How to Plan Your Dream Lifestyle While Working on an RN Degree

If you love to travel, one of your greatest assets can be a Registered Nurse (RN) degree. To become an RN, you’ll need to meet certain educational requirements. You need at least an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), although many choose to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and you’ll also need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. You can either go to a traditional college or university, or attend a specific nursing school.

Once you have the educational requirements and enough experience under your belt, you’ll be ready to look for travel nursing jobs. And then you can begin living your dream lifestyle! But first, it’s better to begin planning now. Why? Let’s take a look…

Plan During the Education Stage

Where do you want to travel? How much money will you need for the lifestyle you want? The more education you get before you go, the better the opportunities. Think of it like this: How many travel nurses do you think there are now? Of that giant pool, how many do you think want to work in the locations where you want to work? And how can you set yourself apart from all of those nurses?

It might be better to work a little harder during school and reap the rewards later. We’ll touch on this point again a little further down in the article, too.

Know The Terrain

Where will you be able to travel as a nurse? Do you prefer beaches, mountains, big cities, or do you want to experience it all? Are you looking to stay in the United States, or do you want to travel abroad? Deciding this now can help you plan; for one thing,  you might need to meet further educational requirements for working outside of the U.S.

Check out travel nursing websites now to see what options are available and what special qualifications you might need.

Create an Awesome Sharable Itinerary

A sharable itinerary isn’t just for planning the perfect adventure trip. The same concept works for planning out the 3-4 years of earning your advanced degree. Set up an itinerary and enlist the support of friends and family. Find people who you can talk with for encouragement and practical help.

Having a clear itinerary of your career journey will help you find the best people who want to share this amazing adventure. It will also help you during the toughest parts of your school and test prep.

Budget Before… and After

While going back to school may seem expensive, it helps to keep the end in mind. RNs on average earn a median salary of $73,000. Nurse Practitioners (NP) earn an average of $115,800 per year.

As you plan and budget, keep these numbers in mind. Having the end in mind can help as you ‘do the math.’ An added incentive is the promise of job security. The need for Nurse Practitioners is expected to increase by 45% between 2019 and 2029. If you’re looking for a secure profession, this one is poised to fit the bill.

In addition to big-picture budgeting, take some time to calculate your budget. Consider ‘fixed’ expenses such as rent, electricity, and coursework. Consider ‘flexible’ expenses such as dining out, vacations, and luxury items.

Aim to tighten your spending so that you can steer clear of financial stress. Think about ways to have fun and find entertainment that is free or low cost. These can help keep you happy and healthy – without creating excessive debt.

Stay Healthy

Even if you happen to have an encyclopedic memory, going to nursing school can be challenging. You may not have all the free time to play with friends or go on big trips. However, you can use this time to boost your health, build your dream career, and achieve a greater sense of purpose.

Staying healthy, especially while going to school, is extremely important. Make a ‘health’ plan that is practical and inspiring.

For instance, instead of waiting until you graduate or pass your exam, make an investment in your dreams right away. Dust off your mountain bike or city bike. Going to school is a great time to take up bicycling.

You can use your bike for taking an exercise break from study. You can ride your bike when commuting to school or work. Riding can help you lose weight, get fit, and support the environment – all while achieving your career goals.

Mayo Clinic experts confirm that cycling is great for health. Cycling comes with awesome benefits. It helps people get in shape, stay in shape, and improve fitness levels. Cycling could be the perfect choice for going back to school, working, and achieving your health goals.

Additionally, as you’re planning your perfect lifestyle – bicycle riding while earning an advanced degree sets you in the right direction. Perhaps after you earn your degree, you’ll become a travel nurse, working in bicycle-friendly communities around the world.

Who said it isn’t possible to achieve more than one goal at a time?