20 Years of Care: Meet Melissa, a Travel Nurse Finding Adventure in Every Assignment

As we count down to FlexCare’s 20th anniversary this October, we’re celebrating the people, stories, and relationships that have made the past two decades so special.

This time, we’re hitting the road with Melissa—a longtime FlexCare travel nurse whose journey has taken her across the country, introduced her to lifelong friends, and included more than a few unforgettable adventures along the way!

Sometimes, the biggest adventures begin when life doesn’t go according to plan.

For Melissa, a FlexCare travel nurse, that moment came in 2019. After the end of a long-term relationship and a flood that caused her to lose most of her possessions—including her home—she found herself facing an unexpected question: What comes next?

A friend gave her a place to stay in his motorhome while she figured out her next move. And somewhere in the middle of starting over, Melissa realized she also had an opportunity.

“There was nothing holding me back,” she remembers. “Why not travel and see the country?”

So she did.

With two dogs and two ferrets along for the ride, Melissa set out on her first travel nursing assignment—and nearly seven years later, the adventure is still going.

Finding Adventure in the Unexpected

Melissa’s first assignment took her to Parker, Colorado, where she spent her time outside of work hiking in the mountains with her dogs and exploring everything the area had to offer.

She enjoyed the experience, but as a brand-new traveler, she quickly learned how important it was to have a recruiter she could count on. When she had questions, she sometimes struggled to reach her recruiter at her first agency.

That experience led her to start researching other travel healthcare companies—and eventually, she found FlexCare.

From the beginning, the difference Melissa noticed was the level of support.

“FlexCare takes the time to get to know you, why you travel and what you would be interested in for your next contract,” she says.

Even when her original FlexCare recruiter was promoted and Melissa transitioned to someone new, the experience remained consistent. That new recruiter was Lauren, who has now been by Melissa’s side for years.

More Than a Place to Work

Today, Melissa travels with her dogs in her camper van, building her life around new assignments, new places and plenty of time outdoors.

Ask her to choose a favorite assignment, and she’ll tell you it’s nearly impossible. Each has brought its own memorable experiences. But some of her favorite memories come from her time in Virginia, where she lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

There were incredible hikes, bears that appeared almost daily—including one that made its way onto her deck—and the unforgettable sound of katydids filling the mountains.

But what Melissa remembers most are the people.

During that assignment, she worked alongside an incredible team and met another traveler who became a lifelong friend and continues to join her on adventures today.

“For me, traveling is about the people you meet along the way,” Melissa says.

Travel has also given her a new perspective on the country—and on home. Moving from state to state has introduced her to different foods, customs, accents and ways people interact with one another. Along the way, she’s gained a greater appreciation for her home state of South Dakota while discovering experiences she never would have encountered had she stayed in one place.

“There are many challenges that go along with traveling, but the experiences and the people you meet along the way make it worth it,” she says. “I continue to learn and grow as a nurse and discover new things about myself and what I am capable of as a solo traveler.”

A Recruiter Who Knows Her Journey

For Melissa, having the right recruiter has been an important part of making that lifestyle possible.

“Lauren has been my recruiter for many years now and has been absolutely amazing,” Melissa says. “I never have to worry about anything.”

Whether it’s getting compliance requirements well in advance, checking in during an assignment or finding an answer when Melissa has a question, Lauren has become someone Melissa knows she can depend on.

Although the two have never met in person, Melissa says their relationship feels personal.

“I feel a connection with Lauren that comes from her caring nature and true commitment to her nurses,” she says. “I am grateful I have had the pleasure of having her as my recruiter.”

That relationship is also a big reason Melissa continues choosing FlexCare.

She once took a contract with another agency, where she had separate contacts for recruiting, compliance and payroll. The experience reinforced how much she valued FlexCare’s single-point-of-contact model.

“With FlexCare having one point of contact, you are able to develop a relationship with your recruiter,” Melissa says. “It is nice not to have to think about which ‘specialist’ you need to contact if there are any concerns.”

For Melissa, that relationship is worth more than chasing the highest-paying contract.

“The level of care I have received cannot be replaced and is worth everything to me as a travel nurse.”

The Adventure Continues

Nearly seven years after Melissa packed up and decided to see where travel nursing could take her, she’s still discovering new places—and new things about herself.

She knows travel healthcare comes with challenges. But she also knows what can be waiting on the other side: a mountain trail you’ve never hiked, a food you’ve never tried, a coworker who becomes a lifelong friend, or a place that changes the way you see home.

Her advice to clinicians considering the travel lifestyle is to look beyond the paycheck and embrace the experience that comes with it.

“For me, traveling is not only about making a living, but the experience that comes along with it.”

And when it comes to choosing a partner for that experience, Melissa values knowing what to expect.

“FlexCare is consistent,” she says. “I know the process from looking for my next contract, the signing process and compliance is all going to be done in a timely manner. I know my recruiter is actively looking for me even before I am looking.”

Twenty years of FlexCare have been built through thousands of journeys like Melissa’s—clinicians willing to venture somewhere new, recruiters committed to supporting them along the way, and relationships that extend far beyond a single assignment.

For Melissa, what started during an uncertain chapter in 2019 became something much bigger: nearly seven years of nursing, friendship, growth and adventure—with plenty more road still ahead.