Travel nurses are met with unique challenges as well as many benefits that a traditional nurse might not encounter. Here a few do’s and don’ts designed to help your journey as a travel nurse.
Do get active–
join a Zumba class, yoga, cycling or enter a road race. Staying active is important for a healthy lifestyle and a great way to meet people in the area.
Do visit a park–
take advantage of your new location by taking in the sights. Find a few parks, nature centers, or animal parks and enjoy the local attractions.
Do learn something new–
hospitals and healthcare facilities have different ways of doing things. Learn how the units are run, ask questions, and try to gain new knowledge around a procedure or process that can benefit your career.
Do make new friends–
with all the technology today it’s tempting to stay close to your inner circle through facetime, email, and texting. However, nothing compares to personal interaction, a hug when you need it, or a friendly face across a cup of coffee. Be sure to connect with people in your area so you have a few friends to count on in person.
Do eat healthy–
your energy level and ability to perform is directly related to your nutritional intake. While it may seem obvious to a medical professional, everyone falls into the trap of rushing, grabbing junk food, or skipping meals altogether from time to time. This is especially true when you are in a new area, unfamiliar with restaurants, or alone and feel food prep is just too time-consuming for one person. Stay strong by planning ahead, eating right, and taking care of you as the number one priority.
Do rest–
nursing is a demanding job, any day and every day. There are physical and emotional aspects, stress, and enormous responsibility at every turn. Adequate rest is key to good decision-making, stamina, and mood.
Don’t be afraid to ask–
a new area, a new job, and a new home can add up to a lot of uncertainly and unknowns. Ask questions of those you respect and trust, research reliable sources online, and never be embarrassed to inquire about something.
Don’t fail to review your contract–
read carefully to understand the assignment, location, hours, benefits, pay, and housing parameters.
Don’t get into a rut–
avoid eating and shopping at the same place every time. You can still have favorites, but be open to new experiences. Try new restaurants and stores every week.
Don’t argue the rules–
there will always be minor differences in procedures and processes between hospitals. As long as there are no safety concerns, don’t assume a different style is wrong. Adhere to the policies in place.
Don’t forget to stay streetwise–
vary your routine, avoid leaving valuables visible in your car, walk and park in well-lit areas, and stay alert of your surroundings.
We hope these Do’s and Don’ts help you on your travel nurse journey!
Debt management can be a very difficult to handle properly and having debt can be stressful and if managed in the wrong way it can be devastating to your finances. Not only can debt cut in to your cash flow today but it can also hurt your future spending power.
As a nurse, a lot of your time is spent helping others get back on their feet and helping others get through tough times but could it be that you have neglected taking care of yourself. You went through school and many of you had to borrow money to pay for your education.
Short term debt
In regards to having debt we often see a lot of short term debt such as credit cards and student loans being handled without much thought behind and planning behind it. These debts may have come from either good or bad decisions. Student loan debt has helped you get secure a well-paid job whereas credit card debt often is from overspending, traveling, and too much shopping.
So, if you have outstanding debt and you feel frustrated about paying for it and feel like your overall finances are at standstill due to this debt then read below for a couple of new ideas and options on how to treat your debt.
1: Beware of accelerating those debt payments
You must understand the right order of handling your finances and understand that even though paying off your debt as fast as possible would feel great it may not always be smart. Before making extra payments toward your credit card balance or student loan debt make sure that you have your emergency fund built up. We always recommend having at least 6 months of living expenses put aside before you start paying extra towards your outstanding loans.
Now there are many ways to get those short-term savings built up. You can start by not making extra debt payments or extend the terms on your student loan. Very often your student loan payoff schedule will allow you to stretch out the payments. This will lower your monthly payment and will allow you to put that cash towards your emergency fund. You can also look at your retirement accounts that you are funding. If you are putting 10% into a 401(k) you can stop that or lower that contribution for one year and use the extra cash flow to put towards your short-term savings. The main reason why we want to emergency money bucket filled up is that if some life event occurs and there are no savings in place new credit card debt or new personal loan debt most likely will occur.
