New Year’s Resolutions To Bring Focus, Health, and Joy to Your Life as a Travel Nurse

You’ve been here before. It’s late December, and you’re thinking about the New Year and the resolutions you’re going to make.

But this year, it’s different. 

You want to set New Year’s resolutions that can make you a better travel nurse. And you want to make resolutions that you can keep and that will benefit you all through the year.

We can help with that!

We’ve compiled a list of travel nurse New Year’s resolutions that will prepare you to excel in your profession, advance your career, and stay strong and healthy.

Table of Contents

• 12 Travel Nurse New Year’s Resolutions for Every Area of Your Life
• 3 Everyday Work-Related New Year’s Resolutions for Travel Nurses
• 3 Long-Term, Career-Related New Year’s Resolutions for Travel Nurses
• 3 Health-Related New Year’s Resolutions for Travel Nurses
• 3 Personal New Year’s Resolutions for Travel Nurses
• How To Choose Travel Nursing New Year’s Resolutions That Won’t Fail: Think S.M.A.R.T.
• Let Trusted Nurse Staffing Help You Achieve Your Goals for the New Year

12 Travel Nurse New Year’s Resolutions for Every Area of Your Life

3 Everyday Work-Related New Year’s Resolutions for Travel Nurses

Though nursing can be a rewarding career, it can also be one of the most stressful. Long shifts, critically ill patients, and emergencies can leave a nurse running on empty and close to burnout.

To lessen the effects of exhaustion and burnout, perhaps, some work-related New Year’s resolutions are in order. 

#1: Work Smarter — Not Harder

We’ve all heard the advice, “Work smarter, not harder.” Nobody sets out to purposely do things the hard way, but that’s often what happens when we haven’t discovered a smarter way. 

Nurses have a plethora of duties with each shift, so how can they practically work more efficiently and competently?

Here are some ideas:

• Arrive early to have time to organize your work tasks and gather yourself before the frenzy begins.
• Manage your time by planning upcoming tasks at the beginning of the shift. With a good plan, you’ll be better prepared to handle surprises or other interruptions.
• Prioritize each shift’s duties according to:
  • What needs to be done now
  • What is urgent
  • What has high ramifications
  • What allows for upholding standards; and
  • What can be done at the end of the shift
• Don’t try to do everything yourself. Be ready to adapt and learn how to delegate appropriate tasks.
• Double-check completed tasks to avoid fixing mistakes or repeating tasks.
• Ask questions for clarity.
• Take care of yourself by taking adequate breaks to recharge and refresh. Trying to plow through doesn’t help you or your patients.

#2: Cultivate a Healthy Work Environment

Nursing in itself is a challenging profession, but working in a toxic environment makes it even more demanding. Negative work environments affect productivity and morale.

So, for the new year, resolve to be a part of the solution instead of contributing to the problem.

Here are some ways you can contribute to a positive work environment:

1. Lead by example. Let your coworkers see a positive and encouraging outlook and encourage them to follow suit. 
2. Smile! It’s often contagious and makes for a more comfortable atmosphere, even in exacting circumstances. Besides, smiling and being happy can make you more productive, according to a study by the Oxford University Saïd Business School.
3. Add a little humor to your day and enjoy some lighthearted moments with coworkers and patients.
4. Show gratitude.
5. Recognize your coworkers’ strengths and praise their contributions.
6. Keep an open mind and consider other perspectives with generosity.
7. Prioritize safety.
8. Instead of venting or complaining, try offering solutions. This can help squelch discontent and foster positivity.

#3: Strive To Be the Nurse You Would Want at Your Side as a Patient

It’s easy to get into your nursing routine and go through the motions to get the job done.

But remember that you are caring for real, live human beings who have needs, feelings, fears, and concerns. 

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch encourages Scout when he says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

Put yourself in your patients’ skin and be the nurse you’d like to have if you were in their place.  

With that view, resolve to:

• Be caring and compassionate
• Communicate well
• Show empathy
• Pay attention to detail
• Have a sense of humor
• Advocate for your patients
• Be optimistic
• Apologize and take responsibility when necessary
• Keep your word and do what you say you will do

Trusted Nurse Staffing can help you find the travel assignment you’re looking for in your field of expertise. With a dedicated team member by your side, you’ll be supported each step of the way, from the application process to the nursing assignment. 

