So you’re thinking about, or you’ve just signed a new travel nursing contract. Have you given any thought to travel planning and what’s most important before you pack your bag and start your next adventure? Well as we discussed over past weeks, it’s very important to know your contract and to ensure you ask the right question to set yourself up for success. It’s equally important to plan and know what’s most important before you pack your bags and fuel up for your trip. Here are a few things to consider as you plan your travel to and from your destination.
Map your trip. Meaning… Jump on google or your favorite search and literally create a road map by searching the terms “your home address” to “destination address”. Google will provide a map that gives you a really good visual of your trip.
Know your stop point. This is going to require some math but if you know how many miles you get to the gallon, you can calculate how many miles you will be able to drive before you need to refill your tank. Using your Google map you can zoom in along your route to see where gas stations are along your trip as well as the distance between them to determine when and where you will need to stop to fill up.
Know your hotel options if your trip is not possible in one day. Just like you search for gas stations along your route, you can also search for hotels along your route by scrolling in on the map. The important thing to calculate is how far you will be able to drive before stopping to rest for the night. Typically nurses will drive 8 to 12 hours before stopping and many do not drive overnight as this presents many risks, including the chance of falling asleep while driving. So know how many hours you are comfortable driving and know what hotels are in range. Once you have an idea of where your rest point(s) are, be sure to book your room(s) for the night in advance. Things can change or the hotel may not have occupancy on the night you plan on staying so be sure to call and check and book a room to ensure you have a place to rest without having to scramble and stress to find a place after driving all day.
Pack lots of snacks and goodies. This will minimize the need to stop frequently, minimizing risks, while saving you money. Not to mention if you have specific dietary needs or favorite foods there is no guarantee you will find them in a remote gas station or town along your route. So be sure to pack food for your trip.
Check in with your recruiter at each stop point so your recruiter knows you are well and can update all parties involved in your contract. Recruiters are very busy managing multiple nurses and their personal lives which may include their own family and or commitments outside of work that may stretch them in many directions so don’t feel bad if your recruiter is not checking in with you frequently along your route. Send them a text or email at each stopping point to let them know you are ok.
If you are seeking your next contract or new to travel nursing, we’re here to help. Our application initial application process takes less than two minutes, and we have job openings in nearly every setting. To start your search and apply, please click below.
