October 5, 2022

1836 Views

Top Tips for New Travelers

Posted on October 5, 2022October 3, 2022 by Uniti Med

Uniti Med provided this article.

Picture it: you’re about to start your journey as a travel healthcare professional. Congratulations! What an exciting time in your life! For many first-time travelers, however, it can also be challenging, stressful, and overwhelming. How do you navigate this new step in your career? What can you do to ease the process? Here are some of our top tips for new travelers.

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Don’t be afraid to travel far from home

Leaving your friends, family, and your current hospital or facility can be scary, especially if you have never left your home state. While moving away from everything you have ever known can be a challenge, it can also be equally rewarding. Working in a new facility can introduce you to new ways of doing your job and seeing things from a different point of view. You can also make friends from all over the country and go to places you never thought you’d go. Who knows, you may find your new home away from home! Remember, if you don’t like being far away, you can request your next assignment to be closer to home.

Be flexible

You might not always get your first choice for your assignment. Take a breath. It’s OK! Each assignment is temporary, and if you don’t like the place you’re in now, try something new next time. Additionally, any travel experience will open doors to more jobs along the way. Hospitals love to see a wide variety of assignments from their travelers. Open yourself to new experiences and locations.

Mackenzie, a travel RN, says this: “Go into each assignment with an open mind and friendly face. You can make it through just about anything for 13 weeks, knowing there is an end in sight!”

Be brave

As we said, starting a travel career can be scary. Even with fear and uncertainties, remember to be brave. Bite the bullet. Take the leap. Freefall into the unknown. Say yes instead of no. You will never know until you try!

Victoria, a travel CNA, suggests “stop fearing what could go wrong and start welcoming what can go right!” Tracy, an RN, said this: “For me, it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. Turned out really well!”

Take it from these travelers; don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from trying something new!

Get out there!

Once you make it to your first assignment, you might be a little lonely. You are in a new place with people you just met and are in unfamiliar territory. Get out there, make friends, and see what your new town has to offer. Remember, there are likely to be other travelers at your facility who have been where you are now. Reach out to them as well as the perm-staff. The more you put yourself out there, the more you will learn and grow as a professional and as an individual.

A former traveler, Mikaela Cook, says to “go to all the local places!” There will be many restaurants, bars, breweries, coffee shops, and stores that you won’t have in your hometown. Make a point to check these places out before you make your move to your next assignment.

You are not alone

Starting anything new can be hard to get used to. Just remember that your recruiter and travel agency are always there for you. If you have questions, need assistance, or just want someone to talk to, they are only a phone call away. Traveling alone doesn’t mean you ARE alone. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your recruiter with anything; that’s what they’re there for!

Starting a career in travel healthcare can be a culture shock. No hospital does it the same way, and walking into an unfamiliar place away from everyone you’ve ever known can be a lot to handle. When we have asked travel nurses what their advice would be for first-time travelers, many say that they wish they had started sooner. It’s never too late, but don’t sit on the sidelines forever. Make the move and start your journey!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Sadie Brooks

October 4, 2022

3465 Views

How to Manage Stress and Anxiety as a Traveling Nurse

Posted on October 4, 2022October 3, 2022 by Sadie Brooks

Traveling nurse is a good career option, but there are some disadvantages. In addition, some advantages include the possibility of traveling around the world, gaining practice, helping others, and a good salary.

Besides all these advantages, there are also disadvantages of this job. The job of a traveling nurse is one of the most stressful jobs nowadays. Every job carries a certain amount of stress, but this one is often much more than the average. Everyday pressures at work lead to anxiety. During the working day, traveling nurses encounter patients in serious conditions, death, filling out a lot of documentation, problems in the team, etc. Moving often and getting used to a new environment also increases stress leading to anxiety. In that case, there is a feeling of discomfort, tension, worry, and stress. A large number of traveling nurses face this problem. To avoid this problem, traveling nurses must regularly practice some routines and thus decrease stress levels and anxiety.

Keep reading to find out how to manage stress and anxiety as a traveling nurse.

Get enough sleep

According to the latest research, people need to sleep from 7 to 9 hours every night. Sleep has been proven to reduce stress levels and is therefore very important. If we do not have enough sleep, it leads to fatigue, grumpiness, and irritability.

