I’m currently a few weeks into my 3rdtravel assignment and it is by far my favorite so far, in terms of access to virtually anything I’m in the mood for. Downtown is about 15 minutes away, two malls are less than 30 minutes away, and I’m steps (yes, you heard me correctly) steps away from a nearby Starbucks! Navigating a new area can be a bit daunting, but here’s what I’ve discovered to be very helpful.
Do your research:
Ahead of time, I mean. Before I move to a new place, I Google map my address and search for things nearby and how long they’ll take me to get there. I really like shopping, so I always try to see if a mall is nearby. (I also map the hospital I’m working at!) Search for restaurants, hiking trails; whatever you’re in the mood for!
Ask around:
Your new co-workers are a great resource for getting to know what’s around. Chances are, they have a few good recommendations to explore and for a great place to catch a good bite to eat. Know ahead of time what your interests are, and ask around. Everywhere I’ve been so far, my co-workers are very willing to share their #1 picks.
Just drive:
Yep, you heard me. Pick a day and just explore. No GPS, no maps, nothing! I’ve done this every time I’ve traveled so far, and I have discovered some great finds just by getting lost. Just recently actually, I ended up going in the completely wrong direction, but the views were absolutely gorgeous that I really didn’t mind! Just be wary of sudden stops, one-way signs, that sort of thing.
So there you have it. Happy exploring! ?
Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?
You’ve moved into your new apartment in your new city for your next big travel nurse adventure. You’ve unpacked and gotten comfortable, and you’ve found your way to the office and back. You’ve made it, and you’re ready for your new assignment!
But … now what?
Now that you’ve gotten settled, it’s time to really branch out and explore your new temporary home. Half the excitement of being a travel nurse sees a brand new part of the world, so why not explore when you have the time? Here are five tips on how to properly explore and experience your new city:
1.) Be A Tourist
When it comes to exploring your new city, don’t shy away from the idea of becoming a tourist for a day. Particularly if you’re staying in one of the bigger metropolitan areas of the United States, there are plenty of sites and attractions that can fill up your days. If you’re staying in a smaller town, there are more than likely still some lovely tourist spots to check out.
Mostly, take advantage of whatever free tourist attractions there may be in your area. For example, if you’re in the San Diego area, there are plenty of free activities that draw in tourists from all over, including brewery tours, scenic beaches, beautiful historic parks, and nationally renowned forests just outside of town. Embrace your inner explorer, and take advantage of the local fare while you can. It might even help you find your new favorite restaurant or hangout spot!
If you’re willing to spend a little money, you can check to see if your town offers tourist passes. The passes vary depending on the city, but many of them combine public transportation, admission to popular museums, and discounts at shops all onto one card for a select amount of days (typically one to five days). This way, you can save money on the price of admission and get all your tourist travels out of the way in a single weekend.
2.) Create a Mission
When you arrive in your new town, you might feel a bit intimidated. Especially if it’s a big city, where are you supposed to start exploring?
One of the best ways to overcome this obstacle is to sit down and draw out a mission. Do you want to find the cheapest grocery store? Do you want to figure out the public transportation system? Maybe you want to try to find the rainbow bagels everyone is talking about in Brooklyn.
Whatever your mission is, sit down, plan it out, and then execute it. Use local transportation if it’s available to you to learn the ins and outs of the system. This will also come in handy if your car ever breaks down or wants to go out for drinks and not spend money on a cab. Also, make sure you have a way to find yourself in case you get lost. The last thing you need is to find yourself in an alleyway with no cellphone coverage and no idea which way is up.
However, creating a mission and setting out to do little tasks at a time can really help you fully explore the new city. You’ll be able to ground yourself, know your surroundings a little better, and find your way through tough situations if they ever arise in the future.
3.) Learn the History
Each town has its own story, and you won’t fully appreciate the town until you know its history. You might be able to find some of that history in the local parks and museums, but the real hidden gem of every city is its library.
That’s right: books! Whether you’re traveling with your family or just by yourself, take advantage of the free local library and read up on the town’s history. Most libraries will have sections devoted just to local legends and significant people, and librarians are more than happy to help you dive into the legacy of your new town. They also can suggest popular places to explore if you want to get more hands-on experience.