2: Utilize your existing assets
If you already have your emergency money account in place and you have outstanding credit card debt, there are a couple of ways to attack the issue. The number one thing that must occur is to look at what has caused this credit card debt to show up. We understand that having fun and enjoying life is important but those extra shopping sprees and dinner at nice restaurants can be devastating to your finances. If your debt is growing due to overspending, you have to start by building your budget and get a good understanding of where the money is flowing and get that under control.
Once a budget has been put in place look at ways that you can free up money to pay off your credit cards. Some sources that are potentially viable are:
Savings accounts (the balance above your 6 months’ emergency level)
401(k) loan (you may be able to borrow and pay back yourself). Make sure you understand the cost of borrowing money from a retirement account and make a comparison between paying your cc vs a loan)
Consolidation loan. Talk to a bank or a credit union and see what they will do for you in regards to consolidating your credit card debt into a personal loan with most likely a much lower interest rate.
Look at the equity in your house and see if there are option to get a line of credit and use that money to pay of high interest debt.
Written By: Honza Hroch Co-Founder of CreativeNurse This material contains the current opinions of the CreativeNurse® but not necessarily those of Guardian or its subsidiaries and such opinions are subject to change without notice.
2017-39243 Exp. 4/19
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Hi! I’m considering going into travel nursing but have a couple things I’m figuring out to see if this would be the best fit. How does the Travel Nurse deal with the mail?
If I forward it all through the USPS, I should receive everything. Thanks for reading this whole message, and I can’t wait to hear back!!
Sherrie
Sherrie, There are multiple ways to deal with your mail as a Travel Nurse. Check out this article: Remote Control your mail. Yes, if you have your mail forwarded via USPS you ‘should’ get it. The trick is to make certain to address your forwarding in a timely manner so as not to lose anything when moving from place to place.
We hope this information was helpful. Have you found ways to work with your mail while you are travel nursing? Comment any tips you may have to share with your fellow travel nurses below.
Do you have any questions about travel nursing you would like answered? Our mentors have great insight into travel nursing. If you would like to submit a question, click here. Another great option is to reach out to our Facebook group members. Many of the members have expertise in areas of travel nursing.
There is no shortage of opportunities for a travel nurse. However, it is growing more competitive to land your perfect job. Being a travel nurse means you must be able to market yourself. One way to improve your marketability is to have a great resume. After all, your resume is one of the keys to having a successful travel nursing career. These 10 resume tips for a travel nurse will help you become seen by hiring managers and land that ideal job.
Clean, Relevant, Brief
Keep it beautiful and brief. Hiring managers are sometimes sifting through hundreds of resumes. To make yours stand out, highlight the most important things. Use bullets to help make it easy to skim through.
Keep it clean. Some might refer to this as less is more. Don’t oversell and feel like you have to get everything on your resume. Again, focus on what’s important and remember to leave some white space to make it easy to read.
Keep it relevant. Understand the job description and highlight the things the nursing manager will care about. That isn’t to say remove things that aren’t relevant. Just make sure your experience for the assignment you are applying for is visible.
Highlight Your Experiences
Make all licenses and certifications visible. You worked hard to achieve your licenses and certifications. Show them off. Be proud. When you make licenses and certifications easily to find, it will improve your stock of being a qualified candidate.
Include any honors and awards. Like you should be proud of your education, be proud of your achievements. If you have been recognized and received special awards, include that in your resume. It’s best to keep it relevant to the assignment you are applying but showcasing your excellence is always a good thing.
Emphasize Bed Count and Facility Size. Not only does a hiring manager see your experience and education, but including logistics about places you have worked is important. How many beds were in the unit? How many beds were in the facility? They want to know if you are a good fit in their work environment.
Computer experience. There are a lot of systems being used in the healthcare industry. Some are complex. If you have experience using the computer system in the facility you are applying for will make you stand out.
Are you bilingual? This might sound silly to include in your resume but speaking multiple languages is always something you should include in your resume. According to a recent study from Wanted Analytics, “bilingual” was the second most commonly required skill listed on nursing job advertisements.
