By Melissa Wirkus, associate editor
From using cloth grocery bags at the local market to reducing electricity use, there are countless ways that travel nurses can help save the environment and go green while on assignment.
One of the easiest ways to go green on the road is to recycle, which takes very little effort and can be done at both home and work.
Whether it is making a few minor changes to your regular routine, or converting to an all-natural lifestyle; every little thing can make a big difference in the quest to heal the Earth.
Start Small
One of the easiest ways to go green on the road is to recycle. Recycling takes very little effort and can be done at both home and work—doubling the impact you have on the Earth and its resources.
For Jessie Ramsey, RN, becoming green is something new to her and her family, but they have been able to make a big difference just by making a few small changes to their daily routines.
“Going green is quite a new term to my husband and I and our two children—that was until I took my first travel assignment near Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” said Ramsey, who is currently on assignment with leading travel staffing company American Mobile Healthcare. “We found out quickly not only do you need to recycle, but around these parts it’s the law.”
The Ramsey family now recycles all of their paper, cans, glass and plastic and they have the oldest child wearing cloth training pants, further reducing the amount of garbage they produce.
Reusing plastic containers to carry your lunch to work, replacing old light bulbs with eco-friendly fluorescents and unplugging electronics when not in use are other easy and small things that can be done to make the transition to a greener life.
Be Water Wise
Reducing water usage is another simple yet very effective way to go green while on assignment. We all know that your scrubs need to be washed and some days call for multiple dishwasher loads, but for the most part everyone can start using less water today.
Just ask Aaron Moore, RN, who also travels with American Mobile and saves water by combining multiple loads of laundry into one bigger load.
“There are so many simple things we can do that can save water,” he said. “Traveling really opened my eyes to laundry and how much water it wastes. When you don't have a washer in your place you can’t just throw in a shirt and wash it. You pack that thing full so you get the most for your money. And by doing this you’re getting the most out of your environment too by saving water.”
It’s all about Reusing
Everyone can agree that recycling is probably one of the easiest ways to go green. But that is only one part of the famous saying; ‘Recycle, Reduce, Reuse.’ Using less of anything produces less waste that clogs our already brimming landfills, and can save you money at the same time.
American Mobile traveler, Amanda Rebbert, RN, has several clever tactics for reusing items which lightens her load every time she moves to her next assignment destination.
“When moving, I frequently save the box that my item came in such as my alarm clock or iPod speakers, and use it each time I move so that I don't have to use more materials to pack the items,” she said. “I also reuse a large plastic container to move my plates and dishes and pack them with my sheets and towels and then I don't need any bubble wrap or other wasteful packing materials.”
Many travelers also find it tempting to buy paper plates and plastic silverware sets every time they travel to a new assignment, but reusing one dish set is much better for the environment. You can even buy dishware and other house wares at a consignment store such as Goodwill every time you start a new assignment and then just sell or donate it at the end. You also get a tax deduction for charitable donations—making it a green strategy that helps your pocketbook as well.
Greening Every Aspect of Life
Utilizing multiple green tactics in your everyday life is the way to go if you want to make the biggest impact on the health of our Earth.
Brenda Gebler, vice president of housing and benefits operations for AMN Healthcare has a plethora of tips and tricks for travelers looking to go green on assignment. From keeping the thermostat set at 75 degrees in the summer to combining multiple errands to save on gas, Gebler understands the importance of the green movement.
“It's not just a trendy social wave but it's the way we must behave and conduct ourselves in the future. Many people have been recycling paper, plastic, glass and cans for years,” Gebler said.
“Now however, with the depletion of resources and the ongoing threat of Global Warming, as evidenced in changing weather patterns and the impact to animals and plants, we have an ever- present reminder of the seriousness of this issue facing ourselves and future generations. It's important that we maintain a heightened level of awareness and challenge ourselves to be continuously mindful of our impact on the earth versus taking it for granted.”
“The whole reason I started traveling was to see what an awesome country we have and to take advantage of exploring it without breaking my pocket book,” Moore added. “So the last thing I want to do is destroy what God gave us. Reduce, reuse, recycle… oh and travel!”
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