What if that doesn't happen? It will if you want it to.
What if I want to come back here, but my job will be gone? We're nurses, sweetie. There will always be a job open. Your specific job on the same floor same shift? Perhaps not, but it only took you a year to get to where you are, so it wouldn't take long to get back if that's what you wanted.
What if I get really homesick? You will be a little homesick, esp. at first, but there are tons of opportunities to come home & visit. Ryan's only been travelling for 10 months & he's already been back home twice. Most agencies know they are lucky to have you, and are very flexible with scheduling & time off.
What if my parents become ill? This is always a possiblity whether or not you travel. Again, most agencies are very flexible, and you'd undoubtedly be able to go home if you had a family emergency.
What if my jobs suck and are difficult to handle? Suck it up for the 3 months, and then get the hell out. If it's that bad, you can ask to transfer to another unit.
What if it's me that needs to change and not my enviroment? You
will change - you'll gain knowledge, expand your horizons, meet new people & see the country.
Is it worth it? Well, it's not worth it to stay stuck where you are unhappy.
Is it worth leaving what I know for the unknown? YES! You may find a place you like better, or meet the love of your life.
Is it worth leaving so called friend for the possibilty of meeting new ones? You're not leaving them forever. You can & will keep in touch with those that matter most - trust me, I know. Email, letters, phone calls, visits...don't worry.
Will traveling around the nation actually make me more happy and content? Maybe, maybe not. But you'll never know unless you try.
Curty - I think you can do this, and do it well. You're young & you have no husband or kids keeping you stuck where you are at this moment. If I were single & still doing hospital nursing, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Your skills are fesh, you'll be at least up to par with the rest of the U.S.
According Ryan, it's awesome. The pay is good, your housing/utilities/cable are paid for, you get a very nice furnished apartment in every city you're assigned, you can work at a site as little as 13 weeks all the way up to 2 years. A good friend of mine from high school also tried it, went a few places & liked a hospital in Cali so much she's been there for the entire 2 years. But again, you can choose to move, and you have your pick of whichever cities the agency contracts out to. I'll pm you Ry's email again so you can ask him more specific questions.
