In our ongoing series highlighting the exceptional healthcare professionals who make up the Uniti Med family, we’re thrilled to feature Jessica K, Med Surg RN, a dedicated travel nurse whose journey has taken her across the country. From pandemic response to scenic adventures between assignments, Jessie shares her experiences, favorite memories and valuable advice for those considering the travel healthcare path.
Between assignments, Jessie, a Uniti Med travel nurse, explored the beauty of Greece. Traveling has been her way to recharge and combat burnout, embracing new places, cultures, and connections along the way.
Finding Her Way to Travel Nursing
Jessie’s travel journey began like many others — during the challenging days of the pandemic in 2019-2020. Working in a hospital COVID-19 ICU in Georgia, she took her first steps into the mobile healthcare world by providing PCR and rapid COVID-19 testing for movie and television productions.
“I worked in the southeast region of the U.S. and in Chicago a number of times,” Jessie recalls. “I did have the opportunity to be on a few film sets, which was a really neat experience, but I mostly tested cast and crew members before filming began for safety and compliance.”
As testing demands decreased and facing the inevitable burnout from working in a COVID-19 unit, Jessie decided it was time for a change. She transitioned to traditional travel contracts, which have since taken her to Nashville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; Douglas, Georgia; Louisville, Kentucky; and Montgomery, Alabama.
“Nashville was definitely my favorite contract so far,” she shares. “I enjoyed my time there so much. There was a ton to do and see, and I was surrounded by mountains and a myriad of hiking trails which is my favorite place to be.”
Jessie captures a breathtaking moment from her hike in the Tennessee mountains. It’s easy to see why this travel nurse assignment was one of her favorites!
Meaningful Connections
When asked about a favorite memory from her travels, Jessie’s response reveals the heart of a true healthcare professional.
“I think if you asked any healthcare worker, they would immediately be able to tell you about the patients or family members that have stuck with them or made an impact on their lives,” she says.
During her contract in Louisville, Jessie cared for a patient who had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident. The patient’s family, particularly his wife and small children, remained constantly by his side.
“I developed a really sweet relationship with the family, and his kids would draw and color pictures for me any time I was assigned to his room,” Jessie remembers fondly. “The family still texts me from time to time to let me know about that patient’s progress.”
Those drawings now adorn Jessie’s refrigerator — a daily reminder that healthcare professionals can “make a difference in a person’s life and bring a little sunshine to a really tragic situation.”
The Uniti Med Difference
Jessie’s path to Uniti Med came through a chance encounter with a Facebook post by one of our recruiters on a nursing page for travelers.
“I was frustrated by the limited options I had with my travel agency at the time,” she explains. “I went rogue and responded to a Uniti Med recruiter’s post offering to review nurses’ resumes to help them find better assignments.”
That initial connection clicked immediately, and Jessie has been with Uniti Med ever since. She appreciates working with a recruiter who really cares about travelers and advocates for them.
Jessie also praises the entire Uniti Med team, particularly noting how they make the compliance process — often a hurdle in travel contracts — “as painless as possible.” Her satisfaction with Uniti Med is evident in her continued extensions at her current position for over a year.
“Compliance especially is always a hurdle with travel contracts but I can honestly say that Uniti Med really does make it as painless as possible,” she notes. “They found me a position that I am super happy with, and I have continued to extend with them for over a year.”
Jessica taking in the full Kentucky experience by making a bourbon barrel at Buffalo Trace Distillery. She believes every travel nurse assignment has something special to offer—if you take the time to explore.
Advice for Aspiring Travel Nurses
For healthcare professionals considering the travel nurse path, Jessie offers this wisdom: “Give yourself some grace, especially at the beginning of your transition into traveling. The first contract is always the hardest, but once you get through that first assignment and get your ‘nursing legs’ under you, you’ll beast mode the rest of them!”
She also emphasizes the importance of exploring each location. “It’s easy to let yourself go into a cocoon when you get off work and just stay there until the next shift, and that’s okay! But, after getting some rest, go enjoy the city/town you’re in. Every place you go has something special about it if you look hard enough.”
Finding Balance Through Travel
While acknowledging the challenges of “always being the new person in a new place and being away from friends and family,” Jessie believes the benefits of travel nursing far outweigh the difficulties.
“I have absolutely loved getting to go to new places and experiencing everything they have to offer, as well as the non-work travel, I’ve been able to experience as a result of this profession,” she shares. “Traveling has been a way for me to successfully combat burnout by not only enjoying varying geographical locations but also in the people I work with and the patients I get to take care of.”
She values her experience with Uniti Med, saying, “The difference between Uniti Med and other agencies I’ve worked with is like night and day, and I couldn’t be happier with the effort they’ve put in to find the best outcome for me!”
