Possible new traveler .. what are your thoughts?

[2Cats]

I was looking into traveling as an option to make more money, possibly see new things. I have experience in the ICU for the past year and a half and have talked to a few travel companies. Readylink and Cross Country Travel. Readylink does the tax advantage (does that get you at tax time?). Cross country offered 32/hr with $1100 housing? Even though I'd live in my current house (job is 50 miles away). Does this seem right - similar to travel jobs? My brother in law makes $45/hr as an echo tech traveling. I'm totally new to the traveling idea and wanted to try a local job to get my feet wet first. I'm just tired of making $19/hr in a hospital I don't really even like!

Also, should I travel as an ICU step-down nurse or stay full ICU? I'm just nervous that they would throw me in to 'over my head' situations in some institutions.

Are hospitals generally really strict about ACLS certification. I don't have it yet (scheduled to take it in January) and the local travel job says ACLS and PALS required for ICU stepdown. I've worked in two ICU's without ACLS as of yet (although both said it was required before employment).

Thanks!

[ERRNTraveler, RN]

If you are not fully confident that you could function independently as a traveler in ICU, then you should not be traveling as an ICU nurse. You will be expected to "hit the ground running" with very little orientation, and will be expected to know how to take care of a variety of different patients. For ICU, most hospitals want at LEAST 2 years of solid ICU experience. If they say they want ACLS & PALS, then that's what they want- I doubt they'd hire you without these, and if you're going to work Trauma ICU, then most places will want you to have TNCC as well. I'm pretty shocked that you would be able to work in ICU at all without ACLS! What if your patient codes?!? I would wait a while, get your certifications, and make sure you are TRULY comfortable in being an ICU nurse before you hit the road.

[Fort Worth]

your agency should be giving you candid advice. do not travel in any speciality you do not trust your competence in. The hospital may surprise you with orientation testing you are not able to pass, you will be on your own for the most part in your unit.

But do travel! It is a great lifestyle if it fits your goals, the specialty is secondary, the travel is the experience.

[allevi]

I am amazed that you havn't had to be at the least acls certified. That is a pretty basic requirement any where I thought!

I am doing agency nursing locally right now. Hope to start travelling some day soon. Good luck with what ever you choose

[loricatus]

Most places will want you having ACLS; so, in order to not limit your possibilities think about getting that certification before you start traveling. Also, more for a confidence booster, try getting your CCRN. I do have to add that travel nursing isn't the big bucks you may think it is. I just started and do not make much more than I did as staff. And, that is only because I opted for the housing allowance instead of paid housing. If I were to have the company pay my housing, I would then be making equal to or less than what I made as staff. However, I did work as staff in one of the highest paying areas of the country, with one of the highest cost of living areas of the country. I think if you stay in the area you are now, you should get no less than $31.00 per hour (regardless of the housing option). Sagent recently had some positions available in your area and, I think, has an office in Virginia.

[2Cats]

Thanks for the replies! I will stick around and work on some certifications first. I'm just so bored in the ICU here I need a change (moved from working in the Shock Trauma Center in MD to Central Illinois....) Maybe ER will do it for me. Took a pay cut of about 1/2 when I moved too so that hurts. But in time I will go traveling I hope. Thanks again!