Specialties in Travel

[tri3mom]

I am a medical-telemetry nurse & I am planning on traveling in 3-4 years, when my children graduate HS. I want to make sure I hit all the "hot spots" of the USA, so I do not want to be limited by my specialty. Would it be worth my while to dabble in another area of nursing during these next few years, or will there be a plethora of contracts available for a medical-telemetry nurse? FYI, I have had some experience in other areas, like NICU, but really found a home in my current unit.

[NedRN]

Medsurg/telemetry, and ED are the best specialties for the most job locations hands down. Some PCU/ICU skills (try to snag significant time in those units in the next 4 years) will make you more competitive thus giving you better access to more locations (and better pay). I'd get your specialty certifications and ACLS et cetera while you are on staff. Otherwise, you will be good to go.

[Jasel, BSN, RN]

You shouldn't have any problems with med-surg/tele experience. As someone else said some ICU experience couldn't hurt but isn't necessary. If med-tele is your niche and what you enjoy doing, stick with that. You'll find assignments.

[Sarmea Moon]

The only experience I had before traveling was in Med/Tele. I had my BSN, BLS, ACLS, and qualified for my PCCN. That's it, that's all. I've been traveling since, and have not lacked for VERY well paying job opportunities with just a compact license. When it comes time for a new contract, my recruiter simply asks where I want to go. Why? Over a 1000 job openings at any given time.

I've taken float pool, med/surg, med tele, and PCU jobs. When you do the phone interviews with potential places, simply be open and honest about exactly what your experience is, and they'll decide if they can work with that. I did one yesterday and got an offer today- I told them flat out that while I've pulled chest tubes, I've never pulled pacer wires. I was still offered the job. Be flat out about not being afraid to ask stupid questions of co-workers (it makes them happy to hear this, and I mean it every time I say it). My most recent stupid question? I had a brain fart and couldn't remember which tubing to grab for a nitro drip (while I was standing there staring at the filter/ low absorb tubing). *facepalm*.

Get some PCU time, but only because if you do PCU, most hospitals want you to be able to float to ICU. You won't take vents, big drips, etc. Some patients are there simply because they are time consuming. Some places require 1:1 suicide watches to be in the ICU. Does this require an ICU nurse? Nope.

Get comfortable with floating. Really comfortable. Travel nursing is essentially the biggest float pool ever invented. Yet some nurses want it in their contract that they don't float. Some only want to work days. I get offers because I'm willing to work rotating shifts. My best paying have been straight night assignments. The more flexible you are, the more they want you. My only contract guarantee is my hours. I don't take call off unless I'm in overtime.

Bottom line, with what you already have, you'll never be unemployed.