This week's episode is coming to you straight from Huntsville, Alabama with a very real conversation on something so many of us experience but rarely talk about: loneliness.

From middle school to my journey as a travel nurse, feeling alone has been a thread in my life. And with the holidays right around the corner, I know this season can bring up a lot, especially for nurses who are working away from home, starting new assignments, or spending the holidays in unfamiliar cities.

In this episode, we talk about...

– Why loneliness is so common in nursing and travel nursing – The emotional weight of working holiday shifts – Feeling left behind while friends "move on" with partners, families, and traditions – The pressure to work holidays (and why hospitals scheduling you before/after the holiday should be illegal) – Ways I kept myself grounded while on assignment – How to stay connected even when you're physically alone – The mindset shifts and routines that helped me cope – Small traditions that made the holidays feel less isolating – Why courage and travel nursing go hand‑in‑hand

I also share honestly about what this season has looked like for me — including navigating loneliness after moving to France — and a tool that's helped me reframe my mindset.

If you're a nurse who's ever felt alone during the holidays, I want you to know this; you're not weird. You're not behind. You're not alone.

I'll be taking Thanksgiving week off, but I'll be back December 2 with a guest you already know and love.

Take care of yourself this season.

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Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com

In this fun and wildly honest episode of Clocked Out: Life Beyond the Bedside, I sit down with my very special guest - my husband, Julien - for a casual conversation about what it's really like being married to someone from another country.

We're talking about cultural quirks, how French healthcare stacks up to the U.S. system (spoiler: it's a LOT cheaper), and what happens when an American girl with three credit cards falls in love with a French guy who doesn't believe in credit cards at all.

Whether you're a nurse curious about global healthcare systems, someone who's lived abroad (or dreams of it), or just love a good cross-cultural love story - this one's for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• American fast food

• Our very different daily rhythms (5 PM dinner?!)

• The shocking truth about France's healthcare costs

• Why traveling - and marrying someone from another country - changes you

• What really grosses Julien out about American food (deep dish pizza fans, beware)

And of course, we end with some laughs, a little romantic banter, and Julien's favorite travel destinations.

Subscribe and share if you're loving these more personal episodes, and don't forget to leave a review. It helps me reach more nurses who are dreaming beyond the bedside.

Join our monthly newsletter for updates on travel, nursing, and wellness - https://astounding-writer-222.ck.page/9de8c9fcc0

Follow us on Instagram @life_beyond_the_bedside & @passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@passportsandpreemies

Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com

After a major crash, I did what I always do when life feels too heavy, I booked a trip. I hopped on a train six hours south of home and spent a few days exploring Costa Brava, Spain. In this episode, I'm catching you up on that getaway, how travel helps me reset, and what it really feels like to find balance after leaving bedside nursing behind.

Join our monthly newsletter for updates on travel, nursing, and wellness - https://astounding-writer-222.ck.page/9de8c9fcc0

Follow us on Instagram @life_beyond_the_bedside & @passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@passportsandpreemies

Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com

The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle - https://www.passportsandpreemies.com/product/album/

Imagine flying across the world for a few nursing shifts, then heading home to Sweden for family time. That's real life for Courtney, a NICU nurse who's figured out how to work per diem in California while living abroad. She shares how she built a life filled with freedom, travel, and flexibility all while keeping her nursing career intact.

Follow Courtney:

• IG @courtneyelrefai
• TikTok @courtneyelrefai
• YouTube @courtneyelrefai
• Minimal Nurse IG @minimal.nurse

Join our monthly newsletter for updates on travel, nursing, and wellness - https://astounding-writer-222.ck.page/9de8c9fcc0

Follow us on Instagram @life_beyond_the_bedside & @passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@passportsandpreemies

Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com

Frida grew up in the U.S. but became a nurse in Norway and trust me, her story is nothing like nursing school back home. We get into what it's really like being a nurse abroad, the surprises of Norway's healthcare system, and the lessons every nurse and nursing student can take away.

Connect with Frida:

• TikTok @frida_eiane
• Instagram @frida_eiane
• Youtube @frida_eiane

Join our monthly newsletter for updates on travel, nursing, and wellness - https://astounding-writer-222.ck.page/9de8c9fcc0

Follow us on Instagram @life_beyond_the_bedside & @passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@passportsandpreemies

Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com

I'm kicking off Season 2 with a full life update! I just announced dates for our next Beyond the Bedside nurse trip to France, shared all the details from my Bordeaux wedding, and opened up about starting fresh with new content in France. This season is about big changes, new beginnings, and building life beyond the bedside.

Join our monthly newsletter for updates on travel, nursing, and wellness - https://astounding-writer-222.ck.page/9de8c9fcc0

Follow us on Instagram @life_beyond_the_bedside & @passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@passportsandpreemies

Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com

Skincare is so much more than vanity, it's healthcare. In this episode, I'm chatting with Deja about the treatments and routines that actually work for nurses, from retinol and SPF to microneedling and lasers. We break down easy habits you can stick with after a 12-hour shift and share how taking care of your skin can boost your confidence inside and outside the hospital.

Follow Deja on Instagram: @deja_fulcrumchicago

Join our monthly newsletter for updates on travel, nursing, and wellness - https://astounding-writer-222.ck.page/9de8c9fcc0

Follow us on Instagram @life_beyond_the_bedside & @passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@passportsandpreemies

Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com

Ever feel like bedside nursing isn't the only path for you? In this episode, Kylee opens up about how she found freedom, flexibility, and unexpected nursing career options outside the hospital. If you've been googling "non-traditional nursing jobs" or "nursing careers beyond bedside," this one's for you.

The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle - https://www.passportsandpreemies.com/product/album/

Join our monthly newsletter for updates on travel, nursing, and wellness - https://astounding-writer-222.ck.page/9de8c9fcc0

Follow us on Instagram @life_beyond_the_bedside & @passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@passportsandpreemies

Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com

What do 30 years in medicine really teach you? Kylee sits down with her dad, Dr. Nick Nelson, a retired radiologist, to talk about the unexpected lessons, stories, and wisdom that come with a lifetime in healthcare. From medical school to decades of working with nurses and doctors, this episode is packed with insight you won't want to miss.

Join our monthly newsletter for updates on travel, nursing, and wellness - https://astounding-writer-222.ck.page/9de8c9fcc0

Follow us on Instagram @life_beyond_the_bedside & @passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@passportsandpreemies

Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com

I sat down with Penny, a certified hospice nurse, to talk about second chances, starting over, and the kind of nursing that actually feels aligned. Whether you're burnt out or just wondering what else is out there, this convo is real, reflective, and honestly… kind of healing.

Connect with Penny:

• Penny's Instagram - @hospicenursepenny

• Penny's website - www.hospicenursepenny.com

• Penny's book: Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living

• Penny's podcast: Death Happens Podcast

Join our monthly newsletter for updates on travel, nursing, and wellness - https://astounding-writer-222.ck.page/9de8c9fcc0

Follow us on Instagram @life_beyond_the_bedside & @passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@passportsandpreemies

Follow Kylee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@passportsandpreemies

Check out our nurses only group trips on Instagram at @beyondthebedside

Check out the website www.passportsandpreemies.com