Although not every town will have an in-depth history like Boston or New York City, your new city will undoubtedly offer up some unique surprises. Diving into history will help you discover its hidden gems.
4.) Live Like the Locals
Once you get your tourism bug out of the way, you’ll want to get fully settled into your new town. Although you might only be there for a few months at a time, sometimes playing a tourist can be exhausting. Instead, start to make the transition to “local.” One of the best ways to do this is to chat with other locals in the area.
Ask your coworkers where their favorite spots to eat out are located, and chat with the people you meet around town for further suggestions. Find out what food is considered the “local fare” and explore the various restaurants that specialize in that food.
Visit the farmers market (almost every town has one in the summer), explore the outdoors around the town, and volunteer with local groups to really get comfortable with your new environment. Volunteering is not only rewarding but opens up plenty of opportunities to meet new people and help those in need. Additionally, it will help you become more familiar with the communities you’re serving and how they live their day-to-day lives as a nurse. It can help you improve your own cultural awareness. Join an interfaith group or volunteer for a “rake the town” event, and contribute to the community like a local.
5.) Be Spontaneous
In the end, don’t make plans, because one of the best ways to explore your new city is to go on spontaneous outings. Getting invited out to after-shift drinks with a work colleague? Have an opportunity to visit a museum for free? Or maybe you want to go on a walk and happen to find the perfect little coffee shop just around the corner from you? Embracing spontaneous outings might be the ticket to truly exploring your new city.
Wherever you are stationed for the next few months, every new town has its own host of hidden gems. Sometimes taking the time to explore those areas can be the best way to unwind after a long shift. Take care of yourself, become an explorer, and embrace your new temporary town!
Watch for part 2 of this series of the best ways to explore your new city.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Many travel nurses gravitate to the excitement of new places and the thrill of exploration. But in most cases, you will call your assignment home for at least a short while. You may even decide it would make a good area to put down roots permanently. Cities across the United States vary greatly and have numerous things to offer and it makes sense to consider at least a few aspects before your next assignment.
The “U.S. News & World Report’s inaugural Best Places to Live” rankings could help you make a more informed decision about your next travel nurse assignment. The research included in the rankings is evaluated using data from several respected sources, including, United States Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor, and U.S. News’ own internal resources.
The 100 most populous metro areas were recently analyzed to find the best places to live. To make the top of the list, a location had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market, and offer a high quality of life.
For example, to calculate “quality of life” the study looked at Crime Rates, Quality and Availability of Health Care, Quality of Education, Well-being, and a Commuter Index. The weight of importance each factor received was based on a survey of people and their preferences. Keep in mind that your preferences might differ. As you evaluate a location, be sure to consider the climate, distance from your support network, i.e., family and friends, as well as your preference for the density of population—do you prefer the hustle and bustle of a city or the quietness of the suburbs? Cities across the nation have a number of enticing features to offer. Here are highlights from the 2016 U.S. News Best Places to Live Rankings list—Top 10:
What are the best states for travel nurse to license in? Where would you recommend I obtain licensing? I will be looking to start my Travel Nurse career after the 1st of the year and I want to be prepared.
What are the best states for Travel Nurse to License
There are many variable when it comes to the best states for travel nurses to obtain a license. Some states like California, always have openings. Others are somewhat seasonal – bringing in travelers during high seasons. Here are 2019 Nursing Trends that might be helpful in determining where to go this year.
Personally, I recommend only obtaining a license for those states in which you have a job offer for. If you are licensed in a compact state and eligible for compact licensure, your choices are much more vast. There are also seasonal shifts in high-demand locations like Arizona, and Florida. If you are interested in working seasonally in these locations, you might consider obtaining a license in advance for these states.
If you are a new travel nurse, read over our Travel Nurse Guide for additional guidance and industry specific information. You can also connect with our Travel Nurse Network and find out where the Hot Locations are right now.
A personal account of surviving Hurricane Irma as travel nurse US Virgin Islands. From preparation through the aftermath, a travel nurses personal account.
Travel Nurse US Virgin Islands
When I received the phone call from my recruiter telling me that I landed my first travel assignment in the Virgin Islands, I couldn’t believe it! My mouth fell open. I was excited, and couldn’t wait to share the news with all my family and friends.
