newbie OR traveler?

texastraveler · Dec 21, 2005

How much experience depends on how comfortable you feel in the OR. I traveled after only working in the OR about 11 months. 5 of my friends also quit at the same time to travel and they only worked in the OR for about a year a half. Every hospital is different, even if you stay at the same place for 5 years, then start traveling, you will feel somewhat lost your first travel assignment. New faces, new names and some places call instruments different things. I do not do CVOR and have gotten neuro experience traveling. I also do not know how to scrub. As long as you try and pay attention you should not have any problems. It does help if you have a friend that wants to travel also. We always find places that have several OR needs and travel together. We have been traveling for 5 years and always get paid at least $40/hr plus furnished private housing and travel pay. My first assignment was terrible cuz I told the company it was my first assisnment and I got paid $18/hr and was paying for part of my private housing and had to bring my own pillow, towels, sheets, dishes etc..... I learned after that assignment!! Now I just pack my clothes and they furnish everything else. Good luck. You will love traveling. My favorite assignment was Maui! It didn't pay $40/hr, but it was worth it! You can e-mail me if you have any other questions:

I'm sure this has been discussed before in one context or another-sorry. How much experience should I have before traveling in the OR? I have two years right now, but I've only learned Neuro, GYN, Plastics, smaller General cases (breasts, lap chole, bowel resections, hernias) and I scrubbed eyes when I was still in nursing school. I currently work in a large 40+ OR teaching hospital. Is that enough to start traveling? Can you specify which services you'll work? If I could pick up 1 or 2 more services before starting to travel what would you suggest? Also, how long does it take to set up your first assignment? I've heard 4-6 months.
Thanks for the input!
:Snowman1:

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Owensaunt · Dec 21, 2005

I worked 18 months in the OR before traveling ( for past 3 years).

If you feel comfortable with your skills now then do it. Try it for 13 weeks and see if you like it. It's not for everyone. I know alot of highly skilled OR nurses who did 1 contract and came back because it wasn't for them. Be honest about your skills and be prepared to prove you can do the job. I'm a professional new kid. And the first few weeks are the ones where you prove yourself.

I got alot of experience in services that I hadn't worked before as a traveler. Baby steps to the big cases. If the charge nurse puts you in big cases you have no idea how to do ask to have a preceptor for the first one ( suggest this in the interview if it comes up) and be put with a really good scrub person. I do this and it works. And you can always get contracts at big teaching hospital for specific services. Neuro and eye experience are really good skills to have. And if you're charge nurse is a vindicitve evil person like mine was (UNC) once you put in your notice you'll get a crash course in all the services you don't do while you work thru your last 2 weeks. Good Luck

I'm sure this has been discussed before in one context or another-sorry. How much experience should I have before traveling in the OR? I have two years right now, but I've only learned Neuro, GYN, Plastics, smaller General cases (breasts, lap chole, bowel resections, hernias) and I scrubbed eyes when I was still in nursing school. I currently work in a large 40+ OR teaching hospital. Is that enough to start traveling? Can you specify which services you'll work? If I could pick up 1 or 2 more services before starting to travel what would you suggest? Also, how long does it take to set up your first assignment? I've heard 4-6 months.
Thanks for the input!
:Snowman1: