August 31, 2021

7755 Views

6 Benefits of Working Full-Time as a Travel Nurse

Posted on August 31, 2021August 17, 2021 by HealthTrust Workforce Solutions

This article was sponsored by HealthTrust Workforce Solutions.

Travel nursing has a tremendous amount of perks, however many nurses believe it is a job that can only be done for a short period of time. Surprisingly, there are a lot of nurses who work full-time as travel nurses. There are so many benefits to working full-time as a travel nurse such as long periods of increased pay, flexibility with vacation time, and much more.

Flexibility and Adventure

The options for traveling around the country, even internationally, seem endless when working as a travel nurse. Travel contracts that are 13-weeks long allow nurses to move about the country or a region pretty frequently, giving options to explore different cities, participate in unique activities, and meet new people. For those that like the beach, there are options across the country to work in different beach towns. The same options are available for mountain escape destinations or big city living. For nurses with family or friends all over the country, there are opportunities to work in cities nearby to see them. The options are endless!

Matching Benefits and Time Off

Some travel companies offer more benefits and paid days off once a travel nurse has worked for their company for more than a year. Nurses still work contracts wherever they like, but the contracts are with the same travel company. Additionally, a lot of travel companies will start matching retirement account contributions after working with them for an extended period of time.

Higher Pay

Plenty of nurses choose to leave permanent nursing positions for travel nursing because of the allure of higher pay rates. Travel nurses get paid weekly, with a large portion of the pay being a non-taxable housing stipend. The ability to change travel contracts after a period of typically 13 weeks gives nurses the opportunity to move to another area for a contract that pays more money or is more in line with what they are looking for in a contract.

Holidays and Vacations

One of the biggest benefits of working as a travel nurse is being able to either request specific vacations off before signing a contract or not working at all during a time period when more than a few days off is desirable. Many permanent nurses have to compete for time off during peak seasons with a lot of vacation requests, such as during the summer or winter holidays.

While travel nurses can’t just request massive amounts of time off during contracts, they can choose with quite a bit of flexibility when they start a contract. Since contracts are typically 13-weeks long, a contract might end the third week in November. A travel nurse planning to be off for all of December may decide to not start their next contract until January. This type of planning allows travel nurses to plan for time off in between contracts.

Another way to be off for certain days is to request it before signing the contract. Some hospitals will want travel nurses to work holidays, and this information can be discussed prior to signing a contract and starting the job.

Friends Everywhere

Travel nursing is all about making new connections with people from across the country. Travel nurses tend to gravitate towards each other at assignments or meet up by staying at the same RV parks. Building friendships in new cities makes traveling less lonely or isolating. Plenty of travel nurses will travel together or even back to previous locations because of friendships or because they enjoy the people working in a specific unit or hospital.

Professional Confidence and Skill-Building

Working full-time as a travel nurse builds resilience at work by increasing professional confidence and the ability to adapt to new environments while providing quality patient care. Travel nurses adapt to the unique setting of each new contract, helping them maintain their skills at a high level. Moving to new hospitals and seeing different cultures builds nursing skills, and shows new ways to approach problem-solving. It takes a lot of confidence to be new to a unit and come in to provide safe patient care.

Travel nursing offers full-time benefits and opportunities for nurses looking for higher pay, adventure, and flexibility to take vacations more readily than permanent staff nurses. The skills, confidence, and connections that can be gained from long-term travel experiences are invaluable and last a lifetime.

HealthTrust Workforce Solutions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HCA Healthcare, the nation’s largest health system. We help travelers find high-pay, rewarding assignments across the country. We offer both traditional travel contracts and full-benefited, full-time travel positions, as well as local contracts. Click here to learn more.

By Frank Hamilton

August 30, 2021

7133 Views

A Complete Guide to Market Yourself as a Travel Nurse

Posted on August 30, 2021August 17, 2021 by Frank Hamilton

The pandemic triggered the demand for travel nursing professionals. But at the same time, it created fierce competition among specialists. Finding a decent job is no longer as easy as before, as travel nurses have many new requirements.

