Wherever their assignments take them, RNs Linda and Leonard McCormick are side by side. (Photo courtesy of Linda and Leonard McCormick)

Linda and Leonard McCormick aren't your average couple. For the past three years, the RNs have been a travel nursing team in every sense of the word—they're assigned to the same facility, same department, same shift. They say they love every minute of it and plan to continue this way until they retire. "Linda is my best friend," Leonard says. "We work really well together. It's almost like we can read each other's mind, which makes nursing so much easier and better for the patient."

A change of pace

The plan was to start traveling as soon as their four children—Mike, Kevin, Brad, and Kristina—were out of the house. That plan came together in 2006, and the McCormicks have completed nine assignments through Clinical One, a medical travel company based in Wakefield, Massachusetts.

Spending more time together

One big reason they choose to work as a team is because they want to be together when they aren't working, too. "The flexibility is just wonderful. We get to do whatever we want when we're not working, without worrying about coordinating schedules," Linda explains. They love being outdoors, and time off for the McCormicks means hiking and camping, riding their bikes, and visiting tourist destinations like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

"We also always take one to four weeks between assignments to go do whatever we want, even when we occasionally extend a contract," Linda continues. "Sometimes we visit the kids and grandkids; sometimes we go home to Texas for a little while."As part-time RVers, they have the added benefit of being able to pick up and go whenever they like. "Most of the time we camp in the motor home, but there are times like right now when RV parks are scarce," she says. "We're in an extended-stay motel right now, and it's a nice little break."

Multitasking

Their first assignment was with Kaiser Hospital in San Diego. While there, they were trained on Kaiser's brand-new computer system. They learned it so well that they've been able to travel to other Kaiser facilities around California and help staff members learn the technology. They combine the computer training with their regular nursing duties in the recovery room. "We don't always go with Kaiser," Leonard says. Every hospital is different, "but it's nice to know we have a system we're comfortable with."

The best part

Linda recommends traveling to any health professional. "It's wonderful. You make so many friends and get to see beautiful places," she notes. "But the best part is you get to be a nurse. Just a nurse. You don't have to deal with the staff politics. I love that I can put my full attention on my patients."

Team McCormick plans to stay in California for a while. Their next assignment is with Kaiser in Santa Clara. But they have definite plans to take contracts in New Zealand, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, and Washington. Linda has already scoped out the Kaiser possibilities in all these places.

Retirement is a ways off, but the McCormicks plan to keep traveling full time for another six years or so. Then, perhaps, they'll slow down and take seasonal contracts. "There's no other job in the world with such amazing flexibility," Linda says. "We love it!" Linda and Leonard are together on that belief, as well.