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As a travel nurse, I am able to spend time in places I might never have visited, to care for a patient population that shares a close sense of community.

Chao

Nurse, Provincial Travel Nurse Team

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Chao’s Story

I was still pretty new to nursing when I learned about Manitoba’s Travel Nursing Team. As a graduate, I was looking for opportunities that offered flexibility; but I also wanted to try different work environments before deciding where I ultimately wanted to grow my career.

I started working at Health Sciences Centre (HSC), the largest hospital in Manitoba. The skills I built working at HSC and in my former roles as a health care aide and Undergraduate Nurse Employee prepped me to support care in various health facilities. Working at HSC, I met and cared for patients from across the province. Hearing them speak about the different towns and regions they call home was a big part of what motivated me to join the Travel Nursing Team.

I am able to choose my own schedule and the locations where I’m interested in working. I am paid mileage as well as for the time I spend travelling (as long as it is further than 50 km from my home address).

As a travel nurse, I am able to spend time in places I might never have visited, to care for a patient population that shares a close sense of community, and to be inspired to be grateful for what I have and what I am able to offer.

There are countless opportunities to work alongside incredible people from near and far that excite me. I feel like I have travelled around the world and am in awe of the knowledge I have gained through this program. Working rurally fosters a different approach to nursing.

I believe the moments of care, whether applying a small bandage or assisting in a fast-paced emergency department, are when we touch lives of patients in a meaningful way. These moments have shaped my growth as a travel nurse, and I’m regularly reminded of a Mahatma Ghandi quote, “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.

“There are so many options for nurses to expand their careers in Manitoba, put on your shoes and please don’t be afraid to try something new– you might surprise yourself!”

However, there may come a time when you question yourself if you can go on, and you look around and realize your colleagues have your back as always and you would do the same for them. The lessons and skills I have had the privilege of learning from the people I have met have definitely transferred to my work and personal lives—inspiring me to be humble, kind, to stay curious and compassionate.

As nurses, we can work almost anywhere we prefer in Manitoba. Consequently, I have been able to experience Manitoba’s Interlake, including beautiful prairie sunsets, quiet rivers and calm highway drives. I genuinely look forward to every shift.

There are so many options for nurses to expand their careers in Manitoba, put on your shoes and please don’t be afraid to try something new– you might surprise yourself! Welcome to the Provincial Nursing Float Pool and thank you!

– Chao-Yu Hu, Nurse, Provincial Travel Nurse Team