Expert: Torski Dobson-Arnold - 3/16/2009

Question
hi there. i'm currently a junior in high school and i've been planning my future career. So i plan to go to a four-year UC college (i live in the bay area) and attend a nursing school during the summer when the UC college is off because i want to become a registered travel nurse. The reason i still want to go to a four year college is because i want to create more options. you see, i think i want to become a registered travel nurse because i want to try that career out since the travel nurse seems to have good pay and many benefits. however, i can only do travel nurse for maybe 10 years at most cause i want to settle down after i get older and such. Now my four year college study will come into effect. i plan to study for a career in biology like biotechnology at the four year UC college. But my question is this, is this plan feasible? is it feasible to be a registered travel nurse for like 10 years and then suddenly stop doing nursing and switch to a career in biotechnology? will that be a big problem? i understand that most science majors like biotechnology require more than 4 years at college.

Do you know if travel nurse is as good as it sounds? i think i've kinda been persuaded by travel nurse websites that it's all a good life for travel nurses with all the benefits and traveling. i understand that travel nursing kinda requires you to always to be away from home so i don't know if that's a good idea. i mean, i love to travel but i also don't exactly like being away from home and my friends so much.

honestly, i don't have much interest in nursing. i've read the job description before and it just doesn't appeal to me that much. however, travel nursing appeals to me because of all the benefits, good pay, and the traveling. Honestly, if there was no such thing as a registered travel nurse, i would not be interested at all in nursing. I find biology much more than interesting than nursing. so as you can see, i only want to be a registered travel nurse because of the belief that "it's a good life". if i do become a registered travel nurse and after 10 years or so of travel nursing, will i be able to begin my career in biotechnology? i really need some expert advice on this. thank you for your time.

Answer
Michael:

I think you have already answered your question.  It sounds as though you are NOT passionate about being a travel nurse, but instead only seek the benefits that come with the job.  I mean, if that is the case, you could also join the military or the Peace Corps if you are interested in travel.

I think you should follow your passion, Michael, which you have identified as being in biotechnology and search for opportunities in this career field that may allow for travel.

Also, it is my belief that if you are going to be a nurse whether you travel or not, you need to have a degree in nursing; have you forgotten this point somehow?

Again, the final point is this, Michael, follow your passion & the money, travel, and other fringe benefits will come.

I think that this "good life" you seek can come in many different forms and flavors and that the "good life" to you, might be someone else's nightmare.

Claiming nothing but success in all of your career endeavors,

Torski