Rosemary Shepherd, RN, didn’t always know she wanted to be a nurse.
“I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do out of high school. I wanted to be a bartender. I thought that was going to be the most glamorous career—being around people and having a good time,” Rosemary explains.
But when she started down that career path at 21, the appeal didn’t last. “It really was fun for a while, but then it got old. I thought ‘I’m not so sure this is for me,’” she says.
After trying out computer programming, retail, and restaurant work, Rosemary eventually decided to pursue a nursing career.
While training to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA), she remembers being struck by the pride her teacher took in her profession. “The way she talked was so comforting,” she recalls. “She was like a Florence Nightingale.”
Rosemary became a CNA at 22 and returned to school, securing her RN license about 10 years later. She’s seen so many sides of the profession in the more than 40 years she’s been a nurse, from working at a prison hospital to being a home health nurse.
Once her son became an adult, she decided to take life in a new direction and become a travel nurse.
The connections Rosemary has made while travel nursing are among some of the most fulfilling aspects of her work. In fact, one such meaningful connection is with her TRS Healthcare recruiter, Tracy Porter
“She’s amazing,” says Rosemary. “When I first started doing travel nursing, I went with another agency, and the contract they tried to get me cancelled, and the recruiter never came back to me. Then, I came to TRS, and Tracy has been unbelievable.”
Rosemary says travel nursing has also opened doors to revisit things she hasn’t done in decades. For instance, she recently took a travel assignment as a medical surgical nurse—a specialty she hasn’t practiced full-time in more than 30 years, having mostly worked in the rehab unit recently.
“She was working rehab and was getting floated to med surg regularly,” explains Rosemary’s recruiter, Tracy Porter. “They ended up closing the rehab unit and transitioning her to med-surg. She was such an asset and strong RN that they kept her there, and she’s been working med-surg since!”
This assignment, located in North Carolina, where Rosemary is originally from, has been so impactful that she’s decided to eventually move back to her home state so she can begin transitioning into the next chapter of her life.
“I’m getting to the point where I’m moving toward retirement. But I might do supplemental work at this same hospital system,” says Rosemary, who plans to do PRN work in the area.
Whatever is next for Rosemary, she maintains that health and wellness are key.
“I don’t care what else you might like or dislike about the life you’re given, your health is something you can’t take for granted,” says Rosemary, whose perspective on health and wellness is not only professional, but highly personal after overcoming her own health challenges, which she believes also made her a better nurse.
“I enjoy sharing my story, and I enjoy taking time to listen to my patients. That’s the best medicine I have learned in my life as a nurse. It’s amazing the change in somebody when you just stand there and listen,” she says.
This passion for wellness has not only impacted her work as a nurse, but also her personal life when she’s not on the road. Whether it’s paddleboarding, pickleball, or attending workout classes through her church, Rosemary loves being active. She also enjoys spending time with her family and her two dogs.
Regardless of how much longer Rosemary continues to work as a travel nurse, she’s sure to have an impact on the lives of others.
“I am so honored to have been Rosemary’s recruiter for the last three years, and TRS has really been fortunate to have her on the team to spread her love and cheer wherever she goes!” says Tracy, who nominated Rosemary for TRS Healthcare’s 2025 Nurse of the Year. “She has committed her life to helping others in the hospital and out. She goes above and beyond in every aspect of life and truly lives life to the fullest.”
Looking for your next travel nursing assignment? TRS Healthcare can help you find jobs that fit your lifestyle and goals. Browse our current jobs or apply with us now!
