Fastaff nurses are rewarded and recognized for the experience, skills, and dedication they bring to each travel nursing assignment. This nurse is someone who exemplifies the Fastaff values. Read below to learn more about the April Nurse of the Month, Libby Mabe.

Name: Libby MabeSpecialty: CVICUNumber of Fastaff assignments: 4 assignments with Fastaff, currently on my 5th and I have already signed for my 6thNumber of years with Fastaff: I started with Fastaff in December of 2019

Why do you love working with Fastaff?

Fastaff has provided me with many positive opportunities in my career. I have grown so much professionally and I am forever grateful that Fastaff has provided me with these opportunities. Fastaff has a wide variety of contacts which provides me with many options when choosing my next assignment. I continually feel supported by my recruiter (Melissa Donahoo) and the entire Fastaff team. They work efficiently with my best interest in mind. 

What do you love about nursing?

I love nursing because of the many different career options I have. I am currently specialized in CVICU nursing but I know that there is always more that I can explore. I can always learn something new, hone in on a new skill, obtain a new certification, transfer to a new field, etc.

What makes travel nursing rewarding for you?

Travel nursing has been so rewarding to me in so many ways. I have met lifelong friends, made amazing memories, and have been exposed to so many different ways of living. I love learning the way of life in each area that I’m in. I have made so many great connections with various people over the past few years. I have seen some of the most beautiful areas in the U.S. such as the Grand Tetons and Glacier National Park. Being able to experience all of this, all while advancing my career and earning a living is truly special. 

Describe a time where you felt more valuable/respected because of the experience and knowledge you gained from your Fastaff assignment.

The assignments I have taken with Fastaff have truly helped me grow as a nurse and a person. I have learned so much from the various staff members that I have worked with. As a traveler, it can be intimidating to come in to a new hospital and take care of CVICU patients. On my current assignment, the Cardiovascular Surgeons have trusted me with the care of their immediate post-operative patients and receiving positive feedback from them makes me feel valuable. I respect them immensely on a professional level and I feel that they reciprocate that respect. 

What has been your most challenging Fastaff assignment and how did you feel that impacted your worth as a nurse afterwards?

I have been faced with many challenges on each assignment. Caring for patients with RVADs, LVADs, CRRT, IABP, etc., all create an intense environment and require a high level of focus. Often times, these patients are in the unit for a while and you form a connection with them and their families. You build a rapport with them and there is a level of trust that forms which creates a sense of worth as nurse. You begin to realize that these patients and their families are very reliant on you and how much of an impact you actually have on them. 

Describe the most miraculous or impressive thing you’ve witnessed or been a part of during your time as a nurse with Fastaff.

During my time with Fastaff, I have experienced the most impressive professional teamwork. I was with Fastaff prior to COVID-19 impacting our lives. I have seen coworkers come to together in the most stressful times. Everyone has been so supportive, understanding, and just purely amazing. 

How have you accomplished some of your personal and professional goals by traveling with Fastaff?

Since traveling with Fastaff, I have been able to pay off all of my debt, provide family with some financial assistance, travel new parts of the country, take time off work to spend with family and friends, and pay for my dog to receive chemotherapy treatment for Lymphoma. Traveling with Fastaff has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself and for my career. I wouldn’t change a thing about this entire experience.