8 Mistakes That Rookie Travel Nurses Make While on the Job

8 Mistakes That Rookie Travel Nurses Make While on the Job

by | May 13, 2023 | Travel Nursing

8 Mistakes That Rookie Travel Nurses Make While on the Job

Working as a travel nurse is one of the best decisions you will ever make in your nursing career. Of course, just like any other newbies, you can’t wait till you are assigned to a different location.

While waiting for an assignment, it is best to read about the eight mistakes that rookie travel nurses make so you can avoid doing them in the future. Here’s what you need to know. 

Avoid These While Going Through Your Contract

#1. Skimming through your contract.

It is a big booboo on your part if you do not read your contract thoroughly. Your travel nurse contract is an essential part of your assignment, so any responsible nurse will carefully read through it before signing [1]. Skimming through your contract will place you in a situation that you might not like. 

Before signing, make sure to check for accuracy and completeness. Check also for the assignment, pay rate, dates, travel reimbursements, bonuses, time offs, and other special agreements that you may have.

Your agency should be able to answer all your concerns if needed. So, don’t just skim through it; read your contract well!

#2. Being unprepared for your assignment.

As nurses, we are trained to be ready at all times. We can even give boy scouts a run for their money if we talk about preparedness! It is a part of our nurse’s skills to be alert and ready for anything.

However, rookie travel nurses are too complacent about their assignments that they don’t bother preparing – a big mistake! They let their excitement get the best of them. Remember, you are traveling for work, not for fun.

Be in a work-mode mindset as you take on an assignment. While you can still see sights along the way or during your offs, you still have to be prepared to do your nursing duties. Avoid these mistakes that rookie travel nurses make, and you will save yourself from trouble.

Agencies will help you process everything you need – even your license entering a compact state. In short, you have all the help you need. All you have to do is show up on time and make sure that you make a good impression on your first day.

Always bring your supporting documents if your supervisor needs them – it will show how responsible you are for a rookie travel nurse!

#3. Bringing too much stuff with you.

The shortest duration of your assignment is around four to eight weeks, with the longest of thirteen weeks. There’s no need to bring too much stuff with you.

Bring only the essentials, and make sure you have enough to reuse. If you are assigned to a different state during winter, bring clothes suitable for the weather. Other than that, leave the ones you don’t need during this assignment. Besides, the weeks will fly by, and the next thing you know, you are off to another location again. 

Take note also of the place you are staying. Is it furnished or not? See what is included in your accommodation. This way, you can decide whether to bring other items along or not. 

#4. Not asking questions.

As a travel nurse, you will always be the “new kid” in town. And as much as you want to do your job and go, it is not always the case. Whenever you are assigned to a new facility, be sure to ask the right questions.

You need to learn where things are, who you need to call for emergencies, what practices are done, or protocols to follow. Asking these questions will help your survival on each shift. 

Be sure to make new friends too. Sure, you are the extra hand, but it won’t hurt if you greet people and be friendly. After all, you work in the same facility. Besides, having new friends broadens your network.

So, do not hesitate to be nice to everyone you meet along the way. You will need guidance and help as you go. 

#5. Acting like you are not part of the team.

Sure, you may be a temporary nurse extending help, but that does not mean you should also exclude yourself from others. Staff nurses will expect you to do your best. Showing up on time and doing your duties are essential, but you are not hired to work there to separate yourself. 

Try to be a part of the team, be nice to people, be prepared, and do your part. If you work like you are part of the team, your coworkers will treat you the same. Don’t be a total stranger. 

#6. Acting like you know it all.

Another mistake that rookie travel nurses make is acting like they don’t need help from anyone. Being a know-it-all is something you should avoid. Sure, you have the skills and knowledge, but ignoring protocols and not following the standard procedures in the facility you are working in is a huge mistake. 

Take time to listen and learn from your coworkers. It does not matter how long you have been a travel nurse or new to the job. Being open to suggestions and learning the trade is vital if you want to keep your job.

Learning new skills will only strengthen your ability as a nurse. Once you have shown that you are valuable to the team, you might find your coworkers asking for your input. 

#7. Joining the hospital drama.

One mistake that rookie travel nurses make is by joining hospital politics during their brief stay [2]. As a result, they found themselves tangled in the drama that they could’ve avoided in the first place. 

As tempting as juicy gossip can be, avoid engaging in it. Remember, you are only working in this facility for a few weeks. It is always better to build strong relationships than to be part of the gossip crew.

