Meet Stephanie, a Travel Nurse Dedicated to Changing the World
Stephanie, a traveling nurse with American Traveler, has an amazing passion for helping the underprivileged in Nicaragua through volunteering.
Stephanie B. is a traveling ICU nurse who has been on many travel nursing assignments with American Traveler. Equally impressive, she spends time each year providing free health care to impoverished communities. Her charitable giving, which her career facilitates, is truly an inspiration.
A Volunteer is Born
Several years ago, Stephanie was a nurse manager. This position involved mountains of paperwork and mounting levels of stress.
In the spring of 2010, her colleague, Jamie, asked Stephanie to join her on a medical mission trip. Jamie was going to Nicaragua for two weeks that summer with Global Health Outreach, a group that is part of the Tennessee-based Christian Medical and Dental Associations.
Stephanie vividly remembers her response: "Honestly, I laughed at the idea ... I couldn't get two days off in a row, let alone two weeks."
Jamie didn't drop the matter, though. Knowing that Stephanie shared her strong faith, she implored her coworker to keep considering the trip. Impressed by Jamie's commitment, Stephanie agreed. Then, as time passed, she began to feel that Nicaragua was calling to her. She'd been chosen. She found a way to get a two-week break.
Finding a Passion in Central America
Many of the people who live in Nicaragua are desperate for health care throughout the year. Thus, the medical volunteers who go there perform necessary and noble work.
When Stephanie began attending to patients in that country, she fell in love. She adored the people and the beautiful surroundings, and she knew her life had been permanently changed.
Stephanie wanted to keep returning as a volunteer, but her job clearly wouldn't allow such trips regularly. What could she do? The answer was surprisingly simple: She could become a travel nurse.
What Happens on Stephanie's Trips?
Stephanie has since gone back to Nicaragua multiple times. Whenever she and her fellow volunteers plan a journey there, the nation's Ministry of Health tells them exactly where to go.
When they arrive in their assigned community, a local church finds a place for them to set up a makeshift clinic. In the past, Stephanie's groups have utilized churches, houses, schools and abandoned buildings. Some of these structures have lacked bathrooms, forcing the staff to use outhouses.
Stephanie's Nicaraguan medical teams include at least one area doctor and a regional dentist, and they employ mobile laboratories and portable pharmacies. Together, these pros offer checkups, eliminate patients' parasites, distribute medicines like Tylenol and examine babies. When they encounter someone who is suffering from a serious problem ― an
infection, for instance ― they'll send that individual to a local physician.
A Career, an Avocation and a Lifestyle
Today, Stephanie's travel nursing schedule makes it relatively easy for her to fit in volunteering weeks. She credits Staci, her supportive recruiter, with making these itineraries work. By contrast, a traditional nursing position could never offer such flexibility.
Indeed, Stephanie's ICU nursing career is flourishing. She'll soon complete her 16th American Traveler assignment. Also, during the Fall, she'll be heading to ― you guessed it ― Nicaragua once again.
Stephanie's position at Global Health Outreach requires her to
raise funds throughout the year, and she considers self-financing to be her most difficult challenge. Note that a donation of any amount can be made here.
Finally, does Stephanie have any second thoughts about becoming a travel nurse? The resounding answer is, "No!" As she eloquently puts it:
"I never looked back. I realized after my third trip to Nicaragua that mission work is bigger than waiting for a permanent employer to grant me so much time helping my beloved Nicaragua."
Last Modified On: Feb 26, 2018
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