New grad considering Travel nursing. Anyone recommend it?

SnowShoeRN · Aug 10, 2010

I've worked in 4 different inpatient care units across 3 hopsitals (as well as floated to all of the different med-surg areas in 2 of those hospitals) and heard the term used on each unit/department.

I don't imagine it would be used to refer to potentially outpatient areas like dialysis or chemo, but I don't know.

elkpark · Aug 10, 2010

"Working the floor" is a generic term used pretty universally in US nursing (in my rather lengthy experience) to refer to working as a staff nurse, providing direct patient care, on an inpatient acute unit (of any kind). It's usually used to refer to the staff nurse role as opposed to being in a role where you work in an office (but still in the hospital).

E.g., when the census is v. low on a particular unit in the inpatient psych facility in which I work on a weekday, the scheduled staff RN gets called off and the unit's NM is expected to "work the floor" -- that is, function as a staff nurse and provide the direct client care on the unit for the day.

Travelling is a really bad idea for new grads -- even if you find an agency that will sign you up, they are not doing you any favor (and neither is any hospital that will take a new (or even newer) grad as a traveller).

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2010

That'd largely be dependent on the person, his/her abilities, and his/her previous life experiences wouldn't it?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2010

That'd largely be dependent on the person, his/her abilities, and his/her previous life experiences wouldn't it?

UUUUhhhh, NO!!!!!

As an experienced nurse and as a previous traveler, no way in heck should a new grad travel. It is dangerous to them, their license and the pts under their care.

Facilities that hire travelers expect them to hit the ground running. Few give adequate orientation for experienced travelers, much less a new grad. And they to be less than supportive, often giving the heaviest assignments to the agency nurse.

New grads need to be in an environment that fosters growth. That is not applicable to most travel assignments.

Most REPUTABLE agencies will not take on travelers with less than a year experience or 2 years for critical care for that very reason. And even if they take a new grads app, this does not mean that the nurse will get a job. Good hospitals will pass over the travel submission of someone with no experience. You can have apps in with travel nursing groups and yet have no one ccept your submission for an assignment.

Add in, in the current economy, most facilities have cancelled travelers. The few that haven't, can pick from the thousands of experienced travelers, let off from other assignments.....a new grad will have difficulty competing.

And a caveat that you will hear from travelers in the know....a facility that accepts a new grad for assignment, has a reason. Usually, it is a facility that no one with experience and knowledge wants to work for, for good reasons. And you do not want to experience the reasons.

Argo · Aug 11, 2010

Imthatguy, if They were a lvn for 10 years and just got their RN then yes they could take an assignment in a field They worked in as an lvn and not totally drown.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2010

Yeah, I've read that travel positions are getting cut right and left. It makes good fiscal sense. I'd do it as a hospital administrator. I've cut positions before in my current field.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2010

Yeah, I've read that travel positions are getting cut right and left. It makes good fiscal sense. I'd do it as a hospital administrator. I've cut positions before in my current field.

That and there is the knowledge base issue.

More and more facilities require various tests of knowledge/critical thinking such as PBDS, etc. As a regular employee and as a new grad, one is generally not required to pass at a certain level or are given several chances. And for PBDS, your lack of experience is taken into account. As traveler, however, you must pass or you lose the assignment.

Numerous experienced travelers have traveled acoss country, after spending quite a bit of money, just to get the assignment pulled because of PBDS, and end up owing money.

As far as LPN experience. I agree that should count for something. HOWEVER, many agencies and hospitals do not agree. I have known plenty of experienced LPNs get their RN license, to find that frequently puts them at new grad RN status (and pay) after getting an RN license. The other issue, is as agency, the likelihood of finding a travel position exactly like what you worked as an LPN is small. Many facilities also do not employ a former employee as a traveler, or impose distance restriction (no one that has a legal/permanent residence in a 50-75mile radius). This keeps staffers from changing to travelers for the advantages.

Mexarican · Aug 22, 2010

Often times as well, "The Floor" is refering to Medical/Surgical inpatient areas of which are often divided into different specialties (ex: ortho, neuro, GI/GU, etc). This term is often used in contrast to "The Unit" which is often used to refer to the Intensive Care Units (ex: ICU, CICU, PICU, NICU, etc...).

Mex