Travel Nurse - Tools Nurses Use on the Job

Nurses are required to utilize different tools depending on the area of the hospital or health facility they work in. You will need to learn about different tools different facilities use as a travel nurse.

If you take a position as a travel nurse in the area of the hospital you normally work in, the tools and equipment will be familiar to you. But if its a cutting edge hospital there may be new equipment you haven't used before. In either case below you will find some tips for navigating your way through of these tools and equipment as a travel nurse.

There are websites like Nursing Center, Nursing World, and discover Nursing that you can use to do some research on tools and equipment the travel nurse will come across.

You will always need to ask questions about the department you are placed in when you get a travel nurse assignment. The hospital you will work in will provide orientation and you will need to takes notes and ask questions. You can always ask about additional training if you will be confronted with tools or equipment you have never used before. If you find all your questions were not answered in orientation, then the supervisors in your specific department will help you.

Realize that nurses use a variety of technological tools in their jobs, and travel nurses will be exposed to an even greater diversity. Research the mechanics and the utilization of any tool you don't understand. Nursing technology changes every day, and you can't be expected to be familiar with everything. Familiarize yourself with the charts, paperwork and forms used by different hospitals.

Something else to be aware of is the fact that different hospitals may use different shorthand or codes by different doctors, so be aware of this. Don't get panic stricken if you find that there is equipment or tools in your new assignment that you have not used before. The hospitals know this already.

If you don't feel comfortable working in new environments, then work in the same department you always have. Your travel nursing agency will guide through all of this.

By Steven Swihart