20 Years of Care: Meet RaeAnn, the Travel Nurse Who Found Growth Beyond Her Comfort Zone
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- •September 17, 2026
For RaeAnn, travel nursing began as a way to spend more time with her family. What she found along the way was an opportunity to grow—not only as a clinician, but also as a person.
Since taking her first travel assignment during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, RaeAnn has embraced new hospitals, new communities and experiences she never imagined pursuing. Throughout her journey, FlexCare and her recruiter, Ally, have remained firmly in her corner.
Taking the Leap Into Travel Nursing
RaeAnn began traveling in the fall of 2021, starting with an assignment in a COVID ICU in Texas.
At the time, she was working several jobs and taking on significant overtime to make ends meet as a staff nurse. Travel nursing offered her a way to continue doing the work she loved while creating more time for the people who mattered most.
“I began traveling to spend more time with my family,” RaeAnn shared.
As a first-time traveler entering the field during an especially challenging period in healthcare, finding the right agency was important. RaeAnn researched several travel nursing companies before discovering FlexCare—and one key difference immediately stood out.
“I initially gravitated toward FlexCare because of the one point of contact for all my traveling needs,” she explained. “I didn’t want to have a question and have to go through four or five people to get the answer. I knew I could contact my recruiter, and they would help me with whatever I needed.”
Discovering Growth Outside Her Comfort Zone
While RaeAnn may not point to one particular assignment or patient story as the defining moment of her journey, the full experience of traveling has had a lasting impact.
“Travel nursing has made me a better clinician and a more well-rounded person,” she said.
Before traveling, RaeAnn described herself as someone who always had “Plan A with backup plans B through Z.” Routine and comfort were familiar—but travel nursing challenged her to become more adaptable, easygoing and open to wherever the next adventure might lead.
That willingness to embrace new experiences has extended far beyond the hospital. While exploring different parts of the country, RaeAnn discovered a love for CrossFit and hiking in the mountains—two activities she never imagined trying before she began traveling.
She also crossed an important goal off her bucket list by completing the Air Force Half Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, while on assignment.
“Every day is a new adventure, and no two days are the same.”
Having a Recruiter Who Wouldn’t Take “No” for an Answer
A trusted recruiter can make all the difference in a clinician’s travel experience, and RaeAnn found that advocate in Ally.
“Ally is the absolute best,” RaeAnn said. “I have worked with several other recruiters throughout my time as a traveler, and hands down, Ally tops them all. She is energetic and passionate about taking care of her travelers, and it is evident that she truly loves her job.”
That dedication became especially clear when RaeAnn wanted to return to a healthcare system where she had previously ended a contract early because of a lengthy family emergency hospitalization. Although she was initially told she could not return, Ally took the time to understand what had happened and immediately advocated on her behalf.
“She didn’t take no for an answer,” RaeAnn recalled.
Within a day, RaeAnn was granted a phone interview with the hospital. She was ultimately welcomed back and has now been working there for nearly nine months.
“Had she not pushed to get me the interview, I would have had to find another contract,” RaeAnn said. “I am so appreciative of her.”
Why RaeAnn Continues to Choose FlexCare
For RaeAnn, the people behind FlexCare are what continue to set the experience apart.
“The leap from staff nursing to travel nursing can be scary for a first-time traveler, but the FlexCare team helps make that transition seamless,” she shared. “From credentialing and licensing to contracts and everything in between, FlexCare takes the stress out of the nitty-gritty and allows nurses to do what they do best: be great nurses.”
After years of assignments, new destinations and unexpected adventures, that dependable support has kept RaeAnn coming back.
“I couldn’t ask for a better travel company to work for.”
RaeAnn’s Advice for Future Travelers
For clinicians considering travel healthcare, RaeAnn encourages them to remain flexible, approach every assignment with humility and look for opportunities to make a positive impact.
“Be easy to work with—not only with your recruiter, but also during your contract at the hospital,” she advised. “You were hired to fill a need within the hospital.”
She also encourages travelers to learn something wherever they go, regardless of the facility’s size.
“Some of the best education I have received has been in some of the smallest hospital systems,” RaeAnn said.
Above all, she believes every traveler should strive to leave an assignment better than they found it.
“You have a lot of experience, whether it’s from a staff position or other travel assignments. Be willing to humbly impart some of that wisdom.”
RaeAnn’s journey is a reminder that stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to more than a new assignment. It can create space for personal growth, unexpected passions and meaningful relationships with people who will advocate for you every step of the way.
As FlexCare celebrates 20 years of care, we’re proud to recognize clinicians like RaeAnn—and recruiters like Ally—who show what it means to move healthcare forward together.