LTCSNF RN to Medsurge in a flash. Can I pull this off ?

[Cisl4him, RN]

Hi 

I am a skilled RN in long-term care and skilled nursing. I have been in the field for eight years. I work Perdiem as an agency nurse locally. I have also traveled out of state during the pandemic. I want to jump in to MedSurg as a traveler. Do you think it’s possible for a skilled RN to get my feet wet in MedSurg via my first MedSurg contract? LOL

I’m asking, due to a decrease in contracts for long-term care in the state I want to work which is California. I’m used to having 25 patients, some with Alzheimer’s some long-term care. Multiple issues during a shift. I almost think MedSurg might be a relief.

Any insight is appreciated 

 

Cissy 

 

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Travelers are supposed to be very experienced in the area that they are contracting for. (I've heard that standards have gone downhill during the pandemic, but that's another issue.) Traveling is not supposed to be a way for you to orient (get your feet wet) to a new area of practice as they will want you to hit the ground running. Do you want to put yourself in that position?

[anewsns]

I think you should go to a place where you can get a decent orientation first. It's too much of a jump to go straight to traveling, but not a big jump if you can get around 6 weeks orientation. (I've worked in snf and hospital.) Once you get the hang of the hospital setting it is a big relief as you said. 

[Guest 1152923]

3 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:

Travelers are supposed to be very experienced in the area that they are contracting for. (I've heard that standards have gone downhill during the pandemic, but that's another issue.) Traveling is not supposed to be a way for you to orient (get your feet wet) to a new area of practice as they will want you to hit the ground running. Do you want to put yourself in that position?

^^^^This^^^^  As a former travel nurse, I can tell you that I had almost twenty-five years' of diverse experience in my particular nursing specialty before taking the plunge.  I'm not suggesting that that is the minimum requirement to travel, but I am beyond shocked at some of the relatively inexperienced travelers that I see in hospitals today.  In my opinion (please don't flame me), a travel nurse should have far more than 1-2 years' of experience at a small, community hospital.  When assistance and resources are few, it's the unexpected situations and outliers when this really becomes a critical concern.  I also think that most of these nurses really don't know what they don't know and are probably doing a disservice to their patients as well as themselves!  JMHO

 

[anewsns]

1 hour ago, morelostthanfound said:

^^^^This^^^^  As a former travel nurse, I can tell you that I had almost twenty-five years' of diverse experience in my particular nursing specialty before taking the plunge.  I'm not suggesting that that is the minimum requirement to travel, but I am beyond shocked at some of the relatively inexperienced travelers that I see in hospitals today.  In my opinion (please don't flame me), a travel nurse should have far more than 1-2 years' of experience at a small, community hospital.  When assistance and resources are few, it's the unexpected situations and outliers when this really becomes a critical concern.  I also think that most of these nurses really don't know what they don't know and are probably doing a disservice to their patients as well as themselves!  JMHO

 

Yea, I have never traveled and never will. Travelers earn every cent of that really high pay as they are usually walking into very desperate situations. When my coworkers go travel I think they are usually going for the varied experience and adventure. I picture having very bad scary days while still overcoming obstacles of not knowing the hospital. and sleeping and anxious on my days off . And I have a fair amount of experience. I was always surprised to get med surg travel emails from indeed when I was in SNF. 

[Cisl4him, RN]

Thank you everyone!  I’m still trying to figure out how to reply to each individually.  
 

I plan on orienting at a local hospital next year. The last thing I want is to work with COVID positive patients again. I will continue working in LTC when I travel out of state. 
 

Thank you!

Cissy