Include Specifics
Include your availability. Being a nurse is a round-the-clock job. Are you able to work days, nights, mids? Are you open to working 8, 10, 12-hour shifts? Including this level of detail about the type of job you want can make you more marketable. Don’t leave this part out.
Get a second opinion. You know your experience better than anyone else. But sometimes, having another person read will help make your resume an A+. Get a trusted friend, colleague, or recruiter to help give an extra set of eyes.
In conclusion, your resume is a vital piece of information to guide your travel nurse career. Think of your nursing resume as an advertisement that sells you. It can be your best friend if done correctly. Be mindful of the role you are applying for and tailor your resume accordingly. No one wants to read a resume that looks like it was identically copied and distributed to other facilities. You want every aspect of your resume to be a strong representation of what you have to offer an employer. Follow these tips, and you are well on your way to landing your next travel nursing assignment.
We hope you found these resume tips for travel nurses helpful. Do you have any resume tips to share for your fellow travel nurses. Comment them below.
About Host Healthcare:
Host Healthcare is an award-winning travel nurse staffing company. Host Healthcare was named the top travel nurse staffing company by Staffing Industry Analyst and ranked Inc. 460 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2017. At Host Healthcare, our mission is to provide you and every healthcare professional we encounter with the highest level of service. We believe in honesty, respect, and a commitment to quality with our clients, healthcare professionals, and corporate employees. Browse through our extensive list of travel nursing jobs or call one of our professional recruiters at (800) 585-1299 today.
There are a lot of travel nursing agencies out there. Make sure to research the companies on industry-relevant sites such as The Gypsy Nurse Agency List. You can even get a good grasp on other sites such as Facebook or Google. Be sure to start a relationship that will benefit your career most by picking an established, experienced agency that will be around for the long run. The number of jobs an agency has listed can sometimes be deceiving, but you definitely want to make sure they offer wide availability within your specialty and desired travel destination(s).
2.) The Total Package
Travel agencies offer a myriad of benefit options that can be difficult to navigate. Look for agencies that offer transparent benefit information right on their website. Be careful not to pick the first agency that offers the highest pay rate or salary. There are so many other benefits to consider that could end up making the total package worth much more.
When beginning your assignment, will you have a gap in insurance coverage? Look for an agency that is also looking out for your best interests. Day one benefits and assistance to help you get to your assignment are game-changers when getting started. Once you’re on your assignment, what happens if you keep getting sent home due to low census? Most companies advertise guaranteed pay, but what does it really cover? Make sure you’re protected when sent home due to low census, so your paycheck doesn’t suffer from something you had no control over.
Other benefits to look for are weekly pay, medical, dental, and vision insurance, sick pay, free continuing education, and referral bonuses. You should also ask about other incentives and bonuses (such as extension bonuses or incentives for working extra shifts) that are offered and might be important to you – the best agencies will reward their loyal travelers. Some travel agencies even offer pet insurance, which can be a real advantage if you travel with your pets!
3.) Your Recruiter
Your recruiter is your advocate, and your relationship with your recruiter is crucial regardless of the agency you choose to travel with. Once you begin your travel assignment, your recruiter should be with you every step of the way. Sometimes, you’ll need to get additional certifications or licenses for a new assignment, and your recruiter should help you do get them, and the agency should be willing to pay for them. The best recruiters will provide a checklist, and call you to check-in after you start your assignment to make sure things are going smoothly. Be sure to tell your recruiter how you like to be contacted, and how often you prefer them to check-in.
4.) Housing Options
One of the top questions you might ask yourself before you consider a travel nursing job is, “Where will I live?!” The best agencies will make moving to your travel destination as easy as possible and offer multiple options. Great agencies have a housing department dedicated to helping you find housing and offer to find high-quality, fully furnished private housing with 100% utilities paid, which is one less thing for you to do. Additionally, some agencies also offer an “Easy Stay” program that allows you to choose your own housing with a housing subsidy.
