Everyone knows, especially after the global pandemic wreaked worldwide havoc, that nurses have very challenging jobs. It’s especially challenging for nurses who are single parents who have to juggle working long shifts, managing household tasks, and taking care of children on their own. But imagine how extra tough it is for travel nurses with single-parent households who have to take care of their families and homes while they’re on travel assignments.
Though things can get tough, caring for a family as a single-parent travel nurse is not unattainable. In this article, we give invaluable tips on how single-parent travel nurses can balance their work and familial responsibilities before they embark on or while they are on their travel assignments.
Choose travel assignments that work for your unique situation
Every single-parent travel nurse is undergoing a different situation, and there’s no one right way to deal with life’s challenges. Before you accept a travel assignment, make sure that it works for your specific situation and your — and your loved ones’ — schedules.
For example, if you have a toddler, you can opt to choose a travel assignment that’s near your home and other family members’ homes who can take care of your child while you’re at work. That way, your child is being cared for by relatives and you can pick your child up and go home after your shift.
One of the many benefits of being a travel nurse is the opportunity to make more money, which you can use to hire a nanny. If you don’t live near relatives, you can choose travel assignments near your home and opt to hire a nanny who can care for your child. If your preferred travel assignment requires you to travel to a different state for several weeks, you can opt to hire a nanny who would be amenable to traveling with you and your toddler.
Single-parent travel nurses with school-age children should strive to foster stability for their children. Children who have stable home and school lives can help them build strong and trusting relationships with their teachers, schoolmates, and friends. During this crucial moment in your children’s lives, opt for travel assignments near your residence so that they can have stable school and home lives. If this isn’t an option, arrange for family members or a nanny to watch over your children during your travel assignment.
If your child is in high school and is open to the idea of traveling with you and being homeschooled, you can go for that option. The National Center for Education Statistics states that high school-age children are more likely to be homeschooled than any other grade, which they attribute to their mental health needs and the opportunity to get an education that’s tailored to their interests.
Plan and be organized
Planning is an important part of life, which single-parent households know to be true on so many levels. Try to organize your schedule to account for important appointments and errands for the whole month, which you would typically be able to accomplish on your days off. There are multiple organizing and scheduling apps that you can use, or if you prefer, you can get a trusty planner to keep your schedule well-planned.
But don’t forget to plan for lazy, loll-around days and fun dates with your children, too. If your children are with you during your travel assignment, make sure that you spend time with them by going to different interesting spots in the city and going on road trips when you’re off work. If you’re away from your school-age children while on assignment, make sure to block off your schedule to coincide with their summer vacation so that you can go home or they could fly off to where you are.
If your children are with you on assignment, it’s a good idea to enroll them in teen programs, clubs, and sports activities that can nurture their creativity and allow them to build healthy social lives.
It’s okay to outsource tasks — you don’t have to do it alone!
Asking for help when you need it is not something that you should feel bad or guilty about. Many people are willing to step up and help others who need a little help. People who enjoy helping those in need with their specialized skills can even make a living doing it, which is a mutually beneficial relationship.
Nowadays, there are many apps for running errands and doing important tasks around the house, including grocery shopping, house cleaning, and doing laundry. Check out reliable and secure services that you can use to help you with things that you don’t have the time (or energy) to do.
Take care of yourself
There’s no way around it — to provide your patients and your children the best care possible, you have to start with yourself. Partaking in self-care practices, even just for a few minutes each day, such as having a simple skincare routine, walking, or meditating, can reduce stress and anxiety levels and improve your overall health.
Part of taking care of yourself is finding a support system that works for you — your relatives, best friends, colleagues, or even a therapist. Supportive friendships enrich our lives by helping us take on life’s challenges and difficulties and giving us fresh insights and perspectives.
