Healthcare Traveler - June 2008 - (Page 19)

Daytrippin’ Taking mini breaks on assignment Anne Baye Ericksen A mobile career can take you from coast to coast, north to south, and so many points in between. Whether you are the ultimate sightseer or an avid hobbyist, or you just have a strong desire to explore an area, each assignment represents an opportunity to refresh your spirit with mini getaways. After all, a healthcare traveler who is all work and no play can burn out just like permanent staff. Here, check out how three mobile professionals take advantage of their days off with the occasional daytrip. was fine with me. I went to the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park on Thanksgiving Day where I met another woman spending the holiday solo. We ended up having Thanksgiving dinner together.” During the break, Patricia also attended a holiday performance at the famous Crystal Cathedral in Orange County. But it was the nearby jaunts she took during her California adventure that really added value to Patricia’s West Coast experience. “My favorite was probably watching surfers in the Pacific Ocean,” she recalls. “Another traveler and I planned a weekend getaway to the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel in Pescadero. I had always wanted to stay at a hostel, but did not feel comfortable doing so by myself. Anyway, on the way back, we drove the scenic route and came across a bunch of surfers. My friend had never seen anyone surf, so we pulled over to watch. It was nice to share that with her.” Another memorable daytrip was her tour of the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. The 160room Victorian mansion was built over a 38-year period (1884 to 1922), under the direction of Sarah L. Winchester, heiress to the rifle company fortune. It features some amazing and unexplained oddities, such as upside-down poles and staircases that end in the ceiling. » June 2008 Healthcare Traveler California dreaming Patricia Lathem, RN, had always dreamed of making it to California someday. She wanted to see firsthand the beaches and tourist attractions for which the state is known. Instead of saving up her hard-earned cash to go on a week’s vacation, the medical/surgical nurse found an assignment to take her there. “The timing was perfect,” she states.“As soon as I wrapped up my previous contract, off I went.” Patricia has been a nurse for 11 years and a traveler for the past 4 years, exclusively with Miami, Florida-based National Healthcare Staffing. During that time, she has primarily concentrated on opportunities in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Right now, she is fulfilling a contract at Shands AGH in Gainesville, Florida. Generally speaking, Patricia spends her downtime gardening or attending local events, such as concerts and church gatherings. But once she realized her dream vacation would be coming true, she was ready to make big plans. “San Jose is in the northern part of the state,” she explains.“But I knew as long as I was going to be out there, I’d also want to visit Southern California. With that in mind, I made sure I received at least one entire week off at some point in my contract. That week just happened to fall at the end of November, which 19

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Traveler - June 2008

Healthcare Traveler - June 2008 Editor's Desk Contents In a Flash Paws for Thought Field Notes You Said It Cover Story: Day Trippin' A Matter of Choice Clinical Highlights Drug Update When In... On Assignment Name It Advertisers' Index Travel Tips Tax Facts Big Deals Contest Rules Going the Distance Starter's Kit Allied Corner Classifieds Tales from the Road

Healthcare Traveler - June 2008

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