Starting your travel healthcare journey can feel exciting—and overwhelming. This session walks you through everything that comes next, from the moment you decide to travel to successfully completing your first (or next) assignment. Topics include packing and preparation, travel logistics, budgeting and paying for assignments, maximizing rewards and perks, self-care on the road, and knowing when—and how—to take time off while navigating common travel challenges.

Presented by Traci, BS, RRT, this session is grounded in more than four decades of respiratory therapy experience, including 25 years in Philadelphia’s ICU, ED, NICU, and 17 years of experience as a traveler, completing 45 assignments across 16 states and earning 18 state licenses, along with multiple agency recognitions and awards. Traci brings a global perspective, shaped by visiting 28 countries and all 50 U.S. states, to this presentation to empower new and aspiring travelers with practical tools, realistic expectations, and the confidence to embrace the challenges—and rewards—of life on the road while building experiences that check off both professional and personal bucket lists.