Who knew this was so LONELY????

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Im a new OB travel nure. After many years of contemplation I finally bit the bullet and took my first assignment. I am a pretty independant girl-no husband, no children-although I do have a boyfriend, but he is supportive of my decision. I managed to get a good recruiter, a good assignment, and even a good schedule written into my contract. I do 6 nights on and 8 nights off so in theory I should have plenty of time at home to catch up and no time to get lonley because all I do on assignment is sleep and work.

I am no stranger to travel or solo travel. I did it for pleasure all through my 20's. I am now in my early 30's. I used to LOVE hotels. I have to say though-the lonliness has been an incredibly unanticipated depressing side effect. I thought I could live in foreign surroundings just fine considering my love for hotel rooms. But there is something different about this. I have no clue why. But its really making me rethink my decision.

Has anyone else dealt with this? Its really becoming bothersome to myself trying to cope and to my poor boyfriend who only hears me whine about hating being away from home. Totally didnt expect this one.

I travel with my husband, and I'm still very lonely, so yes, I think it's very normal. Last week we got to go home just for the weekend, and that helped immensely, as we have been away for 4 months now. It's hard for me to put myself out there and make new friends.

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It is definitely lonely! I have 2 dogs and have made a few friends here...some that are gone but I still keep in touch with and some live here. No matter how many friends I make it still isn't home because I know I will eventually be moving on. I just keep reminding myself I'm doing this for the experience which I am absolutely loving!

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You are not alone. Im in the same boat. Not married. No kids. No pets. I knew the loneliness would be the hardest aspect, but it's really starting to get to me. You're definitely talking to a person who feels your pain. I'm currently in Boston and going to California next. Hoping it's easier to meet people there.

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This is a really old thread, but it's my life right now. I am married to a very supportive person and my kids are grown - in college. Traveling pay is twice what I make at home, meaning I can work less in a year and still maintain our kids tuition, etc.

I work private duty travel nursing, and have lonely on top of lonely. Nobody to meet or talk to. I am way too far from home to travel back on days off - and this week I had 5 days off in a row. I have worked as many as 6 twelve hour shifts in a row, also - and I think I prefer that to being off. There is nothing for me to do on my days off because I am not in a safe area.

I am counting down the days (less than a month left) until I return home. So while pictures of travel nursing usually show you lying on the beach, soaking up the sun, the reality, at least my reality, is sitting in a motel room watching TV.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

YOU have to make it your reality. You can sit around and watch TV or you can take a drive and do a nice hike or bike ride.... go to a nice restaurant, do something different with your time.

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This is a really old thread, but it's my life right now. I am married to a very supportive person and my kids are grown - in college. Traveling pay is twice what I make at home, meaning I can work less in a year and still maintain our kids tuition, etc.

I work private duty travel nursing, and have lonely on top of lonely. Nobody to meet or talk to. I am way too far from home to travel back on days off - and this week I had 5 days off in a row. I have worked as many as 6 twelve hour shifts in a row, also - and I think I prefer that to being off. There is nothing for me to do on my days off because I am not in a safe area.

I am counting down the days (less than a month left) until I return home. So while pictures of travel nursing usually show you lying on the beach, soaking up the sun, the reality, at least my reality, is sitting in a motel room watching TV.

Thank you for sharing

I'm thinking of traveling too and I kind of figured the beach-lying and such was all for the posters.

Well if you get lonely again just post here

Tell us about your adventures

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I take drives, in fact - have to commute 40 miles each way to my assignment. But on my days off, I drive - I go to restaurants - I go walk around in the shopping malls and outlet malls - work out at a gym everyday, etc.

I don't watch TV at home at all - and don't care for it. I read books - solitary things.

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I take drives, in fact - have to commute 40 miles each way to my assignment. But on my days off, I drive - I go to restaurants - I go walk around in the shopping malls and outlet malls - work out at a gym everyday, etc.

I don't watch TV at home at all - and don't care for it. I read books - solitary things.

I don't watch TV (much) and it's all made here. Law and Order and Family Feud once in a while tho

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I'm not turned off on travel nursing, though.

I plan on doing it again because local stuff just isn't working for me anymore.

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work out at a gym everyday,

This is something I have been wondering about. I go to the gym almost daily and would like to continue this while travel nursing, but how do you utilize a gym when you are picking up and moving every few months?

How does that work with membership contracts?

Also, the loneliness factor does frighten me a bit. I hope it's not too isolating. Have to force myself to be social I suppose. It would be really nice just to meet another travel nurse and take assignments together, and split housing stipends.

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I'm staying at a motel that my agency pays for, and it has a gym.

As far as other nurses, I did meet one and we got a long great, but her contract ended and she went home. I am just biding my time until my contract ends and next time I hope to be sent someplace that I either already know people, or can meet more.

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This is something I have been wondering about. I go to the gym almost daily and would like to continue this while travel nursing, but how do you utilize a gym when you are picking up and moving every few months?

How does that work with membership contracts?

A surprising number of hospitals have a reasonable employee gym free for employees and travelers. There are a number of national chains with a good chance of branches at perhaps half of your likely assignments (100% with planning). I've certainly taken advantage of the former, but never the latter.

In my early travels if the hospital did not have a gym, I would shop around locally for the best price (a couple times it was the YMCA) and paid three months in full as part of the negotiated price. My limit was $30 a month.

In recent years, I've gone even cheaper. I've discovered that for weight training your body weight is almost as good as weights and is certainly sufficient to maintain your strength even just 15 minutes a week. Middle school playgrounds are the best and free!

I bicycle to work (and to explore) and run so that takes care of aerobic exercise.

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