on a different day because there usually isn’t anything to do but sit around, watch T.V., and eat and I can do that on any day; plus you get paid more. I would rather have my days off when everyone else is back to work. Traveling before or after the holidays is usually cheaper and there is less people. It’s a win-win situation.
If working on the holidays is still a big deal to you than I suggest you get an office job because even PRN and travel nurses have to work the holidays; unless of course as a travel nurse you have enough money in the bank to take a month or two off in between assignments then you might be able to get away with not working the holidays.
As you can see, working the holidays as a healthcare professional is inevitable. This is why it’s important to love the people you work with; they will become your home away from home. Complaining about working on the holidays only makes you sound like a scrooge. Remember, the rest of the world has to work five days a week. We only have to work three! Let those Monday through Friday people enjoy their time off. They need it.
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From my personal experience and from chatting with my colleagues, I think there is a general consensus amongst nurses that getting a job isn’t particularly challenging these days, considering there is a need for qualified, experienced nurses all over the country.
As of late, the demand for travel nurses remains high which makes it easier to get in the game, but you must be prepared when things cool down. Learning how to negotiate your salary, make yourself an appealing candidate and how to get the best jobs are valuable skillsets.
Find your dream travel assignment here.
A travel nurse’s salary is broken down into three parts and understanding which parts are negotiable will give you a leg up.
Tax Free Reimbursements: Tax free reimbursement for your travel/meals and incidentals is pre-determined by the government and based on the city you are traveling to. Unless you are a superstar negotiator or a lawmaker, this my friends is non-negotiable. To see what your tax free reimbursements are for each city you can visit gsa.gov.
Hourly Base Pay: Your hourly base pay also tends to be non-negotiable because your travel nursing agency has contracts with several facilities where the base pay for travelers has already been set.
Benefits/Bonuses: Opportunities for negotiation can come into play when you extend your contract, with travel reimbursement and possibly with other benefits. If a facility asks you to extend your contract, you may ask for an extension bonus and an hourly pay raise.
If you extend, you save your travel agency and the hospital money because they do not have to orient you. Also, most companies offer health insurance coverage as part of their benefits package. If you opt out of taking an agency’s health insurance and get your own, they may give you an additional bonus with each of your contracts.
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Whether making money or seeing the country is your intention for traveling, we all want to end up with the most ideal job.
If you are looking to travel to a specific place make sure your recruiter knows where you want to go. The assignment boards on your company’s website may not be up to date so keep a lookout on social media like Facebook and LinkedIn for assignments in destinations that you want to travel to.
Your company might not have a contract in a specific city or hospital you want to work in, which may require you to switch companies. Working with multiple companies is a common practice amongst travelers.
If you’re traveling intention is to make some dough, there are plenty of hospitals in undesirable locations who offer crisis pay for a multitude of reasons. You also have the opportunity to sign contracts that guarantee you four shifts a week. You may not like the location but you will love your paycheck.
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I know nurses are awesome but it doesn’t mean that you will get every job you want just because you are a nurse. No matter what field you are in it is important to remain organized, prepared and competitive.
I believe the best way to make yourself standout in the travel world is with experience and a large skill set. The more years of experience and specialized training you have prior to starting your travel nursing career will make you stand out amongst your peers and open up opportunities for employment.
As a current traveler it is vital that you maintain a good track record and have positive evaluations. Having a variety of assignments, including both large and small, teaching and non-teaching hospitals is important.
In addition to maintaining your skillset, I also recommend that you stay organized. There is a lot of paperwork that goes along with travel nursing and it is up to you to maintain it. If a hot crisis pay job comes along or the destination of your dreams and you don’t have your certs up to date, then guess what, you missed out. Keep yourself organized and up to date. Your recruiter will love you for that.
Most of us aren’t in this career just for the money but receiving adequate pay for your hard work is vital to your job satisfaction. As you take more assignments you will learn that spending time negotiating deals while on the road takes time away from enjoying the real benefits of being a travel nurse; unless of course you are in this just for the money then in that case, more power to ya!
