Young Med\Surg nurse looking to travel

Specialties Travel

Published

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this site and this is my FIRST post! Yayyyy!!!. Ok, here we go.

I've been a Med\Surg (regretfully no telemetry experience) RN for 19 months now. Recently, I've decided to definitely pursue travel nursing starting in February 2014. I'll be one month shy of 2 years RN experience. I'm a young AA female (29 in November), no kids, and free as a bird. But the biggest concern I have is whether or not I have enough experience. On my unit we get all types of patients; such as alcohol withdrawal, ARF\CRF, change in MS, Sepsis, CHF, COPD, DKA, TPN, Hep drips, Continuous peritoneal dialysis, infected wounds, trachs, LOTS of surgical pts, PCA pumps etc.. The average nurse to patient ratio is 1:5-6. NEVER more than that! But I still think to myself "Have I seen enough?" "Have I done enough"? So, the two states I am focused on are Texas and California. Texas first because I have been IN LOVE with the idea of living in California so I'm looking forward to that.

I would love to hear from new and experienced travel RNs, especially my fellow med\surg nurses, on but not limited to the following:

1. How much experience did you have prior to traveling and was it enough?

2. What are some important things to include in my contract?

3. What are some of the best and worst hospitals you've been to in Cali and Tx?

4. What kind of orientation did you have?

5. Overall, were the patients the same as you experienced as a staff nurse in your home state?

6. Do you get pulled a lot? Are you cancelled often?

7. If you need help are the staff helpful?

8. Do you find it hard to get work because you are med\surg with NO tele experience???

9. PLEASE give me whatever advice you have!! I am very appreciative of ALL info given.

Also, if there are any other nurses aged 25-39 that will be traveling to Dallas, Tx in February 2014 and would like a travel buddy let me know.

Thank you guys in advance for your help. Once I start traveling I will start a thread documenting my experience because I would love to help someone else. I look forward to your comments.

Specializes in Med\Surg.
Hey!

I am looking to travel to Austin, TX (if the right opportunity comes along)! I have been a nurse a little less than 3years on a med-surg/psych unit. And I get similar patients as the other nurse... Have you been looking for housing? I have a dog I am trying to take with me but I'm scared it's going To be hard to find housing.

Sarah

Hello. I've decided to allow the agency to provide me with housing for my first assignment to prevent as much stress as possible. I have no pets. I hope the right opportunity will come along for you:-)

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Specializes in Med\Surg.
Hey Alwaysthinking...just following up since I had my first two weeks at my first assignment. I had one day of computer class followed by two 12 hour orientation shifts on the unit. Then I was on my own. My first night on my own, I was floated to the NICU. The next two nights I was on my unit and I felt pretty comfortable with my assignment. I had a post-op from that day which they don't commonly do for travelers, but it was fine. Everyone was very welcoming, friendly and helpful. So this hospital embraces travelers. I don't really anticipate being cancelled as it seems the ICUs are always busy. But I won't be surprised if I am floated occasionally. It's funny because while I feel comfortable clinically, I feel a little behind as far as the silly stuff like supplies and different vents. Sometimes I'm rummaging through the med cart for a few extra minutes because almost everything they use is different than what I'm used to...different methods for blood draws, different filters for pump tubing, different monitors, etc. Nothing mind-boggling but is just taking me a couple shifts to adjust and recognize where things are. But all in all it's going well and everyone is very supportive.

Thank you sooooo very much for updating me. To me that sounds like fair orientation time also. I'm happy to hear that your assignment is going great! I'm sure you are an excellent nurse :). Keep me updated. I can't wait to share my experience also.

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Specializes in Med\Surg.
I've been a nurse since February of this year. I started out in an academy for emergency nursing at a teaching hospital and currently I've been on my own since June working in a community hospital ED. I'm not sure if my experience is enough but I would like to start traveling February 2014. My first places to travel to are Texas and Cali. I'm 26, single, and without children. I feel like I'm ready for travel nursing. Do you guys think by February 2014 I'll have enough experience? Should I start talking with agencies now? And will I have to get rid of my current apt when I start to travel?