Traveling nurses often find themselves in stressful situations, and thus they must sleep regularly. They often have to stay awake late if they work the night shift, so sleep is necessary to ensure patient safety. Therefore, it is crucial that traveling nurses go to bed on time and have enough sleep. Thus they can perform their duties smoothly and reduce their levels of stress.

Eat regularly

Due to their busy schedule, traveling nurses often do not get to have regular meals and eat rarely. That leads to being often hungry, which affects their mood and increases stress.

To avoid such situations, try to always have some food with you. Prepare food in advance, so you are not hungry in case of unforeseen situations. Try not to skip a single meal a day.

Include supplements along with your regular diet. For your body to function normally, it is necessary to take in supplementation. It is important to choose natural supplements such as amp supplements, with which you will naturally establish proper body functions and improve your health.

Exercise regularly

Regardless of the work traveling nurses do and the miles they cover while at work, they must have some physical activity outside of work.

Exercises, light walking, running, walking, and intense exercises are excellent ways to get rid of stress and anxiety. That way, you will get more energy, which is good for both – your body and mind. Therefore, set aside a part of the day you will devote yourself to exercise or some other physical activity. That way, you will be less anxious and get rid of unnecessary stress.

Practise meditation

As a traveling nurse, you will often find yourself under a lot of pressure, which leads to stress and anxiety. One of the excellent ways to get rid of stress and anxiety and thereby improve your mental health is meditation.

Through meditation, you will learn to calm your mind and get rid of the thoughts that constantly worry you. This is a great way to have a good quality of your life. Therefore, enroll in a meditation course and get rid of unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Get well-organized

If you are well-organized, the job of a traveling nurse will be able to pass without stress and anxiety. Good organization will greatly facilitate both your work and travel.

Considering that you travel very often, you should start making a list of things you need for your trip. It is crucial to be well-organized to complete all the duties before the shift and avoid stressful situations. Plan your day on time, so you can achieve everything and that you don’t accidentally forget something in a rush. In this way, you will avoid stress and feel relaxed.

Wrapping up

The job of a traveling nurse has both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages are traveling around the world and gaining work experience. On the other hand, it is a responsible and challenging job that brings stress and anxiety with it. To avoid this, try to sleep enough, eat regularly and healthily, use supplements, practice meditation, get well-organized, and exercise regularly. With a few tricks, you will easily manage stress and anxiety while working as a traveling nurse.

We hope you found this article on how to manage stress and anxiety as a traveling nurse helpful. Do you have any tips on how to manage stress and anxiety to share with your fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Frank Hamilton

October 3, 2022

2440 Views

How Can a Travel Nurse Learn & Overcome a Language Barrier?

Posted on October 3, 2022August 22, 2022 by Frank Hamilton

The profession and duties of a travel nurse are similar to a staffing nurse that works in one location, but the resources they require for their job are different. For instance, if a staffing nurse has a language barrier with her patients, she can ask for assistance from the local translator who might be hired to the medical facility. A travel nurse doesn’t have this opportunity and has to learn to overcome language complexities on her own under any circumstances.

Language is very important for a travel nurse, as she has to understand her patients correctly as well as be understood by them in response. Surely, English is considered to be an international language that is known and available in various countries. However, there are still many locations where people don’t get any words in English, and travel nurses cannot predict what their new country will be like to learn a whole new language before moving. And travel nurses also don’t have enough spare time to learn new languages from scratch. Therefore, we would like to share the tips and hacks that will help travel nurses understand and overcome various language barriers.

Learn basic words and expressions peculiar to a new location

Travel nurses have several weeks before changing the location. It is the perfect time to find out more about the country and culture they are going to next, and also learn the basic vocabulary that will be useful for their work there. Travel nurses commonly know the words and phrases related to their duties and can write them down in another language to learn and memorize the correct pronunciation. The basic vocabulary will be quite enough for nurses. In urgent cases, you can always ask for assistance from the local doctors or nurses as well.

Get language guides and dictionaries.

