Balancing Family Life with Travel Nursing
It may not be possible to have it all, but there are some ways RNs can balance home life and work life when traveling.
Providing top-notch patient care can be professionally rewarding, but family and personal relationships are pivotal to a
fully actualized life. Balancing family life with a full-time nursing career is notoriously difficult. Indeed, according
to the
Nursing Shortage Statistics E-book, in 2024
approximately 60% of nurses reported feeling burnt out. Travel nursing offers a unique way to try out different
healthcare settings and counter professional burn-out which can, in turn, deliver a less stressed-out "you" to your
family.
Manage Stress
Stress experienced during the work-day can promote irritability at home. Angry outbursts aimed at a spouse or children
in the home especially can create a cycle of tense interactions. In turn, tension at home can lead to a decreased
ability to handle work-related stress. Three ways to manage your professional stress as a nurse so it does not adversely
impact your family life are:
- Go out for a walk or jog -- or take a yoga class after work, so that you are more relaxed and able to be attentive to family interactions when you arrive home.
- Take several deep breaths before entering your home to create a mental space between your work day and your “after-work” time.
- Remind yourself of a positive experience you had with each family member before entering your home after your work, so that your mind is more focused on positive experiences than negative ones.
Have a Support System – Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help!
Work-life balance is hard for most people (including nurses) to achieve. The long-standing anxiety of having to do your
best at work AND at home can result in reduced mental energy for interpersonal interactions with both your co-workers
and family members!
As a travel nurse, you may have to adjust to changed workplace duties, new workplace culture, and being apart for a
specified period of time from your children, other family members, and friends. Consequently, these loved ones may be
more in need of your emotional energy upon return.
The Pandemic led to an increased provision of telehealth, and more mental health therapists
than ever are offering sessions via teleconferencing software. Whether you prefer
in-person or virtual sessions with a therapist, the
important thing is to seek support if you are feeling overwhelmed.
Schedule Family Time and Partner Time
You may be away for weeks at a time as a travel nurse. Regardless of the duration of your absence, scheduling time with
each of your family members and/or intimate partner can be nurturing to both of you. By scheduling some time with each individual, you
can share any minor annoyances that might otherwise fester. And you can also provide positive feedback and emotional
support that can strengthen the bond you feel with each other. That feeling of relief and joy (even from teenagers!)
that comes with a reunion after a time away is a powerful reminder of your connection.
There are many travelers who hit the road with a partner, spouse, or another family member. Maybe their travel partner
is retired or in a work-from-home situation. It can be fun to have a built-in friend to explore new locations with.
You'll still need to focus on that non-work time together, though. It's a win-win for everyone even when, let's be
honest, there will be times when all you want to do is sleep in.
Asking Your Family to Pitch In
As a travel nurse, you may not be able to spend daily time with each family member – which can lead to disruptions in
the family's normal routines. Daily chores like straightening up, laundry, and even homework can get overlooked.
Consider designating tasks for each family member, and phoning to follow-up that the assigned task has been performed.
Did you know that making the bed each day is a
keystone habit? Two gold stars for
everyone who's onboard!
Many travel nurses take children with them on assignment. Sometimes they take an assignment when the kids are on school
break. Sometimes they travel with a caregiver who oversees the children's online education, whether it is homeschooling
or distance learning. Yes, it can be challenging, but the experience of meeting new and different kinds of people in
locations throughout the U.S. is an education in itself.
Last Modified On: Oct 25, 2021
The next stop on your travel journey awaits.
You may also like these posts
Are Nurses Athletes? You Bet!
Oct 15, 2020
Strength, endurance, strategic thinking? Yep, yep and yep. RNs are showing off their championship skills.
Read more
Why You Might Want to be a Traveling Float Nurse
Jun 22, 2020
Float nurse jobs offer opportunities for travelers to earn higher pay, learn new skills, and impress their hiring managers.
Read more
Which Nursing Specialties are Best For You? Quick Quiz!
Nov 09, 2018
Which areas of practice are right for you? Ask yourself a few quick questions and get started on your journey to the perfect fit.
Read more