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As with anything in life, travel nursing isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. There are added stresses caused by the lifestyle as well as some disadvantages compared to a typical staff nurse job.
Fortunately, the adventure and excitement of travel nursing tend to make up for some of the minor inconveniences.
Let’s look at some of the so-said disadvantages and break them down into how we can use them to our advantage while travel nursing.
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Being out on your own in a new city at a new job can be scary and lonely. You have completely disrupted your normal routine and don’t have those familiar places and faces to turn to when you need comforting.
Why this is an advantage: Being away from your home base forces you to branch out and make new friends.
My husband and I have been travelling for five years and it is so cool to think back on how many friends we have made. We have created our own family of sorts all across the country!
Traveling is not only a great way to meet new people, its also great for deepening existing bonds. We have met up with several family members that we rarely saw before because they lived outside of our home state.
With family visits fewer and farther between than when we lived back home it really makes everybody cherish their time together that much more.
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The uncertainty of when and where your next job is going to be is next to impossible to get used to, so you might as well just accept it early on. One thing that eases the stress is to remember that there are ALWAYS travel nurse jobs available – ALWAYS.
It might not be exactly what you are hoping for, but you won’t go hungry and without a paycheck if you don’t choose to.
Why this is an advantage: One of the biggest stressors in travel nursing also happens to be one of the most exciting aspect of travel nursing. That anticipation and waiting to find out where you are going to live in such a short amount of time is quite thrilling.
It definitely makes you nervous from time to time, but try to learn to embrace the adventure of it. How cool is it that today you could be living in sunny California and next week you could be in snowy New York?!
Explore the country while doing what you love.
To be completely honest, scheduling as a traveler can be quite the headache. There is no such thing as a “regular schedule” and very few facilities allow travelers to self-schedule (although some do). For the most part, you are at the mercy of whoever makes your schedule.
Why this is an advantage: As a traveler, you are there to help them fill a void and so it is part of your job description to be flexible and go-with-the-flow. It can be a hard adjustment, but an invaluable one. Accepting that things like scheduling will likely be out of your control will allow you to focus on things that really matter, especially your patients.
Find your dream travel assignment here.
Oh, good ‘ole travel nurse floating. It’s real. It happens. Sometimes it happens a lot. I think this is one thing we warn new travelers about the most. Just accept before you ever get started that you will be floated. It’s not a maybe thing, it’s a definite (I suppose some specialties might be exempt, but most are not).
It can be kind of intimidating, but that it why it is imperative that you are confident in your skills as a nurse before you begin to travel.
Why this is an advantage: Floating can be frustrating, but the benefit to you is that you gain experience in areas you may not have had if you were staff nursing. The experience you gain far outweighs the inconveniences.
Not only do you pick up new skills that will make you a more well rounded nurse, you also make professional contacts from all specialties all across the country.
As you can see, the “disadvantages” of travel nursing can often be considered advantages. I suppose it’s all about perception and attitude. What may have initially seemed like a disadvantage may be what ultimately makes you a better nurse!
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The one thing I missed the most about being a staff nurse was the personal connections I had with my co-workers. When you spend 12 hours a day in the trenches of bedside nursing, your co-workers become your closest friends.
Making connections on the road can be difficult but not impossible. There are thousands of travel nurses looking to make the same connections you are. It just takes a little open mindedness and willingness to step out of your comfort zone.
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The personal benefits of connecting with your fellow nurses are limitless. Your co-workers provide support in difficult times, whether it be helping you through a stressful shift or having a shoulder to lean on during tough times at home.
There is no one in the world who can relate to you like a fellow nurse; not to mention nurses are extraordinarily fun to hang out with. As you probably know, it’s easier to hang with your co-workers because they have the same schedule and sleeping habits as you; they understand that if you work night shift, doing anything before noon is unacceptable.
