Jan 16, 2025 — Carly Miller

How to Prep Your Nurses for Winter Travel Assignments

Winter travel assignments present unique challenges for travel nurses and the agencies supporting them. From navigating icy roads to managing unpredictable weather conditions, preparation ensures a smooth and successful assignment.

For healthcare staffing agencies, this means taking proactive steps to equip nurses beyond the standard support related to average salary, pay, and housing. Instead, it means going above and beyond to give nurses the encouragement they need to thrive during the colder months.

In this blog, we’ll explore practical tips and strategies to help your agency effectively prepare nurses for winter travel jobs.

Share Essential Packing Tips With Your Nurses

For nurses working in colder climates, winter travel jobs may require a significant wardrobe shift. Even warmer areas like Florida or San Francisco experience temperature drops that nurses may struggle to adequately prepare for. Therefore, sharing packing tips and guidelines with your nurses is essential to ensure they are ready for the colder weather. Here are some basic packing tips to share with your nurses.

Layers are Key

Encourage nurses to pack layers such as sweaters, jackets, and thermal underwear. This will allow them to adjust their clothing depending on the temperature.

Don’t Forget Winter Accessories

Scarves, gloves, hats, and boots are essential items for winter travel nursing jobs. These items can help protect against cold winds and snow.

Bring a Waterproof Jacket

Rain or snow are always possible during the winter months. A waterproof jacket can help keep nurses dry and comfortable while they work or explore their new location.

Pack Appropriate Footwear

Nurses should wear shoes with good traction to prevent slips and falls on potentially icy surfaces. They may also want to consider wearing waterproof or insulated boots for extra protection against the cold.

Stay Hydrated and Nourished

Winter weather can be harsh on the body, so staying hydrated and nourished is essential. Encourage nurses to drink plenty of water and pack nutritious snacks to keep their energy levels up.

Help Your Nurses Fight Seasonal Challenges

 

 

 

 

 

Winter assignments may bring new health challenges for nurses. From the common cold and flu to seasonal depression, agencies must help their nurses manage these issues. Here are some tips for how to help your nurses fight seasonal challenges while working their new job.

Educate about Seasonal Illnesses

Provide your nurses with information about common seasonal illnesses. Agencies can organize training sessions or share guides detailing the symptoms, prevention strategies, and treatment protocols for conditions like the flu, colds, and respiratory infections. Encourage nurses to get vaccinated when appropriate or send them care packages branded with your healthcare logo to maintain their immune health. Consider adding cough drops, herbal tea, and vitamin C supplements to the package.

Encourage Good Hygiene Practices

 

While you may not directly influence hospital policies, you can still play a crucial role in promoting good hygiene practices among healthcare professionals. Providing educational resources on proper hand hygiene, the importance of sanitizing workspaces at their healthcare facilities, and the correct use of PPE can empower nurses to prioritize cleanliness and minimize the risk of infection.

Provide Access to Mental Health Services

Winter is often accompanied by the seasonal blues, and nurses may struggle with feeling isolated, stressed, or overwhelmed. Agencies can support their mental well-being by providing access to counseling services, online groups, or apps for self-care practices like mindfulness and meditation. Additionally, agencies can offer flexibility in scheduling and workload to help alleviate stressors and create a healthy, balanced nursing career.

 

 

Help Nurses Navigate Travel Logistics

Traveling during the winter months can be unpredictable. As a recruiter, it’s crucial to provide guidance to help nurses navigate these challenges. Here are some ways you can support your nurses’ travel logistics during their winter nursing jobs.

Be Proactive with Travel Arrangements

Being proactive with travel arrangements ensures that nurses can focus on their jobs without added stress. Start by booking flights, rental cars, or other necessary transportation as far in advance as possible to secure better rates and avoid last-minute complications.

 

Additionally, monitor weather forecasts and potential disruptions to provide timely updates and alternative plans if needed. Provide each travel nurse with detailed travel itineraries and ensure they have access to 24/7 updates in case of emergencies or unforeseen changes.

Have a Backup Plan in Place

A backup plan is essential to ensure smooth operations and mitigate potential disruptions. Unexpected events such as travel delays, housing issues, or sudden schedule changes can arise, and a well-prepared contingency plan can make all the difference.

 

Strategies to Help Your Nurses Adapt to New Environments

Settling into a new environment can be challenging, particularly during the colder months. Consider implementing these strategies to help nurses adapt to their winter travel nursing jobs.

Connect Nurses with Local Resources

Connecting nurses with their local surroundings can help them feel more at home. Consider sharing information about nearby grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, or other essential services that may differ from what they are used to. Additionally, introduce nurses to colleagues or other healthcare professionals in the area or top cities nearby who can serve as a support system and offer guidance on navigating the new location.

Organize Social Events

Winter travel nursing jobs don’t have to be all work and no play. Organizing social events for nurses helps them de-stress and unwind and creates opportunities for them to connect with each other and build relationships. If you can’t organize in-person events, consider setting up a virtual registered nurse group where your nurses can chat with people they can relate to.\

Provide Cultural Sensitivity Training

Cultural sensitivity training can help nurses better understand and adapt to their new location’s unique customs and traditions, particularly during winter holidays. This training can cover communication styles, appropriate holiday greetings, and respectful behavior in different cultural settings. It promotes inclusivity and helps nurses feel more comfortable and accepted in their new environment.

Regularly Check In On Your Nurses

Regular check-ins with nurses are essential for maintaining their well-being and ensuring job satisfaction. Agencies should establish consistent communication channels to provide guidance, address concerns, and gather feedback about their travel nurse experiences. These check-ins can be conducted through one-on-one meetings, surveys, or regular phone calls.

 

 

 

 

Help Your Nurses Thrive This Winter

 

Winter nursing jobs can be both challenging and rewarding for travel nurses, and with the right help, they can truly thrive during this season. By fostering a sense of community, promoting cultural understanding, and emphasizing work-life balance, you can help nurses feel valued and empowered.

Looking for a place to promote your winter travel nursing jobs? Partner with TravelNurseSource to reach a wide network of experienced travel nurses across specialties – from home health to labor and delivery and everything in between.

Looking for an allied solution? Partner up with AlliedTravelCareers to reach a network of allied professionals.

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