New grad considering Travel nursing. Anyone recommend it?

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Hi everyone! I graduated December 09, received my RN CA license last March, got my BLS and ACLS certifications, and am still looking for a job. Right now, it seems like there's nothing out here in CA for me as I have yet gotten a response from the many hospitals I applied to in CA and now I'm considering travel nursing. I was wondering if anyone would recommend it for me since I am a new grad and if anyone would recommend a travel nurse agency for me. So far, my mom referred me to this agency called Fortus Group. I'm just looking for other options. Thank you in advance! :)

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Do they take newbs?

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I work in a unit that utilizes travelers, being interested in it myself I have asked them about their experiences. They have all recommended at least 1-2 years of experience in one unit to start because working in the floor is so different from nursing school you need to get your bearings and get used to nursing in general before switching units regularly.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
Do they take newbs?

The guy that I was talking from the company I mention above did say that they do take in newbs, but he'll give me some more information once he talks with his supervise. As of now, I haven't heard anything from them yet

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
I work in a unit that utilizes travelers, being interested in it myself I have asked them about their experiences. They have all recommended at least 1-2 years of experience in one unit to start because working in the floor is so different from nursing school you need to get your bearings and get used to nursing in general before switching units regularly.

That's true. Thanks for the information. :)

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The guy that I was talking from the company I mention above did say that they do take in newbs, but he'll give me some more information once he talks with his supervise. As of now, I haven't heard anything from them yet

holler back at us and let us know what you find out

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I am on my first travel assignment. I had one week of general hospital orientation/computer training and I have 2 twelve hour shift with a preceptor before being on my own with a patient assignment. There is no way you can do this with Zero experience. No way.

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Specializes in ICU./CCU/SICU.

I would highly NOT recommend travelling as a new grad, and most hospitals will NOT take you unless you have 1-2, sometime 3+ years of experience. If a "recruiter" is telling you that, they are NOT your friend.

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Specializes in Peds/Neuro/General Med-Surg/epilepsy.

I was just wondering if any agencies will take a new grad RN who has had over 5 years of experience as an LPN prior? If anyone knows of any agencies that will consider prior LPN experience I would greatly appreciate the info.

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What do you mean by working "the floor?"

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.

Working the floor means taking a patient assignment and...well...working on the floor. Running around from room to room, patient to patient, prioritizing patient care, charting, giving meds, hygiene, wound care, assessing patients, whatever is particular to your nursing unit, basically doing your nursing thing for 8-12 hours depending.

For what it's worth, I've been a nurse for 4 years and considered travel nursing as my first assignment ever. After finally finding a hospital that did have a new grad program and working on my first unit for a few weeks I was SO glad I didn't take that travel assignment. As a new grad, we had nearly 3 months of orientation and most of us still started working on the floor a little overwhelmed. I could NEVER have done travel nursing as a new grad.

Going from clinicals in nursing school where, under the supervision of an instructor and unit RN, you care part-time for 1-3 patients at a time to then assuming TOTAL care of 4-7 patients for an entire shift is VERY different.

Best of luck in whatever you decide though! :)

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Working the floor means taking a patient assignment and...well...working on the floor. Running around from room to room, patient to patient, prioritizing patient care, charting, giving meds, hygiene, wound care, assessing patients, whatever is particular to your nursing unit, basically doing your nursing thing for 8-12 hours depending.

For what it's worth, I've been a nurse for 4 years and considered travel nursing as my first assignment ever. After finally finding a hospital that did have a new grad program and working on my first unit for a few weeks I was SO glad I didn't take that travel assignment. As a new grad, we had nearly 3 months of orientation and most of us still started working on the floor a little overwhelmed. I could NEVER have done travel nursing as a new grad.

Going from clinicals in nursing school where, under the supervision of an instructor and unit RN, you care part-time for 1-3 patients at a time to then assuming TOTAL care of 4-7 patients for an entire shift is VERY different.

Best of luck in whatever you decide though! :)

Does that refer to a certain kind of department?

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