Struggling with Doubts
Soon after, my feelings turned from excitement to doubt. I doubted how I would survive living in St. Thomas all by myself. How I would excel as a travel nurse US Virgin Islands with such limited experience. I questioned why God was calling little Tanisha from Missouri City, Texas to start her travel nursing career on St. Thomas, Virgin Island…
A Heavy Heart
The following Sunday, I came to church with a heavy heart and was greeted by extreme confirmation. Our Sunday school lesson was titled, “Beyond Doubt”, and my Sunday school teacher spoke on believing beyond what you can see. I felt like the lesson was made especially for me.
After class, my teacher pulled me aside and asked me how things were going. I broke down in tears and told her that I was feeling extremely doubtful about my upcoming move. She embraced me and reminded me that God is with me; it’s not my job to wonder why He called me, but to be obedient and walk into the new season of life with confidence that He will continue to provide. After church, she sent me a powerful message that got me through the next month of my life when I was feeling down, discouraged and extremely doubtful.
God calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things
Those words spoke to me louder than anything had in the past few weeks of my life as I was feeling overwhelmed and stressed behind all the work I was putting into starting my new journey. This message provided reassurance in a dark season of my life when I needed it the most. Anytime I started to feel unworthy I reminded myself, “God calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things that He might get the glory“.
Departures
As the days came closer to my departure, I became excited and eager to start my new assignment. When I finally arrived in St. Thomas, I remember having an overwhelming sense that I belonged there; that I was being sent with a purpose. I stepped off the plane and saw the following sign… The first two months of my assignment were filled with partying, boat trips, cliff jumping, island hopping and living on vacation all while wondering, “What am I here for? When will it be my time to be extraordinary?”
Travel Nurse US Virgin Islands: Hurricane Irma
The weekend of September 1st, we all received news that a major hurricane was expected to hit the island. Some of my fellow travelers grew worried, some began to frantically prepare and some even chose to evacuate the island. While “Hurricane Irma” was the talk of the town and everyone was in a complete uproar, I had peace knowing that THIS is what I was called for. Finally, it was my time to be extraordinary!
The day before the storm hit, I reached out to my closest family and friends and asked for their prayers. I knew I was being faced with a great task and that I needed all the support they could give. All of the island natives warned me that if the hurricane hit… it would be devastating. We were expected to lose water, power, phone service, and all means of communication. I warned my family that if they didn’t hear from me, don’t worry…I would be fine.
Going to Work Prepared
Tuesday night September 5th, I went to work fully prepared. I had a weeks worth of clothes, all my valuables, and food to last for a few days. That night I made my hospital bed and laid down. I was comforted with tons of encouraging words from my family and friends letting me know that they were praying for me. My Instagram and Facebook were overflowing with messages from people who I didn’t even know; everyone finally got word that Irma, the category five hurricane was headed straight towards me and there was nothing left to do but pray.
“When the lights go out, it will be your time to shine.“
On Wednesday morning, I woke up, prepared for work and walked to the unit to receive report. I was in charge that day and remember thinking, “Why me?” My mom texted me her prayer for that morning and said, “When the lights go out, it will be your time to shine.” I knew then that everything would be okay. Placing my phone in my pocket, I began my day. I rounded on my patients and made sure everyone’s needs were met. When I looked outside I noticed that the rain and wind began to pick up. Everyone gathered by one big window on the unit as we watched Hurricane Irma begin her wrath.
From Scary to Terrifying…
Things quickly escalated from scary to terrifying, so I decided to move my patients from their postpartum rooms to the Labor and Delivery unit for their safety. While transporting my patients I heard loud banging on the door coming from the emergency stairwell. I opened the door and saw other nurses transporting their immobile patients by their mattresses down the stairs to safety. I soon discovered that the windows on the floor above me blew out and the entire floor was forced to evacuate immediately.
The hurricane was blowing through the hospital. From that moment on, things were in complete chaos. We were in full crisis mode transporting patients, administering emergency medications, making life-threatening decisions in split seconds and doing everything we could to keep our patients alive.
