While working as a travel physical therapist you will have the exciting opportunity to go all over the country on assignment, meeting new people and discovering new places. What could be better than touring a nearby winery or tasting the local cuisine on your time off with your best friend from home? One of the great things about travel physical therapy jobs is that you can have friends and family come visit you or even stay with you during an assignment. This can prevent you from feeling homesick and give you the chance to share your adventures with loved ones. However, there are a few things you should consider if you're thinking about inviting someone along for the fun on your next trip.
The first thing you should determine is if you want your friend or family member to come along for the duration of your assignment or just for a visit. If you would like them to be with you for the entire assignment or for an extended stay, talk to your travel physical therapy agency and find out how to request an additional room in your housing accommodations. While the agency will provide you with free housing during your stay, it is you or your friend's responsibility to pay for any additional costs that may be associated with needing extra space.
If your friend is planning to only visit for a week or two, you might be able to simply make up a bed for them in your living room. Ask him or her to bring along an air mattress or be prepared to sleep on the couch as you will not have an extra bed. Even if your visitor is fine with these sleeping arrangements, take time to think about if this will be an inconvenience for you. While traveling on assignment, you may not have as much space as you're used to at home, and having an extra person around for any amount of time will certainly take some sacrifice on your part.
You may also want to consider if you will be able to balance your demanding work schedule with playing host to a friend. It might be a good idea to invite someone along who is independent enough to do a little exploring on his or her own while you are at work. The last thing you need is to feel guilty about leaving your pal behind while caring for a patient at the clinic or hospital. Finally, be sure to give yourself enough time to make new friends while on assignment instead of always hosting visitors. Meeting people and building relationships with those around you are part of what makes being a travel physical therapist so rewarding.