August 15, 2021

8876 Views

5 Easy Ways to Make a Space Feel Like Home

Posted on August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

This is a guest post by: Kelly Holland.

It can be hard to travel for work when feelings of homesickness arise. Staying busy with a job is great, but you are sure to have downtimes when your temporary living space feels different than home. Consider these 5 easy ways to make a space feel like home while working away from your comfort base:

1. Add Familiar Landscapes

There is no better way to remind you of home than to have a picture, drawing, or painting that reminds you of the landscape back home. Surrounding your new space with a picture of something that you loved back home, whether it be a building, skyline, or main street, will all help with making your new space feel that much more like home. Seeing these familiar places will bring comfort and add a sense of belonging even if you aren’t living in the same area.

2. Incorporate Favorite Plants

Just one or two plants native to your home location will help make your new space feel more inviting. If you didn’t bring any plants with you, consider purchasing a few from a local store or ordering some seeds online. Things like a favorite flower or even dried stalks of wheat will add beauty to your new space as well as help keep you connected to your native home wherever your job may take you.

3. Add Creature Comforts

There is nothing like coming home after a long day at work and snuggling up in something comfortable. Make sure that your new space is filled with comfortable pillows, throws, and a set of extra comfy pajamas that will go a long way in helping you wind down and relax after a busy day. Consider purchasing a few different blankets, one for your bed and one for the couch, to always have something cozy nearby to wrap up in and forget about the day.

4. Print Out Pictures

We know that you have plenty of pictures on your phone. But they can be hard to appreciate and look at when stored in a device. Consider using an easy picture printing app that will help you print those favorite pictures to have in your new space. Hang pictures of family, friends, and a favorite pet on the fridge to bring those familiar faces into your everyday life. Purchase a few nice frames for special pictures that you want to showcase in your new space. Even create a gallery wall that will help your new place feel even more like home.

5. Add Scent to Your Space

Does lavender always make you think of your sister? Or perhaps the scent of home-baked cookies from the oven brings back great memories from grandma’s kitchen? Consider incorporating these favorite scents into your space to make it feel more like home. Walking into your new space after a long day and being engulfed in scents from back home will help bring comfort without even realizing it. Other ways to add scent include purchasing a favorite perfume or cologne that a loved one wears. To be reminded of that person even if they aren’t physically there.

Your new space should be a place of refuge. Where you can come in after a day at work and enjoy your time to unwind, consider placing family pictures throughout the space. As well as pictures of a favorite landscape to make your space more like home. Adding scents from home as well as favorite plants will help create a more inviting space as well. Finally, make sure that your home is filled with comfortable pieces that will help you relax. This can include; blankets, throws, and pillows as an easy way to make a space feel more like home.

Looking for housing while on assignment?

Check out our Housing Section

By The Gypsy Nurse

February 13, 2021

8457 Views

Top 5 Tips For Dealing With Difficult Patients While Travel Nursing

Posted on February 13, 2021December 20, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Dealing with difficult patients is a skill. Whether you are new to the nursing scene, or a seasoned vet, you know that there are just some patients that push you a little (or a lot) over the edge some days. Most of the time, we are pretty easy going and know to expect the unexpected, especially if you are an ER nurse. Here are tips for dealing with difficult patients while travel nursing that you can think about when you or your patient are having one of those days.

Use these tips to be a PRO at Dealing With Difficult Patients

Listen

Whether your difficult patient is in for something minor or something major, sometimes they just want to be heard. Just a moment to make eye contact and hear them out with all their complaints, doubts, anger, etc. This could be a way of expressing how nervous or scared they are about what may or may not be happening. One of our Gypsy’s put it best on Facebook, “Listen, and listen some more. If a patient has a complaint about a previous nurse, often better to just listen, then obtain the presence of the charge nurse or supervisor, or if the facility has a patient liaison or representative. A lot of times, they just need to be heard. Never make excuses.”

Respond

It’s typical after a long day or even a long week to have a short fuse. Nurse or not, we are all guilty of this from time to time. Although for you, it may seem like a no-brainer, sometimes all they need is for someone to hear them out and respond with patience and kindness. Assure them that they will have all their questions answered and even ask if anything needs to be clarified. This may take a bit longer for some, but in the long haul will result in a better, more satisfying stay for both.

