High-acuity settings like the intensive care unit (ICU) or emergency department
(ED) require resilience, adaptability, and commitment to lifelong learning. Successfully being a travel nurse in these specialty units requires you to take care of yourself, stay current with evolving medical practices, foster collaboration, and have the proper credentials for the job. Here are some tips for success as an ICU or ED travel nurse.

Build Your Resilience

Travel nursing in specialty units can be demanding and stressful, so develop a support network of family and friends, build relationships with colleagues at your new assignment, and consider joining online nursing communities.

Get plenty of rest, maintain a healthy diet, and exercise if possible. Take your breaks when you need them, and know the signs of burnout. Advocate for yourself with scheduling, and learn to say no to avoid overextending yourself. Consider taking time off between assignments to recharge. Remember that each new assignment is a new opportunity for your growth as a nurse.

Continue to Grow Professionally

Your role as a traveler working in a specialty unit such as ICU and ED requires unique skills and knowledge. Healthcare is constantly evolving, as are the demands placed on nurses. To stay current, you must embrace continuous learning to deliver the best care. Here is why it is essential:

• Staying current with medical practices. New treatments, technology, and medications are coming all the time, so keep up to date by being a continuous learner.
• Changing patient populations. In the specialty units, your population can vary in age, ethnicity, culture, and medical conditions. Keep learning to have the skills to adapt to these changing dynamics.
• Develop critical thinking skills. These skills will help you make decisions under pressure. These are vital skills for working in specialty units.
• Patient safety. Continue learning to help mitigate potential risks, errors, and complications in your unit.

Collaborate with Your Team

As a traveler working in specialty areas, collaboration can help you avoid medical errors, communicate effectively, ensure smooth patient handoffs, and respond to emergencies. It will help you coordinate care with other professionals and support your fellow nurses.

Work cooperatively with the core staff, which will help accelerate your learning curve in your new unit. Coordination will ensure you know your role and hopefully lead to better interventions.

Preparation Is Key

To be successful as an ICU or ED travel nurse, you will need education, experience, and certifications that demonstrate to an employer your ability to handle complex medical situations:

• Registered Nurse (RN). You will need at least an associate degree, and if possible a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Basic Life Support (BLS). Standard certification for all nurses.
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). This credential is a must-have certification for all nurses working in the ICU and ED.

Specialty certifications such as Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) or Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) can showcase your expertise and make you a more competitive candidate.

Be Adaptable and Flexible

All specialty units operate differently from each other, so expect charting procedures, communication styles, and possibly the hospital culture to be different from the way you are used to doing things. The key is to be open to these new ways. A flexible mindset can help you approach your new assignment with a little less dread.

Your success as an ICU or ED travel nurse will require resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning. Take care of your health, stay current, and collaborate with your new team as best as you can. It also helps to have the right staffing partner in your corner. The professional team at ADN Healthcare understands the challenges of travel nursing and what it takes to be successful in specialty units. Let them help you with your growth and development as a travel nurse.