Out of respect for my company, my hospital and my profession…I choose to spare the details of what went on that day. The hospital was simply filled with, “Ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.“
After the Hurricane
The days after the hurricane, I was forced to stay at the hospital because the roads were unsafe to drive home. There were huge trees, power lines and remains from people’s homes that filled the streets. I slept in the uninhabitable hospital and I began to wonder, “How would I ever survive?” Friday morning, the curfew that was placed on the island ended and I was finally able to return home. I feared going home alone with no water, no power and a limited supply of food; but I knew I had to. I had to get away from the hospital because it was no longer safe.
Going Home
When I finally went home, I opened the door to my beachfront condo to discover that the roof caved in, and it too was uninhabitable. I packed everything I could and went to my friend Veronica’s house. We began discussing our options and realized they were slim. My company canceled my contract and booked my flight home for Sunday morning, only to discover that the airport was destroyed as well. I literally felt trapped on the island, and paradise was starting to feel more like my worst nightmare.
With no running water, limited food, no roof, no cell phone service, no internet and people robbing at gunpoint for necessities; my fear finally set it. I became fearful for my life and overcome with emotion. That Saturday night, I sat on Veronica’s sofa and asked God to make a way…
An Unexpected trip to Puerto Rico
Veronica and I looking extremely rough but very happy to be making our way home.
Around six o’clock Sunday morning, Veronica looked out her window and saw a boat. Without hesitation, we packed everything we could and ran to the dock! With a quick confirmation from the captain, we were welcomed onboard and told that we were headed to Puerto Rico. Veronica spoke Spanish and had family in Puerto Rico, so we knew we would be just fine.
Once we made it to Puerto Rico, Veronica arranged for her family to pick us up at the marina and I instantly felt peace that everything would be alright. Her family treated us like royalty; they fed us, gave us warm showers and a safe place to stay for the night. When we woke up the following morning, they served us coffee and breakfast sandwiches. They told us they arranged for a driver to show us around town and I couldn’t believe it! Our evacuation was starting to feel more like a vacation.
After rationing our food for days, we were finally able to enjoy eating out, exploring the city and staying at our five-star resort. I owe Veronica and her family endless thanks for their kindness and hospitality. They were there for us in a time of need and reminded me that God will always make a way. Three days after being in Puerto Rico, I was able to fly home to Houston and be reunited with my family. Looking back on my experience in the Virgin Islands, I am so grateful that God saw fit to give me such a task. I hope my testimony serves as a lesson to you all: Go wherever God is calling you, and trust that He will provide!
Have you ever been a travel nurse during a hurricane? Contact us at content@thegypsynurse.com and let us help you tell your story. Travel Nurse in the US Virgin Islands? We would love to hear your tips and tricks!
Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?
Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez “Let the Good Times Roll”
For the travel nurse in New Orleans, finding the ‘local’ haunts can make an otherwise good spot…an amazing experience.
New Orleans is one of my favorite places in the US. I’ve traveled there multiple times as a tourist and worked a travel nurse contract there. I’ve discovered a few favorites that I tend to go back to time and time again. When anyone mentions that they are going to be visiting my favorite city; I’m quick to offer a few tidbits of info.
There is more to New Orleans than Bourbon Street. To get the most out of NOLA, I recommend that you explore not only Bourbon Street but the surrounding area and even the outskirts of the city.
Magazine Street
One of my favorite neighborhoods is Magazine Street. Magazine Street runs parallel to the river and depending on where you’re staying I would recommend simply taking a cab. It’s a bit far to walk from Bourbon Street. There are numerous shops, restaurants, cafés and coffee shops to keep you busy for an afternoon or two. In addition, the nightlife is laid back and mellow with multiple ‘locals’ bars to keep you entertained. Check out The Bulldog if you’re traveling with Fido. Dogs are allowed and encouraged on the outdoor patio. It’s a great place to go for a great variety of brews; there are generally about 50 different beers on tap.
Baru Bistro is a great little restaurant with a cozy, upscale atmosphere. Baru has a tapas’ menu and I would encourage you to bring some friends so you can try multiple menu items. They have a constantly changing menu so you’re always guaranteed to find something new if you’re a frequent flyer. I recommend the fish taco’s if they happen to be on the menu during your visit.
