Have, Should Haves and Have nots: Advice, tips and strategies for first-time travelers!
The following content below I am submitting to a travel nurse blog. If it gets published I'll link it to my Facebook, Twitter or whatever! In the meantime, please enjoy!
I began my travel nurse journey in September and am currently 6 weeks away from completing my first assignment! It has been a whirlwind of emotions, experiences and memories that will stick with me throughout the rest of my life. I have learned so much along the way, and as nurses we are required to share our knowledge with others, I mean let's face it, it's what we do, right?
Prepare your space: If able, get in touch with your landlord or hotel staff (if you're staying at an extended stay hotel) and ask what is allowed, not allowed or already at your place you'll be living at. I was able to get in touch with my landlord before I moved into my apartment and come to find out it was already furnished! When I arrived, there was so much already in the kitchen, such as silverware, cookware and a Keurig that I had to send so many things back with my sister (who traveled with me to help me move). Definitely helps to know ahead of time!
Learn your area: The day before I started my job, I drove around the city I was living in and explored. I made a list in my head of specifics I was looking for: where I was working, where I needed to get food and where I could go for fun. So I found the job, the mall, a Kroger and a local coffee shop!
Learn your rules: A few weeks before I moved, I had an interview with my nurse manager and had the opportunity to learn about the unit I was going to be working on. My nurse recruiter emailed me a list of questions to ask for the interview, and one of them was uniform colors. Some units/facilities are switching over to color coded, so how much of a disaster would it be to walk in on day one of your new job in your funky scrub prints when everyone else is wearing black? Definitely not a good first impression!
Ask for feedback: When you're a travel nurse, you're basically expected to take off and hit the ground running when you work. I only had 2 days of orientation with a preceptor and after that I was on my own. There was NO WAY I could learn all I needed to in those 2 days. When I got my first admission, I grabbed a nurse and asked "Hey, can you sit with me and make sure I'm doing all this documentation correctly?" It was super helpful and they were willing to help me out! If you feel like you need more time on orientation though, talk to your manager and supervisor and see if they'd be willing to work with you.
Meal prep ahead of time: I think this is my biggest time saver/stress reliever I am going to share! Ever come home after working a long day and wonder "Oh crap, what am I going to fix for dinner?!" Doesn't the thought just add additional stress to you? I mostly work 3 days in a row, so the day before usually I spend it cooking and preparing meals for the next 3 days; that way when I get home, all I have to do is pop something in the microwave or oven and voila! Dinner done!
Be flexible: You may not have a say in what your schedule looks like, or you may. It just depends on who makes your schedule and that sort of thing. Some of your days may be all in a row or you may have a day or two break in between. One time I worked 2, was off one, worked one more day then was off for 3 days. It may seem like a headache, but just be flexible and keep in mind you're only there for a short time.
Know your audience: Anyone who knows me knows I have a LOT of energy, even at 6 in the morning when my shift starts. Some people...don't. And that's ok. Something I've had to remind myself continuously is to just be aware of who is around you. I'm not saying entirely change yourself for the duration of your assignment, but keep in mind your personality may not mesh with everyone else's, and you have to learn to adapt to those around you so everyone is on the same page.
Jump in: Be approachable. Don't give off the impression that you're too good to help out just because you're only there temporarily. Help your techs out on the floor if they're busy, even if that means helping hand out coffee to the patients. If your other nurse is swamped with patients, offer to help them pass their meds or pick up their admission or discharge. If you're willing to lend a hand, your team will be willing to help you out so much more when you need it.
Speak up: Just because you're a travel nurse doesn't mean you'll get the glamorous assignments. There will be days where quite honestly, you'll be put where you are just needed, and it may not be fun or ideal. It won't do any good to whine and complain, but don't be a push over. If you need a break from the not fun, ask your charge nurse or supervisor if maybe the next day you can switch to a different assignment. If you voice your questions and concerns, chances are you'll get listened to.
Make friends...with everyone: My best work buddy friends are one of the techs and one of the social workers/therapists on the unit I work at. Get to know your staff and your team; they're going to be right there alongside you for the next 13 weeks.
