Experience before Travel Nursing?

Sour Lemon · Dec 7, 2018

Seven years.

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2018

Depends on if you've stayed in one specialty and if that's what you'll be doing while traveling as well. I'd want a minimum of three years in the specialty, and would prefer five.

Ten months is ridiculous and sets a nurse up for failure. (potentially dangerous failure)

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 7, 2018

I was a nurse with 4 1/2 years of experience when I first took a traveler position. I think 3+ years in the same specialty would set most nurses up for success.

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2018

DEpends from what I have seen 2-3 years is what I have witnessed

Swellz · Dec 7, 2018

I was a nurse for 3.5 years before traveling, and I could have used more; or at least, I could have been a float nurse or worked in more than one hospital ever in my career lol and I would have been more prepared.

You're always going to have someone who will say, "well I was a nurse for less than a year and I'm doing fine traveling". I'm sure they think they are. The bottom line is you don't know what you don't know early in your career, and you can't master anything with 8 hours (or less) of floor "orientation" in an unfamiliar environment with coworkers you don't know, doctors you don't know, a computer system you don't know, policies/procedures you don't know, etc.

You will be set up for much more success if you learn your craft for a few years first. Travel nursing will be there when you're ready for it.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2018

I've been doing this for 10 years and I still don't think I know enough to travel!!! But it's a matter of comfort level as much as training. 10 months is not enough. Swelllz is right- you don't know what you don't know right now. Good luck.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Dec 7, 2018

We currently have a traveler in our CCU with 1 year experience. We're in desperate need, so we seem to take any travelers that come along. She can't find another assignment because she doesn't have enough experience. I'm sure it depends a lot on your skills, confidence, experience and attitude. Good luck.

**CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN** · Dec 7, 2018

You could always try the float pool for a little while. It can give you the experience of various units where you can get more varied experience. But, 2 years on a floor people consider "heavy" would probably be fine. Just never know what you're going to get thrown at you.

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 7, 2018

You're always going to have someone who will say, "well I was a nurse for less than a year and I'm doing fine traveling". I'm sure they think they are. The bottom line is you don't know what you don't know early in your career, and you can't master anything with 8 hours (or less) of floor "orientation" in an unfamiliar environment with coworkers you don't know, doctors you don't know, a computer system you don't know, policies/procedures you don't know, etc.

Especially because chances are, you aren't going to get feedback as a traveler. Half the staff just can't be bothered because they know you're only there for 13 weeks. Instead of confronting it, they just put up with it since it's temporary. We have a standard question we ask anyone who is applying for a permanent position after being a traveler (who didn't have a contract with us and was asked to stay): how often would your contract be extended? If a facility wanted to keep you on more than the original contract, that was a sign you knew what you were doing. Currently, we have an employee who was hired without any input. Has a background as a traveler right out of school. He is not succeeding in the role, despite an orientation that has essentially been tripled in length.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Dec 7, 2018

The amount of experience required is entirely up to the individual. I took my first travel job at 20 + years and it was tough. I was very strong clinically. You will be expected to hit the floor running with minimal training on the EMR, within 3 days.

Please see the travel nurse forum.

Best wishes.

Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2018

I started doing local contract work after 4 months of "staff experience". 4 months after being licensed. My staff spot was a 12 hour a week spot with benefits.

Local contract is essentially travel without having to change states. I could go home, to a friend's house/stay with family or sometimes I'd stay in a hotel if doing back-to-back shifts for them -- depending.

I think it was fairly easy as I was a bit of a known quantity (this can be for better or worse -- lol). There wasn't any shortage of demand.

Actually, there was a lot of demand. Plently of offers to hire.

I didn't want to hire and I tried to avoid staying anywhere longer than 4-6 weeks, (I did contract with one for 8 + 4, I can't say no sometimes - Arrrgh!) tho I would go fill in an occasional odd day or 2 in OT for a previous place if I was on another contract.

I was doing this for BROAD EXPERIENCE. PART OF A LARGER PLAN.

I was burned a bit in staff spot (I'd been a deluxe unit clerk prior to RN licensure for 16 hrs weekly), so I'd resolved I'd try to never take another one. Leaving staff work behind was heartbreakingly difficult. Once I finally left the area to travel, it was like leaving my family. Never again.

I did local contract for 16 months.

Plus, flying had always been my ultimate end goal, so I tried to find diverse experiences that would help me focus on that goal.

Joined ENA, AACN. Studied, read a LOT. Pre & Post shift. Eat, lived & breathed NURSING

My real mastery of nursing -- EMERGENCY and CRITICAL CARE came in those days of CONTRACT and TRAVEL. I knew how to care for critically ill patients, but putting in into action in different settings is challenging.

Assessment is EVERYTHING.

I took advanced critical care classes, I had ACLS, PALS, NPR, actually I had been instructor in ACLS & PALS for over a decade.

I had certification in Emergency Nursing.

I traveled for 18 months out of state on 4 main contracts in 6 facilities. I was extended on 2 of the 4. Invited to be staff on 1.

The last contact I was on terminated me 2 weeks early and it was such a freaking blessing.

Prolly cost me a few thousand dollars and it was money so well spent -- I can't even recall what the issue was, just nonsense I'm sure. I can't find my Can you say beautiful new facility that's run by an administrative ER director who is not a NURSE and has no clue. In the 11 weeks I was there, 9 staff left (5 nurses, 2 RN clinical leadership, 2 techs) Literally, I expected a portal to hell to show itself any day.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I am not going to say I was comfy, I don't think you will ever know it all, be able to master it all, have seen it all, eat once and for all or, well, you get it.

I was was competent clinically. Part of that is knowing that you don't know it all and knowing where to access help. Ask for help.

You will run into things that you will need help with -- ask. There should be a clinical leader.

Spend time getting to know your computer charting system -- it pays off.

It will make you a better nurse if you embrace it.

Learn all you can. Come out better. Save money.

Period.

Anyway.

A NOTE ON EXPERIENCE.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE IT?

I was a medic for years prior. That matters. Confidence wise, I guess

As for nursing -- my staff was 4 months + local contract work was 16 months. But that's misleading.

I think you have to look at hours/units worked in.

I worked over 4100 hours in 16 months. That's well over 2 years of "experience" in 16 months.

It all depends on how you define experience.

I define my experiences as clinically caring for patients. Being a nurse.

Good luck.

Look at facilities very critically.

:angel: