It was our pleasure this summer to catch up with Rhonda Ward, R.N., who is enjoying a travel nurse job in Juneau, Alaska right now. A registered nurse for over 20 years and currently working in Endoscopy, Rhonda opened up about the travel nurse lifestyle, and why it’s so special.

AT: Is this trip to Alaska your first travel nurse assignment?

RW: No, this Alaska travel nurse job is my second, but my first with American Traveler. I’m really liking it so far and would love to extend, maybe work in a Hawaii nursing job next. I’ve had the opportunity to see a lot of the Pacific Northwest this summer, and that’s why I wouldn’t mind staying.

AT: Can you tell us about any day-trips or short vacations you’ve been able to do while on assignment?

RW: Actually, Seattle’s not too far, so I accepted an invitation to meet up with Jennie Rayner over the 4^th of July weekend.

AT: Hmmm…Jennie Rayner. That name sounds familiar! Wait a minute! She’s one of our travel nurse recruiters. Are you two friends?

RW: Yes, we are! Jennie’s my recruiter, and I got to know her while she was helping me through the placement process. I was really glad that we had the chance to tour Seattle together. We walked along the waterfront by the piers, saw them throw fish at Pike Place Market, had lunch at the Hard Rock – I felt like I’d known her forever, even though it was the first time we’d met face to face.

AT: Do you have lots of great photos?

RW: Jennie’s teenage daughter tagged along that day and took some awesome photos! I’m looking forward to showing them around. We packed in quite a bit before I flew back to Juneau.

AT: Are there any standout Alaskan experiences you’d like to share?

RW: Yes! All the wildlife I’ve seen, like orcas, grizzly bears and eagles. I try and get out for a hike every chance I get – I love the trails and glaciers –and I love sharing my experiences with the other great travel nurses I’ve met. I’ve also met lots of fisherman out here. One even treated me to a gift: a whole smoked salmon that I had to stow away in my fridge (made much easier by having nearby housing).

AT: Well, Rhonda, it’s been fun. Let’s wrap up with the best advice you can think of for R.N.s interested in becoming travel nurses.

RW: Don’t be afraid. Just come on out and get your feet wet. You won’t be sorry!

Want to get YOUR feet wet? Call 1-800-884-8788 or apply online today; with compact nursing licenses and so many travel nurse jobs and great locations to choose from, you could have your dream job anywhere in the USA! We look forward to hearing from you!

Related Link – Travel Nurse Interviews

For Maine travel nurses, it’s a very patriotic summer indeed in the blueberry capitol of America—a wonderful place for waving red, white and blue, taking in the fireworks and statewide festivals. Here are just a few state highlights.

Start Your Fourth of July off with pancakes and fun in Bar Harbor

If you’re a travel nurse with a hankering for flapjacks and sausage, get yourself down to Bar Harbor, Maine for their 4th of July pancake breakfast and festival—an all day affair that begins at 6am and includes a full day of crafts, lobster races, seafood, fireworks and band concert. Fireworks will be shot over Frenchman Bay at 9:15 p.m. Get starting times and exact locations for all activities planned by calling 800-288-5103. You may also catch a whiff of pancakes coming from Thomaston, Maine on the 4th of July; call 207-354-8763 for more information!

Maine Fireworks and Festivals

Perhaps one of the biggest to-dos is “Heritage Days” in Bath, ME. Starting July 1st and culminating in a lovely display of 4th of July fireworks over the Bay Waterfront (9:15pm), this is one of the best places to be in New England this summer. Events include a rotary BBQ with entertainment under a gazebo, carnival and boat parade on the Kennebec River, as well as a Chili Chowder fest among some of the area’s finest restaurants. Travel nurses will want to bring their appetites and eye for fine art and crafts—there’s Art in the Park!

And for the largest Celebration in Maine?

For travel nurses near Eastport, ME, the 4th of July is all sewn up.  Come out and enjoy a Grand Independence Parade, fireworks over the bay, free entertainment at Overlook Park, antique car show and more—you may even get to take a tour on a U.S. Navy ship! Visit www.eastport4th.com to plan your day.

Pops and Circumstance: Are You Working in New England Travel Nurse Jobs right now?

If the answer is yes, get ready to listen to some pops provided by a patriotic concert in Portland, Maine’s Stars and Stripes Spectacular, on July 4, 2011. Watch fireworks pop over Casco Bay, starting just after dusk. Call 207-756-8130 for more information—but, more importantly call American Traveler—with our high paying travel nurse and therapist jobs, there’s room to grow in the New England States and rest of the nation. Call 1-800-884-8788 or apply online today!

