Returning to Perm In a Different Specialty After Travel

[PacoUSA]

After I spend some time as a travel nurse, I will definitely want to return to a permanent job and enter a new specialty. I'm currently 2+ yrs on med-surg-tele and am interested in working eventually in the ED. Do some people have any trouble transitioning from travel nursing to permanent in a different specialty from which they traveled in?

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[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Is this common? I don't think I have ever heard of this before, except in circumstances where the hospital helped fund someone's nursing school tuition. I would definitely not have a problem signing such a contract as I can see myself giving a hospital more than two years when I return. I would also like to get CEN certified, and 2 years min is recommended before sitting for the exam anyway.

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It is not uncommon for employers to have nurses, both experienced and new grads, sign 2 year contract before investing in sending them to a three month long Critical Care course.

You have to work somewhere for the next two years anyway, so it's not a huge commitment in order to gain solid skills and experience.

[HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

At one of my former hospitals we would have med/surg/tele travelers float to our ED when we had a lot of holds and high census. A couple loved the ED and wanted to stay and be trained. They had to sign a one year commitment for their training (new grads sign a 2 year). It was all about attitude and willingness to learn.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Paco,

you can do a few things to position yourself for a career in the ER.

Take ACLS, PALS and TNCC. Join ENA. Consider taking EMT classes, or volunteering at a firehall, you will learn a lot. Keep your resume up to date.

Tell your recruiter you prefer contracts in hospitals with a trauma center.

Get to know people, ER nurses and ER travel nurses and ask how did you get started.

If you are at a hospital that feels right, and has a bunch of ER openings, and just apply. If you already know their EMR that is one thing they don't have to train you on and a big plus in your favor.

I have read stories online about agencies wanting a finders fee but I have no first hand knowledge of it ever happening.

Travel nurses are a resilient bunch which is a good trait for an ER nurse. You are not limiting yourself by being a med surg travel nurse, quite the opposite.