If you haven’t tried it yet, Community Coffee is a sure choice for a good cup of coffee. The chicory coffee is a local specialty. I especially like the fact that they support our troops by frequently offering a Military Match program. You can buy one for you and send one free to a soldier. The location on Magazine Street has a quaint courtyard with free Wi-Fi. During my time working with the wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center I used this program and the soldiers on the floor were always thankful to have a great cup of coffee.
A One-Day Tour of The Garden District
The Food Choices
To get there, hop on the St Charles Streetcar line getting off at Jackson. Start in the morning so you can stop by St Charles Tavern for the BEST Bloody Mary that I’ve ever tasted (I like mine spicy but be careful with this; taste first). They also serve a decent breakfast buffet (or at least it was good after a horrendous 12 hour shift) paired with the world’s BEST Bloody Mary.
If you need laundry done, why not stop into Igor’s Lounge where you can do your laundry while enjoying a game of pool and some pub grub? It’s just down the road from St Charles Tavern.
There are multiple places to eat but I recommend you stop by Mike Serio’s Po Boys and Deli before you go and pick up a poor boy to take along with you for lunch. My favorite is the shrimp. Mike, the owner is a huge Tulane University fan and the place is decorated with all sorts of memorabilia. Serio’s is also a great place to visit before or after a game (if you’re a Tulane fan).
St Charles Ave
Take your time and walk down St Charles Ave (after your Bloody Mary). The homes along here are beautiful. There is a printable walking tour that I recommend printing for a great route and additional information on the homes. The above walking tour will also lead you right to Lafayette Cemetery #2. The walk is mostly shaded and pretty comfortable most of the time. Make sure that you watch your step as your gazing at the homes; the sidewalks could use a little tender loving care.
After your walking tour, hop back on the street-car and head down the road to Tulane University Campus. Right across from the campus is Audubon Park and Zoo where you can stop and enjoy that poor boy that you picked up earlier.
After you have savored every last bite of your poor boy, relax and enjoy some time people watching, reading or bring a Frisbee along for some mid-afternoon exercise. If your feet haven’t given in on you yet, take a walk around Tulane University campus. It’s full of Southern charm.
When you have had enough walking and exploring; hop back on the St Charles Streetcar and head back toward Bourbon Street. There are multiple high-end restaurants you can choose from on St Charles Ave if you’re in the mood for something a bit more extravagant. One of Emeril’s restaurants is here, the Delmonico. If you’re lucky; maybe you’ll catch him in house.
Miscellaneous Tips
Check out Tipitina’s for some local music. I was once seated at the bar just a few stools down from Fat’s Domino
Preservation Jazz on Bourbon is a NOLA classic.
Oyster House will fill you up on some of the freshest oysters ever (if you’re into that…I’m not).
Try the crawfish!! Pinch the tail and suck the head.
Wander down Bourbon after dark. It really is safe as long as you’re not being cocky or a jerk to people.
If you haven’t had enough of New Orleans yet, head over and read PART II.
Have you been to New Orleans? Worked there? Do you have a ‘hidden gem’ that you would like to share? What do you love or hate about the city? Share your thoughts below in the comments. I’m looking forward to your recommendations for my next trip there.
I don’t know if you’ve hopped on the podcast bandwagon yet, but I am definitely a fan. For me, my favorite time to listen to a podcast is when I am in the car for an extended amount of time, and as a travel nurse there may be a few times you find yourself in that situation. Whether you need a quick laugh from someone who understand the in’s and out’s of your profession, or you’re wanting to keep in the know with current technology and advancements in medicine, you can find this and just about anything in between. Here are my top 5 podcasts nurses should be listening to:
1.) Sawbones is as they describe a “Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine.” On Friday’s, they uncover “the odd, weird, wrong, dumb and just gross ways we’ve tried to fix people over the years” by researching the historical side of medicine. Definitely a fan favorite for anyone who needs a good laugh and can appreciate a fun attempt to show you how we got to our current approach to modern medicine.
2.) Amateur Traveler the first episode premiered July 2th of 2005. The reason I enjoy this podcast so much for a travel nurse is that it helps you dive into new locations and helps you decide where you may want to explore next. The Amateur Traveler media kit has quotes from folks who have been inspired by the “Amateur Traveler” to travel themselves.