Contact us today to get started.

3 Long-Term, Career-Related New Year’s Resolutions for Travel Nurses

Are you ready to advance your career?

Do you have goals that remain unmet?

Maybe some long-term career resolutions are needed.

#4: Invest in Career Development

Investing in career development will most certainly require various sacrifices. But sacrifices of money and time — just to name a few — will pay off in the end when you’ve succeeded in achieving your long-term career goals.

The best way to advance your career is to be a continuous learner. 

Invest in your career by taking advantage of continuing education opportunities, attending nursing conferences, and receiving specialized certifications.

Examples of specialized certification to further your career could include:

• Trauma and abuse training
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• IV Therapy certification
• Holistic nursing certification
• Family nurse practitioner
• And more

#5: Prioritize Networking

Whether it’s nursing or another career, networking is a great way to get an edge.

We’ve all experienced the truth in the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Connections can go a long way in exploring opportunities to move your nursing career to the next level.

Perhaps in the New Year, you’ll commit to:

• Joining a professional nursing organization
• Seeking out personal relationships to connect with influencers
• Connecting with others through online networks like LinkedIn, allnurses.com, the American Nurses Association, or the American Academy of Nursing

#6: Keep Up With Advancing Technologies

Technology seems to change by the day. 

Keeping up with the trends and modern technologies can keep you on the cutting edge of the newest advances, preparing you for wherever your career may take you.

Nurses often use healthcare technology software and devices, and as a traveling nurse, the more familiar you are, the better you’ll be able to adapt to various systems at different facilities.

To keep up with advancing technologies, consider:

• Staying informed by reading tech news.
• Following tech industry accounts on social media.
• Taking an online class.
• Listening to podcasts to stay informed

3 Health-Related New Year’s Resolutions for Travel Nurses

Health-related resolutions are often the first ones we make — and for good reason — healthy nurses make better nurses. It’s never too late to get back in the health and fitness groove.

#7: Make Nutritious Food Choices

Making the best food choices is one of the biggest steps nurses can take to ensure proper health and nutrition.

When we eat better, we feel better, have more energy, and can be clear-headed to do our jobs well.

With a nurse’s hectic schedule, it’s all too easy to grab quick foods low in nutrition, but with just a few tips, making better choices can be easy and efficient.

• Cook and pack your  food to bring to work.
• Try to eat at regular intervals without skipping meals.
• Bring healthy snacks to work.
• Make a meal plan and stick to it.
• When eating in the hospital cafeteria, plan ahead and don’t make impulse choices.

#8: Create an Enjoyable Workout Routine

We know what you’re thinking — “I’m on my feet all day! I’m getting plenty of exercise.”

True, you may log miles of steps each day, but you probably aren’t raising your heart rate. Raising your heart rate is important to provide blood and oxygen to your muscles and to burn calories.

On the other hand, we also know how hard it can be to fit in a workout after being at work all day.

If you’re serious about making New Year’s resolutions to exercise more, you may need to get creative. Here are some ideas to help you make exercise a part of your routine:

• Be determined and set some parameters. Start by exercising 1-3 times a week and then work up to more as you’re able.
• Find something you enjoy — tennis, pickleball, yoga, or running. When you do an activity you love, you’re more likely to stick to it.
• Choose the best time of day that suits you and your schedule. Will you really enjoy waking up at 4:30 a.m. to exercise before work? Or will you manage better if you schedule your exercise after your shift?
• Choose the best location. If you enjoy going to the gym, find one that fits your budget and offers the amenities you’re looking for. If you’d prefer to exercise at home, you can plan great workouts with minimal equipment, including dumbbells and resistance bands. 
• Use exercise apps or join classes at your local gym.

#9: Focus on Your Mental Health

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on our bodies, so mental health should be a priority.

