With everything good there will always be obstacles that will try to take away from the positives. Travel nursing is no different in this aspect. One of the biggest challenges I have faced since I have begun traveling is dealing with the stress from the constant change. I have noticed these moments seem to peak when searching and preparing for the next travel assignment.

Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essentials. Air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.

-Cesare Pavese

In my mind, travel nursing can basically be described as alternating between a state of finally feeling settled in to a state of your life being uprooted. Everything happens simultaneously and abruptly – new job, new nursing license, new place to live, new education courses to complete, background checks, fingerprints, drug tests, and not to mention working full time at your current travel position. It is a never ending to-do list that just keeps on growing. Ahh!! So much to do and such little time before certain unemployment if I don’t get this all completed!!

On the other hand, once all of the chaos has been calmed and the to-do list has been checked off it is so satisfying to begin your next transition. A clear mind allows for exploration of the unbelievable places that are now accessible because of your accomplishment in achieving the new travel assignment. Something I need to keep reminding myself is

“…the best view comes after the hardest climb“.

If I was able to go back a year ago and give myself advice it would be to stay positive throughout all the chaos. Personal growth will come from living with a positive attitude in life. You attract the energy you give off, so make it positive. Remember you are living an incredible life as a travel nurse. You are an amazing human being doing amazing things.

“Don’t let yourself get in the way of seeing the positives.”

One thing that can help calm the rough seas of travel nursing truly is all about your attitude. Train your mind to see the good in every situation. Remember that good days give happiness. Bad days give experience. Worse days give lessons. Best days give memories.

“Without rain, nothing grows. Learn to embrace the storms of your life.”

Its important to stop and realize that it’s okay to have bad days because sometimes it takes an overwhelming breakdown to have an undeniable breakthrough. You chose this incredible travel nurse life and for a good reason!

So when you are feeling overwhelmed just remember there is a huge payoff after all this work in the form of freedom and exploration. What the ultimate goal is and what is important to you in that moment is what matters most. Just keep your mind in the right place and this too shall pass. And remember

“…nothing will slow your progress like a negative mindset, stay positive.”