Where in the World are You? - A Traveler's Diary

By Christine Wovchko - OH Travel RN

When I was 12 years old, growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, my sister Anastasia was one of the few gifted ballerina's awarded a scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet in New York City. I remember going with my mother to visit Anastasia for the first time and developing an immediate fascination with the city. Even as I write this, I can hardly believe I've had the chance to live here for a while. At the time, I never dreamed that my future profession as a registered nurse would be the key to enabling me to do so.

Being a travel nurse is entirely exciting but also quite the challenge. As any traveler knows, you are expected to be able to function at a new facility with the bare minimum of an orientation. I am confident in saying that my teachers and mentors at Magee Women's Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh gave me the needed preparation to succeed in this type of career.

When I took my first travel assignment four years ago, I would have to classify myself as an "absolute traveler." I went from South Carolina to the coast of Rhode Island, then to the San Francisco bay area and back to Philadelphia in less than a year and a half. I had an 18-week assignment in Manhattan in 2002, then worked in New Jersey for quite a while, never dreaming I would be able to have a second shot at living in this amazing city they call "The Big Apple" that I loved so much. Onward Healthcare has made my dream a reality. And they did it with so much personal attention to every detail of my life and career!

I have not always traveled with Onward, but now that I do, I see huge differences between them and other companies. My recruiter, Cassandra Lindquist is nothing short of amazing. Her fellow Onward staff has also proved themselves trustworthy and caring. They honestly make sure you never feel like just one amongst the masses.

I work twelve-hour nights on my assignments and I remember one evening when I was feeling very ill with a mild case of pneumonia during my shift. I knew I needed to get home immediately. I left a message for Cassandra with an extremely tired and raspy voice explaining my situation, while apologizing for not being able to complete the shift that night.

In my prior assignments before joining Onward, the first response to such a situation would have been, "when are you able to make up those hours and how soon?" However Cassandra not only called to see how I was feeling, she also sent out a heartfelt get well card. I recall showing it to my boyfriend when he came to visit later that week and his reaction was, "wow, how different is this compared to your past experience?"

This is just one tiny example of the tons of specialized attention that Onward provides. There were a few glitches with the apartment they found for me here in the West Village of Manhattan. Nothing major, just some details that needed to be worked out. From Cassandra to Jennifer in housing, they made a point to contact me, sometimes more than once a day, until everything was perfect. But that wasn't all of it—one afternoon, someone buzzed my apartment with a package for me. I knew for sure I had not ordered anything recently and was surprised and deeply touched to find it was a huge gift basket of bath, shower and other spa supplies from Cassandra and Jennifer. All that for a few apartment glitches that were not even the fault of Onward.

I could never compile a complete list of the many exciting things that I have experienced here in Manhattan. I have been to numerous plays and musicals, on and off Broadway, all at discounted rates for terrific seats. I went to a "hair model call" that I saw advertised for a well known posh salon and got picked for a free haircut and style. I was also front and center for the Republican National Convention held in Madison Square Garden! The organized, rather peaceful, protest march the day prior to the event was mind blowing. My dad called because he was watching the incredible scene on TV. I know he was really trying to make sure I was okay, but his voice also told me that he was somewhat proud that I could live in the middle of something like that and not be frightened. I called him back later that night from the rooftop of my building and assured him that all was quiet downtown.

Every day I feel so lucky that I get to experience a city that so many books, television shows and movies have been centered around. When I was in the ninth grade, I was in a friend's basement watching the Times Square New Year's Eve festivities and proclaimed aloud, "Someday, I am going to be there for that." It took 25 years, but my contract will keep me here to fulfill that dream too.

I am so grateful that Cassandra and the rest of the OH team made this dream possible for me. I must not close without mentioning that they went out of their way to accomplish this for me, even though my assignment was in a metro area suburb. I have a bit of a commute, but I don't mind—I view it as yet another fascinating experience to be amongst the masses of people that come in and out of this marvelous city everyday.

I recommend Onward Healthcare to everyone who is even slightly considering travel nursing, or is a current traveler with another company, with the promise that you will be made to feel… well, taken care of, to say the least, by people who actually DO care about helping you fulfill YOUR goals!

Have a great story of your own, we want to hear it! Email your stories and photos to ohlife@onwardhealthcare.com.