5.) Expert Specialists
Many highly-rated agencies have specialized departments that will help you get ready for your assignment and support you while you are traveling. Your recruiter should be your main contact, though the best agencies will have various departments that provide specialists to guide you before and during your travel nursing journey. The support offered by your travel nurse agency, as well as how much experience the person you’re speaking with has can be a factor in how smoothly your assignment goes. A travel nurse is expected to have a certain number of years’ experience before traveling, so wouldn’t you want your recruiter to be experienced as well? Look for a travel nurse agency that invests in hiring recruiters with enough experience to answer any question you have, before you even have to ask.
Happy Thanksgiving Gypsies! The holiday season makes us very busy and sometimes we forget what the holidays are about. Some of you may be working, traveling, or lucky enough to spend time with your family. No matter the location, there’s always room to share some gratitude towards co-workers, family, and even strangers! Take a minute out of your day to show some gratitude this Thanksgiving and holiday season ahead of us.
Below are some ways you can express gratitude:
1.) Get them a treat.
Everyone loves getting a delicious treat, whether it’s sweet or savory. Getting someone something from the cafe down the road or a bakery in the city is a sure way to show someone you care while filling their belly with something delightful.
2.) Give out compliments
No extra money this holiday season? No problem! The best things in life are free and compliments are unlimited. Make it a point to compliment everyone you see today!
3.) Volunteer for an unpleasant tasks
Whether you’re at work or home with family, there is always that duty you hope you don’t get picked for. Instead of avoiding the task and hoping someone else will take care of it, jump right in and get your hands dirty. Most likely no one else wants to do it either, but I am sure it will make someone’s day!
4.) Give a hug or smile at someone
Another free thing to give out is a hug or a smile. Both are simple and again FREE! You never know what someone is going through and sometimes that’s all it takes to make someone feel special again or turn around their day.
5.) Thank you notes
With today’s technology, it’s easier to send someone a message in a variety of different ways but the impact of a handwritten thank you note is a sure way to warm some hearts and make a lasting impression.
6.) Random act of kindness
As a travel nurse, you travel all over the United States, and maybe even the world, meeting thousands of people. Take a moment and do one random act of kindness. This can be paying for a person’s drink order that is behind you at the coffee shop, holding the door open for someone, or even working in a soup kitchen, providing someone less fortunate a meal.
7.) Donate to charity or volunteer your time
There are endless charities that are in need of any kind of monetary donation for education or research on issues or diseases that are actively affecting our nation and/or our world that need desperate attention. Remember, every little bit helps.
8.) Tip well
Whether you’re out to dinner, getting your hair done, or paying for valet; if someone does an outstanding job, tip more than you usually do. Most people absolutely drained around the holiday season and that extra cash in their pocket might make their day and will make work a little more bearable.
9.) Say you’re sorry.
Whatever the situation may be, sometimes there is no better way of showing gratitude than righting your wrongs. If there has been a major disagreement with a co-worker in your workplace or perhaps a family member and you haven’t been able to see eye-to-eye, maybe it’s time to take the high road and apologize. In a lot of circumstances, we fail to see past our minor differences and should work towards a more positive relationship or partnership, making strides for a better future for all.
10.) Catch someone doing something right
Nobody’s perfect and a lot of us feel like we fail more than we win most days. If you see a stranger doing something positive, wherever you’re at, let them know how great of a job they’re doing! Not only will you be encouraged to do better for those around you, but it will inspire them to keep spreading positivity wherever they go. We’re all in this together!
Whether you’re with family or away on an assignment, there is always time to express gratitude to those around you. Take these 10 tips and try to use it this Thanksgiving and holiday season. Gratitude is contagious, and you won’t want to wear a mask and gloves around it. Be sure to pass along the holiday cheer this year!
The following article is provided by Katy, who works as a travel nurse and lives in an RV. Katy describes what things the travel nurse may look for in RV park Amenities.
RV Park amenities, what to look for and why you may need them
RV parks vary greatly in what they offer in the way of amenities. Everyone is unique in what they want and what they cannot live without. Following is a list of amenities that some parks offer and why you may need them.
