The secrets to success for your travel nursing career are simple, yet essential. You’ve learned how to impress during an interview; how to get the job you want; and how to make friends while on assignment—which are all measures of success for a travel nurse. But now it’s time for the ultimate secrets to all-around travel nursing success. Follow these simple six steps to set yourself up for a satisfying and successful travel nursing career.

1. Swap wishing for planning.
Larry Elder once said: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Whether you want to make more money, gain personal experience and career exposure or find adventure—figure out your top priorities for becoming a travel nurse and form a plan for how you’re going to accomplish your goals. Make sure each of your travel nursing assignments strives toward those goals and don’t settle for less.

2. Stop hesitating.
What’s been keeping you from living your dream as a travel nurse? You know your excuses. Maybe you’re waiting until your kids are grown. Or perhaps you’re afraid to travel alone or you’re nervous about living in a new city? It’s time to toss your excuses out the window and take a chance. Travel nursing caters to every lifestyle—single or married, kids or no kids, veteran or newcomer.

3. Be fearless.
Travel nurses are on the right track: travel nursing assignments every 13 weeks at different cities across the country. Changing sceneries, staffs and patients creates an exciting and constantly challenging nursing career. When you spice up your lifestyle, you are encouraging new opportunities to learn and grow personally and professionally.

4. Create a support system.
There are going to be times during your travel nursing career when you feel down. This is when you’ll need a solid support system to lift your spirits, keep you motivated and offer advice. Friends, family, coworkers and even a nurse manager can create a healthy balance of encouragement and tough love when the road to success gets bumpy.

5. Don’t live for work.
Having a life that revolves around your travel nurse job can quickly wear you down and lead to the feelings of burnout that so many nurses experience. When your life is all work and no play, you leave no time to relax and reboot. Though the occasional extra shift or overtime helps fatten your wallet, overworking can cause you to lose your drive for success due to tiredness and bitterness.

6. Remember your potential.
You are a talented, educated and capable travel nurse. You’ve proved it through your work and dedication to the nursing profession. Make that statement your mantra whenever you feel disappointed or discouraged. Too often travel nurses lose sight of why they became nurses. Hold on to this simple fact: You are making a difference and making a positive impact every day.