That's all I've got for now. Most importantly, make the best of your assignment, have fun and take care of yourself too! 13 weeks will fly by if you make the most of it!
I began my travel nurse journey in September and am currently 6 weeks away from completing my first assignment! It has been a whirlwind of emotions, experiences and memories that will stick with me throughout the rest of my life. I have learned so much along the way, and as nurses we are required to share our knowledge with others, I mean let's face it, it's what we do, right?
Prepare your space: If able, get in touch with your landlord or hotel staff (if you're staying at an extended stay hotel) and ask what is allowed, not allowed or already at your place you'll be living at. I was able to get in touch with my landlord before I moved into my apartment and come to find out it was already furnished! When I arrived, there was so much already in the kitchen, such as silverware, cookware and a Keurig that I had to send so many things back with my sister (who traveled with me to help me move). Definitely helps to know ahead of time!
Learn your area: The day before I started my job, I drove around the city I was living in and explored. I made a list in my head of specifics I was looking for: where I was working, where I needed to get food and where I could go for fun. So I found the job, the mall, a Kroger and a local coffee shop!
Learn your rules: A few weeks before I moved, I had an interview with my nurse manager and had the opportunity to learn about the unit I was going to be working on. My nurse recruiter emailed me a list of questions to ask for the interview, and one of them was uniform colors. Some units/facilities are switching over to color coded, so how much of a disaster would it be to walk in on day one of your new job in your funky scrub prints when everyone else is wearing black? Definitely not a good first impression!
Ask for feedback: When you're a travel nurse, you're basically expected to take off and hit the ground running when you work. I only had 2 days of orientation with a preceptor and after that I was on my own. There was NO WAY I could learn all I needed to in those 2 days. When I got my first admission, I grabbed a nurse and asked "Hey, can you sit with me and make sure I'm doing all this documentation correctly?" It was super helpful and they were willing to help me out! If you feel like you need more time on orientation though, talk to your manager and supervisor and see if they'd be willing to work with you.
Meal prep ahead of time: I think this is my biggest time saver/stress reliever I am going to share! Ever come home after working a long day and wonder "Oh crap, what am I going to fix for dinner?!" Doesn't the thought just add additional stress to you? I mostly work 3 days in a row, so the day before usually I spend it cooking and preparing meals for the next 3 days; that way when I get home, all I have to do is pop something in the microwave or oven and voila! Dinner done!
Be flexible: You may not have a say in what your schedule looks like, or you may. It just depends on who makes your schedule and that sort of thing. Some of your days may be all in a row or you may have a day or two break in between. One time I worked 2, was off one, worked one more day then was off for 3 days. It may seem like a headache, but just be flexible and keep in mind you're only there for a short time.
Know your audience: Anyone who knows me knows I have a LOT of energy, even at 6 in the morning when my shift starts. Some people...don't. And that's ok. Something I've had to remind myself continuously is to just be aware of who is around you. I'm not saying entirely change yourself for the duration of your assignment, but keep in mind your personality may not mesh with everyone else's, and you have to learn to adapt to those around you so everyone is on the same page.
Jump in: Be approachable. Don't give off the impression that you're too good to help out just because you're only there temporarily. Help your techs out on the floor if they're busy, even if that means helping hand out coffee to the patients. If your other nurse is swamped with patients, offer to help them pass their meds or pick up their admission or discharge. If you're willing to lend a hand, your team will be willing to help you out so much more when you need it.
Speak up: Just because you're a travel nurse doesn't mean you'll get the glamorous assignments. There will be days where quite honestly, you'll be put where you are just needed, and it may not be fun or ideal. It won't do any good to whine and complain, but don't be a push over. If you need a break from the not fun, ask your charge nurse or supervisor if maybe the next day you can switch to a different assignment. If you voice your questions and concerns, chances are you'll get listened to.
Make friends...with everyone: My best work buddy friends are one of the techs and one of the social workers/therapists on the unit I work at. Get to know your staff and your team; they're going to be right there alongside you for the next 13 weeks.
That's all I've got for now. Most importantly, make the best of your assignment, have fun and take care of yourself too! 13 weeks will fly by if you make the most of it!
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