Considering a travel assignment? Kristin Raymond, CCTC Travel Ambassador, shares answers to questions about her past experiences and what she loved about her favorite assignments.

<h3>What is your name?</h3>

<div>Kristen Raymond, RN BSN</div>

<h3>What made you decide to take your first travel assignment?</h3>

<div>
  I have always loved traveling. It makes you self reliant and introduces you to
  different cultures, people, and new perspectives. After having lived, studied
  and worked in New England and Boston for three years, I chose to move to San
  Diego, California for a travel nursing position with my dear friend Tristen
  Curtin (also a travel nurse) so I could pursue my dream of living in
  California for a portion of my life.&nbsp;
</div>

<h3>What made you decide to travel with Cross Country?</h3>

<div>
  My recruiter, Melissa McLaughlin was recommended to Tristen and myself by a
  friend. I would later take on a role to help promote the travel nursing
  experience through social media within the company...and that was so fun!
</div>

<h3>What were the best parts of your time traveling?</h3>

<div>
  Some of the best times I have had traveling have been really connecting with
  patients while at work. I have had several families come back to personally
  thank me for the work I did at the bedside and that&rsquo;s always the best
  reward when it comes to being a nurse.
</div>


<div>
  As far as travel goes... I went to Yosemite National Park three times in the
  past year, explored Lake Tahoe and the Grand Canyon when my family came to
  visit, and I watched the sun rise over massive sand dunes in Death Valley
  National Park. I&rsquo;ve stood above pleated mountains in Hawaii (between
  contracts of course), I camped with good friends and strolled through the
  forests of the Giant Sequoia trees in Sequoia National Park. I drove the
  California coast line along the California 1 with Tristen. I&rsquo;ve stood
  beneath waterfalls, hiked to tremendous heights with awe-inspiring views, and
  made great friends out here while chatting over taco Tuesdays and trivia. I
  took full advantage of what California had to offer and I wouldn&rsquo;t trade
  those experiences for the world.&nbsp;
</div>

<h3>If you had one piece of advice for a new traveler what would it be?</h3>

<div>
  Do it. Embrace it. You&rsquo;ll learn more about yourself than you ever
  thought possible and if there&rsquo;s a place you really want to go, go now.
  Keep all your health related documents organized. And my only question would
  be why didn&rsquo;t you sign up for this sooner?&nbsp;
</div>

<h3>What facilities / locations have you traveled to?</h3>

<div>
  UCSD Hillcrest. I kept renewing my contract until just under a year mark.
  I&rsquo;m a first time traveler to San Diego and I love it so I didn&rsquo;t
  want to leave.&nbsp;
</div>

<h3>What has been one of your favorite experiences as a travel nurse?</h3>

<div>
  The drive across the country with Tristen was an experience I will never
  forget. I can&rsquo;t pinpoint one thing that was a favorite experience above
  others but I think I had this clarity moment when I was standing on a sand
  dune at sunrise in Death Valley. I had this &ldquo;ah-ha&rdquo; moment when
  all the work I put into moving my life across the country and taking the risk
  on a travel position became so very much worth the effort.
</div>


<div>
  I tried to seek those experiences out here that consistently gave me those
  moments of clarity and became enthralled in finding places and learning new
  sports that inspired me and were numinous in nature. The adjective numinous
  was one I tried to chase down...it is a word used to &ldquo;describe and
  experience that makes you fearful yet fascinated, awed yet attracted-the
  powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired.&rdquo; My entire
  travel nursing experience could be described by that one single word.&nbsp;
</div>

<h3>What has been one of your least favorite experiences as a travel nurse?</h3>

<div>Being apart from my family and the stress of paperwork.&nbsp;</div>

<h3>What have been some of your favorite travel nurse assignment locations?</h3>

<div>San Diego, California.&nbsp;</div>

<h3>
  Do you have pets/kids/spouse/friends and do you bring them with you when you
  travel on assignment?
</h3>

<div>
  Tristen Curtin and I came out together as a travel nurse duo so to speak.
  It&rsquo;s been such a joy to have her friendship and support during this
  experience. I&rsquo;m not married, nor do I have children yet. I wish we could
  have had a pet, but if I had a dog they would have to keep up with a very
  busy, action packed schedule!&nbsp;
</div>

<h3>
  Have you traveled with other Cross Country travelers and what was the impact
  that had on your overall experience?
</h3>

<div>
  Yes, I have. My two good friends Danielle and Amanda were just on assignment
  here in San Diego. I believe Danielle is now taking another assignment in New
  York but those two lucky girls took 3 weeks off between contracts and ran
  around New Zealand and Australia! I was so jealous of their escapades.&nbsp;
</div>



<div>
  Looking for a
  <a href="/sites/ccn/travel-nursing-jobs">life-changing assignment</a> like
  Kristin found? Let us know and we&#39;ll even cover the cost of getting your
  California License.&nbsp;
</div>




Get to Know CCB Travel Nurse, Kristin Raymond