Cover Photo credit: Getty Images/Inti St. Clair/Photodisc

Now imagine not only being able to provide your own children with similar, wonderful memories of family outings, but also on extended versions of 13 weeks or longer. The mobile lifestyle enables healthcare professionals to take their families on the road to new assignments. As a traveling nurse, therapist, or technologist, you—and your loved ones—are free to explore various cultures and communities.

Traveling with others requires forethought and planning to make the transition as easy as possible on everyone. In the following pages, two mobile practitioners explain how taking their families along on assignments creates lasting memories, and a staffing company representative offers helpful tips for traveling with children.

Alisa Kline, OTR, tried splitting her time between her professional duties as a traveling occupational therapist (OT) and her personal life as a wife and mother. But after a few weeks on her first assignment, Alisa put an end to the separation. "At the very beginning, we decided that my husband, Shawn, would stay home with our then 1-year-old daughter, Jozie," she explains. "But I really missed them, so I found a two-bedroom apartment that was large enough for all of us." The family of three has stayed together ever since.

Alisa practiced as a certified occupational therapy assistant for 3 years before earning her bachelor's degree in 2006. At that point, she looked for a local staff position without much luck. Instead, the therapist chose a mobile career. "I liked the idea of seeing different parts of the country," she explains. "Also, we are not yet sure about where we would like to settle down."

In her 2 years of traveling, Alisa has accepted three OT assignments, all through CoreMedical Group, a staffing agency located in Salem, New Hampshire. At the moment, she has extended her existing contract at Crestview Center, a nursing home in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Like most parents, Alisa must balance her professional and personal responsibilities. "Time management is an ongoing priority for me," she stresses. "Preparing my family to move to a new location involves more effort than if it were just me. Once on assignment, though, I've found my supervisors are quite accommodating. For example, if my daughter has an appointment, I usually can arrange my schedule around it."

Changing cities every 6 months or so also means changing Jozie's pediatrician. Alisa calls on local friends and family members for referrals or asks her colleagues. Also, she always packs a complete history of Jozie's medical records. "I take on that responsibility so I am assured she will receive well-rounded care anywhere."

The Klines have chosen Alisa's travel assignment opportunities within the same geographic region. "After leaving the state for my first contract, I chose the next one because it was closer to my husband's family here in Pennsylvania," notes Alisa. "Since then, however, my daughter has been diagnosed with a speech delay. Now, I base my choices around her care. I want to keep her in the same school district whenever possible so she can continue with her early intervention program."