New Travel Nurse Survival Guide

Traveling nurses already possess the spirit of adventure and the personal flexibility needed to enjoy the travel nursing lifestyle.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing on every assignment. You can expect to occasionally hit some bumpy waters when you arrive at new destinations for your nursing jobs. But the RN who can navigate these unpredictable bumps will learn to survive – and thrive – in a travel nursing career!

How to be successful on your first travel assignment

At 50 States Staffing, we are dedicated to providing our healthcare professionals with the support and services they need to be successful on the job. And clients are thriving, judging by traveler testimonials:

“I couldn’t be happier! 50 States Staffing allows us to travel together as a couple, and gives me the opportunity to choose from assignments best suited to my ‘semi-retired’ travel nursing lifestyle. We’re already deciding where to go on my next travel nurse assignment.” -- Lydia L., Travel nurse

For instance, to help our clients prepare for their upcoming assignments -- Florida Nursing Jobs, say, or Colorado Nursing Jobs -- we’ve already offered suggestions on what to pack when you’re heading to certain destinations that happen to be some of the best travel locations in the US.

And here are some general tips on how to make the most of all of your travel nursing job assignments:

Get that positive attitude going:

  • Don’t let yourself get flustered by the unfamiliarity of your new nursing-job environment.
  • Keep in mind that a new place lets you make a fresh start every few months.
  • Remember that meeting new people provides an opportunity to experience different perspectives.

Be prepared:

  • Arrive in your new location a day or two early to get the lay of the land (e.g., find out where the local stores are, how long the commute to work is, etc.).
  • Plan your trip and your packing strategies.
  • Get plenty of rest before your first day so you can arrive refreshed and ready to go!
  • When you begin your travel nursing job, bring a small pouch that contains all necessities -- pens, a small notepad, a copy of your nursing license, your driver’s license, any certifications, and a small coin purse with some cash. (This way, you’re self-contained in case there’s no locker or other storage place available right away.)

Be a team player:

  • Make an effort to be aware of what’s going on with others around you.
  • Be on time, be reliable, and communicate clearly and professionally.
  • Fill in for co-workers or do an extra shift when you can.
  • Befriend other traveling nurses or permanent nurses so you have people to socialize with outside the job.

Keep looking ahead:

  • Stay in touch with the registered nurses and medical professionals you’ve befriended during all of your travel nursing jobs.
  • At the end of each assignment, ask for written references from the colleagues and managers you connected with most.

Follow these tips, and you can feel confident in accepting any of 50 States Staffing’s nursing jobs. Check out the opportunities today!