Meet Josephine! She is an ICU nurse with a passion for new experiences, making travel nursing the perfect fit. Keep reading to learn more about the adventures Josephine has had as a travel nurse:
What is your current specialty and placement?
ICU
What is your favorite part of travel nursing?
My MOST favorite part of travel nursing is the new experiences, and what those new experiences do to my person. I am in new facilities, meeting new people, working with new doctors and staff, and working with patients in new regions. I grow from all of this, and learn not to get comfortable being comfortable!
What is a place on your bucket list for a travel nursing job?
Anywhere west, really. California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada… I’d love to see the west!
Tell us about your career history – how did you become a travel nurse?
I was a staff nurse for three years, working as an ICU nurse since I graduated nursing school. I also did some PRN work on a cardiac telemetry floor for almost two years, gaining experience with 6:1 patient ratio. COVID was the catalyst for jumping into travel nursing; I needed to work without the possibility of bringing it home to my family daily. The cool thing was that my first assignment kept me away from COVID, so my family got to come with me on that assignment!
Have you found any sort of community while travel nursing?
I try to integrate into each hospital, becoming a part of their facility culture. I also make their effort my own. My approach is one of genuine help; I’m trying to help a facility that is understaffed. When your attitude is right and it comes across to your teammates, they naturally include you in the team.
What are some of your favorite hobbies and activities outside of work?
I have a husband and three kids; an 18 month old, a 7 year old and a 9 year old. On this assignment, my family is not with me; I come home each week on my off days, and I’m a full time mom at that point 🙂 I try to soak up my family. Aside from that, I love being outdoors, organizing, reading, and traveling!
What do you always pack?
My tablet is my must-pack item… It’s how I watch my shows and chill after shift!
Any advice for future travelers?
My biggest advice for future travelers is to expect nothing as being certain; which is kind of the point. Staff nursing is where you should expect stability and certainty. In travel nursing, you don’t know which facility you will be at next, who you will work with, and even which floor you will be on when you show up for work. A lot of times travelers are first to float. The best way to get through that is to check your attitude! Remember to stay positive, helpful, and genuine.
What are your go-to ways to relieve stress?
My go-to ways to relieve stress is staying organized, reading, drinking coffee or tea. Going outside is sometimes a luxury to do alone, but that always is a reset for me.
Tell us a little about your mental health journey. What do you struggle with/have you struggled with in the past? What has helped you work through your struggles?
It is interesting that this question is on this survey, but I have to say I appreciate it! Mental health is not talked about enough, and I think more people than you realize are struggling with it. Unfortunately, we live in a society where we see the highlight reel of others on social media, so internally it can be hard and you feel you are alone in your mental health issues. For me personally, I am convinced I probably have undiagnosed anxiety, which is why organization for me is key. It helps keep me focused and centered. I also have a planner, and I try to map out my week as best as I can, and I try to plan plenty of de-stressing activities!
