How to Overcome Your Fears While Travel Nursing
When you take on a travel nursing job for the first time, you may not initially know what to expect. Nurses who have never worked far from home for several days or weeks at a time will have to get used to this drastic change. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help make this transition much easier.
Talk with Experienced Travel Nursing Employees
Discussing your most prominent fears with other travel nurses will help put your mind at ease before you begin a new job. If you know any travel nurses who would be willing to share their experience, discussing your fears with them can be a great benefit to you. Be sure to ask them plenty of questions such as what is different about travel nursing jobs and how long a typical job tends to last.
Consider Bringing Along a Travel Companion
While it is very common for these nurses to travel on their own, that doesn’t mean you have to. In most cases, you are allowed to bring along a significant other or spouse, your kids, a pet, or a friend. You will need to let your recruiter know ahead of time if you plan to bring along a companion. This is especially true if you need to make arrangements for pet-friendly accommodations.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Get Organized and Packed
As with any trip, you will need to take some time to think about what you should bring along. Give yourself enough time to get organized and learn more about the area you will be staying in. This will help you with creating a packing list for the road trip that lies ahead. This is also a good time to give your car a quick tune-up and have it inspected for safety.
Find a Travel Nursing Recruiter That You Trust
A supportive and trustworthy recruiter can help make the switch from staff nurse to travel nurse much easier. Recruiters help take all the guesswork out of locating your next job. They help you find the right travel nursing jobs that suit your particular needs, set up interviews, and assist you with nurse licensure as well as other important documentation. Recruiters help provide you with details about your new assignment, including how long you are expected to work there.
Keep in Mind That It’s Only Temporary
If a long-term commitment to a travel nursing job makes you feel uncertain, keep in mind that this is a temporary position. Most travel nursing jobs only last between 4 to 13 weeks. Therefore, you can take a chance and try out a travel nursing job to find out if it is the right choice for you without much commitment involved. You could find out if there are short 4 week jobs available to try out first and see how well you do.
Are You Ready to Begin a Travel Nursing Job?
If you are interested in getting started with travel nursing, New Directions Staffing has the job for you. Get in touch with our team today to learn more about the job openings we have available.