Besides, you don’t know the people involved or the whole story, so why bother becoming a part of it? So, do what you came to do, avoid gossiping, and focus on your patient care. You will be appreciated more!

#8. Working hard or hardly working.

Last but not least, one of the mistakes that rookie travel nurses make is working too much or too little. As a nurse, your work is a priority, but you can become a workaholic when you work too much and don’t pause to breathe.

So find time to balance work and recreation. One of the reasons you became a travel nurse is to see other places, so do it! Take a look at your schedule and plan an activity for the day.

While you are assigned a job, why not take the opportunity to see places? Knowing when to work and have fun has its perks. Besides, after a long day of serving patients, a breather sounds about right. Enjoy the moments while you can! 

Find Balance on Your First Job

Becoming a travel nurse is exciting, primarily if you are assigned to a place that you haven’t been to before. But as you do, find balance in your work and play. Be mindful of your ways, be presentable, arrive on time, and leave work at work.

Over time, you will enjoy each assignment, and you don’t have to make the same mistakes rookie travel nurses make! Being a nurse is a rewarding job, and for you to deliver quality care, you must also take care of yourself.

Hopefully, this list cleared it out for you. Best of luck! 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!

 

Your First Year as a Nurse: Advice for New Nurses

Your First Year as a Nurse: Advice for New Nurses

by | May 6, 2023 | Nursing

Your First Year as a Nurse: Advice for New Nurses

Congratulations on passing nursing school and making it into the nursing world! You are now a qualified and registered nurse, so how can you survive your first year as a nurse?

Here’s what you need to know.

 

On Your First Year as a Nurse

Working as a professional nurse for the first time is an exciting and scary thought. You are new to the job, but at the same time, you have the skills needed to do it.

Your first year as a nurse is a year for adjustments, and I will be honest with you, it will be difficult. It’s like everything you learned in nursing school is poking you all at once!

You will discover different skills and techniques used in the trade, AND you will probably be tired all the time. Long shifts, overtime, and toxic days are ahead of you.

But don’t worry, if anyone before you made it, so can you! Following these pieces of advice will help you survive and thrive in this wonderful career.

 

It’s OK to not to know everything

One of the anxieties that new nurses experience is that they expect to be good at what they do right away. You are not going to master every technique, procedure, or hospital protocol in one year.

Give yourself some time to adjust to your new environment. Remember, your first year is a year for adjustments, so give yourself some room to learn.

Bear in mind that your new domain is different from nursing school, so relax. It is OK not to know everything. I know you want to be good at your job, but take one step at a time. After all, being a nurse is a job that requires patience, so be patient with yourself. 

 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

As a nurse, you must have a curious nature. If you don’t understand something, ask questions. Many new nurses are afraid to ask questions because it may sound like they admit to something they don’t know.

However, asking questions is also an excellent way to learn. So, don’t hesitate to ask questions. It will show that you are interested in learning something new and that you are open to new things and not afraid to speak up. 

 

Develop your time management skills

One of the skills you must develop during your first year as a nurse is time management. Remember that your priority is patient care, but as you do, you must meet the hospital management’s expectations and coworkers.

Learning how to use your time effectively can help you in this situation. 

 

Get to know who you are working with

Remember your coworkers’ names, and make sure to say hello when you meet them in the corridors. As a new nurse, it is essential to make friends and build relationships with your colleagues. So, be polite and cooperate with your coworkers.

Seek advice from your mentors and colleagues. Not only is this important in your profession, but it will also help in surviving your first year as a nurse. Besides, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone you can trust and laugh with on your team when things get tough? Of course!

 

Sign up for classes or volunteer to enhance your nursing skills

Your life as a nurse does not only revolve around the hospital. During your first year, be sure to sign up for additional classes to enhance your nursing skills.

Volunteering for events, internships, and nursing drives also enhances your nursing knowledge. It will hone your skills and prepare you for your career as a full-pledge nurse. 

 

Join nursing organizations 

Becoming a member of a nursing organization is beneficial for a new nurse. Being a part of these networks broadens your opportunity to find work and resources.

It is also an excellent way to make connections in the professional nursing world. If you decide to join a nursing organization, make sure that it is close to the chosen area of the nursing field you would like to work.

For example, if you wish to be a part of psychiatric-mental health nursing, you can join the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 

 

Prioritize self-care for you. 

Many new nurses experience anxiety and stress during their first year as a nurse. That said, it is crucial to take care of your mental health too. As a nurse, you are the health care provider, but what happens when you are not well yourself?

