If you have at least 3 years of consolidated clinical experience, then there are no barriers to starting your travel nursing career. James was living in the UK with a permanent role, but with the support of Affinity Nursing, he was able to make a huge, yet rewarding, leap into the Australian nursing scene.

Know where you want to go? Chances are, Affinity can get you there.

RN James had his sights set on Australia, having originally worked in both the UK and New Zealand. Through his adaptiveness, no learning curve was steep enough to stop him diving straight into rural settings and small teams. We caught up with him after his first contract to see how he made his travel nursing career all possible.

RN James

13 years nursing experience

3min read

1. How long have you been nursing for?

I’ve been nursing for 13 years. I trained in the UK, initially working in a Coronary Care Unit (CCU) before moving to ITU (Intensive Treatment Unit). I then moved to New Zealand and continued working in ICU there.

2. How was your time at Grampians Health Horsham?

It was my first contract, my first time leaving a full-time permanent job, and also my first time working as a nurse in Australia, so it was a big change. The team were lovely, welcoming, friendly, and supportive. Having always worked at tertiary centres, being in a small-town rural setting was a learning curve. I loved being part of a small team, working with different resources, and getting creative and adaptive in patient care.

3. What did you get up to in Victoria?

My shifts were nicely blocked, which gave me long stretches of time off. I rented a car, made friends with locals, and went on road trips to South Australia, Mount Gambier, and along the Great Ocean Road. I loved hiking in the Grampians and Mount Buller, and spent plenty of time swimming in lakes and rivers, all safely crocodile-free. I also made friends with lots of adorable dogs.

4. What do you enjoy most about the travel nurse lifestyle?

Being new to Australia, I love having the chance to see so much of the country. I really value the flexibility to work when I want and take time off to explore. I also enjoy bringing my tertiary care experience into rural settings, caring for critically unwell patients, and supporting the local teams.

5. You’ve just begun your Affinity journey with us, what has been the highlight of working with Affinity so far?

Working with Affinity has been such a smooth and positive experience. I had my heart set on my first contract at Horsham ICU because it’s right next to the Grampians National Park, a place I’d been wanting to hike. Affinity kept an eye on the job listings and submitted me the moment it went live, which made me feel really supported. I loved it so much that they even helped me secure a return to Horsham after a quick European getaway. The $500 education allowance was a lovely bonus and went straight towards renewing my ALS.

6. Do you have a favourite shot from your travels? What’s the story behind it?

One of my favourite shots is from my time in Horsham over Christmas. After finishing my morning shift on Christmas Day, I took a walk down by the river and spotted the community Christmas tree standing proud in the 44-degree heat. It was such a quirky and memorable moment, perfectly capturing the spirit of the town.

7. What advice would you tell other Nurses who want to do travel nursing?

Travel nursing is a lot of fun, and life on the road is full of adventures. If you’re unsure, just give it a try; there will always be hospitals you can return to if it’s not for you. My top tip is to pack a few essentials: accommodation knives can get blunt fast, so I always bring a sharp kitchen knife, plus my own cutlery, cup, and plate, since hospital staff don’t always provide these.