For over 20 years, nursing has remained the most trusted profession in the Gallup poll. This trust is both an honor and a responsibility. It matters in relationships with patients, members of the interdisciplinary team, and the public. Earning trust begins with the knowledge, skills, and actions needed to provide dependable care. Trust also depends on honesty and reliability. Communicating openly and keeping commitments show that words and actions match. Trust grows through consistent actions, not just good intentions. Empathy is another important part of trust. Listening and looking beyond our own interests help others feel safe and supported. Reflecting on trust reinforces the importance of being capable, honest, dependable, and compassionate in our relationships.
These thoughts on trust set the stage for a conversation that now feels important to share. The hope is that this story will be received in the spirit intended and help someone else feel less alone. My experiences as a travel nurse have weighed heavily on my heart for years. Only now does sharing the story behind those experiences feel possible, though it still does not feel entirely safe.
I don’t think I have ever shared this, but my journey into travel nursing began out of necessity during the difficult COVID years. During that time, some of us in the medical field wondered whether patients with unexplained respiratory illnesses might have had COVID before it was officially identified in the United States. We had seen patients with serious respiratory symptoms who tested negative for influenza and strep. The cause was unclear. As news of the pandemic unfolded, hours were spent following reports about the need for ventilators, mask requirements, and temporary morgues. It was overwhelming. Some aspects of the response seemed difficult to reconcile with my training in microbiology, public health, pandemic response, and personal protective equipment (PPE) -most of these still don’t make sense. Those concerns left my mind racing as the situation continued to change. There was so much uncertainty. I felt the need to rely on my faith as well as my knowledge and understanding, so my husband and I made the decision not to receive the COVID vaccine. Neither of us understood then how much that decision would affect our lives.
During that time, my work involved a leadership role with an insurance company. When the vaccine was introduced, the company required all employees to receive a COVID vaccine, whether they worked remotely or provided direct care, and did not approve exemptions. Sharing this is not meant to criticize the company, but to explain the circumstances behind my decision. Those days were deeply difficult. The written notice gave us 30 days to comply with the mandate. My husband and I cried together as we struggled with what to do. We felt strongly about our decision not to receive the vaccine, but my job was our primary source of income, and we feared losing it. We spent that time praying for guidance.
Relationships with some friends and family members became strained. We felt excluded to varying degrees and kept our decision mostly private out of fear of how others would react. Being a nurse added another layer of pain: comments that someone in my profession should “know better” left me feeling judged and shamed. This felt especially confusing because my decision was guided by my knowledge and understanding of what my nursing training and education had taught me.
At the time, my understanding was that two states would allow exemptions and provide a way to continue working. My husband bought me a travel trailer, and the search for travel nursing positions began. Those who have followed my journey may remember that my first assignment was in Nevada!
Despite my fears of still being judged for my perspectives, I am choosing to be vulnerable. I will spend the next phase of this blog attempting to unravel some deep thoughts regarding trust and patient care. I will explore my experiences in healthcare during COVID, including details that once felt too sensitive and uncomfortable to share. Revisiting them now feels like a responsibility—a chance to help others understand those experiences and consider what we can learn from them. In his 1905 book The Life of Reason, George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” By sharing this story, the hope is to encourage reflection and help prevent similar experiences in the future.
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