This story is based on an interview with Karen Melde, 71, of Atlantaa pediatric nurse who travels across the US supporting other NPs. It has been edited for length and clarity.
In 2024, lounge on a terrace just a few meters from a spectacular lake nearby Crossville, TennI read my book and felt relaxed and satisfied.
The federally qualified health center where I worked paid the rent for my two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in a resort community with five golf courses and hiking trails.
I had the place to myself because my 73-year-old husband, Ken, a retired IT specialist, was three and a half hours away at our home in Atlanta caring for our beloved dog.
He rarely visits me when I work as a locum tenens. Technically, it’s a Latin phrase meaning “to take the place of.” I offer temporary cover for pediatric nurses who are on maternity or sick leave, for example.
Melde enjoys seeing the sights of America, including the hills and valleys of California. Thanks to Karen Melde
It’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my career because I love traveling around the country – I’ve worked in six states, including Alaska and California – without taking root.
I am my own boss and can pretty much decide which clinic, emergency room or hospital I work in, the length of my employment and my hours.
I cherish my patients and, as a travel NP, stay out of the office politics, which frustrated me so much when I worked full-time in Georgia.
Some people thought I should have retired at 66
It was one of the main reasons I decided to a soft retirement in 2021. I kept one foot in nursing, the other enjoyed my extended free time.
I quit the day after the receptionists put a whopping 27 patients on my morning schedule, with almost as many in the afternoon.
It wasn’t the type of healthcare I signed up for or trained for, so I gave 60 days notice.
Some people thought I should have retired at 66. Yet that is not in my nature. I’m always on the go.
Melde treated this child in Maine whose insect bite had become infected. Thanks to Karen Melde
My first observer position was near my home in Georgia, followed by stints in Maine, Alaska, California, Virginia, and Tennessee, in no particular order.
I served the native people of Alaska in Utquagvik, AK, where I was desperately searching for polar bears, and Native Americans at several tribal clinics in San Bernardino County, near San Diego.
I specialize in ADHD diagnosis in children
My accommodation was mainly in luxury Airbnbs, which would have cost a fortune to rent. But I didn’t pay anything. One of my favorite places was a Victorian colonial house in rural Maine next to the Canadian border.
If it was a serious case, the patient had to be airlifted to Bangor, which was a maximum of three hours away by car.
My specialties include: ADHD diagnosis and medication prescribing and asthma management. I also do children’s appointments and sports physiotherapy.
Melde lives in a senior community in Georgia. Thanks to Karen Melde
I didn’t retire for the money, but I get paid about 25% more per hour than before. My hourly rate, which I get through an agency, is around $100, compared to $70-$75 for my old, regular job.
It helps fund my trips with Ken to scenic places, like state parks. I’d even say we enjoy each other’s company more because of my consecutive breaks away from our senior living community, which usually last a few months.
I’m excited to meet new people
I enjoy my nomadic lifestyle and fly around the US. I’m very excited that my next assignment may be in Idaho, Rhode Island or Massachusetts. I’m interviewing now.
I always receive a warm welcome when I arrive at a new branch. The staff is enthusiastic about the coverage I provide, and I enjoy meeting new people.
It is the ideal arrangement, and I intend to remain as an observer for as long as possible.