How to overcome tough competition in the labor market and become one of the first to receive the best offers? What is possible to do? Use the following tips to promote yourself as a nursing professional.

Top 5 Tips To Market Yourself As A Travel Nurse

Against the background of increased demand and competition, you have to improve your qualifications and get new experience within the framework of your career. It is time to learn how to promote yourself in the labor market properly. Get started with the following tips to find the best jobs in travel nursing.

Create a Quality CV

The first place to start is to update and rewrite your CV. Most likely, you have gained new skills and experience when dealing with the challenges 2020 made us face. Many people forget to update their resumes from time to time, especially when they have constant work. But for the travel nurses, keeping your resume up-to-date is a must-do.

Do not forget to add new certificates or knowledge of foreign languages. Any international experience will be a great point in your CV. Highlight your traveling nurse experience, plus describe the challenges you have faced and the ways you overcome them.

Create Your Site

The next step for successfully promoting yourself as a specialist is to think about creating your own website. It will be something like a business card or an online resume. You can also run your blog to share your expertise, use-cases, and stories to showcase yourself as a nursing professional and personality at once.

Remember about SEO promotion, as it will help your site reach the top of the search results. Accordingly, your site will be better discoverable and findable by those in search of travel nursing services.

As for promoting your blog, consider using guest posting to reach your target audience and improve your website’s position in the search result. All you need to do is find sites that accept medical guest posts and write some valuable articles that will link back to your website. Find more details here about medical blogs that accept guest posts and how to collaborate with them. By the way, you can discover more about this topic on a medsnews.com website as well.

Use LinkedIn

LinkedIn is one of the best platforms that allow people to find new business connections. Medical service is no exception, which means that you can find travel nurse agencies with top salary offers within this social network.

There you can post your resume and link to your website. It is noteworthy that there are many HR managers on this site, and they are in constant search of the specialists they need. Therefore, creating a profile on this platform is a potential opportunity to receive tempting offers even without additional promotion effort. But if possible, you should devote your time to updating your Linkedin profile and connecting to those who can offer you a job you are looking for.

Find a Recruiter

One of the best ways to stop worrying about your career is to make a connection with a reliable recruiter. As noted earlier, you can find a suitable one on LinkedIn and stay in touch all the time. The new job opportunities can appear unexpectedly, and there are always a lot of applicants for a vacancy.

Therefore, friendly relationships and ongoing communication with recruiters are a good idea for those who want to remain attractive to employers and be the first to receive the best offers. Some specialists keep in touch with several recruiters so that you can follow this tactic as well.

Follow Nursing Ethics

Another important piece of advice for travel nurses is always to follow the rules of medical ethics. As one of the points, it’s about always being positive about your customers. The main thing is to never complain to your new employer about your experience, especially if this experience was negative. Try to turn negative situations into positive experiences. Focus on the ways you dealt with them and the skills you gained in the process.

Moreover, travel nursing companies are always looking for specialists who know how to care from a medical perspective and a human one. Therefore, politeness, calmness, and a positive attitude are needed for those who want to promote themselves as great specialists and get the best jobs offers.

The Bottom Line

Travel nursing services are in great demand. Make sure to show your future employers you are serious about taking care of people – your professionally created CV, website, and well-developed LinkedIn profile can already say a lot about you. Also, don’t forget about making a good impression as a personality and a human since your personal qualities are no less important than professional ones.

With the market as hot as it is right now for travel nurses, it is more important than ever to know how to market yourself as a travel nurse. We hope you found these tips helpful. Have you found ways to market yourself as a travel nurse that has helped you on your travel nursing journey? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Already have your assignment but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.

