800.866.0407
Winter brings beautiful white-capped peaks, skiing, sledding and skating. But it also brings icy roads and unpredictable weather, which can be scary if you’re working as a travel nurse.
Don’t let a little snow stop you from having an amazing time this season! Here are a few items to pack in your car for a winter travel nursing job:
Ice scraper and ski gloves
What’s worse than coming outside after a long shift to find that your car is covered in thick snow and the windshield is iced over? Make sure you have a long, durable ice scraper and a pair of thick gloves in your car so you can quickly chip ice away and get on the road. An ice scraper mitt is a great option as well.
Portable hair dryer
No, it’s not for doing your hair before date night (although you could certainly use it for that). If you’re working in a particularly cold area, the locks on your apartment door will sometimes freeze — and you’ll be stuck in the cold until they thaw. Keep a small hair dryer in your car and plug into an outlet on your porch. Then turn it on full heat and blast the air at your doorknob. You’ll have a working door again within minutes.
Emergency kit with blankets
Hopefully you never have to spend the night in your car. If road conditions become too hazardous for driving, though, you might have to pull over for a few hours. Make sure you’re prepared for any situation by keeping a bag with blankets, warm clothes, water and high-energy snacks in your car. A first-aid kit, flashlight and hand warmers are also essentials.
Car jumpstarter
You probably already have jumper cables in your car in case the battery dies. But what if your car stops in the middle of nowhere and you can’t find a good Samaritan to give you some power? A portable jumpstarter is a must-have for every season, but especially during the winter. You hook the clamps to your own battery and turn the machine on; no need for another vehicle to help. Some jumpstarters also include air compressors for filling up your tires and bright LED lights.
USB universal charger
Don’t get stuck in the cold with no way to call for help. Make sure you keep a USB car charger in your glove box or plugged into your cigarette lighter so you can charge your phone anytime. It’ll also charge your tablet and MP3 player if you need a distraction and have to pull over. When your car battery is dead, though, a solar-powered charger is also nice to have.
Folding shovel
Make sure you keep a compact folding shovel in your trunk for times when you have to dig yourself out of snow — or even mud. This also comes in handy if you have to shovel your sidewalk before work and don’t have a snow shovel.
Kitty litter or sand
While both will do the trick if you need traction in an icy parking lot, kitty litter is much lighter and easier to store in your trunk for the winter. If you do get stuck somewhere without either one, use your car mats to give your tires more stability as you slowly drive over them.
With these items in your car this season, you should be prepared for what winter throws at you.
Interested in learning more about travel nursing? Call us for more information at 800.866.0407 or view today’s job openings.
