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 Fastaff traveler, Orlando Soman. Name: Orlando Soman Specialty : Respiratory Therapy Number of assignments : 5 Number of years with Fastaff: 2 Why do you love working with Fastaff? Fastaff has provided me with the opportunity to venture beyond the borders of Florida while providing excellent compensation, great benefits, and prompt and accurate communication. What do you love about Respiratory Therpay? Being a respiratory therapist for an extended period of time now, I have grown to love and appreciate what this field has offered me. I’ve been involved in many lifesaving situations, educated a lot, met and discussed policies and procedures with multiple disciplines, and traveled to many countries to provide care. It feels very rewarding knowing that I use my training and expertise to literally save lives. What makes travel nursing rewarding for you? Traveling takes me to areas that I’m not familiar with which introduces me to new people, experiences, and environment. Tell me about a time when you felt more valuable/respected because of the experience and knowledge you gained from your Fastaff assignment. Being that I’m still at the same assignment since day one, it’s difficult to say. However, with the new experiences I’ve gained here, it will definitely make me a more valuable asset for future assignments and employers. What has been your most challenging Fastaff assignment and how did you feel that impacted your worth as a nurse afterward? I really can’t say because I’ve been at the same assignment for almost 2 years now. Love it here. Describe the most miraculous or impressive thing you’ve witnessed or been a part of during your time as a nurse with Fastaff. The most impressive situation I’ve been involved with was a mass casualty while working in the emergency room. This involved a building fire that housed 7 kids, and all 7 were transported to us. Fortunately, only 2 were injured that were non-life threatening. How have you accomplished some of your personal and professional goals by traveling with Fastaff? Personal goals that I have accomplished include paying off debts and acquiring new assets. Professional goals would be learning about new equipment, and it’s use, and different types of policies and procedures methods that exist and how effective they are.
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 Sumrall Specialty : Labor and Delivery Number of assignments : 10 Number 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.
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 our January Nurse of the Month, Trina Eisenberg. Name: Trina Eisenberg Specialty : Critical Care Number of assignments : 12 Number of years with Fastaff: 3 Why do you love working with Fastaff? I enjoy working with FASTAFF because my recruiter is quick to respond and great to work with! I appreciate the ease of the onboarding process and the fast start dates. What do you love about nursing? I love being able to help people as a nurse. Service is one of the most valuable traits but the hardest to portray. What makes travel nursing rewarding for you? Travel nursing is rewarding because I am able to fill a need in an underserved area. I am able to bring my skills an knowledge to an area in need that values my experience. I also enjoy learning about new places and new people.
The holiday season can be a joyous time for many. It is a time to reset and enjoy your family and friends. However, for many healthcare workers it is the exact opposite. The hospitals are full of patients relying on them to get through the next day. Healthcare workers can’t just turn it off and relax by the fire with a hot cup of cocoa. In fact, the holiday season for nurses can be extremely stressful. While patients often long to be with their families on the holidays, nurses may also have that same desire. Yet, they will be there bedside with their patients. Spending long hours in the operating room or days with their patients, may cause nurses to neglect their own mental health. As caregivers, it is imperative that nurses maintain good mental health practices in order to care for others. Tips for Managing Mental Health during the Holiday Season Listen to your body **.** The holiday season can bring more challenges, which causes more stress. It is important that you listen to your body during this time. If your body needs to rest for 5 minutes – take the 5 minutes. You won’t be able to help others if you don’t help yourself. Regulating your breathing, taking deep breaths, and meditating are all good practices to maintain your stress levels. Staying active, well rested, and hydrated is key to surviving the holiday season. Be mindful **.** During the holiday season there is so much going on. The winter months are the peak season for cold and flu patients. With that, an influx of patients will enter the hospital. There will be a greater need for nurses during this time. Although picking up extra shifts may be enticing, you must be mindful of your body and your limits. Make sure to listen to your body’s needs, so that you may fulfil the needs of others. Find a day to celebrate. If you are unable to celebrate on the actual holiday, find a different day to celebrate. It is important to make the most of your time. Although the holiday season can be stressful, it is important to keep in mind that it only lasts a few weeks. When you begin to feel overwhelmed, remember to take a deep breath.