10 Dos and Don'ts of a Travel Nurse
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Jim DeMaria | Scrubs Magazine
Don’t…
Be shy. When you’re trying to learn the lay of the land, you must not be afraid to ask questions. But be friendly. As Jim would put it, “There’s a way to be assertive without being a nudge.”
Make up your own rules. As a traveling nurse, you’re essentially a guest in someone’s house. Act accordingly.
Be exclusive. Make every person you meet your friend and ally. “You never know what you’re going to need,” says Jim. “I work with water a lot in what I do, so I get to know the maintenance people. If they remember you as a nice guy, as a friend, they’ll help you out.”
Take things personally. Not everyone will remember your name. Or worse, they’ll call you by the wrong name. Instead of getting irritated, diffuse the awkwardness by making a good-natured joke. Enjoy yourself. Laugh.
Forget that you’re a great nurse. As with starting out in anything, your first experiences as a traveling nurse will be filled with some degree of uncertainty and novice anxiety. But there’s one thing you’ll always instinctively know how to do: take care of your patient. Let this relationship be your rock when everything else seems unfamiliar.
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More on ScrubsMag.com:
• In Career Advice: How Do I Deal With a Travel Nurse?• In Myths & Misconceptions: Dispelling 9 Myths About Why Nurses Choose Traveling
• In Career Advice: Are You Cut Out for Travel Nursing?
