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Establish your needs to make your travel nursing contracts more rewarding.
Enjoy time off between and during travel nurse assignments to spend time with your family.
Stay focused on your patients and yourself, without the two overlapping.
Photo: Getty Images/Digital Vision/Katie Mac
Making the leap from permanent employee to healthcare traveler offers many benefits, such as increased control of your career,
greater flexibility in job and personal schedules, and an overall sense of freedom. But even so, many temporary providers
still struggle to find an even balance between their work and personal lives. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to keep
those two parts of your life in harmony.
The most important thing, according to seasoned professionals, is to identify your own personal priorities and then keep them
in the forefront while selecting and planning contracts. In the following pages, two travel nurses and a staffing company
executive share strategies on how you can maintain a healthy work/life balance on the road.
Establishing your needs
"There are certain things travelers can do to make their contracts more rewarding," explains Jimmie Bilby, vice president
of operations at Springdale, Arkansas-based The Right Solutions. "Clear communication is very important, especially in the
planning stages of a new opportunity. We have seen that most stress results from poor communication, so be honest and forthcoming
about your needs regarding scheduling, compensation, housing, and job responsibilities. For instance, if you know that you
want to take a few days off to return home every month, say so from the start.
Photo: Getty Images/Stockbyte/ George Doyle
"Once you get to your new location, do your best to leave work at work," continues Jimmie. "Be deliberate about it. This may
mean spending 30 minutes actively 're-running' your workday in your mind, contemplating anything that was particularly stressful.
That small time investment can leave you with a clear head to better enjoy your down time. And then use that time off to nurture
yourself. Instead of always going back to your apartment to 'veg out,' which can lead to loneliness and boredom, make it a
priority to sample a new restaurant, explore new sights, go shopping, or maintain an exercise routine."
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