Dilemma

[nellybly18]

Hello everyone,

Ok, so I will be graduating in December with my BSN. I have been enamored by traveling nursing since I heard it existed. So here is my dilemma, some seaseoned nurses have suggested that I should do one year of med-surg before I pursue my passion of becoming an L&D nurse, others tell me just go straight into L&D and that I'd be wasting time in med-surg since its not my interest.

Now, say I do do med-surg for year, does that mean I have to do another year of L&D before I can become a L&D traveling nurse? I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place because I would like to start traveling right after my first year experience. What is the minimum amount of time these traveling agencies want you to have in a particular specialty before you can become a traveling nurse in that specialty?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated

[bagladyrn, RN]

Most reputable nursing travel agencies want you to have that minimum of at least a year in your specialty area before they will put you in for positions. Some prefer 2 years in specialty areas and hospitals can and do put further requirements on their positions - I've gone to some who were requesting travelers with a minimum of 5 years L&D experience.

The year of med-surg would give you more of a knowlege base for dealing with OB patients with comorbidities. I've had OB patients with cardiac issues, other organ system failures, infectious diseases, fractured ribs and pelvises, paraplegia and psych issues, to name a few off the top of my head.

A year or two isn't really that long if you approach it with the attitude of getting as much varied experience as you can in that time to prepare you to travel and "hit the ground running". The travel contracts are not going to take the time to train you. During that time you can also be researching agencies (I'd take at least 6 months to do that), making sure you have a really reliable vehicle, and saving up a good emergency fund for that time when your transmisssion drops out in East Podunk or the contract "goes south" after you drive 2000 miles.

The travel will still be there when you are ready!

[NICU_babyRN, BSN, RN]

You could do a year a med-surg, but honestly, not a necessity!

I would go to a LARGE L&D place and get at least two years of experience THEN travel. The reason I say at least two years is the same as the above poster. While the travel company will only require one, the better assignments will be at hospitals that require at least two!

As a traveler, you are expected to "KUS" (know your stuff) VERY well, work w/o out much of an orientation!

A great rule of thumb, don't travel until you are ready to precept a new person to you unit!

[Spiderella]

Excellent advice guys. I would recommend 2 years in a major L&D.

[wanderlust99]

Many places require 2 years experience, but I do know some companies who except just 1 year. But, not all the hospitals you will interview with are ok with just one year, and you may have a harder time finding a job. I agree with the other posters, work at a large and busy hospital with a busy L&D unit. If you really want a more general experience you could do just 6 months on a med surg floor, but I say go straight into what you want to do (you can always switch it up later on in your career). I started traveling after 2 years of being a nurse and I'm glad I waited the 2 years...however, I still feel like a new nurse sometimes.