Will taking time off harm my career?

[serenity729]

I'm an L&D nurse with 2 years' experience. My husband and I want to move out of the area we're in, and are interested in taking 9-12 months off to travel around the country before we settle back down somewhere. Will this negatively affect my career? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, but I want to feel confident about doing it.

[Susan1002]

You have your career and your life. Do what nourishes you. Will you find the "perfect" next job? Probably not, it doesn't exist. Will you grow from this travel? Will you be a better person? Will you be better able to take a less than ideal next job and maybe make it into something special? Sure. That's life. People make/take career moves all the time. For health, financial and family reasons. Do what works for you and the people in your life.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Go for it! This isn't something that will FOR SURE hurt your career. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I'd grab it. We are hurting here for nurses - especially L&D nurses. We'd hire you! Have fun!!

[Daly City RN]

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Many posters here are saying your plan sounds like "fun" and "go do it!"

Taking more than SIX MONTHS off from your nursing job may be viewed by many employers that your skills are NO LONGER current. As you may well know that employers now have the luxury to hire only the nurses they deem qualified and employable.

You can prevent this by considering travel nursing or per diem status. You can still have "fun" while occasionally working only several days a month. Your skills will REMAIN current in the process, so no worries AFTER your "fun" period has ended and in the time to re-enter the "real world" once again.

Good luck and have lots of fun!

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[joyouter]

Fear factors are strong negatives and often stops us from doing what we seek to enrich our lives. Travel opens so many possibilities, including the fact that different facilities will offer you on going ed. and training. Re. your ceu's , it is possible to take on line, as long as you keep a current license. The bottom line is that if you have a dream and ignore it, you will feel some sense of loss. The fact that you have a partner who is also willing makes this even more enriching.

What you will learn will enhance your future both personally and professionally. Go for it and all the luck and happiness in the world.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Just checking in to see what you've decided and had to send KUDOS to joyouter for the above post.

[Forest2]

Yes it will. Unless you can work on school online while you are traveling, then you can say you took time off to complete schooling, or credentialing, or what ever. But from my experience, they want working nurses.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Everyone's experience is different. We are hurting for nurses here. We'll take a nurse who worked full-time for two years and was a great nurse who comes with recommendations and then decided to take a year off to be with her husband and travel, thereby helping create wonderful memories of new adventures. I'd certainly look favorably at a person who did what the OP wants to do.

A great nurse can stay a great nurse even if she/he takes time off to have children, to spend time with terminally ill family, to hang with a spouse for a year as the spouse travels. That shows a value-system that impresses some of us.

I'd hire her.