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 Jennifer Traub

August 29, 2021

11271 Views

Traits to Have as a Travel Nurse

Posted on August 29, 2021August 29, 2021 by Jennifer Traub

I have been a nurse for eight years and a travel nurse for three and a half. I’ve learned some traits and qualities and ways you can act to be stellar at what you do throughout my journey. They are as follows:

Traits of Travel Nurses:

Adaptability

BE ADAPTABLE! – you will be thrown into a new atmosphere with new coworkers and ways of doing things. Learn to fit in and adapt quickly. Get familiar with the culture of the unit. It will make for a smoother transition.

Don’t be negative

Don’t talk smack about your unit to your coworkers. Consider yourself a guest in someone’s home. No one wants to hear your negativity about their home while you’re coming to visit.

Keep pay to yourself

We all know travel nurses can make bank. Don’t brag to your whole unit about how much money you’re making. Your co-workers don’t want to hear it.

Pack light

Travel light and be a minimalist. Sometimes contracts fall through, or life gets in the way. It is a lot easier moving when you don’t have a lot of stuff to lug around.

Events

Attend travel nurse events. Look up events going on in your local area or city. Other travel nurses may have arranged meetups and social events. It makes life less lonely on the road.

Offer help

Always offer help to your co-workers. Maintaining a good relationship with people on your unit is always nice because you never know if you’ll want to come back or sign on permanently. Never burn your bridges!

Cancelling a contract

Don’t cancel contracts. It is not good for your reputation, and you may make yourself unhireable to sister facilities.

Have fun!

Have as much fun as possible! A new city means hundreds of new things to do with new friends! Go out there and explore!

Experience

Make sure you have at least 1-2 years of experience before you go out traveling. Sometimes you don’t know what kind of unit you’re getting yourself into, so the more experience you have, the better.

Have a positive attitude

Adopt the mentality: I can do anything for 13 weeks. I have worked some amazing contracts and some not-so-good ones. However, none of it matters because there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Hope these tips helped!

Travel nursing has been one of the greatest experiences I have ever had, and I have become passionate about helping others do what I did! It is a great way to enjoy life, work, and see our beautiful country.

We hope that these tips for traits of travel nurses have been helpful. Are there any traits we missed? Comment them below. If you would like more information or tips for travel nurses, check out the articles below!

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 Gifted Healthcare

August 27, 2021

6167 Views

Travel Nursing Tips: Maintaining Your Long-Distance Relationship on Assignment

Posted on August 27, 2021August 26, 2021 by Gifted Healthcare

This article was provided by Gifted Healthcare.

Travel nursing offers amazing adventures, great pay, and valuable professional experience, but travel nursing assignments can occasionally cause conflict in romantic relationships. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but this doesn’t make long-distance dating any easier!

Whether you’ve been with someone for years or recently met someone before your assignment, there are ways to make things easier on you and your partner.

Read on for a list of tips and strategies to maintain your long-distance relationship while on assignment.

Make a Game Plan

Planning is important in a long-distance relationship. Before you leave for your assignment, talk about what you expect from each other while you are gone. Outline your needs, wants, and boundaries. Setting standards will prevent a lot of worry and stress.

Do you like texting throughout the day or checking in by phone? Are there certain times of the day you are more available to speak? Will you take a trip to see each other during your assignment?

Once you make a game plan, you’ll both have a better idea about what to expect while you are away. That way, you won’t have to stress about your partner not responding to your texts or phone calls and vice versa.

Communicate Creatively

The physical limitations of long-distance relationships can be difficult, but you can avoid feeling like you’re in a rut by getting creative with your communication.

When you arrive at your destination, giving your partner a “full tour” of your new housing is a fun way to make them feel like they’re along for the ride. Small, thoughtful updates about your day will let them know they’re on your mind. If you’ve established specific times of day to communicate, that doesn’t mean you can’t be spontaneous – send a link to a song you both like, snap a picture of something silly, or talk about what you’ll do during your first date once you’re back home.

Try scheduling your longer catch-up calls ahead of time. Having a skype date or phone call to look forward to can make those long shifts fly by.

