ABOUT Amy Felix
Hey there, I’m Amy..
An exhausted nurse practitioner and nurse leader turned sabbatical coach, nurse entrepreneur, and wanderluster.
Today, I help successful mid-career nurses take life-changing breaks to reignite their passion for work and life. But that was not always the case…
My story
It was another day sitting at my desk, in my office with no windows, on another zoom meeting. My head was already throbbing as I prepared for another busy summer shift. But I grabbed my Starbucks green tea and headed to the nurses station.
Everyday, I asked myself “Is this the life that I worked so hard for? For my calendar to dictate my life? To be tired and exhausted all of the time and yet wake up and do it all over again.”
There had to be more to my nursing career than this!
However, when I looked at my peers everyone seemed to be pushing through the days as it was the norm.
But did it have to be that way! After being a nurse for 17 years and a nurse practitioner for 13 of those years, I was not feeling the same enthusiasm and love for what I was doing. I thought about returning to clinical work fully, continuing in the leadership trajectory, or maybe pursuing a doctorate, but it all seemed more exhausting and uninteresting.
What was wrong with me?! I still loved being a nurse but just didn’t want to work this way anymore.
I dreamed of mornings with no set structure. Enjoying my morning tea in a mug while journaling, going for walks, and reading. Taking mid-day naps as long as I needed. Traveling to more countries to discover the best beaches. I wanted time to do nothing, not let my calendar dictate my schedule, and have time to just enjoy life. I realized what I really wanted was a break.
My Sabbatical
At the end of 2021, I left my successful leadership and clinical role to take a sabbatical for 3 months (which turned into 6 months). My plan was to sleep as much as I want, catch up on Netflix, travel, learn something new, and spend time with family. I had never been so excited in my life to do nothing!
I traveled to the Caribbean and enjoyed the beaches and great food. I spent time with my family and friends leisurely. I worked on a mobile application for nurses that I had been developing. But more importantly, I reflected on what I wanted life to feel and look like when this was over.
Because let’s be real, I still need to pay bills.
I transitioned back from sabbatical working per diem in a vaccine clinic and working on my mobile application. I started consulting companies on nurse burnout. One year post sabbatical, I was loving life, with the freedom and flexibility I desired, while doing work that brought me joy.
All Nurses Should Take Sabbaticals
However, what truly came from my sabbatical is that every nurse should take a sabbatical. And not out of necessity like health or family emergencies. Sabbaticals should be part of a nurse’s career journey to allow us to rest and rejuvenate so we can continue to do the work we love. If other professions of service such as Clergy, Professors, and Doctors can take sabbaticals. Why not nurses?! And now, I am on a personal mission to help other nurses take sabbaticals. We deserve it and our time is now!
Copyright @ 2024 Amy Anne Felix LLC