October 2005: Deshone Harris-Schumpert, RN

I was born in Blytheville, Arkansas, where I spent my childhood and young adulthood. After working in Blytheville for a while, I moved to Memphis, Tennessee in my mid-twenties where I finished raising my son and completed a Bachelors Program in Nursing at the University of Memphis.

I worked at The Med in Labor and Delivery. I also worked at The University of Tennessee (Bowld Hospital) in the Operating Room doing transplants. These were very long hours. I also did management in the OR as well as Patient Care Coordinator (house supervisor). I was very happy at the University of Tennessee, but rumors of hospital closing started, so I thought, “What can I do next?”

My child was grown, and I had no one but myself to take care of. I always wanted to do travel nursing so this was the time! So I jumped in my ride and hit the road. I started traveling in 1999 and have been traveling ever since.

There are so many things to love about my traveling lifestyle. I enjoy meeting new and exciting people all the time, and I love that I have been accepted every place I’ve traveled! I especially love the Bay area of California — a most wonderful place to be.

I have been with TNAA since 1999. I ventured out to another company for six months (the grass is always greener on the other side but the treatment was not like at Travel Nurse Across America). At TNAA the courtesy is outstanding. Donna, my Recruiter, always keeps me posted with new and better jobs. Melissa, my Payroll contact, always keeps my money, and JoAnn (the hound dog) keeps my records updated. Ashley knows all my needs in Housing. In other words, thanks to all of you for your outstanding professionalism! And thank you all so much for choosing me as Traveler of the Month. I have twenty-five years of experience (that’s a long time) and I have enjoyed it.

I have had the best time of my life. I have snow skied, eaten sushi, and now I am about to run a marathon (pray for me) — what next I don’t know…there’s a whole world out there!

Traveler Tip: Once you take an assignment with TNAA, make sure you don’t buy too much while on contract. It’s difficult to get these things back home. I learned that lesson early as a contract nurse!