Katrina

Why did you become a travel RN?

I realized the US has lots of beautiful places to see and I want to experience it with my family while doing the job I love and getting paid for it.

Describe what your day is like/what you do?

As an ER nurse, I take care of people needing immediate medical attention, making sure once they leave the ER (whether admission or discharge) they know that someone acknowledged their suffering and made them feel better.

What inspired you to get into health care?

Some of my relatives are Doctors and Nurses. I also feel the fulfillment i felt of helping others, like a sick family member when I was young.

What was your favorite travel location/facility?

To be honest, I don’t have any final words yet when it comes to having a favorite location and facility. Right now, I am so much grateful and blessed to have the chance to work with great people from my past travel assignment up to the present.

Do you do anything special while on assignment? 

I take advantage of the nearby wonderful places to visit, hiking and biking trails, good food made by the locals, and learning about different cultures/languages/traditions.

What’s a memorable experience you’ve had in health care?

There’s a lot especially working in an ER setting, but I think the most memorable one will be during this Covid-19 pandemic where I realized how life is precious, that health is really wealth, that prevention is better than cure, and that we have to seized every moment and live our life with passion and purpose.

How do you choose between the many travel assignments?  Compensation?  Location?

I choose based on compensation, company benefits, and easy communication with the company, and I prefer to live in the suburbs than in cities.

Rio

Why did you become a travel RN?

I chose to be a travel RN because I wanted to see the world , soar high and see every opportunities that comes along the way for my professional growth and for my family.

Describe what your day is like/what you do?

Always start my day with a prayer. Pray for all the staffs that I work with that we will be used for a greater purpose. I personally believe the sayings ” Always start your day right and you will end your day right”.. ” Do your best and God will do the rest”!.Everything will flow smooth as the days goes by.

What inspired you to get into health care?

One thing that inspired me to get into health care are the words that I heard from the patients and their significant others even before I became an RN. Those kind and great words from the hearts of those who were saved from those professionals who did a great job in saving their lives.

What was your favorite travel location/facility?

To be honest, I don’t have any final words yet when it comes to having a favorite location and facility. Right now, I am so much grateful and blessed to have the chance to work with great people from my past travel assignment up to the present.

Do you do anything special while on assignment? 

Traveling with my family to the surrounding state where I am assigned and spend the night depending on the state where we like to stay for a little bit and roam around. I consider this activity special. Sharing the amazement that we encounter across as we travel during my days off. But for now, we prefer to stay and just cook and eat the foods that we like while we are still in this pandemic.

What’s a memorable experience you’ve had in health care?

One of the memorable experiences that I’ve had was the given opportunity to receive countless blessings from Above. Those blessings are the recognition from the facilities that I’ve had the chance to work with… Back in the Philippines, I was recognized as one of the best ER nurse and considered as one of the foundation in the emergency department where I worked. It happened in the very first facility were I started to build and develop my professional growth as RN. The time when I first arrived in the US back in 2017, I was given the Attitude of Excellence award from my previous agency. The very first foreign RN to be given this award from them in the US. That was when we had our orientation and at the same time, our training in preparation for our travel assignment. I was also given a letter as one of the top nurse here in the US just this year. And now, chosen as the agency’s nurse of the month in August at the same year. It is indeed my utmost pleasure knowing that I’m doing what is right and best in giving quality service no matter what’s the status of the patients under my care.

How do you choose between the many travel assignments?  Compensation?  Location?

Practically speaking, I would prefer and choose my travel assignment where I can get a decent offer. My reason for this is because me and my family has a goal to reach. The earlier we reach that goal the better. One of our reasons is to establish an income generating businesses back home in the Philippines to generate jobs for the community where we live. To make it happen, grabbing every decent offer that comes my way will be my best option!

Anything else you would like to share?

 I love travel nursing. It has been my best career decision so far. I encourage anyone who is thinking about becoming a travel nurse to DO IT!! You won’t regret it.

Stephenie

Why did you become a travel RN?

I became a travel nurse because I absolutely love traveling and new experiences.

Describe what your day is like/what you do?

Shifts can be extremely hectic in this age of COVID, no day is the same. The Navajo Nation is in a COVID crisis. My day consists of me taking care of COVID positive patients, and being the liaison between the physician, ancillary services and family members. believe me, it can get quite busy!

What inspired you to get into health care?

I was inspired to work in healthcare by a family member. She was a visiting nurse who would take me on visits to some of her clients. It was an experience I never forgot.

What was your favorite travel location/facility?

Gallup, NM. I’ve worked in Michigan, Texas, New Mexico and California and my favorite assignment has been here in Gallup. I’ve met some truly wonderful people that make you feel like you’re home. Gallup may be a small town, but you are so close to natural hot springs, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, Sedona, Albuquerque and Santa Fe that you will never be bored! Gallup is known as the most patriotic city in America. It was exciting to learn the history of the Navajo Code Talkers.

Do you do anything special while on assignment? 

I ALWAYS explore the area that I’m working in, our country is so diverse and beautiful. The trick to exploring  new areas is to ask the locals. Most people are extremely proud of their city/town and they love to show it off.

What’s a memorable experience you’ve had in health care?

My most memorable experience is actually a collection of experiences. When I was a new RN, I worked on a Renal transplant floor. The joy and excitement expressed by the recipients was a beautiful thing to see.

How do you choose between the many travel assignments?  Compensation?  Location?

I have a “bucket list” of places I absolutely want to visit. If possible, I try to coordinate my assignments around that.

Anything else you would like to share?

I love travel nursing. It has been my best career decision so far. I encourage anyone who is thinking about becoming a travel nurse to DO IT!! You won’t regret it.

