- Treatment Plan: Hypertravelosis
- Step #1: Determine Why You Want To Travel
- Step #2: What Do You Want/Need Out of Travel Nursing
- Step #3: Where and When Are You Willing to Go
- Step #4: Understanding the Myths
- Step #5: Know Your Deal-breakers
- Step #6: Building your Travel Portfolio
- Step #7: Research Travel Nurse agencies
- Step #8: Submission of Your Profile
- Step #9: Working With Your Recruiter (s)
- Step #10 Prepare For the Interview
- Step #11 Preliminary Contract Negotiations
- Step #12: Determine if The Job is A Good Fit
- Step #13: Sealing the Deal
- Step #14 Getting Ready for The Journey
- Step #15: Packing for the Travel Nurse
- Step #16: Prepare Your Vehicle
- Step #17: Keeping Track of the Paperwork
- Step #18: Make It A Great Road-Trip
- Step # 19 Arrival on Location
- Step # 20 Settling In (unpacking and finding the necessities)
- Step # 21 The countdown Begins: Your Travel Nurse Assignment Day One
- Step # 22 How to Make the Most of Your Travel Nurse Contract
- Step #23 Travel Nurse Contract – 8 Weeks to go…
- Step #24 Travel Nurse Contract – 4 Weeks to go…
- Step #25 Travel Nurse Contract – 2 Weeks to go…
- Step #27 Travel Nurse Contract Evaluation – Wash, Rinse, Repeat…
- Step #26 Travel Nurse Contract – The Final Week
Once you have accepted a contract and decided that you will be driving, you will need to prepare your vehicle for your Travel Nurse Roadtrip.
I’ll admit upfront that I’m not a mechanic! I’m a nurse. Take these recommendations knowing that first. I’ve taken many road-trips across country both for personal reasons as well as to/from my contracts. I’ve ran across almost every imaginable problem that you could encounter from break-downs and flat tires to a swarm of insects that literally blinded me. Because of this, I’ve learned a thing of two about what I need to have with me on the road.
Pre-trip Inspection
Make an appointment with your local auto-mechanic or garage and have your vehicle checked over and complete any routine maintenance. Let them know that you are heading out for a long distance trip and want to make certain that any potential maintenance issues are addressed. If your close to an oil change, get it done. Have all of your belts, fluids, etc checked out. Being stranded in the middle of nowhere in Texas isn’t a fun place to be when one of your belts breaks. I know this, it happened to me. Finding a place that you can trust to perform routine maintenance can be difficult as well as time-consuming once you reach your contract location. It’s much easier to have this done at home before you leave.
Roadside Emergency Kit
If you don’t already have one of these, you should consider putting one together before you leave. You can purchase these pre-made or you can put together your own. If you already have one, check through it and make sure that everything you need is still in it and in working order.
Basic items for your Emergency Kit should include:
Water (I usually throw a gallon jug in my trunk)- Food (This is especially important for inclement weather. A few granola bars are a handy item.)
- Flashlight (with working batteries)
- Reflective poncho (this works to keep you both safe and dry)
- First Aid Kit
- Blanket, coat, hat, gloves
- Tool Kit
- Road Flares
- Spare Tire and working jack
- Jumper cables
- Coolant/Antifreeze
- Motor Oil
- Towels/Window cleaner
- AAA Card with VIN number
- Ice Scraper (cold weather)
In addition to an Emergency Kit, which I think should remain in your vehicle at all times; you should think about the following items to have handy while on your way to your new contract.
- Cell Phone
- Registration/License/Insurance
- Credit cards
- Eye Glasses/Sun Glasses
- Moist Towelettes
- Meds including Maalox, Imodium AD (Travelers sickness)
- Pen/Small tablet
- Maps/Itinerary
- AAA Travel Guide to visiting states
- Comfortable/Loose Travel clothes
- Separate clothes/items you will need at hotel stops
- Address book with numbers of Recruiter/On call Recruiter/ Reliable friends
- Contact numbers for Apartment Agent and agreed times to meet
- Camera to document your Trip
- Snacks for the Trip (Yummy!)
Is there something that I didn’t address that you always make certain to have with you for a road trip? What are your thoughts on the list/suggestions above?
TheGypsyNurse
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