In the New Year, plan to include some of these tips to stay mentally fit:

• Plan a vacation.
• Treat yourself to a regular massage.
• Spend time with friends and coworkers to unwind and enjoy uplifting company.
• Learn how to say “no.”
• See a counselor or coach for help when needed.
• Practice solace and leave time for quiet and meditation.

3 Personal New Year’s Resolutions for Travel Nurses

It’s important to make your personal life a priority as a travel nurse. Long hours, late shifts, and difficult patients — these can all add up to making life feel hard and exhausting. Prioritizing personal life can help with balance.

#10: Take a Risk

Are you always dreaming of doing something out of the ordinary but never doing it because it’s just not practical?

Going out on a limb and doing something exciting and risky can help you:

• Learn things about yourself
• Feel a sense of accomplishment
• Build confidence
• Live without regrets

Taking a risk doesn’t have to be extreme, like parachuting out of an airplane. Maybe you should take a trip to a new location or go on a zipline adventure. 

The sky’s the limit — choose something that excites you and just go do it!

#11: Find Time To Volunteer

Giving back is an excellent way to be energized and fulfilled. 

As a nurse, you have lots of skills you can share as a way to give back to the community. Consider giving your time to help with health screenings or wellness evaluations.

Maybe you’d like to volunteer your time outside of your profession. Volunteer options are numerous. 

When on assignment, look for ways to invest in the community by working in:

• Homeless shelters
• Retirement centers
• Animal shelters
• Schools 
• Home construction organizations
• Libraries
• And more  

#12: Be Spontaneous

One of the best things about being a travel nurse is the opportunity to see new and interesting parts of the country.

Wherever your assignment takes you, take advantage of the opportunities to see the local sights, explore the outdoors, or travel to other vacation destinations on your days off.

In addition to travel adventures, travel nurses get to meet new people and make new friends. Enjoy relationships with coworkers and other people you meet during your assignment and take advantage of all the travel nursing has to offer.

No matter where you’d like to travel, Travel Nurse Staffing can help you get there. Our team is ready to place you in your next nursing assignment in your desired location.

How To Choose Travel Nursing New Year’s Resolutions That Won’t Fail: Think S.M.A.R.T.

We’ve all done it. We’ve made grandiose New Year’s resolutions that stick for about a week. 

To make resolutions that last throughout the year, think S.M.A.R.T:

• Specific – Goals that are vague or ambiguous are hard to meet. Set New Year’s resolutions that are specific. For example, instead of “I’m going to save money this year,” make a resolution like “I’m going to save $1000 for a summer vacation.” 
• Measurable – Set a date to meet your goal and steps for how you’re going to get there. Maybe you want to eat healthier in the New Year, and you decide to make your own meals. Steps to get there might include choosing a new recipe to try each week or scheduling a grocery pick-up once a week.
• Achievable – Goals that are out of reach are rarely if ever, realized, and they can be very discouraging. The key is to break big goals up into stages. That way, you can enjoy the process and celebrate successes along the way. Maybe you want to run a marathon. Plan to train over the long haul and start by running a 5k and then try a half marathon before running the big race.
• Relevant – Don’t get caught in the trap of comparing yourself and your resolutions to those of others around you or on social media. Make your resolutions relevant to you and where you are currently. Maybe you resolve to read more in the New Year, but a book a month is out of reach. Settle for 5-10 pages a day, and you’ll be reading an amount that suits you and your schedule.
• Timely – Consider how long it will take to meet your resolutions and create a realistic timeline to set yourself up for success. And if you don’t meet your timeline, give yourself some grace and set an extension. 

Let Trusted Nurse Staffing Help You Achieve Your Goals for the New Year

If you’re ready for an exciting nursing assignment to go along with your New Year’s resolutions, Trusted Nurse Staffing can help you find the job you’ve been dreaming of in your preferred location.

It’s easy to get started. Simply complete an application, and our Trusted Nurse Staffing team member will guide you every step of the way.

Once you become a travel nurse with Trusted Nurse Staffing, you’ll enjoy benefits like:

• Sign-on bonuses
• Stipends for housing, travel, and meals
• Flexible contracts
• High pay rates
• Referral bonuses
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• And more

Let the team at Trusted Nurse Staffing help you start your New Year off right.