Your First Week as a Travel Nurse: Orientation, Survival Tips, and Expectations
Starting a new job is always nerve-racking, but starting your first week as a travel nurse in an unfamiliar city, state, or even country can feel especially overwhelming. Whether you are a seasoned travel nurse or a first-timer, it is no secret that your first week as a travel nurse will be the toughest.
The good news is that once you complete orientation and survive the first week, things become much easier. Having been through this several times myself, I have put together practical advice to make your first week as a travel nurse seamless and stress-free.
What To Expect During Your First Week as a Travel Nurse
After you nail your travel nurse interview with help of a perfectly crafted travel nurse resume, it’s time to shift your focus to prepare for your new job. To ease your jitters, here is a breakdown of what a typical first week of a travel nursing assignment looks like:
1-2 weeks before your start date:
- Expect an email from your unit manager/educator outlining your orientation. The email should include the training location, orientation schedule, where to park, dress code for classroom days (usually scrubs or business casual), and any required online modules.
- Complete online learning modules. Clarify whether the online modules must be completed before the start of orientation. Sometimes, classroom days provide time for you to work on them. If you complete them on your own time, keep track of your hours and be sure to be reimbursed for your time.
Day 1 – 2: Hospital orientation and classroom training
Day 3 – 4: Unit orientation with preceptor
Day 5: First independent/unsupervised shift
These are general timelines as amount of orientation you get largely varies depending on the facility! Most of my contract orientations followed this timeline, but I have had as little as four hours total orientation before.
Travel Nurse Orientation: What to Expect
Classroom Orientation
Classroom orientation will feel like information overload, but rest assured, a lot of it you will already know. During this phase of orientation, the basics will be covered, including:
- HIPAA
- Handling of hazardous materials
- Glucose meter training
- Programming IV pumps
- Facility policies and procedures
- Electronic charting system (EPIC, Meditech, Cerner, etc)
If the classroom training is located in the hospital, you’ll likely get a tour of the facility and your unit as well.
Unit Orientation
Arrive early, ask for the location and code to the break room, introduce yourself to your new coworkers, and get ready to hit the ground running! You’ll be assigned to a floor nurse who will precept you.
Depending on the facility, you may either shadow a nurse briefly or take a full patient load right away with your preceptor available for support. This is your opportunity to ask a ton of questions and become familiar with the unit’s flow.
During unit orientation, focus on learning the most important logistical details of the unit, including:
- location of the code carts
- codes to the breakroom and medication room
- login credentials to computers and the medication-dispensing system
- how to call a code/rapid response
- how to contact attending physicians/residents
- common phone numbers: (pro tip: write these on a piece of tape to stick to your badge!)
- unit phone number
- security
- charge nurse phone
- dietary services
- pharmacy
- laboratory
- phone numbers to save in your mobile phone:
- scheduler
- house supervisor
- unit phone/charge nurse number
- number to call out sick (usually house supervisor or charge nurse)
Stay Organized (Especially for your First Week as a Travel Nurse)
Staying organized during your first week as travel nurse is essential. With orientation comes a lot of paperwork. Mostly helpful resources, policies, and contact information that you’ll want to have with you on the floor, especially in the first weeks of your contract.
For this reason, I recommend keeping it all in a folder so you can quickly reference it on the go. Your folder is also a great place to keep your patient report sheets!
Keep track of your time card to the minute. Accurate on-the-clock time tracking is crucial to ensure you’re getting paid correctly. The facility will review its timekeeping procedure during orientation, and you are also responsible for submitting your timecards weekly to your agency.
Speaking of pay, be sure to maximize your money by reading my article on Financial Mistakes to Avoid as a Travel Nurse and How to Negotiate Travel Nurse Pay.
Adapt to New Hospital Culture
Every new assignment brings a unique work culture and vibe. Regardless of what that may be, stay true to your nursing style while adhering to the hospital’s policies and procedures.
Avoid constantly comparing your current assignment to previous ones. Don’t use phrases like, “At my other hospital, we did it this way,” or “My last contract was way better because…”. Unless your feedback can bring about positive change, it’s best to keep it to yourself.
Build Relationships with Your New Colleagues
Meeting new people and making friends all over North America has truly been my favourite part of travel nursing! Forming positive relationships with your new colleagues will significantly improve your experience on the unit and outside of work.
During your first few weeks, focus on introducing yourself to everyone and let them know that you’re happy to be part of the team and eager to help.
Be authentic and approachable. Show genuine interest in getting to know your team members, and be proactive in offering your help. Whether it’s answering call lights, checking in on your busy colleagues, or lending a hand where needed. Building this rapport will make you feel more comfortable and supported in your new environment.
Pro tip: Remembering everyone’s names early in your contract can feel impossible and overwhelming. I suggest keeping a list of people you’ve met in the notes app on your phone. Calling people by their first name is psychologically proven to create a sense of connection and increase feelings of trust and respect!
Find a few people you feel comfortable approaching to ask questions – you’re going to be doing a lot of that near the beginning of your contract! Good resource coworkers are usually your charge nurse, your educator, or other travel nurses – they probably asked the same questions when they started!
Connect With Fellow Travel Nurses
If you’ve been hired as a travel nurse, the odds are that there are a handful of other travel nurses on your unit and in your hospital. In my experience, it has been so easy to make friends with fellow travel nurses. Travel nurses are typically adventurous, outgoing, and social, so chances are you’ll have a lot in common.
Join online communities! There are often Facebook and Instagram groups created for connecting travel nurses. Follow travelnursetakeover on Instagram and request to be added to the travel nurse group chat in the city you’re working in. It’s an easy and awesome way to connect with like-minded healthcare nomads in your area!
Tips to Survive Your First Travel Nurse Assignment
- Ask questions early and often
- Arrive early for shifts, especially during your first week
- Write down important phone numbers on your badge and in your phone
- Learn the charting system quickly
- Connect with other travel nurses and resource nurses on the unit
- Be kind, open, adaptable, and helpful
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is travel nurse orientation?
The first week as a travel nurse and orientation vary from facility to facility. Typically, orientation last 1-4 days, including classroom training and unit orientation with a preceptor.
Do travel nurses get full orientation?
No. Travel nurses receive a shortened and condensed orientation than staff nurses. Travel assignments are usually 13 weeks, so the first week is dedication to orientation and then you’re expected to work independently. Travel nurse orientation still includes the essential training on hospital systems, policies, unit flow, and anything else required for your success on assignment.
What is the biggest challenge for new travel nurses?
One of the biggest challenges new travel nurses face is having to quickly adapt to a new hospital system while maintaining safe patient care. Learning new electronic charting systems, hospital policies, and unit workflow can take time, but asking questions and staying organized helps make the transition smoother.
How do travel nurses learn new charting systems quickly?
If you have no experience with the hospital’s charting system, more time will be dedicated to learning the basics during orientation. If you have time during your shifts, practice and play around with the charting system to get a feel for it. Most hospitals provide quick reference guides or super-users who can help travel nurses navigate the charting system.
Starting your first week as a travel nurse can feel overwhelming, but it also marks the beginning of an exciting new adventure. With the right preparation, organization, and mindset, you will quickly adapt to your new unit and thrive in your assignment. Be patient with yourself, ask plenty of questions, and remember that every travel nurse goes through this learning curve. You got this!
