Being a Travel nurse is a high calling. You’re serving patients in areas that need you the most, at hospitals where your help is vital to continuing quality care. Not only that, but you’ve probably got the most exciting job out of anyone you know – jet-setting to new assignments every few months, site-seeing each new city’s main attractions while also getting to experience living like a local.
Even so, the sting of feeling disconnected from friends and Family back home can hit travel nurses when they least expect it. In a world where technology can do just about anything, long distance bonds are more possible than ever. Here are a few ways for travel nurses to stay connected with friends and family from afar.
Deliver them a meal
This could be in the form of a Meal prep delivery kit like Blue Apron or HelloFresh if the person likes cooking with fresh ingredients. You could even order the same meal plan for yourself and Facetime while you prepare dinner together.
Don’t have time to cook, or want to send someone a meal spontaneously? Use apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash or Postmates, among others, to order from their favorite restaurant and have a meal delivered to their door.
Some circumstances require a long-term supply of meals delivered, such as a friend or family member having a baby or a stay in the hospital. You can coordinate a meal schedule via Take Them a Meal with others back home so that your friend/family senses your love and involvement during a season they especially need it.
Make your celebration social
When there’s big news in someone’s life back home, you might feel left out or unable to celebrate them in a big way. False! Celebrate someone for the world to see on their birthday, when they get a promotion, on a special occasion, or just because. This could be a shout-out post on Instagram or Facebook, or as a series of photos on your Stories. Nothing like an @ to make someone feel like they’re special to you!
Get a group text going
Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. While you might not be available for texting much of the time (travel nursing jobs are fast-paced and you rarely look at your phone on shift), you can still be in the know about family news, plans and just the trivial chit-chat. Having group texts set up with different sets of family and friend groups helps keep your name circulating on their radar (and vice versa). It’s an easy way to shoot an “I miss you guys” text to your siblings, or send a photo that only your nursing school pals will think is funny – sometimes that’s all you need to curb a bout of homesickness. Out of sight doesn’t have to be out of mind.
Amazon
Has there ever been an easier way to send someone a last-minute gift, care package, or simple “I’m thinking of you” present? Sending little surprise gifts occasionally tends to prompt your lucky recipients to do the same, but your main goal isn’t getting something in return. It’s to show you care! Amazon Prime not only allows you to ship just about anything for free, but Prime Video is a must-have to stream your favorite shows/movies. Win-win. Who even has cable anymore?
Grocery delivery
Similar to the meal delivery option – yet distinctive enough to get its own category – is grocery delivery. Maybe one of your friends or family members is going through a busy season, and doesn’t have much time to grocery shop. Ask them for their list and get it done for them, even if you’re thousands of miles away. Here are some top grocery delivery services to choose from:
- Instacart
- AmazonFresh
- Peapod
- Walmart Grocery – this one isn’t delivery, but a pick-up service, and may be most readily available around the country
There’s no wrong way to stay in touch with friends and family back home, but these are things you can do to feel more connected and part of your loved ones’ lives while you’re away saving lives. Now, time to start that “Fam Jam” group text…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Megen Robbins is the Marketing Supervisor at Cirrus Medical Staffing, a full-service healthcare staffing agency dedicated to finding the best travel nursing job for their travelers. In her spare time, she’s usually hanging out with her two children under age 4, while simultaneously daydreaming about alone time. Find more travel nursing career advice, tips and news on the Cirrus blog!
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