With warmer weather, sunshine, blooming flowers, and fresh-cut grass just around the corner, it’s time to start searching for that ideal spring Medical Staffing Options assignment. A favorite season for many, it’s all about renewal, and these top destinations are sure to fit the bill if you’re looking to get re-energized in an exciting new setting.
5 top destinations for travel nurses during spring
Washington State
Springtime in Washington State is ideal for enjoying everything from outdoor adventures to cultural attractions. Discover unparalleled natural beauty in Olympic National Park, spectacular hikes in the Cascade Mountains, opportunities to paddle countless glistening waterways, and famous spots like Seattle’s Pike Place Market. The season also hosts some great events like the month-long Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and Ale Fest in the Bavarian town of Leavenworth and kicking off whale watching excursions. All that, and Washington is known for offering some of the higher salaries along with high levels of satisfaction on the job. Medical Staffing Option’s Job Search can help you find that next perfect step in your career.
Texas
Spring in Texas sees some of the most pleasant weather of the year, along with colorful wildflowers, scenic trails, and tranquil pools for swimming in Hill Country. It’s also a season that attracts music lovers from across the nation and beyond with a wealth of events like Hot Luck in Austin, a combination culinary/music feast over Memorial Day weekend, El Paso’s Neon Desert Music Festival, and the Texas Crawfish & Music Festival in Houston. Search #GowithMSO to find an assignment among the state’s renowned healthcare institutions, taking advantage of the opportunity for professional and personal growth.
Wisconsin
Jobs for travel nurses in Wisconsin tend to boast some of the highest pay rates versus the cost of living while bringing outdoor enthusiasts many opportunities to bike, hike, kayak, and more. The capital city of Madison often lands on lists as one of the best places to live in the country, with a reputation for fantastic food and a thriving music/arts scene. Door County, the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” is home to charming towns along Lake Michigan, over 300 miles of shoreline, beaches, and lighthouses. With so many things to do in the spring, it is a great assignment destination.
Virginia
Virginia offers something for everyone, from a growing wine scene and beautiful beaches to rich history with sites like Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Mount Vernon to explore. Making it the perfect spring assignment destination. Of course, it’s next door to Washington, D.C., renowned for its spectacular cherry blossoms in the spring, with a festival to celebrate the blooms. The Old Dominion State is also home to many outstanding hospitals – a Medical Staffing Options search is likely to turn up plenty of higher-paying assignments with perks like bonuses often included too.
Colorado
Spring in Colorado typically brings a mix of sunshine and occasional days with snow, which melts quickly but still provides opportunities for late-season skiing in the state’s renowned resorts. No matter what the weather, by searching #GowithMSO for assignments in the Denver metro area, you’ll typically find the pay higher while being just a short drive from the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy everything from whizzing down the slopes to waterfall hikes and abundant wildlife watching, including moose, elk, and bighorn sheep. Plus, there are endless opportunities for world-class dining and shopping along with a wealth of attractions in the city, from the Denver Aquarium to Colorado Rockies’ games, with the season kicking off in April.
We hope you found this list of top destinations for travel nurses this spring. Have you found a great spring destination you would like to share? Comment them below.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Spring is a time of change and renewal. In any year, the warmer weather is a welcome change from the dark winter months that came before. And this year, spring is especially anticipated as we emerge from a tough winter.
Like many other nurses, you may wish to embrace this spirit of change by shifting your career to a new specialty or setting. After all, what better way to renew your love of nursing than by taking on a new challenge — one that’s better suited to your skills and preferences?
The fact is, nurses, make career adjustments all the time as they pursue new and better opportunities and attempt to improve their prospects. It could be a matter of moving from the intensity of a hospital ICU to delivering general patient care in a skilled nursing facility. Or, it could involve shifting to a different facility type — like from a clinic to an LTAC facility.
For travel nurses, there’s even more value in working in new settings. The pandemic has caused a huge rise in the use and recognition of full-time travel nurses. On the other hand, this higher profile is likely to inspire many new nurses to start traveling. As the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) continues to expand, the number of nurses traveling to other states for assignments will only continue to grow.
