Long-distance relationships (LDRs) are often viewed as challenging and hard to maintain, but for many who are nurturing relationships beyond the miles — such as travel nurses who take assignments in different states throughout the year — being in an LDR is a viable and highly sustainable option. In fact, the success rate of couples in long-distance relationships is at 60%, which is almost the same as that in geographically close relationships.

This article discusses how travel nurses can discuss their travel nursing life with their partners and provides helpful tips on creating long-distance travel nurse routines that keep the love alive despite the distance.

The “Talk”: How to Explain Travel Nursing to Your Partner

All successful relationships — whether it’s romantic, familial, or professional — are founded on good communication. To make the relationship work, you need to clearly and honestly explain what travel nursing entails to your partner so they have a better understanding of how it will affect your partnership.

The following are solid ways on how to explain travel nursing to a partner:

• Start with the basics of travel nursing: Give them a clear idea about how it differs from being a staff nurse, how long travel assignments take, which states you can travel to for work, and other important aspects of the job.
• Be honest about what the job’s demands are: Be upfront about the frequent relocations, changing schedules or shifts, and weeks of physical separation. Setting realistic expectations can help build trust and gain your partner’s support.
• Tell them why travel nursing appeals to you: Be honest about why you like travel nursing, whether it’s the substantial financial benefits, the flexibility to choose when and where you’ll work, or expanding your clinical and professional skills.

Long-distance Travel Nurse Routines for LDR couples

Maintaining a strong LDR can be challenging, but it can also be deeply rewarding. Adopting these practical tips can help keep your connection and relationship thriving while you’re away on a travel assignment:

• Discover what communication style works for you both and stick with it

Not all LDRs look the same, so it’s vital to get a good idea about what your preferred communication style is and how often you should communicate. Do you prefer to talk on the phone or do you like texting? How often can you text or call on days you’re working? How do you prefer communicating when you’re on your days off? Figuring out what platform you want to communicate on, your preferred communication style, and how often you can communicate can foster strong and healthy communication, nurture intimacy and trust, and help keep misunderstandings at bay.

• Find ways to be creative

It doesn’t take much to make your partner feel loved and thought of, even when you’re apart. Send voice notes detailing an interesting thing that happened, curate a special box of souvenirs, send handwritten letters, or have flowers and special meals delivered just because. You can also set online dates, participate in watch parties, or play multiplayer games. Simple, creative acts of love can keep partners happy and content.

• Be secure and enjoy your own company

To be a good partner, it’s crucial to be secure and enjoy your own company. When you’re a travel nurse, you’ll be out on assignments for extended periods, and that would mean that you’ll need to keep yourself company. Having your own set of hobbies and doing self-care activities can foster your independence and bring about emotional resilience, which can help you deal with bouts of loneliness and sadness. Doing self-care and self-love activities, engaging in fun hobbies, and nurturing friendships can help you grow as a person and contribute to a happy and meaningful relationship with your partner.