30/50 amp service. Be sure that you specify what amp service you need. Some parks have only 30 amps or have a limited number of 50 amp spaces.
Pull though sites versus back in sites. This will be a personal preference. We like the back in sites because we love to leave the back window blinds open and look outside. Look at a park map to see what would be behind your space.
WIFI. This is an easy one. While some, but not all, parks offer WIFI, there may be limitations. Be sure and ask about those if this is something that you really need. Some parks offer WIFI for free and others require you to pay extra for it. Some parks also offer a computer near the office as an alternative to free WIFI.
Cable. Like WIFI some parks offer it for free and others require you to pay extra. We have a satellite dish installed so this is not mandatory for us.
Pool and hot tub. For me a hot tub is a must if I am going to pay more money for an RV space. Most RV’s do not have a bath tub and after a 12 hour shift a soak in a hot tub feels wonderful. Some questions to ask about the pool and hot tub. Is it indoors or outdoors? Is it heated? What are the hours? Is it seasonal or open all year?
On site laundry. Our rig has a washer and dryer on board but our last RV did not. If your RV does not have laundry facilities this will be a big one for you.
Exercise Room. The parks that offer exercise rooms vary greatly in what they offer. Some have a treadmill and a bike and that’s it, while others have a complete workout station. Check the website for pictures or ask about what is there.
Showers. While most people shower in their RV’s, there are times when you may want to use the showers at the park.
Dog Run. I do not have any animals with me, but if you do, you will need to ask about this. Most parks have rules about animals being on a leash. Some parks also have an area where your pet can run free without a leash. A dog wash station is an added bonus in some places.
Concrete pads. If I am paying extra I want a concrete area. Not only for the RV to sit on but for chairs, table, grills, etc. If the park has concrete slabs for RV’s and then grass, ask where you can set up your outdoor space. Some parks do not allow you to put anything on the grass and although it looks pretty, you have a limited amount of outside area to be in. In our current park there is limited grass and no concrete. We have a large outdoor rug purchased at an RV store to set up our outdoor space on.
BBQ’s and open fires. I have never had a problem using my propane grill, but during fire season charcoal grills are sometimes banned. Some parks have fire rings that allow open fires. These are usually found in state parks although some parks in country settings have them also.
Playground. If you have children, this will be a must for you. A nice safe area for the children to get outside and run around will be high on your list.
Propane filling station. It is a nice perk to have. I have been at a park where you can set your bottles out and they will pick up, fill them, and return them to your site.
Washing your car or RV. Most parks have rules against washing your car at your site, but most have some alternative to getting your RV clean. We have had some that encourage you to do it yourself, some that have an RV washing area and some that require you to hire someone to come out and do it.
Social gatherings. Large parks tend to have social events scheduled, such as karaoke, bingo, happy hours, and pot lucks. If you are a social person this is a great way to meet others in the park and can be lots of fun.
This list covers the most common amenities but is sure to look at web pages of the parks you are considering for more.
Making informed choices on investments as travel nurses often get overlooked.
Gypsy Nurses, your travel nursing career provides a tremendous amount of freedom and variety; you can explore new places, meet new co-workers, and control many aspects of your daily routine. However, as much as you may love being a Gypsy Nurse, that doesn’t mean you’ll want to do it forever.
Retirement goals are significant to travel nurses who look forward to spending more time with loved ones and a slower, more relaxing pace. So, you need to plan for retirement sooner rather than later to help ensure you get there and enjoy it!
Consistent Funding is KEY
Most retirement planners agree that it’s not the amount but regular, consistent funding that’s the key to successful retirement savings.
Some quick math: You might be surprised at just how much you can save with a steady plan.
For example: if you’re 25 years old and contribute $50 a paycheck with 26 paychecks per year, at a retirement age of 65, your retirement account balance could be worth $277,692. Increase that contribution to $60—that raises the potential balance to $333,231. These scenarios assume a very conservative 7% rate of return on your investment and are by no means a guarantee, but it’s important to understand the impact proper planning can have. While it’s certainly better to start saving early, understand that it’s also never too late to start saving for retirement – don’t give up if you’re an “older Gypsy” and haven’t started – now is the time!
