Looking for Med/Surg travel nursing with 5 months experience in ICU

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2012

I don't think you are going to be able to get a travel job period. Even for med-surg most travel companies are going to want 1-2 years, and they are going to want 1-2 years of med-surg experience. Why you may feel that you are qualified to take care of med-surg patients, the time management skills necessary for med-surg is very different from ICU so it is still not safe to just throw you into that situation. If you are not happy in ICU have you considered trying to get a transfer at the facility you are at?

NedRN · Nov 29, 2012

Besides the market conditions, the organizational skills to take care of 5 to 8 patients at the same time are very different from the ICU. That is a setup for failure on a travel assignment where you are expected to hit the ground running. You are much more employable as an ICU nurse. Get a couple years in and go traveling!

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2012

Hi everyone,
I have 5 months of experience in the ICU, and while I know that is NOT enough for a travel nursing position in the ICU, I thought that maybe it would be enough for Med/Surg. Do you know of any agencies that are willing to hire with my kind/length of experience? THanks

No.

5 months in ICU is not enough experience for traveling in ICU.

And zero months in medsurg is definitely not enough experience for travel nursing in M/S.

I have seen very experienced ICU nurses crash and burn badly on M/S floors and vice versa. The skill set for ICU and the skill set for M/S are very very different, and experience for one really does not count as experience in the other. Why would one think it counts for more, I cannot even comprehend.

Some people think that ICU nurses are somehow "better" than M/S nurse. And while not trying to cause an issue, both are separate specialties in and of themselves. I actually find ICU easier - I have worked both.

In addition, there is a glut of highly experienced nurses out there, with fewer positions. Which means agencies can pick and choose the best. You will find 2-5 yrs experience in a specialty optimal.