advise requested

[Josh-n-tn]

So, I'm in a convoluted situation and would like some advise from the collective experience represented here. First off I'm a new RN. I've been a critical care paramedic for 8 years and have been working in my local rural ED for the past 2.5 years full time while in nursing school. I work in the ED as a "nurse" with the only difference being that an RN has had to co-sign my charts. I triage, treat, discharge, etc. just as they do.

We have a very diverse patient population as do most rural hospitals, with frequent high acuity patients. This hospital utilizes paramedics to their full scope of practice and allows us to do everything that the nurses do (plus some) with the exception of initiating blood.

This is the predicament that I find myself in. Our hospital is closing and I am going to be looking for another job. I have had multiple job offers in surrounding emergency departments and one ICU. The next closest hospital to us is an hour away, so I am considering trying travel nursing in an ED somewhere to see how I like it. My docs have recommended this to me as something I should pursue, and my fellow nurses tell me I'm ready, but none of them have experience as a travel nurse.

Is my time working in the ER as a "nurse" going to work for experience, or do I need to just suck it up and get more time doing exactly what I've been doing for the past 2.5 years before I pursue this venture. Thanks for your time and comments.

[Argo]

How new of an RN are you? I haven't seen any place consider prior experience, your career starts the day after your nursing license is active.

Most likely the agencies will need 1 year to place you. Some place may be desperate and be willing to take you with less. If you have an offer, I would take it and get your year of service in...

[NedRN]

Consider "moving" to a fun big city for a year as a staff nurse. That should be fairly easy with your background. After one year of big hospital experience you should be ready for just about any assignment as a traveler and competitive as well. Right now, you may not want any offered assignment.

[Josh-n-tn]

Thank you for the advise. I just got my RN license last week, so I will just see which "local" opportunity will work best for me and go from there.

[TinyDancer760, BSN]

I've been traveling for a couple of years. I concur that the 1 year of RN experience in the specialty you want to travel in will be necessary to get placed. If you have to move for work, you might consider finding a hospital that will pay relocation expenses. Many will.