Getting sick while on assignment is no fun.
You already know that being a travel nurse takes a certain type of personality, one that is able to handle all the new challenges that come with the position and new location. You have to be ready and able to respond to any kind of surprises that may come your way. Getting sick is one that you may not think of ahead of time but you definitely want to be prepared to some degree. Being away from the comforts of your home while being sick can only seem to make matters worse. The furnishings in your temporary housing just doesn’t have the same feel and comfort you are use to at home and you may not have anyone close to you who would be able to drop by with anything you may need from the store or pharmacy. So what are some things you can do to prepare yourself to hopefully prevent this from happening?
- The time leading up to leaving for your next assignment you want to make sure you ready yourself and your body. Packing and all those things that go along with a move can be stressing, so make sure you are getting plenty of rest and sticking to your normal sleep schedule.
- It would be best to try and maintain all the things you would normally do like exercising, but don’t go overboard, it could only lead to more stress on your body.
- This ones a no-brainer. Wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizers.
- Bring your prescriptions along and any extras if need be.
- Health insurance is usually handled by your staffing agency, so just have your recruiter contact information available so that you can notify them and in turn they can deal with the facility where you are to work.
- Always, always, always have a list of your emergency contacts handy, just in case.
I’m not exactly sure what the protocol is for travel nurses who become sick, if they are able to seek treatment at the facilities they are working for or if they must seek out their own care elsewhere. I suppose if it were I dire need it’s not like they’re going to turn you away… But if you are in need of medical attention and don’t know where to go or can’t get there by yourself you can use these in-home doctor services like InnHouseDoctor or Physician Finders at WebMD and one more, Find A Doc. Hopefully it never comes to that, but if it does there is help just a phone call away. I wish you all the best of health and good luck on all your travels.