How can you deliver quality care to your patients? So, take care of yourself; exercise, meditate, eat healthily, and get enough rest. Not only are you taking care of yourself and your mental health, but it will also help you from burning out. 

 

The Reality of Your First Year as a Nurse

It will be challenging, but it will also be one of the best years of your life! As a new nurse, you are like an infant. You may have a license to work as a nurse and the knowledge to apply, but just like a growing baby, you also need to take small steps. 

Of course, there will be days when everything else is extra tricky, but don’t give up! Stay positive, and instead of feeling down, list the things you don’t know of and see what you can do to correct them.

Read new nursing trends, be updated with the latest in the nursing community, and build relationships in and out of your workplace – anything is possible!

Yes, your first year will be tough, but if you focus on the good things, your time will fly by, and the next thing you know, you’re on your way to better opportunities. So, enjoy the experience, and most importantly, enjoy the opportunity of helping others. Good luck!

 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!

 

10 Tips for Staying Healthy on Your Night Shift

10 Tips for Staying Healthy on Your Night Shift

by | Apr 22, 2023 | Nursing

10 Tips for Staying Healthy on Your Night Shift

Your night shift is one of the most challenging shifts you’ll experience. Not because it’s busy and patients are coming in but because you must stay awake. The struggle is real, as they say.

The hospital is often the busiest during the daytime, so working the night shift is exciting. Your first three days may be great, but it can be exhausting if you keep doing the same shift for months.

Sleeping during the day feels different than sleeping at night. You may feel extra exhausted and sluggish. It is vital to stay healthy even on your night shift. How can you do it? Here are helpful tips for doing that.

 

We Are Role Models

Staying healthy while on your night shift is possible. You have options on how you make healthy choices even while at work.

As nurses, we promote health and provide patients with quality care.

We must be good role models by showing them how we care for ourselves. And we can do that by doing the following: 

 

#1. Eating healthy 

While eating fast food at night is tempting, it’s not always a good idea to do so. Keep yourself healthy by eating healthy. Eating foods high in sugar and trans fat can destabilize blood sugar levels and may cause stomach upset.

Stay healthy on your night shift by packing healthy meals like fruits, veggies, salads, or trail mix. Doing meal prep at the start of the week is also a good idea. It will cut your time preparing your food each time you go to work.

You can also choose good and healthy options to eat for the whole week. 

 

#2. Set your sleeping schedule

A consistent sleeping routine is crucial in preparing your body for the night shift hours. If you have the time to sleep the moment you get home, try sleeping in two sessions.

Try resting from 7 am to 11 am, then another from 3 pm to 5 pm. But if you don’t like naps, you can always choose when you want to sleep. Make sure to set the mood of your room when sleeping at home.

Create an environment that’s convenient for you to take the snooze. Use black-out curtains and turn on the AC in your room.

Be sure to set your alarm too. While sleeping in this kind of room sounds fantastic, you don’t want to be late for work too! 

 

#3. Get plenty of exercises

It may be hard to incorporate exercises into your daily routine, especially if you just got off an exhausting shift. But to stay healthy, you must also put in the extra effort. Incorporate exercise into your weekly schedule.

You don’t have to go to the gym regularly if your body can’t make it. Simple activities like biking, walking, hiking, or jogging work well too. It will also help you get some fresh air and some cardio. 

 

#4. Keep yourself hydrated

Staying awake for a long time during the night shift is challenging. There will be moments when you want to go to sleep. But before you do, hydrate yourself by drinking enough water and other fluids.

It will also ensure that your body is functioning correctly, as water keeps your body’s organs running. 

 

#5. Reduce your caffeine

Night shift requires staying awake and alert at all times, even if the patients are asleep. It’s also the reason why many nurses have caffeine fixations.

While coffee and caffeine-packed drinks are lifesavers, it’s not always a good thing. It will give you a surge of energy for a few hours, but once it crashes, you end up exhausted and wanting more.

We cannot entirely remove caffeine, but we can reduce our intake. Avoid drinking caffeine once your shift hits 2-3 am. It will prevent you from being able to get sleep once you’re off duty. 

 

#6. Schedule your night shifts closely

Some nurses have weird night shift schedules. Some nurses would go on night duty for two days, have a rest day, then return to the night shift for a day. It ruins their body clock.

Asking your scheduler to put all your night shifts in one row will help you get the rest you need and not waste your days off catching up with sleep. 

