As a travel nurse you know that long distances between assignments are part of the job. Adjusting to different regions, different climate and, of course, different hospital can all take a toll on your physical and mental health. It’s always in your best interest to keep yourself in the best shape you can on the road. Here are some of eJane’s top tips for staying at your best on the road.
Keep your body hydrated Sure, you can turn on the radio, put on your shades and rock out as you cross the country as you travel to you next travel nurse assignment. But, before you reach for that Billy Joel CD, grab that water that’s in your cupholder. Keeping your body hydrated goes a long way toward staying healthy on the road. Buy bottled water if you like (they come in plenty of shapes and sizes) but make sure to recycle them when you’re done. Regardless of the hype, water is by far better than energy drinks. Energy drinks have loads of sugar and/or caffeine and usually make you tired after their effect wear off. If for some reason you can’t do water, Try a natural or low sugar juice.
Feed your body wisely In your haste to get from point A to point B it’s easy to stop for five minutes and grab a quick bite to eat. Wendy’s, McDonald’s and others have made it far to easy for travel nurses to eat on the road. They prey on your hunger and pack pf proper planing with mouth-watering burgers and other tasy things that just happen to be terrible for you. Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives for travel nurses who want to feed their bodies properly on the road. Make and pack your very own low-fat travel nurse snacks (dried fruit, nuts, granola bars) that you can put within easy reach during your drive. If you do make a pit stop and decide it’s time for something more substantial than a snack, skip the rest stop and head for a local cafe or restaurant. A restaurant or cafe meal is almost always healthier, plus get a better “taste” for the town you’re passing through.
Stick to a driving schedule Few things can give your health a beating than waiting until the last minute to drive to your next destination and having to drive all day or all night without rest. If you drive well at night and are a night owl…stick to it. The revers is true as well. If you’ve been on days for the past 13 weeks, don’t think that your body will magically love you making it stay up all day packing and up all night driving. Messing with your internal clock like this can cause you be less alert on the road.
Exercise…Seriously Yes, we know this is almost always easier said than done. But we still can’t stress it enough. On the road, making time for formal exercise (aka the gym0 can be next to impossible. With a travel buddy, it might be a little easier thanks to the added motivation that an exercise buddy brings, but on your own, you might not be as disciplined. Exercising while on a travel nurse assignment can do wonders toward keeping good health. The easiest way to get some exercise on the road is to simply walk whenever you have the opportunity. If you stop for a break while you’re heading to a new assignment, do a half hour of window-shopping in a mall or find a local park stroll in. You can also bring a jump rope, some yoga videos or even some small weights with you to use while you’re at your new place.
Not only will staying healthy on the road keep you at your best for your upcoming assignments, it’ll keep your energy up as you go and explore all the new destinations you get to see in your career as a travel nurse.