If you are a nurse looking to try something new and exciting, you should consider travel nursing! Travel nursing is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. As a Registered Nurse, you work with a travel nurse staffing agency that sends you out to travel to different hospitals that are lacking in resources and need extra nurses for certain periods of time. Contracts typically last around thirteen weeks and then you move on to another spot.

This provides an opportunity for nurses to continue the work they love while also seeing new places and meeting new people. With this interesting job comes unique circumstances, and you may find yourself looking for some help in figuring out how to best utilize those circumstances. Here are a few fun tips for anyone looking into travel nursing.

Take The Long Way

If you get a contract to work somewhere abroad, you can look for a fun way to get there. For example, if you know you will be working in Bermuda, you can make your way to that location on fun Bermuda cruises. This can help you settle into your travel routine while also giving you the mental legroom to switch from being at your home and in your home city to moving around. You can also engage in fun activities while on your cruise that can help you reduce any new job jitters. Sightseeing your way to your new job’s location could prove to be a fantastic way to get there!

Do As the Locals Do

Wherever you get assigned it is good to remember that people live there permanently. You are a tourist in their town. So, you should be respectful of that privilege. When locals see that respect, they typically will feel safe sharing neat spots around town with you that you may not have found on your own. The best local restaurants, hiking spots, surfing spots, and more are not going to be relinquished to just anyone and you must take this knowledge with respect and not overshare it on social media. Although it may seem annoying not to be able to share the knowledge of the sweet spots, you will find that your experiences are richer and help destress you from the potentially stressful nature of nursing as a job.

Create a Capsule Wardrobe

Capsule wardrobes are an interesting and clever way to have an easy to travel wardrobe that is versatile, classy, and can fit into one suitcase. As you begin your travel nursing journey you will find that less is more when it comes to packing. On your days off when you do not want to wear your work scrubs, you will not want to be rifling through your suitcase or hotel room drawers to find the best outfit. Instead, you can pick from a combination of a few well made, durable, versatile, and cute options for the weather and activities you have laid out ahead of you. Dressing to impress is easier when you have a few key pieces that all work together and fit you perfectly. This would be a great tip to put your travel nursing salary towards. Many people have discovered that investing in a few highly-priced items will benefit you in the long run as opposed to buying and replacing cheaper clothes.

Don’t Leave Your Furry Friend Behind

If you have a dog or a cat or another pet who you think is the only thing keeping you at home, then fear no more. Your furry friend can travel with you to your destination. Think of how much fun they will have exploring the streets of a new city by your side on your days off work. Your pet can also help you feel more comfortable as you adjust to the new life of travel nursing.

Travel nursing is currently blowing up as people realize they can travel, make money, and help people. It is a really cool way to meet new people and explore new places. You will certainly never be bored!

We hope you found these travel nursing tips helpful. Do you have any travel nursing tips to share? Comment them below.

For those who enjoy taking care of people and exploring new places, a traveling nurse’s career can be the perfect combination of life purposes and unique experiences. Becoming a travel nurse is an excellent opportunity to practice, discover other cities, and make decent money. Such a job is more useful and responsible compared, for instance, to the job of essay writer. So, it involves a higher wage and additional bonuses.

A travel nurse needs to have a relevant diploma and at least one year of work experience. You can get a job in different regions of the US and even abroad. Travel nurses usually deal with specialized agencies that help them find suitable positions. In the US, travel nurses are offered temporary and short-term appointments that generally last about 18 weeks. International travel nursing programs usually last up to two years.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a nursing career salary is over $ 70,000 per year. The duties of a travel nurse also differ according to specialization, type of medical facility, and work schedule. You may wonder, “How can I write my essay online about travel nurses?” Well, the profession of a travel nurse is not for everyone. Let’s find what personal qualities are needed for successful travel nursing career paths.

Flexibility and Empathy

Regardless of specific responsibilities, flexibility is the key feature for a travel nurse’s career. These nurses have to adapt very quickly to different medical institutions’ policies and, possibly, to the culture of another country. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the patient’s feelings. The nurse has to show concern and compassion, as well as provide sick persons with quality care. A good nurse has to understand and listen to each patient without judgment of a different set of values, attitudes, and religious beliefs.

Stress Resistance

A travel nursing career requires distinctive and strong character traits. Emotional stability is a skill that can be acquired. However, this takes time, experience, and patience. That being said, emotional stability should not be confused with a lack of empathy and compassion. The daily work of a travel nurse is associated with challenging situations. Given the constant psycho-emotional stress, the profession of travel nurses does not fit for faint-hearted people. So, it will not be easy for ambitious people to work in such a position.

Communication Skills

An ability to find a common language with the patients and their relatives is one of the crucial requirements of a travel nurse. It does not mean that she should always agree with the opinions of other people. A nurse’s communication skills can be manifested in different ways. A simple smile can give the patients a feeling of comfort as they know the nurse will surely take care of them. Perfect nurses also master other communication styles, and not all of them are verbal. It is necessary to communicate in a way that will make the patients feel at ease and confident that they are safe.

Fast Response

Oftentimes, nurses have to react in the event of an emergency to provide timely assistance and follow the attending physician’s orders instantly. When it comes to healthcare delivery, attention to detail is critical. Even in the busiest and hectic environment, a nurse makes sure that all the instructions, the correct dosage of medication, and accurate records are followed. An excellent travel nurse should be able to make decisions quickly. The nurse has to find an individual approach to each patient. She is often required to find creative ways to change the situation for the better.

