Newer RN...Need your opinion

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Hello everyone!

I have a few questions and I would appreciate any feedback experienced travelers could give. I graduated with my BSN a couple years ago and worked as a staff nurse on a med/surg floor in a major New York City teaching hospital. It was a very busy and stressful environment (9 patients was standard on night shift, sometimes more if someone called out). However, I did catch on very fast and am a hard worker. I worked there for approximately 9 months and then took a new job in a fertility clinic for one year.

I would now like to try travel nursing. Most companies do like to see at least one year of recent experience. However, I have found a couple agencies willing to try to place me. Do you think I need more experience before traveling? I really did not want to get a permanent position in a hospital as the idea of being stuck in one place is not appealing to me. Do you think I would be ok as a traveler despite having less experience? If not, are there any other options beside taking a permanent position in a hospital? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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You could also do agency work, if you did not want to take a permanent position....

I love traveling, and think that it is a great way to see the country.

Have you talked to any travel companies to see if they could place you with the experience that you have??

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You could do agency nursing, but I would really encourage you to take a regular staff job somewhere for a while before doing travel nursing, even if it's only for 6 months. The reason I say this is that I don't know how solid you could be in your skills with only 9 months of floor work especially considering that you haven't done it for a while. 6 months really isn't a long time, it's basically 2 travel contracts. It would be well worth it IMO.

As a traveller you are expected to just show up and work with very little orientation. My orientation at one hospital was 3 hours about the paperwork and then "That's Angie, ask her if you have any questions" and they gave me my patient assignment. That's really hard when you aren't completely confident in your skills. This is the reason most companies and most hospitals require more than one year of experience. Those that don't probably aren't too nice to work in (meaning they are so desperate for staff that they'll take anybody).

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Hey everyone,

Just wanted to say thank you for your honest opinions. Guess we'll see what happens....

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Mam, what did you decide to do???

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Hey,

I was actually just offered a short 6 week position in Long Island. I think I am going to take it. They do seem like they need help which I know isn't the best sign, but it's a short assignment. I will be getting 2 days of classroom/charting orientation then two days on the floor which I think will be okay. I am sooo nervous. It feels like a big step for me. Wish me luck....

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Good luck Mam!! I hope this turns out well for you!!

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Specializes in ER, ER, ER.

Good luck Mam! let us know how things turn out for you!

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