Nursing Uncharted Ep 105 - Finding Your "Why" & The Journey from Travel to Staff Nursing with Alex Craft

In this episode of Nursing Uncharted, we sit down with Alex, a dedicated nurse with nearly 12 years of experience, from rehab facilities to Level 1 trauma centers. Alex joins us to share her personal and inspiring journey. She opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her career and the "why" behind her passion for nursing.

Alex's emotional story begins with how her mother's battle with stage 4 lung cancer influenced her decision to enter the field. She recalls the compassion shown by her mother's oncology nurses—not just during treatment, but even after her passing—and how that level of care became the standard she strives for today.

Alex also discusses her transition into travel nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges of balancing single motherhood with a demanding career, and her decision to plant roots as a staff nurse. This is a candid look at the life of a traveler, the importance of a supportive recruiter, and the beauty of finding a hospital unit that feels like family.

Alex’s story of resilience, advocacy, and finding joy in the midst of chaos is sure to resonate.

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Key Takeaways

• The Power of a Personal "Why": Alex shares the touching story of losing her mother to cancer, and how the nurses who cared for her mom inspired her own nursing philosophy.
• Travel Nursing Experiences: Insights into travel nursing during the pandemic, the benefits of seeing how different hospitals operate, and why Alex believes every nurse should try traveling at least once.
• Transitioning to Staff: How Alex decided to leave the travel life for a permanent staff position and the positive impact she makes by bringing outside perspectives to her new unit.
• Balancing Career and Single Motherhood: A vulnerable discussion about "mom guilt," the logistics of childcare, and the drive to provide a good life for her son.
• The Nurse-Recruiter Relationship: The critical role a supportive recruiter plays in a traveler's success and mental well-being.
• Advocacy in Action: How experienced nurses can advocate for their patients and fellow staff members to improve unit culture and patient care.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro and welcome.
• 00:48 – Alex’s introduction and nursing background.
• 01:13 – The emotional story behind why Alex chose nursing.
• 04:22 – Finding passion in nursing after 12 years.
• 06:04 – Starting travel nursing during COVID-19 and becoming a mom.
• 09:03 – Bringing a traveler’s perspective to a staff role.
• 12:19 – The importance of a welcoming unit culture.
• 16:34 – Navigating single motherhood while working as a traveler.
• 20:00 – Building a strong relationship with a recruiter.
• 26:16 – Advice for single moms in nursing.
• 27:06 – Future goals: Teaching the next generation of nurses.

Connect With Us

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to our show on your favorite podcast platform. You can also find show updates and nursing opportunities on our Instagram at @AMNnurse.

Transcript:

00:00:00:10 - 00:00:28:01
Speaker 1
Hey guys. Welcome back to another episode of Nursing Uncharted today. Oh my gosh. Before I get started, I've just been reflecting on this year. We're coming to the end of this year. And last season, my first season I had so many solo episodes and this season I have like had very little, maybe just one solo episode. So I just want to highlight the fact that I'm just so excited to have a guest on this show and I the day that we met.

00:00:28:01 - 00:00:47:07
Speaker 1
Alex, I am just so excited for you to be here and share your story, because I think it's really going to touch in, in a lot of people's lives. And I've just I'm so excited to get started in this conversation and for everyone to hear your story and just your journeys as a nurse in general. So I can go ahead and introduce yourself.

00:00:47:07 - 00:00:48:15
Speaker 1
But thank you for being here.

00:00:48:15 - 00:01:13:07
Speaker 2
Thanks for having me. My name is Alex. I have been a nurse for almost 12 years now, which is really wild to me. It goes so fast. I am a mom to an almost four year old, which that also goes even faster. I went anywhere from working. My first job was in like a rehab facility all the way up to level one trauma, and so I've kind of been all over the place in my nursing career.

00:01:13:09 - 00:01:38:17
Speaker 2
I chose nursing because my senior year of high school, my mom got sick with stage four lung cancer, and I was undecided at that time when I was starting to look into colleges. I didn't know what to do, but she really loved her nurses. They made such a difference for her and unfortunately she passed away my like right before my graduation that year.

00:01:38:19 - 00:02:00:12
Speaker 2
And I don't remember a lot of like things in that time. But I do remember at her funeral there was all these women that I did not really remember, like know who they were and they had brought, you know, a big stone and a card. And it was all her, like cancer, like chemo nurses. And they had each row like a story and her card.

00:02:00:12 - 00:02:24:00
Speaker 2
So it was not just like, we're sorry for your loss or like something like that. And I remember that, like just was such a huge thing for me to be like, wow, you know, my mom, I'm such a daunting thing to go through. Like chemo. Liked going to her treatments because of the people that worked there. And I thought, okay, like I think this is like something that I want to be for somebody.

00:02:24:02 - 00:02:40:14
Speaker 1
So, yeah, I like that. I, you did not share that story on our first meeting, and I, I am I'm at a loss of words. I'm so I'm so sorry. And that, you know, we we talk about our passion in nursing, but, you know, I didn't ask you your why. And that is.

00:02:40:17 - 00:02:41:18
Speaker 2
That's my why.

00:02:41:19 - 00:02:48:04
Speaker 1
You know what's really special. And gosh, thank you for for sharing that. And, oh gosh.

00:02:48:04 - 00:03:01:15
Speaker 2
No, no, I think I might jump too. That's why I did it. And he started heavily in my nursing career. And, you know, you don't always know why things happen, but that definitely was my turning point into my why. So.

00:03:01:17 - 00:03:20:18
Speaker 1
Oh wow. Wow. Well, it's an amazing y. And you know, it just there's little things as nurses like, you know, some people go into nursing knowing that this is what they want to do, you know, all throughout high school. But then there are some things that happen in our lives that just it's kind of placed in front of us, and it just is like you're calling that you never know was out there.

00:03:20:18 - 00:03:29:22
Speaker 1
And that's it's so special. And thank you for for sharing that. And just the nurses showing up to the, the funeral, I mean, that just,

00:03:30:00 - 00:03:47:08
Speaker 2
It was you know, I mean, in such a sad time, it was such a beautiful thing to see. I think sometimes two people get lost that maybe they feel like they're just in another person in a case, you know what I mean? And it was there was so much specifics and what they remembered about my mom that really, like, touched me.

00:03:47:09 - 00:03:55:10
Speaker 2
I was like, wow, they really got to know her and cared for her. And it was just really special. So yeah.

00:03:55:10 - 00:04:13:04
Speaker 1
And life changing. I mean, it changes the projection of what your what your life is now. So, gosh, thank you again for just for just sharing that, you know, you know, we talked the y and just, you know, you've been in nursing now for, you know, over ten years, which is so crazy because I'm, I'm in the same boat as you.

00:04:13:04 - 00:04:22:15
Speaker 1
And it's like, where did the time go? You know what? What is your passion now? Like what is what is what keeps you there? What is, what makes you, you know, show up every day?

00:04:22:17 - 00:04:44:22
Speaker 2
I think that there is I have to kind of I think there's so much beauty in medicine, and I think there's so much beauty in getting to still be there for people. And honestly, their most vulnerable times. We as nurses are there with them for 12 hours. That's a very long time. And I just love to some people we get to some home and some we don't.

00:04:44:22 - 00:05:04:14
Speaker 2
And, and each moment you get to be that person for those people, even sometimes when they don't have anybody. And so honestly, I still feel that way even after 12 years. I just love that being there for someone and that I'm needed. Maybe if that makes sense. Like, yeah.

00:05:04:19 - 00:05:06:04
Speaker 1
Yeah, cause.

00:05:06:06 - 00:05:07:09
Speaker 2
I want to be there.

00:05:07:09 - 00:05:08:08
Speaker 1
Fills your cup. Yeah.

00:05:08:10 - 00:05:10:13
Speaker 2
Yeah absolutely. Yeah.

00:05:10:15 - 00:05:28:03
Speaker 1
Yeah. I've, I've said the same thing. You know, it's I do I get pleasure out of helping people and like being there for people on their most difficult day. You know, I don't know if like I'm an ICU nurse I don't know if we had that, that conversation during our first meeting. But, you know, it's it's it's supposed to be the happiest time of their, their life.

00:05:28:03 - 00:05:38:23
Speaker 1
And I kind of in there to ruin that for them in a way. So you know, just trying to turn that very negative situation into a positive. And it sounds like you, you kind of feel the same way.

00:05:38:23 - 00:05:40:20
Speaker 2
I absolutely do.

