Since the pandemic, travel nurse demand has been high. Because the benefits are also pretty nice, it’s understandable why you’d want to move around in this hectic, nomadic lifestyle.
Yet, the extra cash and freedom to explore the world still come with high rates of burnout. As a travel nurse, you have the same stress full-time staff deal with, such as high pressure, life-and-death decisions, and forced overtime. But now, you also have limited roots, a temporary personal life in your few hours off the job, and difficulty making long-term connections.
In other words, it’s a recipe for burnout, and recent studies show that over 50% of travel and permanent nurses are feeling the strain.
So what can you do when you feel the strain catching up to you? Here are some simple steps to avoid burnout when you’re a travel nurse.
1.Step Back and Take a Break
The very first thing you should do when you sense burnout on the way is to give yourself a “timeout.” We know what you’re thinking, “Yeah, right, I don’t have time for that; they need me!”
Well, pretend for a moment that you’ve spent so much time burning the candle at both ends that you’ve gotten sick. You’d have to call out, anyway, and likely for a few days while you recover.
This kind of “sick day” is preventative, and many employees encourage it. The term for this is “mental health day.” Stress in the workplace has a direct impact on your mental and physical wellness. Mental health days provide you with the space you need to address your stress and get help if necessary.
Working for a hospital or large employer gives you the legal right to take this time off. If your HR department gives you a hard time, remind them that you’re protected by federal law and can take time off to care for your mental health.
You’ve seen the results of delayed care in action with your patients. Take this timeout now because you choose to rather than later because your health forces you to.
2.Adjust Your Health Routine
How are you handling your meals and exercise requirements? If you’re too busy to eat your meals consistently, you’re probably living on anything you can scarf down quickly. Those mega-frappe-caramel-whipped cream caffeine boosts aren’t helping, either.
It’s probably been a hot minute since you’ve seen the sun long enough to enjoy its warm rays on you, too.
Both of these are habits that can be dangerous to your mental health, and they need to be adjusted.
If you’re staying in an extended-stay hotel geared toward travel nurses, look for the amenities offered. You may be able to get access to the fitness center or pool after-hours or get healthier room service menu options by talking to the manager.
Of course, the best suggestion for your health is to get those quality z’s, but your schedule may make that difficult. The rest you get should be comfortable, though. If noisy neighbors or an uncomfortable bed make it hard to sleep, ask for a room change or better pillows.
If you’re not staying in a travel nurse-friendly hotel, check out this article by Hotel Engine to see what you’re missing out on. The right lodgings can make all the difference in your health and wellness habits.
3.Reach Out to Your Support Team
Travel nurses often feel alone. They get to a new place, and the people they work with already have their “cliques.” The travel worker can feel like an outsider, and the permanent nurses don’t always reach out to make them feel welcome because they know they’re temporary.
But as a nurse, you need a support team. Your shifts can be full of hard realities, and you can’t go home alone and deal with the things you’ve seen.
Talk to people around you and try to create a system of encouragement. Come up with a code word or action that tells them that you need a little extra TLC and vice versa.
It may seem like those around you don’t care, but human nature is the opposite. When we see someone hurting or in trouble, we reach out to help, as you do every day in your travel nurse career.
Some people prefer animals over human interaction, and a cuddle with your pet goes a long way toward stress relief. If that sounds like you, find a pet-friendly extended stay home, and bring your animals with you!
Conclusion
Your mental health is vital to your overall wellness. If you feel like your travel nurse career is spiraling toward burnout, these three steps may be all it takes to put you back on the path to health and happiness.
