Congrats to February 2019’s Traveler of the Month and Rising Star!

Traveler of the Month

Congrats to the February 2019 Traveler of the Month, Allison H. (pictured), and also our Rising Star winner, Amanda M.!

Many thanks and congrats to the February 2019 Traveler of the Month, Allison H., and also our Rising Star winner, Amanda M.!

Traveler of the Month Allison is a Labor & Delivery RN, currently on assignment in Ashland, Wisconsin. She’s been in nursing for 10 years and traveling about a year and a half. Allison works with Career Consultant Jill Kent.

I’ve loved all of my locations but have especially liked Ashland,” says Allison. “Not only is the location ideal for all the outdoor activities I like to do, it is also close to family. I’ve made great friends with the staff and the unit is a nice mix of lower and higher acuity patients.”

Allison says she’s lucky to travel with her partner, Spencer, their Great Pyrenees, Willow, and her cat, Kitty Bon Bon. She also loves to eat and delights in trying new dishes.

The best thing about Travel Nursing is the knowledge that you can take an assignment anywhere,” says Allison.

Allison shared a few helpful Travel Nursing tips for aspiring Travelers:

  1. Be flexible! There is more than one right way to do the same task.
  2. Always ask questions. (Everyone knows that you don’t know where the clean utility is located!)
  3. Have open lines of communication with your recruiter. He/She is there to help and support you!

Thanks so much for your great advice and incredible dedication to great patient care, Allison!

Rising Star Amanda is an ICU RN. She’s been in nursing for 12 years and has been working as a Travel Nurse for two-plus years. Amanda is currently on assignment in Paducah, Kentucky, and works with Career Consultant Kayla Simpson.

Rising Star Amanda (pictured at right) and her fellow Medical Solutions Traveler Brenda explore sunny California!

Nursing is a second career for Amanda, who originally graduated with a business degree that left her unfulfilled. Her father, who was diagnosed with cancer while she was still in school, passed away less than a year after his diagnosis.

“The wonderful care we all received from his nurses never left me,” says Amanda. “So, four years after he died I got accepted in a local nursing program and I’ve never looked back. I often say it was the best decision I ever made.” 

After working as a staff nurse at the same hospital for 10 years, Amanda decided to try Travel Nursing.

“I really felt as though I was getting burned out,” she says. “Traveling was the second best decision I’ve made.”

Amanda says the staff at her current assignment “is wonderful and they make you feel at home.” But a couple other locations top her list of favorites. 

“My favorite location has been Los Angeles. There’s so much to do in Southern California and the weather is amazing,” she says. “But another place that surprised me was Missouri. I absolutely loved it; there’s just something about the Midwest. I worked in a town called Joplin. Most people know it due to a horrible tornado that came through and destroyed one of the hospitals there. But I’ll always remember it as one of the friendliest, most welcoming facilities. I’ve made lifelong friends with the staff there and still talk to them on a regular basis. I always feel as though I take a little piece of a place with me when I leave. However, I feel as though I left a large chunk of my heart there.”

Amanda explored gorgeous Joshua Tree National Park while on assignment.

It’s just those kinds of important connections that Amanda really loves about Travel Nursing.

“The best part of travel nursing is not only the experience and thrill of a new place but also the connections you make,” she says. “I’ve made lifelong friends with staff and some patient families. If you do this just for the money then you are missing out on the best part.” 

Amanda shared some great advice for Travelers about what to look for in an assignment and maintaining a great relationship with your recruiter.

“I really feel as though new Travel Nurses mess up and leave traveling feeling unfulfilled when they only chase the money. I always tell nurses that are considering traveling to do their homework. Try to go places that are very Traveler friendly. Sometimes it’s not all about the money,” she says. “Also, maintain a strong partnership with your recruiter. Don’t approach it as though they work for you. They don’t. Your recruiter works with you. I think that’s why I’ve been lucky — my recruiter knows me well enough to know what facilities I will and won’t enjoy.”

Thank you, Amanda, for sharing your words of wisdom and for your incredible work!

Congratulations again to the Medical Solutions February 2019 Traveler of the Month and Rising Star! Allison and Amanda, we are so grateful to both of you for your commitment to patient care and Travel Nursing!

Could you be the next Medical Solutions Traveler of the Month or Rising Star? Travelers who receive a perfect hospital evaluation are eligible to win these monthly awards — with Rising Star going to newer Medical Solutions Travelers. Click here to learn more and to see if you could be the next winner of a $100 Visa or Amazon gift card as recognition for a job well done!