00:05:40:22 - 00:06:03:18
Speaker 1
Yeah. And you know, something else, you know, before we dive into this. But you are we were connected together because of, your recruiter when you were a travel nurse. But your life has kind of changed a little bit. So kind of walk me through, you know, where, like, your career went, like, at what point did you travel and, you know, are you still traveling now?

00:06:03:18 - 00:06:03:23
Speaker 1
Yeah.

00:06:04:04 - 00:06:32:00
Speaker 2
So, I decided to travel back in 2020 kind of through the thick of Covid. I did one travel contract and said I would see how I liked it and if I liked it, I was going to go throughout the United States in that travel contract. I found out I was pregnant, so I went back to staff nursing, for health insurance wise because I was just worried about what if something happens, you know, you just never know.

00:06:32:00 - 00:06:59:15
Speaker 2
And, right after he was born, I decided to start traveling again. And so I traveled all the way up until about six months ago. And then the same contract I was on, I decided to sign on as a staff there. Okay. Loved travel. I think there's so much opportunity in travel. And it really sufficed the part of life that I needed for it too.

00:06:59:15 - 00:07:24:10
Speaker 2
I get so much experience. I came on a staff just because where I'm at now in life, like being a single mom, day shift positions were kind of hard to find, and the length of what I would be able to drive, and those kind of things kind of played a factor. But a man was a huge, huge blessing for me.

00:07:24:10 - 00:07:37:18
Speaker 2
You know, my recruiter was amazing. I stuck with her the whole time. And it was I love travel, and I think everybody should travel, honestly to get to just see different nursing and experience.

00:07:37:18 - 00:08:02:07
Speaker 1
Yeah. And exactly. And you know, we always it's so funny because obviously this podcast is put on by Am and healthcare, a travel healthcare travel company. But you know, our reasons for traveling are different, right. Like we could travel for 20 some years. And I have met nurses that their their career as a nurse is to travel. And then, you know, my goal even in traveling was to find a new home.

00:08:02:12 - 00:08:17:18
Speaker 1
I didn't want to be where I was anymore, not meaning the hospital I was at, but just the state of my life, the state I was living in. I just felt like there was a little bit more for me out there. And, you know, sometimes it's just finding that new home and, and, you know, and I like that.

00:08:17:18 - 00:08:39:13
Speaker 1
And I like looking at traveling as, you know, it's okay to travel, fall in love and stay. And then it's and then there's even that opportunity that okay, I've had my fill. Let's circle back and let's try this all over again, which I think is is a really amazing part of travel nursing. Yeah. So I'm glad you found your new home for now or forever, whichever it may be.

00:08:39:13 - 00:09:03:02
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah. And something that is something that we talked about, with this, with this staff job, is that you and one of like, it goes along with, like, your passion is, you know, just almost recognizing some things that maybe you've seen in other places and bringing those positive influences into this hospital that you're at. So I don't know if you want to talk more on that.

00:09:03:02 - 00:09:10:00
Speaker 1
I like what you're doing there. You know. Yes, you're a bedside nurse. But there's also another component to that, that really was exciting to hear. Yeah.

00:09:10:00 - 00:09:29:13
Speaker 2
I, the floor that I'm on is there is a decent amount of travelers and there's a decent amount of course, staff. I love hearing where people have worked and and what I work on that surge. So what am I to search for looks like at this hospital as opposed to this hospital and things that are manageable. And what do we think?

00:09:29:13 - 00:09:52:07
Speaker 2
And I think as nurses, our biggest job is to advocate. And I think we need to advocate for our patients and advocate for ourselves and our staff. And what do we think is appropriate and what can we what can what ideas can we bring to make that for your for whatever floor you're on to the best capability it is for yourself and for your patients.

00:09:52:09 - 00:10:08:14
Speaker 2
Yeah. So I've joined a couple of committees, cleaning staff, because I do feel like I've had a lot of experience in other hospitals and and to bring ideas and to try to just make things as best that, you know, you can be in. Yeah. So you're well and, and.

00:10:08:16 - 00:10:29:22
Speaker 1
And I think that that's a really special part of having travelers become staff, at those hospitals because you're bringing in a new sense. And a lot of times what I run into is I've only ever worked here. I, I went to nursing school, I took my I did my new grad program, and I stay here, so I only know their way of doing it.

