Is this a realistic career path at all?

flasandy42 · Mar 18, 2006

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i believe they require one year of experience. try looking at some of the traveler websites....they may the info there. :idea:

Gompers, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2006

You can finish school for your ADN in 2-3 years once you start - it's the waiting lists that take forever. Have you already been accepted to a program?

NO you cannot travel without at least a year of experience, but most reccommend two years. You learn the basics in nursing school, but most of your training happens AFTER graduation. Travel nurses are expected to know their stuff and be able to hit the ground running. There is only orientation to the hospital/floor/unit - not general nursing orientation. So you really can't skimp on the experience part.

You can specialize right out of school. Many new grads do. HOWEVER, if you are going to work with adult patients, it's probably best to do a year or two of general med-surg first. It'll be excellent training for later on when you do specialize. If you're unsure of what area you might want to specialize in, then med-surg is also a good idea so that you can get exposure to all kinds of things, plus you'll always have that experience to fall back on.

Now, neonatal nursing is a world unto itself. While nursing in other fields first helps with general stuff like prioritization, confidence, etc. - you still start from page one when you go into NICU. Even exprienced adult ICU nurses and regular newborn nursery nurses have to do extensive orientations once they switch to NICU. Many of us specialized in the field as new grads. Problem is that if we want to work with adults later or go to floor nursing (as opposed to ICU), it's going to be a very hard transition. Now, me, I don't ever plan on leaving the NICU for any other type of nursing - but if you're unsure, then definitely get that general med-surg experience first.

Once you start school, you will get a lot more exposure to different fields of nursing. Keep an open mind, and enjoy it. Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 18, 2006

......
NO you cannot travel without at least a year of experience, but most reccommend two years. .......
You can specialize right out of school. Many new grads do. HOWEVER, if you are going to work with adult patients, it's probably best to do a year or two of general med-surg first. ......
Now, neonatal nursing is a world unto itself. While nursing in other fields first helps with general stuff like prioritization, confidence, etc. - you still start from page one when you go into NICU. Even exprienced adult ICU nurses and regular newborn nursery nurses have to do extensive orientations once they switch to NICU. Many of us specialized in the field as new grads. Problem is that if we want to work with adults later or go to floor nursing (as opposed to ICU), it's going to be a very hard transition. Now, me, I don't ever plan on leaving the NICU for any other type of nursing - but if you're unsure, then definitely get that general med-surg experience first.
Once you start school, you will get a lot more exposure to different fields of nursing. Keep an open mind, and enjoy it. Good luck!

Wow! This is a great post. I think it's one of the best I have ever read on this site -- a great, concise summary of some key ideas. I hope a lot of people read it and take it seriously. Thank you, Gompers.

llg

Gompers, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2006

Wow! This is a great post. I think it's one of the best I have ever read on this site -- a great, concise summary of some key ideas. I hope a lot of people read it and take it seriously. Thank you, Gompers.
llg

:imbar

Thank you for saying that.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2006

Almost all the traveling nurse companies will not sign anyone on who does not have at least one year of hospital nursing experience. What I think you will be happy to hear, however, is that with an RN you should be able to move anywhere in the country that you fancy. I've moved across the country several times and never had a problem finding work. Nurses are such a mobile group that the states have come up with a easier system for nurses to transfer their state licenses to allow for this moving. If you are a nurse you will be able to find work. If you can swing it financially, I would recommend that you get your BSN right off the bat. I wasted too much time getting my ADN and then going back for my BSN. More doors of opportunity will open to you as a BSN.