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Heading to a brand-new place for a travel nursing assignment and working long hours at an unfamiliar hospital can be challenging and a bit overwhelming — but it can also be the best three months of your life if you have the right frame of mind. Even if you’re experiencing trouble with coworkers or trying to adjust to a new schedule, you’ll have a better shift if you follow these tips.
Get some shut-eye
The fastest way to turn into a grouch on travel nursing jobs is to come to work exhausted. While you may not be able to control some of your fatigue, especially if you’re traveling with your young family or are covering extra shifts, you can make lifestyle changes to squeeze in extra Zs when you can. Skip a night out with friends if you know you’ll be working bright and early next morning, invest in light- and noise-blocking curtains to give you more solitude, and turn off your phone so you don’t get calls, texts and notifications when you need to rest.
Make it a great day
Sure, you’ll wake up on the wrong side of the bed just like everyone does or have a flat tire on the way to work that results in a hefty repair bill. No one expects you to be cheerful all the time as a travel nurse, but you can decide, before you even get to work, that you’re going to look at the positive no matter what. If you’re in a bad mood before you walk through the hospital doors, determine that you’ll be happy and not let your setbacks affect your coworkers and your patients. Chances are, you’ll have a better day because you’ll make it better.
Eat, drink and be merry
An empty stomach or headache thanks to not eating and drinking for hours on end make you irritable and more likely to make mistakes on the job. If you absolutely don’t have time to eat lunch, keep some snacks like string cheese, crackers, applesauce pouches and fruit nearby so you can wolf something down when you have a spare minute. Force yourself to stay hydrated by stopping at water fountains when you see them and keeping a full mug of water at the nurse station to sip from when you pass by.
Help out a coworker
Does another nurse seem overwhelmed with her patient load or seem to be having a bad day? Help her out when you can and take care of a call light that pops up before her can attend to the patient. You’ll brighten her day and feel happier yourself knowing you made things a bit easier for someone else.
Make a patient smile
You ensure your patients have the food, drink, medication and care they need. Now try making them feel more at ease. Jokes might not be appropriate, depending on the situation, but a genuine compliment about a unique wedding ring or heartfelt question about their children or grandchildren can make someone light up.
Discuss problems immediately with your recruiter
If you have issues with housing or paychecks or other conflicts with the facility, talk to your recruiter as soon as possible so you can get them taken care of. He or she can solve problems for you and ensure that there aren’t any misunderstandings with the nurse supervisors — and your recruiter can also be a trusted sounding board when you need to vent about a particularly challenging day.
Don’t be a gossip girl
You’ll always work with people who rub you the wrong way or seem to bring everybody down, but don’t join in when your coworkers begin talking about them. You’ll find that while venting occasionally can help you feel better, saying unkind things about another nurse when he isn’t around won’t change the situation and may even make you feel worse about yourself and your job.
Give yourself a break
Nursing can be a tough career at times, especially when you lose patients you love, endure shouting and verbal abuse from others, and feel disrespect from physicians and staff members. When you’ve had a frustrating day, it can help to take a brisk walk outside or even to another department so you can clear your head, get some air and return to your patients feeling more calm.
Keep track of the time
There’s nothing worse than looking at the clock to see that your shift will soon be over and realizing that you have a pile of charting left to do. It won’t always be possible, depending on the day’s patient census, to get all your work done before the next round of nurses comes in, but staying on top of your tasks can help ensure that you leave on time.
Take care of your body
Make sure you make time to use the restroom, go home if you’re feeling ill, wear proper shoes that don’t make your feet ache and have a jacket or sweater to wear over your scrubs if you get cold. Where you can, find another nurse or technician to help you lift a patient so you don’t injure your back. You may feel like you’ve got to push through the pain, especially if your facility is already understaffed, but it’s important to take care of yourself before taking care of others.
Remember why you became a nurse
It’s easier to be happy at work if you know that the care you provide changes — and saves — lives. Remember that your work as a nurse does make a difference, especially in cities where patients might not otherwise receive care, and focus on the aspects of your job you enjoy most.
You may not have a great shift each day of your travel nursing job, but following these tips can help you make the journey a memorable and rewarding one.
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