Jordan a Critical Care Registered Nurse, and Kayla a Step down Registered Nurse, are Republic’s first Featured Travel Nurse Duo for June 2019. They are currently on a travel nurse assignment in Birmingham, Alabama.
Jordan: My first travel assignment was in 2014-2015 in California, Colorado and Kansas as an ER nurse. After a break from traveling, I resumed back in 2019 as a critical care nurse.
Kayla: I have been traveling less than a year, since November 2018. First assignment was a per diem assignment at a rehab facility. It was a way to decide if traveling was for me.
Jordan: Even though it wasn’t a travel job, I would say Gadsden, AL. This is where we met in 2016 at the hospital we both worked at. Without that, we wouldn’t be traveling together.
Kayla: My hometown, Gadsden, AL. It is where I became a nurse. It is the town I fell in love with step down nursing and who made me into the nurse I am today.
Jordan: I like the flexibility of contract work as well as the better pay and benefits. Also, you are less prone to get caught up in any facilities’ toxic politics.
Kayla: Well, I am not going to lie but the pay and benefits. I also enjoy missing out on the hospital politics and drama. Something I definitely do not miss as a staff nurse! I feel like I can show up and do my job and avoid all the politics and drama that come with a facility.
Jordan: Exploring places to eat. Otherwise, I might not go.
Kayla: Food! I love trying new food. I have been able to try and enjoy food and restaurants I don’t have back at home.
Jordan: When I was leaving Colorado, the staff was nice enough to throw me a party even though I was only there for 13 weeks.
Kayla: Another Broken Egg Café. Sometimes after work you simply need to unwind. This place has the best breakfast and mimosas. They don’t frown on ordering mimosas at 8:00 am after along shift at work!
Jordan: Find a great recruiter with a great company. Blaire, our recruiter with Republic, has been great for us. Remember to be flexible. You might not always get the assignment location you’re looking for but I’ve been places I’ve never heard of before and had better experiences than well-known cities.
Kayla: You can’t go wrong trying out travel nursing. It is 13 weeks. Trust me, it flies by! After 13 weeks, you will know whether or not traveling is for you. It gives you a chance to broaden your horizons and see what else is out there.
Jordan and Kayla met in 2016 at the hospital they were both working at, without that, they wouldn’t be traveling together.