Soon to be grad, future plans

You'll need at least two years of experience in your specialty to travel, but it sounds as though you've planned for that.

If you're just planning to move to Seattle and take a staff position, you'll want to have at least one (two is better) years of experience before changing jobs. Cleveland Clinic is well respected, so you shouldn't have an issue getting a job in Seattle as an experienced nurse. Check out the University of Washington Medical Center. Swedish has a good reputation, too, but I didn't take the job they offered me because they required wearing white. (Of course, that was several years ago.)

I loved the Seattle area and would go back in a heartbeat if that were possible right now.

Ruby Vee,

Thank you so much! One more question? Does it matter the type of ICU experience I get, is there one that is in more demand that you may know of?

I was thinking that Neuro is something I wanted to do to get more of an understanding of it.

Thanks again!

Ruby Vee,

Thank you so much! One more question? Does it matter the type of ICU experience I get, is there one that is in more demand that you may know of?

I was thinking that Neuro is something I wanted to do to get more of an understanding of it.

Thanks again!

It probably does not matter that much what kind of ICU you get your experience in -- perhaps some seasoned travelers can help me out here. When I was traveling (13-14 years ago) most of the assignments we were offered were general ICUs. One memoraa twenty-bed ICU was a combination of CCU, MICU and SICU. I don't know if Neuro specifically is in demand, but I'm pretty sure your MICU, SICU and CCU colleagues will be happy to pick your brain when their patient suddenly strokes or developed other Nuevo issues.

Good luck.

I think 2-3 years of experience is a smart move, especially with traveling. I work in psych and did traveling after a year and a half, and I wish I would have stayed home a little longer before going.

My one take away though, after working with a couple different recruiters though, is I would plan on going to somewhere you know you want to live and just get the job yourself. Yes, it may mean staying there for a little while, and absorbing the cost of living, but it'll put you on more control of where you go and you get to speak directly with the facility you work with, not having that middle party there to act on your behalf. I remember one recruiter I had, I felt like I had to fight tooth and nail to get my money straightened and they weren't really there when I needed them, which stressed me out a lot.

There are some situations, admittedly rare, where having an agency between you and the hospital is advantageous. Many employers, not just agencies, tend to mess up pay.

I'm not going to argue the case for staff versus travel too far, but in many ways, taking three month contracts gives you more control over your life and career than staff jobs. The two are completely different though in almost every way. More cash generally to travel, at the cost of benefits. You are stuck with politics and committees on staff, and have a fresh slate every three months as a traveler. One location to enjoy or become bored with versus ever changing locales and culture. Stable friends, coworkers, and acquaintances (possibly stale) versus the work (or enjoyment) of cultivating new relationships.