When does the feeling of homesickness cross the boundary from melancholy to mental health burden? For some travel nurses, the feeling can stick around for days and weeks, making it difficult to adjust to a new assignment. If your homesickness doesn’t subside after a day or two, give these simple tips a try to bring yourself back into the moment, feeling focused and positive.

Electronic health records (EHRs) are a critical staple in today’s healthcare environments. But simply having technology doesn’t equate to a better patient experience — the key is how it’s used. In the case of EHRs, the onus falls to nurses to input data accurately and thoroughly into the system, a task that becomes more complex for travel nurses who may encounter several EHR systems across their various assignments. Here are some tips for improving the accuracy of EHR data.

There’s no shame in changing your specialty, whether out of a change in interest or in pursuit of more lucrative earnings. But what’s the right way to make the switch without taking two steps backward in your career? Here are a few practical tips every nurse should consider when thinking about shifting focus — especially if you’re already enamored with travel nursing as a profession.

Compassionate healthcare is all about ensuring every person feels safe and seen in their time of need. Yet healthcare is a field with staggering gaps in equality in several areas. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives seek to identify and close these gaps. Travel nurses often find themselves in a position to be stewards of DEI policies. Taking the time to be mindful of the people they’re caring for will help fulfill the core mission of these initiatives. Here are a few tips.

People come from all walks of life. And while the need for medical care is a great equalizer, travel nurses are apt to find themselves communicating with patients who are unique in their own cultural ways. From inner cities to rural areas, from the Pacific Northwest to the Deep South, it’s important to practice cultural competence — to earn the trust and confidence of every patient.

If you’re looking for a binge-worthy show to watch the next time you’re on assignment, you’ll have no shortage of medical dramas to choose from. If you’re looking for one that accurately portrays the healthcare field and the people working in it, that list becomes quite a bit smaller. Here’s a look at six medical shows that get things right — including the realities of being a nurse.

Winter can be a tricky season for travel nurses — especially in regions where inclement weather is a factor. If you’re on assignment in one of these areas, finding housing can be particularly troublesome to navigate. Between preserving your housing stipend and finding available rentals in desirable areas, there’s an art to getting a room during the winter months. These resources can help.

Every travel nurse has a recruiter that they work with to find assignments and secure contracts. Many travel nurses work with several at a time. More than just your link to the next assignment, it’s important to understand your recruiter’s role as a resource. They’re not just there to help you manage contracts; a recruiter’s job is to make sure your career as a travel nurse is a successful, lucrative, stress-free, and enjoyable one!

Have trouble standing up for yourself? You’re not alone. Many professionals are great at their jobs, but not necessarily at advocating for themselves. Learning to advocate for yourself is an important skill to develop — especially for travel nurses. Becoming your own biggest supporter can help you develop your career in powerful, positive ways.

Fall and early winter are known for an increase in respiratory illness. Though it is traditionally known as cold and flu season, we can now add COVID-19 to the list. Since it’s impossible to predict how many cases nurses will see this season, healthcare professionals must brace for an unpredictable patient influx — and prepare to protect their own health and well-being.