Traveler Interviews

Erin Fulkerson - Ready to Miss Mississippi - a Nurse's Journey into Travel Healthcare

Having grown up in Mississippi, Erin Fulkerson, a Pediatric RN with Cross Country, was the first to admit that her family members were homebodies. When she was younger, they went on vacations that never ventured far out of their comfort zone... heading to nearby states like Florida or Alabama. But as close to her family as she is, Erin soon realized she didn't share their love of staying local.

After graduating nursing school, Erin went to work for a children's hospital in her home state of Mississippi. It was here that she decided to start investigating the possibility of travel nursing as a career option. With some experience under her belt, she took her very first travel assignment just a state away in Montgomery, Alabama. For Erin, that was only a beginning. She soon found a friend who was willing to travel to California with her and that was all she needed to really take off.

As it happened, Erin had luck on her side. When the small travel staffing company that staffed Erin on her first assignment couldn't get her and her friend a position in California together... she was quickly recommended to a recruiter at Cross Country TravCorps (CCTC). Within two days of contacting Dijana Lesh (the recommended CCTC recruiter), Erin and her friend had assignments in the Golden State and were ready to start their adventure.

With her assignment booked, Erin hit the road. She set out to drive across the U.S. with her friend sitting shotgun! This was Erin's first time traveling so far away from family and her Mom definitely felt distance. But being a devoted daughter, Erin called to check in every four hours and every time she did her Mom would be crying. After three more times of making a similar journey, Mom's tears finally stopped. Now more than 18 assignments into her travel career, it's safe to say that the stay-put nature of her family seemed to pass right over Erin.

Erin attributes her desire to travel to her goal-setting nature. "I wanted to get out there and experience different clinical settings. I was determined to get into well-known hospitals that would really advance my skill set and build my resume," she explained. "I had a list of hospitals that, in my book, were the best-of-the-best for pediatrics and I wanted to work at each one of them."

Checking each renowned facility off her list has brought her to such cities as
New York, Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Stanford and so many more. Today however, with her accomplishment in check, Erin chooses her assignments a little differently. Now she heads to sunny California for her winters and chooses other travel positions around her love of Major League Baseball! Erin says she's also picked up a few hobbies that she might not have ever discovered, were it not for travel nursing - hiking, running and photography to name a few.

With a lifestyle and career that offers so much excitement and variety, it's reassuring to hear that the best part of her job, Erin says, is still the patients. "No matter where you are or how long you have been at a particular hospital, as a Pediatric RN, you are always an advocate for the patient. It's so rewarding to realize what an impact you have on this little life and the lives of their families... they rely on you to get them through whatever it is that they are facing," Erin explains. "And as a travel nurse, I have so many more memories and experiences to draw on and feel good about. I couldn't imagine going back to being permanent staff at one hospital... anytime soon!"

After speaking with Erin, it's clear she is passionate about her profession and travel. It's this affection for the lifestyle that has her strongly encouraging new nurses to get out there and give this a try. She also has some tips and advice for anyone just starting out as a traveler:

First, find a recruiter you trust - this will outweigh everything else when it comes to being a happy and fully satisfied travel healthcare professional.
Be patient - don't leave your current position until you have the travel assignment that you want.
Ask questions about everything - you can't assume anything on this career path. If there is something you are unsure about, confirm it with your travel staffing company or the healthcare facility itself.
Be ready to adjust and adapt to your new surroundings. This is an absolute requirement for travelers because you are guaranteed to work in a facility where things are done differently to how you are used to. This doesn't make it wrong, it's just different.
Finally, take advantage of the positives that this career offers. Not many other professions offer the opportunity to go just about anywhere you want in the country. Use your days off to explore your assignment destination to the fullest.

Ultimately, it may be intimidating heading out to a new hospital, a new city and a new group of colleagues, as Erin points out. But you'll quickly find, that with the right attitude, you'll make new friends and lots of them in every city you go to. Plus, traveling can breathe new life into a nursing career... that's something you won't get when you are permanent staff at one hospital. You're still doing the same work, but you're doing it in different places with different people, which can make it so much more exhilarating and motivating to do the work that you do.