Clarissa Explains It All: Travel Nursing, That Is

It's a bit of a love story - love of the outdoors, love of nursing -- and of a fellow traveler. An intrepid RN tells us how she transitioned from perm to travel.

Clarissa C. is a Pediatric travel nurse currently on assignment in Colorado. She recently extended her assignment there for the third time. Her first travel assignment was in Maryland last year, and she has been working in Colorado since August. Her boyfriend is also a travel nurse; his specialty is ER. They travel with two adorable dogs, Brooke and Brody. In fact, the pups loved Colorado so much that their humans decided to stay for another assignment.

I have been a nurse for about 4.5 years now. My nursing experience includes adult Med/Surg and Pediatrics. I am originally from the big state of Texas.

My boyfriend, Josh, has been with American Traveler for a few years now. We actually met when he was on assignment in Corpus Christi, Texas. We had an instant connection and bonded over wound care dressing changes and repositioning patients. When I decided I wanted to try travel nursing, he referred me to his recruiter, Kristin. With her friendly personality, it was a no-brainer that American Traveler was the agency to go with. Kristin has proved herself to be the greatest recruiter. She is always calling to check on us and ensure that we are doing well throughout our assignments.

I have always had an interest in traveling, but was scared of the unknown. Josh spoke highly of traveling and said that he grew as a nurse throughout his assignments. With a little motivation, I decided that it was now or never and agreed to contact American Traveler. I have been traveling for a little under a year. I now know I made the right decision. I have expanded my skillset and have come out of my shell. I have more of an outgoing personality, am interested in meeting new people, and enjoy exploring different locations. I am a huge advocate for nurses to pursue traveling. It has been very exciting to see what different states have to offer.

We have worked on assignments in multiple states. Our favorite part is finding different trails to hike and see what body of water our golden retrievers find to take a dip in. Our favorite experiences have definitely revolved around food. We have eaten at numerous great restaurants and explored our new city and its surroundings. We have yet to leave a place with an empty belly.

We have mainly used Airbnb for housing. We found that it’s a little easier to find pet-friendly housing through the app. Some hosts even offer a great deal to traveling healthcare professionals, so go ahead and ask. We love the homey feel that Airbnb offers. All the houses we have stayed in have been well equipped with kitchen and laundry supplies. My advice is just to do your research and find the best accommodations to fit your needs.

Josh and I enjoy being outdoors, so Colorado has been the perfect place for us. We enjoy taking the pups on hikes on our days off. Brooke and Brody love the travel lifestyle and won’t stop wagging their tails when we get in the car. We have hiked multiple trails throughout Colorado and still have many more to go. With the winter weather, we are excited to hit the ski slopes.

Also, our Recruiter, Kristin, is super personable. We both know she is always a text or phone call away. She frequently checks in with us (which is most appreciated when you're in a new setting) and she is always ready to discuss our next move. She is helpful in researching the hospitals we are submitted for and has given us recommendations for a day or night of fun.

If you are thinking of traveling, go ahead and take the leap. You won’t regret it! I have made some of my best memories while on assignment. I am enjoying life driving around from state to state with my pups staring out the window. It is scary to take that first step, but your agency, your recruiter, and the people you meet along the way will be there for support. You will discover things about yourself that you have never known. Getting out of my routine has helped me become adaptable throughout my life as a nurse and as a person.