A travel nursing career opens you up to a unique blend of rewarding experiences and on the flip side, challenges. In this dynamic field, a little guidance and support can go a long way. That’s where Fusion Medical Staffing Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) Amber Barna, MSN, registered nurse (RN), comes in.
With her wealth of experience, Amber shares practical insights to empower travel nurses like you — whether you’re starting fresh or already seasoned in your travel nursing journey. Here’s how to thrive through potential downfalls as a travel nurse.
- Common travel nursing challenges (+ possible solutions)
- 4 tips to thrive through travel nursing obstacles
- New travel nurse job checklist
- ✨BONUS ✨ Frequently asked questions
Thrive Through Travel Nurse Challenges with Amber Barna, MSN, RN, CCO
Common travel nursing challenges (+ possible solutions)
Unsafe patient ratios
Imagine stepping into a hospital or healthcare facility, eager to make a positive difference, only to find yourself overwhelmed with more patients than you feel like you can safely manage. Unfortunately, high patient loads may be a reality for some travel nurses.
“As a travel nurse, you may go into less-than-ideal healthcare staffing situations,” said Amber. “You must prepare upfront for this.”
Coming face-to-face with unsafe patient ratios can be daunting. Should you find yourself in this situation, try to remain calm and professional. Then, speak to healthcare leaders to share your discomfort and evaluate if any staff nurses or additional help are available. Don’t be afraid to call your travel nurse recruiter or our Clinical team for added support.
“We have what I believe is the best Clinical team,” said Amber. “Our Clinical team has experience ranging from the post-acute realm all the way through acute care and outpatient care. Their experience allows them to talk through a situation with you, and most of them have probably gone through a similar type of situation.”
Related: Our Clinical Team Has Your Back. Here’s How!
“We have a fundamental understanding of the challenges that you may be facing,” said Clinical Liaison Katie Anvari, RN. “I want any traveler who reaches out to us to know that they’re talking to someone who truly understands what they’re going through, and we will meet them with compassion and understanding.”
Misaligned floating expectations
Ever start a travel nursing assignment just to find that the expectations around floating to different units aren’t what you thought they were? One day, you’re working in a unit where you feel confident and empowered, while the next, you’re asked to jump into an unfamiliar area that’s out of your comfort zone.
Finding yourself in this position can be incredibly stressful, especially when you’re trying to establish your place at a new facility. To hopefully avoid this is, it’s a good idea to clearly communicate with the facility and thoroughly read your travel nursing contract about floating policies before accepting the job.
If the floating expectations reach an unsafe level, escalate the issue to healthcare and nurse leaders, and inform your Fusion Medical Staffing recruiter or clinical liaison.
“One thing you never want to do in this scenario is leave the facility,” said Amber. “This can be perceived as abandonment, which is actionable. Instead, call and lean on us for support.”
Workplace bullying
From snide comments to exclusion from activities to dismissive attitudes, being on the receiving end of workplace bullying feels bad. And as a travel nurse, you may be more at risk of facing workplace bullying and/or a hostile work environment. According to government data, healthcare professionals are five times more likely to experience workplace violence compared to other workers.
Many travel nurses report unfair treatment from permanent staff nurses, patients, or families. Additionally, hostile behavior can emerge between patients or from families toward patients, putting you in a difficult position.
“If you can, try to address the behavior one-on-one,” said Amber. “Be direct, ask if there’s something you’ve done to upset the person, and address their behavior but try to remain objective. All else fails, escalate the issue through the facility chain and keep us involved every step of the way.”
Related: 5 Ways We Help You Navigate Hostile Work Environments in Healthcare
“A hostile work environment might take a mental toll on a traveler,” said Crystal Ford, Fusion Medical Staffing’s work comp program coordinator. “For these types of situations, we have our Clinical team and offer mental health resources through our employee assistance program or EAP.”
4 tips to thrive through travel nursing obstacles
Ask questions and do your research
Knowing if the healthcare facilities you’re considering working at and their locations are a good fit for you and aligns with what you want can be a game-changer.
Whether it’s during the interview phase or a casual chat with your recruiter, don’t hesitate to ask thoughtful questions to learn more about the assignment. Common things to inquire about include patient ratios, float policies, models of care, shift/hours/weekend requirements, unit culture, frequently seen diagnoses, and rarely seen diagnoses.
“Learning about the facility before accepting the assignment is extremely important,” Amber said. “It’s nice to know what you’re getting into and learning as much as you can about a facility can help you know what to expect.”
