Women’s History Month, Q&A
 




 
 Q. Tell us about your journey to Cross Country. What initially led you to pursue a position with the organization?
 


 A. “We make a living by what we get, but make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill. 


I can’t think of a more noble endeavor than that of healing and caring for others. I take great pride in collaborating with an organization that strives to meet the needs of the healthcare, caregiving, and education segments. 


 
 Q. Did you always have an interest in pursuing a career in the legal field?
 


 A. I must confess that despite my acknowledged interest for the legal field, at the time I initiated my studies in law, I was completely oblivious to the fact that a legal background would gift me with the opportunity to perform in different settings and roles, and to pursue evolving interests. 



 
 Q. What’s your favorite thing about working for Cross Country?
 


 A. I’m drawn to Cross Country’s energy and dynamism. It feels like the organization is continuously adapting and evolving to meet and surpass challenges. This brings an element of unpredictability to my workday which I find most exciting. I very much appreciate leadership’s efforts to communicate the organization’s vision, as well as its achievements and strives; it supports the notion we are working collectively towards a shared goal. 



Q. What motivates you in your job every day?

 A. The thought that my nimble contribution to Cross Country could ultimately have a bearing on improving access to healthcare. 



 
 Q. In your opinion, what do you find the biggest challenge working in the healthcare staffing industry?


 A. This is a very fast-paced industry, powered by a set of moving parts that have a tangible impact on access to employment and delivery of healthcare services. Losing touch with those components and their needs, failing to adapt promptly and conscientiously to its variants and overlooking how proposed adjustments can affect key players and operations can bring about significant challenges. 




 
 Q. So many of us work from home these days. What sort of things do you do to “take a break” (i.e., not go stir-crazy!) during the workday? 
 


 A. To me the hardest part is to remain seated for long hours, so I tend to find a break in any form of motion. In fact, I have very recently adopted ‘read-walking.’ This is not a practice for the faint-hearted (or for those inhabiting environments with sharp-edged furniture). It demands great skill from the reader (resistance to motion-sickness), and from the walker (cerebral mapping of household hazards). Once mastered, I can assure you it warrants instant oxygenation of the limbs and mind. 



 
 Q. What is one fun fact about you those who know you may not be aware of?
 


 A. I am an outdoor person, and though I greatly appreciate the benefits of remote working I can fabricate the most far-fetched pretexts to leave the house after my workday: A time-limited offer at an extremely distant store (the expectation of savings instantly defeated); a trip to an exhibit by a hip new artist whose name I cannot pronounce at a picturesque (and possibly life-threatening) location; or a four-hour drive to a national park to sleep out in the wild for the night and dismantle the camping paraphernalia first thing the next morning! 



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 Q. Do you have any funny or entertaining stories or encounters during your time with Cross Country?
 


 A. It’s undeniable that the Zoom and Teams era has spurred a cascade of funny and entertaining stories (for all except those enduring them), involving everything and everyone within our households. These could not be shared without betraying the rightful privacy of their protagonists. 


I do find it amusing though, that it was by means of compellingly imposed physical distancing that an unexpected lens entered our homes to remind us that our colleagues, just like us, are also sons and daughters, parents, spouses, partners, friends and caregivers; and connected us, and our joys and hardships, like no other in-person meeting could have! 


 
 Q. If you had one piece of advice for someone looking to get into the legal profession, what would it be?
 


 A. The legal profession is bountiful in opportunities; you can choose to perform in a variety of positions and settings, and in each one of them, there is a highly collaborative function. 


Regardless of that choice, discover a pursuit that drives you, challenges you, captivates you; that gives you purpose and worth. 


<h2 style="text-align: center;">#IAmCrossCountry</h2>

Astrid Clausen #IAmCrossCountry