Too soon to travel?

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I graduated in Aug 2012 and have been working in the ICU since a few weeks after graduation. I've been of orientation since December and while I know I still have a lot to learn, overall I feel ready and prepared for everyday on my unit.

I know that I will be ready to return to school for a masters in a few years and I'm thinking that before I start school up again that it'd be fun to see the country some by working as a travel nurse. I am thinking about doing this after 1.5-2 yrs experience.

Just curious, what are other people's thoughts about traveling after that length of experience?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Nurse Educator here -

Experience does not automatically = Expertise/competency. Some people develop much more rapidly than others -- some people never develop (they just seem to repeat year #1 over and over again).

Chances are, ICUs that would employ travelers are not going to be the ultra-sophisticated extremely high-tech settings. More likely to be in community hospitals, so I don't think that your goal is impossible. I would recommend that you begin by getting your CCRN as quickly as possible. You need at least one year of full time ICU to be eligible to sit for it. Also, rack up as many 'certifications' and specialty training as possible. If you're not in a multi-specialty setting, see if you can float or volunteer to work with a wide variety of patients, particularly trauma and cardiac. Get 'checked off' on all of the technology available. If you have an opportunity to work with IICP, VADs, etc... go for it.

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Thanks for the reply! I think we are on the same page. I am studying for my CCRN (should be eligible with enough hours this October) and per my hospital's policy, I can start floating this June. I'm also thinking of picking up some PRN shifts at another hospital in the area that has a general ICU with cardiac, neuro, etc pts. I currently see just medical and surgical pts (liver, GI, pulmonary, pancreatic, renal, etc). I'm currently ACLS, BLS, and stroke certified; I'll check into what else I can find. I'm also hoping to get some training on continuous renal therapy before traveling.

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