While that’s mostly good news, it could also mean more competition for existing travel nurses. And that’s all the more reason to consider expanding your specialty or facility experience. Before you consider making that kind of change, below are a few questions you should ask yourself.
4 questions to ask yourself before changing your nursing specialty
1. What’s your motivation?
First, it’s important to nail down what you’re looking for in a career change. Are you seeking a new experience or a chance to work with patients at different stages of the care continuum? Are you feeling burned out in your current role, dissatisfied with your environment, or have you reached a level you can’t advance beyond? Maybe you want to move from a big city to a small town?
There are a number of possibilities here. But if you feel like what you’re really looking for is an escape from your existing situation, then you may want to consider a short-term travel assignment (most are about 13 weeks). That way, you’ll have a chance to sample a new career path before committing to a huge life change that you may not necessarily be ready for.
2. How does the change line up with your personal situation?
If you do have your heart set on an entirely new type of specialty, there are some serious personal factors to consider. For example, how will the salary of the new specialty affect your personal finances — both today and in terms of future goals like retirement or homeownership?
Will you need new certifications for your new job? Will you need to go back to school? In most instances, this probably won’t be necessary. However, if you’re looking to shift to an advanced practice position like a nurse practitioner or certified nurse anesthetist, then you’ll want to factor in the time and cost of heading back to school.
3. Are you up for the challenge?
Some of the nursing specialties that have become in demand due to the pandemic (especially post-acute care) are, by their very nature, intense and stressful. In addition to the physical endurance required, do you have the personality type to manage that type of lifestyle? Will you need to take a step backward in your career path to get the basic entry-level experience you need to land a job — and if so, are you prepared to do that?
Do your research — ask other nurses you work with, or do some networking on social media. (Or browse the huge, highly informative archive at the Gypsy Nurse Blog.) Other nurses will be happy to tell you what it takes to succeed in a given specialty. At that point, it’s up to you to be honest with yourself as to whether you’re really ready for that kind of change.
4. Do you know how to find a job in your new specialty?
The chances are that if you have your sights set on a new specialty, you have a pretty good idea of where you’d like that job to be. If not, it’s easy to check — nursing job companies offer regularly updated job listings that can show you what’s available at any given time and in any given location.
If you’re seeking to refresh your nursing career, CareerStaff Unlimited has various opportunities across the United States. Visit CareerStaff.com to learn more or to see what nursing jobs we have available right now.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
As if traveling as a medical professional for the first time isn’t a whirlwind in itself, let’s throw in a pandemic, and hey, why not top it off with a wildfire? That’s what 26-year-old Med Surg RN Stan John faced during his inaugural assignment as a travel nurse.
Getting His Start as a Travel Nurse:
First, let us give you some of Stan’s background. As the middle child of three boys, Stan grew up in Mumbai, India. He was 19 and in his first year of college when his family’s visa papers were processed, and they moved to the US, settling in Chicago almost seven years ago.
“We came to the US, and I had to start over from scratch,” he said, referring not only to rebuilding their lives here in the states but also to his progress in college. So, he enrolled in nursing classes at a local college.
Graduating in the spring of 2019 with a degree in his back pocket, Stan began working as a Med Surg RN at a Level 1 trauma and teaching facility in Park Ridge, Illinois. He met his then-girlfriend, Lynn, who was a CNA. And as they say, the rest is history. Stan and Lynn were hitched in March of 2020 in an online ceremony. You know, “COVID-style.”
Shortly after, he started the search for a travel assignment. Now, a year of experience is not much in the world of nursing. But Stan had charge nurse experience, and COVID-19 opened some doors for newer nurses who were desperately needed in hotspot cities all over the country. Plus, he was confidently up for the challenge of travel nursing in the middle of a pandemic. This is good because little did he know Stan would test his confidence.
Soon, Stan found himself chatting with more than 20 recruiters, creating profiles with dozens of different agencies, which, unfortunately, left him feeling like ‘just another number.’
