In the television series Lost, a group of plane crash survivors are confronted with polar bears and jungle creatures on a mysterious South Pacific island. Thankfully, those things won’t happen to you—the challenges you’ll face when learning a new city will be far more mundane.

Planning ahead

Even without any unfriendly island inhabitants, the task of acclimating to a new community in a short period of time can be overwhelming. Once you arrive in town, you typically have only a day or two before you report to the hospital. For that reason, it’s important to do a little research before you arrive.  Start by exploring the local Chamber of Commerce website, just to get a feel for the area. Investigate the city on Wikipedia, or visit its official website. Any information you can find on weather patterns, traffic, and local lifestyle will prepare you for what to expect. AAA TourBooks are another great resource to have on hand; they contain local and regional maps, area descriptions, and listings for restaurants and recreational activities.

“When I investigate a new city,” says Karen Wise, an Onward Healthcare travel nurse, “I research its safety record.  When I recently accepted an assignment in Maryland, I checked the satellite picture of a potential residence on Google Earth.  I could tell it was a tall hi-rise, which would be safer for me, since there’s only one way in and one way out.”

Getting around town

Initially, you won’t have time for casual exploring and sightseeing. Cassandra Linquist, Travel Nursing Director for Onward Healthcare, advises her staff to focus on the basics in those first few days:

• Hunt for the nearest grocery store and pharmacy. Drive up and down the streets in the immediate vicinity of your apartment, noting street names, landmarks, and any unusual traffic patterns (like one-way streets or traffic circles).
• Take a practice drive. “Know how to get specifically from your apartment to the hospital,” Linquist says, “and consider what the traffic is going to be like.”
• Keep your eyes peeled for Internet hot spots. Starbucks, Panera Bread, and many sports bars offer free Wi-Fi connections. If all else fails, ask a neighbor for directions to the closest public library.   
• Pick up a newspaper and any local magazines you can find at the grocery store. Hotels are a great source of information, too; they often stock free publications and brochures that detail the city’s dining, shopping, and entertainment areas. 

Making new friends

Speed up the acclimation process by comparing notes with your fellow travelers and hospital employees. (Remember, you’ll be attending orientation with other travelers and your new nursing manager.) That gives you a great opportunity to strike up some conversations about what’s around town, and where to find essential services. Once you’re on the floor, you can also chat with your local co-workers—and don’t worry, they’ll be a lot nicer than those wicked island inhabitants on Lost.

By Barbara Eisner Bayer, Featured Contributor