Ask

“Ask when you can’t find something, ask when you don’t understand them, ask for help if you need it, ask if you can help them, ask the patient questions, it’s okay to show emotion to your patient, it’s okay to sit and cry with them. Sitting down next to them for 30 seconds makes it feel like you spent 5-10
minutes with them sometimes. Share yourself with patients and their families.” This can mean the world to your patients and the lives they touch by a simple act of compassion. Showing the patient that you’re human, too, with a little bit of humility can go a long way in calming them down as well.

Kill them with kindness

Biting your tongue can be hard. It’s not always going to be a difficult patient that is just hurt or confused, or frustrated. Sometimes you just plain cannot calm them down or talk sense into them. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s perhaps something they’ve ingested that is making them act that way. For all involved, at times, it may be best for the sake of your own sanity to kill them with kindness. Even at your highest stress level, at least you can leave with no remorse in your actions and may even be able to get a laugh out of it down the road.

If all else fails, be honest

When you have tried and tried, and nothing seems to work, be sure you abide by the policy and let the patient know, calmly, the consequences of their actions if they proceed. Making sure you have documentation of what you’ve done or tried to do, as well as any documentation they may need to fill out to leave AMA, etc., it’s best to have all your ducks in a row. It may be that “gentle” nudge to show them that you care, but respect is expected both ways.

Take-Away

How do travel nurses deal with difficult patients?

Listen, Respond, Ask Question, Kill them with kindness, and if all else fails…be honest.

We hope these tips for dealing with difficult patient helps you regroup your thoughts after a rough day, make you feel like you’re not alone on these crazy days, or even help if you’re new to the game. We love hearing your thoughts and what works best for you! Comment below with your best advice to share with the gypsy community!

Check out these
HOT TRAVEL NURSE JOBS

By The Gypsy Nurse

July 20, 2019

8765 Views

Travel Nurses Maintain Motivation to Exercise

Posted on July 20, 2019May 20, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

How do travel nurses stay motivated to exercise after working 3 or 4 twelve hours shifts a week?

I asked my fellow Travel Nurses…

I received some great responses. Here are the Top 5 suggestions on how travel nurses stay motivated to exercise or workout while working on an assignment.

Set Goals:

Staying motivated starts with setting a goal. Set a goal for a specific dated physical event (i.e., Marathon, walking event, etc.) and tell everyone that matters to you. Having people who you care about help hold you accountable is a great motivator.

Make it A Habit:

According to research, it takes only 21 days to form a habit. If you can do anything for 13 weeks, you can certainly handle 21 Days.

Accountability:

Determine your goals and request someone who you see as a Mentor to help keep you accountable and on-track.

Show Up:

This sounds very simple, but it’s frequently the most difficult part. Start by simply showing up, whether that is a gym, a class, or even just setting a time in your housing comfort to workout or exercise. Show up.

Reward yourself:

Set specific goals and give yourself a reward when you reach them. The reward can be whatever you feel will motivate you to do well. It could be a treat, cheat day or again whatever make you stay motivated.

Have you found any ways to stay motivated to exercise or workout while you are on assignments or between assignments? Do you use any of the methods above? What works for you? Please post your recommendations in the comments.

Here are some additional resources for Fitness:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step by Step

By The Gypsy Nurse

March 9, 2019

6767 Views

Bucket List Experiences as A Travel Nurse

Posted on March 9, 2019March 21, 2022 by The Gypsy Nurse

We recently posed a question to Gypsy Nurse readers:

What Bucket List experiences have you had as a travel nurse?

Travel nursing allows us to feel a little free and sometimes do things that we wouldn’t normally do from our home location. At Home, there is always the thought that ‘it will be there next week’ and sometimes next week just never happens. The ability to travel nurse in areas that have Bucket List experiences is one of the best perks to Travel Nursing. The experiences that travel nursing opens up are vast.

Some exciting Bucket List Experiences from TGN Travel Nurses

I went ZIP LINING!!
Indoor skydiving with friends
Taking a flying lesson in a little Cessna

White water rafting in Colorado
Deep Sea Fishing off the Atlantic Coast
We like factory tours and have watched cheese and ice cream being made, paper milled, cranberries harvested and although we don’t drink, we’ve been to four different breweries around the country. We even got to see the Budweiser Clydesdale’s!

