One of the best things about travel nursing is having control over your assignments. You can pick where you want to go and when you take an assignment. It’s important for nurses to think about how they want to approach their travel nursing career. Do you want to take a string of assignments one after the other and stay busy? Or, do you need some time in between to digest and get ready for the next one? Neither option is wrong, and both are worth considering.

Nurses need to take care of their health for the sake of themselves, their patients, and their coworkers. That means bed rest until the contagion has passed and your health is back in good standing. Most nurses can take sick leave, paid time off (PTO), or personal days to recover — but travel nurses don’t always have these options. What can you do if you become seriously ill while on assignment?

Few people in the healthcare profession have ever dealt with anything as chaotic or demanding as a pandemic outbreak. For many nurses, it’s simply overwhelming. It’s important for nurses to find stability and treat themselves right during these unprecedented circumstances — for their own health and the health of their patients. Here are a few things any nurse can practice to help stay balanced, focused, and healthy as we fight to #FlattenTheCurve.

HIPAA laws are a foundational part of every nurse’s education and training. Yet, although keeping patient information private is a simple concept, social media complicates things. Nurses today need to be mindful of what they’re posting on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter — HIPAA laws must come first and foremost, even on social. The simple practice of being mindful of HIPAA laws on social media could prevent suspension or job loss.

No matter how prepared you are for your next assignment, there’s still going to be a transitional period. You need to learn how they do things and what the expectations are. Instead of fearing the unknown, embrace it ― adapt to your assignment and have confidence in your skills to carry you through. You’ll quickly settle in and become comfortable doing what you do best: helping patients.

Getting off on the right foot at your new facility is a great way to set the tone for a positive travel nursing experience. But with a lot of unknowns in front of you, anxiety may take over. The key in presenting yourself as a cool, confident, friendly individual is to approach your assignment with optimism. That approach and these 10 tips can help put you in positive position with your new co-workers.

At some point in your travel nursing career, illness or personal emergency will likely require you to call off from work. However, in the travel healthcare industry, missing a shift has different repercussions than it does at a permanent job. There are certain factors you want to take into account before calling off a shift as a travel nurse.

If you’re the type of nurse who has the occasional cigarette or likes to vape while they relax, you might want to think twice about your habit. More and more hospitals are adopting nicotine-free policies. Testing positive for nicotine could land you on a black list and see you removed from your assignment! Here’s what you need to know about the rising trend of nicotine-free facilities.

Do you stop, sit down, and eat lunch every day? If not, you need to start. Taking a break is critically important for maintaining communication, attention to detail, reasoning, and mood. Forgoing your break means doing a disservice to yourself and the patients you work so hard to care for each day.

The late, great Fred Rodgers once said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” No place is this more evident than a travel nursing agency. What drives you to help? Whatever it is, taking action to fulfill your purpose means becoming a helper — whether it’s in the city where you live or across the country, where you’re needed most.