Hello. In doing my research on travel nursing, I've noticed that many agencies ask for at least two years of experience. Every person is different but for me at one year I noticed that it does "get better". But I would suggest at LEAST 1.5 years before leaving your first job. You'd be surprised at the amount of additional experience you will acquire in that extra 6 months. However, you will learn something new for the rest of your career. So, continue to ask the question to other MORE experienced nurses but you know your abilities better than anyone else. GOOD LUCK!! :)

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Hi everyone! I was excited to find this thread... I have been a nurse since Feb 2013. I have been full time on a med/surg/ortho/peds unit. I am PALS cert. I am also currently in transition to working in the ICU. I have applied for an agency, PRNnursing, for "traveling" locally- I am about 1-2 hours from Chicago, depending on which part I go to... They do not have any jobs in Indiana, but it was suggested that I obtain my IL license and I could work 1-2 days a week in Chicago, on top of my FTE at my regular job. I did not include ICU in my qualifications since I have no experience there yet.

I was told it would be between 38-49/hr depending on what I did. Have any of you worked close enough to home to live at home, but still work for an agency? Do they pay gas expenses?

Have any of you worked or heard of PRNnursing?

Thanks!

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Specializes in TELE, ICU.

Have you received your CA license yet? I applied for mine first week of November and have not heard anything at all, current am FL RN and NV RN. Am going to call them tomorrow.....

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Specializes in Med\Surg.

UPDATE: To my friends (You're my friends in my head...lol:)) on this thread, I just want to update you on my progress since you gave me such good advice:-).. I accepted a night assignment in Austin, Tx. My first night is this Saturday so I haven't started yet. However, I have been on the unit and it SEEMS to be a nice place to work. I plan on starting another thread once I complete approx. the first month or so. I will post the topic name on this thread if you care to hear about MY experience as a first time traveler. It's also to help those that are looking into traveling. I can't believe I actually did it!!! I'm SUPER nervous :nailbiting:about my first night but I'm excited to get started so I can get that "NEW employee" feeling out of the way. I welcome any advice from experienced travelers regarding being a NEW traveler during those first few weeks:up:.

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Specializes in PICU, CTICU.

Congrats, Alwaysthinking! I just finished my first 13 weeker, took a week off and am starting another this week at the same place. My advice as a fellow first-timer is to be open to learning from the staffers. Soak up the experience, be willing to help as you may have a lighter load than the full-timers. Ask questions and enjoy the challenge. I wish you the best, don't be nervous! I'm sure your unit will be open to helping you out because you're there to help them.

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UPDATE: To my friends (You're my friends in my head...lol:)) on this thread, I just want to update you on my progress since you gave me such good advice:-).. I accepted a night assignment in Austin, Tx. My first night is this Saturday so I haven't started yet. However, I have been on the unit and it SEEMS to be a nice place to work. I plan on starting another thread once I complete approx. the first month or so. I will post the topic name on this thread if you care to hear about MY experience as a first time traveler. It's also to help those that are looking into traveling. I can't believe I actually did it!!! I'm SUPER nervous :nailbiting:about my first night but I'm excited to get started so I can get that "NEW employee" feeling out of the way. I welcome any advice from experienced travelers regarding being a NEW traveler during those first few weeks:up:.

I have been following your post and was so looking forward to reading your experiences. I guess you got drowned in working as usual for us nurses. Anyway keep us updated and I hope you are loving this other type of nursing. Good luck

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I would also love to hear more about your experience! I have currently been an RN for about 4 years on a med/surg unit and considering some travel nursing in California!

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Its quite a reasonable question and i must say a lot of people would have get help through this. Normally when it comes to discussing something or stick to the things that gives you what you actually feel is surely a great feeling all the way.

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