Setting Career Goals as a Travel Nurse or Midwife (Without Killing the Vibe)

Travel nursing and midwifery often start with a very simple thought: “I just need a change.”

A change of ward. A change of roster. A change of scenery. A change from the same conversations, the same pressures, the same car park.

And suddenly — boom — you’re a travel nurse or midwife.

But somewhere between contract number three and yet another orientation tour of where everything used to be kept, it’s worth pausing to ask: Where is this actually taking me?

At Kenmore Health Recruitment, we believe travel nursing and midwifery should feel freeing — not like you’re just hopping from one contract to the next hoping it all magically works out.

First things first: what’s your why?

Before we talk locations, pay rates, accommodation, or how close the coffee is to your clinic or ward, ask yourself:

• Why did I start travel nursing or midwifery?

• Was it burnout?

• Boredom?

• Better flexibility?

• Better income?

• Curiosity?

• Or a mix of all of the above?

No judgement here. Your why doesn’t need to sound impressive — it just needs to be honest.

Career goals don’t have to be corporate or cringe

Setting goals doesn’t mean creating a five-year strategic plan with buzzwords.

It can be as simple as:

• “I want to feel more confident clinically.”

• “I want broader experience as a nurse or midwife.”

• “I want to work somewhere I’m genuinely needed.”

• “I want flexibility without my career stalling.”

• “I want to try regional or remote practice — but with support.”

Those are still career goals. Excellent ones, actually.

Think in seasons, not forever

Travel nursing and midwifery work best when you think in chapters, not end points.

Right-now goals

• Rebuild confidence

• Try a different model of care

• Recover from burnout

• Improve work–life balance

• Get your love for nursing or midwifery back

Next-chapter goals

• Step into senior or educator roles

• Broaden your clinical scope

• Move into regional or remote work

• Explore leadership, education, or continuity-of-care pathways

• Work out what you don’t want (hugely underrated)

You don’t need to map out your entire career — just the next season.

Choose contracts that give something back

Not every contract needs to be challenging, remote, or character-building. Sometimes you just need a steady placement, a decent roster, and a breather.

But over time, your travel nursing or midwifery contracts should be giving you something:

• New skills

• Greater autonomy

• Increased confidence

• Exposure to different teams, cultures, or models of care

• More options for your future self

If you finish a contract and think, “Well… that didn’t really add anything,” it might be time to reassess.

Your agency should actually know you

A recruitment consultant from your agency shouldn’t just ask:

“When are you available?”

They should also be asking:

• What do you want more (or less) of as a nurse or midwife?

• What environments drain you?

• What models of care energise you?

• What support do you need to feel safe and confident?

• What are you working towards long-term?

At Kenmore, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter placements. We take the time to understand you — your nursing or midwifery background, your goals, your boundaries — so we can suggest contracts that genuinely make sense, not just fill a roster.

And yes — your goals can change

One of the best things about travel nursing and midwifery?You’re allowed to change your mind.

What felt right last year might not fit now — and that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’ve learned something.

Career goals aren’t about locking yourself into a rigid plan. They’re about giving yourself direction, with plenty of space to pivot when life (or maternity services, or workforce shortages) throws a curveball.

The takeaway

Travel nursing and midwifery aren’t just about where you’re going — they’re about what you’re building along the way.

If you’re unsure about your next move, or wondering how your current contract fits into the bigger picture, we’re always happy to talk it through.

No pressure. No spin. Just honest conversations.