Travel nurses provide your healthcare teams with flexibility and expertise, and adequately integrating these professionals with your core staff is crucial for quality patient care. It will require communication, collaboration, trust, and effective care delivery.
A successful travel nurse experience depends on a good onboarding program and ongoing communication with the nurse regarding performance expectations. A good relationship with leadership is crucial for socializing the travel nurses and integrating them into your organization. Here are a few tips to make the integration a little easier.
Designate an Employee to Welcome the New Travel Nurses
A great way to start is to assign a team member to welcome the new nurses. These employees should be experienced and ready to provide information, answer questions, and introduce the new travel nurse to the facility. Being a guide and helping someone out can be very rewarding for your employees.
Communicate Expectations
You must be on the same page as the traveler. It is vital to communicate what you expect from the nurse. Discuss hospital policies and procedures, the nurse’s duties, and the type of patient care you expect. It is also essential that the traveler understands your staffing workflow and strategies.
Communication does not end after your initial meeting with the traveler. Ongoing communication is key to preventing misunderstandings. Consider using Slack or Microsoft Teams for collaboration. Schedule meetings and offer positive feedback when you can. Effective communication can improve patient outcomes while helping a new nurse integrate with your core staff.
Provide a Thorough Orientation
Before integrating a new nurse, the new traveler should receive an orientation program that includes the policies and procedures, protocols, and other vital information the traveler might need. Please do not stop with in-person orientation either; online work can help travel nurses learn additional protocols at their own pace. Orientation is the ideal time for questions and allows the traveling nurse to interact with their colleagues.
Mentorship
Assigning a mentor to the new travel nurse is an excellent way to help the new hire adjust. Mentors can guide the nurse through orientation while answering questions and providing support. Experienced mentors know the organization’s culture and politics and can help new nurses navigate them.
Provide a Positive Work Environment
A welcoming and supportive environment might be the best way to help a travel nurse integrate with your core staff. Your facility can encourage collaboration and teamwork between your core staff and the travelers:
- Professional development opportunities
- Encourage work-life balance
- A commitment to health and wellness
- Positive feedback culture
- Safety and occupational health measures
- Flexibility in work arrangements
Connect With a Staffing Pro
A reputable staffing agency will understand the process of integrating travel nurses with core staff. ADN Healthcare has years of experience in integrating new travel nurses, and they are ready to help staff your facility. The more experienced and better prepared a travel nurse is, the easier it is to integrate them with your core staff. ADN Healthcare understands this and is ready to tap its extensive network of healthcare professionals for you.