Healthcare Traveler - July 2008 - (Page 64)

M E M O R A B L E E X P E R I E N C E S AT W O R K O R P L AY California dreamin’ Julie Anne Eason S yrilda Conley, RN, first learned about travel nursing in magazines. She had been a staff nurse at the same Kentucky hospital for 11 years but the mobile lifestyle appealed to her, and she thought about it often. So, she spoke with her manager and was assured that if she decided to try healthcare travel, she’d, of course, be welcome to return to the facility in the future. Once Syrilda’s children were grown and out of the house, she signed with Clinical One, a company based in Wakefield, Massachusetts, and set off on her first adventure. “My husband, Paul, and I love traveling,” she says.“He’s a retired steel worker, so I’m able to have him with me. My first assignment took place in Columbia, South Carolina, and was very exciting. A new town, new people…it took a few days to adjust to everything. Initially, I was concerned that I’d be viewed as an outsider, but my new coworkers were friendly and treated me very well.” , RN, atop th Yosemite Nat e Sentinel Dom ional Park. e in California ’s SYRILDA C ONLEY unique beauty and culture of the West Coast.“My husband and I spent a lot of time in San Francisco itself, visiting Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Ghirardelli Square. We also enjoyed hanging out at Fisherman’s Wharf, where we could buy cooked crabs fresh from the boats. I had heard you could see lots of seals swimming around in the waters below and wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I could hear them a good distance away when we walked down the street.” Kentucky is very wet, but we spent 3 months without a drop of rain or a smidge of humidity in the Golden State.” Choosing the lifestyle she wants Syrilda recommends traveling to everyone with whom she works. “It’s just a wonderful way to see the country,” she says. “I’m able to work in Florida, where Paul and I like to spend the winter, and whenever I choose to take time off between contracts, we go on cruises.” Though she would like to return to California someday for another assignment, Syrilda says she’s not done touring the rest of the country. “Right now, I’m trying to get a contract in New Bern, North Carolina, and I’d also like to travel to Arizona and Alaska.” There are always new things to learn and interesting places to see when you’re a healthcare traveler. You just never know what’s waiting for you around the next corner. Syrilda doesn’t like to make too many long-term plans just so she and Paul can allow for such pleasant surprises. “Memories of California will remain with me forever. But the promise and beauty of places yet to be explored are the heart of my mobile career.” HT Julie Anne Eason is a freelance writer based in China, Maine. Soaking up the sun The Conleys also took a couple of daytrips to Napa Valley. They enjoyed learning about the entire winemaking process, from the vine to the bottle.“Paul and I were surprised to discover all the other things in the area that had nothing to do with wine,” states Syrilda.“For instance, we toured an olive oil factory, too, and saw a hot spring and geyser.” While they were in California, Syrilda and her husband also took the opportunity to visit their oldest son, Tom, in Santa Cruz. “We all love hiking and camping, just being out in nature. So, we took a family trip to Yosemite National Park. It was so beautiful! “California is remarkably different from Kentucky,” continues Syrilda.“The ocean and mountains are right next to each other, and the weather is fantastic. Syrilda took every chance to experience the beauty and culture of the West Coast. Her favorite assignment to date, though, came later when she accepted a contract at Mt. Diablo Medical Center in Concord, California. The 250-bed facility is located about 30 miles outside of San Francisco, so Syrilda and Paul took every chance to get out and experience the Copyright ©2008 Advanstar Communications Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including by photocopy, recording, or information storage and retrieval without permission in writing from the publisher. 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Healthcare Traveler - July 2008 Editor's Desk Contents By the Numbers Paws for Thought In a Flash Field Notes California Love Affair Taking Your Home on the Road Drug Update Clinical Tips Cityscape Advertisers' Index Name It When In... Good for You Big Deals Tax Facts Going the Distance Contest Rules Starter's Kit Allied Corner Classifieds Tales from the Road

Healthcare Traveler - July 2008

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