|
Take heed to this text.  |
I wished to turn out to be a NICU journey nurse since nursing college and I used to be decided to make it occur. I knew all of the steps I wanted to take: land a brand new grad job in a NICU, acquire expertise for two years, then safe my first contract.
However, I by no means may have anticipated a few of these alternatives that got here from my journey nursing journey.
1. Seeing components of the nation I by no means would have in any other case
Journey nurses get to decide on the areas they wish to work. I grew up in New York, so once I was lastly capable of journey, I made my manner up the west coast. From Los Angeles to Berkeley, California, all the way in which as much as Everett, Washington, I noticed new landscapes and cultures I had by no means skilled. I by no means imaged I’d be capable of expertise dwelling in among the most costly cities in America. And if somebody advised me I’d be dwelling in Everett, Washington for 3 months, I might’ve denied it! My most up-to-date contract took me again to the east coast in Georgia – one other place I by no means would’ve anticipated to be dwelling!
2. A jungle expertise with elephants
One firm I labored with, Atlas Medstaff, provided an “Atlas Journey” to all nurses on the completion of their first contract with the corporate. It was mainly free cash that Atlas gave to their nurses to do one thing enjoyable like sky diving or taking a particular journey someplace! My husband and I had a visit deliberate to Asia, so I selected to go to an elephant sanctuary in Cambodia for my Atlas Journey. We spent per week within the jungle with elephants and Atlas paid for our personal bungalow! This made our expertise in Asia a lot extra wonderful, as we in all probability wouldn’t have footed the invoice for the bungalow on our personal.
3. Break day between contracts to journey the world
I knew journey nurses didn’t have to attend for approval on PTO to plan a trip, however I by no means anticipated to have the ability to take a lot time without work! I all the time take a number of weeks off from work between every contract to journey. One time I took a four-week Europe journey by means of Eire, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark. One other journey was spent backpacking by means of Asia for 3 weeks, adopted by per week in Hawaii. I additionally obtained to take my little brother on a sibling journey to Iceland and Denmark. After that, one other journey to Sweden!
4. Paying off all my scholar loans
I knew journey nurses have been paid nicely, however I didn’t notice how a lot I’d be capable of accomplish with the additional money. I used to be capable of repay all my scholar loans within the first yr! Then, the additional cash went to my financial savings and paying for extra touring. The enhance in revenue generally is a blessing for thus many nurses and I’ve heard of some who paid off their houses with the additional revenue.
5. I turned a greater nurse
I’ve now labored in over 8 totally different NICUs across the nation, together with Lucile Packard Youngsters’s Hospital, which was ranked #3 NICU within the U.S. once I was working there (by U.S. Information and World Report). I’ve discovered new methods of doing issues and have taken care of among the most unusual circumstances and infants with uncommon diagnoses. I’ve turn out to be a nurse that may simply adapt to totally different challenges and settings. I’m now a extra well-rounded nurse and can all the time take my assortment of information with me as a memento to new amenities.
6. I discovered find out how to stay minimally
Relocating each few months meant that we (my husband, myself and our cat) wanted to be cellular. Once we determined to journey nurse, we went all in. We offered all of our furnishings and most private gadgets. Every part we owned slot in our automotive! One thing particular got here from it although – I noticed how little “stuff” was really wanted to take pleasure in life. Shedding all of my bodily gadgets was surprisingly an enormous weight off my shoulders and I’ve discovered that much less equals extra in terms of bodily gadgets. I worth experiences over supplies.
7. Assembly nurses from everywhere in the nation
I’ve met nurses from all of the nation and have made some lifelong pals because of journey nursing. One nurse buddy of mine moved to Australia. Others proceed to do journey nursing and see new locations. I now have a sofa to crash on in so many components of the world with pals who can present me round like a neighborhood and that’s priceless to me.
8. Beginning my very own enterprise
In 2020 when covid hit, I had free time between contracts to get inventive. I made my very own NICU nurse t-shirt to put on to work and shared a photograph on my social media. I didn’t notice what number of nurses I had really met from everywhere in the nation till my inbox was flooded with messages from tons of nurses who wished one in every of my shirts. Inside a month, I fulfilled over 300 t-shirt orders of all totally different specialties for nurses throughout the U.S.! I noticed shortly that this might flip into one thing extra so I formally launched my enterprise, known as Minimal Nurse, the place I make snug, minimalist type attire for healthcare staff.
Journey nursing taught me that surprising alternatives might be probably the most wonderful and rewarding experiences of all.
