I think the adventure started before even leaving the country. In retrospect, if I had more time to research the licensing process for each state, I would have made some very different decisions. As it turns out, many states require a social security number (SSN) before you can even apply for a license, and yes, Indiana is one of those states. Why is this such a big deal, well…you can’t get a license without a SSN, you can’t get a job with out a a license and yes, you can’t get a SSN without a job. Understanding this barrier, I still opted to pack up all my stuff and move to Indiana; although, officially there as a visitor, until I could secure my visa. I knew the paperwork was just needing more time and the demand for nurses will always spur the industry to find a way to recruit and secure good nurses. Delusional maybe, but I felt that if I was in Indiana, I could convince an employer to hire me and they would provide a letter of employment, and from there I could get my SSN and license. Surely, if there is such a demand for nurses, employers would be willing to work with nurse who have exemplary credentials such as myself, No?

Well, despite being a qualified and sought out emergency room nurse, employers were either not willing or able to wait the time for a license application to be approve. I had received calls from several departments wishing to hire me; however, only if I had already obtained an Indiana nursing license. Frustration grew and my bank account shrunk, I needed a job.

Travel nursing agencies are companies that work with healthcare companies, providing nursing and other services on a contract or as needed basis. Currently in the USA there are several nursing agencies to choose from, all offer slightly different services, with slightly different wages and benefit packages; however for the most part, are all pretty much the same. Choosing an agency to work with is a difficult choice if you don’t have any point of reference or recommendations. I had consulted with a few fellow nurses and then hoped I made the right decision. Working with an agency was going to allow me the opportunity to secure a TN visa, obtain a SSN and start to earn dollars, but there is always a catch…

Sometimes, people enter your life as if they were always meant to be there…

Despite my reluctance to date an American, my sweet was able to steal my heart. He told me Canada was his new home…Was I fool, to believe those caring green eyes and tender heart?

Our relationship flourished, we travelled, and life was grand. As our first anniversary of togetherness approached, many things had changed; we had moved, my father had a stroke, my son joined the army and the security of my sweets job was weak. We understood changes within his company were unavoidable and the needed for him to change jobs was obvious. Regardless of the promise that Canada was now his home, the reality of staying was over powered by the need to move.

Attempting to find another job in Canada with a company willing to sponsor him would be difficult and so the job hunt south of the 49th commenced…

Now, when given the chance to move to the USA, there are 50 states to choose from. Some states are cold, others tropical, some states beautiful, some with mountains, some with shorelines and some, well…flat with lots of corn. The Geography of the USA has much to offer and plenty to choose from, needless to say when I was approached with the idea of moving to the USA I was flooded with many visions of mountains ,or beaches, or both. To much my surprise, I did not expect to be presented with INDIANA! Indiana, who goes there, what’s there, where the heck is it anyways? After living in beautiful Vancouver BC, my whole life, the idea of moving was frightening to say the least, but Indiana, WOW!

I mustered up everything I had emotionally and put the question of “where?” aside and understood that as scary as this move was, I never wanted to have regrets. I believe this is the man I am meant to be with, where he goes I go and he wasn’t leaving me behind. Letting him go without me would be a far bigger regret than I could imagine and so we ventured off together to Indiana…the crossroads of the mid-west, where the adventures continue…