I was a travel nurse on and for 7 years. During that time I moved around the country every 3(ish) months learning new things, learning about myself, and meeting new people as I went. The travel nurse lifestyle is unique and comes with a plethora of issues (both good and bad). But this post isn’t a post about all of the great times I’ve had as a travel nurse (if you are looking for a post like that, check out this post). Instead, this post is about the events that led up to me deciding to become a travel nurse. I wanted to share my story to inspire someone who might be on the fence about travel nursing or who might feel “stuck” and might not have even considered travel nursing.
So, this is my story of why I become a travel nurse. Because the reality is, I felt pretty forced into travel nursing.
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Making the Decision to Quit Your Staff Job – its Hard!
First off, I’m under no impression that making the decision to quit your stable, staff job for travel nursing is an easy decision. I think that online, people (myself included) make travel nursing look like a piece of cake! But the reality is, it can be hard, scary, and it isn’t for everyone. Honestly, I never considered travel nursing. I felt as though I was forced into it out of desperation and it just turned out that it was one of the best things to happen to me.
If you need more guidance on becoming a travel nurse, make sure to check out The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle where you’ll get 60+ pages of travel nurse information including – how to make sense of your contract, how to negotiate pay, & more – delivered straight to your inbox!
My Story Starts in 2014…
My story starts in 2014 when I had moved to Kansas City for my first nursing job. At the time, I liked my job – I loved the NICU – and I disliked Kansas City. Again, travel nursing was never on my radar – I figured I’d eventually move to another state after getting two years of experience but I wasn’t considering travel nursing.
Fast forward, after about a year of living in Kansas City, I met a guy who I fell head over heels for. Of course, my outlook on Kansas City changed – I loved the city, I never wanted to leave, I was having so much fun in my new relationship. Things were going great, this guy got a new job in Philadelphia and asked me to move with him. I was so excited because I wanted to apply to work as a staff nurse in the NICU at CHOP. I got my PA nursing license, and we had a move date.
Until my relationship ended abruptly.
At this time, I had been a staff nurse for about 1.5 years, it was the summer of 2016. The entire summer I laid in bed with crippling anxiety and panic attacks. Surprisingly enough, the only place I felt “safe” was at work, so I threw myself into work, picking up extra shifts, and trying to figure out my next move. For months my life was – work, bed, work, bed. I literally couldn’t do anything else and every weekend I’d beg my mom to come stay with me.
I Officially Became a Travel Nurse in 2016…
In October of 2016, after seeing a therapist and starting medication, I randomly decided to put my phone number in a travel nurse database. I knew that I had to leave Kansas City, I simply couldn’t function there anymore and I hadn’t really loved it to begin with. But I also didn’t want to move anywhere (if that makes sense). I couldn’t picture myself putting roots down in any other city. So I decided I wouldn’t put roots down, I would just move around until I felt ready to stop.
Within two days of putting my phone number in that database (which I don’t recommend by the way), I had my very first travel nurse assignment lined up in Omaha, Nebraska. I would move when my lease ended – in December 2016, and move back home with my parents. And honestly, it was exactly what I needed at the time. Slowly (very slowly) my heart started to mend, and I became the person I previously knew.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A RECRUITER, FILL OUT THIS FORM OR DM ME ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SHARE WITH YOU MY FAVORITE RECRUITERS INFO!
Life Since Travel Nursing
Since my career in travel nursing began in 2016 I’ve found love again, I’ve volunteered as a nurse in North Macedonia, I’ve worked as a nurse in Saudi Arabia, and I’ve even pursued the art of solo travel. I’ve visited 45 countries (mostly alone), got scammed out of $4,600, and have lost touched with friends along the way. My journey wasn’t always easy, it was hard and scary. At times, especially in the beginning, I felt so incredibly lonely. But just like anything in life – time heals all wounds and travel nursing went from “I’m running away from my past” to “I’m present now and running towards my future”.
If you’re on the fence about travel nursing, I don’t want to sugar coat it; it can be HARD. But in my case (and hopefully yours too), it was 1000% worth it. And if you’re just generally feeling “stuck” in life or going through something hard, maybe getting out of your comfort zone is exactly what you need. It was exactly what I needed and I didn’t even know it at the time.
Travel Nurse Essentials
FOR HOUSING
- VRBO
- Extended Stay America
- Hello Landing – Use code “PassportsandPreemies” for $250 off your first standard Landing stay
FOR RECRUITERS
- Fill out this form to be matched with my go-to travel nurse recruiter
FOR TRAVELING TO/DURING YOUR ASSIGNMENT
- To book a flight, I recommend this booking platform or Skyscanner to compare options
- If you need to rent a car, I recommend Discover Cars
FOR WORK
TO EXPLORE YOUR NEW “HOME”
- For tours I recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, Take Walks, & Devour Tours (available in select cities)
For more about my journey as a travel nurse and travel nursing inspiration, don’t miss…
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you. Passports and Preemies is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.
Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
