4 Tips for Adjusting to a New Facility as a Traveler
Traveling to a new town or city for an assignment is always an exciting time. However, it also means you’ll be heading to a new facility, which can be a bit challenging. On top of getting used to your new surroundings, you’ll need to get used to new co-workers, procedures, and patients, which is definitely a big adjustment. This is especially true for newer travelers, who might be used to working at just one specific facility.
While it is easy to be intimidated, there are some techniques you can use to help you settle in quickly and find your groove. That way, you can focus on providing excellent patient care and enjoy all your assignment has to offer.
Get Your Bearings
First things first, it’s good to get familiar with the basics of the facility itself. For instance, getting a tour of the facility will help you understand where things are and how to get from one place to another the best. Most places should offer you a tour, but if not, it doesn’t hurt to ask! With COVID-19, in-person tours may be tricky, so you can see if a virtual one is available as well.
Something that’s especially helpful when you arrive at a new facility is finding someone who has a lot of experience with or knowledge about the facility. This person can act like a mentor and help walk you through things and answer questions for you during a shift. After all, it’s always great to have a friendly face there to give you a hand, especially during a tough shift!
Understand Procedures
Learning and understanding the procedures and policies of the facility will make it a lot easier for you to get adjusted. Since policies can vary from facility to facility, it’s best to take the time to learn them now. Aside from reading the procedures and policy rulebook, you can also ask if there’s a handy cheat sheet you can keep with you for reference. If not, you can always go ahead and make one for yourself.
It’s also important to understand the facility’s scheduling procedure. This will help you know how they normally handle scheduling, along with their policies for call-ins and emergencies, and who to contact if you have any questions. Try to get familiar with the facilities computer system as well, especially if it’s a bit different from what you’ve used before. Since you may need to get used to the system quickly, it’s good to ask your co-workers for any helpful tips and tricks.
Stay Positive
Having a positive attitude will go a long way in helping you adjust to your new facility. Taking care of your normal day-to-day tasks while also getting familiar with everything can be somewhat stressful. However, if you approach things with a positive attitude, then it’ll go a lot smoother. It’s a learning experience, so keep an open mind and observe what others around you are doing so you can get up to speed as soon as possible.
Plus, staying positive and a team player is a great way to make a positive impression on your new co-workers. One thing they’ll definitely appreciate is an upbeat attitude and a willingness to help out! Not only will this help you work together as a team, it’ll also help you make some new friends in the process.
Ask Questions
One of the most important things you can do when starting at a new facility is ask questions. If you don’t know something, don’t be afraid to ask someone! Facilities know that it can be hard for you to understand everything on your own. Your supervisor, mentor, and other co-workers are all great resources for you to use and ask questions to when you’re unsure about something.
Don’t forget about getting help from the clinical side as well. Our Clinical Services team is there to provide you with constant support whenever you need it, both before your assignment begins and during it. The clinical team is great for when you need some guidance and someone to help pick you up and keep you going, especially since they’re just a call, email, or text away at any given time.
Having to adjust to new facilities can be tricky, and requires you to be flexible and quickly learn a lot of new info. But, as long as you take the time to get prepared, ask for help, do your best, and keep positive, you’ll soon find that you’ll be able to get the swing of things in no time!
