New Year, New Opportunities: A Travel Nurse Spotlight

With the New Year just a few short days away, many of us are preparing for the upcoming twelve months and what they might hold. What will my resolution be? What do I want to accomplish this next year? How will I do it? For many nurses, travel nursing and assignments come to mind. Whether you’re looking to cross another destination off your bucket list or decide if travel nursing is right for you, it’s a great goal to consider!

While I could list the pros and cons of traveling as a nurse all day long, the best information comes straight from the source! Lauren Watts, a travel nurse with Aureus Medical, took time to fill me in on what she likes best about travel nursing and why she does it.

Lauren relocated to South Carolina a few years back in search of a change. She found that change in Charleston. After her years spent working at a couple different facilities, that desire for change resurfaced earlier this year.

“Travel nursing is something that I had always wanted to do but the timing just never felt right,” Lauren said. “I first wanted to make sure I had enough experience to be able to work independently, after just a couple hours or few days of orientation. I turned 30 this year and began to think about everything I had accomplished and still wanted to accomplish. I finally realized that I wanted so much more out of life. I had gotten into a routine in my life and wanted to explore. I just had this burning desire to live and go and see and do.”

That’s exactly what Lauren did. She accepted an assignment that was far from familiar, in Colorado. Then the adventure began! The journey itself is what Lauren says is one of her favorite things about travel nursing.

Lauren said she loves “having the freedom to explore this great country all while maintaining a job. My journey started on my 2-day road trip from South Carolina to Colorado. The road trip alone was full of so many memories - Getting to see the change of your surroundings from sea level in Charleston to being a mile above sea level in Denver. I have also enjoyed the conversations with people. As soon as I speak (with my southern accent) people in Denver say, ‘I know you are not from here, where are you from?’ This opens up some amazing conversations with people as I tell them my journey as a nurse from OK, to SC, and now CO. People are so fascinated when you tell them what you do and always ask, ‘so where to next?’”

Now that Lauren has gotten the hang of things with travel nursing, she offers some advice to those just getting started or those thinking about new travel assignments. “Give yourself an honest assessment on whether you feel your skills and experience are where they should be in order to travel. Some hospitals only give 4 hours of orientation, so you need to be able to do your job independently and confidently. I would also look into seeing what kind of housing works best for you. Make sure that your contract is designed with all of your requests (certain days off, floating, guaranteed hours, etc.) There is a lot that goes into traveling so you need to make sure you have done your research. I would also advise to save money prior to each assignment because there are upfront costs if you choose your own housing that can be expensive. Lastly, be spontaneous and try new things. Take advantage of the opportunity.”

The New Year is full of opportunities! Which ones will you take advantage of? Will you be starting your travel nursing career or taking an assignment somewhere totally different? Please share in the comments below!