I saw the Nutcracker with the Phoenix Ballet and saw a tango show with an instructor from Dancing with the Stars and Alvin Ailey Dance troup.
Whale watching on the California Coast

Driving tour of the covered bridges in Pennsylvania

What Bucket List experiences have you had while working as a travel nurse?

What experiences do you dream of fulfilling? Post your experiences in the comments below.

You can share your travel nurse experiences with us by contacting us at content@thegypsynurse.com or by posting your #gypsynurseadventures on Instagram.

Looking for the perfect location to fill your

Travel Nurse Bucket List Dreams?

Check out the Jobs in these States

By The Gypsy Nurse

January 10, 2019

11270 Views

Travel Nurses with Unsupportive Friends and Family: How to Deal with It

Posted on January 10, 2019January 16, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

When I first started to travel for a living, people asked me what I was running away from, wondered why I didn’t get a real job, and would mostly tell me I was crazy or weird. As a travel nurse, it seems there are a lot of unsupportive friends and family.

Suffice it to say, I didn’t get a lot of encouragement and support in the beginning.

Sometimes your friends and family, the people you want most to be supportive of your new career, aren’t as enthusiastic as you’d like them to be, they are actually unsupportive. They don’t understand and try to talk you out of going. It can be deflating and saddening. You’re so excited about this adventure and here they are, raining on your parade.

Readers reach out to me about this topic frequently. I can feel the angst in their emails and the confusion at not knowing to how deal with the situation.

“How do I not let them get me down? What did you do? What do I say?” These are the questions I hear from Travel Nurses that I meet. It’s apparent that I’m not the only who has faced such negativity, and, luckily, I’m also not the only who ignored it.

So what do you do or say when your support system is so unsupportive. Below are some common criticisms future travelers hear and examples of how I’ve turned similar criticism around when I’ve been faced with it myself:

“It’s so unsafe there! You shouldn’t go.”

I hear this one a lot, not only from people via email, but also from people in my own life. News organizations paint the world to be a scary, scary place with criminals lurking around every corner. News shows love to highlight the dangers of life. Crime happens everywhere. It occurs in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and every small town and medium city in between. You can walk out of your house and be mugged or hit by a bus. Just like you can travel the world and never have anything happen to you. There is no place in the world that is 100% safe. Once you put it into this perspective for people, it usually ends the subject.

“You are just running away.”

People seem to assume that if you are traveling long-term, you must be running away from something. When people say this to me, I tell them that yes, I am running away. I’m running away from their version of life and to my version of life. Remind people that what they do in their life may make them happy, but that you have different goals. This experience is what makes you happy right now. Most people will admit you have a point and drop the subject because, at the end of the day, we all want our friends to realize their dreams and be happy. True friends will let you go after yours and be supportive along the way.

“Why don’t you get a real job?”

When people tell me that I should get a ‘real’ job, I respond that if I’m going to be working well into my old age, I’d rather spend my healthy years exploring the world instead of stuck in one place. Life as a travel nurse is a working vacation.

“I wish I could do that. You’re so lucky. It must be nice to not have any responsibility.”

This statement is one that nearly angers me. This is jealousy, pure and simple. I tell people, “You can travel too.” There’s nothing special about me and my decision. I’m not ‘lucky’, I’ve worked very hard to be able to live a life as a Travel Nurse and there is a lot that I give up to be able to do so. While there are always circumstances that really keep people from traveling, for the most part the only things holding anyone back are the restrictions they put on themselves. People of all ages and circumstances can find a way to turn travel into a reality.

“It’s unsafe to travel alone.”

I typically respond to anyone who offers this argument by asking them why they believe this, and they will usually begin to spout stories they “learned” from the news about people who traveled alone and ended up in a bad situation. They might rattle off worst-case scenarios: “you could get sick, injured, robbed, or worse, and no one would be around to help.” That may be true, but if I went hiking in the woods by myself, the same thing could happen. Hell, I could fall in my apartment and no one might notice for days. As a solo traveler, you have to be a little more vigilant. Besides, I’m really rarely alone for long due to the variety of people I meet and friends I make along the way.

“Don’t you care about settling down and finding someone?”