Phrasebooks are great helpers for people keen on traveling and travel due to their professions, like travel nurses. Such language guides commonly include all basic information about the language of your new location. The book is usually divided into certain subjects like transport, café, hospital, hotel and so on where you can find the suitable words and phrases to express yourself correctly. Phrasebooks are also small in size, and you can always take them to work to keep learning in your free time and look for the phrases you need to translate quickly.

Use online learning resources.

According to various posts from the custom writing service Best Essays Education, the approach to learning a new language for travel nurses depends on the duration of being in one or another country and place. For instance, if you stay in a certain location for a week or a bit longer, there is no need to attend learning courses and spend much money on education as language guides will be pretty enough for communication. However, if you are going to stay at a place for several months or even years, you should take a more serious approach to learning a new language. If you don’t have the opportunity to attend online classes for beginners, you can always find a suitable learning course online. Online courses have various types like speaking, writing, or combined. Just pick the most effective approach for you and learn wherever you are and whenever you have free time from your job.

Consider communication with native speakers.

The time needed to learn a foreign language from scratch and overcome a language barrier is very individual, as someone may need several months to speak well, while others may need years of deep learning to become proficient. Also, it depends on the complexity of the selected language. But no learning course can replace communication with native speakers. Instead of reading the language guides, spend some time talking with local people and practicing your speaking. Thus, you will learn much faster, more efficiently, and with more pleasure. But you still need to learn the basic vocabulary before moving on to talk with patients and be clearly understood.

Learn the language of gestures

Due to the writing reviews Trust My Paper, the language of gestures will be comprehensible in any part of the world. It is not obvious to learn all possible gesture combinations, but just learn the basics that will clearly convert the information for your patients and colleagues. Surely, it will add not much value to your language knowledge, but this approach will be your rescue at the very beginning.

Bottom line

Picking the right approach to learning the language and overcoming the language barrier is the key to becoming proficient in it in the short term. It is better to combine several methods of learning like reading the thematic literature, getting portable vocabulary and guides, and practicing your communication skills with native speakers.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Lina Belegu

October 1, 2022

1214 Views

The Advantages of a Healthy Lifestyle You Should Know

Posted on October 1, 2022September 13, 2022 by Lina Belegu

Get this. Adults in America only make up 13% of those with healthy metabolisms. Thirteen percent only!

Your body’s capacity to maintain appropriate triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure, and waist circumference is called metabolic health. Your overall health may be measured using all of these statistics. Your general health will be improved the better these figures are. It must not be beneficial to make an effort to get there if there are so few individuals who are healthy, right? If not, everyone would be performing it! Not so. A healthy lifestyle has many advantages, and incorporating healthy behaviors doesn’t have to be difficult.

Here are the best lifestyle changes you can make, along with their advantages and what you can do right away to put them into practice.

The Advantages of a Healthy Lifestyle You Should Know

1. Eat wholesome foods

Although this information is not brand-new, it is nevertheless essential to developing a healthy lifestyle. Almost nothing you accomplish will matter if you don’t eat well. Fueling your body with clean energy is the key to building a healthy lifestyle.

Your diet won’t change overnight. However, you may choose better options. Get rid of junk food first, or at the very least hide it away in a difficult-to-reach place.

You’ll be more inclined to snack on nutritious foods like fruits and veggies if you arrange them in areas that are simple to access. Spend some time each week preparing vegetables, so they are simple to eat alone or to add to a recipe.

Find fresh things you enjoy eating and attempt a new healthy meal every week. It takes time to change your diet, but you’re preparing yourself for a better life every time you opt for health.

2. Every Day, Move

This also isn’t surprising. You’re aware that you should work out more. What then is stopping you?

But the cool part is right here. You may reap the rewards of increased exercise without going to the gym. The healthiest people exercise often throughout the day, not just at the gym.

Begin by just moving more. Every hour, set your phone to remind you to get up for three minutes or so. During lunch, go for a stroll—park towards the rear of the lot. Consistently use the stairs.

But you should also discover a type of exercise you enjoy. Although cardio and weightlifting are important, exercise shouldn’t seem like a hassle. If you like yoga, dancing, soccer, rock climbing, or anything else that gets you moving, go for it!

