OR Traveler Embarks on Path of Discovery and Education
She follows her heart, follows the sun and follows the Association of Operating Nurses (AORN) Congress when she picks the locations of her travel assignments.
Registered operating nurse Brenda McNew is a traveler on her second assignment with Medical Express. Like many travelers, she waited until her kids were grown and then hit the road. Originally from Oklahoma, McNew was a delegate on the AORN Congress for her state. Keeping up on her education and techniques is of utmost importance to her, which is why she continues to attend the AORN convention every year. Next year the meeting is in Anaheim, California, and she already has her schedule set to attend.
Currently, she is on assignment at Alta Bates Medical Center in Berkeley, California. “It’s exciting here; I asked for the Berkley campus because in Oklahoma we don’t have much exposure to other cultures and ways of living. I just want to delve into new experiences as much as possible.”
McNew worked for 16 years as a nurse in Ponca City, Oklahoma, all but the first of those—during which she was in the pediatric ICU—spent in the OR. As an OR nurse, she finds the unit extremely challenging but very rewarding a well. “In OR you must stay proficient in all areas because it is so specialized.” She said a typical day consists of surgeries from cranium to prostate to bowel and more.
But the face of OR nursing is changing.
“The average age of an OR nurse is 53 and retirement is not far off. It’s a difficult area to go into and it is not attracting young nurses,” said McNew, 44. This opens the door for travelers to help relieve such acute shortages.
“When I chose Medical Express as my travel company, I did so because they had so many opportunities from which to choose. I didn’t have to worry about finding work. It wasn’t a matter of is there a job, but which job do you want?”
McNew’s first assignment was in Phoenix, Arizona, an assignment she found extremely traveler-friendly. “The population in that area is exploding and the need for OR nurses is dire. There were eight travelers on the same shift!”
She explained that travel nursing used to be more sporadic. “It was looked on as a second job or something to do as a vacation. Now it is a bona fide career, complete with benefits, steady work, and a lot of autonomy.”
That autonomy extends to the lifestyle choices available as a travel nurse as well. Brenda is able to live singly and travel with her beloved cat, Ginger. Housing is no problem and she raves about the classy places Medical Express has put her up in.
Specializing in personal attention, Brenda was taken care of even in the midst of a change of the recruiter representing her. “My first recruiter was awesome—she got me through all that initial paperwork and tests and she even remembered my birthday.”
While Brenda thought no one could replace her now-transferred recruiter, a lady named Lee Ross stepped in and made the transition extremely easy. “She is excellent at her job and is in constant communication with me, making sure everything is going well and that my needs are met.” Medical Express, whose parent company is AMN Healthcare (one of the largest travel nursing companies in the country), is known for its reputation in customer service and traveler care.
“I’d recommend travel nursing and Medical Express to anyone,” said Brenda, who often encourages her staff nurse friends in Oklahoma and others she meets along the way to travel. “There are people dedicated to getting you through the initial paperwork and that is extremely helpful. After that, your second assignment is a breeze. I feel like a pro at this already.”
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