“Most of the recruiters were just so proud, and they were like, ‘well, you don’t have experience,’” he said. “They were seeing me as a burden saying, ‘Oh, we can’t do anything for you.’”
Enter Mr. Coby Wallingford, Stan’s recruiter at Triage. Coby told Stan he would try his best, making him feel like an actual priority—a welcomed change of pace.
“Coby, his attitude was so humble; he focused on me and, you know, he saw me as a priority,” Stan said. “I was like, ‘man, this guy’s good,’ and that’s how I knew Triage was for me.” Coby helped him find an assignment in Oregon starting in August 2020.
This is Where it Gets Crazy:
As a US resident of only six years at the time, Stan wasn’t quite sure where Oregon was but heard it was beautiful. Once he found it on the map (wink), he and his wife, Lynn, headed West and began their travel nurse adventure together.
Fast forward a few weeks into his first assignment as a travel nurse. Lynn wakes him up—it’s 2:30 in the afternoon. The firefighters were knocking on their door, telling them they had to evacuate immediately because of wildfires ravaging the surrounding land and inching closer.
Throwing everything they owned in their car, they headed toward the hospital in Medford, where Stan worked. Generally, this is a call-out-of-work kind of event, but not in the life of a nurse. This is their “Clark Kent enters a telephone booth and emerges Superman” moment. Whenever disaster strikes, medical professionals are on the frontline—always.
“I called the hospital and said, ‘hey, I’m coming into work, but my wife is with me, and I need a place for her,’” he explained. They told him, no problem, get to the hospital safely.
Upon arrival, Stan was told to stay on standby because he was needed at a community hospital in Ashland, where the wildfires were known to have started. They were waiting for a police escort to open barricades and somewhere for Stan’s wife, Lynn, to go.
As luck would have it, Lynn’s former middle school teacher had moved to Southern Oregon from Chicago a few years prior. The teacher, now an angel in disguise, offered them a place to stay.
Knowing his wife was safe, Stan and another Triage travel nurse, Kathy, made the unforgettable trip to lend a hand to the small town victims. As police escorts were racing ahead of them to open barricades, Stan looked around at the highway ablaze. It was like a scene from a movie.
At that point, shh…. stuff got real, REAL quick.
Disclaimer: this is not a typical situation, obviously. It’s one we’re in awe of, which is why we took the time to talk with Stan about his and Kathy’s wild, crazy ride through the Oregon wildfires of 2020.
Stan describes what he saw:
Literally, there was a fire on both sides of the road we were driving through. I thought, ‘I can’t believe it; this is serious.’ All I can see is smoke and red blazing everywhere. Signs on the highways were burning; trees were burning, cars are exploding on the sides of the road—a bunch of cars. We were driving through it, and we were really close…I was scared.
Stan also knew that Ashland, being such a rural town, didn’t have multiple fire departments like where he lived in Chicago. It also had a heck of a lot more trees than Chicago.
“Everything was blazing in front of my eyes, the trees are burning, and I’m thinking, ‘I don’t even know where we could run to, the fire was too far,” he said.
Walking into the hospital, shoving aside his fear, Stan went into nurse-mode—consoling his patients who were terrified and distraught after losing everything they had.
With cell towers on fire, internet was spotty at best. Phones were down; people couldn’t communicate to their family they were safe (including Lynn, trying to reach Stan without luck). The hospital’s Epic system was down, so they had to chart the old-school way—paper and pen. When you’re dealing with heavy medication and a highly stressful situation where the possibility for mistakes is already greater…that’s an issue. But he and the staff kept their cool, knowing they had to be there for their patients to deliver the best care possible.
“You know, like 90% of the city of Ashland was destroyed,” he said. “So, I told them, ‘hey, you’re not alone over here. Other employees’ houses and businesses have burned down from the wildfire, so you are not alone. There will be a solution once everything finishes.”
Even though a literal dark cloud of the wildfire hung over them, every person there rallied around each other as members of the same community, facing the same horrific event.
“We all worked together in that hospital,” Stan said. And that’s exactly how they all made it to the other side of this ordeal safe.