Additionally, you’ll feel better about yourself, look better, and be more active for longer. Even sadness and anxiety symptoms can be reduced with regular exercise.

3. Schedule Your Sleeping Time Regularly

A crucial component of maintaining good health is getting enough sleep. You would awaken and go to bed in accordance with the cycle of the sun. Even if your lifestyle prevents that, you should still establish a consistent bedtime and wake-up time that you adhere to daily.

Draw attention to the issues preventing you from sleeping well. If you’re not comfortable, get a better mattress or bed sheets, or get blackout curtains if the light keeps you up at night. To sleep better, turn on pink or white noise.

Establish a bedtime regimen that will allow your thoughts to rest. Include activities that help your brain relax, such as keeping a journal or putting up a lavender-scented diffuser.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to stop using technology an hour before bedtime and stop eating three hours before.

You may increase your attention throughout the day and wake up with more energy if you follow a regular sleep schedule. Additionally, it enhances cognition and reduces inflammation in the body to keep you healthy. Even weight loss is possible with it.

4. Consume A Lot of Water

You’re doing it wrong if you’re drinking your calories. Your main beverage should be water; you should get all your calories from whole foods.

Get a favorite water bottle and start taking it everywhere. Get an infuser and add cucumbers, mint, strawberries, or lemon to your water if you don’t like the flavor of it to make it more enjoyable.

Just having water handy might frequently encourage you to drink more. Additionally, you may set triggers throughout the day, like right after waking up or right before a meal, to remind you to drink.

5. Manage Your Life’s Stress

You do well with a little stress or a little stress in brief spurts. Chronic stress can cause serious damage. It causes ulcers, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and headaches.

Thus, maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires understanding how to manage stress.

The two greatest DIY methods for managing stress are often journaling and meditation. Finding a confidant, whether it be a close friend, a member of your family, or a therapist, is also a good idea.

It’s a good idea to make time in your life for enjoyment and relaxation. Think about relaxing activities like yoga, painting, hiking, or other hobbies.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, more than just taking care of your body is required. Building a solid social network is the greatest approach to feeding your soul, which is something you also need to accomplish.

Spend time with your loved ones, community, and friends. Reestablish contact with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, or sign up for a new organization or club. Try to schedule frequent brunch or coffee dates with friends so that you may get to know your neighbors.

Having dependable relationships in your life might help you overcome sadness and loneliness. These folks can push you to live your best life and can help you get through difficult situations.

7. Avoid skipping doctor’s appointments

Make sure you go to the dentist and doctor as regularly as advised. ‘Early detection is the key to curing most fatal diseases, and these diseases can’t be discovered early if you never attend the doctor,’ claims the dentist in Scottsdale.

Make sure you have a future visit with a doctor booked. Regularly see the eye doctor, dentist, and doctor. Make an appointment now if you haven’t in a while.

A Healthy Lifestyle Is Worth It Despite the Work Required to Achieve It
Living a healthy lifestyle has several advantages. Even while getting there requires effort, the foundations are simple to comprehend and put into practice. The benefits outweigh the work required to develop healthy behaviors.

So, use this advice to live a healthy lifestyle and take pleasure in living your best life.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By trustaff

September 30, 2022

1929 Views

Your Mental Health is Important

Posted on September 30, 2022September 28, 2022 by trustaff

Trustaff provided this article.

October 10^th is World Mental Health Day, which highlights mental health education, awareness, and advocacy. The mental health of healthcare workers is of the utmost importance. As a result of the heightened stress healthcare professionals have endured in the last few years, there’s an increased risk for mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. While traveling as a healthcare professional may feel isolating and lonely at times, it’s important to understand that you are not alone and help is available and accessible through multiple channels.

Here are several benefits you can take advantage of as a travel nurse to make sure you’re taking care of and supporting your mental health while on (and off) assignment.

Employee Assistance Programs:

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer professional assistance with personal, family, financial, and work struggles, often at no cost to the employee. Among various other benefits, these programs provide free telehealth therapy sessions, in-person access to behavioral health professionals, and substance abuse counselors.

