While there are plenty of travel options available to a travel nurse trying to get to her next assignment, it's not uncommon for individuals to drive. You can prepare for a cross country drive and find yourself exploring the diversity of the nation from behind the wheel.
Here are four steps for preparing for a cross country drive:
1. Check fluid levels. Just like your body, your vehicle needs to remain hydrated with the proper fluids. While your car may not require eight glasses of water a day, it will need other liquids. Most modern vehicles now store fluids in easy to reach places so you can check levels without hassle. The fluids you should be most concerned about checking are the engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid and windshield washer fluid. Levels of each variant should reach the manufacturer recommended amount, which can be found in your car's user manual.
2. Store a medical kit. An emergency medical kit should already be included in your vehicle. However, sometimes things can go missing in the hustle and bustle of living your everyday life. Check to ensure you have a fully-equipped medical kit inside your car. For a road trip, make sure up-to-date medications are included and check any expiration dates on common supplies like pain relievers and antiseptic creams.
3. Have directions ready. With global positioning systems, many people are forgoing writing or printing out directions. This trend became especially true when smartphones started coming with a reliable, free GPS application. Keep a set of printed directions with you for all stages of the journey as well as a set of maps. Electronics can sometimes be unreliable, or an accident may befall your GPS, leaving you stranded without direction in an unfamiliar area.
4. Store nutritious snacks. Driving can take a lot out of a person. Consequently, you should make an effort to give your body enough rest. Yahoo News reports that after eight hours of driving, a person's alertness and skill decline by 10 percent for every additional continuous hour on the road. Schedule blocks of time to give yourself a respite.