The Gypsy Nurse

Diagnosis: Homesickness

Posted by
/ June 19, 2012 / 3 Comments

Home-Sickness

(Disclaimer:  Homesickness is a real disorder.  I am not addressing the medical or psychological issues that can occur with this nor am I giving any medical/nursing advice.  The following information is for entertainment purpose only.  If you are experiencing medical or psychological issues related to homesickness; I would recommend that you consult with a physician.)
 
travel nurse homesickness

home·sick/ˈhōmˌsik/

Experiencing a longing for one’s home during a period of absence from it.

Synonyms:
nostalgic

 

 

 

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Homesickness is generally caused by an absence of familiar surroundings, familiar objects and people.

There have been no studies on the rate of incidence of homesickness among travel nurses; however it is observed quite frequently among Travel Nurses.

Risk Factors for homesickness (related to travel nurses) may include:

  • Difficulty adjusting to the temporary job.
  • Lack of sleep.
  • Poor diet.
  • Conflicts with co-workers or Managers.
  • Infrequent contact with family/friends.
  • Lack of local connections.
  • Boredom
  • Missing an important event at home.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of homesickness is depression.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Decreased job satisfaction
  • Short tempered attitude.
  • Increased anxiety.
  • Giving up.
  • Increased withdraw.
  • Sadness

Signs and tests

There are currently no definitive tests available for diagnosis of homesickness.

Treatment

There is currently no known cure for homesickness.  It can be a progressive condition if left un-diagnosed and untreated. The best treatment is to manage symptoms.

Support Groups

There are no current known support groups for people suffering from homesickness.

In the Orders section of this site, you will find the Treatment Plan for Homesickness.  I think you will find it useful in providing you the tools that you need to combat this disorder.

I would encourage you to post comments.  Tell me what you want to hear about, what you enjoyed, or how you combat some of the issues discussed.  You may also connect with me via Twitter or Facebook and together we can work on decreasing the symptoms together.

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TheGypsyNurse

Owner at The Gypsy Nurse
As a travel nursing educator, Candy aka Gypsy Nurse, RN has worked in healthcare for nearly 20 years, working up the ranks from CNA to LPN to RN. For the past eight years, she’s worked as a travel nurse, allowing her to practice and live in 14 states throughout the U.S. She regularly shares advice for those interested in travel nurse jobs on her website at: www.thegypsynurse.com.
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