Some travel companies are taking the extra step to ensure their travelers are well taken care of through EAP benefits. As Trustaff employees, our travelers have access to many EAPs, including telephone consults and counseling for issues of any kind through various providers. Many of these resources are available to all travelers regardless of if you are on agency health insurance.

There’s a lot your company can do to help support and protect your mental health, as well as various other benefits for career advancement, health and wellness programs, career coaching, financial planning, etc. Trustaff is proud to offer all of the above through our ACT Program. Check with your agency to see if they offer similar benefits.

Walk, work, or run it out:

According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA.org), even just five minutes of aerobic exercise can help lower cortisol, one of the primary hormones responsible for elevated levels of stress in the body. Utilizing fitness programs, either on your own, through a gym, or through a virtual community, will encourage you to get moving and may improve your mental health and emotional well-being.

Many companies offer assistance when it comes to staying fit or getting a workout in. Discounts to many 24-hour fitness facilities are usually a must when it comes to perks and benefits companies can offer to their travelers. Trustaff currently offers a discount to Planet Fitness which is a chain available in most areas all over the US.

If the gym isn’t your thing, something as small as a 15-minute stroll or run through a local park or around your current housing can boost your mental state, clear your mind and get some much-needed fresh air after a long shift in your facility.

Exercising physically is important, but exercising your mind through meditation is also a good way to boost your mental health. Check out some apps you can download to your phone, like, Calm and Headspace, to get your mental workout in for the day.

Surround yourself with support

Long before the pandemic, healthcare professionals experienced an unprecedented amount of burnout, depression, workplace stress, and anxiety. Our goal is to empower our travelers to be proactive about their mental health by destigmatizing mental illness and providing ongoing support and resources through their current careers and beyond.

Our healthcare heroes are our lifeline, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Take care of yourself and be well. We hope these mental support tips and suggestions are helpful while navigating your health through your assignments and career.

Crisis Resources

Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 to reach a Crisis Counselor
National Suicide Prevention Hotline – 800-273-8255
NAMI HelpLine – 1-800-950-6264 or info@nami.org

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Kevin Devoto

September 29, 2022

1698 Views

4 Ways to Improve Your Health While Working Nonstop

Posted on September 29, 2022September 21, 2022 by Kevin Devoto

In an age where everyone seems to be constantly working, there does not seem to be any time for someone to take a rest and recharge truly. As you can probably imagine, this severely impacts everyone’s health. Keep reading for four ways to improve your health while working nonstop.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

While it is generally said that adults should get an average of eight hours of sleep a night, it is not realistically possible for everyone to get that amount of sleep. By this time, you should be able to tell how much sleep leaves you feeling the most recharged. If you cannot get the prescribed amount of sleep, getting some is better than getting none. Even if it is just twenty minutes, you need to take the time to rest. Remember that sitting on the couch while answering emails is not considered resting. Resting is defined as anything that relaxes you, helps you refresh, or helps you recover your strength. If you say that whatever you are doing achieves any of those three things, you are resting.

Take Care of Your Skin

The skin is the largest organ you have and the first line of defense against the elements and any bacteria that want to enter your body. It does a lot of work and is worth investing in to continue to do that vital work of protecting you so you do not get sick and have to take time off when you cannot afford to. Depending on your skin type, there are a lot of things that you will need to do to make your skin healthy and glowing. While you may be asking what Thrive is, if you investigate what you need, you will have no problem finding a skincare routine that works for you.

Take Advantage of Lunches and Breaks

Your employer is required to give you a certain number of breaks and a lunch, but many people will work through their breaks and lunches anyway. While the temptation must be very great, and you might be the kind of person that works through your lunches and breaks without even realizing it, you do need to take advantage of your breaks. This gives you time to step away from whatever project you are working on and take a moment to cater to your needs instead of the needs of your workplace. Take these breaks for the checkpoints they are meant to be, and take a breather before you go back into the chaos, especially if the breaks and lunches are paid.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

You need fuel to do the work that needs to be done, and it is important that you get the right fuel in you. This involves staying hydrated by drinking water. Anything like soda, tea, or coffee actually dehydrates you, and though caffeine and sugar are sometimes needed to get you through the day, pure water is needed to counteract the effects of those dehydrating beverages. You also need to eat fresh fruit, meat, and vegetables. You can take supplements all day long, but you will not get nearly as many vitamins or minerals as you would from a diet that consists mainly of fresh ingredients.

