Clocked Out: Life Beyond the Bedside

Is it possible to leave the hospital, create your own niche, and build a meaningful nursing career beyond the bedside? According to concierge plastic surgery recovery nurse, Kelly Greytok, RN - absolutely yes.

In this episode, Kelly shares how she went from ER and home‑care nursing to founding a private recovery nursing business that supports high‑profile cosmetic surgery patients across the United States and internationally. She talks candidly about burnout, entrepreneurship fears, the four months she went without a single client, and the mindset shifts that helped her push past the noise.

We also dive into... • What concierge recovery nursing looks like day‑to‑day • How she identified a niche no one else was serving • Business lessons from the early days (including mistakes) • Marketing yourself ethically in aesthetics • Building financial independence as a nurse • The FREE mastectomy recovery course she created to support families everywhere

If you're a nurse wondering what else is out there, this conversation proves that innovative, fulfilling opportunities exist far beyond the bedside.

Resources Mentioned... Free Mastectomy Recovery Course: https://www.kellygreytok.com/masectomy-recovery-course

Connect with Kelly...

Instagram: @kellygreytokrn

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

Thinking about taking your nursing career overseas? In this episode of Clocked Out: Life Beyond the Bedside, I'm joined once again by Melissa, an American nurse now living and working in London, England.

Melissa first joined the show to walk us through how she moved to the UK and became a licensed nurse. This time, she's back to give us a real and raw look at what it's actually like to work in the NHS vs private sector - from pay, autonomy, and mental health to the unexpected realities of international nursing.

We talk about…

• Why Melissa left the U.S. to work as a nurse in England

• NHS vs private healthcare: pay, benefits, scheduling, respect

• What surprised her about UK nursing culture

• Why international nurses make up most of the NHS workforce

• Her experience with burnout and how she found her "unicorn job"

• Her pivot into launching a travel planning business

• The honest truth: is it really worth moving to England to nurse?

Whether you're a nurse dreaming of living abroad or just curious about how nursing differs between the US and UK, this episode is for you!

02:59 Navigating the NHS: Insights and Experiences

05:55 Cultural Differences in Nursing: UK vs. US

08:39 Expectations vs. Reality: Working in the NHS

12:00 The Role of Nurses: Responsibilities and Limitations

14:40 Pros and Cons of Working for the NHS

17:52 Financial Considerations: Pay and Living Expenses

23:40 The Financial Landscape of Nursing

26:41 Transitioning from NHS to Private Sector

32:32 Mental Health and Job Satisfaction

38:41 Exploring New Career Paths

44:33 Future Aspirations and Travel Planning

Reach out to Melissa - [email protected]

Follow Melissa on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/meliss.meetsworld/

Check out Melissa's blog - https://melissmeetsworld.com/

Read about getting licensed in England - https://www.passportsandpreemies.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-working-as-a-nurse-in-the-uk-if-youre-american/

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

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.

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

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