When Brooke Tincher, a registered nurse from Kentucky, began her nursing career in the ICU as a new graduate, she had no idea what to expect.
“I thought I would work only three days a week: clock in at 7, clock out at 7, go home and relax. In reality, this was not only a job. It became my life — and, more importantly, it became my passion,” Brooke recalls. “I rarely clocked out on time for the first two years. I spent many nights lying and thinking of my patients, their families, things I could have said, things I could have done differently. The reality of nursing was much more different, much more intense than I ever expected.”
With a few years of experience under her belt, Brooke feels more confident in her role as a nurse — but she still admits to having challenging days.
“You will feel emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted, and you will want to quit. Then you have that patient who says, ‘I couldn’t have made it without you.’ A family member cries on your shoulder, thanking you for your kindness and for just being there,” Brooke expresses. “Those are the moments that make it all worth it. I never knew how much of my heart would go into nursing.”
Though she’s only worked with RNnetwork a short time, Brooke enjoys travel nursing and the perks that come with it.
“RNnetwork is supportive of its nurses, and I was blessed with a great recruiter who is very proactive — which makes a huge difference,” Brooke says. “The company always has tons of job options, and travel nursing has helped me grow my skills and gain confidence in myself as a nurse and a person.”
Brooke is quick to recommend travel nursing to other nurses who want a change of pace.
“I love the fact that I get paid to travel and see new parts of the world and meet new people,” Brooke says. “If you’re considering travel, go for it! I wish I would have started sooner. Have confidence and faith in yourself and your abilities. Travel nursing can be scary at first, but it is such a rewarding experience.”
Interested in working with RNnetwork? Check out our open travel nursing jobs.