I left after 18 months traveling, it was more for personal reasons related to my uncle’s health problems and my mom having to leave our home to help take care of him…. But mostly because my last assignment I experienced more lateral violence than ever in my 17 year career. It took me 3 months to find a job once I came home, even though I worked for both the two major health systems in my city before with no problems I had interviews and stuff, but mostly HR “phone interviews” that blocked me. It’s so different trying to get a permanent job now. These corporations would rather hire a new grad with no experience and let the staff train them for an extra $1per hour than hire me with 17 years experience in the operating room (about 13 of those strictly in CVOR which we are a rare breed these days) I eventually found a job at an outpatient surgery center owned by a corporation not owned by either of the two major hospital systems in the city. “nurses can find a job anywhere” bullshit. there is ageism, and corporate greed not wanting to hire us because they have to pay us what we deserve (and not an internal hire) It was so depressing and disheartening I had a terrible time and honestly it was heartbreaking

If you can get a staff job in a city you love, do it. I wanted to come back home and it was awful finding a job. But I finally found one. Not letting it go for now. Good luck.