00:10:30:00 - 00:10:45:01
Speaker 1
But but, you know, there's so many ways to get the same job done safely. And I think it just makes it. You can influence those nurses, too, to think outside the box, which only makes you a better nurse. At the end of the day. I in my opinion.

00:10:45:03 - 00:11:03:04
Speaker 2
Yeah. I mean, we all learn from each other. We all started somewhere, you know, and we learn from seasoned nurses. And then when you become a seasoned nurse, you're helping. The newness is on the floor. You know, and, that's one thing I loved about travel, was getting to just see all these different perspectives of each hospital. And adjustment change is scary.

00:11:03:06 - 00:11:23:00
Speaker 2
And so to come on a floor as a traveler, you get just a couple days to really learn and be out there, you know. And so I think that that really is something I love about travel that I've got to bring on as staff is I've seen so much. And so now let me try to advocate the best I can where I'm at, you know.

00:11:23:02 - 00:11:55:04
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah. And you know something too, that you had mentioned. Is that where you're working now? There are, you know, a lot of travelers that stay. Yeah. You know, and for Med Surge and I hope this doesn't come off bad, but med surge is a hard place to work. You have a lot of patients every day. It's sometimes fast turnover like that's a you're working your butts off, you know, and it's for for travelers to stay at a hospital and for you to sign on to a hospital that really speaks to the people that that work there.

00:11:55:04 - 00:12:19:09
Speaker 2
Yeah, absolutely. When I first came to my staff position, now that I'm at, I just remember thinking, I can't speak for everybody, but I have been on some assignments where travelers I always looked at the best, you know, and they get the hardest assignments. And, they're maybe not the most receptive to travelers. But when I walked onto this unit, it was instantly what can I do to help you?

00:12:19:09 - 00:12:38:16
Speaker 2
What do you need help with? You know, those kind of things, they make a difference. And I really loved that. I never felt not. I never felt uneasy being, you know, coming on to this assignment and then stayed and I stayed. And I always say that I'm not the best traveler because I always loved where I ended up going, you know?

00:12:38:16 - 00:12:54:15
Speaker 2
And yeah. So, the forum that I'm on currently, travelers, we sign their contracts. So then it's kind of hard to figure out who's not staff and this is not you know what I mean? Because everybody's been up there for so long. So that's nice.

00:12:54:18 - 00:13:12:22
Speaker 1
And that's a that's amazing because, you know we say this a lot and health care is not that like we spend more time with our coworkers than we do our own family. So they become larger. They become our second family, you know? And and for some of us, it's our family. You know, I was a solo traveler. You know, you're a solo traveler.

00:13:12:22 - 00:13:21:16
Speaker 1
You have you have now almost a four year old, like as a single mom, like, that's you probably rely on your coworkers a lot.

00:13:21:17 - 00:13:45:09
Speaker 2
Yeah, a lot, and it is like you said, they are your family, you know? And then now I have made so many friends throughout each assignment that I still keep in touch with. And they all have like, kids. And we also see each other. And it's just like, I never would have gotten to meet these people or do these things if I didn't travel, you know, and, you know, it's just that there's a lot of beauty in it.

00:13:45:09 - 00:14:08:02
Speaker 1
Yeah, there is. And like, I think about I did a two week assignment that I've kind of touched base on in previous episodes for two weeks. And like, literally I'm in a group text with these people and there's probably like a dozen of them, and we talk like it's kind of crazy. And it was a really like stressful assignment just because of what the purpose of the assignment was.

00:14:08:04 - 00:14:30:11
Speaker 1
And, you know, we just stuck together. And I'm like thinking, how do I get connected with these people that quickly when, you know, we just knew each other for two weeks. But in the travel world, as nurses, we kind of are just these vulnerable sponges that just, oh, we see you judge you really quickly. We can we can totally understand you.

00:14:30:11 - 00:14:38:20
Speaker 1
And then we just create a bond. And I just think it's so it's so special. And I, I hope I hope a lot of people have that same experience.

00:14:38:20 - 00:14:54:16
Speaker 2
Yeah I agree with that. You know, we just if you were to tell the outside world about a story or things that go on, they cannot believe it. You know, our world is a different world. And so we go through so many things together that, like bond us. Some link us, you know?

00:14:54:18 - 00:15:11:19
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah. And I want to I wanted to say this, but I wanted you to finish your thought, previously where you're like, you know, this, this. Every unit I go to, you're bad traveler. You know, that you stay and that you've been welcomed with open arms. But that really speaks to you. Alex is who you are as a nurse.

