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 Sarah Sumrall.

Name: Sarah SumrallSpecialty: Labor and DeliveryNumber of assignments: 10Number of years with Fastaff: Four

Why do you love working with Fastaff?

Fastaff is my favorite agency to work for. I love how consistent, responsive, and personable the staff is. Their timeliness and knowledge goes a long way in making the transition into travel nursing a smooth one. Their benefits are very good as well.

What do you love about nursing?

I love advocating for my patients and delivering high-quality care. It is so rewarding to leave a shift knowing that my kind words and actions have impacted patients during one of the most vulnerable and emotional times in their lives.

Along with the emotional satisfaction that comes with a job well-done, nursing provides the job security and benefits that are an essential part of adulting.

My very favorite part of nursing is all of my wonderful friends I have made in the field. We bond intensely in such an intimate setting where effective teamwork is so essential to good outcomes.  I find that I enjoy my coworkers so much that they become family to me!

What makes travel nursing rewarding for you?

My favorite part of travel nursing is having so many miniature lives all over the place. I experience little blurps of what life is like all over the country, and the contrast in settings is a great way to be challenged and grow from those challenges, both personally and also professionally.  I believe that travel nursing is a unique opportunity to avoid stagnation in life. I can be a city girl, a rural hiker, a desert dweller, a New Yorker, and a Midwesterner, all while keeping my favorite identity- as a Floridian!

Tell me about a time when you felt more valuable/respected because of the experience and knowledge you gained from your Fastaff assignment.

As nurses, it is almost too easy to slip into the mindset of, "that's how we have always done it." The vast experience in a variety of types of clinical settings from critical access all the way up to high risk facilities has really molded my critical thinking skills as well as my ability to think outside of the box. I have learned that, although I highly value following protocols and current practice guidelines, there are many ways to accomplish those same goals. I believe that approaching each assignment with a balance of being knowledgeable, humble, flexible, and open-minded is a necessity for any successful travel nurse. Every facility has something they do really well and something that could be improved upon. Travel nursing has been a great way to build confidence in my capabilities and share my experiences. I feel respected as a valued team member when I can merge my knowledge base with new approaches to deliver safe and personable care to my patients.

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

I think that the culture shock of going from a high risk facility full of personnel and access to care to a critical access facility with extremely limited resources forced me to examine my comfort zones and fix the areas I identified as deficits. Honestly, in some ways, staying in one type of facility doesn't push me as much to reach my potential. It impacted my worth as a nurse in that it helped to develop assertiveness and confidence in my skill sets, which I then carry forward into my next assignment.

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

Since I work in labor and delivery, isn't EVERY DAY full of tiny miracles? 

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

Travel nursing has absolutely changed my life.  Living a debt-free lifestyle while still pursuing bucket-list dream items is so fulfilling on a personal level. I could never have accomplished my financial goals without making the switch from staff nurse to travel nurse. Professionally speaking, traveling has opened my eyes to new processes and has challenged me to become a better, well-rounded nurse who can jump in and help out right away.