Healthcare Traveler - October 2008 - (Page 64) Tales from the Road M E M O R A B L E E X P E R I EN CE S AT WO R K O R P L AY Singing her own song Laura Sadowski, RN, describes herself as an aspiring songwriter and natural born joker. But when it comes to the nursing shortage, she gets serious. Julie Anne Eason “ the road, taki ng LAURA SA DOWSKI, Photo: Getty Images/Kyu Oh S o many nurses work too hard and play too little,” says Laura, who accepts contracts exclusively through Nurses in Partnership, based in Agoura Hills, California. “Burnout is all too common, and it’s sad to see certain areas of the country suffering from a lack of skilled nurses. The main reason I decided to become a travel nurse was because I wanted to go where I was really needed and could do the most good.” Practicing cardiac, intensive care, and emergency nursing, Laura knows her patients are in pain and at a difficult time in their lives. But if she can get them to stop thinking about their condition and smile, even for just a few moments, all her work is worthwhile. “I love to spread the joy of nursing. We really do change people’s lives at a time when we’re needed most.” Believing it’s a traveler’s duty to support the staff as well as the patients, she notes, “Nurses are overworked and sometimes don’t know how they’ll keep going. I’ll do whatever I can to take the pressure off the staff nurses, whether that’s cracking a joke or taking an extra patient or two. I want to see everyone smiling—the patients, the staff, the doctors, everyone. I use comedy because it works.” her guitar with RN, has retu rned to her m usical roots on her on ever y assignment. her heart and take her first contract in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in May 2007. “They told me it was no different than going next door to visit a friend. With computers and cell phones, we’re never more than a phone call or an e-mail away. The three of us talk to each other every single night, and I get back to see them in between assignments.” Spreading joy, with humor and music, is something of a crusade for Laura. Unexpected benefits As exciting and professionally satisfying as it’s been, traveling has brought Laura something she didn’t expect—the ability to pursue her singing and songwriting interests. “I’ve returned to my musical roots since I’ve been on the road. My guitar comes with me everywhere, and I never know when I’ll be inspired to write a song. “I remember my first day in Fort Lauderdale—there was a note on my door warning me about an alligator that lived out back.” She laughs, “I’m from rural Pennsylvania. We just don’t get alligator warnings very often!” Later, Laura was out walking her dog, and a huge 5-foot iguana wandered out of the grass. “I started thinking, How can I do this? How can I make it on my own? But then I saw the Space Shuttle take off. I remembered a woman was piloting that mission, and I thought to myself, I’m driving my own ship. If she can do it, I can do it. And a song was born that day.” Music runs in Laura’s family. Her brother has a recording studio in his home in Austin, Texas. Whenever she’s off-duty for a few days, Laura visits him. “I love that I can just go there and lay down a few tracks whenever I want.” Crusading for nursing Spreading joy, with humor and music, is something of a crusade for Laura, on the road and off. A nurse since 1989, she notes, “I want to show people how rewarding this profession is, and how much fun it can be. It’s so important to encourage young people to come into the field.” Her enthusiasm for nursing is certainly contagious. Thanks to traveling, it might just become an epidemic. HT Julie Anne Eason is a freelance writer based in China, Maine. As close as the phone Her daughters, 15-year-old Emmiley and 17-year-old Rebekah, gave her the encouragement she needed to follow 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. Authorization to photocopy items for internal/educational or personal use, or the internal/educational or personal use of specific clients is granted by Advanstar Communications Inc. for libraries and other users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400 fax 978-646-8700. For uses beyond those listed above, please direct your written request to Permission Dept. fax 440-891-2650. 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