Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1475102
36 NURSING SPOTLIGHT to the travel nursing question. For workplace settings, the report only said "most nurses reported working in a hospital (59.9 percent), while others reported working at clinics and ambulatory settings (15.6 percent), other in- patient settings (8.3 percent) and other types of settings (16.2 percent)." e last NSSRN survey to include travel nursing data was in 2008, meaning the most recent publicly available data on travel nurses nationwide is over a decade old. at report found that 1 percent of the nation's nurses at the time were employed by travel agencies, or just over 26,000 people. A 2022 sample of the NSSRN is expected for release next year. "If all goes as planned, that will provide us more insight into whether male representa- tion of travel nurses is higher than the general nursing population," Dr. Frogner said. Four male travel nurses told Becker's what made them choose the career track. eir responses are below. Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for length and clarity. Deji "DJ" Folami, RN. Intensive care unit nurse employed by Cross Country Health- care (Boca Raton, Fla.): I had met a few travel nurses during my work in the intensive care unit and was impressed by their large knowledge base, their confidence and their get-it-done attitude. I was happy in my posi- tion but wanted to acquire more knowledge while also impacting the world in a wider way beyond where I lived. I was drawn to travel nursing aer having heard exciting stories from other travel nurses. eir experiences were dynamic; they seemed satisfied and hap- py. ese travel nurses expressed no regrets — I wanted that same experience and more! So I'm very glad I then followed up on a referral from an experienced travel nurse that I knew, and I haven't looked back since. Ricky Ironside, RN. A nurse employed by Aya Healthcare (San Diego): I grew up trav- eling with my family, and I wanted to see the rest of the country from an adult perspective. I absolutely enjoy what I do, and I wanted to see the dynamic of how the country takes care of people from across the country. Being from Texas, I wanted to see how everybody else takes care of people. When you go to college, you want to be well-rounded, but to actually see it firsthand is another story. I like understanding the dichotomy of how we take care of patients across the country. Same patient — not taken care of poorly but taken care of differently — with a similar outcome across the country. Whether it's medications or procedures of how things are touched on or taken care of, it's a very wide and broad spectrum. Bob Goldnetz, RN. A nurse employed by RNnetwork (Boca Raton, Fla.): My life seemed ordinary, planned out, prewritten; go to college, get a job, buy a house, find a part- ner and settle down. My mom was a nurse, and she seemed fulfilled, she seemed happy. e plan was fine until the first summer of nursing school. I worked as a hang gliding instructor, and my life changed. I met people who sought adventure, experiences and relationships. Suddenly with a new mindset, focus and a way to get there, I sought a differ- ent horizon. I could travel, meet new people, see places I only ever imagined and do things once beyond my grasp. I could save, be a part of my community, contribute to my future and have the flexibility to make it all happen. So, I did. I explored the country, traveled the world and formed countless relationships. And it's all led here, to now, where I have even more. I have an amazing partner in crime, and we have a little pistol of a 1-year-old. Life is good and I have so many blessings. e big world has gotten a little smaller, and the best is yet to come. Robert Sniff, RN. A nurse on the mobility team at Christus Health (Irving, Texas): My intentions were to be a travel nurse from the beginning of this career choice. My wife and I are empty nesters and have grandchil- dren scattered throughout the North and South. Becoming a travel nurse gave us the opportunity to still have an income and visit families. It's always a home wherever you lay your head. n Geisinger launches travel nurse program By Cailey Gleeson D anville, Pa.-based Geisinger launched a travel nurse program June 10 for eligible inpatient registered nurses. The initial launch will focus on Geisinger hospitals with the greatest needs at an inpatient setting, specifically adult medical-surgical and intensive care units. Accepted nurses will complete a 12-week assignment and then can either begin another 12-week assignment or apply for a full-time position with the health system. "The staffing shortages facing virtually every industry — and especially healthcare — are real," said Janet Tomcavage, MSN, executive vice president and chief nursing executive of Geisinger. "Our clinical staff are working tirelessly. By expanding our offerings, we hope to attract more registered nurses to Geisinger. That way, we can alleviate the challenges of staffing shortage in our hospitals and continue our mission of making better health easier for our communities." n Nurse named president of Adventist Health hospital By Kelly Gooch C olleen Assavapisitkul, MSN, RN, was named president of Adventist Health Clear Lake in Clearlake, Calif. Ms. Assavapisitkul brings more than a decade of experience at Adventist Health Clear Lake to the role, according to a June 17 news release shared with Becker's. Most recently, she was appointed vice president of patient care for the hospital in 2016. She also served as administrative director of patient care before her promotion to chief nursing officer in 2014. Adventist Health Clear Lake is part of the Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health system. n