Thankfully, technology has made long-distance relationships much easier than they used to be. There are still ways to share experiences, even if you’re halfway across the world from your partner.

Try picking a show that both of you haven’t seen to watch while you’re away. Scheduling evenings to watch it together and discuss new episodes is a great way to stay engaged and connected. You can do the same thing with movies, articles, or books.

Remind Yourself It’s Not Permanent

Even though it may seem like you’ll be apart forever, it’s simply not true! If you experience conflict, miscommunications, or you’re just feeling blue, remind yourself that your assignment will come to an end.

While it’s not a good idea to obsess over how many days remain until you’re back home, it can be useful during particularly rough days.

There are so many ways to stay connected to loved ones while you’re a travel nurse. With a little effort and honest communication, travel nursing can help you learn about yourself and your partner in exciting ways, allowing you to cultivate an even deeper connection than the one you have.

Maintain Friendships with Others

You may be tempted to spend every free moment talking to your significant other, but this can cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. Maintaining independent friendships outside of your relationship is important.

Don’t miss out on opportunities to bond with your coworkers or new friends outside of work, even if it means taking a rain check on that Skype chat with your partner. If your significant other wants the best for you, it will make them happy that you’re making friends.

Be Flexible

While it’s important to set and maintain standards and expectations for your relationship, don’t let a change of plans stress you out. Keep an open mind and try to remain in the present, as your assignment won’t last forever. Plus, your partner will appreciate your flexibility – it will let you communicate that you are confident in your relationship.

Invest in Yourself

The bottom line: the quality of your experience is up to you. Perceiving your travel nursing assignment as an opportunity rather than an obstacle is the best way to enjoy your time away from your partner.

Make plenty of time to focus on your own interests. Explore your new city, take on new or forgotten hobbies, and invest in your own happiness. Spend your time in ways that will eliminate future regret about your awesome nursing adventure.

If you develop the ability to be satisfied on your own, staying in your long-distance relationship will become more meaningful – because you’re truly choosing to be with the one you love.

Looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Found an assignment but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.

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 Matt Guenther

August 26, 2021

8491 Views

Tips For Finding Short-Term Travel Nurse Furnished Housing

Posted on August 26, 2021August 17, 2021 by Matt Guenther

Travel nurses are real explorers and adventurers. This is why many see it as a special profession, as registered nurses get to take their skills on the road.

But, this has a few challenges on the way. After obtaining a position from a hospital, the next step is to find the right housing, and it can be very stressful.

So, if you are looking for some advice and tips, you have come to the right place!

About Travel Nurse Housing

Where do traveling nurses stay?

This is a question that many first-time and new travel nurses ask, especially after securing an assignment. While some companies provide lodging and accommodation for travel nurses, others offer stipends instead.

If you have a housing stipend, you will be the one to find and secure your housing. The good thing is there are several options available on the market. All you need to do, though, is to know the best ways to apply to locate the most appropriate housing for you.

Top Travel Housing Search Tips

Here are some tips that you may find helpful in your own search:

Make a List of Preferences

One of the first things you need to do is make a list of all your housing preferences. In doing so, you will streamline your options, enabling you to arrive at the most fitting selections for you.

You may also want to include in your list some of the things you are looking for within the community.

Utilize Online Platforms

While you must take a personal visit to your potential temporary homes and areas, you may want to start your search online.

Several online platforms intended for temporary and travel nurse housing are widely available on the internet. Take advantage of all the features and tools in these sites because some even have virtual tours, allowing you to see the spaces remotely.

Consider Vacation Rental Websites

As noted, there are numerous available online platforms for housing today. But, instead of prioritizing those popular and in-demand sites, you may want to check those that offer vacation rentals, too.

The reason being is that these options are usually more fitting and applicable to travel nurses. This is in consideration of the fact that the term of stay is only temporary.

