Question regarding travel nurse experience necessary

[rugbynurse93]

Hello all,

I am in my first semester of nursing school, and through our program we will be working at PSP's at our hospital for 8 hours a week on top of school for the final three semesters (BSN program). I understand travel agencies require 1-2 years of experience, I am wondering if this PSP experience will count towards that? Or will I need 1-2 years of full time on the floor in order to begin travel nursing?

I have seen many people post that you do not want to take up assignments from agencies that will take you fresh out of school, but I am attempting to balance that with the least amount of time before I can begin travelling. It is something I've wanted to do since I was really young.

Thank you

PB

[Jasel, BSN, RN]

You'll need 1-2 years as an RN in your specialty. The PSP experience won't count towards travel experience.

[Rod, Male Nurse]

Some hospitals require 2 years experience but for the most part it's 1 year experience in your specialty. I have heard of people being turned down for a specific assignment for only having 1 year experience but they got an assignment elsewhere. Just remember there are over 5000 travel nurse jobs nationwide at any given time and once you've gotten your year in you are eligible for most of them :)

Only your working experience as an RN counts towards your true experience.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I wouldn't start traveling right out of school. These hospitals expect you to hit the ground running with little orientation maybe just a few days( a week at most) to get oriented to hospital policy.

[MsConstrued]

You will need at least 1 year experience as a staff nurse on the floor. I had a hard time finding an assignment until I reached 1.5 experience. I also suggest a MedSurg position. I worked LTAC and subacute units in hospitals and wish I had a MS position out of school that would equip me better for traveling. Some companies I applied for required strict MS experience as well.