Can I become a travel nurse?

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I have been an RN since 2006 until 2014 here in California, Med-surg & tele mainly , and stepdown for 2 years(it's for patients not quite ICU, but can't be placed as a tele med-surg patient.)

i left nursing in 2014 to travel and see the world. Left my job cold turkey. It was amazing to travel the world South America, Asia. I just came back to the USA last week and getting ready to find a job at the local hospitals in my city. This city I'm in is actually quite boring, dusty, hot, nothing much to do since everything is so far away by as much as 3-4 hours drive .

I'm interested in travel nursing. But I don't know if I qualify because of my experience. where will I be able to find a job. And how hard or how long is the process to get a job as a travel nurse? I know with the economic downturn, a lot of new grads can't even find jobs as s nurse. Is it like that with travel nursing as well? Is it difficult to get assignments?

im still trying to figure out where my nursing life is headed. But I'm intrigued with travel nursing if it allows me to have time to travel more overseas when I'm off assignment. Where do I start? I live in a farming city. It's a big city, about 500k population scattered all over. But it's still a country rural city.

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Specializes in OB.

Most travel positions want you to have recent experience in the department for which you are applying. This usually means within the last year.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
I have been an RN since 2006 until 2014 here in California, Med-surg & tele mainly , and stepdown for 2 years(it's for patients not quite ICU, but can't be placed as a tele med-surg patient.)

i left nursing in 2014 to travel and see the world. Left my job cold turkey. It was amazing to travel the world South America, Asia. I just came back to the USA last week and getting ready to find a job at the local hospitals in my city. This city I'm in is actually quite boring, dusty, hot, nothing much to do since everything is so far away by as much as 3-4 hours drive .

I'm interested in travel nursing. But I don't know if I qualify because of my experience. where will I be able to find a job. And how hard or how long is the process to get a job as a travel nurse? I know with the economic downturn, a lot of new grads can't even find jobs as s nurse. Is it like that with travel nursing as well? Is it difficult to get assignments?

im still trying to figure out where my nursing life is headed. But I'm intrigued with travel nursing if it allows me to have time to travel more overseas when I'm off assignment. Where do I start? I live in a farming city. It's a big city, about 500k population scattered all over. But it's still a country rural city.

Doubtful. I'm sure in a city of half a million there's plenty to do/ see/ experience if you just remove your blinders and look. But to your point, you need current experience before considering travel nursing. Travel nurses get 1-2 DAYS of orientation- and are then expected to become fully functioning team members.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

Honestly, if you're comfortable with your ability and adaptability in the work place, I would just pick an agency or 3 and give it a try. Go for medsurg to begin. There are tons of positions open. You left in 2014, thats pretty close to 2 years and within it, if it was the end of 2014.

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I'd recommend finding a nurse staffing company, they will help you get back on track. It can be hard going at it alone! Best of luck. You got this.

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