One of the best ways to learn about something new is to chat with an expert. If you have been considering switching from traditional, full-time nursing to travel nursing, you probably have a lot of questions. That's why we set up a Q&A session with Kylee, a seasoned NICU Nurse and blogger whose goal is to educate and inspire nurses about the endless possibilities that come with a career in travel nursing.
She started her blog, Passports and Preemies, in 2017 to reach nurses across the country. While spotlighting the thrill of traveling to new places, Kylee's underlying goal is to help Registered Nurses prevent nurse burnout. In her blog, she tells her personal story of experiencing burnout just two years into her NICU nursing career.
Check out our interview below to hear her story, travel nursing tips and find out what she's doing now! Be sure to follow Kylee on Instagram and Facebook for more inspiring content, from the bedside and beyond.
Why did you decide to begin travel nursing?
There were a few factors that impacted my decision to go from staff nurse to travel nurse. The most prevalent being that I started my journey as a nurse in a very toxic work environment. Of course, I wouldn’t have deemed it “toxic” at the time, I only knew that what I was experiencing – heavy workloads, weekly cancellations, no support from management, poor education – wasn’t normal.
On top of that, after I had been a nurse for close to two years, I went through an incredibly tough breakup. No matter what, I think I would have become a travel nurse, but the breakup propelled me into travel nursing sooner than I probably would have done on my own.
What is the most rewarding part about being a travel nurse?
The most rewarding thing about being a travel nurse is feeling like you’ve made a small impact everywhere you’ve gone. Whether that’s with patients, families, or even co-workers; my goal has always been to show up and leave a place a little bit better than you’ve found it.
What's the hardest part about being a travel nurse?
The hardest part about being a travel nurse is the unknown. Sometimes you don’t know where you’re going to be living in a week. Sometimes you don’t find housing until a day before your assignment starts. I always found it really challenging to not be able to plan too far in the future as I never knew where I would be in a few weeks’ time.
Where have your assignments taken you?
I’ve worked in Omaha, Santa Barbara, Phoenix, Austin, Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco!
What has been your favorite assignment so far and why?
Ahh I have two answers for this one. My first is Santa Barbara, because I adored the location. I lived on the beach, the town is small so you can easily see everything in 13-weeks, plus you’re right next to Los Olivos wine country! But Seattle also has my heart as I loved the city, there’s so much to do around Washington, and working at Seattle Children’s was an incredible experience. I learned more there than I had in my entire career as a nurse, plus the nurses were so kind and inclusive.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time while on assignment?
I love to travel! You’ll always find me planning day trips or weekend trips to nearby towns. Plus, I’m a huge foodie and wine drinker so I’m always trying out new restaurants and wine bars.
Can you name some of your “must-haves” in terms of packing for a travel assignment?
Aside from the normal shoes and clothes answer, when people ask me what to pack for their assignment, I always encourage them to think about what’s most important to them when they are at home and bring it. For me, I am really picky about pillows, so I always bring my own pillow. And I love yoga, so I make sure to pack my yoga mat too!
What can’t you leave home without?
Sadly, my phone. I’d like to get better at this and spend a day phoneless!
Do you have a story with a little patient that that touched your heart?
When I was a traveler in Arizona, I had a particularly tough patient who I really had to advocate for. I ended up caring for the patient quite a few times and when they were discharged, the family wrote me the sweetest note. I never knew how much I had impacted their lives and it brought tears to my eyes to know that I had left a positive impact. I still think about the patient and family weekly.
What are you doing now?
Now I’m settled in Chicago! After 5 years of traveling, I hung up my travel nurse hat (for now) and went back to staff nursing in September 2021. It’s been challenging staying put, but I have lots of future travel plans in the works!
What is your best piece of advice for someone considering travel nursing?
Do some research ahead of time! Reach out to someone you know has been a traveler, ask around for recruiters, etc. And go into it knowing that this is a very uncomfortable change. It isn’t “easy” but it is worth it.
About Kylee: Kylee is a Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) nurse passionate about making travel affordable and accessible to nurses. Inspiring nurses to travel both near and far, Kylee began Passports and Preemies in 2017 while volunteering in Skopje, North Macedonia as a way to reach nurses and advocate for the prevention of nurse burnout by traveling. Kylee is the original creator of the “8 Day Vacay” – a vacation geared towards nurses who aim to take advantage of the potentially 8 days off between work weeks with no need to use PTO.
LeaderStat specializes in direct care staff, interim leadership, executive recruitment, travel nursing and consulting for healthcare organizations nationwide.
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