NP considering Travel RN positions

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Hi All!

As far back as high school I always knew I wanted to be a travel nurse because I was lucky enough to have an aunt who was a traveling Rad Tech. I would spend summers with her all over the US and loved the thrill. Fast forward to now I am currently an Adult Nurse Practitioner working a very nice job in a major hospital in the Texas Medical Center. I was one of those BSNs who went right into my Masters program and I do not regret my decision one bit :yes:. I have always put my desire to travel on the back burner because I got comfy in the salary of my jobs, but lately I have been feeling like I can still live my dream of traveling, if only for a few years. I am 30 y/o single with no children, just a fur baby. So I just wanted an opinion from the fellow travelers. I actually haven't worked bedside in 4 years but I work in an acute care role as a hospitalist so my critical thinking is adequate and my skills will probably just need a little rust knocked off. so my questions are:

1. I would probably want to travel as a day med surg/ tele nurse, what salary am i potentially looking at traveling 11 months a year including bonuses and housing stipend?

2. Do you think it's reasonable that I feel ready to get back to bedside armed with my clinical knowledge even though I have been away from bedside for 4 years?

Thanks in advance and happy holidays!!!

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

The fact that you have been away from the bedside for 4 years might be an issue. I was told you need recent experience to travel, meaning you can only travel in the experience you have the year or two prior to traveling. You might have to go staff as med surg tele before traveling. Although I believe they do have NP travel positions. I think those are through locum tenens agencies (not sure of spelling).

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I would also recommend trying to travel as an NP. A large agency such as Cross Country or American Mobile should be able to tell you about available assignments and compensation. And yes, locum tenens is the keyword to find the right recruiter.

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You need recent acute care bedside experience some want 2years minimum. You cant try traveling as a NP.

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

I have heard there are opportunities for traveling NPs. I don't know much more about it, but something to look into.

You could always try picking up a per diem job in the meantime to get back into bedside.

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