00:15:11:19 - 00:15:35:05
Speaker 1
Your personality. When I met you within like 30s, you just have an infectious, authentic, positive of, you know, just, you know, people. I can tell that if I was on a floor with you, I would gravitate towards you because you have that energy of being like, positive and wanting to help and just like loving, nurturing, you know, presence to you.

00:15:35:05 - 00:15:53:14
Speaker 1
So, you know, I just want to. Yeah, I wanted to highlight that because I don't want you to just be like, oh, I'm lucky. And like, lot of luck because you do play and play a part in that. And I think that any patient that you've taken care of can probably speak to that as well, because I'm sure this is who you are at the bedside and off the bedside, if not even more elevated at the bedside.

00:15:53:14 - 00:15:55:14
Speaker 1
So thank you for what you're doing.

00:15:55:14 - 00:16:08:10
Speaker 2
Yeah. Thank you. That means a lot to me. I kind of just feel like, and in our day and day, you know, this is just who I am. This is what I want to bring, and. Yeah. So thank you. I appreciate that and welcome.

00:16:08:12 - 00:16:33:02
Speaker 1
I'm all about acknowledging people's positives and keeping keeping us going because the past several years of nursing you entering into the travel world during our pandemic, you know, that's a it's hard, you know, and we we've been beaten down for lack of better words and to you know, just to highlight people I think is really important. So I wanted to make sure I said that to you so much.

00:16:33:04 - 00:16:33:21
Speaker 2

00:16:34:14 - 00:16:47:11
Speaker 1
With something I was really curious about is you saying that it, I think you said at six months when when your son was six months, you started traveling again. Yeah. How hard was that? What did that look like for you?

00:16:47:11 - 00:17:08:00
Speaker 2
Now that I think back, looking at it, I feel like I was in, like, you know, one of those fight or flight modes. You just did it, you know, I had navigation of being a new mom, being a single mom. And I had a lot of mom guilt. I know that I needed to work. I have to provide, but he's a baby.

00:17:08:01 - 00:17:30:19
Speaker 2
He doesn't understand. I'm going to work. And now I'm leaving at 5 a.m. and not getting home until 8 p.m.. And then I felt I've lost a whole day with my child, you know? And that is hard. I really had to find ways to fill my cup and to talk it out, and I harbored a lot of my feelings for a while.

00:17:30:19 - 00:17:56:18
Speaker 2
But I have a really good village, and, that makes a difference. That makes such a difference. And even when I'm quiet, you know, they knew something was wrong and talk to me and, you know, figure that out. But it was hard. But it was worth it because I. I'm very proud of the work that I do, and I'm really proud of even my almost four year old is becoming.

00:17:56:22 - 00:18:10:19
Speaker 2
And yeah, he's happy and thriving and I'm happy and it's hard work. But it's it's okay to work. Do you know what I mean? And I think I had to, like, understand you have to like, this is what. Yeah.

00:18:10:21 - 00:18:28:10
Speaker 1
You have to give them, you know, you have to you have to provide a life for him. So, you know, that is a struggle. I don't, you know, I'm I'm, I don't have children. So I don't understand that. But I can, you know, I can understand how difficult that struggle would be. I have to do this, but I'm sacrificing my time.

00:18:28:12 - 00:18:34:06
Speaker 1
But, you know, to. I hear him in the background. He sounds very happy.

00:18:34:08 - 00:18:42:08
Speaker 2
He's playing good skeletons. And so he's setting up all of his skeletons right now and playing. Oh, it's also me I love. Yeah, I love it.

00:18:42:08 - 00:18:51:23
Speaker 1
And that's so hard. You know that that's hard. And then you saying like the day shift needs and like in the travel world right now that's hard. Day shift is hard.

00:18:52:01 - 00:19:09:15
Speaker 2
To find a lot of people or a lot of places assignment wise. Anyways, when I was just kind of weeding out of travel was either a night shift or sweeping shifts and once again, being like a single mom, childcare during the day is easier to find. Then obviously nighttime. And so Night Shift was automatically an out for me.

00:19:09:15 - 00:19:29:16
Speaker 2
I just couldn't do it. And so I was either having to drive 2 or 3, 4 or 5 hours, and then I'm now I'm missing out on more time to really kind of balance out that schedule. And I it's what I'm kind of hearing, at least where I'm located at is that day shift still positions are really far in view between.

