Jerico Alicante: Travel nursing gives a new perspective

"Something in traveling — it really makes me motivated"

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February 20, 2020
6 min read
Jerico Alicante stands looking at rocky Mountains with back to camera.
  • Jerico Alicante, an RN with Sanford Health Fargo, connects with his patients by talking about places they've traveled, such as to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo courtesy of Jerico Alicante)
    Jerico Alicante, an RN with Sanford Health Fargo, connects with his patients by talking about places they've traveled, such as to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo courtesy of Jerico Alicante)
  • Alicante has visited Seoul, South Korea. (Photo courtesy of Jerico Alicante)
    Alicante has visited Seoul, South Korea. (Photo courtesy of Jerico Alicante)
  • Alicante (center) and his aunts LeKDivina Gamiao (left) and Nilva Gamiao, who are also nurses, visited St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. (Photo courtesy of Jerico Alicante)
    Alicante (center) and his aunts LeKDivina Gamiao (left) and Nilva Gamiao, who are also nurses, visited St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. (Photo courtesy of Jerico Alicante)
  • Alicante marked his first day at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota, with a travel photo. (Photo courtesy of Jerico Alicante)
    Alicante marked his first day at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota, with a travel photo. (Photo courtesy of Jerico Alicante)
Jerico Alicante stands looking at rocky Mountains with back to camera.
Jerico Alicante, an RN with Sanford Health Fargo, connects with his patients through common travels such as Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo courtesy of Jerico Alicante)

Travel nursing fits perfectly for registered nurse Jerico “Echo” Alicante. Born in the Philippines, he’s had a lifetime case of wanderlust.

Alicante has a long family history in nursing. His uncle and two aunts have collectively been in United States for almost 30 years working as nurses. His passion for nursing also stems from traveling.

“Something in traveling — it really makes me motivated that when I go back to work I’m refreshed and energized and I have a new perspective in life,” he said.

Alicante worked in the Philippines as a nurse and is board certified in nephrology. He came to the United States in 2018 to begin the graduate nursing program at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and is working on a degree in nursing administration. He wants to have a strong background in all areas of nursing, including leadership and management.

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He has traveled abroad to share his work and learn from others, including presenting at international nursing research conferences in Hong Kong and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Now, Alicante travels regionally as a travel nurse with Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota. Sanford temporarily places its traveling RNs in locations when and where there’s the most need.

Connecting with patients

By talking about places they’ve traveled, Alicante connects better with his co-workers and patients. For example, one of his patients mentioned they had visited Calgary, when Alicante had just returned from his conference there. So he was able to make that connection with his patient, ultimately making their hospital experience better.

Alicante has special connections with many of his patients. When one of his patients was not able to respond anymore, her daughter flew from Florida to visit her one last time. After the patient passed, her daughter left a message for Alicante to say thank you.

“Even when your patients don’t respond anymore, the fact that their family members appreciate what you do, it makes a really good experience for me,” he said.

He said that experience just makes him love his job even more.

Advice for new nurses

In his short time as a nurse, Alicante already has plenty of leadership experience. Some of his advice for new or current nurses would be to get a mentor.

“If you don’t have the right mentor or the right motivation you will get exhausted. A lot of nurses are always burnt out from their work. They are trying to maintain a balance,” he said.

Another piece of advice he has for future and current nurses is to become more involved, whether by joining organizations or going to events. Using your voice and being a part of your community is something that should be a priority in nurses’ lives, he said.

Get to know Jerico Alicante

  • Education: Bachelor of science in nursing, Perpetual Help College of Manila. Studied nursing, advanced nursing administration, University of Santo Tomas. Studied educational psychology, University of the Philippines.
  • Certifications: Renal Nurses Association of the Philippines, registered nurse in North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.
  • Professional organizations: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, International Society for Quality in Healthcare, American Nurses Association, North Dakota Nurses Association, American Organization of Nurse Executives, and Philippine Nurses Association of America.
  • Volunteer work: Vice president of Practice, Education, Administration, and Research, North Dakota Nurses Association; board of directors member of Sigma Foundation for Nursing and Sigma Alpha Eta Chapter at the University of California, San Francisco; North Dakota Center for Nursing Leadership; North Dakota Governor’s Nursing Shortage Task Force; Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing local chapter board member and leadership succession committee member.

Sanford Health marketing intern Nadia Mitchell contributed to this story.

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Posted In Nursing and Nursing Support, Sanford Stories, Workplace Health

Alexa Olson
Alexa Olson was a marketing intern with Sanford Health. She graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor of science in strategic communication and held a writing internship during her time there. She joined the marketing team as an intern in September 2018.