Graduating NP School

Specialties Advanced

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I'm 26 and graduating from NP school in May 2015 (Adult/Gero Primary Care). I've always wanted to do travel nursing as an RN, and would like to do this before I get married/have kids. NPs out there- what do you think of graduating NP school, and delaying working as an NP for 1 year to do travel nursing as an RN. Will I lose all my NP skills? Just not sure I'd ever get the opportunity to travel as an RN if I wait... Open to all advice and suggestions, thanks!

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I personally don't think it's a good idea. There are many travel agencies that work with nurse practitioners but they require that you have some experience first. Working as an RN and working as a nurse practitioner are two totally different things.

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Nursing.

I agree with above response, jump right into a NP job for a year or two and then travel as an NP and you will still be able to do travel nursing but earning a lot more $. And remember the opportunity cost of traveling as an RN right away is that you would eschew potentially great NP openings where you can learn that might not be around when you are done traveling as an RN. Timing is everything. Besides, you might be able to find a NP job where you can work 7 on and 7 off and have the chance to travel 2 weeks out of every month.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Are you thinking of taking a year before or after taking your NP boards?

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Thanks for the advice. I would take the boards and then do the RN travel year...

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Thanks for the advice. I would take the boards and then do the RN travel year...

You run into a few extra problems taking the board first.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Bad idea. Why not just take boards, then find your first NP job in a different place to travel to for work for a year while you gain NP experience? I guess it depends why you want to travel. I can't see why you'd do NP then go back to work as an RN electively though.

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Not many places want to hire NPs to work as RNs related to compliance issues.

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