3.) NRSNG’s website has a plethora of podcasts on their site but their flagship nursing podcast is what they describe as an “eclectic look at the profession.” On the NRSNG Show they talk about:
Confidence in nursing
Real life nursing stories
Life hacks for nurses
Anatomy and Physiology of diseases
Interviews with incredible nurses, authors, and successful people
4.) Nursing Continuing Education is great for the nurse who is not only busy, but wanting to be prepared when it comes to your CE credits. Nurse.com offers CE credit courses that you can listen to for free or pay a small fee for the certificate to get full credit. The series covers topics important to nurses such as antibiotic resistance, sleep disorders and necrotizing fasciitis. Most podcasts are worth at least one CE contact hour. The Nursing Continuing Education podcast is available on iTunes for download or visit Nurse.com for more information. You can also reach this site through thegypsynurse.com by going to the resources tab and then down to “continuing education.”
5.) The final recommendation I have is “The Nurse Keith Show.” This podcast is a wealth of knowledge for those who are looking for up-to-date career advice for 21st century nurses who are looking to excel when it comes to their nursing career management and development. The podcast itself is run by holistic career coach Keith Carlson as he “explores salient aspects of creating the most satisfying nursing career possible.” Definitely worth a listen!
There is something for just about anyone out there if you look! The Gypsy Nurse is all about helping fellow travel nurses like you find your passion and help you explore the world and inspire others along the way. Comment below on this post and let us know what your favorite podcasts are!
When I first started to travel for a living, people asked me what I was running away from, wondered why I didn’t get a real job, and would mostly tell me I was crazy or weird. As a travel nurse, it seems there are a lot of unsupportive friends and family.
Suffice it to say, I didn’t get a lot of encouragement and support in the beginning.
Sometimes your friends and family, the people you want most to be supportive of your new career, aren’t as enthusiastic as you’d like them to be, they are actually unsupportive. They don’t understand and try to talk you out of going. It can be deflating and saddening. You’re so excited about this adventure and here they are, raining on your parade.
Readers reach out to me about this topic frequently. I can feel the angst in their emails and the confusion at not knowing to how deal with the situation.
“How do I not let them get me down? What did you do? What do I say?” These are the questions I hear from Travel Nurses that I meet. It’s apparent that I’m not the only who has faced such negativity, and, luckily, I’m also not the only who ignored it.
So what do you do or say when your support system is so unsupportive. Below are some common criticisms future travelers hear and examples of how I’ve turned similar criticism around when I’ve been faced with it myself:
“It’s so unsafe there! You shouldn’t go.”
I hear this one a lot, not only from people via email, but also from people in my own life. News organizations paint the world to be a scary, scary place with criminals lurking around every corner. News shows love to highlight the dangers of life. Crime happens everywhere. It occurs in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and every small town and medium city in between. You can walk out of your house and be mugged or hit by a bus. Just like you can travel the world and never have anything happen to you. There is no place in the world that is 100% safe. Once you put it into this perspective for people, it usually ends the subject.
“You are just running away.”
People seem to assume that if you are traveling long-term, you must be running away from something. When people say this to me, I tell them that yes, I am running away. I’m running away from their version of life and to my version of life. Remind people that what they do in their life may make them happy, but that you have different goals. This experience is what makes you happy right now. Most people will admit you have a point and drop the subject because, at the end of the day, we all want our friends to realize their dreams and be happy. True friends will let you go after yours and be supportive along the way.
“Why don’t you get a real job?”
When people tell me that I should get a ‘real’ job, I respond that if I’m going to be working well into my old age, I’d rather spend my healthy years exploring the world instead of stuck in one place. Life as a travel nurse is a working vacation.
“I wish I could do that. You’re so lucky. It must be nice to not have any responsibility.”
This statement is one that nearly angers me. This is jealousy, pure and simple. I tell people, “You can travel too.” There’s nothing special about me and my decision. I’m not ‘lucky’, I’ve worked very hard to be able to live a life as a Travel Nurse and there is a lot that I give up to be able to do so. While there are always circumstances that really keep people from traveling, for the most part the only things holding anyone back are the restrictions they put on themselves. People of all ages and circumstances can find a way to turn travel into a reality.
