Want to Become a Travel Nurse? Go After the Dream!

I am over the moon to be writing about this topic. The idea of “pursuing your dreams” lights my heart on fire. It’s the basis of what Travel Nurse 101 is all about – walking you through the process of becoming a travel nurse to help you achieve those dreams!

I am a living example of all the wonderful things that travel nursing can do for your life, which is why I am so passionate about it and about helping you.

The Hard Truth

To achieve our dreams, we have to pursue them consciously. We have to do the hard, scary, uncomfortable work of deciding to go after the things that mean the most to us. Choosing to become a travel nurse will be the hardest part. But after you make the decision, you will be thankful and wonder what took so long! 

How Travel Nursing Has Changed My Life

Friend, I wish I could look you in the eye and talk to you about this. I would likely tear up with happiness. Travel nursing changed my life and possibly even saved my life! Here’s the quick back story, and I hope my story touches your heart.

If you know much about me, you know I was a teen mom. I had my son when I was 16. I wouldn’t change it for the world, but it was hard. I had to grow up literally overnight. 

Thankfully, I had a good support system and could attend nursing school. I went into nursing when I was barely 20 years old. I spent all my time busting my rear to raise my son alone and worked two jobs most of his life just to make ends meet. My whole world revolved around him, what he loved, and his happiness.

When he went to college at Texas A&M, my mama heart was so happy, but I was lost as I didn’t know what was next for my life. I decided to give travel nursing a shot, and it gave me a new sense of purpose and something to look forward to myself. I didn’t even know who I was – again, the last 18 years were about my son and his hobbies – so I set out on this journey. 

The week after I dropped him off at college, I took the leap, went to Colorado Springs for my first assignment, and never looked back! It was one of the BEST decisions of my life! 

Here are a few things travel nursing has given me:

1. A better compensation package with benefits. Because of this, I could pay most of my debt, and I no longer had to work two jobs, just one. This leads to the next point.
2. More time off and flexibility with my schedule. You can imagine all the wonderful things that can happen when you have more time back.
3. Experiences that I would never usually get to have. Through these experiences, I discovered what I like and some new hobbies.
4. Less burnout – this is HUGE!
5. New relationships and friendships all over the U.S.
6. More confidence. I have grown both professionally & personally.
7. The ability to build my resume. I’ve been able to try out so many hospitals and have great takeaways from them. Who knows? There are some I may go back to one day.

If the idea of “travel nursing” is in your heart, your dream is worth pursuing. Promise yourself you won’t give up. Now go out there, and keep your promise. No more walking on the fence. DO IT…decide. Is this the life you want to live? Are you becoming the best version of yourself? Breathe in, breathe out…and decide!