Being a travel nurse means that you’re constantly changing work locations. Changing your location so many times, and just being an adult, can make it difficult to hold down one particular group of friends and meet new people. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of ways you can try to meet a great group of friends while on location.
Join A Meetup
Most major cities have various meetup groups. These groups are a great way to socialize and meet new people you might not have otherwise.
Depending on the platform you decide to use, you can usually find a wide array of meetups, so whatever your hobby, you’re mostly likely going to find something that matches your interests. There are several meetups out there for things like book clubs, running, board games, movies, and much more. And if you can’t find something for yourself and you’re feeling adventurous, start a group of your own!
If you’re not sure which platform to use, check out some of our favorites:
Network with Coworkers
A great place to start looking for new friends in a unfamiliar place is work. In nursing especially, networking with your coworkers and building strong relationships with your colleagues is a great way to not only get a feel for the job and learn more about your new facility but to also potentially find a friend or two to show you around. You can start by connecting with people at your orientation because chances are they’re also new. You can also invite people to coffee or lunch and ensure you’re connecting with people whenever possible. Most of the people you work with will be locals and can be a great resource for the best restaurants, workouts, and shopping in town.
In addition to making new friends, having strong bonds with your coworkers can be beneficial in a stressful environment like a hospital.
Be Active on Social Media
There are several ways you can leverage social media to meet new people. First, you can start by following your nursing agency’s Instagram account. This is a great way to virtually connect with other travel nurses and see who else might be in your network and comment or interact with the Instagram page. Your agency’s accounts might have posts asking who’s in a specific city or looking to make new friends, and that can be the perfect opportunity to connect.
Additionally, Facebook has hundreds and hundreds of groups that are a great way to connect with like-minded individuals. You could find a Facebook group specifically for travel nurses or find one that matches a hobbie of yours.
Travel with Another Travel Nurse
If you already have a friend in the travel nursing industry, what better way to explore a new city than with a friend! You and your travel nurse buddy could both book the same travel destination so neither of you has to travel alone. Traveling with a nursing friend might also make it less nerve-racking to join new groups and reach out to meet new people.
As a travel nurse, you know that nursing is more than a job, it’s a lifestyle. You have the incredible and unique ability to explore new places and meet new people all around the country through your work. Developing new relationships comes with the job and sometimes it’s not easy. Putting yourself out there and leveraging available resources is an excellent start to making lasting connections.
