Being uneasy about moving somewhere you may not have any family or friends is a common feeling among new travel nurses. It can be hard enough to make friends as an adult without moving every three months! But rest assured, making friends as a travel nurse isn’t impossible, and it gets easier with practice. Here are our tips on how to make friends while traveling.
Network with social media
One way to ease your anxiety about making friends while on assignment is to plan ahead! There are all sorts of travel nurse groups on Facebook and travel nurse forums that allow you to connect with other travelers. And if you share where you’re headed next, you may find fellow travelers taking an assignment in that location!
At the very least, you’ll find travelers who have been to that location or facility before who have tips on the best places to visit. They might even be able to introduce you to some people they know in the area, all before you even get there. Check out our Facebook group, Fusion Marketplace Connect, to connect with over a thousand travelers from all different agencies.
There are also a number of social apps meant for connecting people. That’s right, they make apps for people trying to make new friends, not just trying to find a date. Here are some of our favorite apps for making friends:
- MeetUp: Connect with local groups based on your interests and zip code
- Bumble BFF: Match with other people looking for friends in your area
- Nextdoor: Find and chat with people in your neighborhood
Using one of these apps is probably one of the easiest ways to make new friends no matter where you are. Plus, people on these apps are also actively trying to meet people too, which makes the whole experience a little less intimidating.
Connect with perm staff
Making friends with perm staff can be more difficult at some facilities than others. For some perm staff, there are barriers to friendship with travel nurses like temporary stays, salary differences, and learning curves for new protocol.
But as travel nursing becomes more common, the tension between travelers and perm staff lessens as well. One way to help this connection bloom is to work hard and show perm staff that you respect their knowledge and role within the facility. Ask perm staff questions on facility protocol and don’t try to change up their routine or methods.
Additionally, get to know your coworkers by asking them questions or asking them for local recommendations. You'll get insider knowledge about the best places in town, but people like feeling like their opinion is important as well.
Then don’t be afraid to invite coworkers to hang out! Go for coffee, drinks, or take them up on one of their recommendations to break the ice with your new nurse friends.
Find people who share your hobbies
Bring your favorite hobby to your new location — or start a new one! Finding a local group of people who enjoy the same hobby is a great way to meet new people with similar interests. You could join a book club, knitting club, running club, and more! You may even be able to find a national group with local branches so you can find people wherever you travel.
Another great way to meet people through hobbies or activities is to sign up for a class at your local community college. There are non-credit classes that are for people of all ages and are typically pretty affordable to attend. You can take classes in areas like pottery, cooking, photography, and more!
Get to know the community
Immersing yourself into the local community is another great way to meet new friends. You can find local events on Facebook in a range of different topics or celebrations. Participating in these local events is not only a great way to meet people, but helps you to feel at home and part of the community.
You can also try making somewhere your regular haunt. Pick your favorite coffee shop, bar, or park in town and visit it frequently! You’ll get to know the employees and other regulars pretty well over time. These people may be able to introduce you to other new people as well! Plus, visiting somewhere frequently often helps a new town feel more like home.
While meeting new people when you're on assignment might take a bit of effort, it’s well worth it. Plus, the longer you travel nurse, the bigger your community will grow. A lot of travel nurses end up running into each other at future assignments or may even take an assignment together as a travel duo! Plus, Fusion Marketplace offers a network of travelers and agencies all over the country.
Create a Fusion Marketplace profile today to join our community!