The undertone of this question is that you won’t be happy if you don’t have someone. My response is typically that I will settle down when I find the right person to settle down with, and that person could be found anywhere in the world. I do want to find someone I’m crazy about, but I won’t settle for just anyone. Besides, perhaps my ‘someone’ will be found while traveling.

“Why would you want to go there?”

People ask this question with the undertone that by wanting to go to some remote small town in Nebraska, you’re weird, as if certain places in the world are inconsequential and not worthy of exploration. My answer to this question is “because it exists.” I’ve found that some of the least desirable places have some of my best memories. There is something good about everywhere that I’ve been. Why should I limit myself? Why should you, either?

There will always be haters. And while we can always tell ourselves “I don’t care what people think,” the truth is we do care what our friends and family have to say because we value their opinions.

If a stranger tells me I am running away, I don’t care. But when all my friends do, I become discouraged that they don’t support my decision. And I get enough emails from readers to know that all that negativity does make would-be travelers question their decision to travel and wonder if they are making a mistake.

(You’re not!)

Use these responses to deflect their criticism and help them understand why you want to travel. And if they still remain unsupportive, there is a wonderful network of travelers all over the web who can act as your support system and source of encouragement.

Use us to lean on.

Keep dreaming. Don’t let people get you down. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take the alternative path and travel for a living. Let them try to dissuade you. Let them call you crazy.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” -Mark Twain

We hope you found this article on how to deal with unsupportive family and friends helpful. We hope these tips help you. Did you encounter unsupportive family and/or friends? How did you handle those that were unsupportive? Did you find ways other than those mentioned in this article? If you would like to share those tips comment them below.

By Gifted Healthcare

June 12, 2018

8982 Views

Hidden Gems Across America

Posted on June 12, 2018November 10, 2023 by Gifted Healthcare

Gifted Healthcare provided this article.

Why not try a travel nurse contract in one of these travel nurse hidden gem locations across America? Summer is the best time to be a travel nurse. With a sense of adventure in the air, visiting new places is a top priority. You’ve heard all about opportunities in major big cities, but if you want a unique experience, check out these hidden gems across America.

Travel Nurse ‘Hidden Gem’ Locations

Gulf Shores, Alabama

If you’re looking for white sands and sea turtles, Gulf Shores has what you need. This beach community boasts the most beautiful, picturesque sights for your Alabama travel assignment. Opportunities to see bottlenose dolphins are closer than ever with wildlife kayak tours setting out daily or hop on board a boat tour to get the full sun and surf experience.

On land, there are hundreds of restaurant options that let you keep your toes in the sand. From specialty seafood to gluten-free options, beachside cafes will keep you satisfied. For the adventurous palate, try some oysters fresh from the Gulf of Mexico.

For the most unconventional beach fun, take a class at Sand Castle University, where you can learn to make extraordinary sand sculptures. If you’re starting a new assignment and want to bond with your co-workers, this can be your first group trip you’re sure to remember.

Taos, New Mexico

For travel nurses who don’t leave home without their animal companion, Taos, New Mexico, is regarded as one of the most pet-friendly cities in America. This city has a comprehensive guide of trails, restaurants, and hotels where dogs are welcomed as guests.

Whether you walk on two feet or four, Taos has a stunning variety of outdoor experiences for you to discover. You can float down the Rio Chama ending the day at the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa. This would be a great spot to visit if you’re traveling with your spouse. If you’re looking for more excitement, on your next day off, check out a white-water rafting trip down the Taos Box in the Rio Grande Gorge.

If the spirit of travel nursing inspires you, check out the native American nomadic culture of the southwest. Nomads bring a sense of community wherever they roam, much like travel nurses provide their patients in any new setting. For a more modern take on culture, head down to the Taos Plaza. Here you’ll find coffee shops, boutiques, and a farmer’s market complete with flowers, pastries, organic produce, herbs, and music. This is a perfect spot to recharge and find a souvenir from your assignment.

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City is full of hidden gems. If you want to bring out your wild west travel nurse side, check out the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Nurses traveling with younger kids will love the rodeo artifacts and Children’s Cowboy Corral. For more family fun, visit the OKC Zoo and go “behind the scenes” to get up close and personal with the wildlife (as if nursing wasn’t wild enough!).

