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Nursing is a physically and mentally demanding career. With the present global nursing shortage, there has been an increase in the number of travel nurses. Before transferring to a new location, some professionals spend a few weeks assisting a hospital or private clinic. While nursing is physically demanding, working as a travel nurse might be much more so.
If you’re always traveling between towns to aid others, here are some strategies to look after yourself.
1. Eat a healthy diet.
Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health as a travel nurse. The food you eat will not only power your daily routine but will also allow you to create a strong immune system response that will keep you safe while traveling.
An easy option is to have nutritious snacks in your pockets or at your desk. While you may not have time to visit the cafeteria, you should be able to get a few bites of a protein bar in between patients.
When you are at your residence, you should look into healthy meal delivery options like Freshly and Eat to Evolve. You can also keep a glucose disposal agent in your pocket, so you don’t have to worry about low blood sugar levels throughout the day.
2. Reduce stress between shifts.
There’s no getting around the reality that nursing is an emotionally and physically demanding career. You may take care of your mental health by developing a stress-reduction strategy outside of work.
Allowing yourself time to unwind once your shift is over will help you stay steady and motivated as a travel nurse. On most days, your preferred method of pampering may be a hot lunch and a long siesta, and that’s perfectly OK.
Going to a pub or restaurant with friends when you have a few days off can help reset your mental meter. You can visit local attractions or spend time in a park to reduce your stress in peace.
Whatever you enjoy doing on your days off, it is important to reduce stress between shifts in order to keep mentally fit.
3. Have a healthy sleeping pattern
It is impossible to function at your best without adequate sleep. Whatever shift you work, you should have a sleep routine in place for when you return to your residence. Even if it’s the middle of the day, sticking to your routine will assist your body fall and staying asleep for longer.
This routine doesn’t need to be complex. Put a “do not disturb” sign at your door, read a book or take a warm bath before bed to relax your muscles and your mind. You should switch off devices like the TV and phone beforehand because the blue rays can disrupt sleep cycles.
Additionally, there is always the option to put on relaxing sounds on YouTube. If you find it hard to sleep still, exercise and tire yourself out to knock yourself into sleep quicker. Bedtime yoga has been known to be effective in creating a sleeping routine.
What we mean to say is that there are infinite options to help you relax after a long and tough day.
Conclusion:
Being a travel nurse is mentally and physically exhausting. At HBH Skyline, we value travel nurses and aim to create the best living environment for them. To support you, we created this blog post so you can learn how to lead a healthier life and how to effectively unwind after your tiring shifts.
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