Travel Nurse Toolbox - Travel Nursing Help Desk

You need to be aware of the environment and the problems it presents where ever you go and how to be prepared for it. This includes what weather to expect depending on the time the year, threats of nature such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, earthquakes and man made problems such as crime, traffic, pollution.

You can use various tools on my website to research these things. Your decisions on many things will depend on your knowledge of the environment among other things.

One example, is when I've been to Tucson twice before in the Fall-Winter months on assignment and the weather is very nice but in the Summer months I've heard it is brutally hot with the temperature getting up to 110 degrees. That may not bother some people while other people it may make them sick. I definitely would make sure my housing had central a/c and that it was in good shape as well as asking the manager about a/c within the hospital.

Allergens are different around the country or the conditions are so that they are more of a threat than where you came from. In Arizona the weather can be very dry and windy which is the worst weather for us allergy sufferers because all the allergens are being spread around up in the air. When it is more humid especially rainy allergens like pollen are at a lower level. A useful website to see the allergens in the US is Pollen.com . You may have to adjust your antihistamine dosage or change to a different one.

In the US Virgin Islands hurricanes are the biggest threat which can bring a whole list of problems such as long power outages. You need to keep a good supply of bathing water and drinking water, non-perishable foods, cash on hand because ATM's won't work, gas in your car, insect repellant, cell phone charger for your car, maybe an dc to ac inverter to operate a fan and light or your laptop from your car.

Researching your environment online can prepare you for all the problems which stop many people from traveling or make their assignment miserable. If you are prepared you feel more in control in mastering the environment and makes traveling fun and less a misadventure.

Also consider the environment on the trip as well. Be aware of what terrain you will be traveling through and under what weather conditions. Is your vehicle prepared for these different weather conditions or terrain such as : the heat, the cold, snow, heavy rains, steep hills. You definitely need good tires, good wipers, defroster working, brakes in good condition.

I would also suggest a cell phone that is trimodal meaning it can work off 3 groups of networks: The primary network that your service is under such as Sprint PCS, Other digital Networks, and the old analog cell phone networks that were there before the digital networks. That way you will have the best coverage if you are stuck somewhere and need help.

From my experience when I was in West Texas and New Mexico and the Hills of North Carolina the only way I could make a call is through the old analog cell phone networks. Many phones today are only digital so you need to check. If you upgrade to an all digital phone you may want to save the previous phone if it is analog capable as a back up to call 911. All cell phones in the US can call 911 as long as they have power regardless if they are not connected to a Provider.

Some people take an extra step by having a Citizen Band Walkie Talkie or a long range GPRS/GRMS Walkie Talkie. My wife and I use the latter when driving in separate cars to communicate important info. The cell phones that have the walkie talkie or instant press to talk rely upon the digital network being available.

A good pair of sunglasses is important too or prescription sunglasses if you need them to be able to see better and to read the signs to navigate. I could not drive without my prescription sunglasses and my nighttime driving prescription glasses (anti relective coating on both sides) and glass cleaning solution.

Making sure your windows are clean especially on the inside before taking off on the trip which can greatly reduce glare and increase visibility. I carry diluted window cleaner and towels or newspaper along with me to reclean the inside windows if necessary. Make sure your windshield washer cleaner tank is filled and may carry extra on long trips with lots of bug collisions, mud or other debris that may block your vision.

The GPRS/GMRS walkie-talkies I have have a weather radio alert function so I can stay alert of any impending weather condition coming such as a : Tornado, Severe Storm, etc. and some will alert to traffic conditions such as a major accident and such.

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