See the country while getting paid – find open assignments here
Not only are there personal benefits to befriending your fellow nurses but there are professional benefits too. We would all like to believe that getting a job in the medical field is based on your skills, experience and personality but the reality of the matter is that for the most part, it’s all based on who you know.
The nursing world tends to be small. Any one of your personal connections could turn into a professional connection, possibly giving you the inside scoop on a new job.
I also recommend talking with your fellow travel nurses about their contracts and the companies they travel with, especially if you are unhappy with your current travel agency. Ask them about where they have traveled and what hospitals and cities they recommend working in or avoiding; it may open your eyes to a destination you never even thought of or help you dodge a bullet.
Travel nursing can become very lonely especially if you know absolutely no one where you are heading. Learning how to connect with people will be vital to your happiness on the road.
There are many different ways to meet new people. Social and professional networking websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and allnurses.com allows you to connect with people without actually having to meet with them face to face.
Making new connections may be as easy as posting online that you will be traveling to a new city and are looking for recommendations on things to do. I met my fiancé in Los Angeles, California through a personal trainer I met in Tucson, Arizona. All I did was ask if he knew anyone in LA that could show me around and voila!
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I personally prefer to meet new people in person. Breaking the ice is actually quite easy with travel nurses. All you have to do is ask the nurse why they decided to travel. There is usually a good story behind this and it is one that you can probably relate to.
If you don’t like to get that personal right off the bat, then you can always start with asking where they are from and where they have traveled to. Three months is not a long time when it comes to making new friends so I recommend introducing yourself to your fellow travelers right off the bat in orientation.
This is a good time to connect with people on Facebook and let them know that you are open to hanging out. If there aren’t a lot of travelers at your hospital you can always join Meetup groups to find people to hang out with who have similar interests.
Connecting with new people on the road and in such a short period of time is difficult. You will have moments where you feel lonely but it’s important to keep in mind that in nursing you are never alone.
Travel nurses come and go but as demonstrated by Miss Colorado, Nurse Kelley Johnson, nurses all over this country and even the world are connected and have your back regardless of location.
Find open travel assignments here.
Although travel nursing has been around for a while, the curiosities surrounding the profession are still very prevalent. There are many myths and questions about pay, treatment and lifestyle that usually require some explaining, both to staff and patients.
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Here are some common questions I have encountered:
Your travel agency will pay for your housing, furnish it, set up your utilities for you and pay the monthly bill. If you want cable or internet access you have to set that up and pay for it yourself.
Most companies do not pay for a television, washer and dryer or a vacuum but you do have the option of renting these items from the company that furnished the apartment. All you have to do is let your recruiter know what you would like to rent.
You also have the option of taking the housing stipend and finding your own place to stay. If this is the case then all of the living expenses are your responsibility.
See the country while getting paid – find open assignments here.
There are many nurses that travel with their pets. You just have to let your recruiter know that you have a pet so they can find housing that is pet friendly.
There might be restrictions on what type of pet you can have and you may have to pay an additional security deposit.
Discover new travel assignments here.
Travel nursing is ideally for single people or couples, however, there are a few folks out there who travel with their little ones.
If you do choose to travel with your family, your travel agency can set you up with housing big enough for everybody. Many of these families have one parent at home and choose to homeschool their children.
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Most travel agencies offer both health insurance and retirement with matching. The kicker is that you cannot take more than 30 days off to maintain your health insurance.
If you are one of those people who has the luxury of taking extended vacations, it may be wise to get your own health insurance.
Most companies do not offer Paid Time-Off (PTO) or short term disability. If you tend to play hard, I recommend getting some type of accident insurance so that you have some income coming in if you are not able to work; in the travel world, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid.
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I personally don’t feel that I necessarily had the worst assignments. It depends on what kind of patients you prefer.
Many places tend to give you the easy patients and leave the sick ones for their staff, at least in the ICU anyway. Some ICU nurses would consider these less sick patients the worst patients since they are probably not sedated and ventilated.
