Employee Stories

Travel Nurse Stories: Being Accepted as a New Traveler

January 3, 2005
|
2 min read

Meet Nikkole Kantola, RN

I have been a travel nurse for six months.  I have always wanted to travel but didn’t have the right opportunity until recently.  I began traveling to challenge myself.  I felt as though I needed something different in my professional life.  I wanted to see how differently, good or bad, other hospitals functioned.  I wanted to validate all of my competencies and knowledge.

As a traveler, sometimes you are left feeling like an outsider.  On my first assignment in Virginia, I didn’t know what type of reception I would receive.  To my pleasant surprise, not only was I accepted as a fellow staff member but I was also made to feel as though I was a friend.  I was only there thirteen weeks and multiple people had warned me of never being able to make friends in such a short time period.  On the last day of my assignment, the staff surprised me with a going-away party.  They made homemade treats, signed a card with their appreciation, and even gave me gifts, including a pair of handmade earrings.  I cannot explain to you how much that touched my heart.  I left the assignment excited to meet my next group of friends.

TotalMed Connected Me with Lifelong Friends

I have two favorite parts of traveling with TotalMed.  First of all, the staff, especially my recruiter Donna, has been so helpful and considerate.  I absolutely love to receive gifts out of the blue from the company such as the nice bag that I received this past week.  I cannot express how much it means to me when Donna calls me just to “check on me.”  Secondly, I love the experiences of travel nursing.  I have gained much more knowledge and confidence in myself as a nurse.  I have made friendships that will last a lifetime.  I enjoy going to work each day!

Read Similar Traveler Stories:

LinkedIn
Facebook
X
Email

Related Articles

start travel healthcare
Career Tips
October 5, 2026
10 min read

Travel Healthcare After Years at the Bedside: Is It Too Late to Start?

Travel healthcare is often associated with professionals who start traveling relatively early in their careers. Get the necessary experience, take the first assignment, and

Read more
healthcare career goals
Career Tips
October 1, 2026
10 min read

Your Healthcare Career Changed. Should Your Goals Change Too?

Think about the career you imagined when you first entered healthcare. Maybe you had a specific specialty in mind. You planned to work at

Read more
Before You Say Yes: How to Know if a Travel Healthcare Assignment Is the Right Fit
Travel Nursing & Allied
September 28, 2026
5 min read

Before You Say Yes: How to Know if a Travel Healthcare Assignment Is the Right Fit

Accepting a travel healthcare assignment is exciting. A new location. A new team. A new opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. But before

Read more

Ready for Your Next Job?

Browse open roles across travel, per diem and permanent placement — or talk with a recruiter about where you want to go next.

This website uses cookies

We use cookies and similar tools to keep the site working, understand how it is used, and measure and improve our marketing. Some of these tools are provided by analytics and advertising partners. Privacy Policy Do not sell my information