By Julie Benn, contributor
Nursing is a second career for Paul Reedy, RN, but leading travel staffing company NurseChoice was his first choice once he decided to take up traveling in Prescott, Arizona.
Reedy, 48, works in Critical Care and ICU. He worked for four years in oncology, has been an registered nurse for 12 years and now is working as a traveling nurse with a company known for its ability to start travelers quickly and place them in top hospitals around the country.
Prior to nursing, Reedy worked as a hotel manager. Like many other nurses, his inspiration to take up nursing involved the hospitalization and care of a family member. While living in San Antonio, Texas, his first wife found out she had lung cancer. Reedy said that the care at the hospital she was in was the worst he’d ever seen.
Care at their new home, in Tupelo, Mississippi, was a different story.
“What we experienced there was the best care ever. It made such a difference,” said Reedy. Afterwards, he decided to try his hand at nursing. “It’s incredibly rewarding. I love my patients and the work.”
His decision to travel was “60 percent because of the money.” Reedy said that nurses top out in Mississippi fairly quickly. He explained that if he stayed at the same hospital for 15 years he wouldn’t make more than an increase of one dollar per hour in the long run.
This is the draw of traveling for many nurses. The pay they can make on assignment with travel companies like NurseChoice, plus other benefits such as paid housing, is considerably more than can be made while staying at home at a staff position.
Speaking of great places to work, Reedy is very happy in Arizona. “It’s a beautiful place with mountains and a very nice town. I fit in well here. People are real easy to get along with,” he said.
Reedy chose NurseChoice after looking at other companies and hearing other nurses sing its praises. In fact, he is working with four other nurses from the same agency at his current assignment.
“I’m impressed so far with this company,” Reedy said. “They keep me informed about what’s going on and are very helpful in getting things done. Plus they give good hints for interviewing for jobs and the process is streamlined.
“I wanted to be someplace closer to home, but I happened upon this Arizona assignment and it’s a good one, even though I am 1,540 miles away from home.”
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