what should I do for 1 year before traveling?

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Specializes in NICU and travel nursing.

Hey everyone,

I have been interested in traveling nursing for a while. I am going to graduate as an RN in may of 2006. I dont know if any of you went straight into traveling or not. My main focuses so far are Labor and Del, NICU and peds...not sure which one i want to start in.

My question is how do i get a job for a year without making someone angry? All the agencies make you have one year of experience. What should I do?

~Jackie

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Jackie, I would suggest that you get at least one year of experience before traveling. Many agencies won't even consider you with out that minimum. Of course, med-surg would be the best, however, if there is another area that you would like to work in, get that experience first.

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Specializes in NICU and travel nursing.

yeah i realize I need a year but I dont want to tell someone I will work with them for a year because then they wont hire me...

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So don't tell them. I went to work in ICU right out of nursing school, got a sign on bonus, then started traveling the next year. If they after you a sign on bonus, make sure it is for only one year. Some hospitals now will give like a $10,000 sign on if they are really short staff, but you are signing on for 5 years or more. You are not obligated to tell them how long you are planning on staying unless you sign a longer contract with them because they gave a bonus. Some people leave their jobs earlier than that for various reasons.

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Be aware that for travel to some specialty areas such as Labor and Delivery as well as NICU, the facilities are now wanting five years experience. The agency may only require one year, but most hospitals are now requiring at least two years of experience.

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Specializes in NICU and travel nursing.
Be aware that for travel to some specialty areas such as Labor and Delivery as well as NICU, the facilities are now wanting five years experience. The agency may only require one year, but most hospitals are now requiring at least two years of experience.

How do i know which facilities want more experience if I dont have an assignment yet?

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It is up to the ageny to inform of you of what the facility requirements are.

NICU and Labor and Delivery are mostly five years of experience for the more respected facilities. PICU is two years of experience for most facilities.

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I am a traveler.

I feel you are putting the cart before the horse a bit.

Just get a job in an area you are interested in, and find out if you even like that specialty or like nursing at all for that matter, before considering traveling.

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DITTO

Hellllllo Nurse said it all, getting experiance under you belt is the # 1 thing to do even more so if you haven't even graduated yet AND want to work in a specialty unit. Once you got a COUPLE OF YEARS under your belt then you should look into traveling.

The # 2 thing you may want to do is take a Spanish for healthcare coorifice.

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