Politeness

A good nurse should be a good psychologist. She needs to find ways to support sick persons, help with competent actions, and inspire them with encouraging words. It is known that the success of treatment much depends on the patient’s mood. An international travel nursing career requires an understanding of what is right and what is wrong from a moral point of view. Only open-minded and kind nurses can provide effective, culturally competent, and patient-centered medical assistance.

Critical Thinking and Responsibility

Critical thinking is the ability to assess reality objectively and draw rational conclusions. Thanks to this disciplined and patient-directed approach, the nurses can interpret data, prioritize patient’s needs, and accurately solve complex clinical problems. Although travel nurses most often act as part of the medical team, their work is autonomous in many cases. Their professional decisions are their sole responsibility.

Perfect Health

A travel nurse’s job is difficult not only because of the emotional but also physical stress. Frequent travel and irregular work schedules require good physical endurance. When assisting in a complex operation, the nurse has to stand in one place for a long time. Of course, some nurses’ positions require less strenuous physical activity, such as administrative. However, a nurse needs to be prepared for any workload to respond effectively to emergencies.

Conclusion

If you do not have some of these basic skills, you can still become a travel nurse by improving yourself in these areas. The main point is the desire to change and move forward. You can learn more about the moral and professional principles needed for travel nurses in the Ethics Code of the American Nurses Association.

Throughout my 8 years of travel nursing, I have had many people ask questions and show interest in the travel nurse life. Of course, like most travel nurses’ media pages, our life looks like one big vacation! And don’t forget the big money! $$$

But hear me out for a long-winded moment…

After being on the road for these 8 years, I have a few things to discuss before you quit your permanent job and take the challenging leap to start the travel nurse life!

8 Things to Consider Before You Quit Your Permanent Job

1. Loneliness is inevitable!

You have to be very comfortable with being alone A LOT! Being away from family and friends for extended periods can take a toll on your mental health. A 3-hour time change and 6-hour plane travel doesn’t make it easy for quick trips home. I remember my first contract when I ate alone at a sit-down restaurant and went to the movie theater solo for the first time in my life.

2. New EVERYTHING!

Living arrangements, bed, grocery store, roads, gas station, church, doctors, dentist, hairstylist, weather, time change, etc. Nothing is familiar except the few things you brought along with you on your journey. I’ve lived years without Blue Plate mayonnaise, I’ve had to have bad dental work fixed by my home dentist, and I’ve even sported a mullet after a bad haircut!

3. You have to hit the floor running after only 1-3 shifts of orientation.

This includes learning new computer systems, remembering new log-ins, door codes, doctors’ preferences and personalities, different order sets, policies and procedures, and co-workers’ names and their position on the floor. You realize just how lost you are when you can’t find the simple but important things like an emesis bag quick enough for your patient.

4. Your permanent job hospital’s way is not the only CORRECT way.

Realizing the way your home hospital does things is not the ONLY correct way to do it. I don’t care if you have been a nurse for 20 years! When in Rome, you do as the Romans and move along after 13 weeks. After a few weeks of being on the floor and familiar with the staff, you can make suggestions for changes. But they do not want a stranger coming into their home trying to change things up if it’s working for them and the patients are safe.

5. Keeping up with licenses and certifications are your responsibility.

It’s difficult to keep certifications up to date when a lot of hospitals won’t allow you to take their classes that are offered to their permanent staff. I’ve driven 3 hours one way to take a course that was needed to be able to complete my file for my next contract. Also, not all companies offer reimbursements for the new state nursing license you need or the recertification that’s required to keep you compliant while on contract.

6. Nightmare Patients

More than likely, you will get the nightmare of a patient the permanent staff doesn’t want to take care of. And you will also be the first to float to a different unit before staff.

7. Scheduling

You will get minimal to zero schedule requests for specific days off or block scheduling. The purpose of your contract is to help staff and fill in their short shifts.

8. Emergency fund money

Emergency fund money is a must! Your contract could get canceled. Travel companies provide minimal to no sick time or PTO. Moving across the country costs a lot when you’re driving 2,500 miles, hotels, shipping a car, flying, and paying rent deposits. While on assignment, you also duplicate expenses at your permanent home to qualify for tax-free stipends. And who knew, but even buying a new set or condiments each time you move to a new place can get expensive!

The perks of leaving your permanent job

But as I write this, I am currently recovering from a long day sunbathing at the beach in gorgeous San Diego! (One of those cities that some people only dream of visiting). And I wouldn’t trade this life I’ve had the last 8 years for anything!

I have met some of my best friends in life. I have worked with some of the most amazing nurses in top-rated hospitals who have helped me grow my skills and knowledge. I’ve lived in cities and places only others get to vacation or dream of living. And I’ve been able to take 1-2 month long vacations between contracts to check off those bucket list countries and experiences that I would have never had the opportunity with a permanent job!

Is it perfect for every nurse?

Definitely not! You have to be realistic with your expectations, set goals, be flexible, be prepared, and focus on things you do have control over. You will learn so much about yourself as an individual, and your personal growth can be limitless. Travel nursing is not a bad life, so get out there and take the chance on what could be the start of the best adventures of your life!

We hope you found these 8 tips to consider before quitting your permanent job helpful. Do you have any tips for our readers before they quit their permanent jobs? Comment them below!

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

START HERE

Travel Nursing Tips

Fun Tips for Travel Nursing