I want to become a travel nurse

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 13, 2011

Moved to the travel nursing forum

bagladyrn, RN · May 13, 2011

I have been a Med/Surg RN for almost 3 years. I have been trying to move on to a different area in nursing but the hospital at where I work is not the best for letting the RN's explore and grow as profesionals. To be honest Im tired of doing the same thing for 3 years. I like to move around learn new thing. I was thinking travel nursing but im scared that there would not be enough jobs. I need help. Those of you who have work as travel nurse what opinions or commens do you have. What should I do? Give up my full time job and adventure myself as travel nurse. Im 24 year old male. Single with a lot of interest in learning new things. Im going to start working on my bachelors this up coming july??? Help ME

If your interest is in trying new areas of nursing you are better off in a permanent position (even if a new one) than travel nursing. Hospitals which hire travelers will only hire them for the areas in which they already have experience, expecting them to "hit the floor running" with only one to two shifts of orientation at best.

If you would be happy continuing Med Surg, but want to try it in different hospitals and different parts of the country then traveling would be an option.

The market for travelers is improving, but not expansive as it was some years back, so you need to have a financial cushion before you go. If you live in a compact state you are at an advantage in terms of flexibility as you have so many different states in which to seek a contract. If you do not then I'd suggest getting licenses in several states which you are interested in, or perhaps which have large seasonal populations where the need for nurses increases depending on the time of year such as Florida or Arizona. Many hospitals now are hiring travelers at the last minute and will not consider anyone who does not already have a license in that state or a compact license.