New Travel Nurse

Specialties Travel

Published

Hello! I am excited to say that I will be starting the interviewing process for my first travel contract. A little about myself; I currently work in MICU/CCU, I have a year on Telemetry, one year in an LTAC ( Vents Trachs) and two years of Skilled Nursing. I plan on traveling to either Colorado or Arizona for my first assignment. I'm excited/nervous as I only have one year in ICU. My question is; with my background, should I be ok to travel? I have a few friends who have gone with less overall experience than me and are doing fine. Also, how many of you travelers date on the road? Thanks in advance for replies!

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Specializes in Neurovascular Surgery.

I hope you have a wonderful experience as a travel nurse. Depending on the hospital, you can either be treated as one of the gang or as an outsider that is the amusement of the staff as they watch you struggle to figure things out. Don't be surprised to encounter many staff RN's that give you the standard "I don't know" answer if you ask them anything. Some RN's will help you out for the good of the patient and others will stand there and watch you struggle as they think it's amusing. Ever heard the old adage " Nurses eat their own?"

If you are going to travel you better be very strong in your basic nursing abilities and be able to figure it out on your own or you'll be thrown to the wolves. You'll be making twice what the average staff RN makes and they will hold that against you. I've been traveling for 3 years now and in order to survive in this world, be confident in your abilities, be able to mind your own business and not get involved in the gossip and BS that overtakes the workplace and you'll do just fine.

As far as dating, you bet. I change my Match.com and POF profile wherever I go. It's great being the new person in town and with that said, I personally do not date or have relationships with anyone at the workplace. It's not the best policy.

Enjoy the world of being a traveling nurse

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You have enough experience as long as you are careful about the type of ICU you go to. Two years in a specialty will always make you stronger, even with your good background. You should be OK in a similar ICU in a similar sized hospital or smaller. Try to get an experienced recruiter at a larger agency for your first assignment and take advantage of the interview with ICU managers to make sure you are a good fit for their needs and your abilities.

People date wherever they are and being new has big advantages. Adventuresome people are always attractive. Some may rule you out as not long term material, but more folks will see you as less of a threat because you are short term. Human nature.

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I'm pretty confident due to the fact that I have a strong foundation. I can do MICU or a SICU, without open hearts or Neuro. I'm super excited to go to a new town and not know anybody.

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Any recommendations for travel companies?

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