Lyn,
I spent many years as a travel nurse and an agency/registry nurse. I loved the flexibility and used my travel assignments not just for working vacations, but to help care for my father when he was dying. I could not afford to just stop working when my father was at the end of his life, so I got a travel assignment at the very hospital he was in and was able to see him almost every day and be there as he left this world.
I can't imagine doing anything else with my life but be a nurse. Now I am a nurse educator and also in school getting a long awaited doctoral degree, but nursing isn't what I do - it is truly who I am.
I agree that nursing is a calling. I thank God every day that He gave me the skills to be a nurse. I would not want to be anything other than that - ever. But I've heard people who are architects, or engineers, or whoever say that they also love their job and just can't figure out how I can be so passionate about nursing. To be honest, I think the same ting about them!
I tell people the following and its not just a saying, it is truly who I am
Nursing is not just what I do, it is truly who I am.
Lyn, thanks for working with those travel nurses. I know that the staffing department from the company I used to work with were my best friends and great people! I'm sure you are one of those great people as well!
God bless