Choosing the correct retirement vehicle is also critical in your planning.
With many agencies touting their 401(k) plans as retirement savings vehicles, you also need to take a hard look at what these plans can mean for you and your specific situation. The 401(k) plans the agencies are marketing often sound very attractive, yet if you take some time to read the fine print, the reality may surprise you.
In fact, after interviewing financial experts regarding 401(k) and IRAs as options for travel nurses, we found that a traditional IRA may be the smarter choice than a 401(k) for most travel nurses. Why? An IRA provides a convenient, effective, hassle-free way to manage your retirement account, regardless of who your employer is.
Here are some basic facts and realities of 401(k) and IRA plans we pulled together to help you sort through the noise out there:
Overview of IRAs and 401(k)s
Traditional IRA and 401(k) plans are the most popular types of retirement savings accounts that let the individual make “tax-deferred” contributions to the account. Tax-deferred means that you are not required to pay Federal income taxes on the money contributed to the savings account, but you’ll have to pay taxes on it later when you withdraw it upon retirement.
Investment companies typically administer these accounts so that the employee can invest the money in any number of available investment vehicles. All investment vehicles have some degree of risk associated with them and varying rates of return. Similar options are available for both 401(k)s and IRAs.
401(k) Matching Myths
Fact:
Many travel nurse staffing firms often hype the “matching” component of the 401(k) plans they offer. This means the agency will match the contribution up to a predetermined amount, dollar for dollar. For example, the agency could contribute $1 for every $1 that the employee contributes, up to 3% of their annual salary.
Traveler Reality:
Unfortunately, these firms rarely mention that most travel nurses don’t work at one agency long enough to meet the “vesting” requirements for matching funds. A “vesting period” is the period before the employer contributions are actually owned by the employee and can often be years long. For example, if the agency has a 2-year vesting period and you switch agencies after 1 year, you will forfeit the $1 for $1 employer’s match. These vesting periods are often unrealistic for travel nurses because they may change companies to secure specific job assignments.
Additionally, some agencies fail to make you aware that there is a “wait” period that requires some time frame of continuous employment before you can participate in the 401(k) program as well as any matching benefits. You may not even be permitted to take advantage of 30 – 90 days out, nearly the length of the assignment.
Retirement Plan Management 101
Fact:
Since you may decide to switch agencies over the course of your career, you may quickly end up with several 401(k) accounts that require attention. Managing these diverse accounts can get cumbersome as well as expensive. All of them will have some administrative fee associated with them. You can “rollover” the previous 401(k) to the 401(k) of your new agency, and you can also cash out or transfer to a traditional IRA.
Traveler Reality:
Many agencies don’t mention that additional fee are associated with certain actions that quickly lower your investment balance. For example, there are fees to transfer money out and taxes and penalties to cash out of your 401(k). The IRA for a retirement vehicle provides all the tax benefits of the 401(k) as well as the flexibility to fund it no matter which agency you work for or how many times you change; you carry it with you regardless of your employer or career choices. This means less paperwork, and it also avoids fees, both internal and external, for administration and transfer that are incurred if you have a 401(k).
Making Sense of Contribution Caps
Fact:
There is an $18,000 annual contribution limit (note: some plans have a “catch up” component that enables those over 50 years of age to contribute more) to the amount of money you can contribute to a 401(k) plan. In addition, there will often be a limit to the amount an agency will match in their program that’s dramatically lower than $18,000. Furthermore, there are investment limits to an IRA account. This is based on several factors, including your income. In general, the limit for IRA contributions set by the IRS is $5,500 for the 2017 tax year, with an additional $1,000 contribution allowed if you’re over 50.
Traveler Reality:
Data suggests that the IRA contribution caps do not impact most travel nurses. Most travel nurses don’t reach the maximum amount in their typical investment behavior. For example: using our $50 per paycheck example, this adds up to $1,300 for the year. It’s important to clearly understand if the cap is a practical issue before giving up all the benefits and flexibility of an IRA account.