“It’s unsafe to travel alone.”
I typically respond to anyone who offers this argument by asking them why they believe this, and they will usually begin to spout stories they “learned” from the news about people who traveled alone and ended up in a bad situation. They might rattle off worst-case scenarios: “you could get sick, injured, robbed, or worse, and no one would be around to help.” That may be true, but if I went hiking in the woods by myself, the same thing could happen. Hell, I could fall in my apartment and no one might notice for days. As a solo traveler, you have to be a little more vigilant. Besides, I’m really rarely alone for long due to the variety of people I meet and friends I make along the way.
“Don’t you care about settling down and finding someone?”
The undertone of this question is that you won’t be happy if you don’t have someone. My response is typically that I will settle down when I find the right person to settle down with, and that person could be found anywhere in the world. I do want to find someone I’m crazy about, but I won’t settle for just anyone. Besides, perhaps my ‘someone’ will be found while traveling.
“Why would you want to go there?”
People ask this question with the undertone that by wanting to go to some remote small town in Nebraska, you’re weird, as if certain places in the world are inconsequential and not worthy of exploration. My answer to this question is “because it exists.” I’ve found that some of the least desirable places have some of my best memories. There is something good about everywhere that I’ve been. Why should I limit myself? Why should you, either?
There will always be haters. And while we can always tell ourselves “I don’t care what people think,” the truth is we do care what our friends and family have to say because we value their opinions.
If a stranger tells me I am running away, I don’t care. But when all my friends do, I become discouraged that they don’t support my decision. And I get enough emails from readers to know that all that negativity does make would-be travelers question their decision to travel and wonder if they are making a mistake.
(You’re not!)
Use these responses to deflect their criticism and help them understand why you want to travel. And if they still remain unsupportive, there is a wonderful network of travelers all over the web who can act as your support system and source of encouragement.
Use us to lean on.
Keep dreaming. Don’t let people get you down. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take the alternative path and travel for a living. Let them try to dissuade you. Let them call you crazy.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” -Mark Twain
We hope you found this article on how to deal with unsupportive family and friends helpful. We hope these tips help you. Did you encounter unsupportive family and/or friends? How did you handle those that were unsupportive? Did you find ways other than those mentioned in this article? If you would like to share those tips comment them below.
Travel nurses often find great companionship in the four-legged members of their family. Dogs can be great friends and help nurses deal with job stress, change and occasional loneliness. Since travel nurses often get to choose the destination of their next assignment, here are some things to consider if you have a dog in tow.
In WalletHub’s 2016 study, it compared the 100 most populated cities across three key dimensions: 1) Pet Budget, 2) Pet Health & Wellness and 3) Outdoor Pet Friendliness. Several metrics were evaluated, ranked, and weighted.
Results concluded that these cities have the most pet-friendly restaurants per capita: New Orleans, LA; San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX; Atlanta, GA and Orlando, FL. And, living in these cities could yield lower veterinary costs: Stockton, CA; Columbus, OH; Corpus Christi, TX; Milwaukee, WI; and Omaha, NE.
And the winners are…the research revealed these top 20 cities for overall pet-friendliness:
Based on these stats, here are some areas you may want to avoid:
Fewest dog parks per capita: Newark, NJ; Santa Ana, CA; Corpus Christi, TX
Fewest pet-friendly restaurants per Capita: Newark, NJ; Detroit; MI; Boston, MA
Highest veterinary-care costs: New York, NY; Washington, DC; Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA
Wherever you end up, remember that dogs require commitment. Be sure you have the time and money to provide ongoing quality care. What’s more, housing restrictions vary everywhere so be sure your lease or rental agreement allows pets.
Take-Away
What are the best pet friendly cities for travel nurses to bring along their furry friend?
The TOP 5 pet-friendly cities are: Orlando, FLBirmingham, ALTampa, FLLexington-Fayette, KYScottsdale, AZ
What are the worst pet friendly cities for travel nurses?
Newark, NJ Santa Ana, CA Corpus Christi, TXDetroit; MIBoston, MANew York, NYWashington, DCPhiladelphia, PA
Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?
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