Be Wary of Cons and Scams

Although the online world provides a lot of convenience and efficiency, cons and scams are also apparent. You may want to take extra precautions when you are dealing with potential landlords and homeowners virtually.

Ensure that you are in deals with credible individuals and housing selections. As much as possible, do not shell out any amount of cash if you have yet to prove the authenticity and credibility of the transaction.

Types of Short-Term Housing Options For Travel Nurses

As a travel nurse, here are the most common available housing options for you:

Furnished Apartments

As the name states, it is a housing option wherein the place already features everything you will need in a home. Usually, such homes for travel nurses entail monthly terms.

Co-living Spaces

Co-living spaces are a cost-effective housing option. You will, most likely, get to live with another travel nurse and share all expenses.

Extended-Stay Hotels

Extended-stay hotels are very popular among travel nurses. This is because of the amenities available in hotels, like housekeeping, breakfast, and fitness centers.

Top 5 Housing Sites for Travel Nurses

Searching for the right housing can be overwhelming. This is especially true if this is your first time doing it.

Worry not, though, as there are now various online tools and platforms that may help you. Sites like Cash For Homes, and other realty-related pages, are great avenues to check.

But, for a more tried-and-tested option, these are the top five housing sites that every travel nurse may utilize:

Airbnb
Apartments.com
VBRO
FurnishedFinder.com
Tripping.com

There are a lot more, too, if you widen your search vicinity. But, checking these given sites will already do.

Find Yours Today

All in all, searching and securing housing for your next travel nurse duties can be, indeed, challenging and overwhelming. But, with the right steps and guidance, you will arrive at the best options.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Already have the assignment but need help finding housing? Click here to view our housing page.

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 LRS Healthcare

August 25, 2021

5318 Views

Reasons You Should Take a Rural Assignment

Posted on August 25, 2021July 20, 2021 by LRS Healthcare

This article was provided by LRS Healthcare.

Healthcare travelers land their next new adventure every day from coast to coast, but not every single one is in a major U.S city. Many take fantastic assignments in smaller cities surrounding major cities or even choose to take a more rural route. Traveling to the countryside can be fulfilling to any traveler if you look at the opportunities and doors it may open.

Explore the big city on the weekends

Most rural towns have a major city within a few hours of accessible by car or train. Connect with our travel experience team to hear more about what the city near you has to offer to plan a fun long weekend. You can experience city life from time to time while still enjoying the perks (and pay) of a rural assignment. Maybe you’re able to make it into the city for a concert one night or a farmer’s market on the weekend. The opportunities are endless when you can live the best of both worlds (city life and rural life)!

More broad clinical experience

Most rural travel assignments allow you to build your resume with a wide variety of experience versus sticking to one specialty area at a big city facility. There may not be a full staff of physicians, allowing nurses and staff to have more autonomy or more responsibility. This allows you to gain deeper knowledge in your career through hands-on experience. Expanding your area of knowledge will help you better handle situations you have not come across before. There’s also a wide variety of patients’ conditions that will come through a facility. You don’t see the same type of patient every day, and it can help you become a more well-rounded professional.

Slower paced and less stressful

Living outside of the city limits often allows for a lower number of the patient census. This means that hospitals are not at full capacity 100% of the time but may see spikes in patient numbers during peak seasons such as the winter for flu or respiratory issues. A rural assignment could be the answer for your next assignment if you’re coming from a level l trauma facility and need a change of pace or if you’re trying to avoid burnout from a high-volume facility.

Patients who truly appreciate your work

Facilities in smaller population areas gain a closer relationship with their patients. This allows a traveler to adapt to the facility faster by potentially seeing patients throughout their care more than once or twice. Community members appreciate someone coming to their “small town” and taking the leap of faith to provide care to a group that they may have never interacted with.