Cindi

I decided to become a travel nurse because I absolutely love to travel. Being a travel nurse has allowed me to see sites that I probably would not have seen if I were at home in a staff position. I currently am in North Arizona working on the Navajo Nation Indian reservation. I am only minutes away from Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. During my assignment I spend my days off by exploring what these beautiful states have to offer. I have had the opportunity to explore the Grand Canyon, photograph the beautiful Monument Valley of Utah, ride the Durango- Silverton railroad through some of the most breathtaking country in Colorado, and witnessed the flight of some of the most colorful hot air balloons at the Albuquerque , New Mexico hot air balloon fest.

I try to choose my assignments close to sites and attractions that are high on my bucket list. Like I said , I have seen 4 great states in this one assignment and it has been an awesome experience.

Being a nurse had always been a dream for me. I come from a family of nurses and am a 3rd generation nurse. I never ever thought that I would get the opportunity to become a nurse, especially since I was a single mother trying to go back to school at the age of 40 and raise 4 wonderful children at the same time. It was a long hard road but we got it done. And it has changed my life only for the better.

I would encourage anyone who loves to travel or meet new people to as least try it., It has been the most rewarding experience for me since I am an empty-nester and don’t do well sitting at home. I LOVE my job as a travel nurse and I thank Pulse healthcare and my wonderful recruiter Ann Johnson for looking out for me and always having my back.

Teresa

Why did you become a travel RN?

I started travel nursing thirteen years ago. My sons had now grown up and I was divorced. I love being a nurse and I also love traveling to different areas, meeting new people and exploring new areas. Travel nursing was perfect for letting me to enjoy both of those loves.

Describe what your day is like/what you do?

These are such rare and unique times for nurses, especially critical care nurses. My day starts with praying to be able to provide the best care I am capable of providing, as well as a high level of anxiety for my patients, my coworkers and myself in regards to Covid-19. I am currently working at an IHS facility in the Navajo Nation Reservation. The Navajo Nation as now become the population with the highest level of people per capita infected with the coronavirus.

What inspired you to get into health care?

I became a nurse for several reasons. We had several nurses in our family and the were such wonderfully positive influences as I was growing up. I was a mother of two very young sons and wanted to be that same positive influence on them as well as to be able to take care of them to the best of my abilities. And lastly, I wanted to be someone that could take care of people at the time the most need help, and do it with the professionalism and caring as if I were taking care of my own family.

What was your favorite travel location/facility?

WOW! That is honestly so hard to say. I liked something about each of the places to which I’ve traveled. Reno, NV at Northern Nevada Medical Center was probably my favorite for location as well as facility until my current assignment. I am currently working at Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, NM. The travel family that I am so closely connected with, the facility, my coworkers, the local population and the location are absolutely amazing and such a joy to my heart.

Do you do anything special while on assignment? 

I like to explore the area in which I’m working and beyond. Hiking, activities (riding the Polar Express in Durango with my travel family, drive-in movies in Riverside, CA, etc.), camping in National Parks, eat at local restaurants, etc. Each location offers many treasures.

What’s a memorable experience you’ve had in health care?

So many memories in 27 years of working in healthcare, but the one thing that amazes me every day is the incredible comradery and lifelong friendships amongst the travel healthcare workers that I have been privileged with which to work.

How do you choose between the many travel assignments?

Choosing locations/facilities can be difficult and overwhelming. I think I base my decisions on locations that will provide a new experience for me; Maine and Northwest Minnesota in the winter, various locations in California for the different terrain and experiences they offer, middle Tennessee and Southern Indiana to be close to family and friends, and recently in the Southwest/Navajo Nation/IHS. I could never have imagined all that the experiences, history, beauty and amazing people it has to offer.

Anything else you would like to share?

Travel healthcare is not for everyone. It is not all “wine, roses and money”. It can be very difficult emotionally for multiple reasons. As much as I have loved the experience, there have been many difficult times for me as well. I can still hear the thought that went through my mind that helped me to decide to try traveling: “I would rather try it and not like it, than never try it and always wonder what if …”

Timothy

Why did you become a travel RN?

I became a travel nurse because it gave me an opportunity to see the country while traveling with my family while young enough to enjoy it.

What do you like about working with the Indian Health Services?

Diversity. Not only have I worked with fabulous Native Americans and others from the USA but from abroad as well. Taiwanese, Filipinos and Puerto Rican’s to name a few. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn about the Native American culture, their trials, tribulations, and fashion.

What was your favorite travel location/facility?

I have been traveling as a RN for 9 years. Throughout my travels, I cannot give a favorite place or facility. Each place has its own unique niche that I have enjoyed.

Do you do anything special while on assignment? 

I enjoy sightseeing and learning about the different cultures in the surrounding areas. There is just so much to see in the USA. Travel nursing gives me a longer opportunity to see things one might miss taking a traditional vacation.

How do you choose between the many travel assignments?

I choose travel assignments based on pay and location. As long as the pay is above my minimum, I go to places where I can experience new things.

Desiree

“Thank you so much for the nomination! I have been a RN since 2012. I first worked in the operating room in 2002 as a surgical technician. I worked my way through school to become a Bachelors prepared circulator so that I may one day travel and see different parts of the United States.

I’ve enjoyed working at my current faculty at multi-care Tacoma general as well as PeaceHealth Sacred Heart at Riverbend in Springfield, Oregon. I travel mainly where the money is the greatest and then find festivals, zoos, parks, or something fun to do in the area.

I like working with this company because my recruiter listens, communicates professionally, assists in finding great paying jobs, and helps if there are any concerns. Also, I haven’t had any problems with my paychecks which relieves me from a lot of stress.”