This story is based on an interview with Karen Melde, 71, of Atlanta, a pediatric nurse practitioner who travels the US to cover for other NPs. It has been edited for length and clarity.
In 2024, lounging on a deck just a few feet from a spectacular lake near Crossville, Tennessee, I read my book and felt relaxed and content.
The federally qualified health center where I worked was paying the rent for my two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo within 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 a three-and-a-half-hour drive away at our home in Atlanta, looking after our beloved dog.
He rarely visits me when I’m working as a locum tenens. Technically, it’s a Latin phrase meaning “to hold the place of.” I provide temporary cover for pediatric nurse practitioners who might be on maternity or sick leave, for example.
Courtesy of 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 putting down roots.
I’m my own boss and pretty much get to call the shots on which clinic, urgent care, or hospital I work at, the length of my commitment, 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 was full-time in Georgia.
Some people thought that I should have retired completely at 66
It was one of the main reasons I decided to soft-retire in 2021. I kept one foot in nursing, the other enjoying my extended time off.
I quit the day after the receptionists put no fewer than 27 patients on my morning schedule, with almost as many in the afternoon.
It wasn’t the type of healthcare I’d signed up for or trained for, so I gave 60 days’ notice.
Some people thought that I should have retired completely at 66. Still, that’s not in my nature. I’m always on the go.
Courtesy of Karen Melde
My first locum position was near my home in Georgia, followed by spells in Maine, Alaska, California, Virginia, and Tennessee, in no particular order.
I served the Native Alaskan populations in Utquagvik, AK, where I was desperate to see polar bears, and Native Americans across several tribal clinics in San Bernardino County near San Diego.
I specialize in ADHD diagnosis among kids
My accommodation was mostly in high-end Airbnbs, which would have cost a fortune to rent. But I paid nothing. One of my favorite places was a Victorian colonial house in rural Maine, next to the Canadian border.
If there was a serious case, the patient had to be helicoptered to Bangor, which was up to three hours away by car.
My specialties include ADHD diagnosis and prescribing medication, and asthma management. I also do well-child appointments and sports physicals.
Courtesy of Karen Melde
I didn’t soft-retire for the money, but I’m paid about 25% more per hour than I was before. My hourly rate, which I get through an agency, is around $100, compared to $70-$75 for my old, permanent work.
It helps fund my travels with Ken to scenic places, such as State Parks. I’d even say we enjoy each other’s company more because of my successive breaks away from our senior living community that usually last a few months.
I’m excited to meet new people
I enjoy my Nomadic lifestyle and flying across the US. I’m thrilled that my next assignments might be in Idaho, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts. I’m interviewing now.
I always get a big welcome when I arrive at a new facility. The staff is excited for the cover I provide, and I’m excited to meet new people.
It’s the ideal arrangement, and I intend to stay as a locum for as long as I possibly can.
