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As I wrote a previous article, I asked myself, “What are some of the
techniques that I use when things are getting tough.” As we all know, travel
nursing isn’t always fun. We have plenty of good times and adventure, but
there are also times when we want to run and hide.
Yes, survival is what it is all about. It’s a jungle out
there, and a travel nurse must be prepared to tread through the trenches and
come out a victor! Come on, there can’t be much difference between surviving
in a jungle, and surviving a terrible nursing assignment.
Well, here are my 8 tips for survival in Travel Nursing:
1. Shield yourself with a “net” by putting a smile on
your face. How can you be sad if you are smiling? Sure, you might be smiling
only on the outside, but this is a start. You can shield your patients from
knowing that you are having a bad day by wearing a smile!
2. Get rid of the leeches! By staying away from the
people who are most commonly the causes of the frustration. Sometimes you
can’t ignore them, but by getting more involved in nursing care, and father
away from the nurses’ station, the less these leeches will bother you.
3. Delve into the trenches. One of the best diversion
tactics that I have to rely on is spending more time with my patients. Take
time out to just visit with them. What can you do for your patients instead
of setting up at the nurses station listening to what all is wrong with the
unit.
4. When the rainfall is heavy then find shelter. You
need to have someone that you can talk to? If nothing else, call your
recruiter or get online and find a travel nurse support group. Sometimes
things will just kind of resolve themselves if you just tell your
frustrations to someone who is going to give you just a little reassurance.
5. In a violent storm or monsoon season it may be
necessary to find a lifeboat. Talk to your recruiter about what is going on.
Talk to the unit manager or someone who is over the person that you are
having trouble with. If you really feel like your nursing license is in
danger, then go talk to your recruiter and/or an attorney about getting out
of your contract.
6. A positive attitude can keep some of the mosquitoes
from getting to you. Go into each day with the thought that you are going to
make it the best that you can. That may change twenty minutes into your day,
but at least you started out right.
7. Finding the light in the midst of darkness. Find
something that makes you happy and surround yourself with it. Go on a little
shopping trip and get something that you have always wanted. Find a place of
serenity and immerse yourself in meditation. On bad days, I tend to come
back to my little ole RV, set outside, and watch the waterfall that I have
in my barrel pond. I would definitely suggest that a travel nurse have some
kind of small water feature to travel with her.
8. Count down the days. Seeing the light at the end of
the tunnel is always refreshing. Mark on your calendar the number of weeks
left, or even the number of shifts left. 27 days sounds a lot better than
two months!
These tips and tricks may not work for everyone, but for me they keep me
going through tough assignments. Remember, that you are there because of
your love for nursing without all the politics. Remember that you do care,
and that there will always be the next assignment and another exciting
adventure in travel nursing. |
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Written by Epstein LaRue, RN, BS, author
of "Highway Hypodermics: Your Road Map To Travel Nursing", "Love At
First Type", and "Crazy Thoughts of Passion."
http://www.epsteinlarue.com/ |
