Brandy Pinkerton Named Nurse Mentor of the Year By Nurse.org!
Brandy Pinkerton, RN, (@nursementorbrandy) has accomplished a lot in her 41 years of life—she's been a teen mom, a NICU mom, a flight nurse, and a travel nurse, but she just might tell you that her favorite role of all has been serving as a nurse mentor and educator.
Named Nurse Mentor of the Year in Nurse.org's Best of Nursing Awards of 2025, Pinkerton says that it's an "honor" to have received the award and that she appreciates the work of mentoring and uplifting fellow nurses being recognized.
"It helps me feel like I am on the right path—doing what I was put on this earth to do!" she adds. "Nursing can be overwhelming, especially for new graduates and first-time travel nurses. Having a mentor to offer guidance, share real experiences, and provide encouragement makes a huge difference in building confidence and career success."
A Journey to Helping Others
Pinkerton's nursing journey has been extensive and, at times, taken unexpected turns. She started in the healthcare field as a pharmacy tech at just 16 years old, then worked through different roles – from becoming a phlebotomist to a nurse tech, and eventually an RN by the time she was 20.
During her 23-year career as a nurse, Brandy has worked in neonatal and pediatric ICU, critical care float pool, flight nursing, and travel nursing. All the challenging roles she has encountered at hospitals throughout the country have shaped Pinkerton into the nurse and mentor she is today.
"I’ve always had a passion for helping others, and nursing felt like the perfect path," she describes. "I was a teen mother, and my son was in the NICU for a few days. After that experience, I knew I wanted to work in the NICU. I have always had a soft spot for teen parents, and I think my personal experiences have helped make me a better nurse in the NICU. Over time, my love for adventure and education led me to travel nursing and, ultimately, to mentorship."
Today, along with a new role as a wellness and hydration nurse, Pinkerton does everything from content creation to mentoring and educating aspiring and experienced travel nurses through Travel Nurse 101 (@travnurse101). She tells Nurse.org that her evolution to becoming a nurse mentor happened organically, as she gained more knowledge to share and more people turned to her for advice.
"Over the years, people have naturally confided in me and sought me as a resource throughout their nursing careers and just life in general," she explains. "That is a gift I am forever thankful for."
Through Travel Nurse 101, Pinkerton provides guidance, education, and support to nurses exploring travel nursing or looking to advance in their careers. Whether it's what to expect throughout the process, contract negotiation, housing tips, or adjusting to new hospital environments, her goal is to empower nurses with knowledge and confidence so they can be successful in their endeavors.
"Travel nursing has been one of the best decisions of my life, and I want everyone to have the opportunity to have a positive experience too," Pinkerton notes.
A Mix of Everything
Like nursing itself, Pinkerton dons many hats in her current career. In addition to working as a bedside NICU nurse, she works as a travel nurse mentor, strives to grow Travel Nurse 101, and creates educational content on platforms like TikTok (@travelnurse101).
"My day is a mix of mentorship calls, social media engagement, content creation, and speaking at events or conferences," she describes.
@travelnurse101 Work to LIVE, not live to WORK! #travelnursesoftiktok #travelnurselife #travelnurse #travelingnurse #travelnurseadventures #prettygirlswalklikethis #RN #nursesoftiktok #nurse ♬ Pretty girls walk like this - Vsallart
Pinkerton is very passionate about her work with Travel Nurse 101 because travel nursing revitalized her after facing burnout in her career. "At times, I felt emotionally and physically drained, and that’s when I knew I needed a change," she explains. "Travel nursing reignited my passion for nursing and life."
After becoming a travel nurse herself, she moved into nurse mentorship, which she sees as another vital aspect of nursing care.
"By mentoring nurses, I’m indirectly improving patient care," Pinkerton says. "A well-supported, confident nurse provides safer, higher-quality care. My goal is to reduce burnout, increase job satisfaction, and empower nurses to advocate for themselves and their patients."
Looking to the Future
Pinkerton has accomplished a lot already, but that isn't stopping her from planning for the future. She tells Nurse.org that she's focusing on expanding Travel Nurse 101 with new resources, mentorship programs, and a YouTube channel and podcast to make her content even more accessible.
She is also working on a comprehensive eBook on travel nursing and doing more public speaking at nurse events. You can catch Pinkerton speaking about Wellness and Burnout at Nurse Blake's NurseCon Camp this August. Brandy will also have a booth and speaking event at TravCon in September.
When she's not busy working, Pinkerton basks in the beauty offered by her home state of Montana. For example, during the summer, she says you're most likely to find her exploring Glacier National Park.
"Last year, I went on my first three-day backcountry camping trip, hiking over 25 miles with just a few close friends, the crisp mountain air, and the stunning wilderness—pure bliss!" she gushes. "I also usually run into grizzly bears on the regular here, so if you ever need a good story, I’ve got you!"
On the days it gets tough to juggle all of her commitments, Pinkerton says that she focuses on the why behind what she does. "I remind myself why I started—thinking about the nurses I’ve helped and how mentorship changed my own career keeps me going," she describes.
As a last parting piece of advice, Pinkerton encourages anyone interested in mentorship or travel nursing to reach out to her (she's always looking for feedback and topic suggestions to better serve nurses), and for all nurses to remember that if you're not happy in your current work as a nurse, there is always hope and help available.
"Your career should serve you, not drain you," she says. "If you’re feeling stuck, know that change is possible. Nursing is one of the most flexible and diverse careers out there—find what lights you up and always take care of YOU first!"
🤔Nurses, what did you think of Brandy Pinkerton’s Journey to nurse mentorship? Share your comments below!
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