No Regrets, Only Gratitude:
When asked if he wishes he had a crystal ball and could see a glimpse into the future before taking this assignment, he answered:
No, I’m glad I experienced this. It was scary, but I’m glad I went through this because I know how to react in these situations now. If a patient is hysterical, I know how to react and stay calm and get them to focus on the bigger picture of life. I can keep others calm, so I need to use the resources I have to help others during the situation.
Stan felt he was up to the challenge of his first travel nurse assignment being in the middle of a pandemic, and boy, did he deliver. The recruiters who told him he couldn’t hang—well, how do you like him now?
To say we’re thankful that both Stan and Kathy were safe throughout the wildfire is an understatement, and we’re beyond grateful to them for taking on this unexpected literal firestorm of an assignment. Situations like this wildfire are exactly why travel nurses and medical pros are needed, though. Smaller, rural communities across the US need help from professionals like these two. It’s why we do what we do.
What did he learn from the entire experience other than he’s pretty much a badass, and his superpower keeps people calm in insanely intense situations?
“I learned that America is a great country and we have a lot of resources here,” he said. “The government did stand up and make sure their people are safe and I knew the hospital would be the safest space to be. I’m very thankful for life and glad to be alive.”
The major takeaway from Stan’s travel nurse story?
“Be grateful for every day. I tell my patients that now, too,” he said. You heard him—nurse’s orders.
And this is why we refer to our medical professionals as heroes—because they are.
Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?
When you are looking for housing as a travel nurse, a lot of the time, your search for places that are fully furnished will overlap with vacationers looking for a furnished place to rent during their time away. With the number of people being vaccinated for Covid 19 is on the rise, there is a good chance people will be spending even more time this summer traveling to touristy areas.
Luckily, if you use a site like Furnished Finder, you can hopefully avoid some of this overlap. However, some landlords will still rent across more than one platform, meaning the cost of living could still go up during a busy season in certain areas. Here are a few ways to plan ahead for this scenario and still be able to find affordable travel nurse housing.
Tips for finding affordable travel nurse housing:
Do Your Research
The worst thing you can do is sign a contract with what you believe is a decent rate and then get blindsided by “high season” rental rates. In the winter, northern states or areas with lots of skiing availability may see a spike in rental prices. During the summer or around Spring Break, warmer areas will see a rise in the cost of living. If you aren’t sure if there is a seasonal swing in the area where you will be living, reach out on a housing Facebook group.
Contact Landlords Directly
Another huge advantage to renting from a site like Furnished Finder is you can make direct contact with landlords. Rather than just having to take rental prices at face value, you may be able to find better rates if you can explain that you will be renting for longer than someone on vacation. Guaranteed income can sometimes win out over higher rates from tourists in a landlord’s mind.
Some hospitals might be aware that during a busy tourist season, their normal rates will not suffice for short-term housing. If you really want to get to a certain location but are afraid you won’t be able to afford travel nurse housing, try to wait it out until you see a really great rate for that area. You never know what might pop up, so just be ready to jump on the contract if it is in an area you really want to get to.
Consider a Roommate
If you are single and travel solo, this is usually a fairly easy way to save some money on travel nurse housing. You can look for travel nurse roommates on any of the big travel nurse Facebook groups or even reach out to your recruiter to see if they have anyone else living in the area. Chances are, other travel nurses also want to avoid paying vacation prices for their short-term rental, so they may be eager to split rent with another traveler.
If you’ve done your research, watched contract prices for a while, and still cannot find what you would define as acceptable prices for housing, you may have to realize that this particular location won’t have the whole package available–ever. Some locations are notorious for being low-paying with a higher cost of living. Hawaii is a good example of this. Most veteran travelers will tell you that if you really want to experience these particular locations, your best bet is to go in expecting to pocket very little extra money and perhaps have money set aside for all of the fun expenses that come along with these more expensive spots.
