How do I know I am "ready" to be a travel nurse

NedRN · Apr 20, 2014

A CNA has a relatively limited task list so it is easy for a hard worker to stand out. Adapting quickly as a nurse to a very different work environment and culture is a very different skill than just excelling clinically at your original hospital. Simple survival is very important at first, task by task, day by day. After several weeks, you should be able to see the big picture, organizational skills fully adapted to the new environment, and you can relax able to work more efficiently.

Increasing knowledge depth is always useful and as a professional, you should always be doing. Critical care classes, specialty certification, extra certifications such as ACLS and PALS all lend themselves to both to professional development and demonstrating to future hospitals that you are a professional. That said, while successful travelers are usually on the higher side of the bell curve of competence (or will quickly become so as travelers), they can run the full gamut of abilities and competence as staff nurses.

But if you cannot adapt quickly, not only will you not be a good asset to the assignment hospitals, you will not be a happy traveler. So how to know? One possibility is to work per diem at other local hospitals. I did this as I had zero idea if my skills learned at one hospital would translate to new hospitals. The other way is to just sink or swim, try an assignment and see what happens (you can even try for a leave of absence from your current job so you don't burn your bridges). Just be prepared to have your mind blown as hospitals have very different practices. Take what you know with you, but be prepared to do things the way the new hospital does things.

Projecting confidence is important in any job setting. So good luck, and don't show weakness.

morningland · Apr 21, 2014

Thanks a lot for the thoughtful advise, man. Really appreciate it.

I feel like I am ready, although it may be good to stick to my first plan and gain two years in PEDS. I already have PALS, ACLS, TNCC, and Rural Trauma and my interpersonal skills and team work skills are phenominal. Also, I am fully confident that I can adapt quickly to a new facility and fit in well; I feel I am pretty gifted in that.

My hospital wants to send me down to the ER for three months to float, due to their low census. I am against and was planning to resign but, then again, it may be a good test to see if I am ready for travel nurse -- to go down to a unit I am unfamilur with and make it work.

sweetgurly25 · May 4, 2014

I decided to become a travel nurse when I tried agency nursing for a few months. Once I did that I got an assignement close to home then I started traveling out of state. Good Luck.

LadyTiger44 · May 9, 2014

I believe if you have a total of 2 to 3 years of experience then you are ready. Basic nursing knowledge is the same anywhere you go. If you have questions, you just ask; exactly like you would on your unit now. Staff RNs and even other travelers are always willing to help out and answer questions. The nurses who don't ask questions and just do their own thing-those are who you worry about! Good luck to you! It's a wonderful opportunity, and I recommend for every nurse to travel!

zaviesmom · May 11, 2014

Currently, I am on assignment at a hospital with a ton of travel nurses (it's a level 3 L&D unit rolling out Cerner), and I can tell you that there is a wide range of travel nurses there. The ones that aren't ready are the ones that aren't confident in their skills. They are flustered and lost constantly. And they haven't been asked to stay as several others have. I don't think it takes a certain number of years, as some of these nurses have been working L&D for many years. My advise is to feel as confident as possible in your skills before taking a travel position, while keeping in mind that you'll never know everything and that there are many different ways to do the same thing. I don't think it's for overly anxious or OCD type nurses. I had been in L&D 7 years before deciding to travel, and I was still flustered the first couple of weeks just with not knowing where to find things or getting to know hospital policies and doctors. When you do decide you're ready though, it really is a lot of fun! And humbling! :))

gradRN2007, BSN, RN · May 18, 2014

I am seriously thinking of doing travel in the next 2 years. I'm not sure if I should expand my knowledge (I have only done cardiac stepdown, pre and post cath lab, 16 months of cvicu but never fresh hearts.) or are there jobs for progressive care RN. I am only licensed in Florida but after reading about the top 10 rated travel companies I see that some of them help with licensing requirements in other states.

Any suggestions/ I could travel now if close to Jacksonville.

is it possible to only take assignments in a not for profit hospital? or am I being to picky. Also, I will soon be 59, took NCLEX in 2007 and probably have my husband travel with me. He will probably be retired by then.

Thanks for any advice