How do I go about traveling as an RN?

[tatempole]

I'm currently in a 3-year BSN program. I also had the opportunity to enroll in the ADN route, but it seemed that the BSN offered more opportunity. As of right now, I'm very serious and have goals of traveling in the late future. My parents keep encouraging and striving me to travel abroad to other countries to learn about the culture/society/people and experience new things besides staying in Southern California my whole life. Now, I really want to travel throughout my life, instead of settling down. Looking at my options, I thought about perhaps signing up as an officer in the military or joining the Peace Corps following graduation. However, I have read in "RN" magazines that travel nurses have the opportunity to travel. Perceiving that it was too good to be true, there must be some catch. I asked a registered nurse at the hospital about the job and she told me that many people do not take the job because they have families to take care of back at home. What are the advantages/disadvantages of being a travel nurse? How much of Nursing experience will I have to acquire before I can begin applying? I don't really care about salary as long as it pays for my one bedroom flat/hostel during my stay.

Another general question, should I begin traveling right now on my own? or should I just wait until graduation for the opportunity to travel? Everyone is giving me different opinions on the matter. Some are saying to travel NOW during my younger years or travel after I'm done with my education. I'm 22 years old and I feel that my younger years (18-22) that I let it past by me. Any advice or comments would be appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

I don't think my school offers a study abroad program due to my major being Nursing instead of Business, Liberal Arts etc.

[Orange Tree]

It's good that you want to travel, because you live in southern california and you will probably have to travel just to find a job. It may not be to a foreign place, though......it might be someplace more like texas. Yikes! There is actually a travel section on this site that you can browse for ideas/information:

Travel Nursing - Nursing for Nurses

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

I'm in Australia so can't give u specifics re US travel.

However, no-one will let u travel & work as a nurse without experience. You also need to think carefully about the places you will be sent to. Down here in the outback, u may be sent to a small community where ur the only health professional (no doctors, paramedics, etc) for thousands of miles, so travel nurses have to be extremely experienced especially in emergency procedures (they're like outback doctors here). There must be small towns in the US that are isolated as well, so if u go to these towns and there is an emergency, YOU ARE IT. Think about that, it's a big responsibility especially is you have a pregnant patient with foetal distress, or there is a disaster like multiple MVAs or fires/floods. I wanted to travel & have been offered jobs in the outback now, but I don't feel as if I have enough experience for those smaller places (I have nearly 2 years experience now), as I haven't done ED/ER nursing. Also many companies like u to be a midwife as well as a RN in case u have to deal with births as well as emergencies.

But if you elect to just go to hospitals, where u will have support, you will probably need at least 12 months experience, though some companies like you to have 2 years.

You are only 22, still young! I would advise you to try & get a position on a busy med/surg ward, or another busy ward/unit with variety, as you will get good, sound clinical skills on these wards. Then u won't feel so much like a fish out of water when u do go to other places to work. Try also 2 learn as much as u can in ur 12 months of working. Do any extra training courses that come along, stay back to learn more clinical skills, offer to help out with procedures, etc. I did during my clinicals & I feel it helped a lot.

If u want to travel after that, seek out reputable nursing agencies who do this. Get on line and ask about their reputation from other nurses - some are total c**p like here in Oz. Also many will say they pay for accommodation & it can be really bad, or I know a RN who went somewhere, was told all her accommodation would be paid for & ended up paying for half of it herself! U need to find out everything about what is and isn't provided, ie: do u have to pay for air travel tickets urself, or food, or will they pay for u to drive a vehicle to where ur going?

I've heard good and bad stories, but THE most important thing is try to find out EXACTLY what u will be doing as a travel nurse, ie: where will u be going, a ward in a hospital, or is it just a small clinic? What will be ur exact duties, will u have any support? Will the support be on line (ie: internet, phone) or in person? What are the hours and the pay, especially if u do overtime? Will u be penalised if u cut ur contract short? - some agencies will fine you if you leave a contract early, or dock u so many days wages so ensure u ask re this.

If u do get offered a position, ask for a contract to be emailed/faxed 2 u, and go thru it very carefully & write down any questions u may have as well.

Lastly, my friends who have travelled also said to ask if the accommodation is quiet & has air conditioning and/or heating. One of my gf's was given a room at a pub & it was right over where the live band played every weekend! Needless to say she demanded better accommodation (sometimes that is all there is though).

This is only advice other people have given me. But I reckon u need that 12 months of experience in a busy, teaching hospital - it seems like a drag but is actually really necessary.

[LadyTiger44]

I am just starting on my adventure as a traveling nurse. I have 2.5 years experience. They really want you to have two years experience. I researched travel nurse companies on my own and chose American Mobile. My recruiter there is really great. They pay for your housing and utilities, reimburse for licensing and travel expenses. My first assignment starts in January at Naples North Community Hospital in Naples, FL. I am SO excited! Good luck! I would def recommend it if you don't have kids and aren't tied down!

[oahugirl]

Do it. IF you are single and without kids, do it 2 years after you graduate with your BSN. You need at least that much time to get comfortable with nursing duties and develope your assessment skills. Most companies do require 2 years of experience, anyway. Don't join the military for travel opportunities. I have worked in a military hospital. Once you join, you lose the opportunity to pick where you want to go. And you are there for at least 4 years at a time. So, imagine if you hate it. Also, the military nurses are salary, and a pretty crappy salary, too. They are the ones who get called in the most and work the shifts the civillians don't want. I mean, the military doesn't want to pay a travel nurse OT when they can get one of their own to work without costing more, right?

My favorite part of nursing is the traveling. My first assignment was in Hawaii. I was single then. I'm so glad I did it. It's a great way to see the country. Now, if you are interested in going international, you may want to consider being an employee of the Department of Defense as a nurse. Pay is ok, benefits rock and you can work in military hospitals all over the world. I just interviewed at Landstuhl Regional in Germany. Now, this is a staff position, not a travel assignment, but you can quit whenever you want. You do get housing and living allowances that are not included in the salary posted on the announcements. I tell you this because when you look at the salary your gonna be like, WHAAAA? lol. Here's a site for civilian jobs in military stations around the world. WWW.cpol.army.mil

Good Luck