Life Changes

        Recently, I made another major life change, and I decided that I would like to share the experience. I had been working the same job for several years and was beginning to feel very stagnate in my nursing career so I decided to return to school and pursue a masters degree. 

Then a new position opened up at work that I decided to apply for, after several months of waiting to hear if I was offered the position I was finally told that it went to someone else. That’s fine, I do truly think that the person they chose is a better fit for the position and what they wanted. In the interim, thinking about the possibility of new hours a total change in the focus of my career was exciting, but it made me think about what I would be giving up. 

I would have been leaving bedside nursing and would not be able to return easily. After that realization, I decided that I wasn’t sure I was ready to give up the dream of travel nursing. It seems like it might be something I really enjoy, or it could be something that I end up not liking at all, but never trying and knowing for sure would be a missed opportunity. 

So, long story short…I decided to tell my boss that I wanted to look into travel nursing and started looking a different agencies. I found one that seems fair and a recruiter that has been really good. In looking at available positions in states that I’m currently licensed in, I found an opening in Philadelphia. 

From the time I had my interview in to the time they wanted me to start, was 2 weeks! I still hadn’t officially quit my full time job, or started organizing anything. Needless to say, the next 2 weeks were crazy! I was working full time, completing competencies for my new job after work, getting paperwork submitted, finding housing, and trying to meet up with friends and say good-bye for a little while. I managed to get all the major stuff accomplished and have moved to Philly (temporarily).

The adventure begins...my life is moving in a new direction. 

I arrived a week ago, found where I’m staying, unloaded, and already had orientation to my new hospital. It’s crazy fast! I understand that being a traveler they aren’t going to give me a whole lot of time to be on orientation, which is fine, it’s just weird showing up and saying, “I’m here for orientation” and nobody knows who you are, and they weren’t expecting you. Once they figured out who I was and what I was doing, it was all good. During the first week people have been relatively friendly and welcoming. I have one more day of orientation with another nurse, just to make sure I’m as ready as possible to be independent in providing patient care. 

        Overall, I am really excited about this change. I'm going to meet a lot of new people and see a bunch of different places. Who knows where this new adventure will take me, or the opportunities it will open.