In June, the charming town of Seward Alaska, just 126 miles south of Anchorage, hosts its annual Seward’s Halibut Tournament; the event is well underway with weeks to go! If you’re an outdoor-loving R.N. working in Alaska travel nurse jobs, this is your chance to mingle with early season visitors and anglers, hop a chartered vessel and fish with the best of ‘em; there are daily and overall prizes for the largest halibut caught, with admission starting at $10 for the day and $25 for a 3-day “weekender”. Winners and the weight of their catch (some reel in whoppers over 80 pounds!), are available on the tournament website, where you can pull up directions, transportation information and entertainment offerings in Seward, known for its historic downtown district, art shops and galleries.

To the left, you see pictures of  travel nurse Amy Boersma. During her Alaska travel nursing job, Amy got close to nature and enjoyed some great fishing!

Fishing for the Perfect Summer Travel Nursing Job?

Alaska travel nurse jobs in the summertime are perfect for those R.N.s looking to commune with nature and escape the intense heat other states are known for this time of year. Averaging day-time temperatures in the 50’s, Alaska nursing jobs will have you “hooked” when it comes to fishing, nature excursions and sporting expeditions. If you’re looking for a travel nurse or therapist career in an exciting new frontier, call 1-800-884-8788 or apply online at American Traveler now! We have high paying nursing jobs in 50 U.S. states!  Wherever you land this summer, we wish a happy season to all our travelers—enjoy your place in the sun!

Memorial Day Planning Guide For D.C. Travel Nurses

What better way for travel nurses to honor courageous military than spending the long weekend exploring our Nation’s capitol? The 2011 Memorial Day event schedule for D.C. includes a Sunday (May 29th) free concert on the west lawn of the U.S. capitol. On this day, the National Symphony Orchestra will perform, as well as top-billed celebrities. Click on the Memorial Day event link to learn more about this event, as well as wreath laying ceremonies at D.C.’s best known Memorials, a GI Film Festival, marching bands, Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally and more!

Memorial Day Events For Our Florida Travel Nurses

Are you a Florida travel nurse with a taste for crab? Then take a trip to Palatka, close to the well-known destinations like St, Augustine and Jacksonville for the Blue Crab Festival, held each year on Memorial Day weekend.

Expect to find parades, concerts and other events that honor our fallen war heroes in big name cities with top paying Florida travel nurse jobs. Get everything you need to fill your calendar for Memorial Day weekend, by clicking on Florida event links for Miami, Daytona and West Palm beaches.

And on the West Coast, California Travel Nurses Find These Memorial Day Delights

Memorial Day events around Los Angeles (click on event link for times and dates) are in the most happening city in the Golden State—and set to include a seaside arts and crafts festival on Hermosa Beach, a Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade and Garden Grove Strawberry Festival on the Village Green in downtown Garden Grove; it’s time for travel nurses in California nursing jobs to travel to the city of Angels for some heavenly food and fun!

No matter where you go for your Memorial Day observances and celebrations, American Traveler—the premier agency for travel nursing jobs nationwide would like to wish our staff across the country a safe and happy holiday! Call 1-800 884-8788 or apply online today to connect with the best nursing jobs in healthcare today. Start living the American dream now!

Arizona Travel Nurses Flock to the Festival Chihuahua Races!

If you’re an R.N. working in Arizona nursing jobs, this is your chance to root for the underdog! The charming Chihuahua races are coming back to historic downtown Chandler, AZ—just south of Phoenix. Give your pipes a workout, cheering for the winner on Saturday, May 7th, 2011, from 10am to 7pm.

Denver Nursing Jobs Deliver Mile High Expectations—Especially During Cinco de Mayo!

It’s a fact that Denver nursing jobs put R.N.s in the heart of a vibrant Latino population that’s more prominent and fun than ever come Cinco de Mayo. Come revel in the fun of one of Denver’s most impressive events, May 7-8, 2011. More than 400,000 attendees are expected! Witness Mariachi, Cumba, Salsa, Norteno and many other genres of Latino music and dance—plus tons of superb Mexican food offerings. Denver travel nurses may click here to view the Cinco de Mayo event site.

Nevada Travel Nurses Will Be Impressed by this Huge Festival!

The Cinco de Mayo Festival at the Reno Grand Sierra Resort is northern Nevada’s largest annual celebration of Latino heritage, boasting 2 days of live entertainment, hundreds of vendor booths, Mexican dancing horse performances and food from Big Daddy’s Barbecue and other sponsors. Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free! Check the official Cinco de Mayo Festival website for more important event details.

On Cinco De Mayo, Texas Travel Nurses Can Dance the Night Away!

