New Traveler with 1 year experience

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Specializes in Trauma- Med/Surg.

Hell All,

I am new to travel nursing and looking at starting in the next month or so. I have 1 year experience at a very busy teaching hospital on a trauma med/surg unit. I know there is a great debate regarding having more than 1 year experience. I have already been talking to an agency and actually had one interview already that I turned down because I didn't think it was a good fit. I do feel confident in my skills and have had the opportunity to see and do a lot of things that nurses who have been working 5 years say they haven't done yet. I currently rent an apartment and trying to coordinate a start date where I can sublet it and have enough time to give my two weeks where I am at. I guess I am trying to get input if people have traveled with around 1 year experience and how did the transition into traveling go! I am excited about the traveling idea but extremely nervous as well. Thanks!!

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Subletting your apartment means it is not longer yours. If appropriate (like a two bedroom apartment), try getting a roommate. That will cut your costs (and have someone to get mail) and maintain a valid tax home to be eligible for tax-free reimbursements from agencies for housing, meals, and travel.

Travel does get easier with experience!

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Specializes in Trauma- Med/Surg.

Thanks Ned! I'm originally from Colorado and have been working in West Virginia so I will not be returning to WV once i start traveling, but I may keep the apartment until I determine if traveling is for me! Thanks!

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As an additional safety net, see if you can take a leave of absence from your staff job. Then if travel is a catastrophic failure (hope not), then you will have an income while you regroup.

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
As an additional safety net, see if you can take a leave of absence from your staff job. Then if travel is a catastrophic failure (hope not), then you will have an income while you regroup.

WV is a horrible paying state. might as well relocate.

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While that is true, I'm thinking of worst case scenarios. For example second week termination, no checks coming in. Relocation takes some planning and interviews. Not good to do while homeless and broke.

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Specializes in Trauma- Med/Surg.

I have no plans to stay in WV. I originally was going to go back to Colorado but thought I'd give the travel nursing thing a shot!

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Specializes in ICU,CVICU.

If you feel like you know your stuff then go for it, travel nursing is awesome! I don't remember feeling that way after one year but hey kudos to you! It is true that most hospitals want two years experience but some are ok with one, just look around. I think Texas is a state that is pretty lax on that.

Good luck!

Totaltravelers.com

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