I recently completed my first 13 weeks as a travel nurse (YASS!) and decided to take a two week break and extended my contract here in New Mexico. It's insane how fast those 13 weeks have gone but I promised myself I'd do some reflection on my experience and share my top 3 (there are much more) pros and cons of this new adventure. Remember that this is my own personal experience and that everyone's story is different. Also, because I'm on the road to being the mentally strongest version of me, I've decided that all my cons are actually pros...keep reading and you'll find out why.
Pros:
1. Show me the $$!
Let's be honest here and let me be as transparent as possible when I say that doubling my salary from my previous staff position has made a huge difference in my life. Nursing was a second degree for me and my first degree was out of state so you better believe that my student loans were taking a big chunk out of my biweekly paychecks. While I'm still chipping away at those loans, my financial situation has improved tremendously and there is no shame in me telling you that making more money has made me a happier person. Getting rid of debt, taking trips and exploring the country and the world, eating delicious food, spoiling my sweet puppy Nala, sending money to loved ones who need it in the Dominican Republic....these are all things that bring me joy and travel nursing has opened the doors to financial freedom. I recently read "You Are a Badass at Making Money" by Jen Sincero and it has changed my perspective on becoming a wealthy person. If you're on the road to financial freedom I highly recommend reading this book to help give you a mindset shift! Linking it here:
2. I don't have all the answers, but I can figure it out.
There is something special about not knowing what the fuck you're doing but finding a way to figure it out. I pretty much knew that by throwing myself into a new hospital, I'd have to figure out a lot on my own in a short period of time. Two days of orientation isn't really enough time to make you feel confident as a new traveler on a unit. That being said I knew my skills as a PICU nurse, I trusted myself to get through the days, asked the appropriate questions to those I knew could help me, and honed in on my communication skills. Learning how to use different pumps, EMR, and medication dispensing system all while making sure that your two intubated patients don't self extubate, drop their pressures, or desaturate will for sure make you feel like a hot mess. But coming out of it will also make you feel like a stronger nurse. To me, it's like strength training...you're not going to see those gains unless you add more weight, increase the intensity, and endure some pain. Growth comes from putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations. So choose that weight wisely and have confidence in yourself.
3. "We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us."
I knew absolutely nothing about New Mexico when I made the decision to sign my first contract here. It probably would have never been a state I decided to travel to "just because", and I feel without a doubt, so incredibly grateful to have been able to explore and see the beauty of it. Its desert terrain, mountain views, and slow pace life was a major shift for me as a Jersey girl. I came here during the fall where the foliage and weather were perfection for hikes and outdoor strolls. I took advantage and also explored Arizona, a neighboring state. I made my first trip to the Grand Canyon and spent days in Sedona, a naturally vibrant and energized town filled with breath taking views of red sandstone formations. For me, traveling is not only about seeing new places or learning about different cultures. Traveling gives me an appreciation for life, mother earth, and human kind. It reminds me that there is so much more out there than just the bubble I live in. Travel nursing has allowed me to continue my passion for traveling and exploring and honestly, why not get paid while doing it??
Cons:
1. Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
For me, the toughest thing about travel nursing has been being far from the people I love most. There have been days that the loneliness kicks in and I feel a longing to be home . Days when all my siblings unite at my parents with my nieces and nephews and I get that FOMO. It sucks and can be emotionally challenging but lucky for me, we are in 2022 and modern technology like FaceTime allows me to connect with my people. I've learned that those who want to be a part of your life will show up for you no matter the distance and that distance makes you appreciate those relationships even more.
2. You're floating...again.
If you're like most nurses, you probably dread floating to another unit. You don't know where your supplies are, the unit culture is different from your home unit and you don't know anyone. If you're lucky you might know 1-2 nurses from that unit. As a travel nurse you are usually the first to float. I had to get myself in the mentality that I never knew where I was going to being stepping into the hospital. Flexibility here is key. At the end of the day, you're there to work, get paid and keep it pushing. Too bad if you loved your patient from the day before and want to have continuity and take care of them the next day. There have been times where I went days without being on my home unit. For me, travel nursing has been about experience so even if I'm not a fan of the NICU, I try to take each float shift as a learning experience or as a day where I get to have a less intense day and just feed babies and check those emails I've been avoiding. You have the power to make the experience whatever you want it to be.
3. So, where to next?
Perhaps the most common question I get asked now that I'm a travel nurse and the one that runs through my head most often. I'm a planner by nature. If I didn't already plan it the night before, I wake up and plan my day. From what I'll be eating for breakfast to my workout for the day, to the list of errands I have to tackle. So it is incredibly difficult not knowing what my next move will be. I have ideas, but nothing is set in stone until maybe a month from the start of an assignment and the process is tedious. Even so, there are many things that can set you back. Nursing license, credentialing, blood work, records of immunizations, housing, and the list goes on. I'm also traveling with my dog which can make things more complicated. Nevertheless, I've learned the importance of living in the present and enjoying the moment. At the end of the day, this experience is an experience of the PRESENT. I remind myself to just sit back and enjoy the ride. I've got two more months left in New Mexico and I have every intention to make it memorable.