If this is the first time you've heard the term "travel nursing" - great! In fact, as an RN, the less you know about travel nursing the better. The truth is if we could approach every new topic with a clear mind, we would be much better off. I think we often limit our options in life because we form ideas based on things we hear. The story I'm about to share with you is a perfect example of why we're better off forming our own opinions.

Twenty years of doing the same job: Everything you do is more than simply a routine; it's a way of life. Many people would say this point in a career is way too late to start something new. Fortunately, Samantha Liddell never heard this bit of information. On a cold and frozen morning in Chicago, she decided she'd had enough. She also decided it was time for something different.

"It was definitely the weather in Chicago that convinced me it was time to try something new," explains Samantha Liddell. "The winters were getting way too difficult to handle. I remember having to shovel a path to my car and then snow-blowing my way to the road. At 5 a.m., this was not a lot of fun. I knew I couldn't do this for the rest of my life and that there had to be something else out there."

Samantha isn't the type of person who's afraid to try something new, even after doing the same thing for 20 years. Actually, she felt this was the perfect time for something different, so when one of the travelers on assignment at her hospital suggested she look into travel nursing, she thought "Why not?"

Of course, Samantha didn't just pack up and leave the next day. She did a lot of research about traveling first. Samantha says: "I figured if I was going to sell my home and uproot myself completely, I needed to do my homework. I spent several months looking at not only travel nurse companies but also places I might like to go. I felt that a warmer climate would be nice, but I also wanted to fully understand the culture of the new city in which I might be living."

Samantha felt the best way to find out about a travel company was to talk to travelers who worked for it. She got first-hand information on what to expect and what to look for in a company. And when Samantha finally decided on a travel staffing company, she chose one that had a solid reputation in the industry.

It was over four years ago that Samantha decided to start traveling and she's been working continuously on the road ever since.

Samantha loves the fact that her travel staffing company has so many assignments and locations from which to choose. As a traveler she's been able to experience many different work environments, from small community hospitals to large non-teaching facilities, and she's definitely had her favorites.

Samantha tells us: "My favorite assignment would have to be at a large non-teaching facility in Miami Beach, Florida. I spent almost an entire year there and was recently asked back for 13 weeks more. The climate was great in Florida and travelers were truly appreciated at the facility. I found that the nurses and doctors really treated each other with equal respect and were very accommodating. One of the realities you face when you're a travel nurse is that you take assignments where they really need your help. Most of the time when you arrive at your assignment the staff is very relieved and happy to see you - they welcome the extra help. But then there are also assignments where you arrive and the staff doesn't show you the same respect they would a permanent team member. In this case you really have to prove yourself, but once you do it's usually smooth sailing."

Samantha explains that facilities vary from place to place and many times the staff knows they need help but at the same time, they resist that the hospital hired a traveler to do the job. Samantha says it's only natural for the staff to feel this way, and there are ways to alleviate potentially awkward situations. "I have found that knowing [it can be awkward] and then voicing my expectations during the phone interview helps," notes Samantha. "Plus, it's always good to review hospital policies. Once you get oriented and prove yourself, they love you."

There's no doubt about it - travel nursing can be very challenging. But it's challenging in the best possible sense. If you've set professional goals for yourself, travel nursing is one of the fastest ways to reach success. Samantha finds that hospitals generally have higher expectations of travelers. This is a good thing, she says, because it really forces you to stay on top of your clinical skills. And as a traveler, the fact you can change work environments so often gives you a better chance to learn new techniques, which is very rewarding.

Samantha feels it's best to be totally honest about your skill set before you accept an assignment. You don't want to get in over your head because that can cause a lot of problems - for you and for the facility where you're working.

How would she sum up her feelings on being a travel nurse? "I love travel nursing so much that I have either extended or renewed my contracts at almost all of the facilities I have worked," Samantha says. "I enjoy not being wrapped up in the politics of nursing. Traveling is an opportunity to learn a great deal about yourself. I have blossomed as a person."

More and more nurses are deciding to give traveling a try, regardless of where they are in their careers. Young or old, veteran or novice, almost any nurse can become a traveler. Some travel for new adventures; others travel to gain valuable experience. Travelers come in all ages and from endlessly different backgrounds. While some are hitting the road alone, others bring along their families and pets while they tour the country. Samantha's story should convince you that it's never too late to start traveling. But any way you look at it, it all comes down to one simple fact: If you want to travel, you can!

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