You probably chose to become a travel nurse because it’s challenging, exhilarating, and rewarding. But like any good thing, travel nursing can have its blue moments, too, especially in these uncertain times of pandemic. So if you sometimes feel down and discouraged, know that it’s a common affliction of anyone who travels for a living, and it will pass with good self-care.
But if you need a little nudge right away to help you climb out of the doldrums, here are a few suggestions.
- Keep in touch with friends and family through social media — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the like are ideal platforms to keep up to date with your social network, and you probably already have well-established relationships you can draw on.
- Make an effort to be friendly with your new coworkers. Ask them for recommendations of local places of interest, and you may find new friends in the process.
- Explore fun ways to connect with new and old friends using Zoom or FaceTime. Arrange game nights with new colleagues/friends over Zoom to enjoy online games like the Random Trivia Generator, Scribbl (like Pictionary), and card games galore.
- Look for specialty groups like The Gypsy Nurse and Travel Nursing 101 on Facebook, Passports and Preemies (you don’t have to be a NICU nurse to enjoy), Travel Nursing Blogs and #travelnursing on Twitter, and #travelnurselife and #travelnurseadventures on Instagram for reminders of why you chose the travel nursing as a career. Sure to cheer you up!
- Use your unscheduled time to explore your temporary hometown. Almost every town has something to pique your interest, whether it’s a local historical museum, parks, hiking trails, or cozy coffee shop. Get out and get acquainted with your surroundings!
If you need a little more help, remember that Freedom Healthcare has recently established an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Anthem that offers a variety of services to help you get back on the sunny side of the street. Its features include mental health and crisis counseling, as well as legal and financial consultation services and ID recovery support. There’s also an “online health club for your mind” with e-learning modules and mood trackers, plus videos, podcasts, articles, and self-assessment tools to get you started. For more information, please contact your recruiter or call our team at 866-463-0385. Together, we can get through this.