By Claire Brocato, feature writer
When Mary Burke, RN, took a trip to Santa Monica, California, she instantly
fell in love with the sun, the surf and the laid-back California lifestyle. She
knew that this was a place she wanted to return to, not as a tourist, but
as a local.
"I had been working in Vancouver, Canada, for 15 years and realized that it
was time to ‘shake up my life’ and get out of my rut," Burke recalled. "I was
ready for a change in a big way. While I was in Santa Monica, I came to the
conclusion that travel nursing was the perfect solution for me."
"While I was still on vacation, I visited a well-known hospital in Santa
Moncia and asked them what travel healthcare company they used. They gave me the
phone number of American Mobile Healthcare and I called them as soon as I
returned to Canada. From the moment I spoke to my recruiter, I instantly felt
comfortable. She understood exactly what I was looking for and within no time
she found the ideal assignment for me in Santa Monica."
"I took a seven-month leave of absence from my permanent job in Vancouver and
took the assignment in California. It was everything I expected it to be and
more," Burke said.
"Not only did I broaden my nursing knowledge and get a new perspective on
many facets of my work, but I also met so many great travelers who were just as
eager as I was to explore the city. I love music and theatre and culture, so
being in Los Angeles gave me the opportunity to literally immerse myself in the
arts. It was the most wonderful experience."
Burke returned to her permanent position in Vancouver once her assignment
came to an end, but she couldn’t resist the urge to return to travel nursing.
"I didn’t want to give up the security of my permanent position and the
retirement benefits it offers," she said. "So instead of resigning, I took a
year’s leave of absence and returned to Santa Monica."
This intrepid CVICU nurse will be working in Santa Monica for another two
months and will then be heading across the country to take a travel assignment
in New York City.
"I love the buzz and excitement of big cities, so New York is a must for me."
Although Burke will be returning to Vancouver after her year of travel
nursing has come to an end, she has vowed that she will continue to travel as
often as she can, by taking leaves of absence whenever possible.
"There are so many places I still want to see all across the United States,
so this is just the beginning of something I hope to do for many more years."
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