Nurses are often found in hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. The plane is the least location we expect them to be until the dawn of the travel nursing industry. It was particularly practiced to address the shortage of nurses in hospitals.
A travel nurse can somehow be considered a jet setter as they often travel from one assignment to another. They live out of their suitcase unless they are assigned to a particular hospital for longer than six months.
Travel Nurse Essentials
If there’s one thing that needs much attention, it’s knowing what the best carry-on luggage to bring that would allow them to carry all their travel nurse essentials and necessary nursing items while hopping around places.
If you’re a travel nurse looking for some tips on what you need to pack and how to do it effectively, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are the nurse essential items that you shouldn’t forget.
Important documents
Important documents should always be a top priority. These are key items to help you move from one place to another without a hitch. You don’t want to lose any of these documents while in transit. Make sure they are stored in a safe place.
First aid kit
While this may seem like an obvious necessity for everyone, much more for nurses, first aid kits are beneficial wherever we are in the world.
Start with the basics like band-aids, wound solution, and some medicine for common illnesses. There are available ready-made kits in the market to save you time and effort.
Prescription medications
If you are under-prescribed medication, you should always bring them with you. Make sure you’re covered for the duration of your stay.
Appropriate clothing
Hospitals often require uniforms or scrubs for nurses. Make sure you bring enough scrubs with you.
You may also want to do some research on what type of weather you are coming into. It will help you identify if you need to bring jackets or rain gear.
A dependable watch
Nurses rely on their watches most of the time, so travel nurses should carry with them a reliable watch. If we may suggest, bring a waterproof watch to be sure.
Comforts from home
Anyone who often travels for work is prone to homesickness. It’s inevitable to miss your family back home, so try to at least manage your emotions by bringing a piece of home with you.
It can be a series of photos, a pillow, or small items that will remind you of what’s waiting for you at home.
Household items
While this may be the least that you should prioritize, you still would want to bring with you some cooking and eating utensils for more comfortable meals. You may also want to bring towels as not all temporary homes have one.
Travel gear
When traveling, whether by plane or car, make sure that you have items to make your trip more comfortable and bearable—especially if they take long hours.
A neck pillow is always helpful, so you better bring one. Headphones and other items for entertainment can also ease your boredom. If you can, bring snacks with you, don’t hesitate to do so.
Tech and entertainment
Let’s admit it. Work can sometimes consume us. We often forget that we have a life to live, and we’re not just here to make a living.
That’s the point of having enough entertainment items with you. Be it your trusty tablet or laptop for some film viewing nights, books for the bookworms, or card games when you have roommates that you can bond with.
Emergency phone numbers
Emergency phone numbers should be kept in one notebook where all your important notes are located. It should be easily accessible, so when there’s a need to call one of the numbers, you’ll know where to find it.
Make sure that you store these numbers on your phone as well. It’s faster to dial them up. You can set them up on your speed dial.
Have Fun!
Nurses are our heroes, along with other medical practitioners. While their job is considered one of the toughest careers ever available to humankind, it doesn’t mean that they should not have fun! Traveling nurses have an excellent opportunity to see more places and discover new sights—which, of course, could happen after their duties!
We hope that you found these travel nurse essentials to pack for your next assignment helpful. Here are a couple more articles with packing tips for travel nurses:
- Travel Nurse Packing Hacks for the Next Assignment
- Step #15: Packing for the Travel Nurse
- The Ultimate Packing List for Your Next (Or First!) Travel Nursing Job