The Gypsy Bottom Line – IRAs are a Better Choice for Most Travel Nurses
Many travel nurse staffing agencies are vigorously marketing their 401(k) plans, but these are filled with rules and restrictions that quickly diminish the overall value and convenience of a 401(k) and can make them poor choices as an investment vehicle for most travel nurses.
IRAs are a better retirement funding choice for most travel nurses. Here’s why—most IRAs provide:
✅ Ownership: you can take it with you if you change employers with no paperwork ✅ No waiting period ✅ 100% vested on day one ✅ Automatic payroll deduction even if you switch agencies ✅ Options to save on a tax-deferred basis ✅ Simplified management ✅ Plans that can stay with you for the long term ✅ The ability to minimize fees
It’s possible to put your retirement within reach. Most importantly, our advice for travel nurses is to start saving as soon as possible. Carefully think about financial goals, and seek an agency that offers payroll-deducted IRAs.
We hope you found this information helpful. The Gypsy Nurse welcomes your comments, insights, or experience with these retirement plan options. Please share your comments here below – we would love to hear from you!
NOTE: The Gypsy Nurse is committed to serving the needs of today’s travel nurses. Our goal is to provide topical information and general guidance to our community. This information is not intended to replace that of a trained financial advisor. We strongly suggest that you consult with a certified professional to discuss your specific circumstances, retirement goals, and options.
1. Stay Positive The first few months are the hardest when staying away from home. It is important to maintain a positive frame of mind and continue telling yourself that the feeling will pass. Many people miss their families and familiar surroundings tremendously during the first couple of months, and this is normal.
2. Phone and Skype Regularly Technology has provided us with the facilities to stay in contact with loved ones. Telephone home when you are feeling positive and in a good mood. Make the call home after you have been out doing something you enjoy. This convinces people at home you are fine and avoids you upsetting yourself on the phone, and it will provide you a confirmation that you ARE ok as well as an outlet to share the good experience.
It is useful to phone family members regularly. An economical way of staying in touch with loved ones is using the Internet to make calls. Skype and other networks allow users to phone other Skype users free of charge. There is also an additional bonus when using Skype that allows users with web cams to make video calls. This is more personal than a telephone call, and people can also use this technology to send their love during special occasions like Mother’s Day and birthday parties.
3. Help your Family Feel Connected I find that by helping my family feel connected to me helps me not feel quite so disconnected with them. I like to send postcards of unique places that I visit. I also like to send a special package filled with local goodies (cheap) to my family to help them feel connected to me. I try to do this once during a contract. It gives me something to focus on when I am out exploring and about mid-way it gives my family something to enjoy from the area of the country that I’m visiting.
4. Make Friends It is important to make friends while living away from home. Making friends prevent loneliness and helps people stay grounded in their new surroundings. Friends can also be a source of help in difficult times. If you’re having trouble finding friends in your area, try The Gypsy Nurse’s Nurse to Nurse Connection Tool where you can safely find other Travel RNs just like you! (Please note you must be logged in on TheGypsyNurse.com to use this tool).
5. Use Social Networking Sites Social networking sites help people stay in contact. One can use Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to stay in contact with family and friends. Many people post pictures of family members and events on these sites, and people can also chat with one another.
6. Live Life to the Fullest It is important when away from home to live life to the fullest, and make every second count. Go out with friends and work colleagues. Explore the new area, and enjoy the nightlife. Remember, there are some definite perks to traveling. Take advantage of the unique things to see and do in your contract location. Go hiking in the mountains, visit a national monument, tour a city museum, take a walk on the beach and eat at new restaurants.
7. Plan a short trip to explore the surrounding area.
If you have friends or family that are normally distant and happen to be in driving distance of your contract location; make plans to go see them. If you have a couple of days off work, explore a surrounding town, park or tourist attraction. Invite others to join you but don’t give up and avoid going at it alone.
