Three feelings usually overwhelm me as a travel therapy assignment nears its completion.

Relief To Have An End Point

When I begin a new assignment, I see it as a chance to serve the patients I work with, the healthcare company, my fellow coworkers, and even the local area that has been in need of an additional physical therapist to treat the local population. I desire to help the other therapists by taking on some of their workload or by teaching them the various treatment techniques I've picked up over the years. I also enjoy learning from the experienced therapists I work with, and most are happy to pass along their knowledge to a fellow professional. With some assignments, I was able to boost the number of patients and clients the healthcare company served or even help launch the beginning of home health services in a new area. I don't mention this to brag or to say, "hey look at me," but rather to demonstrate the mentality I have, which has been crucial in preventing burnout and giving me a sense of purpose at each new assignment location. After pursuing this goal for the majority of the assignment, I start to feel relieved that the assignment is finally coming to a close. I get to cross a finish line and feel satisfied that I succeeded in my mission to serve. I'm unsure if I could continue to work with the same zeal in a permanent position.

Fear Of The Unknown

The biggest obstacle that travelers must constantly overcome is the fear of the unknown. The unknowns of beginning your travel career, relocating to an unfamiliar area, getting to know new coworkers, a clinic's workflow, etc. Near the end of an assignment is no different, the unknowns continue to emerge. When feeling this emotion, I begin to consider my upcoming assignment and contrast it with the "known" of my existing position. I worry about having to learn a new EMR system because I had only lately begun to feel really comfortable with my existing EMR. It can go on forever, and if I allow it to dominate my thoughts, severe anxiety can follow. I therefore prefer to remind myself of the following:

A moderate sense of unease about the future is a typical reaction to significant and ongoing change.
With past travel assignments, I've already taken the "leap of faith" into the unknown. Each time, the "known" was never as terrifying as the evil "unknown" that my mind had conjured up.

Excitement For The Next Adventure

Once I start feeling the relief of the approaching end date and confront the fears of the unknown, I’m able to start feeling the emotion of pure excitement for the adventures to come. I begin to plan weekend trips to nearby national parks, charming cities, and other "must-see" locations in the state. Megan and I talk about the experiences we hope to have on our upcoming assignment, whether they be for work, traveling to new locations, seeing friends, or spending time with our families. We also get the unique opportunity to modify any less than optimal processes we experienced at the previous assignment as we prepare for our next assignment. The grass isn’t always greener at the next assignment, but planning out your adventures can help you make the most of any travel assignment!

What emotions do you experience at the end of your travel assignment?

Let us know below! 👇

- Written by Dr. Ryan J. O’Rear, PT, DPT