💜 Bittersweet, But What a Relief

After years of travel assignments and countless transitions, today marks the end of another chapter.

Today was my last day as a travel DON. Bittersweet, but what a relief.

And if you know, you know.

Being a Director of Nursing is one of the roles I love most. There’s something about it — the structure, the teamwork, the purpose — that feels like home to me.

But being a travel DON adds another layer of challenge and reward.

I love walking into a facility in need, helping them stabilize, building systems, coaching the team, and then exiting on a positive note.

There’s a special kind of satisfaction in knowing you made a difference and left things better than you found them.

Traveling has given me the opportunity to keep learning — especially when working in different states. And baby, knowing the state regs is everything!

 Things I’d have to report in Pennsylvania didn’t even need to be reported in Texas. I was like, “Wait… what do you mean?” 😂

But that’s the beauty of leadership — learning, adapting, and applying.

The administrator and executive director at this facility were incredible — supportive, engaged, and on top of everything. That level of teamwork makes all the difference.

Now that I’m officially off, I can breathe. No calls. No emergencies. No late-night chart reviews. Just peace — and gratitude.

It’s bittersweet because I truly love what I do, but it’s also a relief to know I did exactly what I came to do: help bring stability, structure, and support.

Their new DON will be starting soon, and the foundation is strong.

That’s what leadership is — building, teaching, and leaving things better than you found them.

🌸 What Traveling Taught Me

Traveling taught me adaptability, humility, and the importance of calm energy in chaos. 

It taught me that leadership isn’t about being everywhere — it’s about being effective where you are.

It taught me that no matter how experienced you are, there’s always something new to learn — a new regulation, a new personality, a new process.

And most importantly, it reminded me that leadership is service.

When you lead with love, patience, and consistency, you don’t just change outcomes — you change people.

So tonight, as I close this chapter, I do it with gratitude, peace, and pride.

Bittersweet, but what a relief. 💜

Lead with Love,💜

YourFavNurseLeader,

Bilquis Ali