There are a lot of ways you can improve your life and health while working nonstop. Keep this article in mind the next time you feel like you need to make a change to your lifestyle to feel better or healthier, and you will be amazed at what a few minor changes can do.

We hope you found this article on how to improve your health while working nonstop helpful. Do you have any health tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment below.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Furnished Finder

September 28, 2022

1221 Views

Top Tips for Travel Nursing with a Family

Posted on September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 by Furnished Finder

So, your next travel contract is set, and your family is joining. Whether this means that you have a spouse with you for the trip or you are traveling with kids, things shift when you’re traveling with family. Here are some of our very best tips and tricks to make it as smooth as possible for traveling with family!

Keep everyone included

With big life events, everyone is far more likely to be on board if they feel involved. Think of making it a “team travel” versus one person making the decisions and the others simply designated as passengers. There are ways to make everyone feel included and a part of the process without giving away important decisions. For instance, if traveling with kids, the parents will make the decisions regarding housing, but the kids can decide on travel tunes or some decor for their rooms. They can even decide a handful of things they want to do in their new home area or attractions they are interested in. This way, everyone is a part of the journey!

Plan for things big and small

This tip is particularly applicable if traveling with children. When thinking about traveling, “big” things are often the first things arranged. Transportation, housing, etc. To kids, the small things are big, too. Don’t forget to find local parks, kid-friendly restaurants, travel entertainment packs for the car, and snacks! While they seem small to adults, these things are game-changes to kids, particularly when they are going through a big change.

Divide and conquer

The bigger the crew, the more overwhelming travel can seem. Take time to divide and conquer the responsibilities and tasks that have to get done when traveling. Do not be afraid to ask for help! Friends and family may be able to pitch in a few hours to help you get details arranged, pack things up, or help you run errands last minute.

Join the community!

Spouses and kids may feel a little lonely when entering a new community, especially if they work from home or are home-schooled. It can be intimidating to think about jumping right into a new community. You have a built-in network with your new coworkers, but spouses and kids don’t get that new network. Take some time and research local churches, meetup groups, interest groups, rec centers, and more. This will allow your family to feel involved in the new community as soon as possible.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Kevin Devoto

September 23, 2022

5391 Views

Building a Routine While Working as a Travel Nurse

Posted on September 23, 2022September 1, 2022 by Kevin Devoto

Most people thrive when their lives have some routine. It doesn’t mean you eat the same meals each day, go through an exact workout routine, or watch the same TV show every evening. While some may thrive on a precise structure, others find it suffocating.

However, a basic routine can help you create a type of structure when you are a travel nurse. Your career comes with stressful work, unpredictable days, and times of upheaval. Having the safe zone of a routine can help you balance your life a little.

Before a Trip

You can prepare for your next assignment before it begins. Have your suitcase ready in advance. It may help to keep a list of supplies, clothing, and toiletries you want to take with you. You can check your travel bag and ensure an adequate supply of everything on your list.

While you might not keep clothing packed at all times, you can have a separate set of some of your items. Prepare a stock of extra shampoo, medication, toothpaste, and vegan protein powder. That way, you won’t have to scramble at the last minute to refill your bags, and you won’t need to rush around purchasing items when you arrive.

Once you have an assignment, you can research the destination. Find out where you will live and determine how you will get to work. You can also map out the closest grocery stores, restaurants, and pharmacies. Preparing ahead can give you peace of mind and structure when you get there.

When You Arrive

If possible, arrive a couple of days before your nursing assignment begins. This extra time allows you to check out the destination. You can have some time to unpack, set up your living arrangements, pick up groceries, and explore the town. You can also make adjustments to your planned routine if necessary.

Arriving early also gives you the chance to recuperate from jet lag. Your waking and sleeping schedule may be off-balance anyway once you start your assignment — now is a good time to rest and change your plan to fit your working hours.

Plan to bring some decorations or mementos from home that you can put in your living space. A touch of familiarity can go a long way in a new area. It can calm you and remind you of the people and things that mean the most to you.