 

#7. No alcohol

Drinking alcohol to help you fall asleep after your night shift is one of your biggest mistakes. Not only will it induce your sleep, but it also affects your REM and may develop into an alcohol addiction if you’re not careful about it.

So, it would be best to avoid drinking alcohol before sleep to be safe. 

 

#8. Naps are OK

Timed naps on your break are good. It will help you stay alert and focused all through the night. Find a dark space where you can rest for at least 20 or 30 minutes on lunch breaks. Power naps can help you get through without feeling too exhausted after the work shift. 

 

#9. Limit your screen time

You’re probably thinking if you keep staring at your phone, you’ll be okay through the night. It won’t help you. The blue light emitted on your phone harms your sleep hormones and melatonin. Minimizing your screen time at night or before bed maximizes rest and sleep. 

 

#10. You need to move 

Sitting all night will make you sleepy. Take time for short walks and do simple cardio exercises while on your night shift. It will keep your blood pumping.

Walking stretches your muscles and wakes up your legs. It’s a refreshing way to keep yourself awake. Plus, moving around feels good. It reduces your sleepiness. 

 

Your Night Shift is Going to Be Hard

The night shift is hard, especially if you’re a new nurse. Staying up all night for many days can take a toll on you, physically and mentally. And as nurses, we must take care of ourselves.

eople rely on us; we must remember self-care and get enough rest. It makes a real difference. Hopefully, these tips helped you out. 

 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!

EP 212: A Patient’s Perspective of Delirium With Amelie Susanne

EP 212: A Patient’s Perspective of Delirium With Amelie Susanne

by | Apr 21, 2023 | Podcast

EP 212: A Patient’s Perspective of Delirium With Amelie Susanne

What is a patient’s perspective of delirium? An induced coma is also known as MIC or medically induced coma, barbiturate-induced coma, or drug-induced coma.

It is also called as temporary coma or a deep state of consciousness controlled by an anesthetic drug.

Often, barbiturates like pentobarbital or thiopental are used to help patients. It can also be intravenous anesthetic drugs like midazolam or propofol, but what happens when a patient goes through an induced coma and wakes up from it?

Can a patient recall any memory while they are in a coma? This episode will talk about a patient’s perspective of delirium and many more. 

In this episode, we would like to introduce you to Amelie Susanne Roth. Susanne is a coma survivor. After an initial bacteria infection, Susanne had to be placed into an induced coma that lasted 16 days.

We talk about her time in the ICU and her experience of being in a coma and suffering from it. In this episode, we flip the script and learn firsthand about the patient’s experience.  

 

Questions for Our Guest

The questions below are some we’d like to tackle. We often go off-topic, so we don’t expect to hit them all. If you have any ideas, please let us know.

Looking forward to our conversation!

These are the questions you had in Calendly. We’ll go off our questions, and wherever else our conversation goes.

  1. Please give us a little background about yourself.
  2. How did you end up in the hospital? And can you go a little in-depth into what happened?
      • Do you know what kind of infection it was? Where it came from?

3. Can you put us through the course of your hospital experience? Before this, coming from the day you came in?

      • What you heard, what were you told, and how did you feel?

4. You going into a coma and being intubated; was this something you expected? 

5. When you were intubated and unresponsive, what was happening? 

      • Do you remember any of it? 
      • How did it feel?
      • Were you able to hear anything?
      • Was it just like a dream state?

6. When you came out of the coma, were you mentally back to normal?

      • Were you aware of the whole extubation process? For example, when nurses say, can you open your eyes, squeeze my hand, weaning process?
      • Did you suffer from any delirium or confusion?
      • How did you feel during everything that was going on?

7. Where do you think healthcare providers can improve?

8. What was the process after you regained consciousness?

      • Did it take you a long time to bounce back? PT/OT? What does PT/OT mean?

9. How has life changed for you?

      • Additionally, did you have any big realizations? Like a change in mentality or outlook? 

10. What made you decide to write a book?

 

Ending Questions

Before we end the show, we have one last question we like to ask all our guests.

If you had the opportunity to have a Cup of coffee with anybody one last time, who would it be and why? 