The biggest thing you need to take away is that prices for short-term housing will naturally fluctuate in areas where there are seasonal activities or desirable seasonal weather. There are still travel nurses who take assignments in these areas year-round, so obviously, it is doable! You just have to decide what the best choice is for you and your financial situation and make the best housing choices you can.
We hope you found these tips for finding affordable travel nurse housing helpful. Have you found any other ways to find affordable travel nurse housing? Comment them below if you would like to share your tips for finding affordable travel nurse housing.
If you are a travel nurse looking for housing for your next assignment, check out our Housing Page!
We have seen more and more partners, friends, and even mothers and daughters or siblings choose to find travel contracts together. It makes sense, right? We all know how difficult long-distance relationships can be. Whether one or both of you work in travel nursing, having a loved one along to share your adventure can make all the difference.
We’ve got eight relationship survival tips for when healthcare professionals take travel contracts together.
Proactively discuss your expectations for upcoming contracts with one another. Be clear about details such as hours and shifts worked, your housing arrangements, and even your sightseeing priorities for days off.
It may be more challenging to find contracts for two, but the payoff can be substantial when dealing with facilities that have multiple positions to fill. Good communication is important to a healthy relationship with your recruiter, as it is to your travel buddy. Being open and upfront about your travel goals and needs will help us exceed your expectations.
It might be tempting to spend every moment outside of work together. Your relationship will thank you for occasional breaks. Go out with friends from work, start a conversation with someone at the dog park, or chat with a fellow gym-goer. You can also meet people through Meetup or Facebook groups or ask your recruiter if any other travelers work in the area.
We all react differently to situations, and while one of you may love your latest job, the other may be struggling. Create time and space to listen to one another. You can help each other problem-solve and troubleshoot. If you both make impulsive decisions, do a quick check-in with each other before diving into your next contract. It keeps you both on the same page and lowers the chance of any misunderstanding. You represent a team, tackling life on the road together. Your relationship will only grow stronger from these shared experiences, even when bumps appear on the road.
Travelers are planners, and while it’s tempting to focus on the horizon—the next shift, assignment, or time off from work—don’t forget to slow down and fully enjoy each other’s presence. Sometimes, the small things make our days that much fuller. Consciously be grateful for the opportunities and experiences shared on the road.
If you have not successfully worked together in the same setting with your significant other, bestie, or family member before, you might want to think twice before taking that on. It can sometimes take longer to find contracts that work for couples at the same facility, and that’s a lot of together time, even for just 13 weeks. A good compromise could be to ask for jobs in or near the same city but at different facilities.
Nothing can sabotage a close relationship faster than disagreements about that hard-earned tax-free money. Our advice is to talk about all financial details before your contract. You might want to decide on a travel assignment budget for both of you. Some important details to clarify ahead of time include:
All the expenses you’ll split.
The money you plan to spend together.
The money you plan to spend on your own.
A set amount for incidentals or unexpected expenses.
How much you each hope to save after each assignment.
It may be awkward to talk about money details at first, but you’ll be glad you did.
Keep an open mind and be willing to try new experiences and destinations—plan for the unexpected. As the proverb says, there remains nothing certain but the uncertain. This holds for all of life, but especially when you work as a traveling couple. You’ll need to be extra flexible to keep those coinciding contracts going.
We prioritize relationships at Cariant Health Partners and know how important close connections are for happiness and success. We love working with travel couples—whether significant others, friends, or family members. Connect with one of our recruiters today to learn more about how we can help you travel together with your loved one.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
We recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Safiya George, Dean, and Professor of Florida Atlantic University’s College of Nursing. Dean George shared about her pathway to nursing academia and how we can all encourage equity in healthcare and diversity and inclusion in the workforce.
This Q&A with Dean George further enriches our ongoing partnership with FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. In collaboration with FAU, we co-host an engaging webinar series covering topics like promoting diversity in nursing, overcoming compassion fatigue, using technology in healthcare, and battling COVID on the frontlines. In addition to the webinar series, we’ve also established The Cross Country Healthcare Scholarship Fund, which provides annual scholarships and helps fund educational and research opportunities for students attending the College of Nursing for a minimum of four years.