If you’re traveling with your spouse, Oklahoma City has a whole host of couple’s night-out activities. If you are on the day shift, spend your evening in The Paseo, OKC’s arts district, full of dozens of galleries for you to explore. On the first Saturday of the month, you can check out the free gallery walk events featuring art receptions, discounts at restaurants and shops, and a fun street scene.

Manteca, CA

Manteca is the crossroads of California, located just over an hour east of San Francisco and Sacramento. Discover endless attractions, events, and entertainment – from golf courses to street fairs. Travel nurses with a creative side can enjoy a walking tour of beautiful city murals. If you’re missing your hometown team while on assignment, play like the pros at Big League Dreams.

Climb aboard historic railroads. Take a day trip that winds through the scenic valley and coast, through vineyards, mountains, lakes, and rivers. If you want to explore more out of town, drive to San Francisco. See the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in person. Snap a quick photo to post in the Gypsy Nurse Facebook group, and you’ll be the envy of all our travel friends with the click of a button.

No matter where your summer travels take you, there is always something unique to see/do. Additionally, if you’re looking for someone to explore with, join our Gypsy Nurse Network and schedule a group event!

Where are you heading this summer? Do you have tips for a specific location? We’re always seeking content contributors. Just get in touch!

Find your Next Great Travel Nurse

Adventure

By The Gypsy Nurse

June 4, 2018

9013 Views

Travel Nursing: 6 Reasons It’s The Most Underrated Job in Healthcare

Posted on June 4, 2018May 20, 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse

Guest post by Sandy Getzky:

Television is filled with shows about the medical profession. But more often than not, it focuses on the doctors. If you think about it, you’d be hard-pressed to identify any medical show centered on nurses. It’s not that there is none. It’s just that it’s extremely rare. Because nursing as a whole is a very underrated job.

It may just be fiction, but it plays a part in the recognition that nurses get for what they do. Although it’s hard to admit, nurses are generally underappreciated and nursing is an underrated job. They’re often looked down on because they’re not doctors. Just as overworked, although not as glorified.

Read on if you’re looking to learn more about nursing as a profession. You’ll realize that it goes beyond taking orders from doctors, checking blood pressure, or getting blood samples from your arm.

The job can be as flexible as you prefer.

As a nurse, you can work full-time or part-time, depending on your availability. You can work for as little as four hours to over twelve hours in a day. Your weekly schedule might consist of working only during weekdays, or you can choose to work also on weekends.

Not just that, but you can also work during the shift you prefer. You can work in the morning, or in the evening. Nurses are needed all day every day, so there isn’t just one set of work hours for nurses.

The job is highly flexible, giving you plenty of options if your working hours are unstable.

The pay is good.

The median pay for nurses is around $70,000. And that’s just for registered nurses in general practice. It varies depending on which state you’re in. The highest paying states are California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.

You can choose to specialize in a certain field. It’s even preferred. This gives you an edge over the others. And in turn, you can demand higher pay for your specialization. A certified registered nurse anesthetist can earn as much as $135,000 per year.

As a bonus, there’s always room for improvement. You can work your way up and get even better pay as a result.

You can work anywhere.

Nursing can be practiced anywhere. It’s a global profession. You can practice it in any state, in any country around the world. You can study in America, and practice in Asia. All you need to do is take and subsequently pass the necessary licensure exam in the region, and you’ll be allowed to practice.

There are even nurses who choose not to be tied up to a specific hospital. Others choose to become a freelance consultant. They don’t report to a single clinic or hospital. Instead, they go directly to their clients for appointments.

You can choose your own career path. There are options available depending on what fits you.

Demand is high.

Nursing, as part of healthcare, will always be needed hence the constant need for nurses. And with the ever-growing population, the number of nurses required is also increasing. Every day, more and more people are getting sick and requiring treatment. And the first line of interaction they get is through nurses.

There are a lot of countries in Europe that have a high demand for nurses. Even in North America, especially in Canada and several states in the USA, the need for more nurses just keeps growing.

Rest assured, you’ll find an opening somewhere if you choose to look.

It is never boring.

It’s a highly engaged profession–centered on delivering service to patients. Every single day, you encounter different people with different needs and different personalities. You won’t end up doing the same routine day in and day out.

Aside from the patients, you also get to interact with other professionals in healthcare, such as doctors, physical therapists, and radiologic technologists, among others. They are just as diverse as the patients nurses deal with.