00:19:29:16 - 00:19:33:20
Speaker 2
And yeah, it is a struggle on that end.

00:19:33:20 - 00:19:58:01
Speaker 1
It is it's a it's a weird world out there. But you know, that kind of ties in with, you know, having a good relationship with your recruiter, knowing your, your needs. And what are the absolute nos for you. So when those positions come up, they're on it and they're calling you or submitting you like immediately so you don't miss out on those opportunities.

00:19:58:03 - 00:20:00:19
Speaker 2
I'm up and I'm not sure. Recruiter.

00:20:00:21 - 00:20:05:00
Speaker 1
You can name dropper because she was on an episode of this. So name drop away.

00:20:05:00 - 00:20:30:01
Speaker 2
I had the best recruiter I did she I even in my travel world she was a science and as a recruiter and I hit the jackpot, really with her. I stayed with her the whole time that I traveled. She just listened. She listened to what you needed. There was no pushing of, like. Well, let's just try this place and see, or I know it's too far, but what do you know?

00:20:30:03 - 00:20:52:17
Speaker 2
She heard me. She heard what I needed. And she was on it, and she. If I was in an assignment that something made me feel uncomfortable or, I just, like, wasn't feeling the best about it. She would sit on the phone with me at 8:00 at night and she's, I think, was three hours behind me. But until, like, I felt okay, you know, and then she'd follow up with me and see how things were.

00:20:52:17 - 00:21:05:02
Speaker 2
And. Do you need me to, you know, talk. I can talk to my, you know, this and that. And I felt so hard. She's top notch. She is exactly where she needs to be in a career because she does a great job.

00:21:05:03 - 00:21:23:13
Speaker 1
She she's great. So the day that I met you, I was actually had just, you know, finished up an episode with her. So I and that ran way over. So apologies to everyone listening if you up through that episode. It was very long, but it was good. It was good. So good. If you haven't finished it, go back and listen to it.

00:21:23:13 - 00:21:37:09
Speaker 1
But just you can tell her personality is great and and she cares. And something that you said, like, even now that you're not traveling, you still you still have, you know, a relationship with her, like a friendship, you know, with her. Yeah.

00:21:37:09 - 00:21:57:14
Speaker 2
So we, she had actually reached out to me about the podcast and, you know, had talked to me a little bit about it, and then we get to chat, and then she asks me about Asher. She tells me about her nephews and her traveling and all of these things I never will forget. Once I came on a staff, she's like, okay, now we can add each other on Instagram, you know?

00:21:57:14 - 00:22:26:09
Speaker 2
And I was like, yeah, I'm in there. So, she just she's phenomenal. She had done a couple things for me. I had gotten sick in 2020 3rd August of 2023 with a really just fluke heart thing. And I was off work for, I think, about 2 to 3 weeks and well, I she was checking in on me, sent me resources that I didn't even know, like Ammon had fought for them there.

00:22:26:09 - 00:22:39:17
Speaker 2
So, and checked in like with my floor to let them know what was going on. Like all of these things that just. She wasn't just a recruiter. She's my friend too, you know. And I think that that makes a difference and.

00:22:39:18 - 00:23:04:14
Speaker 1
Makes a huge difference. Huge. Because I had a very I had an amazing still have an amazing recruiter. But I feel the same way. And it's funny because I'm always like, I found the best one. And then you talk to other people that have these amazing relationships like, no, I have the best one. So, you know, it's just it's amazing to hear and the health like, I don't even know about the what Ammon has to offer with situations that come about.

00:23:04:14 - 00:23:17:18
Speaker 1
So that's like that's really good to know as well. And yeah, just to have a recruiter that is looking after you, checking up on you and making sure that you're okay because that's terrifying as a traveler. Yeah. Because you can't work. And then.

00:23:17:18 - 00:23:35:18
Speaker 2
What? That's what I was scared of. I can't work that. You know, are they going to cancel my contract now because I'm not able to fulfill the, you know, the weeks that I have gone and there was just all of these outside factors that came in and such as scary moments, and she really just put a lot of ease.

00:23:35:18 - 00:24:00:13
Speaker 2
She took she. I don't even have to ask her. She just did it. And I think that that was like it. Let me focus on what I needed to health wise without. Yeah, he's so stressed out about that. So she was amazing. And I had signed on as, as my core staff. And I got a message from her like two weeks later and she had put me in for an award through Am in and I won.

