I had always dreamed of seeing the country, but had never taken the bold steps to visit all of the locations that I desired to see. As a nurse, I already had the skills and the training that were required to become a travel nurse. I had heard someone talking about this career path at one point, but I had never really looked into it for me. After mustering up some courage to consider the opportunity, I decided to take a job so that I could start seeing the country.

My first assignment was in a rural community in Arizona. During my stay in Arizona, I was able to see the Grand Canyon, Lake Havasu, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tuscan. The Grand Canyon is simply a must see! I was able to go hiking and I took a water raft ride on a weekend off. In addition to visiting all of these unique cities, I also schedule some time for myself for some R&R in a famous Arizona spa.

My next assignment took me to central California where I spent 9 months. What can I say other than there is so much to see and do in California. Every chance that I had, I drove 2-3 hours and was able to see something new. Being centrally located in the Valley, I was 2 ½ hours from LA, 2-3 hours from the beach if I went West, 2 hours from Tehachapi or Sequoia National Park and I could drive another few hours and make it to San Francisco. What a time I had in California!! And, with my accommodations being covered by my salary as a travel nurse, it was like being on vacation all of the time without the cost.

After California, I moved on to New York. I had always wanted to live in New York but could never dream of being able to afford it, so I had never explored the possibility. The greatest thing about New York and the northeast region of the US is that it is so close to so many other states. During my time off from being a travel nurse, I visited several nearby locations. One weekend I drove through the Connecticut countryside. It is just as beautiful as people say that it is. When I had several days off in a row, I took the 2 hour train down to Baltimore and spent the day walking around the Inner Harbor area. I was also able to see the famous Baltimore aquarium. During my stay as a travel nurse in New York, I was also able to see Philadelphia, Cape Cod, the Hamptons and New Jersey.

I am not sure if I would have ever been able to see all of the places that I was able to see if I had chosen another career path. As I was already living in these areas, my travel costs were minimal, allowing me to experience virtually everything that I wanted to see and do in each new area.

It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to travel more. But, it never seemed like I could get the time off or if I could, it always seemed to be too expensive. As a nurse, I had been told about a career path called travel nursing but had never explored it as a possibility. I had heard that you could travel and work at the same time and at the time in my life, it sounded like a great opportunity. So, I looked into it and decided that it was the best thing for me to consider and so I made the jump.

The first travel nurse job that I had was in central Florida where I was providing care to aging adults and the elderly. While I was working in Florida, I was able to see a great part of the state. One of my favourite places to see was the Florida Keys. I had four days off in a row and so I took a drive all of the way down to the Keys. While I was there, I went to see the Hemmingway house and I was able to rent mopeds and drive around the small area of the state.

While I was in Florida, I of course headed to all of the Disney theme parks. I was able to see Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios. I did each of these parks on different days as there are simply so many things to see and do. It was great to be just a few hours away in the car.

My next assignment was all of the way up in Ohio. I was placed in a rural area and was again providing nursing services to aging adults and the elderly. Ohio was a nice change of pace from Florida and I was glad to have new scenery around me and new things to see and do. One of the greatest things about my time in Ohio was that I was able to experience the seasons changing. Living in Texas originally, I was never able to experience a true Fall or a true Winter. So, that was by far my favourite part of living in Ohio. I was also able to see some of the larger cities in Ohio such as Cincinnati Columbus.

These are just two of my favourite spots that I was able to see as a travel nurse. Changing the direction of my career enabled me to have variety in where I was living and in many cases, what I was doing professionally. Living in a new place not only offers new surroundings, but it also gives you the opportunity to meet new people. Once you start moving around, you get the hang of it. And, if you work with an agency that specializes in placing travel nurses, many of the basic tasks of moving are taken care of for you. And, when you move a great deal, this can be a major benefit.

Have you ever dreamed of traveling but have never quite seemed to fit it into your schedule? Almost everyone has a list of destinations that they want to see during their lifetime; some nearby while some are around the world. If you don’t work for a major corporation, you may be thinking to yourself that the cost is simply prohibitive for you to take some of these trips. But, in reality, you may have simply been looking at the wrong types of careers.

As the population within the US continues to age, the demand for nurses is on the rise. This growing demand for nurses includes all kinds of specialities, including the travel nurse. The title of this career in itself lends to traveling. Travel nurses can be employed virtually anywhere that houses a population of people; small towns, rural areas and metropolitan cities. The opportunities for travel nurse employment are as unique as the destinations that the jobs are offered within.

Imagine; you could take a month or several months to work as a travel nurse in a completely new state. On your days off, you could spend time touring the surrounding areas. You could spend your weekend in the nearest metropolitan city enjoying the best restaurants, museums and nightlife that it offers. Or, you could take a day trip out of the city to spend time at local wineries or local farmlands. Or, you could splurge and head out for a weekend trip from the city center in which you have found employment. For anyone like me who loves to move around, this can be a fantastic career fit.

The greatest thing about being a travel nurse is that you have flexibility and options. You don’t always have to travel to a new city or a new state to find employment. If after 6 months, 2 months or a year you decide that you would like to permanently settle within a city or area, you could begin to find travel nurse work from that location. In most areas, there are a variety of both urban and rural areas that solicit the services of a travel nurse. You might have to drive a few hours throughout the week to serve your clients, but you will be able to return to the comfort of your own home after a hard day’s work.

You will be sure to find employment at virtually any time. And, you can settle down in the area of your choice. So, if you are looking for innovative and flexible career options, consider not only becoming a nurse, but working as a travel nurse. Or, if you are already a nurse and are looking for a change, consider becoming a travel nurse and see where it takes you. The opportunities are endless; imagine how much fun you will have seeing new places and meeting new people!