As a nurse with only two years experience, I was facing a similar challenge in Canada's unionized, seniority-based, nursing system. Fred and I were tired, frustrated, and searching for a shot at a better life for our young family.

And one night, we found it-in a Procare USA ad in a Canadian nursing magazine that talked of the advantages and adventures of travel nursing in the United States. Intrigued, we called the Procare USA offices almost immediately. Three months later, we were on our way to the U.S.

Today, Fred and I, with our children, have been happily living in North Carolina for nearly three years. I work as a cardiac nurse in the stepdown unit for cardiac surgery at Duke University Medical Center-one of North America's most prestigious hospitals. Fred flies commercially for Atlantic Coast Airlines. We live in a great neighborhood, near excellent schools, and just a short distance from the medical center. Best of all, with our new flexible work schedules Fred and I are able to spend more time together with our children. What's more, thanks to our competitive salaries and generous benefits, we are well on our way to realizing our dream of owning a home some day.

As I look back, I marvel at our journey.

Although I didn't know it then, the first step of our journey really began right after I graduated from nursing school in Canada. Driven by the tough realities of the Canadian nursing market and eager to gain vital work experience, many of my friends had signed staff internship contracts with U.S. hospitals, which were suffering from a dramatic shortage of nurses. As a result, I was familiar with the idea of traveling to the U.S. for work. But, based on my friends' experience, I knew I wasn't willing to go the internship route. For many nurses, internships are a great way to gain experience. On the other hand, intern nurses generally enjoy less flexible work schedules, lower pay and less recognition than travel nurses. Also, once a nurse signs a contract, she is committed to that hospital for the length of the contract, whether she likes it or not.

Because I had acquired two years of cardiac nursing experience-one year in the Caribbean where my husband holds a dual citizenship and one year in Canada-- I was in a good position to become a travel nurse. Travel nurses must be able to walk into a new environment and after a brief orientation begin performing immediately.

And that's exactly what I did on my first assignment as a cardiac nurse at Rex Hospital, a lovely community facility in Raleigh, North Carolina. Because Procare USA had taken care of virtually every aspect of our new life in North Carolina-from finding just the right apartment to subsidizing our health benefits and utility costs--I was able to instantly focus on my patients.

For example, in the three months prior to our arrival in North Carolina, the Procare USA staff advised us on the immigration process and helped obtain the required nursing licenses and specialty certifications for my areas of expertise, orthopedics and cardiac care.

With Procare USA as my employer I was able to obtain a TN Visa and Social Security number, which allowed me to work in the U.S. right away. The fact that nursing is one of the professions favored by the NAFTA trade agreement between Canada and the U.S. helped me obtain my Work Visa so quickly. My husband and children were issued a TD Visa, which allowed them to live legally with me in the United States.

Upon arrival to North Carolina, with Procare as my sponsor, I also applied for a Green Card, with my family as dependents of this process. A Green Card enables my family and I to live permanently in the U.S. without giving up our own citizenship, ultimately it also allows my husband to work in the U.S. legally, giving us the benefit and security of a second income. Overall, Procare USA's knowledgeable and caring staff made our move from Canada to the U.S. painless and stress-free.

Procare USA also negotiated the best deal I could have gotten from Rex Hospital and later, Duke University Medical Center, in terms of position, pay, and most importantly for our growing family, flexible work hours.

I really feel that I enjoy a mutually satisfying relationship with Procare USA. I want Procare to be happy with my performance, and Procare wants me to be happy. And, after nearly three years with Procare USA, I can truly say I am.