The facilities in the more rural areas need fantastic healthcare workers ready to provide care for their community and keep them safe and healthy, just like people in the city. You can gain more insight and experience in your career, enjoy the best of both worlds, and know that your work is truly appreciated when you’re doing your part with a smaller population. Ready to look for your first or next rural travel assignment? Give us a call or reach out to us to see what LRS Healthcare has to offer in your favorite state or region!

Are you a travel nurse looking for your next travel assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you have your next assignment lined up but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.

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

August 24, 2021

5584 Views

Ways to Get Creative When Looking for Travel Nurse Housing

Posted on August 24, 2021August 23, 2021 by Furnished Finder

Right now, rates for travel nursing are at an all-time high. However, the cost of real estate has also swelled over the course of the pandemic, and more nurses than ever are leaving permanent jobs to chase crisis rates. All of these factors combined have led to increased costs for short-term renters and may make finding travel nurse housing that much more stressful.

Keep in mind that this is why Furnished Finder is a great resource right now–since you don’t have to pay things like booking or cleaning fees through the site, you will automatically save a chunk of money by using them to find housing. In addition to using Furnished Finder, here are a few other ways you can find housing that fits your budget during this hectic time in healthcare.

Creative Housing Tips for Travel Nursing

Option One: Consider a roommate.

If you are a stickler about your housing budget and are struggling to find the right fit in a private space, look into rooming-in at someone’s house or find another travel nurse who will be living in the same area who is willing to split a place. One huge positive of the influx of traveling healthcare professionals is that you will almost always be able to find a handful of people starting at the same facility in the same timeframe. Be sure to reach out to travel nurse housing groups to try and connect with other travelers who might be willing to share a space with you!

Option Two: Look into hotels.

Did you know Furnished Finder actually has a whole page dedicated to hotels that cater to long-term occupants? These types of hotels are often overlooked by travel nurses because they assume the cost will be too high, but you might be surprised by how affordable they can be.

Don’t forget to ask about how taxes work in your assignment’s area as well, because you may be entitled to a refund on taxes after a stay of at least 30 days. This, combined with the fact that you get cleaning services, linens, and items like toilet paper provided, can really make a hotel stay make sense.

Option Three: Splurge a little.

While you may not want to spend more money on housing just because you are offered a crisis rate, keep in mind that those rates are high for a reason. Not only is the hospital desperate for help, but they know resources in the area are stretched thin across the board.

Look at it this way: you are likely going to work the hardest you ever have in some of these hard-hit areas. You will also be making 3-4 times more than your typical travel rates and most likely coming off far ahead of any normal assignment. Consider taking a little stress off your plate and opting for one of the nicer or larger homes over on the Furnished Finder housing database, and giving yourself a nice relaxing place to come home to after working your hardest.

It can seem like an overwhelming time to be in healthcare, but remember that these rent prices (and these rates!) won’t last forever. Eventually, the crisis rates will die back down, more nurses will go back to permanent jobs, and the availability of short-term rentals will go back to normal. Until then, take a deep breath, make sure you are choosing a safe, clean place to stay, and don’t forget to remind yourself how awesome it is to have a lifestyle that can adjust with whatever craziness is going on in the world.

We hope you found these creative housing tips helpful. Do you have any creative housing tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Need to secure housing for your assignment? Click here to view our housing page.

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 Medely

August 23, 2021

6319 Views

Six Essential Packing Tips For Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment

Posted on August 23, 2021August 17, 2021 by Medely

This article was provided by Medely.

Check out these essential packing tips for new and long-time Travel Nurses and Allied Healthcare Professionals.

Planning to leave for a new travel nurse contract is exciting—deciding what to pack is not. So, how can you anticipate what you’ll need for the next few months, pack as lightly as possible, and avoid spending extra money on basics when you get to your new location?

Packing well is an art that shapes your particular needs and the things that are important to you. However, there are lessons we’ve learned along the way that can help you get your essential packing list under control. Here are six essential packing tips for travel Nurses and Allied Professionals to help you get ready.

