Managing work-life balance as a travel nurse can be challenging. But it’s possible to find a healthy balance and enjoy your assignments.
Travel nurses can choose local assignments that allow them to come home each night with their families or pets. This gives them a better work-life balance and can help them avoid burnout.
Set Your Goals
As a travel nurse, it’s essential to figure out what work-life balance looks like for you and your unique life situation. Choose assignments that will help you achieve the balance you need. For example, if you enjoy spending time with family, find an assignment close to home. If you love adventure, look for Ohio travel nursing jobs.
You can also set personal goals, such as completing your travel nursing bucket list or exercising on your days off. Exercise is a great stress reliever.
Managing work-life balance as a travel nurse is difficult, but it’s possible. By following these tips, you can maximize your off-hours and live a happy and healthy lifestyle. Contact a travel nursing agency today if you’re ready to explore new destinations and create a fulfilling work-life balance. Trusted nurse staffing connects nurses with rewarding assignments nationwide.
Take Time Off
Travel nurses can maximize their time off by choosing assignments that allow them to explore new cities and environments. They can also choose assignments that allow them to earn more money than staff nurses, which they can then spend exploring their surroundings on their days off.
Travel nursing agencies often offer sign-on, completion, and retention bonuses to entice nurses to work with them. They may even provide free housing, which will ease the cost of living while on an assignment.
Travel nurses need to find a way to decompress and recharge. Taking a trip, spending time with friends and family, or participating in a favorite hobby can be great ways for them to do this. It’s also good for travel nurses to ensure they’re not letting work get into their personal life by setting clear boundaries with their supervisors and recruiters. This will help them avoid burnout and focus on what matters most.
Make a Bucket List
Creating and following through on bucket list ideas is a way to prioritize self-care. Bucket lists can be anything from visiting the pyramids in Egypt to cleaning out your garage, but they should be ambitious and exciting. They should inspire you to work harder and push yourself outside your comfort zone.
Start by writing down the big tourist destinations you want to visit (e.g., the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House). Then write down more “experiential” things you want to do there (e.g., eat croissants in Paris or drive through the savannah searching for cheetahs). Often, they are intertwined.
Make a paper list or create an online one and put it somewhere you can see it regularly. A bulletin board, the fridge, or a particular map are all great options. There are also many fun ways to display your bucket list – including pushing pins into a map or scratching the destinations you have already visited. A physical list can motivate you to complete the items and create a sense of accomplishment.
Say No
Nurses spend their careers helping others, which can lead to a lack of work-life balance. In addition to stress, burnout, and a lack of happiness in their personal life, this can also impact their patient care and cause adverse effects on their health.
The good news is that nurses can take many steps to achieve better work-life balance. One way is by finding a travel nursing agency that offers flexible assignments with locations and schedules that meet your needs.
Travel nurses can often choose assignments at times of year that coincide with family visits or vacations, allowing them to have a well-rounded work-life balance. They can also choose assignments with shorter shifts to avoid the long commute home at night.
Another critical factor is learning to say no when necessary and creating boundaries. It’s okay to decline a meeting, stay late at work, or miss out on social activity, but you should prioritize your health and happiness. Saying no can be difficult for nurses, but it’s an essential skill to master.
Create a Schedule
Nurses who work in hospitals can quickly become overwhelmed by the fast-paced environment. They must learn to recharge their batteries outside work and create boundaries with coworkers and superiors. It’s also essential to set a schedule and stick to it so they can maximize their time off.
Travel nurses can select assignments with flexible schedules that will let them enjoy the different parts of Ohio, a state home to some of the best healthcare facilities in the country. They can choose from cities full of arts and culture or the serene countryside with picturesque towns and villages.
As a travel nurse, you can earn more than staff nurses, including housing allowances and meal stipends. Depending on the facility, you may also be eligible for overtime. Make sure to research the salary and benefits package of each hospital you’re interested in working in before signing a contract. This way, you can ensure your schedule fits with your lifestyle goals.