While You Work

Your work schedule will probably dictate how you spend your time once your assignment begins. You may have unpredictable hours, long shifts, or extra stress. While these conditions are beyond your control to some extent, you can work to build a routine. Plan to exercise a half-hour daily, for example, or drink six glasses of water during your shift.

Don’t forget to schedule some fun activities during your time off. Think of your interests and hobbies and try to nurture them. If you are an art lover, for example, be sure to visit the local museums. If you describe yourself as a foodie, the local cuisine is not to be missed. Nature lovers can enjoy exploring the local parks and walking trails.

You may also want to schedule time with your coworkers. Getting to know the people you work with is a great way to make new friends and improve working relationships. Try planning a night at a local restaurant or movie theater.

Working as a travel nurse is an adventure. You have the chance to visit new places and get a diverse work experience. A routine can help you stay grounded through the chaos and unpredictability this rewarding career can bring.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Medical Edge Recruitment

September 21, 2022

2899 Views

How To Avoid Weight Gain While Traveling On Night Shift

Posted on September 21, 2022August 10, 2022 by Medical Edge Recruitment

Medical Edge Recruitment provided this article.

Written by: Christine Purviance, BSN, RN, Director of Clinical Services at Medical Edge Recruitment

It is no secret that working night shift can cause weight gain. We have all been there—it is 02:00 in the morning, and you have hit the wall where you struggle to keep your eyes open. You find yourself ordering delivery from the nearest fast-food restaurant, or you are at the vending machine getting a candy bar. You might grab a soda for a sugar rush or sneak an ice cream from the nutrition room. Next thing you know, it is a few months later, and your scrubs start to feel tight. You are screaming on the inside while reflecting back on all the poor eating choices you made over the past weeks, thinking to yourself that if you were on days, you wouldn’t have made those choices. You know that you are in a contract and start to feel like you will never get out of this cycle.

As a former travel nurse, I promise you that most of us have been there. After a year on nightshift in the ICU, I found myself needing larger scrubs and constantly craving sugary snacks to keep me awake. I consumed a ridiculous amount of candy, leading to recurrent binges every night that I worked. I finally committed to creating better habits for myself, losing the night shift fifteen, and improving my energy levels. These habits are for anyone who may be struggling on nightshift and wants to make healthier choices, drop a few pounds, and prevent weight gain! It may not be easy, but it will be worth it!

How To Avoid Weight Gain While Traveling On Night Shift

Get Moving!

Exercising regularly can be challenging while working travel assignments and working night shift. Finding ways to move your body that you enjoy is crucial to staying committed. There are many ways to exercise while on assignment, including:

Weightlifting
Running
Yoga and Pilates
Walking
Fitness classes (F45 and Orange Theory)
Spin

No matter who you are, there is a type of exercise for anyone and everyone. If you are worried that you do not have time to exercise on the nights that you work, invest an hour of time on your off days to get moving! Once you start exercising regularly, you may find that exercise before your night shift will increase your energy levels like it did mine!

Finding places to exercise while on a travel assignment is challenging, especially if you are not near a big city. If you do not have access to your preferred means of exercise, or if your hotel does not have a fitness center, increasing movement can be done from the comfort of wherever you are staying. Grab yourself a pair of dumbbells and find a YouTube workout you enjoy! There are dozens, if not hundreds, of apps and videos you can access for free to increase your activity level at your temporary home! A little bit goes a long way, and your body will thank you later!

Fuel Your Body

Eating a balanced diet as a night shifter is hard enough, but when you add in travel, it is a whole different ballgame. Fortunately, there are many ways to eat healthy-ish while on the road! Whether it be meal prep delivery services or bringing your own meals to work, there is always a way to improve our habits! Meal prep companies are great if you do not mind spending up to $10 a meal. For this former travel nurse, I prefer to make my own healthy recipes that are convenient, wallet-friendly, and easy to make with minimal equipment.

Selecting pre-cooked protein for lunches and dinner is not as hard as most of us may think. Rotisserie chicken, turkey sausage, frozen fajita beef, and lunch meat are some of my favorites! Make it a meal by microwaving frozen veggies, frozen rice, or even making a baked potato in the microwave (it is super easy—just google it)! For even simpler meals, make wraps or sandwiches for your shift with your favorite lunchmeat and toppings!