In addition, patient ailments and symptoms greatly vary. You can treat two people with the same diagnosis and still have two different prescribed treatments.

It is highly rewarding.

Finally, nursing is one of those professions where the reward is almost instant. As is generally the case in healthcare. Nurses get to see their patients get better or get the results they need. Some take years to improve, but nurses get to see their journey through.

Nurses don’t just deal with abstract concepts or figures, but with something more concrete: lives of people are at stake.

This is also why, as rewarding as it usually is, the downside is equally traumatic. When you deal with people’s health and lives, the stakes are high. A single mistake can cause permanent damage to a patient. Or worse: permanent loss.

Nursing is not for the faint of heart. It demands great sacrifice and a lot of emotional strength. Tragedy can strike at any time, and nurses have to be strong enough to face them when it strikes.

There’s a lot to love about nursing.

Equally, there is also a lot that needs to be changed. It is a constantly demanding profession. You won’t always be at your best. But every day will require it from you. Anything less would cost someone their health, or worse, their life.

As Ariel Jacoby once said: “Becoming a nurse is one of the most selfless acts a person can undertake. In a society of so many different races, cultures, customs, and beliefs, nurses are a universal gift to all, and the dedicated work that they do and kindness they deliver on a daily basis should serve as a reminder of the fundamental humanity inside us all.”

That quote beautifully sums up what nursing is. Nursing transcends classifications. It doesn’t care about stereotypes. As long as you are someone that needs treatment and care, nurses are there to help you.

So if you’re thinking about getting into the profession or making a career out of it, just make sure it is something that you really want. Otherwise, you might just end up resenting it. Think about your decision thoroughly. It is a high risk, high reward industry after all.

Do you agree that travel nursing is an underrated job? Do you have more reasons why it is an underrated job? Comment your thoughts on why travel nursing is an underrated job below.

Sandy Getzky

Travel Nursing: 6 Reasons It’s The Most Underrated Job in Healthcare

is the executive coordinating editor at The Global Nail Fungus Organization, a group committed to helping the 100+ million people suffering from finger and toenail fungus. Sandy is also a registered Herbalist and member of the American Herbalist’s Guild.

Email:
- sandygetzky@gmail.com
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By Focus Staff

May 22, 2018

8828 Views

Fear of Becoming a Travel Nurse? Here’s What You Should Know

Posted on May 22, 2018May 20, 2021 by Focus Staff

This article is provided by: Focus Staff.

By 2022, more than 1.1 million new nursing positions are expected to be created [1]. For travel nurses, this presents even more opportunities in a field that is already in high demand.

Have you considered working as a travel nurse, but have fears that are holding you back? It’s definitely the time to put them to rest. To help you, here is a quick look at the most common fears associated with travel nursing and what you should really know about them.

Adapting to a new work environment:

When you are working as a travel nurse, you are essentially starting a new job with each move. Fortunately, the basics of nursing care are the same all over the country. This means your biggest challenge will be learning where everything is and the protocols of each hospital. Go into each job with a plan to fit in by being friendly, working hard, and making it clear that you are there to help. When you do this, others are more likely to embrace your presence and help you adapt to your new environment.

Adapting to a new unit:

It’s not unusual for travel nurses to be floated to a variety of different floors while on assignment. Thus it is worth mentioning again that the basics of nursing care are universal. If you are considering becoming a travel nurse, it’s a good idea to join the float pool at your current facility. This will increase your comfort level in areas that you may be somewhat unfamiliar with, such as pediatrics, oncology, or postoperative care. When you are working, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Remember, you are there to help, and most other nurses will appreciate that and be glad to assist.

Feeling lonely:

Travel nursing does have the potential to be lonely, especially when you first arrive at a new assignment. Fortunately, once you start working, you’ll start to develop new friendships. Until then, keep busy by exploring the area, working out, reading, and doing other things that you may not have the time to do at home. Another way to beat potential loneliness is by traveling with a buddy nurse. You’d be surprised, there are many traveling groups and forums online specifically for traveling nurses to the network which helps tremendously in this area.

Missing family and friends:

There is no doubt that you’ll miss your friends and family while traveling. Thanks to technology, it is easy to stay in touch, whether via phone, text, email, Skype, or social media. You can also invite them to visit your new city. After all, you won’t be working every day, and you’ll have time to explore the city with them.

