Ask a Travel Nurse: How do I use public transportation during my travel nurse job?

A few weeks back we discussed getting around in the city of your travel nursing assignment. In the next few posts, we’ll take a look at some of the ways that can be accomplished.

Obviously, if you are like me and drive to every assignment, transportation should not be an issue once you arrive. If you do choose to drive, you should always have a road atlas in your vehicle and I strongly recommend getting either a GPS enabled phone or a unit for your car. These become invaluable pieces of navigation in unfamiliar cities.

Now if you choose to arrive by other means, like flying for example, then you will need to figure out how you are going to get around once you get there.

The most basic way is by using your own two feet. When I worked in San Francisco, I walked to work every night. Of course this only works if you are in fact within walking distance to where you will be working. If not, you will probably be using public transportation.

Public transportation will require some research in advance. First, you will want to make sure this is even an option. When I worked a travel assignment on Maui, I learned that on that particular island, there is no real mass transit system in place. However, in most major cities, you will have one or more options in mass transit.

Buses and trains will probably be the most frequently encountered forms of transportation. Both of these will require careful planning as you will need to find a station or stop near where you will be living as well as where you will be working.

If you are traveling to a city with a subway system, the Internet can be a big help in finding your way. For example, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York maintains a website with subway, train, and bus schedules (http://www.mta.info/). It also includes detailed maps for the transit routes.

Regardless of the method of transportation in your assignment city, a little forethought can go a long way toward reducing the stress associated with finding your way around in a new location.