Learning on the road

[arvolina]

Hi all - I've been a tele/med surg rn for a few years.... it's time to spread my wings, and I'm thinking a travel assignment or 2 might help. Is there a chance to learn as you go for other departments like PCU, ICU, ED, etc? I don't want to retire doing the same thing I have been, and transfers to other departments and 'starting all over' just isn't an option.

[NedRN]

Transfers to other departments and getting two years experience makes picking up a new specialty a given. Very unlikely as a medsurg traveler. If you were ED or ICU or PACU, adding one of the other two while traveling is possible (also medsurg or tele) but not the best way. The best you can reasonably hope for as a medsurg traveler is picking up telemetry.

[RaeMarieRN]

I would recommend getting experience at the hospital you currently work at. If you know where you want to go, aim for that. Or if you would really like to travel and gain a broad base of knowledge, then get ICU experience. A lot of travelers that I have worked with who come from ICU background like having the option to take assignments on a lower acuity floor such as MS/T, Tele, or PCU type floors while still being able to return to an ICU unit on their next assignment.