Six Essential Packing Tips For Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment:

1. What to know before you go

Travel assignment benefits can vary, so find out what you’ll need ahead of time. If you’re using company-provided housing, confirm if household items are provided. Furnished accommodations often include basics such as cooking utensils, dish towels, bedding, and small appliances (i.e., hairdryer, iron)—but if yours doesn’t, you won’t want to wait until you arrive to find out. If you’re using the housing stipend to find your accommodation, you may need to bring some household supplies with you.

Hospital uniform requirements can vary, so ask for guidance around details such as scrub color and fabric type if scrubs are not provided. It can also be helpful to ask about the hospital’s typical indoor temperature; you’ll want to make sure the scrubs you bring are warm and breathable enough to keep you comfortable.

Finally, research local weather trends for your entire assignment. Weather and temperatures can vary dramatically over a few months, and you may need to plan a wardrobe with layers so you can adapt.

2. Prioritize any must-have personal items

Some personal items, like a toothbrush or shampoo, can typically be found regardless of your location. But, a quick replacement of specialty pieces is not always possible. Very personal items are one-of-a-kind, so be sure to pack anything that could be difficult (or even impossible) to replace.

These items may include:

Nursing license and professional documents (although if you work through a service like Medely, you’ll have access to your credentials online)
Driver’s license
Passport
Birth certificate
COVID-19 vaccine documentation (or weekly negative COVID tests)
Social security card
Any prescription medications

It can be helpful to create digital copies of important documents so you’ll always have access, but sometimes the originals are necessary.

3. Choose smart clothing items that are color coordinated and flexible

Packing clothes for 12+ weeks can feel daunting—until you realize that you’re going to spend much of your time in scrubs. So don’t feel too anxious about it!

Here are a few pro tips:

Coordinate the colors. This is essentially a small capsule wardrobe: A collection of a few outfits that can be reconfigured into a bunch of varying styles.
Plan for comfort at work. Bring one or two pairs of comfortable work shoes and scrubs.
Prep for the season ahead. It can be a challenge to plan your outfits so far in advance but keep your needs for the coming season in mind—whether you’ll need a swimsuit, a cozy sweater, or a pair of warm winter boots.
Find multipurpose items. Look for articles that can be used in more than one way, like a scarf that can double as a wrap on a breezy day or convertible clothes designed to be worn in multiple styles.

Some seasoned travelers have little room for “just in case” items, but if you’re struggling to leave something behind, consider this: How hard or expensive will it be to buy a new one? Some items can be costly to replace, but others may be easy to find secondhand or as a rental.

4. Keep things organized

Particularly if you’re taking shorter assignments and moving around more often, it can save time and effort if you keep your belongings organized with storage containers or packing cubes.

Consider organizing your stuff by needs, such as:

Things you’ll need as soon as you arrive
Work-related clothing
Kitchen and household items
Dress for later in the season
Sports and exercise-related items
Electronic devices and other tech-related essential items

This packing strategy can help you keep track of where things are and what you may or may not need to unpack right away.

5. Leave some space for the comforts of home

Is there really room for things that will make your space more comfortable? The reality is that, even with the best experiences and adventures, it can be tough to be on the move and away from the familiar constantly.

Consider bringing a few small items that can capture the spirit of the home, such as:

Locally-made condiments, such as syrups, jams, or spices
Scented items, such as soaps, candles, or essential oils
Locally-produced textiles, such as pashminas, sweaters, or socks

If you have the space, some travelers like to bring favorite personal items like pillows. They’re bulky, but if it helps you get a better night’s sleep in a strange bed, it may be worth the tradeoff!

6. Personalize your essential packing list—and keep editing it

Ultimately, the things you bring with you on your next travel nurse assignment are a personal selection that will likely vary as you travel more, gain experience, and figure out what’s essential to you.

Take stock between each travel nursing contract to reassess your essential packing list, then remove items you never use as well as anything you thought would be essential but isn’t.

