As a travel nurse who is likely moving to different facilities and states constantly, you have the opportunity to meet other people, healthcare professionals and otherwise, with whom you can cultivate healthy friendships. Making friends as a travel nurse can be one of the most rewarding aspects of this unique career path, helping you build connections that go beyond just work.

Although many people don’t consider workplace friendships to be an important factor when it comes to job satisfaction, having friends at work who share your interests, respect your boundaries, help you grow in your profession, and provide professional support can be helpful in the upward trajectory of your healthcare career and improving your overall wellbeing.

In this article, we provide friendship tips for travel nurses on how to make and sustain healthy friendships at every new facility or state they visit, helping them gain valuable and possibly lifelong connections in different parts of the country.

Making Friends as a Travel Nurse: Key Strategies

Connect with other travel nurses

One of the best ways to make new friends is to find shared interests — and who would best know the joys and challenges you experience as a travel nurse other than fellow travel nurses? Making friends as a travel nurse allows you to find a sense of camaraderie with others who understand the unique nature of your job.

Whether they’re from your own company or travel nurses you meet in your assignments, making friends with other professionals who share the same work can help you get support and allow you to vent a little about work. 

Making friends with other travel nurses can also help you gain insight into assignments that you should or should not consider based on their experience. You can also get the inside scoop on how certain facilities operate from travel nurse friends, such as patient-to-staff ratios and workplace culture, helping you make more informed decisions.

Friendship Tips for Travel Nurses: Building Strong Connections

Join groups with shared interests

If you have hobbies, such as photography, knitting, or reading, you can join local groups where you can meet other people who share your same passions. If you enjoy a more active lifestyle, you can opt to join exercise or adventure groups in your city.

Being part of a group of like-minded individuals can help you be more social, helping boost your communication skills and allowing you to develop healthy relationships with others. Aside from having fun and being able to socialize with others, groups can also help ease feelings of loneliness, especially when you’re feeling a bit homesick on your assignment.

Befriend your coworkers

Though some healthcare professionals prefer not to make friends at work, there’s some benefit to having pals on the floor. Units where nurses are friends are found to be more collaborative, supportive, and productive. And with nurses spending long hours at work, having a friend or two that you can depend on, crack a couple of jokes with, and decompress with after a long day can be a great comfort.

Nursing is not an easy profession — every day, there are many difficult conversations to be had about a plethora of things, ranging from patient care discussions to errors and delays. Doing so in a safe environment filled with friends you trust and respect can encourage openness, a willingness to make necessary changes, and grow professionally and as a person.  

Aside from the practical and professional benefits, having friends at work can also help you become more physically and mentally healthy. Studies show that having friends in the workplace can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of burnout, improve mental health, and even lead to a longer lifespan.  

Keeping friends for life

When you find your tribe, stay connected, even if you move on to different facilities. Here are some ways you can cultivate a healthy friendship despite the miles:

• Regularly keep in touch. It doesn’t have to be lengthy messages or video calls, but find ways to consistently catch up. You can share your favorite shows, movies, books, or even memes.
• Spend time together virtually. You can schedule movie nights via apps such as Teleparty or play fun games (such as Among Us or Board Game Arena) on days off to have fun and spend quality time together.
• Celebrate milestones and special events. If you can’t be there physically, sending thoughtful messages and packages can be the next best thing.
• Schedule visits. Nothing beats catching up in person!

By following these friendship tips for travel nurses, you can develop lasting and meaningful connections with others during your assignments and build a network of support that can enhance both your personal and professional life.