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Meeting new people as a travel nurse can be tough, but it’s essential to maintain a successful traveling nurse career. Networking while on an assignment can be a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Here are some ways to make this task easier.

Don’t Overthink It

When meeting new people, it’s okay to feel a little awkward or nervous. You know nothing about this person, so it’s hard to know what to say and which topics to avoid. Maybe you are afraid of offending someone or embarrassing yourself. The thing to remember is you’re new to that person too. They more than likely feel some, if not all, of the same anxieties you do.

Take a deep breath. Don’t try so hard. Just be yourself and people will naturally gravitate towards you. Focus on commonalities. You already have one big thing in common and that is your jobs in the healthcare industry.

Take Advantage of Lunch

On your travel nurse assignment, you don’t have annual work outings to get to know your co-workers. This is why it’s important to take advantage of the social opportunities that you do have, such as your lunch break. If you invite a different co-worker out to lunch every day, in the short time you are on assignment, you can easily make new friends.

Volunteer Locally

You may want to consider a national organization you can volunteer for when on assignment in different cities, or consider finding local charities that are looking for volunteers for different projects. If you’re looking for local opportunities, check out Volunteer Match to search for opportunities that match your interests. This can be a great way to build your soft skills, expand your network, and give back to the communities you stay in while on assignment.

Check out MeetUp

For many travel healthcare professionals, MeetUp is a great resource to help you find social opportunities locally while on assignment. On this platform, you enter your location and search for all of the local groups, or you can select to view groups related to your specific interests based on categories listed on the platform. This can be a great way to join a group of people and experience what the area has to offer!

Plan for Fun

Just because you travel for work doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of what the local area has to offer. Before you leave for your new travel nurse position, do some research on the town or city where your job is located. What do they have that you enjoy or have always wanted to try? Plan for some socializing outside of work and keep an open mind. With modern technology, a random stranger you meet at a festival, beach or theatre could turn into a life-long friend.

For more career advice or to find your next travel healthcare assignment, consider adding the elite healthcare staffing firm Management Registry, Inc. to your network. We understand the ins and outs of the healthcare industry better than any other staffing firm in the country. Contact MRInc today.

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