11 hospitals, 5 states, thousands of miles traveled from my comfort zone, I have officially clocked out of my last shift as a travel nurse. This gypsy nurse is closing a significant life chapter and planting some roots after 4 and a half years of travel nursing. Although it’s bittersweet, I have some really good reasons as to why I’m settling down…
I began travel nursing in 2016 while going through a slight identity crisis. Once my volleyball career of 12 years ended abruptly after college graduation, I endured a very difficult time navigating my life and purpose without my identity as a volleyball player or “the All-American.” Without volleyball, I was lost. I had been out of college and working as an RN for a year and a half, and I felt this strong urge to travel, move somewhere unfamiliar, and to find myself. Although I didn’t have a plan or know what exactly I was looking for, I went anyways.
Without a doubt, these last few years spent travel nursing have been some of the most challenging, educational and rewarding years of my life. By leaving my comfort zone and the idea of needing to have it all figured out behind, I learned so much more about myself, learned how to navigate a couple of the largest cities in the USA, used my volleyball skills to meet people from all over the world, spent a lot of time alone and away from my friends and family, learned different hospital systems and cared for a wide variety of patients, the list could go on and on. Here are a just few of the highlights:
From Los Angeles to New York City to rural areas of the Midwest and now to my home of the past year and place where I’m planting roots, Denver, Colorado, travel nursing in all these places has helped me to discover where I want to be. Along my exciting, lonely but adventurous journey, I stopped feeling guilty for not having it all figured out and decided to just live this life and discover all of the experiences it has to offer. Being able to travel and live in different areas away from my comfort zone allowed me to do just that.
Around this time last year, I came to Denver for a travel nurse contract, without a plan or knowing that a year later, I’d still be here, find love and a place that I hope to call my forever home. Moving here, I was nervous and scared to start all over in an unfamiliar place once again. Turns out, it was probably one of the best decisions of my life. I fell in love with the city, the mountains, and even my job, but most importantly, a pretty cool man.
So, after years of not having a permanent home or job, I’ve officially accepted a position as a staff nurse here in Denver. I’m excited to stay at the same hospital I’ve been at for the last year and get different nursing experience while working in a new unit.
To sum it all up, I am so thankful for the experiences and lessons learned from travel nursing and gypsy life over the past few years. It has allowed me to find what I wanted while not necessarily having it all figured out. Through the highs and the lows, I am proud of the woman I have become through these cherished life experiences. Here’s to the next exciting chapter!
The Aud Blog 