Like instructional workshops in sala? Would you love to see over 1,000 professional dancers take to the stage? At the 2011 Capital City Salsa Festival, R.N.s working in Texas nursing jobs can enjoy all this and more in Austin, TX during Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Travel Nurses Live Large on On May 5th and the Other 364 Days

Experience the travel nurse lifestyle, and celebrate the diversity of different cultures in any one of 50 U.S. States! American Traveler offers high paying travel nurse jobs in some of the most exciting tourist destinations in the country. Apply online or call 1-800-884-8788 today!

Find out What’s Happening Next Door to Your East Coast Travel Nursing Jobs

Travel nurse jobs available in all 50 U.S. states make a fine medium for touring the country in high style. Chances are your free private housing, a part of the travel nurse benefits package and close to the job site, is also in the respective backyard of America’s top tourist destinations. With your penchant for travel in mind, our team at American Traveler has put together the ultimate resource for our vacation lovers working on the Eastern seaboard this winter—so get out your travel nursing calendar and jot down these dates!

Travel Nursing in D.C. a Capitol Idea!

Washington DC travel nurse jobs are a bundle of fun in the wintertime! Take for instance, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, offering an array of cultural events this January—the Washington DC calendar offers quintets, guitars and drama at the National Archives too. Plan the whole of January and your Valentine’s Day in the capitol city by clicking on this DC events link.

Star-Filled Nights—on Stage that is—are Close to New Jersey Nursing Jobs

When it comes to New Jersey’s concert and performing arts scene this February, the list reads like roll-call on Oscar Night; travel nurses enjoying N.J. residence can check out the New Jersey Performing Arts calendar ; find special events and festivals.

Travel nurses are encouraged to visit New Jersey’s official visitor website or download a free New Jersey guidebook and map of everything the Garden State has to offer, from its pastoral beauty (a real camper’s delight!) to black-tie events.

Massachusetts Nursing Jobs a Breath Away from the Ultimate Winter Getaway

The official vacation website, jammed packed with things to do in Massachusetts, says it all with their slogan: “It’s all here.” The state lets you design your own mini-vacation, with potential for a romantic, fun, family style, historical or expedition-style getaway. When your Massachusetts nursing jobs coincide with winter in the Common Wealth State, you open the door to January and February events that warm the heart and charm the senses—just click on things to do in Massachusetts and find categorized monthly events.

Going Places in 2011? American Traveler Staffs Travel Nurses Exactly Where They Want to Be

If you haven’t done so already, get in touch with your inner-traveler by calling toll-free 800-884-8788 or apply online. Our nursing career resource center is buzzing with tips that let you make the most of your days as a healthcare professional—working in as many as four different travel nurse jobs per year! Revel in your east coast travel nursing job by discovering its broad spectrum of gems—from enjoying sweeping farmland, quaint hotels and antiquing—to relaxing in a day spa after a day of shoe shopping.

We hope you enjoy everything in store for the New Year!

Are you dreaming of spending the holidays somewhere beautiful? With its temperate winter weather and mountain views, Arizona nursing jobs are getting snapped up fast. If you’re a travel nurse looking to mix desert adventure with holiday cheer, travel nursing jobs from 4 to 26 weeks in the Grand Canyon State are a Christmas wish come true; R.N.s already stationed here enjoy free, Arizona travel nurse housing, close to shopping, nightlife and seasonal events this December you won’t want to miss!

Holiday Events in Arizona

• Glendale Glitters… and smells like gingerbread, December 3 and 4th, from 6 to 10pm – Glendale celebrates “Gingerbread Nights”, an annual event for all ages, featuring horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday arts and crafts and more!

• December 17th and 18th, travel nurses can rock out to their favorite holiday music, dance academy performances and jazz ensembles when “Glendale’s Jingle Bell Rockin’ Nights comes to town from 6-10 p.m.

• Tucson Shines Bright this December For travel nurses working near Tucson this holiday season, Luminara Nights at the city Botanical Garden are worth penciling in. December 3rd thru December 5th, surround yourself with floral beauty, twinkling lights, holiday music and great food! Look to the city of Tucson’s official site for more December highlights, featuring events like the Trail of Lights Parade and Christmas Mercado!

• Travel nurses can wrap up their Holiday Shopping at the Mesa Arts Festival, December 11th and 12th! This annual Arizona event features the artwork of nearly 100 regional artists!

• Enjoy the Christmas Mariachi Festival in Phoenix! The US Airways Center in Phoenix is home to some big events this holiday season, where it puts on the highly anticipated Christmas Mariachi Festival on December 11th at 7pm.

• Don’t Miss the Legendary Holiday Lights in Scottsdale Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park take you by train, if you wish, through a brightly lit winter wonderland. Get on board Friday, December 10 – Saturday, January 1. Excluding December 24, 25 and 31!

Wishing Nursing Staff in Arizona Nursing Jobs and Beyond a Wonderful Holiday Season!
Whether Arizona travel nurses enjoy December’s Mexican Holiday markets and tamales, take in the festive décor or just sip cocoa at home, American Traveler wishes them a happy December and much fun in the upcoming New Year!

