1 year of experience...is travel nursing for me??

bagladyrn, RN · Sep 26, 2006

Depending on your department and level of comfort with your position, a year of experience is about the minimum for traveling ( I'd advise longer, but some seem comfortable). I would suggest that for your first few assignments you look for hospitals/units of the same or a lower level of acuity than your current job. It's enough to get used to the role of the traveler without having to adjust to a more critical patient load at first.

I notice you are from California. Just be aware that the money may not seem that great to you compared to CA (though the expenses are less in many areas) and you may find the patient loads higher as you will not have the protection of CA's laws regarding patient ratios.

jessyjaneRN · Sep 26, 2006

hi

i fist travel in 2003 with my hosband. loved it. anyway i recently convive a cowoker to do traveling after just being a year as a RN. she hesitated then took the plung. she went from sc to california, never being there before. she adjusted by having family come vist her. or she makes her schedule that during a six month she flew up for several days at atime. housing/ benefits/car rental good thing. no politics. just like being floated to a unit. some stAFF ARE GREAT. I TEND TO FIND TRAVELING IN NYC TEND TO DUMP ON TEHIR TRAVELERS, NOT WHILE I WAS IN FL AND CALI

wahoofan · Oct 1, 2006

When I first starting traveling in 1997, companies required experience. My first company required a minimum of 5 yrs in the specialty in which you wanted to be assigned. As time has gone by and more companies have come on the scene, they look at numbers...get as many nurses out there working for them as possible. Orientation for most travel assignments is 3 days...tops. Some only 1 or 2. You will constantly be asking the staff where supplies are...what a policy is concerning a procedure...who to call for xyz.....they usually don't like that. Compound it with nursing questions and you have had it! Many think we make so much more money than they and they resent it. They do not take kindly to nurses who come onto their units and constantly need help with catheters, IV's, various pieces of equipment, etc. So........for your peace of mind and the patient's safety, I suggest you become proficient at IV starting in an emergency, catheterizing men with huge prostates, inserting NG tubes into the noses of those who vehemently do not want them, soothing the feathers of family members who just cannot understand why Grandpa's repaired hip will not enable him to walk , (tho he hasn't for 10 years, )and last, but not least, figure a weight- based heparin drip with 6 other patients calling your name. One year is not even close to enough.........5 is a good, round number. If I sound a bit cynical, it is because I work every day with 1,2,3,4 and5 yr nurses. I spend half my time helping them. Then, end of shift comes, they are out the door and I am catching up on my work that was neglected. Hang in, pay your dues, become proficient.......then hit the road. Good luck.

KeeKee24 · Dec 5, 2006

Kim,

I started traveling with only 1 year experience and have had no trouble at all. I'm an ER nurse and also worked as a tech in the ER prior to becoming a nurse. Actually, I feel my job as a traveler is easier then it was at home as a staff nurse. Go for it, nursing is nursing no matter where you go. Good Luck! KeeKee24