8. Re-spark an old hobby/craft or activity. Did you used to do photography? Scrapbooking? How about hiking or tennis? Is there a new activity or hobby that you have been yearning to try? Do it now! Keeping busy and keeping entertained is the number one way to avoid homesickness.
9. Understand that it’s OK to feel overwhelmed, stressed or anxious.
When you’re tired from the journey, stressed about starting in a new facility, and facing meeting new people it can feel daunting. Acclimatizing to a new city and a new facility can be hard work. Anticipate these feelings and when they happen, it won’t take you by surprise and you’ll know that they will pass.
10. Take items that make you feel more at home.
When your packing for the contract, make sure to pack along a few small trinkets to make you feel more at home in your temporary location. Photographs (I like the ones with the refrigerator frames as they pack small and don’t break), a favorite pillow/blanket or a special gift can all bring a piece of home to your surroundings. My daughter gave me a Build-A-Bear one year for Mothers Day many years back and it still travels with me everywhere I go.
11. Take care of things in advance. Planning for your time away is a key to success. Not only will arranging for a lawn service or pre-paying bills lighten the load on your loved ones, but it is also a necessary component for enjoying the time away without worry and guilt. If you have done everything in advance to ensure the physical needs of your loved ones are in order, then you can leave for your trip anticipating what’s ahead instead of worrying about what’s left behind. It’s often amazing (and humbling) to find just how smoothly things run without us when we get back home.
12. You Don’t have to miss Important Events. If you travel for your job, you’re bound to miss the occasional school play or basketball game. But thanks to modern technology, you can still be involved. For example, if you can’t make your son’s big game, ask someone to videotape it. Then, when you return from your trip, pick up some popcorn and soda and make a movie night with your family to watch the video together.
13. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle. If you are not eating right and not getting enough sleep, you’re going to feel worse emotionally. It’s important to monitor your health while traveling. You should make sure that your eating properly, getting enough sleep and getting some exercise on a daily basis; even if this is just simply walking. Yoga is a great option for not only the physical well-being but the emotional as well. There are more ideas on how to keep fit in the P.T. Tab.
14. Enjoy the perspective your travel brings. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Whether you agree with that or not, being away certainly restores your perspective about what’s truly important in life. You tend to appreciate the time you get to spend hanging out with your spouse, tucking your children into bed or relaxing in your own home even more. I have found that traveling has only strengthened my relationships because the time spent together now is more focused quality time.
15. Agree that in the case of an Emergency, it’s ok/expected that they contact you as soon as possible. Should something go wrong at home, your family should feel comfortable contacting you. Make certain that you leave your contact information; including mobile, hospital name/phone/unit, housing Name/phone/apartment # as well as your recruiters’ contact information. Sometimes (depending on the emergency) it’s best to have the recruiter in the loop. If it is something that may pull you off of the contract, this is imperative.
16. Stop and think seriously about why you feel homesick. Are you having a difficult time with the job? Are there problems at home that you aren’t able to help fix? Are you brooding on the lack of new friends/connections? Work out exactly what is causing the feelings, and then make a plan on how you can make it different on your next trip.
17. Talk to your family and decide if Travel is right for you. Figuring out if travel nursing is the right choice for you can be a little daunting. Involve your spouse and children in the decision of how you, as a family, earn income. Speak with them honestly about the guilt you’re feeling, and ask them if they have needs you’re not meeting. Together, weigh the pros and cons of your profession and how each of these effects your family both individually and as a group. Decide as a family if traveling is the right choice for you and them right now. If it is, talk to them about the importance of helping out more than usual when you’re away, and ask them for suggestions on how you can do the same when you’re in town. When your whole family is supportive of your job, you’ll feel better when you’re away.
Living away from home gets easier, but people will always miss home. It is natural to feel homesick when away from your natural surroundings, but time heals, and people can with the help of technology, understanding and other people make their stay away from home joyous and bearable.
Are there things that you do to help treat home-sickness? Please share them in the comments below. Your treatment may be exactly what the Doctor ordered to cure someone.
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