How to Get the Most out of Orientation Day on Your Travel Contract: 4 Helpful Tips

Reflecting on my first contract, I remember the anticipation of travelling to a new environment as I started my journey. Upon arrival and embracing what this venture had to offer, I also remembered how overwhelmed I began to feel, realizing how many aspects of travelling I had overlooked. Although I planned ahead, the issues that I still faced involved getting around via a transit system I was unfamiliar with, navigating the purchase of groceries with no car, unpacking, meal prep and sanitizing my space to my level of comfort; these were necessary agenda items that were more time consuming than expected, especially after starting an long travel day. The downside to these hurdles was feeling very pooped and not having the best start to my contract I would have preferred.

Allow me to share with you 4 key tips that came out of this experience and that helped me to develop my rhythm, in preparing and organizing well and therefore maximizing time for a successful orientation day. Hopefully with the tips I’ve learned and am sharing, helps you to maximize your orientation day as well!

1.Completing Required Modules ASAP

This is a time saver. Prepare ahead and give yourself a week or two before the start of your contract to go through the modules or review the necessary items the healthcare facility sends you (if they do). If they send out this information a day or two before the contract, do your best to at least give it a read through - that’s not your fault but its still an expectation to go through it. Going through the information when you have adequate time helps you to take your time and read the information to actually remember and digest it properly. It also shows that you’ve done your due diligence and highlights that you are prepared  for your contract. If you’re curious to know if the personal days used to complete the modules are paid or not, they usually are not, but it doesn’t hurt to ask your recruiter about it.

2. Getting to Your Travel Contract Early

This tip, can set you up well for your first week. If you are able to get an early enough flight to the location of your contract, try and do so. This also applies if you are driving to the contract as well. For example, if you’re flying, try to get a flight that will allow you to arrive between 8am-12 noon so there is enough time to shop, chill and reset (this has really helped me settle in faster). Allowing enough time to get organized the evening before and be on time for the first day. Sometimes, despite your efforts to arrive early, you can’t check in to your housing because it's not ready, there are travel delays and other unexpected challenges can occur. Life happens and at the end of the day, the goal is to keep an open mind, manage the unexpected and with that do your best to prepare for your first day.

3. Getting Adequate Rest the Night Before

Another way to make life easier for yourself and make your first day on the unit a good one is to get adequate sleep! It's so important! Travel day is a tiring day and as with most contracts, your first day is likely tomorrow. Flying in, picking up your bags, getting to the housing site/airbnb, purchasing food and/or groceries, unpacking, settling in and then aiming to go to bed on time, plus whatever else you have to do…it's a lot.  The first day is where impressions are made, a BUNCH of information is given to you and this may be the only orientation day you do get, so be as alert as possible and make it count! 

4. You Aren’t Going to Retain Everything

Let me say it again for the people in the back, you are NOT going to retain everything! Sometimes, by the 6th hour of the orientation shift, my brain starts slowing down. From learning new policies to remembering codes, numbers, learning computer systems, its quite a bit to take in. Bring a notepad and pen to note key numbers, log in info, codes, policies and any additional information that may want to be reviewed later. It's always good to ask the nurse assigned to orientate you, where to find the pertinent policies and procedures. For example, as an L&D travel nurse, I like knowing my policies about oxytocin infusions, epidurals, and protocols for other labour induction methods. So I give these specific policies a read through within my first day or two of working on the unit, and for anything else I need to know, I ask the charge nurse and/or staff. 

Staff are normally pretty great to work with. Willing and available to help you. They know that you won’t know everything. If you’re unsure, ask the charge nurse, your nurse mentor or the clinical educator. A facility prefers you to ask questions, than to assume and guess things which can possibly lead to an error.

It's always a pleasure sharing with you, and if you have any additional tips based on your experience or you’ve put these tips into practice yourself, let me know in the comments or send me a message! Would love to hear from you.

Until next time!

Your friend,

Sarah