Trying to get my foot in with Traveling

[malenurse122879, MSN, RN]

So far I've signed up with LiquidAgents, AMN, Advantage RN, and Cirrus. My specialty is NICU... I've submitted for two positions so far and haven't gotten a call for an interview... Just wondering what I can do to improve my chances of getting my first assignment? Do I have to take as assignment further away from home possibly for my first assignment just to get the previous travel experience? Any tips or pointers?

[flnursemichelle]

I would say just be patient. My first assignment was hard to get because the hospitals wanted "previous travel experience". I am not sure where you are traveling from/to but unfortunately there are certain places that are more travel friendly. Winter months in the southern states type of things. I know that freedom healthcare has openings for NICU, I got an email from them the other day about it. I have signed up for all the "email alerts" for most of the companies just to keep an eye on what is out there. The first assignment is always the most difficult but once you get that down, you are open to more places. Just be patient and good luck!

[llg, PhD, RN]

How much NICU experience do you have? Has it been all at one hospital? My hospital only wants travelers with a couple of years experience (not just 1 or 2) and it's better to have worked at more than one hospital. They are looking for people proficient in NICU who are also flexible in how they do things. They don't want someone who is just "competent" who only knows one way how to do things. Such a person is more likely to have trouble adapting to a new system quickly -- which is what travelers need to do.