Advice for a new RN grad wishing toTravel Nurse to Germany

nyteshade, BSN · Sep 16, 2009

I used to travel, but not abroad. I don't know of any travel company that allows new grads to travel. You need at least 1 year in your setting. Being a new grad in America is tough enough. A traveller needs to think on their feet. In my travels I only got 1 day of floor orientation, and that consisted of where to put my things, and where to eat!

springfieldrn · Sep 17, 2009

Former long time traveler myself. You need a minimum of one year experience med/surg on a BUSY floor. You will drown and be very unsafe without that base. After you get your experience you can apply at usajobs.gov for a civilain military nursing position. Good luck.

ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA · Sep 17, 2009

I almost joined the army because they were offering to pay 70k tuition when I was considering going to a private university for my BSN. They required 4 years active duty and said Germany was one of the easier assignments to get. Just a thought! good luck!

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2009

I traveled for 7 years.

I know of no REPUTABLE travel nursing agency that finds assignments for nurses with less than a year of heavy experience. Most really push for 2 or more years in a marketable speciality.

Having said that, there are some that will shop your profile with less. Just because they take your profile, does not mean you will get a job. In addition, since the hospitals generally have several travel agencies, and several applicants for each position, obviously the applicant with the more experience will probably get the job. I will also tell you that no REPUTABLE hospital puts a new grad on the floor with no experience, and very little support.

Travelers are expensive, and the hospitals using them want them on the floor and strong immediately - most are not going to pay for orienting a new grad and pay for the expense of a traveler - that is not what they are "buying". And with a surplus of new grads unable to find jobs, they can get plenty of new grads, with the expense of paying a traveler.

There are also plenty of long term experienced travelers that are unable to find jobs.

But like agencies, some hospitals are "desperate" and will take anything. Chances are a hospital willing to pay traveler fees for a new grad has probably such a poor reputation locally and among experienced travelers that no one will take the job....again not good for the new grad or any nurse.

The current recession is also affecting Europe. As such many of the EU nations have plenty of nurses. And as the USA is no longer importing nurses due to retrogression, many of the third world nurses that used to come to the US, are being diverted to the EU, Australia, Middle East. The EU also (like USA) has strict guidelines regarding accepting nurses for work from outside their nations....to protect their nurses, their nursing standards, and their economy. You would have to ask their nursing regulatory agencies as far as their standards, as well as how available jobs are for foreign educated noncitizen nurses. I expect that it is very strict and would require loads of paperwork, being very fluent (more than 1-2 classes) in German, with medical terminology and nursing experience.

I have a feeling that working for the military on a base would probably be the better bet. Not to say that it cannot be done outside the military, but the odds are deeply against you.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 17, 2009

Moved to the international forum

KatieBrookeRN · Sep 17, 2009

Thank you all very much, I really appreciate the honesty as well. Having said that, caroladybelle, I obviously am just graduating and have minimal nursing "experiences" but do they consider grades when you apply for traveling jobs? Also, did you start traveling immediately? I am from Iowa and the town I grew up in has a wonderful college with a great nursing program. So basically I have been in the same place my entire life. I'm not saying I'm one of those people that "can't wait to get out of here" but I started nursing school 2 days after I graduated HS in '08 and I'm ready for a change. I'm very determined and open to new things. I really feel like I'm capable of traveling as an RN. I have grown so much during the past 2 years, with nursing and over-all knowledge. Do you have any advice for Me? I honestly don't know many nurses that have done traveling nursing period, let alone to Germany. Any advice would be wonderful :loveya:

5cats · Sep 17, 2009

Get some experience in the States first, maybe a big hospital, why not moving in the States (country is big enough, lol), get your experience, study foreign languages (because you will need those, plenty of non english speaking countries, like Germany) and then start internationally.

5cats

KatieBrookeRN · Sep 17, 2009

=)

Thank 5cats-

I agree with you to get experience here. The only thing is that I'm sooo set on going straight away. Being young, having no attachments, for new knowledge/learning, etc..I love this field, but I wish it was the same everywhere. I feel my school has been preparing Me very well for what is ahead. I know with Nursing there is always MORE and MORE to learn, I just don't understand why you can't do the learning overseas..Thank you for your reply =)

5cats · Sep 17, 2009

Nursing overseas is very different from nursing in the US, you will feel like you suddenly know nothing. And as a new grad actually you don't know much, sorry:) So it's better to use what they taught you in school in the system for what you were prepared, and then go overseas.