Additionally, research the local area by checking out amenities, safety ratings, and lifestyle options, such as housing, recreational activities, and proximity to essential services. This comprehensive and curious approach not only helps you assess whether a specific assignment is a good fit but also enhances your overall travel nursing experience by ensuring you feel comfortable in your new surroundings.
Utilize your orientation time
Your orientation at a new facility is a golden opportunity to familiarize yourself with the hospital’s culture, protocols, and team dynamics. By engaging with fellow staff, asking questions, and taking notes, you can build confidence and form connections that make your transition smoother.
“Take advantage of your orientation,” said Amber. “Don’t assume; ask questions. This is the time for you to learn exactly what you need to provide patient care at that facility.”
Embracing your orientation period enhances your skills and helps set the stage for a rewarding travel nursing experience.
Build relationships
Starting fresh at a new workplace can feel intimidating, but building connections with others in the healthcare system, like colleagues and your Fusion Medical Staffing friends and online community, can make all the difference.
Related: Relationship-Based Support: The Role of Our Traveler Experience Team
“We want to be your partner,” said Director of Traveler Support Dan Deveney. “We want to build a relationship with you. If you want an agency that’s going to support, value, and listen to you to make sure your experience is top-notch and fix it when it isn’t, we’re the place for you.”
Together, we can share tips, tricks, and experiences and create a support network that makes travel nursing hurdles feel less overwhelming.
Practice self-care
It can be easy to get caught up in a new travel nursing assignment, but don’t get sucked in too much that you forget to take care of yourself. Self-care may look different from person to person — carving out a few quiet moments to read a book, exploring the local area, enjoying a warm cup of coffee — but regardless of what it may look like, acts of self-kindness can make a big difference.
“We believe in your mental health and well-being, so we have a large focus on it and encourage you to take time for yourself,” said Amber. “Our benefits go a little further to ensure you’re supported each step of the way — before, during, and after assignments.”
We’re not only here to help you live out your purpose but to also provide a safe, encouraging environment where you feel taken care of. Some of the ways we promote self-care is through free mental health resources and partnership programs, an employee assistance program, online community groups, traveler paid time-off, clinical advocacy, and more.
Related: 12 Must-Know Perks and Programs for Fusion Travelers
When you travel with Fusion Medical Staffing, you can feel good knowing you have extra layers of care and support.
New travel nurse job checklist
“It’s extremely important to give travel nurses as many tools as we can to be successful,” Amber said. “Travel nurses travel across the country, so they can’t just come into our office to receive in-person help. That’s why we arm them with tools to be successful upfront.”
In addition to our health and wellness benefits, we also created this handy checklist to help increase job satisfaction in your new assignment.
Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of not addressing travel nursing challenges?
Ignoring the challenges of travel nursing can lead to some serious risks, and nurse burnout is at the top of the list. When you’re constantly on the go, adjusting to new environments, and facing high patient loads without taking time to address your stress, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and drained. These negative feelings not only affect your mental and emotional well-being but can also impact the quality of care you provide your patients.
Related: Strategies for Dealing with Nurse Burnout
It’s important to recognize challenges you face and tackle them head-on. The good news is when you travel with us, you never have to face them alone.
What ways can I accomplish a healthy work-life balance as a travel nurse?
Achieving a healthy work-life balance as a travel nurse may feel like a juggling act at first, but with a little practice, it can become part of your everyday lifestyle.
The key to a good work-life balance is to prioritize your emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Schedule “you time,” connect with loved ones, catch up on your favorite show — engage in activities outside of work that bring you joy. A healthy work-life balance can improve job satisfaction, as well as make you feel more fulfilled in your personal life.
How does Fusion Medical Staffing help increase healthcare traveler job experience?
At Fusion Medical Staffing, we’re all about personalized support and open communication. Our mission is to improve the lives of everyone we touch, and that starts with you.
“At the core of everything, Fusion Medical Staffing was created around providing an experience for our travelers that is the best and we’ve put a lot of effort into making sure we have the finger on the pulse to know what people actually want,” said Amber. “We’re always listening to our travelers; I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything launched here that wasn’t inspired by traveler feedback.”
With us, you’ll never have to wonder if anyone’s listening to your feedback; we are, and we encourage you to share more. Your voice matters, you are heard, and improvements are continuously being made based on your recommendations.
As Amber said, “Our travelers are part of our team, they’re part of our family.”
You face a unique set of challenges as a travel nurse. While we may not have answers or potential solutions for everything, we always do have your best interests in mind and at heart. And with insights from healthcare leaders like you and Amber, we’re able to push the envelope, strengthen the healthcare system, and fulfill our mission of improving lives.