Are your shifts so absolutely nuts that even sitting down for a sandwich is unlikely? Try packing fast, easy snacks that will keep you full and can be consumed while you are walking to the med room or even hiding in the supply room! A few of my favorite snacks for busy shifts are:

Oatmeal bars or dried fruit bars
Bananas
Protein shakes
Peanut butter packs
Hardboiled eggs
String cheese

Remember, the way we feel internally is strongly related to the foods we consume. Fueling your body with healthy foods is key to feeling your best.

Don’t Drink Your Calories.

One of the easiest ways to drop a few pounds is to avoid drinking your calories! Did you know that drinking a 20-ounce Coke daily can result in a 2-pound per month weight gain? A Grande Caramel Frappuccino from Starbucks has almost 350 calories, even more than a soda! Although we may not realize it, these sugary drinks we have for energy on nightshifts contribute to unwanted weight gain! Being mindful and selecting low-calorie, or calorie-free, swaps can help you prevent unwanted weight gain, avoid a sugar crash, and even shed a few pounds! My favorite swaps for high-calorie drinks are:

Diet-soda
Flavored water (sparkling, Mio, Crystal Light)
Coffee with sugar-free coffee creamer
Stevia, instead of sugar
A splash of a protein shake instead of cream and sugar in coffee (Premier Protein is my favorite)
Light Body armor or Gatorade Zero
Iced tea with stevia

Prioritize Sleep

Have you ever noticed that when we are running on little sleep before a night shift, our cravings for carbs, candy, and sugar exponentially increases? It feels like our bodies are running on E, and we need a pick-me-up to improve our energy levels. We grab a candy bar or soda, and that sugar high perks us up for an hour, but then we feel even worse. The cycle continues; before we know it, we have consumed a very unhealthy amount of sugar.

It is no secret that sleep is essential, and the amount we need varies by person. However, the choices we make are significantly be impacted on the amount of sleep that we get! Improving your sleep schedule can result in better habits. If you are a new night shifter, finding a routine that works for you can be a process when you are training your body to sleep during the day. Blackout curtains, white noise, an eye mask, and melatonin are a few ways that work for most of us!

Find What Works for You

We are all so unique, from the foods we enjoy to the hours of sleep we need. These tips are what worked for me, and hope that they work for you! Finding balance in your life while you are traveling will be a learning process. Just because you are working away from home and working nightshift does not mean that your health must suffer. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself means you are better equipped to care for others!

We hope you found this article on ways to avoid weight gain while working night shift as a travel nurse. Do you have any tips to help fellow travel nurses avoid weight gain while working night shift? Comment below any tips you have to avoid weight gain.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

Looking For an Agency Who Understands Your Needs?

Medical Edge Recruitment is the premier travel nursing recruitment agency specializing in providing top talent to clients in the healthcare industry. We connect clinical and allied providers to their ideal opportunities, focusing on building long-lasting relationships through honesty and transparency. In travel nursing, bigger does not always mean better. While we have an extensive network of job opportunities, our experienced team is dedicated to making your personalized provider experience a priority. There are a lot of moving parts in getting set up for a new assignment, but we take care of all the details along the way. Adventure awaits; let Medical Edge Recruitment show you where to go next!

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Don’t be afraid to travel far from home

Be flexible

Be brave

Get out there!

You are not alone

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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Eat regularly

Exercise regularly

Practise meditation

Get well-organized

Wrapping up

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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Learn basic words and expressions peculiar to a new location

Get language guides and dictionaries.

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Consider communication with native speakers.

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Bottom line

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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1. Eat wholesome foods

2. Every Day, Move

3. Schedule Your Sleeping Time Regularly

4. Consume A Lot of Water

5. Manage Your Life’s Stress

6. Create a Powerful Social Circle

7. Avoid skipping doctor’s appointments

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

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Employee Assistance Programs:

Walk, work, or run it out:

Surround yourself with support

Crisis Resources

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Get a Good Night’s Sleep

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Take Advantage of Lunches and Breaks

Maintain a Healthy Diet

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

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