You are usually the first to float so if floating is miserable to you then you might consider your assignment “the worst.”
It takes time for the charge nurses to get to know you and learn what you can handle. You will find that if you extend at a place long enough you will feel less like the red headed step child.
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For me, the hardest part of travel nursing was the feeling of instability. It is exciting to see a new city every few months but packing up, moving and figuring out a new grocery store and gym was a bit exhausting.
You could relax for a little bit and then it was time to figure out and prepare for your next destination.
I also felt like at any moment my contract could end at any place at any given moment and I would once again be forced to repeat it all over again. If I had any suggestions, I would recommend that travel nurses extend in the places they felt most comfortable in. I think this can take away the feeling of instability, at least a little bit.
Speak to a staffing agent about new travel assignments today.
If you are thinking about traveling, asking questions to anyone you come into contact with who is traveling or has traveled in the past is definitely a must.
The more information, the better; just be careful that their horror stories don’t deter you from making the professional leap. Everyone experiences challenging situations in their life differently. Some people embrace change while others may feel defeated.
I encourage you to face your fears head on and experience the wonderful world of travel nursing for yourself.
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Whether or not you are currently traveling or are thinking about it, we all have that dream travel assignment in mind. Some of us are looking to spend a few months hanging at the beach in Hawaii or rouging it in Alaska.
Finding the perfect destination is key to having an enjoyable travel experience. Landing that dream travel assignment is not easy; it will take a persistence, patience, sacrifice and preparation.
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Travel assignment availability is based solely on need. If you have a destination in mind, it might be wise to research when their busy time of the year is. If you are looking to travel to Florida or Arizona, keep in mind that snowbirds flock to those destinations in the winter so there is a need to increase staff based on increased population.
Because winter is a busy time of year for most hospitals, it is most likely that you will land that dream job during that season. California is the only place I know that always has plenty of jobs available year round.
Start your travel adventure here.
If you are looking to travel to Hawaii or Alaska, make sure you have your nursing license ready. The jobs here come and go so you need to be prepared at any moment.
You should also have a list of destinations in mind and make sure your recruiter is well aware of your travel goals. They will try to give you other assignments because they get paid more, so stay firm on where you want to go and don’t let them talk you out of it.
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Patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to landing your dream assignment; you are probably not the only one who has that dream. Making yourself standout amongst your fellow travel nurses is particularly important if you want to make it to your destination. Having certain certifications such as your CCRN, TNCC or NIH can definitely help you land your job.
Many hospitals also look at the number of years you have been a nurse and years as a travel nurse. If you are just beginning your travel nursing career then it may be slim pickins for your first few assignments; unless you have a specialty like open heart surgery, cath lab, neuro or OB. These specialty jobs are usually high in demand and pay more.
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The interview and selection process for hiring travelers isn’t that in depth. Most of the time your recruiter will describe the unit and types of patients they have and you say whether or not your skill set is appropriate for that unit. Your recruiter will forward the info to the manager of the unit and If everything checks out then you will most likely get the job.
There will be a few occasions where you will speak to the nurse manager of the unit. It is important that if you do speak to the nurse manager, you appear flexible and let them know you have no problem floating.
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As a travel nurse, your new found specialty will be flexibility and just like with anything else in life, sacrifices will have to be made to get what you want. Sacrificing pay, day/night shift preference, housing and having to float are just some of them.
If you want to travel somewhere bad enough, you will be surprised at what you are willing to do. I personally found that the only deal breaker for me was having to live in an extended stay. There is no way I could live for any amount of weeks without preparing my own meals. You will find your limits and what your deal breakers are after a few assignments.
The reason most of us get into travel nursing is because the idea of getting paid to see this beautiful country is an absolutely amazing experience. Having too focused of a travel plan can blind you to other opportunities that you might miss.
Since my first road trip when I was 16 to San Francisco, I have had it in my head that I wanted to live there. When I first started traveling I told my recruiter that my ultimate goal was to go to San Francisco. Because I was not an experienced travel nurse, there were no opportunities there for me.
