Although it’s nearly impossible to avoid COVID-19 in a hospital, nurses and other healthcare professionals need to be extra cautious about limiting their exposure. Viral load may play a big part in the severity of the condition, which puts healthcare workers at-risk. Here’s what nurses can and should do to limit exposure, minimize the spread of the contagion, and keep themselves as healthy as possible.

For many people, COVID-19 is their first encounter with a highly infectious disease. In fact, it’s likely to be the biggest pandemic most people will experience in their lifetime. Few things spread so quickly and are so dangerous, which has many people questioning how an outbreak in China became a catalyst for global shutdown. Here’s a look at how pandemics start and why they spread so rapidly.

Medical professionals across the country have mobilized to fight the spread of COVID-19. For travel nurses, that means a massive uptick in assignments that take them wherever there’s a shortage of nursing staff. From outbreak epicenters to at-risk rural communities, there’s a call to action for travel nurses amidst this historic pandemic. Many nurses have already answered the call, and still more will. Sense of duty, opportunity to help, and increased pay are all driving factors behind many nurses’ decision to take a new assignment.

Are you keeping a daily journal? For travel nurses, it’s one of the healthiest hobbies you can have, and it’s a simple way to keep yourself sharp and content while on assignment. If you’re not sure how to get started, what to write about, or how to journal at all, don’t worry. We’ve outlined the key information you need to get started and make this a regular part of your life.

If you’re a nurse and an avid reader, consider adding a few books to your list of must-reads this year. We’ve put together a list of six highly reviewed, acclaimed books related to the healthcare field. Not only are they great reads, they’ll help you grow as a professional! When you start your next assignment, use it as an excuse to crack open one of these great reads. See if you can finish all six before the end of the year!

Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and nurses certainly aren’t immune. In fact, travel nurses may be prone to developing symptoms of SAD especially during the winter months. This condition can affect your quality of life in a major way, so it’s important to keep an eye out for the signs and do everything in your power to overcome them.

Setting professional goals and tracking your milestones is a great way to make sure you stay on-track to meet your career goals. For travel nurses, there are many ways to quantify the success and progression of your career — miles traveled, number facilities worked, and states visited, for example. Tracking and monitoring these milestones are important to see your career progression and accomplishments.

With all the excitement of taking a new assignment, your brain might trick you into thinking you’re on a vacation. While there’s plenty of new things to do and see, your primary objective is to work. That means you still need to think seriously about taking a vacation at some point, for the sake of your mental and emotional health. Don’t let your travel assignment trick you out of planning your next getaway.

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So, why do so many people skip it? If you’re a nurse, you can’t afford to skip breakfast. Not only does it give you the energy you need to get through the day, it helps fuel everything from a good mood to your ability to retain new information. No matter what time of day your shift starts, make sure you’re eating that all-important first meal of the day.

Moving to a new city can be a strange experience. Everything is vaguely familiar, yet new at the same time. The best way to get your bearings is to get familiar with a few local landmarks – specifically, places you’re likely going to visit at some point. Before you check out local landmarks and hotspots, do yourself a favor and track down these 8 crucial destinations.