Lately, travel nurses have gotten a little bit of a bad rap. Some people that I talk to assume I only travel to make big bucks. While the pay is typically better as a travel nurse, this is not the reason why I continue to take contracts. Nursing in and of itself is not a job you do only for the pay. Being a nurse is both an honor, and something I care deeply about. The things medical professionals deal with on a daily basis are very unique, and unlike anything most people in non-medical profession will ever experience. The risk of violence in the healthcare setting is real and something I have dealt with personally. The weight of the things we treat and respond to on a daily basis can take a toll on you mentally and physically, and being a healthcare worker is something that burns many people out early in their careers.

I had worked for two years in the Stepdown setting when I first thought about working as a travel nurse. This was before Covid, and at this point I didn’t know of many people who worked as travelers. I can’t remember what exactly got me thinking about a change in my work setting. Working as a nurse finally had become something I felt I had at least a good foundation in, and I already loved to explore new places. The first step I took was to reach out to a friend from church who was also a nurse, and she connected me to her travel nurse agency where I spoke to a recruiter who explained the ins and outs of the job to me. A few months later I accepted a 13 week position in Dalton, Georgia and began the adventure that would change my life!

Quickly I discovered that working as a travel nurse required adaptability, and the ability to grasp things quickly. As a traveler you typically receive three days of orientation to your new hospital unit, whereas a new hire to the unit would usually receive 3 to 6 months of orientation. You may be required to learn a new computer charting system, or to figure out pieces of machinery that are unfamiliar to you. You are also meeting a whole new group of co-workers and physicians with whom you will need to develop a positive working relationship, because in the medical field, everyone needs to work together smoothly. Healthcare is not a one man job, it takes a whole team!

I quickly learned to expect that I would feel very uncomfortable in my new position for at least two weeks before I was able to settle in and start feeling connected on my new floor. Not allowing my initial nerves to shake me, and understanding that being willing to ask questions, even at the risk of sounding dumb were some of the things I realized were crucial very quickly. Connecting with my new coworkers also seemed to come more easily when I entered my new workplace with an open and positive attitude, and a willingness to help with anything. I also did realize that it was important to establish boundaries and realized that sometimes I would need to say no for requests to help if I had a critical patient need to address. Bringing some hot donuts with you on your first day never hurts either :).

Since 2019 I have worked eight travel nursing contracts across the country! I met my husband Stephan on my second assignment in Virginia! Travel nursing has opened up a whole new world to me and given me many opportunities that I would not have had if I have worked in the same position for the past 6 years. This adventurous lifestyle has also allowed me to meet so many amazing people so of whom I am still in touch with even though we no longer work together! The Mark Twain quote, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness… broad wholesome views of man and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in ones little corner of the earth all ones lifetime.”, has proven to be true to me, and I am so grateful for all I have learned about the world through travel. Travel nursing has truly changed my life for the better!

Working as a travel nurse has also improved my skillset exponentially. At every new facility I go to, I learn something new. Each hospital has a unique way of doing things, even while the basics remain the same. I have now been able to work in five different areas of nursing, and have seen hospitals ranging from 24 bed critical access sites in a remote area, to large level I trauma centers. Exposure to different doctors has enabled me to learn, how many different physicians prefer to do things, and many of the doctors I have worked with have been great teachers who increased my knowledge of the medical field as I worked with them. My coworkers at each hospitals have also each taught me new things whether it be how to do things more efficiently, or unique ways of doing things that were better than how I had learned to do something. I am so grateful for all the folks traveling has given me the opportunity to brush shoulders with.

TIPS – the Vivian app is a great resource for anyone who wants to view travel contracts across many different companies and states at once. The app allows you to sort contracts by many different preferences and makes finding your next assignment a breeze. I would love to send you a signup link that helps me gain member points if you’re interested! The app is free to use. If anyone is looking for a great recruiter I have primarily used both Medical Solutions and Lead Healthstaff for my assignments, and have great recruiters there who I would love to connect anyone interested with. I would love to answer any questions you have about travel n ursing! I remember being the newbie and thinking traveling was so daunting, it really isn’t! You just have to be willing to take the leap! Feel free to reach out to me through email, comments on this post, or through our social media channels.