Anyone interested in Being a travel nurse?

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Just got accepted into my school's nursing program, im so excited to finally start nursing classes. When i graduate i really want to become a travel nurse. Anyone looking to do the same thing or have any ideas on that?

I know im thinking 2 years in advance but im sure it will just be more motivation to do my best in classes and clinicals.

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Congratulations! I'm starting my nursing classes in about 3 weeks as well! I was actually discussing travel with one of my night house supervisors at the hospital the other day, and I wouldn't mind international travel at some point. I figured, hey...I have no permanent ties or kids...now is the time to explore. :) This is after a couple years on the job and a certain comfort level, of course. But yeah, I've thought about it!

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Specializes in ER & ICU.

I've finished my first year of nursing school starting my second in 4 weeks. I to want to do the travel nurse when done and get my exspericence in.

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@ Ava - Most agencies will not hire you as a new grad and require at least 1 year experience. Some are 2. It just depends on the agency really.

I plan on travelling after a few years of working. Good luck!

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Congratulations! I'm starting my nursing classes in about 3 weeks as well! I was actually discussing travel with one of my night house supervisors at the hospital the other day, and I wouldn't mind international travel at some point. I figured, hey...I have no permanent ties or kids...now is the time to explore. :) This is after a couple years on the job and a certain comfort level, of course. But yeah, I've thought about it!

Congrats to u as well. I actually start in less than 2 weeks! I feel the exact same as u do (no kids :) ). I think its a wonderful opportunity to travel and work at the same time.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I have met a lot of travel nurses at my work and many enjoy it but I don't think it's for me. I work as an ER Tech and my goal is to get a position as a nurse in my department when I graduate nursing school. I don't like the idea of moving from place to place and having to get used to different policies etc. I like where I live and would rather stay around here, work my butt off by picking up extra shifts and then go on as many vacations as possible.

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@ Ava - Most agencies will not hire you as a new grad and require at least 1 year experience. Some are 2. It just depends on the agency really.

I plan on travelling after a few years of working. Good luck!

Awesome! Good luck to you as well. Yes i know i would have to be experienced before being a travel nurse. My understanding is nurses are put into places that are short staffed so its a lot to handle so its better for suited for experienced nurses.

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I have met a lot of travel nurses at my work and many enjoy it but I don't think it's for me. I work as an ER Tech and my goal is to get a position as a nurse in my department when I graduate nursing school. I don't like the idea of moving from place to place and having to get used to different policies etc. I like where I live and would rather stay around here, work my butt off by picking up extra shifts and then go on as many vacations as possible.

Interesting, i haven't thought about all the policies there would be considering it will be different hospitals in different states.

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to be a traveling nurse, or if i plan to move to a different state in the future don't you need to be licensed in that state as well. is there a different test to take to be licensed in all of U.S?

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you're thinking a lot more than two years ahead. to be a travel nurse you need to have enough solid experience to be able to walk onto a new hospital in a new city and hit the ground running on a busy unit with no more orientation than, "this is the clean utility room, here's the linen, let me show you how to use the computer, here's the schedule book, the cafeteria is on the second floor."

no new grad will be able to do that. heck, it'll take you a minimum of a full-time year to be minimally competent. most travel companies will require at least that, and most two or three or more, depending on specialty.

as for licensure, if you have your legal residence in a compact state, a state that has banded together with other states to recognize each others' rn licensure (there are 24, i think-- you can google it) then you can take your rn license granted by that state to any other compact state and not have to apply for another license.

if you do not have your legal residence in a compact state when you get your initial licensure, or if you go from a compact state to a non-compact state, you will have to get licensure for the state where you're going. all of this is assuming you have passed nclex and have an rn license to start with. :D

every state uses the nclex as the rn exam. however, some states will not give you a license if your program isn't acceptable to them (usually an accreditation issue), even if your home state accepts that program and you passed nclex and are licensed there. worth checking.

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