The pandemic has been stressful for just about everyone. Travel nurses have been on the frontlines, and some have even been hospitalized. Those who have stayed healthy have found themselves in a unique position. Travel nursing has always had a certain amount of risk associated with it, but the pandemic has pushed it to an extreme. Travel nurses have been navigating a lot of new challenges during the pandemic, and it’s not over yet.
Throughout the epidemic, demand for travel nurses has increased. However, rising clinician burnout is still a complex problem in the healthcare industry.
According to a recent National Academy of Medicine assessment, pandemic stresses may have contributed to burnout in 35% and 54% of American nurses and doctors. These signs of burnout include:
- extreme emotional weariness
- extremely depersonalized
- a meagre sense of success at work
Even in more typical times, at least 69% of U.S. nurses stated they agreed or strongly agreed that they put their patient’s health and safety above their own, according to the American Nurses Association’s Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation project.
Given the additional pandemic stressors, such as unusually elevated patient mortality rates, a lack of personal safety equipment, political decisiveness regarding pandemic precautions, and divisive public reactions to the vaccine rollout, nurses have undoubtedly been the ones who have been most affected by the pandemic chaos.
Hospitals and healthcare systems have turned to travel nurses to fill the void as a result of the widespread nursing burnout. In addition, healthcare institutions are paying exorbitant prices for much-needed staff due to chronic staffing shortages.
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Travel nursing advice and personality traits
Travel nurses must develop the ability to pick up new systems quickly, take criticism, and change soon. Personal qualities like these can help travel nurses in their work:
Rapid learning capacity.
While all travel nurses have prior experience working in a typical nursing setting, they must be able to draw from a wide range of knowledge to adapt to different healthcare settings. Different standards of practice and technologies are required in some healthcare settings. Travel nurses must swiftly grasp new procedures and technologies.
The ability to persevere amid arduous circumstances.
Numerous difficulties come with moving to other states, continually being the “new nurse,” and caring for challenging patients. Travel nurses must be able to handle these difficulties.
Flexibility.
Travel nurses can design their schedules with the organizations they work with. Travel nurses, for instance, can work nine weeks straight on the opposite side of the county before taking a month’s vacation.
Being at ease working in unfamiliar surroundings.
Travel nurses frequently have to adjust to organizations and care teams that lack the necessary resources to function effectively.
A solid network of support.
Travel nurses may have to spend extended time away from their families and friends to accept temporary work. For a travel nurse to work long-term in demanding tasks, having a supporting individual or group of people who can serve as an emotional sounding board can be essential.
The benefits of being a travel nurse are numerous. The following are some advantages of travel nursing:
- assistance with passport and work visa applications (if working internationally)
- Bonuses
- Location preference Competitive pay
- No-cost housing
- Travel nurse salary is higher than the average salary
- coverage for health, dental, and vision
- retiree programs
- choosing which hours or shifts to work
- Travel compensation
Final words
As a travel nurse, you will likely find yourself in a range of different environments. While this may be your first time working in some of these facilities, you will have the experience and expertise to handle a number of different situations. For example, you may be expected to work in a facility during a crisis.