Healthcare Q&A with Dean Safiya George, PhD
Q: How did you get started in academia?
A: As a young girl, I was interested in teaching the neighborhood kids in my mock classroom in my backyard, and then in college, I thoroughly enjoyed tutoring chemistry. My name means wisdom, so I have always felt the responsibility of doing my best to share my knowledge with others. After completing my Ph.D. at Emory University and Postdoctoral Fellowship at Duke University, I was eager to join the nursing faculty at Emory University. Since then, I also taught at the University of Alabama before joining our beloved Florida Atlantic University.
Q: We heard a rumor that you are one of the youngest deans in the country! Can you confirm? How does this make you feel?
Well, I’m fairly confident that this was true when I assumed the deanship in 2019 at 40 years old. However, by now, there might be other 40-year-olds now beginning their deanships, so I am not sure. I continue to be humbled by this opportunity and the strengths, skills, and talents that I have been blessed with that have enabled me to be very successful throughout my life and career. I started nursing school at age 15, completed my BSN at age 18, and became a registered nurse at age 19, so by now, I am used to being among the youngest in academic and professional settings. It keeps me humble and grateful.
Q: Recently, the conversation within many organizations has been about equity and inclusion, and the things that we’re doing to encourage it. How do you think these conversations could impact the profession, for example, by potentially increasing the number of African Americans and other underrepresented groups within the healthcare profession?
A: I believe that by now, most leaders in the healthcare field/industry recognize that there is a dire need to have a healthcare workforce that resembles the population that we care for. There are many benefits to the patient for doing so, including helping to close the gap in health disparities and inequities in access to healthcare and healthcare delivery. The conversation is one thing, but the results are definitely doing and will only be achieved if funding and investment are also part of the comprehensive effort.
Q: Do hospitals have a role in promoting equity? Do nurses? How can they help promote equity?
A: Yes, hospitals have a role in promoting equitable access to high-quality healthcare for all patients, equity in position opportunities, and compensation and equity in who gets invited to a seat at the table where important decisions are made.
Q: Do you have any thoughts on the lack of diversity in the CNO role? Do you have any perspective on what the industry can do to encourage nurses of color to consider this as a career path? (Source: https://www.advisory.com/en/daily-briefing/2020/06/25/black-cno)
A: I don’t really have a definitive perspective other than the lack of diversity in the CNO role mirrors the lack of diversity in upper administration in most sectors in our country. More scholarships to support educational attainment for nurses of color in nursing, advanced practice nursing, healthcare administration/nursing administration, and mentorship programs to prepare for nursing management and CNO roles would likely be helpful and encouraging.
Q: Any words you would like to share about Black History Month?
A: I appreciate the opportunity to share a few thoughts and perspectives, especially with Cross Country, who is a great partner, supporter of nursing education, and stellar example of an organization helping to address the nursing shortage.
About Dean Safiya George, Ph.D.
Safiya George, Dean of FAU’s College of Nursing, earned her Ph.D. and MSN degrees from Emory University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University in religion and health. She is only the third dean to be appointed in the college’s 40-year history. George previously served as a member of the faculty at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing until she was recruited in 2015 to the Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama, where she has served as assistant dean for research, director of the Office of Scholarly Affairs, and a member of the advisory board of the Alabama Life Research Institute. She also has served as faculty in the Honors College and faculty-in-residence for residential honors students at the University of Alabama.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
If you’re already a travel nurse, you know this career path is a lot more than a job. It’s the opportunity to explore new places, enhance your skills, and get to know new people, some of whom are likely to become close friends. Building relationships can make all the difference in the world not only when it comes to networking and landing that “perfect” new assignment through Next Travel Nursing, but for a higher quality overall experience that can improve your personal and professional life.
If you move every few months developing those new relationships might seem challenging, but it’s probably easier than you think. By following these tips, you’re likely to end up with friends across the country before you know it.
