Travel nursing can be difficult and very overwhelming but there are a few things I have learned that make my first week a little easier.
The first lesson I have learned is to be in control of my own orientation/training. Travelers are given VERY short and abbreviated orientation to the department and I have found that preventing myself from being pulled into a million different directions promotes retention! It is important for me as a Traveler to speak up and say, “lets finish what we were doing, and then you can show me that”, or “I feel that I need to focus on my charting right now, can you show me that once I get a little more comfortable with what I am doing here?” These simple phrases have helped me tremendously with the feeling of being overwhelmed during orientation.
I had a great first week and feel confident in my ability to work independently next week.
Although learning to speak up is important, nothing is more important than learning that I don’t have to take this crazy ride alone!
A huge unspoken rule is that travelers stick together! The first day of hospital orientation is a great opportunity to connect and find a “Traveler Buddy” that you can rely on when things get tough. They also become someone who you can call when an adventure is waiting!
After a week of orientation, two of my fellow travelers joined my husband and myself for a day of kayaking the Savannah River.
Turtles lined the fallen trees, a river otter said hello, and the birds kept us looking for more of what this beautiful place had to offer!
Experiencing a host city by kayak was a first for me and was the perfect way to kick-off a new contract and the start of another great travel nurse adventure!
Keep following along every Sunday to see where this contract takes me next!