Instead, I got to experience the music scene of Austin, Texas, work with awesome critical care nurse practitioners in Tucson, Arizona, meet wonderful friends and my future husband in Los Angeles, California, and drive across this beautiful country to Sarasota, Florida. I’m glad I remained flexible in my adventures. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for those unexpected experiences.
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Homesickness is defined by the English dictionary as “longing for home and family while absent from them”. Homesickness not only has a definition, but apparently it has symptoms as well: grief, nostalgia (a longing or wistful affection for the past), depression, anxiety, withdrawal, sadness, agoraphobia (fear of going outside), and claustrophobia.
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Sounds intense doesn’t it? Well, let me tell you that this phenomenon can make or break your travel experience. I have no doubt in my mind that every travel nurse has experienced homesickness at least once in their travel nursing lifetime. Because there is no medication to prevent it or treat it, I have researched a few methods to help combat it.
1.Research the city
Before you get there, plan your activities and fun sites to see ahead of time. Visit all of the touristy hot spots and fill in the extra time with your own beloved hobbies. If you did yoga, enjoyed hiking, went to the gym, or attended church every Sunday, then make sure those activities follow you to your new location.
2. Create a routine as soon as possible
If you can, follow the same routine you had at home prior to traveling. You might have more alone time in your routine so plan accordingly. Make your alone time productive. Learn a new language, read some books, or do a puzzle. Find a local coffee shop to sit in. Sometimes it just feels good to be around other people, even if you aren’t talking to them.
3. Take advantage of your new surroundings and try new activities
If you have been landlocked and are now by the ocean, take some surfing lessons. If you have been on flat land and find yourself in the mountains, go for a hike. Utilize Groupon and living social to help you find local activities at a decent price.
4. Seek out a group or even one person to hang out with
I know this may be challenging for some, but now is the time to exit your comfort zone. I have found the easiest way to meet people as a travel nurse is during orientation and at work. It’s easy to connect to other travel nurses because they understand your situation, they have similar schedules, and are usually willing to do touristy things with you.
5. Try to avoid staying too connected to people back home
I’m not saying cut them off completely, but distancing yourself from your friends and family will make it easier to enjoy new people and new experiences. I would recommend talking with friends and family from home maximum once a week, just to check in.
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6. Limit your time spent on Facebook and Skype
I definitely noticed when I saw my peeps back home doing fun stuff without me, nostalgia started to kick in and everything else seemed bleak in comparison.
7. Bring home to you
Convince your friends and your family to come visit you in your new city. Sharing experiences with other people can help keep your outlook positive.
8. Make your living space your own
Having familiar household items that you carry with you to each assignment can make each new apartment feel like home. I carried my favorite rug, Christmas cup, towels and dishes everywhere I went.
9. Get outside every single day
Find a local place where you can go for a walk, run or bike ride. Sitting inside watching Netflix all day or night can lead to a very depressing day. You would be amazed at how motivating sunshine can be.
10. Watch your favorite home team
I made it a point to find a local Denver Broncos bar in every city that I traveled to. This is also a good way to connect with local people. You will notice that you become increasingly patriotic about your home state the longer you stay away.
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Homesickness may seem unbearable when you are going through it and there are no guarantees that you will be able to avoid it. Like with anything else, prevention and education is key. Knowing the signs and symptoms allow you to understand that this is a natural way to feel and there are ways to combat it.
Becoming a travel nurse will single handedly make you the most independent person you have ever been in your entire life. Once you get the hang of being with yourself, by yourself, you will never be lonely again.
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For the most part, travel nursing is fun and offers memories and experiences to last a lifetime. However, like with anything, there are the occasional bad assignments and/or experiences that come with the territory.
Miscommunication, varied expectations, unfriendly staff, poor work conditions, unsatisfactory housing, and other anomalies can all happen; you just have to be prepared to handle each situation as it arises. Here are some tips on how to handle the unexpected in a professional way.
