Hospitals hire travel nurses to help when they are short staffed due to vacations, illness, or in times of admission surges like in the COVID pandemic.

My typical shift is 12 hours and in usual circumstances, I work 3-4 days per week. Usually, a nurse will be stationed in only one area of a hospital like the medical unit, but I have been trained in almost every area because I enjoy the variety. This flexibility helps the work stay interesting day after day and makes me valuable to the hospital.

I start the day by getting my assignment as to which patients I will be caring for. After the previous nurse gives me details about the medical issues and current condition of the patient, I start by doing a head-to-toe exam, giving medications, and helping with meals. Some patients need to be repositioned frequently to prevent skin breakdown. Every patient is unique and is suffering in their own way. My job as a nurse is to not only care for their physical needs but also be that emotional support in their trying times.

CODE BLUE scenarios happen daily in hospitals and nurses are trained to respond quickly to try to save a life. Nurses put in IV lines, give medications, do chest compressions, and communicate with the families. Trauma situations sometimes gets bloody, but it is important to maintain the focus that this is a human being in front of me needing help in this critical moment.

Pros and Cons

Being a nurse is very rewarding, but it is hard work. As a travel nurse, I leave home for weeks or months at a time to fulfill my assignment. To compensate for being away from family, travel nurses usually see a higher pay rate and get and extra stipends for travel and lodging.

I like the freedom of being able to choose where I will go next. So far, I have worked in about 23 different states and over 100 hospitals across the country. If I enjoy my assignment, I always have the choice to return. I also like the ability to work in the ED, ICU, Trauma, medical or surgical ward, pre or post op areas. I never get bored.

There will always be a need for medical care, so the nursing profession is a great choice for a secure and fulfilling career.

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