 

Links: 

www.ameliesusanneroth.com
https://a.co/d/efqtaHD

Do you want to learn more about a patient’s perspective of delirium? Watch the full episode here 👇👇

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction
01:32 About Amelie Susane Roth
02:38 How it all started
07:25 Experiences of Being Under Sedation and in a Coma
13:40 How does it feel to be in delirium or a coma?
15:57 A better understanding of why a patient gets agitated
18:14 The post-coma experience
25:03 Medicine Failing Patients and the Need for a Different Approach
27:50 Coping with Traumatic Experiences After a Coma
35:00 Life’s outlook after coma
40:48 Amelie’s life prior to becoming a patient
44:27 The Life Lessons While Traveling The World
47:18 Wrapping up the show

6 Nurse Tips for Social Media Posting

6 Nurse Tips for Social Media Posting

by | Mar 11, 2023 | Nursing

6 Nurse Tips for Social Media Posting

Following nurse tips for social media is a must. In a world where everything we do online is noticed, nurses must be aware and mindful of their actions, mainly about what they post on social media. These are essential tips that you can follow before posting anything online.

 

What Can You Post on Social Media as a Nurse?

While it’s fun to post things on social media, as nurses, we must be responsible for what we are posting. How can we become responsible social media posters? Here’s how.

 

1. Avoid posting ANY patient information 

Sharing anything about your patient online is a big no. You can discuss certain aspects of what you did to your patient but not their personal information. For example, if the patient gave you a thank you card, that would be worth posting.

You can take a picture of the card they sent you but don’t divulge who’s it from. You can say what they wrote, but keep their location and name private. 

Refrain from taking photos or videos of your patients on your phone, as this violates patient confidentiality. It could lead to a lawsuit against the hospital you’re working for or you.

Asking permission from your patient could work, but if your employer has strict rules against this, dismiss the idea. While your patient may not report or sue you, your workplace can take action for violating their rules. 

 

2. Keep it Professional

Sometimes we need more sense to weigh what we post on our social media accounts. And if we’re not careful, we can hurt people or, worse, ourselves.

A mindless post can mean so many things; even if you don’t mean anything by it, some people could misinterpret them. 

As healthcare professionals, we must be mindful of what we say or post on social media. We must draw a clear line between ourselves and our profession. Remember to keep it professional.

Avoid posting anything unkind, and do not name names, especially if you have employers watching your account. Keep your posts clean. It will also keep you out of trouble. 

 

3. Check Your Privacy Settings 

Another vital nurse tip for social media is checking your privacy settings. The thing about social media is only some are your friend. Just because you have hundreds of people on your friend list doesn’t always mean they’re your actual friends. Some are there to watch your activities. 

While some people are genuine in their friendship with you, be wary about those who aren’t. The good news is you can control who you want to share your content with on social media.

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are designed so that users can customize their privacy settings to share whatever they want with people they only want to share it with. 

Check your privacy settings and see who is on your friend list. You have the option to remove or block those people who are not within your circle of friends.

On Facebook, you can share your posts with the public or customize them to only your real friends. But while these provide you with the privacy you need, they could also give you a false sense of security.

As a rule, only post what you want your employers, patients, or coworkers to see. Be aware and mindful, as always. 

 

4. Think Before Staying Connected with Patients

As nurses, we LOVE our patients big time, but sometimes, we must separate ourselves from this idea. It’s different when you care for your patients in a hospital setting and are friends with them online.

Boundaries are essential in this case. However, many patients are comfortable with us and vice versa, and if you EVER decide to accept that friend request from them, make sure to keep your post as professional as possible.

Remember, just because the patient added you on social media doesn’t mean you have the liberty to talk about them or their medical case. Always exercise extreme caution with each interaction, which could breach patient confidentiality.

You can lose your license if you’re not careful. 

 

5. Join Healthcare Discussions

Joining healthcare discussions is also one of the best nurse tips for social media. It is one way to keep yourself active on social media. It’s an excellent way to stay visible and relevant.

Talking about your interests and passion for healthcare is also one way to help spread awareness about the industry and inspire others to enter the field.

It will also give you an advantage if your employer decides to check on your social media account. This will show them how passionate you are about your career. 

 

6. Hold the profession accountable

Nurses must uphold strong ethical and moral standards, which apply to social media. If you see a fellow nurse or colleague breaching their patient’s privacy or confidentiality, report them to your HIPAA privacy or compliance officer.

Any content that could harm or expose a patient’s right, privacy, or welfare must also be reported. 

If you’re unaware of your company’s policy about social media posting, learn them now to set boundaries for your posts. Be always mindful and exercise caution to protect your patient’s confidentiality in every aspect, whether it be personal or professional.

And when in doubt, don’t post it at all. 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!