Question about travel nursing

[Mirandakim]

Hi all, I just have a quick question...

Ive been an RN for 6 years, but the first 5 years, I worked in skilled nursing. I've worked as a med/surg nurse for 9 months now and recently got an offer to be a travel nurse. It interests me but I am wondering if 9 months in acute care is enough for me to be successful as a travel nurse. I have heard that as a traveler, you don't get an orientation period, so do any of you veterans think that I don't have enough experience yet to be successful as a traveler?

[NedRN]

What is your own assessment of your skills and abilities? Have you filled out an agency skills list? That may provide you with some insight.

Regardless, I doubt you will be competitive for desirable assignments. The hourly bill rate is the same at any assignment for a nurse with any level of experience. A manager is unlikely to choose you if they have traveler profiles who have multiple years of acute care experience and successful travel assignments completed.

[RN/WI, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I think it's a personal choice. It depends on the individual. With that said, I have been traveling for four years now and was an RN for 6 years, RN tech for two years prior, and CNA/unit coordinator for years before that. I still get a bit anxious on a new assignment:) Some assignments will give me a full 12 hours of orientation, which lately what I mean by this is I share patients with another nurse and they are there to answer facility specific questions. í ½í¸‰ Good luck!