Kate D. vividly recalls the moment she decided to become a registered nurse (RN).
After about four unfulfilling years as an accountant, Kate’s life took an unexpected turn during a movie date with her boyfriend when a chance encounter in the restroom with a woman experiencing a medical emergency led Kate to call 911. The incident, which turned out to be an asthma attack, made Kate feel helpless in the situation, sparking a profound change in her career aspirations.
“It was my wake-up moment—I did not want to ever be in a situation where I don’t know what to do,” Kate said. “I decided, ‘Hey, maybe it’s a good idea to go into nursing. You’ll always have a job, it’s super flexible, and I knew that one day I would love to travel.’”
Soon after her cinema restroom experience, she enrolled into a nursing program and within eight months, she had taken all of the classes she needed to become a nurse. After working as a permanent emergency room and behavioral health nurse at a hospital for a little less than a year, she realized her dreams and became a travel nurse, soon partnering up with Barton Healthcare Staffing (BHS) for assignments.
“I love nursing,” she said. “Every day you see something different. Plus, you get to help people.”
Becoming a BHS Travel Nurse
Kate’s very first travel nursing assignment was not with BHS, but she worked at a clinic in North Carolina that did Mohs surgery, which is a medical procedure used to identify and remove skin cancer. There, Kate said she was responsible for delivering good news to patients, letting them know they are cancer-free.
“It made my day much better,” she said.
After three months, Kate transitioned into a urology/gynecology assignment at the same health system. It wasn’t until after completing that assignment until she became a travel nurse with BHS, when she applied to a job opening on Indeed.
Her most recent travel nurse assignment with BHS was at an Indian Health Service (IHS) facility in Michigan where she worked as an outpatient nurse, triaging new patients, taking vital records, and assisting with minor procedures.
“It was a really cool experience, because you get to immerse yourself in a completely different culture,” Kate said. “These patients were different from others I had encountered because they have to trust you in order for you to prove care for them…you have to make them feel welcome.”
One of Kate’s favorite parts about working a travel assignment with BHS was that it provided her with an opportunity to see a new part of the United States. She said she was able to spend time at a local tulip festival while on assignment in Michigan, an event that made a lasting impression on her and showed her the benefits of being a travel nurse.
“I would say there were over a thousand tulips in this little town,” she said. “It’s probably the reason why I keep traveling, because I wouldn’t have seen this many tulips otherwise.”
Utilizing BHS Licensing Services
When Kate started her partnership with BHS, she was connected with Trystan, a BHS recruiter who helped connect her to jobs, including the one she took in Michigan.
“He was an amazing recruiter,” she said.
Before she took the Michigan job, Kate said BHS helped her obtain a Michigan medical license, something she did not have before.
Today, Kate has just graduated from a family nurse practitioner (NP) program, and is now working with BHS’ affiliate Barton Associates to find locum tenens NP jobs.
Kate said that if she could give any advice to a new travel clinician, it would be to find a good recruiter who is in your corner, like she found at BHS.
“I know I could reach out to BHS at any time if there is a problem,” she said. “BHS makes a very good effort about preparing you for an interview with a client, and I feel like that sets BHS apart from any other agencies.”
If you’re looking for a travel clinician assignment, check out our job board and apply today!