Travel Nursing: Get the Inside Scoop from an Avid Traveler and Nurse Mentor

Interested in getting a behind-the-scenes perspective from an experienced travel nurse? We’re here to give you just that! Brandy has a background in neonatal and pediatric ICU, critical care pool, travel nursing, and flight nursing (in case you weren’t familiar, these are nurses who are trained to provide medical care to patients while they’re being transported via helicopter). She serves as a mentor to many fellow nurses, as she has more than 18 years of multi-faceted nursing experience, and she’s the creator and author of Travel Nurse 101.

WhAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME A TRAVEL NURSE?

I was burned out in my staff job and needed to renew my passion for nursing. After finding a great company and a trustworthy recruiter, I embarked on my first assignment solo with my two doggies in tow and never looked back! Becoming a travel nurse was the best decision I could have made for myself!

Where are you now?

I am currently in Kalispell, Montana. It is the prettiest place on earth!

Where have you traveled?

Since pursuing a career as a travel nurse, I've had adventures in Florida, Colorado, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, and Montana.

What has been your favorite nursing assignment?

That’s a toss-up between Colorado Springs, Colorado and Kalispell, Montana. I'm an avid outdoor enthusiast and love hiking and exploring in the mountains.

What is Travel Nurse 101?

While I'm grateful I made the decision to become a travel nurse, I also know that there are a lot of logistics involved in getting started so that is how Travel Nurse 101 came to life.

When you feel overwhelmed, I'm here to be your travel nurse mentor - to team up with you, hold your hand, and give you the confidence you need for a successful journey. Instead of letting you learn the hard way, I'll tell you all there is to know about travel nursing, so that you can feel prepared to take the leap into this exciting, rewarding profession! I'm all about working smarter, not harder, and I'm happy to mentor my future travel nurse community.

What is the best part about being a nurse?

The best part about being a nurse is getting to make a difference in others’ lives, even if it’s a small difference.

What is the most challenging part of nursing?

The most challenging part of being a nurse is wearing tons of hats. You are not only a nurse taking care of your patients, but you are often a secretary, housekeeper, social worker, lab tech, etc. Nurses have a lot on their plate, and we want to make sure we give the best care to our patients. It is very easy to feel overwhelmed and burned out.

How do you proactively prevent burnout?

Take time off to renew yourself. You have to make sure to take care of yourself and your wellbeing. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and I think we can all agree that nursing in general has been harder than ever due to the pandemic.

One of the biggest perks of becoming a traveling nurse is you can build time off in your contract or in between contracts. Many companies will even provide medical insurance for a certain amount of days in between contracts so you can take time for yourself or plan a dream vacation.

I like to give myself small rewards and self-love every week or so. I plan a massage or mani/pedi. Some days, I just spend the whole day in my pajamas and order Door Dash and don’t leave the house. It’s called “Dolce Far Niente,” which is the sweetness of doing nothing!

What is most important piece of advice for new travelers?

Whether you are browsing or getting ready to embark on your first travel nurse assignment, you need to stay organized and be prepared on what to expect. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help make the process much smoother and an easier transition.

Having a mentor and educator to explain every step in your travel nursing journey can help save you time and heartache. I’m here to be that travel nurse mentor for you. My biggest word of advice is to be flexible in your pursuits. Some of the places I loved the most were least expected. You must keep that positive, flexible mindset throughout the entire process to be truly successful as a traveler. My call to action for you is to try it at least once!

Where can we follow you?

Check out TravelNurse101.com for more tips, education, and inspiration about Travel Nursing. Here. You can schedule a complimentary mentoring session with Brandy. You can also text TN101 to 22828 to sign up for the Travel Nurse 101 newsletter.

Ready to take the leap? If you’re a compassionate Registered Nurse and looking for a travel opportunity, we’ve got lots to choose from throughout the country. Check out our Job Board to see a complete list of open contracts.