PICUBeachRN

Thank you both! I found your responses helpful, and will definitely keep them in mind as I brainstorm ideas on how and what I will be packing.

Hey everyone! I am going to begin my travel nurse career in Janurary and I was wondering if you all had any suggestions on what and how to pack. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I have a tattoo on each of my wrists, I would wear long sleeve compression shirts made for hot weather running while working. However, in nursing school I did not need to cover my tattoos up and within the past month my hospital has released the "no show" policy. More and more hospitals are lifting the ban on non offensive tattoos. So if you want it, do it. Just make sure it is what you want!

Thank you everyone for your feedback! My main pull to leaving so early is not being happy in the town which I am currently living in, nothing really to deal with where I work. I agree that it probably is the better bet to stay another year to get more experience. We do get post op cardiac patients on the unit I work on. Seeing all of your comments has grounded me, and even though I am doing well in the field, I also know I am still learning a lot everyday. So taking another year before I do leave seems like the most reasonable answer to my situation. Regardless of me wanting to leave this town and wanting the way better pay.

Hi, I am a PICU nurse and I recently have been in contact with a travel recruiter to begin. I have aways wanted to travel nurse, and am ready to get out of the town I live in. I have a couple PICU travel nurse friends who say that I am ready to do this. However, I have only been a nurse for a little over a year (all of which I have spent working on PICU). I have been given some tough assignments compared to those who also started with me, including ECMO experience while on orientation. I feel confident that I could hold my own when I travel, however I do not want to not get the tougher assignments. Eventually, I would like to be working on pediatric cardiac ICUs. My contract at my current employer is another two years, but the travel agency said they will help pay my contract off. I would like any advice you all could give me to help me with this decision. If I were to start traveling, it will be in a couple months from now and I will have had a total of 1 year and four months on the PICU Thanks!