Finding a place to live:

In some cases, the agency you work with may already have a plan in place. In other cases, you may be given a housing allowance and the opportunity to choose your own home base. Plan ahead, making certain your home is close to your assignment, as well as in a safe neighborhood. Again, many traveling forums give insight into housing options at any given facility or area so you aren’t alone in finding a good place to rest!

The “what-ifs”:

Considering the possible what-ifs can make you crazy. What if you don’t like an assignment? What if you get sick? What if a family member gets sick and you need to go home? In many situations, your agency will have policies in place concerning most of your possible what-if situations. Reviewing those policies may put your mind at ease. In most cases, these potential fears never materialize. Don’t let something that will probably never happen to prevent you from a great opportunity.

[1] According to American Nurses Association.

By The Gypsy Nurse

November 29, 2013

6669 Views

Themed Street Art at Home and Abroad

Posted on November 29, 2013November 10, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

One of the interesting things that I found early on in my travels is that there are many places throughout the US that have Themed Street art around the town.

Norfolk VA

In Norfolk Virginia, I was seeking cheap/free things to entertain my then 13 y/o daughter during her summer visit and I found Mermaids! Norfolk is full of mermaids!! Well, not real mermaids…did you think I’d lost my mind? They are actually artistic statues of mermaids. They are all over town! I don’t know how many in total but they are all themed and named and have some cute stories behind them. Pretty cute, I think! My daughter and I ended up going on a mermaid hunt and had a great time trying to find all of the mermaid statues scattered around the city.

(Unfortunately, I do not have photo’s from my personal Mermaid Hunt so I’m sharing the ‘borrowed’ photo’s below. Please stop by these sites and explore more of this fun and unique city.)

Louisville KY

While visiting Louisville KY on a Photo Safari with my daughter, we found Horses! Statues of fancifully painted horses can be seen around Louisville. The horse statues were a part of the Gallopalooza art exhibition, and the horses honor past winners of the Kentucky Derby.

San Miguel, El Salvador

A recent trip nearly 5,000 miles away from Louisville, I discovered that themed art does not stop at the US border. In San Miguel El Salvador, one of the local Colleges (Universidad Andreas Bello) has sponsored some great street art. Art Deco Styled paintings abound on random poles down one lonely street near the College. Each of these themed pieces of art explore a bit of the beauty, culture and activities of the local area. Also in El Salvador via the “Ruta de las Flores” there are several small towns with roadside murals depicting local events, festivals and daily life.

Have you visited a city with Themed Street Art? If so, please share it in the comments…I’m always interested in unique (and free) sights to explore in a new city.

1. Add Familiar Landscapes

2. Incorporate Favorite Plants

3. Add Creature Comforts

4. Print Out Pictures

5. Add Scent to Your Space

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Listen

Respond

Ask

Kill them with kindness

If all else fails, be honest

Take-Away

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Set Goals:

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Accountability:

Show Up:

Reward yourself:

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We recently posed a question to Gypsy Nurse readers:

What Bucket List experiences have you had as a travel nurse?

Some exciting Bucket List Experiences from TGN Travel Nurses

I went ZIP LINING!!

Indoor skydiving with friends

Taking a flying lesson in a little Cessna

White water rafting in Colorado

Deep Sea Fishing off the Atlantic Coast

We like factory tours and have watched cheese and ice cream being made, paper milled, cranberries harvested and although we don’t drink, we’ve been to four different breweries around the country. We even got to see the Budweiser Clydesdale’s!

I saw the Nutcracker with the Phoenix Ballet and saw a tango show with an instructor from Dancing with the Stars and Alvin Ailey Dance troup.

Whale watching on the California Coast

Driving tour of the covered bridges in Pennsylvania

What Bucket List experiences have you had while working as a travel nurse?

You can share your travel nurse experiences with us by contacting us at content@thegypsynurse.com or by posting your #gypsynurseadventures on Instagram.

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“It’s so unsafe there! You shouldn’t go.”

“You are just running away.”

“Why don’t you get a real job?”

“I wish I could do that. You’re so lucky. It must be nice to not have any responsibility.”

“It’s unsafe to travel alone.”

“Don’t you care about settling down and finding someone?”

“Why would you want to go there?”

(You’re not!)

Use us to lean on.

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