Happy holidays one and all!

Lucky travel nurses or therapists in Washington DC should prepare to sample the many July 4th events this upcoming weekend. The Folklife Festival at the Smithsonian is fun AND educational.  And you won’t want to miss the fireworks over the reflecting pool by the Washington Monument. Watch for free from a picnic blanket at the monument grounds or do like the locals do, and seek out a comfy off-site vantage point.

Tip: Don’t drive; take the metro, and check out local restaurants and hotels with rooftop lounges, especially in Arlington, Virginia, for terrific views and lighter crowds.

That’s right, travel nurses! Between April 29th and May 2nd, the most famous race track in the world is a gorgeous spectacle to behold: this year’s Kentucky Derby promises the same brand of “mint julep sippin’-thoroughbred winner speculating-celebrity sighting fun”—a mouthful even if you’re not at the event sampling the traditional burgoo stew.

For you ladies working in Ohio travel nursing jobs, The Oaks part of the Kentucky Derby represents a fine opportunity to invite your girlfriends on a road trip. Your destination? The Ladies First celebration held Friday, April 30th at Churchill Downs; this race distinguishes itself from the Kentucky Derby, held the first Saturday in May—the capper on the most famous long weekend for thoroughbred racing on the whole planet.

Travel nurses seeking a good time right out of the gate, can learn more about “the party before the party” by visiting the Oaks site, where you can access an event lineup, preview photos from last year’s bash and buy tickets.

Too busy to click? Here’s a sneak peek at yummy things to come: on the eve of The Oaks race (4/29/10), the Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center will host “Taste of the Derby” where the best chefs in the world assemble and invite you to try it all.

The best part about these go girl festivities are the proceeds raised for The Susan G. Komen for the Cure campaign, helping prevent breast cancer through the Horses and Hope charity.

Described as the ultimate ladies getaway, The Oaks race bills itself as “fillies for lilies.” The winning young female horse takes home the big prize, while spectators in full Derby regalia make this Friday night a preview of the most exciting two minutes in sports, scheduled the very next day.

If you can’t make it this year, take heart. See famous faces make their red carpet circuit at the Derby (former guests include the Queen of England) and other televised Derby events in the comfort of your living room; you’ll find TV scheduling by clicking here. But don’t assume you’re too far away to drive over for the fun—for Derby enthusiasts looking for North Carolina nursing jobs, it’s a doable road trip.

We hope to see plenty of our American Travelers off to the races!

In the United States, it’s estimated that 1.5 billion dollars a day are spent eating out—that’s a lot of dough, and we’re not talking bakeries and pizza joints, here—at least not yet.

If you’re a travel nurse who’s new in town, looking to find just the right pastry shop, restaurant, bistro or bar, or simply desire a way to narrow down your choices on everything from grabbing a quick bite to a long, luxurious supper, we’ve found some wonderful resources nurses and physical therapists alike would be wise to bookmark.

We’ve also included expert advice from the frugal foodie world on how to save big on all the breakfasts, lunches and dinners you’ll eat over the duration of your travel nursing jobs.

So, the first hurdle is deciding WHERE you want to eat. Where do you turn for advice on the most bang for your buck, as well as great flavor? Why, the locals, of course! If you’re looking for a free guide of the best restaurants in America, you’ll find it at Where the Locals Eat web site guide.

This guide benefits tech savvy travel nurses too—the ones who use smart phones for touch screening their way to a perfect meal—where the locals eat recommends a dozen cool food apps for phones, but it does something even better than that: it puts traveling nurses on assignment in new and exciting cities, in touch with CITY TOP 100 LISTS.

Let’s say you’re all about Washington D.C. travel nursing jobs these days. Well, where the locals eat gives their top picks for the area, a way to forward it instantaneously to friends, map it—or even rate the restaurant by casting your vote.

For travel nurses watching their wallets, money saving gurus recommend The 2010 Entertainment Book. This heavy tome of restaurant and shopping coupons has been around for 50 years, and is famous for its “2 for 1” and half-off coupons. For those who feel awkward presenting coupons to the waiter, the book gives the option of registering for an “entertainment card” that can be slipped in, discretely, alongside your credit card for that deep discount everyone secretly longs for.

Other advice for nurses that’s worth mentioning—and we say this because we’re sparing you an elaboration of what everyone already knows, i.e. ordering water, splitting entrees, going early bird and filling up on appetizers—is to visit the website of your favorite restaurant franchise and get on their mailing list. This way you can download printable coupons and stay on top of promotional events that save you money.

No matter where your travel nursing career takes you, there’s always a fork in the road; so with that in mind, eat well and prosper!