While working as a travel nurse, you will likely create bonds and relationships with your patients on each assignment. Not only are these healthy relationships likely to help boost your mood when you get homesick, but you just might learn something from them. Although it's important not to become too attached to these individuals, they are an important part of your continual growth and education as a nurse. Here are just some of the ways you might learn a thing or two from the patients at your travel nursing jobs:
Communication
In order to do your job well as a travel nurse, you'll need to have solid communication skills. While being able to explain things clearly is key, you also have to be a good listener in the healthcare industry. As you work with your patients to get them comfortable with procedures, symptoms and other issues associated with their conditions, you will also be teaching them. Teaching and communication go hand-in-hand in the field of nursing, so let your patients help you figure out what works and what doesn't. If you find that something just isn't clicking with your patient, talk with him or her to figure out where the communication has gone wrong. When explaining things to patients, remember they may not understand some of the lingo and acronyms you are using. It's best to figure out how you can get the same information across in layman's terms.
Motivation
Working as a medical staffing professional, you will be in contact with individuals who are struggling with recovery on a regular basis. Although this can be disheartening at times, you have to look at the positive side of things. Whether a patient has suffered from a stroke or another type of illness, you might be surprised by their drive and determination to get back to their previous state of health. Learn from your patients and allow them to motivate and give you strength to get through anything. Sometimes travel nursing can be taxing, but your small struggles will seem easy to overcome if you draw inspiration from the will your patients have shown you.
Patience
Sometimes no matter how great your communication skills are, your patients just won't pick up what you're saying. On top of that, it's important for those working in travel nurse jobs to remain patient with the individuals they are assisting. Help your patient and take your time with them. If you become frustrated or impatient with someone while you're on the job, that negativity is going to rub off on them. As a result, you could lose the trust that is required for a successful nurse-patient relationship.
Relationships
You'll spend a lot of time on travel nursing assignments talking with your patients about things other than their health, and often times those conversations will lead to stories that revolve around family. Although these tales may not always have happy endings, take time to learn from what your patients are telling you. You may also see the healing power that relationships with friends and family members can provide to someone who is struggling to get back on their feet. Allow these lessons to translate into the way you go about treating loved ones in your own life. Like so many things, you won't know what you're missing out on until you need it and it's not there. So do what you can to maintain those important relationships even when you're on the road working.