Maintaining Relationships While on Assignment

“What’s your dating life like?” “Don’t you miss your family?” “Is it hard being so far from everyone?” Questions we’re all too familiar with answering and concepts that can be difficult for people to understand when they don’t live it. The simple answer, “we make it work.” Let’’ be honest though, there’s really a lot more to it. Some of the biggest hesitations described to me when I recommend someone look into travel nursing are these concerns. Truthfully, it can be difficult at times. My advice - don’t let hurdles stop you from pursuing something you want, especially if that’s happiness or self-fulfillment.

---

When my journey began into travel nursing I frankly had no idea what I was getting into. I had never met another traveler or had any insight into the community; I simply took a leap into something in search of escaping the burnout feeling I had as a staff nurse. I was engaged at the time when I decided to solo travel and leave our home in Charlotte, NC to head up to Boston, MA. It was a very hard decision to leave behind my relationship and my beloved pets. Ultimately, it fell apart. One take away I am grateful for though was learning from my mistakes and reflecting on things like “what could I have done differently?”

• Be careful of becoming too involved in adventuring at your new assignment and not giving attention to those you’ve left at home. It’s important to balance the two in order to make both aspects of your life successful.
• Communication and trust are key. Distance relationships are not going to be for every type of couple, but make sure you have a good foundation and equal support before choosing to commit to traveling.
• Make the time. Remember that all types of relationships require effort and you get out what you put into it. So prioritize that family member, friend or partner by staying in some type of communication with them.

On the other hand, travel nursing actually brought me closer to a lot of my family and friends be it through sharing my experiences or during phone call marathons on those multi-day drives. You do have to get creative sometimes though to maintain those relationships while apart, whether it is with family, friends or partners. Here are some tips for strengthening your relationships while apart!

• Schedule time-off into your contract before you start (and get it in writing!) Use this time to visit family/friends at home or plan a visit for them to come explore your new assignment location with you. It’s a blast showing off all your new favorite spots.
• Weekly calls or video chats – this one can be tough to make time for believe or not, but try and make it a priority even if its just a quick 5 minute check-in.
• Social media – share your adventures on your social media if that’s your style. It’s kept me close with a lot of people by talking about regional foods I’ve tried or hiking trails I’ve explored. A bonus – helps you connect with other travelers and get great recommendations!
• Virtual experiences – try playing app games like “words with friends”/”trivia crack”, doing virtual dinner dates where you both cook the same thing, or join a streaming service like Hulu for a watch party to keep up with your favorite shows and movies.
• Care packages – not just for special occasions! Send trinkets special to your current location to share with them or receive comforting treats for spots back at home

Networking within your new city is hugely valuable for sure, but sometimes assignments can get lonely. So there are moments where it’s really comforting to have those people you can reach out to for support. Like calling your mom from the side of the road when you blow a tire in the middle of a Colorado snowstorm, ha! So stay connected and remember they miss you too while you’re away!

Written by Deanna Lamberson- Traveler alum, OR Nurse, and MedVenturist