Make Connections Before You Go
Before you head out on that next, or first, travel assignment, try to make some connections in your new destination. You might reach out to your own friends and co-workers to find out if they know anyone in the area that they can connect you with, facilitating a conversation that might lead to a new friendship before you even arrive. Another option is to take advantage of social networking sites like Facebook, as you’ll find many travel nursing groups that help connect travel nurses across the country. With thousands of nurses following Next Travel Nursing on Facebook, you’re likely to meet up with someone there who is working at the same facility or will be soon.
Download an App
There’s an app for everything these days, and that includes options for travel nurses to connect and build relationships. We like Code Happy, the ideal place for nurses to find support, learn more about the city they’re heading to, vent when having a challenging day, and make new friends in the process. It’s a social network platform specifically designed for nurses.
NextDoor
Of course, all your friends don’t have to be nurses, why not meet some of your neighbors? It’s a great opportunity to discover more about the area you’ll be living in, get insider tips, and potentially develop new friendships. NextDoor is the place to go as a private social network for neighborhoods. Participating is private and secure, with everyone who signs up verified. There are more than 175,000 neighborhoods across the country that are included, so odds are, your new community will be one of them. It can be accessed online, or you can download the mobile app and bring it with you wherever you go.
Sign Up for a Meetup Group
Meetup has long-been popular for those who want to meet others with similar interests, with groups for just about everything, whether you’re a hiker, runner, book club enthusiast, movie buff, or pretty much anything else. It’s the largest online network with endless possibilities, but if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can easily start a group of your own.
Your Co-Workers
We’ll end with the obvious – the old-fashioned way. While sometimes hospital drama can interfere, you’re likely to find at least one co-worker you get along well with. Don’t hesitate to start up a conversation during breaks and slow times. When someone clicks, invite them to meet you in the cafeteria for coffee or lunch. Or perhaps throw a house-warming party – you might invite both co-workers and neighbors. The more people you meet, the better odds for developing friendships that can endure for a lifetime.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
As a travel nurse or a Super Nurse in any capacity, you’re often required to work long shifts. After all those hours on your feet, Tailored Healthcare Staffing understands that the last thing you probably want to do is spend the effort to prepare a meal. Of course, that makes it tempting to turn to fast food or any food that happens to be lying around. But not eating properly can affect your health and well-being. Between the stress of the job and lack of nutrition, digestive disorders like heartburn and peptic ulcer disease, chronic fatigue, and headaches are common, not to mention weight gain.
Following a diet that’s as healthy as possible, on the other hand, reduces the impact of stress on the body, but how can you manage it when time is so tight? While eating well does take some effort, following these tips can help ensure your well-being and allow you to perform your best as the Super Nurse you are.
Bring Snacks and Meals to Work
Skipping meals is never a good idea as it causes blood sugar levels to drop, leaving you irritable and fatigued, while the ability to concentrate suffers. You may have trouble making quick decisions, feel nauseous and unsteady on your feet. If you bring healthy meals and snacks – think Super Treats like almonds and apple slices that provide the necessary fuel for a Super Nurse, you can avoid these consequences as well as the urge to turn to “junk.” And, when you’re finished with that long shift, you won’t leave feeling so ravenous that all you want to do is head straight to the nearest drive-thru restaurant.
Of course, you need to eat at home too. Assuming you have at least one day off, to save time, prepare some meals ahead of time and freeze them in containers to use throughout the week. Or you might cook a double batch of a healthy dish before you leave for work, eat half and save the rest for later so that you have something healthy on hand that’s quick and easy.
When planning your meals, aim to include plenty of vegetables which typically provide many important vitamins and minerals to ensure your immune system is strong and that your metabolism is functioning properly too.
Avoid Caffeine and Drink Water or Other Non-Caffeinated Beverages
It’s not only important to eat healthily but to stay hydrated. Oftentimes people confuse thirst for hunger, but if you stay hydrated, you’re unlikely to reach for those unhealthy calories your body doesn’t need. Caffeinated beverages like coffee and soda have the opposite effect, so you’ll want to limit or skip those altogether. If you struggle to drink enough water because you’re bored with the lack of flavor, try adding a squeeze of lemon, orange, or lime for a Super beverage to switch things up. Or, sip herbal tea, which is naturally caffeine-free as it doesn’t contain tea leaves. Without that stimulant in your system, you’ll be able to sleep easier at night too. After all, a Super Nurse needs plenty of rest in between all those shifts.
