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 Kayla Heming.

Name: Kalyn Heming

Specialty: Labor and Delivery RN

Number of assignments: Off and on over the last 4 years

Number of years with Fastaff: ~4 off and on

Why do you love working with Fastaff?

You guys are a no-nonsense company. When I tell you what I want, you get it for me and if you don’t waste my time if you don’t have what I’m looking for. My recruiter, Alisha, is SO fast at getting back with me when I need her, and I never have any issues that go unresolved. Fastaff has been one of the best agencies I’ve worked with thus far, and I’m in my 6th year of traveling.

What do you love about nursing?

I love that I can go anywhere to do what I love. Fun fact: I actually went to nursing school, because I knew that I wanted to become a travel nurse. Emphasis on the travel part, not so much the nursing, but L&D nursing has truly become my calling and work doesn’t seem like as much “work” when you love what you do and get to see the world while doing it.

What makes travel nursing rewarding for you?

Just nursing in general is rewarding in itself. However, traveling to different states for work has really given my husband and I so much opportunity to see and experience new foods, places, cultures, and events over the last few years. It’s like a 3-month long vacation, with a few days of work thrown in.

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

As a traveler, you get a lot of different experiences, having gone and working at so many different places. Along the journey, you pick up so many skills and “nurse hacks” that can be so fun to share with nurses at future assignments. Even if it’s the “slang” of the area, like “yinz (Pittburgh) or y’all (Southern friends), or calling a patient gown a “johnnie” (MA), all of these little quirks can be helpful and some comic relief at the same time.

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

Working day to day as a nurse can be challenging, no matter where you work. However, the people you work with can really make a difference. Alaska was the farthest traveling assignment that I took away from home (PA), which is what made it, probably the most difficult, but knowing I had a recruiter to back me up when needed, helped a lot. And the girls I work with, unreplaceable.

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

The last hospital I worked at was in Brockton, MA where I unfortunately no longer work, due to a fire. THIS was the most impressive thing. The teamwork in evacuating the 160 patients from the hospital, that is still, currently, closed until further notice, was amazing. I felt like I was on an episode of Chicago Fire or Grey’s Anatomy. Everyone pulled together and used the knowledge from the 5 million drills we do a year, that we think will never be implemented. Now, speaking from experience, they definitely came in handy.

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

Working with Fastaff/travel nursing in general has allowed me the financial freedom to not only travel and see the world with my family, but to also provide us the life that we have. Significantly getting ahead on bills and other expenses that wouldn’t be possible without this career has been one of my most proud accomplishments.

Professionally, the ability to go to the numerous hospitals that I’ve worked with over the last 6 years traveling, has really opened my eyes to how different hospital systems function. There are so many differences between the hospitals, but similarities all at the same time. This has truly helped to make me more well-rounded nurse and made it easier to accept change and differences throughout this career path, no matter where I’m working.