00:24:00:15 - 00:24:12:03
Speaker 2
Oh, so no, she had told me, like, even after now, you know, I'm no longer traveling. But she had done that and and it was amazing. You know, it just she didn't have to do that and she did it and.

00:24:12:05 - 00:24:40:10
Speaker 1
Well, congratulations, you are Alex. You are amazing. I like I was looking forward to recording this with you. Well, I feel like we've touched on on so much, you know, and and thank you again for sharing your why. That's an extremely personal story. And you know, I that really that really touched me. And just your vulnerability talking about being a single mom and what that looks like and there are many nurses out there, I'm sure, going through the struggle of what what do I do?

00:24:40:14 - 00:24:53:16
Speaker 1
What are my options? And I think that this will really help to motivate people out here. So no, you know, no, you can do it and you can have a happy, playful son sitting right beside you while you're recording a podcast.

00:24:53:16 - 00:25:15:02
Speaker 2
Yeah, 5,000%. He is my you know, my first start for a while is very opposite as to what my continuing why is. But they all tie in and he and and that's my human. That's my person. And now he is what I do everything for you know and he was people get you know have get heard outside that he sees and he'll be like, my mommy can fix you.

00:25:15:02 - 00:25:23:03
Speaker 2
You know, he knows what I do. And he's proud of that. And so make me even more proud, you know? And yes, I love yeah.

00:25:23:08 - 00:25:28:03
Speaker 1
I love it so much. And do you ever see yourself traveling again or.

00:25:28:05 - 00:25:52:19
Speaker 2
I do, actually, yeah. I mean, I don't know where life will lead me. I loved my experience traveling. I do think it'll be probably a couple of years just to get him into school and to have that consistent schedule, but yeah, I loved it. I can't speak more highly of traveling. It has led me to some of my best friends, and it led me to where I'm at today and has made me a better nurse.

00:25:52:19 - 00:26:02:17
Speaker 2
I've gotten to just see so many rounds and different populations and different things and yeah, I can't speak more highly of it. I love to hear.

00:26:02:18 - 00:26:16:18
Speaker 1
I love that, and if you could give one piece of advice, let's stick with the single mom you know, story. Like what? What could you give a single mom out there? Single mom nurse, you know, trying to figure out what what one piece of advice could you give?

00:26:16:23 - 00:26:34:03
Speaker 2
I think just to keep going every day is there is challenges in every day. And some days are super hard, but there are better days ahead. And if I could not, I'll cry. But if I call myself that, you know, three years ago, I would never imagine why I'm at today.

00:26:34:05 - 00:26:57:19
Speaker 1
So yeah, just. And you're an an amazing you're an amazing place and now you know it. And I just the emotion behind this is just so powerful Alex. Thank you. Thank you so, so much for coming on here and sharing your story and being so vulnerable. And you're amazing. And I see a future with us doing this again because I.

00:26:57:19 - 00:27:03:16
Speaker 2
Have enjoyed this. I will do it every time I have had so much fun. Thank you guys for letting me come on here.

00:27:03:16 - 00:27:06:03
Speaker 1
And there is.

00:27:06:05 - 00:27:26:04
Speaker 2
So much future ahead. You know, my end goal is to teach. I want to go back to school and and to teach. And I think we talked about that a little bit. But yeah, I want nursing to be seen as such a beautiful thing again, you know, and and to teach the younger new people that are coming in about all the amazing things that come with it.

00:27:26:04 - 00:27:33:20
Speaker 1
So yeah. Yeah. Well, you summed it up beautifully. And thank you so much for being here. And we will see you soon.

00:27:33:20 - 00:27:43:04
Speaker 2
Thank you so much for having me. I had a blast.

00:27:43:06 - 00:27:56:07
Speaker 1
Thank you for tuning in to Nursing Uncharted. You can learn more about this episode and our show on our website at AMN. Health care.com. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and subscribe to our show on your favorite podcast platform.

00:27:56:09 - 00:27:57:09
Speaker 2
You can also find.

00:27:57:09 - 00:28:05:16
Speaker 1
Show updates and nursing opportunities on our Instagram at AMN nurse. Special thanks to Aman Healthcare for making this show possible.