Save Time and Temptation with Grocery Deliveries
Working long hours can leave little in the way of personal time that you probably don’t want to spend on chores like grocery shopping. Another issue is all that persuasive marketing staring back at you on supermarket shelves. When you get your groceries delivered, you save precious time and the temptation to pick up junk that looks so enticing but won’t do much for your good health. A surprising number of stores are offering this option now, with relatively low delivery fees, and many take coupons online too.
We hope you found these healthy eating tips for travel nurses helpful. Have you found healthy eating habits that have helped you? Comment those tips below.
Your mental health is important. As a healthcare professional working through a global pandemic, it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Knowing how to take care of yourself and when or if it is time to ask for help is vital. Whether you de-stress with a bubble bath and music or a night out dancing with friends.
Here are five ways to focus on your mental health while traveling.
Set Regular Times to Connect with Friends & Family Back Home
As if traveling to a foreign place without your family and friends is not hard enough, the added stress of social distancing guidelines and COVID-19 concerns make being a traveling healthcare professional even more difficult. Feeling disconnected from home can create added stress to a new assignment. Zoom and FaceTime make it easier than ever to experience a face-to-face conversation with loved ones miles away. As soon as you know your schedule, schedule a call with loved ones. You can even create themes for the calls!
Use Your Benefits
Depending on the benefits that your agency offers, you may have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Chaplain Program, or health insurance that covers wellness visits. Some health plans will also give the option for telehealth or teletherapy sessions.
An EAP offers a wide variety of services that can help reduce stress while you are on the road. Even if you just need help tracking down a pharmacy to refill your prescriptions in your new assignment location. Your EAP may also include resources such as telehealth sessions free of charge, with assistance finding follow-up care in-person. A Chaplain Program provides access to a non-denominational Chaplain who has a listening ear available 24/7. Typically, one Chaplain is available for the entire agency, so they are accustomed to healthcare-related conversations.
Another great option is reaching out to your agency’s Clinical department for those times when you need someone who truly relates to nursing. Your agency is here to support you, whether it is the Clinical Department, your recruiter, etc. Lean on your team!
Take Care of Your Physical Health
Exercising and eating healthy can seem nearly impossible when you are constantly on the go. Our physical wellbeing plays a big part in our mental wellbeing, though. Meal prepping is a great way to reduce the stress of searching for lunch while ensuring access to healthier options. If you are taking an assignment in Washington, Maine, or Florida, there may be plenty of outdoor activities for you to earn daily compliments from your Apple Watch or Fitbit activity levels. Another option is to join a local gym or yoga studio. Your agency may even offer a perks program with gym discounts available, depending on assignment location.
Set Obtainable Goals for Yourself (and Your Travel Nursing Career)
Do you write down your goals when you set them? This physical activity has been shown to benefit how your brain responds to intended objectives. Setting examples of what you want to accomplish gives you something to look forward to, so it is crucial to ensure set goals are obtainable. Reaching each milestone can create a positive response that improves mental health overall. Are you traveling to build your resume? Discuss your wish list of facilities to work at with your recruiter, so they can help you along the way to crushing your travel nursing goals.
Get to Know the Area & People
It might seem obvious, but getting to know a new area and new coworkers can be harder than you think. Start with getting to know the other travelers at your facility. Invite them out for drinks, or maybe to explore the area on a shared day off. Even without festivals and other regularly scheduled in-person events, state parks and historical landmarks are a great way to get to know a new area. If National Parks are your thing, consider taking an assignment in the Pacific Northwest. Plus, nothing tells you more about an area than its local cuisine!
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Happy Nurses Week 2025! We’re so grateful for all that nurses do—every single day. This week is all about you, and we’re excited to celebrate with a giveaway! Need more details? Visit our Facebook page.