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The most common disappointment with travel nursing, from our experience at least, has to do with expectations and communication. There are a lot of people involved in the process, which can sometimes lead to miscommunication, errors or confusion.
1. You have yourself, the nurse.
2. And of course your agency which can include multiple people:
3. And don’t forget the hospital:
So as you can see, there are a lot of people handling one position, which leaves a lot of room for misunderstood or misinterpreted expectations.
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I cannot stress enough to always, always get everything in writing (in your contract). I know it sounds tedious, but your recruiters “word” over the phone just isn’t good enough. Trust me, we have learned the hard way that if it is not in the contract, they will quite possibly not hold up their end of the deal when push comes to shove.
It’s not always an issue with the recruiter. Another common breakdown of communication can happen between the hiring manager and your boss on the floor. So again, get it in writing so if there is ever a dispute you can refer back to your contract.
The perfect example of the importance of getting everything in writing is an assignment my husband took a couple of years ago outside of Cape Cod, MA. It was a very small hospital in a small coastal town. Towards the end of the interview and hiring process it was mentioned that he wouldn’t be working 3-12’s like he strongly prefers. Instead it would be 40 hour per week contract instead of his typical 36. We decided to accept, but we asked that it be added to his contract that he would only work a maximum of four days a week and a minimum of eight hour shifts and only between the hours of 7am-11pm.
Fast forward to him receiving his first schedule after orientation and we were so thankful that we added the stipulation to his contract. His schedule was all over the place. They scheduled him to work five and six days a week. One day might be for four hours late night and then turn around and come back for a 16 the next morning. Literally in one schedule he was supposed to work 4, 8, 10, 12, and 16 hour shifts; all different times of the day/night.
Their stance was that he is a traveler and was there to help them out, however and whenever they needed him. The hiring manager accepted his contract with his stipulations, while his manager on the floor and person in charge of scheduling was clearly left out of the loop.
Had we not asked the recruiter to add his stipulations into the contract he would have been required to work it. Thankfully we had the foresight to be specific on what he was and was not willing to do schedule-wise. They weren’t thrilled about it but they did adjust his schedule to adhere to his contract.
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In the above example, my husband Skyler first discussed his schedule with his boss on the floor, explaining that it didn’t uphold their contractual agreement. She wasn’t budging though, so he then contacted his recruiter and asked her to get involved. She contacted the appropriate people at the hospital and rectified the situation.
In most disputes, that is probably the best way to handle things. First try to resolve the issue yourself, then get your agency involved if need be.
Just remember to always be courteous and professional in all situations. Don’t be that traveler that gets upset about an unexpected situation, justified or otherwise, and storms off the job. It leaves a bad name for the travel nurse industry and not to mention could tarnish your reputation with both staffing agencies and hospitals.
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If you have tried to resolve an issue and it is just not coming to an acceptable outcome and you choose to quit a contract, you need to discuss the procedure and possible ramifications with your recruiter. Honestly, we have never quit a contract so I don’t know what the exact process is. It varies per situation so be sure to follow the directions of your recruiter.
If you are quitting for a valid reason, there shouldn’t be any repercussions per-se. You might be out some travel expense, etc., but it if you are quitting because they are not holding up their end of the contract, that should be about it and your recruiter will likely try to get you placed in a new assignment quickly.
Now if you are quitting for personal reasons or reasons not really justified by the contract, you might be out money for housing and travel, etc. Again, it is handled on a case-by-case basis, but you should find out what the ramifications of quitting are before you make that decision.
It is truly uncommon that an assignment or situation is so bad that it warrants quitting a contract. It does happen occasionally though, so it is good to know how to appropriately handle the situation. More times than not, problems that arise on a travel assignment can be worked out without having to cancel the contract. No matter the situation, just make sure that you, as a traveling nurse, are representing your colleagues, agency, and most importantly yourself, professionally.
