As you probably already know, traveling medical professionals have gone from being a niche profession just a decade ago, to the staple of our healthcare system.
Traveling for short-term contracts all over the country is really fun and makes for a great adventure. Here at Ventura MedStaff, we hear all kinds of positive things about this lifestyle change from our regular travelers.
However, there is the downside as well – being away from home can cause some emotional challenges like being lonely. This is why we came up with this little list of how you and your loved ones can deal with the distance while you are away, whether it’s your significant other, your parents or just your friends.
Stay Connected via Technology
Distance is no longer a barrier to keeping in touch the way it used to be in the past. Thanks to modern technology, we have numerous ways of staying connected to people all over the world. Whether you prefer texts, audio or video, there are countless options available today.
In order to know exactly when your traveling respiratory therapist is available, you can create a schedule and keep to it as close as possible. Alternatively, there are options of leaving audio or video messages for them to see and hear later.
Create a Supporting Environment for your Traveling Respiratory Therapist
A good goal to have is to interact with someone you miss in “real time” at least once a week. This way, you can stay up to date with them and make the distance feel like less of a problem. Stay informed about their life and their issues and follow up with them to make them feel like they are not alone in that situation.
Keep in mind what your role is for them – you are their anchor to home and to their life they temporarily had to leave. Make sure that they know you are supporting them and that you have their best interest in mind, but don’t be afraid to tell them that you miss them and that you can’t wait to see them.
Help them to Explore and Live in their New Location
One of the greatest and most interesting aspects of being a traveling respiratory therapist is the wide array of places you can go and practice your profession. All of these new places provide a lot of options for exploration and fun activities.
If the respiratory therapist in your life is not sure what to do and where they want to go, encourage them to take full advantage of the options that exist in their new environment. Whether it is sightseeing, hiking, swimming or any other activity, let them know that they should create a balance between their challenging job and downtime. Filling their time off work with activities and experiences will enrich their stay there and make the overall experience much better.
Send Care Packages
Leaving your hometown and everything you’re used to can be a challenge because it means leaving those things behind, along with all of the people close to you. It can be lonely and a difficult decision to leave home.
To make it easier on them, you can send them a care package from home with all of their favorite things, along with something special that is specific to them. You will certainly make their day and it will help them to not feel so alone.
Distance can be hard to deal with, but with a bit of planning and commitment, you can make the three months go by much faster and smoother. If you know a respiratory therapist interested in traveling, or you are one – reach out to us, and our team of recruiters will help you figure out where to go and be there to help you every step of the way.