Want to make sure you haven’t missed anything? Check out The Nomad’s Packing Guide for Travel Nurses for more suggestions.

We hope you found these essential packing tips helpful. If there are any that you have found helpful, comment below. Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Have the assignment secured but need to find housing? Click here to view our housing page.

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

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

By Dan Matthews

August 20, 2021

6183 Views

How Can a Travel Nurse Cope With a New Culture?

Posted on August 20, 2021August 13, 2021 by Dan Matthews

Traveling can be a fun and exhilarating experience, but the situation complicates itself quite a bit when it’s for work. Travel nurses have the opportunity to spend time in far-off locales, both nationally and internationally. Still, due to frequent travel and professional commitments, they may find it difficult to integrate themselves into the local community.

Fortunately, there are ways for travel nurses to cope with cultural shifts while prioritizing their mental health and professional responsibilities. Whether you’re preparing for your first assignment as a travel nurse or you’re a seasoned pro, you can always pick up some new tips to help integrate you on your next mission.

Become a Tourist & Practice Community Integration

As a travel nurse, you’re likely filled with wanderlust, eager to explore new people and places. Your profession allows you to do just that, so before arriving, it’s wise to do a bit of research, just as you would before going on vacation. Travel is a privilege, and just because you’re visiting a location for work doesn’t mean you can’t soak in the culture and landmarks while you’re at it. For instance, traveling nurses on assignment in Raleigh, NC, would be wise to research some of the top activities in Raleigh and the surrounding areas.

Attending local concerts on the weekend or finding a favorite coffee shop will help you feel more at home and provide the opportunity to meet locals and out-of-towners alike. You can also keep your adventurous soul alive as a travel nurse by spacing out your assignments to allow more time for independent travel or forming lasting bonds through a nursing unit potluck. While on the go, making your living quarters as cozy as possible will help you avoid homesickness and feel at ease in your temporary home.

Adapting to Cultural & Regional Differences

Working as a nurse, you’re likely accustomed to meeting people who come from all different walks of life. It may feel a bit different when you’re plopped in the middle of an unfamiliar culture, but the key to coping is recognizing the beauty of cultural and regional differences.

Understanding a patient’s culture can also help you better meet their needs and understand their behaviors, whether they’re a dying Hindu who wants their bed moved to face the East, an American who wants to be the first to know their diagnosis before any family members, or a Japanese who refuses to be housed in room number four (in Chinese and Japanese, the character for the number four is pronounced in the same way as the character for death).

Between and even within regions, work culture can be highly variable, as can communication styles. Observing and asking questions can help you better understand your role in the hospital and what is expected of you as an employee.

Keeping an Upbeat Attitude

Embarking on a career as a travel nurse can mean you have some important questions hanging over your head: Should you buy, sell, or rent a house? How do you plan to maintain relationships with loved ones while you’re off on assignment? What are your long-term career goals?

Amidst all the uncertainty, a positive attitude can work wonders. By taking some time to plan out your living situation and long-term goals, you set yourself up for future success. Some travel nurses decide to buy a home in one of the best cities for a travel nursing career, including locations as diverse as Washington, D.C., and Honolulu, HI.

When it comes to maintaining personal and familial relationships back home, nurturing long-distance family relationships is an important component of keeping you grounded and in good mental health. Staying in touch while traveling doesn’t have to be challenging with proper coordination, regular video calls, and frequent reunions.

Maintaining a curious, respectful attitude and gratitude for your opportunities will allow you to adapt more easily to the new cultures you find yourself navigating as a travel nurse.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse job? Click here to search our job board. Do you have your next job secured but need housing? Click here to search our housing page.

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

START HERE

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Professional Confidence and Skill-Building

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Traits of Travel Nurses:

Adaptability

Don’t be negative

Keep pay to yourself

Pack light

Events

Offer help

Cancelling a contract

Have fun!

Experience

Have a positive attitude

Hope these tips helped!

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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Be Flexible

Invest in Yourself

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