It will be overwhelming enough believe me just to change states/hospitals in the beginning.

5cats

KatieBrookeRN · Sep 17, 2009

Lol, that's ok =) Like I said, I'm looking for honestly and you are probably right, I don't know very much. I would like to ask you, is there anywhere outside the US that would be more accepting of fresh grads? I'm not completely against traveling in the US but I would most definitely prefer International Nursing. Thanks again, I'm very curious and appreciate your time =)

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2009

Thank you all very much, I really appreciate the honesty as well. Having said that, caroladybelle, I obviously am just graduating and have minimal nursing "experiences" but do they consider grades when you apply for traveling jobs? Also, did you start traveling immediately? I am from Iowa and the town I grew up in has a wonderful college with a great nursing program. So basically I have been in the same place my entire life. I'm not saying I'm one of those people that "can't wait to get out of here" but I started nursing school 2 days after I graduated HS in '08 and I'm ready for a change. I'm very determined and open to new things. I really feel like I'm capable of traveling as an RN. I have grown so much during the past 2 years, with nursing and over-all knowledge. Do you have any advice for Me? I honestly don't know many nurses that have done traveling nursing period, let alone to Germany. Any advice would be wonderful :loveya:

Grades are not even remotely a factor for qualifying for being a traveler - no one even looks at them. They are generally not even a factor in getting a job.

How good a nursing program or how "ready" you feel is not remotely a consideration in most regular nursing job interviews, much less in traveling nursing. In 16 years of nursing, and 17 different facilities, the only time anyone ever asked me about my program, was when I got my first NT (not even RN) job. And not once in ANY travel interview has anyone ever asked what school I went to what grades I have had.

And I have worked at the NIH, and in 4 of the top 15 hospitals (consistantly) in the USA, per US News and World reports.

No one cares about grades or schools or minipracticums or school experiences in assessing ability to travel. They care only about experience as a nurse, working INDEPENDANTLY on a unit. And that is the only that counts, unless they are merely looking for a licensed "warm body"......not optimal.

That is because it IS NOT SAFE ETHICAL PRACTICE to put a new graduate nurse in that situation. There have been occasions as a traveler, in even good facilities, where experienced nurses have been put in dangerous situations that endanger their licenses. And it is not about you, it is about safety FOR THE PATIENTS, first and foremost.

I have known new RNs, that have been independant LPNs for many years, with IV certification that have been told that they must have a year as an RN before traveling. And I have also known RNs w/6 monthes to a year of experience from good schools, worked as techs before graduation, crash and burn and quit nursing because traveling too early. I have also had to recover patients from errors made by someone that did not have enough experience.

You need at least year to come into your own as a nurse, especially if you have limited previous experience. We as country, do not permit doctors fresh out of Boards and medical school to care for patients until they have had 1-3 years of supervised internship. And we ethically should not allow nurses fresh from Boards and out of school to immediately work with no supervision. I think that you can see the sense of that. And as traveler, unless they sign you for a one or two year contract, with substantial orientation, you will not get enough support to foster a proper transition to becoming a well rounded nurse.

I know that you are in a hurry and feel ready. :loveya: Many of us did when we left nursing school, and we wanted to go out and travel, before we acquired possessions and responsibilities that would make that difficult. But it really is not optimal or safe for you or your license or your patients.

May I encourage you to study hard, find a nurse tech position if available, or other health care starting position so that you get a lot of exposure and more potential for jobs right out of school. Pick a specialty that first and foremost that you enjoy, and second that has great travel potential. Start reviewing telemetry and ACLS protocals - always useful. And work hard in a local job for at minimum a year. During that time, after about 6 monthes, trying to either float for a few extra shifts or work per diem at another facility, to get the experience of being out of your comfort zone. That is a good way to prep. Go ahead and check with travel nurse agencies and get info on which has options that suit you, what they require, what specialties are popular and which destinations. Contact the nursing regulatory bureau in Germany and find out their requirements. All of this will help you, be useful and keep your goal in your sights for when it is right.