I had an eight-hour drive to my last assignment.
It’s not often that I take my own vehicle, but this time was different. So I packed up my stuff that’ll carry me through 13-weeks and hit the road. But the biggest question wasn’t about my socks or the number of scrubs.
It was about what the heck was I gonna do for that 8-hour drive!
Hearing stories and advice from someone, particularly another travel nurse, in a similar circumstance might often make a world of distinction when things get tough or lonely. And being able to do this while on the road was exactly what I did.
But the big question is what podcasts and why?
With so many to choose from these days, I decided to compile a shortlist of a few that you too might enjoy. Most are directly related to nursing, and one is simply because it’s cool as heck.
The main reasons are that the things we face as nurses and travel nurses can vary from day to day.
Working as a nurse these days can be challenging. Everything from the physical requirements of assignments and 12-hour shift work to the emotional strain of patient care. Add on top of that the pros and cons related to packing up and moving every 13-weeks, and you’ve got yourself a prescription for some much-needed self-care.
And in my humble experience, that type of self-care often comes in the form of, you guessed it.
Podcasts.
So whether you have a long drive to the next gig or time off between assignments, the following podcasts are just a few I’d recommend for you to grow and expand as a travel nurse.
Cup Of Nurses
The Cup of Nurses podcast covers a variety of specialties and an even wider variety of RNs.
Travel nurses, ICU agency workers, mental health professionals, and other specialists are among the guests. The program discusses a variety of viewpoints. While the themes covered are varied, they always address some of the most essential and contemporary nursing news.
If you’re a travel nurse looking for a broad base of stories, interviews, and adventures, then this one is for you.
Empowered Nurse Podcast
The life of a travel RN is full of ups, downs, and adventures that only someone in this specialty ever knows, and the Empowered Nurse Podcast has tons of helpful advice.
With a specific emphasis on what a travel RN is, and about and how we can adapt our careers to meet the demands of stressful jobs and how to take advantage of specific RN resources, this podcast will help you gain a greater understanding.
Listening to this podcast feels kinda, warm and fuzzy, like grabbing hot cocoa with a close friend warm and fuzzy. One of the lessons I took was that we need to take as good care of ourselves as we do our patients.
This one has been a go-to podcast for me, no doubt.
Good Nurse Bad Nurse
Good Nurse Bad Nurse has a hodge-podge of everything, and it’s not what you’d expect. It’s got some hilarious moments in it but at the same time makes you think differently. In short, it’s provocatively funny.
Simply put, the events, activities, and places featured in this program are all things that a busy travel nurse like myself would enjoy. The phrase “This show is for everyone” sums it up nicely. Plus, with one good nurse and open bad nurse story, you’re bound to get a good laugh.
“One part light-hearted and amusing, one part deep and thought-provoking,” the Good Nurse Bad Nurse podcast is characterized as such.
Gritty Nurse Podcast
The Gritty Nurse Podcast is another fav because it pulls zero punches when they chat up issues with the profession and the things facing travel nurses today. It takes these things head-on in a way that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.
While this type of show may not be for everyone, it should be for anyone at least once. With topics covered like improper relationships, mental health issues, bullying of travel nurses, and even racism at work, you’ll not slow clap; you may, in fact, become a regular fan.
To sum it all up in one sentence, the Gritty Nurse Podcast brings light to things that others might simply ignore or brush under the carpet.
Nurse Becoming Podcast
The title alone is a great descriptor. Nurse Becoming Podcast is no doubt one of the best podcasts for RNs on the go who value personal stories from fellow healthcare professionals.
Nurse Becoming is about maximizing your potential as a travel nurse by learning from the best and worst of other travelers. Via a series of actual interviews, other healthcare pros talk about their lives on the road, on contract, and frankly how they manage it all and stay productive.
Nurse Becoming takes a unique look into how real nurses and travel nurses deal with the pressures and triumphs of the profession, and of course, life on the road.
Serial
Basically, this is NOT a nursing podcast.
But dang, this show is one that will grab you and pull you in.
Serial is a podcast from the creators of This American Life, hosted by Sarah Koenig. Serial tells one story — a true story — over the course of a season. And each of these stories is as good, if not better, than the one before.
While it’s not travel nurse or nursing-related, it’s just too good to not share as a podcast worth listening to good.
The final word
If you’re looking for a variety of exciting and informative podcasts to keep you entertained and up-to-date on the nursing profession, then we’ve got just the list for you.
From hilarious stories about bad nurses to serious discussions about the challenges facing travel nurses today, these six podcasts will provide you with plenty of great content to keep your mind occupied while on your next assignment.
So put in your headphones, relax, and enjoy!
To learn more about the travel nursing opportunity and cities across the country, visit Bestica Healthcare and start planning your next assignment today.
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