This Traveling CST is Taking Adventures Head On

Emmanuel wants to experience as much as possible while working in the Pacific Northwest. Cheers to that!

Hi, my name is Emmanuel W. I'm on a traveling CST assignment in Washington State. I'm originally from Louisville Kentucky. Detroit, Michigan is where I learned my clinical skills in 2019, and the University of Louisville Hospital is where I gained my initial clinical experience. I'm now on my second assignment with American Traveler.

I started traveling not only for the financial benefits but also because I’ve started to understand how large the world is -- and just how much there is out there to experience. Some of my favorite travel moments so far have been breathtaking hikes in Washington -- around Tacoma, Seattle, and Olympia. On the professional front, I especially enjoy the first orientation week of an assignment, exploring the facility and meeting all the new people I am going to be working beside.

I wanted to live out West for my next assignment. Nevada and Washington usually had the best offers. I’ve been to Nevada twice and loved it, but I didn't know much about working in Washington so I figured I’d give it a try. For me Airbnb's have been the cleanest, safest, and most cost-effective housing option. Hotels are also good, as long as the price is right.

The Washington town where I'm currently living is a tidy suburban area, with convenient shopping. Plus I'm only a five-minute drive from a mountain hike, or a drive through the beautiful Pacific Northwest scenery. For my next assignment, I would like to go back to the Midwest or the South -- so I could be a little closer to my family around the holidays.

My recruiter has been EXCELLENT since the beginning. Communication is key with me, and she constantly keeps me in the loop with new offers, expiring documents, and anything pertaining to my assignment. Basically, she is amazing!

My favorite photo equipment (my Nikon D5100). I love photography! I feel like the iPads and iPhones take amazing pictures, but sometimes can’t pick up the detail of a professional camera. I love taking my camera on nature hikes or just finding a nice landscape while driving.

I’ve always been amazed by the human body and how healthcare affects it. Surgery is a way of giving back and helping those who are in need. I’m not expected to know where everything is as a travel tech, but I am expected to know how to scrub almost any case that comes across our schedule. As a traveler, the staff has been patient and open to teaching me how they do things in their facility. It , but once you get a routine going, it pretty much feels like you’re a part of the staff.

While I'm in Washington, I want to see whales, mountains, and waterfalls -- and take a ferry ride. In general, I just want to hike trails, take amazing pictures, and experience things that I will never see back home.

Be open to trying new things, especially if you are traveling to a new state or city. We only go through this life one time, so let's make the best of our experiences while we're here and able. Have fun and be safe!